Street Fighter's first-ever guest characters in Terry and Mai mark a big shift for the series and potential end of crossover games
How does the addition of these SNK characters to a Capcom game potentially affect the future of crossover fighting games?
The addition of SNK characters Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui to Street Fighter 6 as guest characters marks a significant shift for the series and potentially the future of crossover fighting games. While other developers have embraced the inclusion of guest characters in their fighting games, Capcom has historically refrained from featuring guest characters in its mainline Street Fighter titles.
This move may have several implications for the future of crossover fighting games. Firstly, the positive reception of Terry and Mai in Street Fighter 6 could open the door for more guest characters from other franchises in future iterations of the game. This could lead to a greater variety of guest characters appearing in Street Fighter titles, as well as other fighting games.
Secondly, the inclusion of SNK characters in Street Fighter 6 might signal a shift in Capcom's approach to crossover games. In the past, Capcom has developed several crossover fighting games, such as the Capcom vs. SNK series, but the increasing complexity and cost of developing such games, along with licensing issues, have made them less feasible. By incorporating guest characters into its mainline titles, Capcom can still offer fans the excitement of crossovers without the risks and challenges associated with full-scale crossover games.
Finally, the addition of SNK characters to Street Fighter 6 could impact the future of the Capcom vs. SNK series. While there has been interest from both companies in creating a third installment, the inclusion of SNK characters in Street Fighter 6 might suggest that Capcom is leaning towards integrating characters from other franchises into its flagship series rather than producing standalone crossover games.
In conclusion, the addition of SNK characters to Street Fighter 6 could potentially change the landscape of crossover fighting games by encouraging more guest characters in mainline titles and reducing the need for large-scale crossover games. This shift may lead to a greater variety of crossover characters in fighting games while minimizing the risks and challenges associated with developing full-scale crossover games.
What is the historical context of guest characters in the Street Fighter series prior to Terry and Mai?
The historical context of guest characters in the Street Fighter series prior to Terry and Mai is quite limited. Street Fighter has had a long history of crossover characters, but mainly within the confines of Capcom's own properties. For example, characters from the Final Fight series have appeared in Street Fighter games, and Capcom has a history of collaborating with other franchises in games like X-Men vs. Street Fighter.
However, when it comes to mainline Street Fighter titles, there have not been any guest characters from outside of Capcom's properties until the announcement of Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui from SNK's franchises in Street Fighter 6. This marks a significant shift in the series and opens up new possibilities for the inclusion of guest characters in future Street Fighter games.
How have other fighting game developers like Bandai Namco and NetherRealm Studios utilized guest characters in their games?
Bandai Namco and NetherRealm Studios have both utilized guest characters in their fighting games to generate excitement and interest from fans. These developers have integrated characters from other franchises into their games, creating unique crossovers that have become a popular aspect of the fighting game genre.
Bandai Namco has a history of including guest characters in their games, such as the Soulcalibur and Tekken series. In Soulcalibur VI, they featured guest characters like Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series and 2B from NieR: Automata. In Tekken 7, they included Akuma from the Street Fighter series and Geese Howard from the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series.
NetherRealm Studios, on the other hand, is known for their Mortal Kombat and Injustice series. In Injustice 2, they incorporated guest characters such as Hellboy and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Their latest release, Mortal Kombat 11, has seen the inclusion of characters like the Joker from DC Comics, the Terminator, and Rambo.
These collaborations have led to creative and unexpected match-ups, keeping the fighting game community engaged and excited about the possibilities of future crossovers.