VICTOLY!

October 28, 2010 7:15 AM

Hardcore Gaming 101 -- the blog previously responsible for an in-depth examination of Pre-Street Fighter II Fighting Games -- presents A Brief History of 2D Fighting Games.
posted by griphus (15 comments total)

Hmmm... Searched for "Karateka", found nothing. Maybe that wasn't in the arena combat form that most of the rest of these are, but when my classmates played it on the high school library computers by telling the teachers that "it was for learning karate moves", I'd think that counts.

(and the twist at the end made that game awesome.)
posted by straw at 8:02 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

They cover it in the second page of the first article, straw.
posted by griphus at 8:04 AM on October 28, 2010

in case you haven't heard, capcom is re-releasing 3rd strike with online play
posted by p3on at 8:20 AM on October 28, 2010

Tongue of the Fatman, Tongue of the Fatman... bingo.
posted by FatherDagon at 8:29 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

In case you were curious about Street Fighter 1 arcade like I was.

This also seems the appropriate thread to mention that when I was at the gas station the other day I saw (presumably) a virility aid that featured Ryu and Chun-li having graphic sex on its packaging. I was half tempted to buy it.
posted by codacorolla at 8:40 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

I've seen that one! Although it wasn't nearly as WTF as the one featuring Klimt's "The Kiss".
posted by griphus at 8:45 AM on October 28, 2010

I suppose this is one for AskMe, but in the pre-SFII pages I missed seeing any screen shots of a game I used to play way back ages ago on, I think, the Commodore 64. I recall that a lot of the fighting was in an urban setting including an alley. Not sure if there was a two player mode, which might explain the absence.
posted by exogenous at 9:26 AM on October 28, 2010

I remember being 9 and wanting to play Tongue SO BAD because the box art in the ads was HILARIOUS. I remember that when I finally did play the game, it may have been the purest distillation of 'crushing disappointment' ever concocted. That game is acid-etched into my psyche, a pinnacle of abysmality.
posted by FatherDagon at 10:53 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

...a game I used to play way back ages ago on, I think, the Commodore 64. I recall that a lot of the fighting was in an urban setting including an alley.

Renegade?
posted by Quantum's Deadly Fist at 12:25 PM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

I remember being oddly fascinated by the frowning, side-stepping judge guy in Karate Champ. So stern! So inscrutable! So odd! And yet, ace the introductory tutorial and his speech balloon is unexpectedly effusive.
posted by JHarris at 12:34 PM on October 28, 2010

1991- Street Fighter II takes arcades by storm.

Otherwise knows as "the time the great sucking sound began to be heard in the land." (Yeah, I have a grudge against SFII. Damn fighting games killed Atari, grumble grumble.)
posted by JHarris at 12:36 PM on October 28, 2010

Renegade?

Yes! Thank you!
posted by exogenous at 1:23 PM on October 28, 2010

Christ I can't believe that Street Fight Alpha was so long ago. It was the reboot, man, the reboot!

Also, I love that basically everyone between the (now) ages of say 25-35 knows how to play Street Fighter II. Boy, girl, whatever. It doesn't matter; everyone knows how to play.

I kept looking for budokan on that list. :(
posted by smoke at 5:00 PM on October 28, 2010

Also: Marvel vs Capcom II = Best 2d fighter ever.
posted by smoke at 5:02 PM on October 28, 2010

What, no Bilestoad?
posted by zippy at 9:06 PM on October 28, 2010