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SOJ The Gallery · Vintage Fighting Games
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The Fighting Games Gallery

Thirty-three games that turned the couch into the arcade.

These are the fighting games with fan bases that never left: the console-era classics of the 1990s, shown the way this Library shows everything, cover first. Where Japan and America dressed the same game differently, both boxes stand side by side.

Every cover below is a door. Behind it sits the game's history, how it was made and how its own era received it, and behind that, the questions its fans still ask: why the tag teams vanished, why the blood became sweat, why a tiny dinosaur is in Tekken. Start anywhere. The doors all open.

TEKKEN 3

Namco · PlayStation · 1998
Tekken 3 American PlayStation box art, Jin Kazama
America · 1998
Jin Kazama fronts the American box, the face of the PlayStation's best selling fighter.
 Tekken 3 Japanese PlayStation box art, Jin Kazama full bleed
Japan · 1998
The Japanese box runs Jin full bleed, closer and moodier, no frame around him.
The History
Rebuilt from scratch after a staff exodus, ported home in eight months: how Tekken 3 was made, and how it was received.
The Crown
Why is Tekken 3 considered the best fighting game on the PlayStation?
The Guest
Who is Gon, and why is a tiny dinosaur in Tekken 3?
The Music
Who wrote Tekken 3's music? Sano and Okabe, and the turn to electronic.

STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3

Capcom · PlayStation · 1998
Street Fighter Alpha 3 American PlayStation box art
America · 1999
The American box, Ryu and the roster over the Fighters Edge pattern.
 Street Fighter Zero 3 Japanese PlayStation box art
Japan · 1998
In Japan it is Street Fighter Zero 3, with art of its own.
The History
The last and largest of the Alpha games: how it was made, and how it was received.
World Tour
What is the World Tour mode in Street Fighter Alpha 3?
The Bigger Roster
Why does the PlayStation version have more characters than the arcade?

SOUL BLADE

Namco · PlayStation · 1996
Soul Blade American PlayStation box art
America · 1997
The American box, titled Soul Blade.
 Soul Edge Japanese PlayStation box art
Japan · 1996
The same painting in Japan, titled Soul Edge. One image, two names, one strange story.
The History
Namco's weapon fighter before Soulcalibur: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Name
Why is Soul Edge called Soul Blade in America?
Edge Master Mode
What is Edge Master Mode in Soul Blade?
The Music
Why does Soul Blade have three soundtracks? Arcade, arranged, and Khan Super Session.

MORTAL KOMBAT

Midway · The Console Story · 1993
Mortal Kombat American Genesis box art with MA-13 rating
America · Genesis · 1993
The Genesis box wears its MA-13 rating like a badge of honor. It was one: the rating, and the code behind it, won the console war's loudest round.
The Console War
One game, two consoles, two policies. Mortal Monday, the Senate hearings, and the birth of the ESRB all start here.
The History
How Mortal Kombat came home in 1993, and how it was received on each side of the split.
The Sweat
Why did the SNES Mortal Kombat have sweat instead of blood?
The Blood Code
Why did the Genesis Mortal Kombat outsell the SNES version?

MARVEL VS. CAPCOM

Capcom · PlayStation · 1999
Marvel vs. Capcom American PlayStation box art, Spider-Man and Ryu
America · 1999
Spider-Man and Ryu lead the American box.
 Marvel vs. Capcom Japanese PlayStation EX Edition box art, full cast
Japan · 1999
Japan's EX Edition gathers the whole cast into one crowded frame.
The History
The arcade's four-fighter chaos meets a console that could not hold it: how the port was made, and how it was received.
The Missing Tag
Why couldn't the PlayStation Marvel vs. Capcom do tag teams?
Crossover Mode
Why does the PlayStation version have a Crossover mode instead?

RIVAL SCHOOLS

Capcom · PlayStation · 1997
Rival Schools American PlayStation box art, Batsu
America · 1998
Batsu fronts the American box.
 Rival Schools Japanese PlayStation box art, Legion of Heroes
Japan · 1997
The Japanese original, Legion of Heroes, draws Batsu and Hinata together.
The History
Capcom's schoolyard brawler and its two-disc homecoming: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Cuts
What was cut from Rival Schools outside Japan?
The Setting
Why is Rival Schools set in high schools?

BUSHIDO BLADE

Squaresoft · Light Weight · PlayStation · 1997
Bushido Blade American PlayStation box art
America · 1997
The American box adds the full English title over the crossed weapons.
 Bushido Blade Japanese PlayStation box art
Japan · 1997
The Japanese original treats the same weapons more quietly.
The History
A swordsmanship simulator disguised as a fighting game: how it was made, and how it was received.
No Health Bars
Why does Bushido Blade have no health bars, and why can a single hit end the fight?

