Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is one of the most legendary fighting games of all time, but it wasn't the only iconic crossover fighter from its era. Capcom and its rival SNK came together to produce Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000, Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, and SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, as well as a few smaller titles. While SNK’s SVC Chaos is more remembered for its flaws nowadays, the second Capcom vs. SNK title is held up as one of the best fighting games Capcom has produced. With tons of characters across Street Fighter, The King of Fighters, and a few other series, CVS2 remains popular among fighting game community veterans.
Things have changed since then, and due to SNK's financial troubles and Capcom's shaky fighting game efforts, the dream of a Capcom vs. SNK 3 appeared dead for many years. However, with a revitalized Street Fighter 5 and a continuously growing King of Fighters 15, the prospects for these companies' next games look good. Even more exciting is what may lie beyond them, as some official SNK vs. Capcom art appeared at EVO 2022. SNK producer Yasuyuki Oda has stated that both companies are interested in bringing the crossover back to life, and that could be a huge deal if executed right.
What Features SNK vs. Capcom Needs
At this point, the clout of the past two CVS entries should be enough to sell a million copies with the name Capcom vs. SNK 3 alone. However, going beyond that and retaining players is another matter. Taste in fighting games has refined over the years, and another Capcom vs. SNK or SNK vs. Capcom must adapt to the modern landscape. The first step is functional rollback netcode and stable matchmaking that ensures players can jump between games quickly. Good lobbies would also be appreciated, and if some sort of cosmetic or title system could be worked in, players would have more reasons to keep playing.
However, solid online is the bare necessity a fighting game needs to survive these days. Considering how Capcom and SNK have been treating their modern games and back catalogs, that shouldn't be an issue. What remains is other hooks for casuals and competitors alike. On the gameplay side, a robust training mode with frame data and a hitbox viewer would be greatly appreciated. A simplified control scheme like what Street Fighter 6 will offer could be a valuable option for easing new players in, and the usual single-player offerings like an arcade mode and a survival mode would be expected.
How SNK vs. Capcom Can Compete With Modern Fighting Games
However, a new fighting game can't make an impact by simply meeting expectations. SNK vs. Capcom needs to go above and beyond, and one of the best ways to do that is with some sort of premium solo offering. Street Fighter 6's World Tour adventure mode intends to expand Street Fighter's horizons, and SNK developer statements have indicated that the next Fatal Fury game will also have a larger single-player element. Whether it's a return to the movie-length cinematic stories that modern Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter 5 have used or something more in-depth, there needs to be something for casual players to sink their teeth into.
That goes double for any mode that gives crossover characters a chance to interact. There's no telling what Capcom and SNK could agree on with respect to the roster, but it should be a decent size at launch, with DLC plans stretching out for at least a couple of years. A game like this needs to have a lot of characters, especially if the KoF team format is being kept. Also, a new SVC should avoid being a Street Fighter vs. King of Fighters game like CVS1 almost was. The roster should take after the diverse unlockable characters in SVC Chaos and feel ripped straight out of a Capcom Vs. title. People have wanted to see something like Capcom vs. Capcom or another Neo Geo Battle Coliseum for years, and a new SNK vs. Capcom is the best shot at scratching that itch.