Ryu readies himself for the fight ahead. Alert and in a prepared stance, he blocks the attacks of his adversary. He quickly retaliates and launches a projectile at his agile opponent. And even though players will observe that the names on the lifebars may read Ryu and Ken, do not be fooled. It isn't Ken Masters who is trading blows with the seasoned fighter of the Street Fighter series. It is Ken the Eagle of Science Team Ninja Gatchman. Released for the Nintendo Wii, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom will combine the familiar characters of gaming with the imaginative faces of anime in a furiously fun fighting game that is sure to please fans of the Vs. series.



Players will have their pick between many notable characters on the Capcom side, as well as some not-so-recognizable fighters from Tastunoko Studios. The size of the roster may seem like a step back for Capcom's Vs. franchise, but players will be relieved to know that of the 20 + fighters available, all of them carry their own charm and a unique experience can be found with any one of them. While veterans will play it safe and utilize the more familiar fighters of the Capcom universe (such as Chun-Li or Morrigan), the outrageous persona of Tastunoko's line-up will prove a worthy addition to the fighting genre. From Ken and Jun of Science Team Ninja Gatchman to Polymar of Hurricane Polymar and the overtly gigantic Gold Lightan of Golden Warrior Gold Lightan, these over-the-top fighters are immensely fun to play with. Players will spend hours getting to know these delightfully energetic characters and mastering their fighting styles. And the character inspired backgrounds, from the airborne Gesselschaft of the Mega Man Legend series (complete with dancing Servbots) to Gan Chan's Toy Shop as Yatterman's HQ, will only further reinforce the diversity of the roster. Capcom made some wise choices here and even the likes of cult favorite Batsu Ichimonji from Rival Schools makes a long awaited return to the genre.

Pitting Capcom's gaming world against the diverse characters of Tastunoko's anime characters works brilliantly. The fighters are well balanced and players will find that only a few can be bit under developed. Aspects of the anime series from which Tatsunoko's characters are drawn have also been incorporated into their fighting styles. Canine companion Friender will fight along side Casshern (of Neo Human Casshern) and even assist him with some of his hyper combos.



Controls do take some getting used to. Fighting game fans accustomed to the six-button setup of the Street Fighter series will be a taken aback by Tastunoko vs. Capcom's four-button mechanic. With a single button mapped for assistance or tagging out of a match, players will have to utilize the remaining three buttons consisting of Light/Medium/Heavy attacks to bash their opponents and string combos. It makes moves a lot easier to pull off than most fighting games. Players will also have their share of options as the Wiimote, Classic Controller, and the Gamecube Controller are compatible. No controller choice is vastly superior to another but players will find that the Wiimote will require an extra bit of focus for aerial combos.

As far as gameplay is concerned, it follows the same mechanics of Capcom's popular vs. franchise. As expected, players will have to wail on each other with a partner waiting in the wings in case the action becomes too intense. A supermeter will allow for the execution of hyper moves which are just as devastating as they are fun to look at. Ryu's signature Shinkuu Hadouken comes spiraling out of his hands in a massive column of blue energy and new additions to the fighting scene such as Viewtiful Joe or Soki of Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, will perform equally appropriate hyper combos with just as much flair. The button adjustments have also allowed for a more accessible experience. With the limitation of only four buttons, combos are a lot easier to remember and even the most inexperience of players will adjust to the game's simple approach and overall difficulty.

The soundtrack lends to the fun factor of this fast-paced brawler. Each character comes with their own theme and the successive sounds of punches and projectiles come blasting out of the speakers with as much intensity as the fighting.



Graphically, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is a visual feast for the eyes. The bright and colorful characters of these diverse worlds will clash with an unbelievable level of style and attention-grabbing detail. Combining the stylized look of Viewtiful Joe with gorgeous 3D models, the fighting is an absolute pleasure to watch as screen-filling hyper moves will dazzle the eye and impress audiences. The backgrounds are wonderfully done with all sorts of character specific distractions bringing a little levity to the brutal nature of this crossover slugfest.

As much of the player's gametime will be devoted to Arcade and Versus modes, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom has a few unlockables for players to look forward to. Finishing a game with a character will unlock their respective mini-game. It helps break up the tension after playing through Arcade Mode and players will often turn to these diversions for much needed relaxation and the insane amount of points they offer upon completion. And points are a necessity if gamers want to purchase the handful of secret characters that Capcom has included, such as Ippatsuman or Saki Omokane from Quiz Narairo Dreams.

It is a shame that due to licensing issues, such a great and remarkably fun fighter will never make its way out of Japan. It is a gem of a title, its praise is rightly earned, and Tatsunoko's roster makes for a perfect successor to the Marvel universe of yesteryear. As the majority of fighting game enthusiasts will anxiously await Street Fighter IV's console release, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom will successfully capture gamers' attention with its simpler mechanics and colorful cast of characters. It is simply fun to play and the action will not disappoint.


Fun Factor: The fighting genre at not only its best, but its most creative. Character options are half the fun.

Game Length: Arcade Mode can be completed in a relatively short amount of time.

Difficulty: Fewer buttons means easier combos and a more forgiving computer AI.

On the Negative Side: US release unlikely, could have used a few more unlockable fighters. No Speed Racer?!

Bang for your Buck: A handful of secret fighters will keep players amassing points and the assortment of mini games will have friends entertained for hours.