DEAD OR ALIVE

Tecmo · Team Ninja · 1997
Dead or Alive American PlayStation box art
America · 1998
The American PlayStation box, Leifang and Kasumi up front.
 Dead or Alive Japanese PlayStation box art
Japan · 1998
The Japanese box goes minimal: white, three eye strips, and the words 3D Combative Sports.
The History
The game that pulled Tecmo back from bankruptcy: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Counters
Why was Dead or Alive famous for its counter system?
Two Versions
How do the Saturn and PlayStation versions of Dead or Alive differ?

BLOODY ROAR

Hudson Soft · Eighting · PlayStation · 1997
Bloody Roar American PlayStation box art
America · 1998
The American box, the beast already halfway out.
 Bloody Roar Japanese PlayStation box art, Hyper Beast Duel
Japan · 1997
In Japan the subtitle says it plainly: Hyper Beast Duel.
The History
The beast-changing fighter from Hudson and Eighting: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Beasts
Why do Bloody Roar's fighters turn into animals?
The Long Silence
Why has there been no new Bloody Roar since 2003?

GUILTY GEAR

Arc System Works · PlayStation · 1998
Guilty Gear American PlayStation box art, Atlus
America · 1998
The American box, published by Atlus, its cover chosen by a fan vote.
 Guilty Gear Japanese PlayStation box art
Japan · 1998
The Japanese original, Arc System Works' own presentation.
The History
Made by a team of about a dozen, four doing the main work: how Guilty Gear was made, and how it was received.
The Inspiration
What inspired Guilty Gear? Daisuke Ishiwatari answers in his own words.
The Metal
What are Guilty Gear's heavy metal references?
The Music
Who wrote Guilty Gear's music? The designer, director, and voice of Sol himself.

TOBAL NO. 1

Squaresoft · DreamFactory · PlayStation · 1996
Tobal No. 1 American PlayStation box art with Sampler CD Included badge
America · 1996
Read the badge on the American box: Sampler CD Included. That badge is a story of its own.
 Tobal No. 1 Japanese PlayStation box art, Akira Toriyama illustration
Japan · 1996
The Japanese box is an Akira Toriyama illustration, because the roster is his.
The History
DreamFactory's 60-frames-per-second experiment: how Tobal No. 1 was made, and how it was received.
The Demo Disc
Why did Tobal No. 1 come with a Final Fantasy VII demo?
The Artist
Who designed Tobal's characters?
The Music
Who wrote Tobal No. 1's music? Eight Square composers, produced by Yasunori Mitsuda.

EHRGEIZ

Squaresoft · DreamFactory · PlayStation · 1998
Ehrgeiz American PlayStation box art, Cloud Strife
America · 1999
Cloud Strife takes the center of the American box. He is not from this game, and that is the point.
 Ehrgeiz Japanese PlayStation box art
Japan · 1998
The Japanese original, Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring.
The History
DreamFactory's arcade fighter, built under license on Namco hardware: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Guests
Why are Final Fantasy VII characters in Ehrgeiz?
The RPG Mode
Why does Ehrgeiz have an RPG mode?

SOULCALIBUR

Namco · Dreamcast · 1999
SoulCalibur American Dreamcast box art, Mitsurugi and Xianghua
America · 1999
Mitsurugi and Xianghua in full colour, the Dreamcast launch shelf printing.
 SoulCalibur Japanese Dreamcast box art, gold duotone
Japan · 1999
The same painting washed in gold under the Namco badge, a duotone instead of a colour print.
The History
A seven month conversion that outscored the arcade original and sold the Dreamcast: how SoulCalibur was made, and how it was received.
Beyond Arcade Perfect
Why is the Dreamcast SoulCalibur better than the arcade original?
The Nine Year Exclusive
Why did SoulCalibur stay a Dreamcast exclusive for so long?

JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Capcom · Dreamcast · 1999
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure American Dreamcast box art, Jotaro close up
America · 2000
A painted close up of Jotaro's face, and the Heritage name dropped from the title.
 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Japanese Dreamcast box art, Jotaro in a full pose
Japan · 1999
Araki's own art: Jotaro thrown into a full pose against green, Heritage for the Future on the logo.
The History
The Street Fighter III team draws a manga, with its author consulting: how JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was made, and how it was received.
The Stands
How do Stands work in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?
Two Games, One Disc
Why does the Dreamcast JoJo's Bizarre Adventure have two games on one disc?
The Author's Hand
What did Hirohiko Araki do for the JoJo fighting game?

MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 2

Capcom · Dreamcast · 2000
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 American Dreamcast box art, Psylocke and Guile
America · 2000
Psylocke and Guile lunging out of a full colour comic panel.
 Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Japanese Dreamcast box art, inked ensemble
Japan · 2000
One inked, sepia crowd instead: Cable at the centre of the whole roster, drawn.
The History
Fifty six characters on NAOMI, home in a week, delisted in 2013, back in 2024: how Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was made, and how it was received.
The 56
Why does Marvel vs. Capcom 2 have 56 characters?
The Definitive Disc
Why did the Dreamcast Marvel vs. Capcom 2 stay the definitive version for so long?

CAPCOM VS. SNK 2

Capcom · Dreamcast · 2001
SOJ gold owl: no American Dreamcast cover exists
America · No Dreamcast edition
The Dreamcast version was released in Japan only, so no American cover exists and none is shown.
Capcom vs. SNK 2 Japanese Dreamcast box art, Chun-Li, Ken and Kyo
Japan · 2001
Chun-Li at the centre of the merger, Ken and Kyo flanking her, Millionaire Fighting 2001 on the logo.
The History
Two companies, two art styles, 48 fighters, and a Dreamcast edition that never left Japan: how Capcom vs. SNK 2 was made, and how it was received.
The Six Grooves
What are the six grooves in Capcom vs. SNK 2?
The Ratio
How does the ratio system work in Capcom vs. SNK 2?

POWER STONE

Capcom · Dreamcast · 1999
Power Stone American Dreamcast box art, Falcon reaching out
America · 1999
The key painting cropped tight, until Falcon's hand nearly leaves the box.
 Power Stone Japanese Dreamcast box art, full cast painting
Japan · 1999
The same painting whole: the full cast behind Falcon, inside a gold frame.
The History
Three buttons, no block button, and furniture for weapons: how Power Stone was made, and how it was received.
The Side Road
Why did Power Stone's arena fighting not become the genre standard?

PROJECT JUSTICE

Capcom · Dreamcast · 2000
Project Justice American Dreamcast box art, ensemble cast
America · 2001
A class photograph in blue: the whole student body on one box.
 Project Justice Japanese Dreamcast box art, Batsu close up in flames
Japan · 2000
One face instead: Batsu close up in flames, under the Moero! Justice Gakuen title.
The History
Rival Schools, one year on and one fighter deeper: how Project Justice was made, and how it was received.
What Is New
What is new in Project Justice?
The Western Cut
What was cut from Project Justice outside Japan?

X-MEN VS. STREET FIGHTER

Capcom · Saturn · 1997
X-Men vs. Street Fighter American PlayStation box art
America · PlayStation · 1998
America never got the Saturn version. This PlayStation box, same cast painting, no tag teams inside, is the box American buyers actually took home.
 X-Men vs. Street Fighter Japanese Saturn box art with 4MB RAM cartridge banner
Japan · 1997
The Japanese Saturn box is a wide carton for a reason: the blue band down the side announces the bundled 4MB RAM cartridge the game cannot run without.
The History
The first Versus game, and the port that split in two: how it was made, and how each half was received.
The Cartridge
Why did X-Men vs. Street Fighter on Saturn need the 4MB RAM cartridge?
The Missing Tag
Why couldn't the PlayStation X-Men vs. Street Fighter do real tag teams?

VIRTUA FIGHTER 2

Sega · Saturn · 1995
Virtua Fighter 2 American Saturn box art, Akira Yuki
America · 1995
The American box is Akira alone on white, the series mascot presented like a logo.
 Virtua Fighter 2 Japanese Saturn box art, Akira and Lau
Japan · 1995
The Japanese box stages a fight: Akira braced against Lau's kick, the full roster in portraits along the bottom.
The History
The game the Saturn was sold on: how AM2 rebuilt its arcade hit for the home, and how it was received.
The Million Seller
Why did Virtua Fighter 2 sell the Saturn in Japan?
The Port
How did Sega fit Virtua Fighter 2 onto the Saturn at 60 frames per second?

FIGHTERS MEGAMIX

Sega · Saturn · 1996
Fighters Megamix American Saturn box art
America · 1997
The American box keeps the same two fighters but turns the background to hot pink and orange.
 Fighters Megamix Japanese Saturn box art
Japan · 1996
The Japanese box plays the same standoff in near darkness, lit only by the lightning between the two fighters.
The History
The crossover AM2 built instead of an arcade game: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Crossover
Why does Fighters Megamix mix Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers?
The Hidden Cast
Who are the hidden characters in Fighters Megamix?

