Fighting Game Guest Characters Are Getting Out of Hand

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Enthusiasts of fighting games find themselves discontented. While one might expect a golden age for this genre, it appears developers are missing the mark in several areas. They’ve been silent on updates and patches that seem to fundamentally alter or even break aspects that made their franchise appealing to fans. Moreover, there has been an unusual influx of guest characters, some critics argue, to the point of being excessive.

Regarding this matter, the latest reveal for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has left players disappointed following their initial enthusiasm from the first open beta. While it’s understandable that there were technical kinks to work out, the core mechanics resonated with those who yearned for a more complex gameplay, as opposed to the simplified systems often designed to attract casual gamers.

A portion of fans seem unbothered by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and DJ Salvatore Ganacci as playable characters in the game, possibly taking the place of original SNK fighters. The upcoming season 1 also introduces Chun-Li and Ken from Street Fighter, adding to this mix. As ComboFiend once said, characters are essentially functions, aren’t they?

Indeed, you’re correct. They serve as more than mere entities for many enthusiasts who have been involved with the fighting game genre for years. Over time, these games often develop a character that resonates beyond a casual “I appreciate this character type.” For instance, being a fan of C. Viper in Street Fighter IV, I can’t help but feel a tinge of envy towards Elena fans who are eagerly awaiting the chance to explore her gameplay in Street Fighter 6.

Regrettably, it seems that many genuine SNK enthusiasts are missing out on the chance for authentic representation, as niche celebrities and football stars are being preferred instead. However, Chun and Ken do indeed align well with South Town, and one could argue that CR7 aids in marketing the niche title to an expanded audience. Yet, I strongly disagree with featuring a DJ from the niche EDM scene who isn’t even widely recognized within it.

It seems likely, although not yet officially verified, that both Cristiano and Ganacci might be appearing due to a corporate mandate. Given that SNK is under Saudi ownership, where Cristiano holds significant influence, and considering the widespread popularity of Ganacci, it’s reasonable to assume their inclusion in this context.

Although SNK may find themselves in a situation where they’re unable to update as frequently, the same argument doesn’t hold true for other developers like Capcom. Unfortunately, Street Fighter 6 has faced criticism due to its slow pace of updates and the long intervals between patches that don’t significantly alter the gameplay, along with a scarcity of meaningful cosmetics since the introduction of new outfits for select characters since 2023.

It’s already been two months since Mai Shiranui was launched, yet there hasn’t been any sneak peek into gameplay featuring Elena, who’s expected to debut soon in the upcoming CPT season.

For some enthusiasts, the prolonged anticipation for updates feels particularly frustrating, exacerbated by the fact that season 2 seemed to focus heavily on guest characters. The initial thrill of Terry Bogard and Mai joining Metro City was palpable. However, as time has passed, it’s become apparent that we’re now in year 3 of SF6 without seeing many beloved characters making an appearance.

It seems that the addition of newcomers was well-received, and the return of Akuma in season 1 was exciting, but after two seasons’ worth of downloadable content, only five returning characters – Rashid, Ed, Akuma, Bison, and Elena – feels rather limited. This amounts to a wait of two years for these familiar faces to reappear, which is longer than some of them have actually been away.

It’s been suggested that SF6 (Super Fight Six) falls in the timeline after Street Fighter III. This raises a question about the whereabouts of characters like Dudley, Makoto, and Ibuki who were part of the Street Fighter III roster.

Initially, guest characters were introduced as an innovative approach to connect different series, generating enthusiasm among fans. The Link character in SoulCalibur II was a memorable experience that only those present could fully appreciate. The Cloud’s appearance in the Smash trailer even brought tears to adult men. However, over time, developers have unfortunately made the inclusion of guest characters seem routine, if not slightly irritating.

At low levels, they might still seem appealing. Fans are optimistic that Lucy from Cyberpunk might generate a bit more curiosity towards Guilty Gear Strive.

2B in Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising seems very comfortable (and perhaps even more so than her Soulcalibur VI version).

Perhaps it’s now more productive for them to refocus their efforts on the characters who initially propelled their series to success, rather than concentrating on newcomers or developers.

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2025-04-07 22:12