Capcom, for the most part, is known for four things: Mega Man, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, and their fighting games. With the latter, titles such as Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom pop to mind. Some people might point out titles like Tekken x Street Fighter or SNK vs. Capcom, but those two aforementioned franchises are the ones the majority of the mainstream gaming public know.
But there are a few Capcom fighting games, past and present, that went unnoticed or unappreciated. While these games might be hard to access in the modern age for varying reasons, it would be worth checking a few of them if possible.
7 Gotcha Force
While it isn't a pure fighting game, Gotcha Force combines fighting mechanics with third-person shooting. Players are called GF Commanders and use a mech called the Gacha Borg. Their goal is to repel an invading force called the Death Force.
The game wasn't that popular in the West due to inadequate advertising from Capcom. It reached some success in Japan, where it spanned a manga. In 2012, Capcom did a re-print of the game, but it was in Japan only. Despite that, copies of the game are rare to find, mainly due to the recent cult following it has garnered.
6 Fate/Unlimited Codes
The Fate series has spanned various mediums. From anime and RPGs to visual novels, Fate is everywhere. So no one should be shocked to hear that the franchise also has a fighting game. Fate/unlimited codes were first released for the arcades in 2008. The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions came shortly after, the latter getting a Western release. It is a 3D fighting game based on the original visual novel.
There are 13 characters to choose from, such as Saber and Rin Tohsaka. For the home release, the roster was expanded to 17, with Zero Lancer making an appearance. The game was successful, but it saw little interest from outside the Fate fanbase. For those wanting to experience this game, physical copies are the only way to go since Capcom de-listed the title in 2012.
5 X-Men Vs. Street Fighter
Following the success of another fighting game by Capcom called Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men vs. Street Fighter was released for the arcades in 1996. A SEGA Saturn and PlayStation 1 version followed later. It borrows mechanics from the Street Fighter series and Marvel Super Heroes but also introduces a tag-based system.
There are nine characters representing each franchise. This game is the first installment of the Marvel vs. Capcom series, but has since been overshadowed by its more popular sequels.
4 Power Stone series
The Power Stone series was a set of two 3D arena fighting games for the arcade and SEGA Dreamcast. A PlayStation Portable re-release of the two games came out in 2006. The story's premise is the search for the power stone. While fighting, if a character collects three stones, they can transform into a more powerful variant for a moment.
In Japan, Power Stone got an anime and manga adaptation. Select characters from the game have also appeared in SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash and its sequel. Capcom has since been dormant on the series, but small cameos have appeared in other Capcom games since.
3 Sengoku Basara X
Sengoku Basara is a series of hack and slash video games developed by Cacpom. The mainline games are set in the Sengoku period of Japan's history. Many have called these games Dynasty Warriors "clones." In between the release of the 2nd and 3rd installment came Sengoku Basara X, a 2D fighting game.
It was a collaboration between Capcom and Arc System Works, best known for the BlazBlue and Guilty Gear series. For fans of those two series, Sengoku Basara X should feel very familiar, as it borrows the fighting mechanics from them. It handles like any Arc Sys fighting game.
2 Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Released for the arcade and Nintendo Wii, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is another crossover, this time featuring characters from Capcom and various animes from Tatsunoko Production. Shows like Science Ninja Team Gatchaman and Tekkaman are the ones represented. The game performs similarly to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, and those playing on the Nintendo Wii have the option to use five different controls.
A standard Wii remote is recommended for those who want to ease into the game. On the other hand, a GameCube controller should be used if someone wants more flexibility. Due to its versatility, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is an accessible fighting game. It never gained a large audience outside the arcade scene as the Wii wasn't really well known for fighting games besides Super Smash Bros.
1 Darkstalkers series
Darkstalkers is another 2D fighting game series. The first installment was released in 1994 in Japan, with the most recent release coming in 2022 as part of a compilation called Capcom Fighting Collection. Darkstalkers has a darker vibe to it when compared to other Capcom fighting games. It borrows elements from folklore and showcases them in a gothic style.
In terms of gameplay, Darkstalkers borrows elements from Street Fighter but adds new features such as air blocking. Characters such as Morrigan and Felicia are hugely popular, with the former appearing in over ten games. A few of them are not even in the fighting genre. Despite the popularity of some characters, Capcom hasn't released a new Darkstalkers entry in a while.