The PSX library has an unbelievable amount of fighting games on it, we are talking about a truly staggering selection of games that will now have online play on par with current releases. As much as I would love to drag you through the trenches of some of the bewildering garbage the genre had on this system, it would be more suitable to let you in on the hidden gems or at the very least interesting curiosities worth experiencing.
Tag Archives: rollback
From Rollback with Love – IKEMEN Go
First off, happy 2023! Yes, I know I am a bit late with celebrations, as we are already deep in February, but – guess what? It’s time for a new year of SuperCombo articles, delving into indie and less indie titles, with the usual mix of interviews and reviews. The first article of 2023 is about a welcome, yet unexpected development in the IKEMEN Go community: rollback netcode is finally becoming a reality. If you have ever wondered how this technical marvel is actually coming to pass, don’t miss the interview with the main developer of the IKEMEN Go rollback branch: Fantasma! Fighting game engines are an incredibly niche, yet interesting topic. On one side, you get developers writing their own contraptions in unholy combinations of languages and engines, like Hot Soup Processor, Löve 2D or even something that is not easy to point out. On the other, you have […]
Fight of Steel: Infinity Warrior – Review
Fight of Steel: Infinity Warrior is a great indie fighting game which does almost everything right. With huge amounts of replayability, customization options, and snappy gameplay, it’s a must buy in the current scene, especially for its budget price—less than 13USD. Its flaws can be overlooked quite easily, the online modes work reasonably well and the UI, while obnoxious, isn’t a huge barrier to enjoying the game. This game feels like a huge step forward for the Digital Crafter formula and shines as an example of what a good indie fighting game should aspire to be.
FOOTSIES — fighting games, distilled
According to Infil’s superb fighting game glossary, “footsies” is defined as:
“A complicated, often nebulous term that refers to the battle for controlling the space in front of you, often by using good pokes. In essence, you are trying to get to a range you like, while trying to deny your opponent getting to a range that they like. How you do this varies wildly based on the game, but it often involves using strong crouching kick attacks to pester your opponent as they are trying to walk around. This dance of playing mind games with your feet is the source of the term’s name.”
All fine and dandy. Playing footsies means measuring the space between you and your opponent, while trying to slowly, but surely, find an opening and keep them at a range where your options are better than theirs. What, one might ask, happens when someone takes this concept and builds a whole game around it? Well, the result is FOOTSIES — Rollback Edition, developed by HiFight, also known for his extensive coverage of fighting game tourneys and just-frame analysis of key matches!
Super Bout: Champion’s Tour – a 2D, 8-bit Virtua Fighter experience
If you ever wondered how it feels to play a 2D Virtua Fighter game, Super Bout: Champion’s Tour is exactly the game for you. It feels like a legitimate 3D fighter experience but flattened on a surface, down to its control system (Punch, Kick, Guard), the methodical spacing, emphasis on getting frame advantage and on juggling the opponent for large damage. There are very few links, most of which on counter attack, and low attacks are a luxury, more than the rule—useful for getting out of a pinch or having some decent frame advantage, but generally incapable of starting combos, except for a few outliers.
Super Bout is a game that fans of 3D fighter will definitely be able to enjoy, all for less than the price of a coffee.
Punch Planet – Footsies IN SPACE!
Punch Planet is one of those names that are hard to forget for those madmen like me, who develop fighting games either as a job or as a hobby. This is because it is one of those few fighting games that popped up on PC in 2017, when the Western representation in this genre was still lacking in the indie scene. It’s fair to say Punch Planet was not only one of the most promising indie titles in this time frame, but also the first indie fighting game after Skullgirls to feature one very important quality of life upgrade: rollback netcode.
While Street Fighter V was still struggling with its one-sided rollback woes and Tekken was 3, Punch Planet was already flying on the wings of GGPO. This game deserves a spot of honor in the indie fighting game scene and it’s high time I covered it for my weekly column!
MerFight — Something fishy this way comes
When I think about mermaids, the first thing that comes to mind is a girl with a sea-shell bra and a fishtail, accompanied by an obnoxious red crab, who sings about the beauty of living under the sea. Well, thanks, uncle Walt, but today I’m not here to talk about THAT kind of mermaids. Today, we are here to discuss the ACTUAL merfolk, of the hybrid, semi-monstrous type, and about a fighting game roster exclusively made up of them!So, with the blessing of Rikuo from Darkstalkers (who may or may not have been an inspiration for the game’s theme), let’s dive together into the world of “MerFight: Curse of the Arctic Prince”, developed by Mattrified Games!
Blazblue Centralfiction & Cross Tag Battle adding rollback netcode in 2022; CF test starts Dec. 6
It finally happened: Arc System Works has announced at CEO 2021 that both Blazblue Centralfiction and Cross Tag Battle will receive official rollback netcode updates in 2022. The public test for the Centralfiction update is starting this month! Read on for full details and where to get started with Blazblue.