KILLER INSTINCT GOLD

Nintendo · Nintendo 64 · 1996
Killer Instinct Gold American Nintendo 64 box art, Fulgore and Tusk
America · 1996
The American box: Fulgore and Tusk locked together behind the gold KI logo, with the red Nintendo 64 sidebar.
 SOJ gold owl
Japan
No Japanese box exists. Gold was released in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom only, so the owl holds this side of the shelf.
The History
The arcade sequel, rebuilt for a cartridge, in a hurry: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Changes
What changed from Killer Instinct 2 to Killer Instinct Gold?
The First Console
Why was Killer Instinct Gold almost a Super NES game?

FIGHTERS DESTINY

Ocean · Nintendo 64 · 1998
Fighters Destiny American Nintendo 64 box art, Ryuji
America · 1998
The American box is a painted close up of Ryuji, red hair and boxing glove, under a script logo.
 Fighting Cup Japanese Nintendo 64 box art
Japan · 1998
In Japan, as Fighting Cup, the same Ryuji fronts an illustrated cast poster. America shipped first; this box arrived eleven months later.
The History
The N64 fighter that scored its fights like a sport: how it was made, and how it was received.
The Points
How does the points system in Fighters Destiny work?
The Master
What is the Master Challenge in Fighters Destiny?

SOULCALIBUR II

Namco · PlayStation 2 · 2003
SoulCalibur II American PlayStation 2 box art, Heihachi Mishima and Necrid in the monochrome painting
America · 2003
The American box seats Heihachi, the PlayStation 2 guest, inside the same monochrome painting Japan used.
 SoulCalibur II Japanese PlayStation 2 box art, monochrome faces around the sword
Japan · 2003
The Japanese box keeps the painting stark: faces around the glowing sword, no guest in the frame. On GameCube the guest was Link, and on Xbox it was Spawn.
The History
One arcade game, three home versions: how SoulCalibur II was made, and how it was received.
The Guests
Why did each version of SoulCalibur II have a different guest character?
Weapon Master
What is Weapon Master mode in SoulCalibur II?

TEKKEN 5

Namco · PlayStation 2 · 2005
Tekken 5 American PlayStation 2 box art, Jin Kazama over flames
America · 2005
The American box fronts Jin in the fire, the title at the top.
 Tekken 5 Japanese PlayStation 2 box art, Kazuya Mishima over flames
Japan · 2005
The Japanese box fronts Kazuya in the same flames, the title at the bottom. Same fire, different Mishima.
The History
The tenth anniversary game that rebuilt what Tekken 3 proved: how Tekken 5 was made, and how it was received.
The Return
Why is Tekken 5 remembered as a return to form after Tekken 4?
The Bundle
What games are bundled inside Tekken 5?

VIRTUA FIGHTER 4

Sega · PlayStation 2 · 2002
Virtua Fighter 4 American PlayStation 2 box art, Akira Yuki below the cast in blue bands, silver logo
America · 2002
The American box cools the cast bands to blue and recuts the logo in chrome silver.
 Virtua Fighter 4 Japanese PlayStation 2 box art, Akira Yuki below the cast in colored bands, neon logo
Japan · 2002
The Japanese box runs the same cast in colored bands, with the logo in neon script. One painting, two temperatures.
The History
The deepest fighter of its generation, sold twice: how Virtua Fighter 4 and Evolution were made, and how they were received.
The $20 Launch
Why did Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution launch at a budget price?
The School
Why was Virtua Fighter 4's training mode so influential?
The Quest
What is Quest mode in Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution?

STREET FIGHTER III: 3RD STRIKE

Capcom · PlayStation 2 · 2004
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection American PlayStation 2 box art, Ryu front and center, 15th anniversary badge
America · 2004
America never got a standalone 3rd Strike disc: it arrived inside the Anniversary Collection, Ryu on the box, the 15th badge in the corner.
 Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Japanese PlayStation 2 box art, full cast collage with Chun-Li at the center
Japan · 2004
Japan sold 3rd Strike alone: the whole cast in one painting, Chun-Li at its center.
The History
The 1999 arcade final edition, and its 2004 PlayStation 2 homecoming: how 3rd Strike was made, and how it was received.
The Parry
What is the parry in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike?
Evo Moment 37
What is the Daigo parry at Evo 2004?

GUILTY GEAR XX

Arc System Works · Sammy · PlayStation 2 · 2002
Guilty Gear X2 American PlayStation 2 box art, Sol Badguy above and Ky Kiske below
America · 2003
America renamed it Guilty Gear X2 and sold the rivalry: Sol above, Ky below.
 Guilty Gear XX Japanese PlayStation 2 box art, I-No close up, The Midnight Carnival
Japan · 2002
Japan sold the villainess alone: I-No fills the box, The Midnight Carnival written down her arm.
The History
The 2002 refinement and its decade of arcade updates: how Guilty Gear XX was made, and how it was received.
The Versions
What are the versions of Guilty Gear XX?
Roman Cancel
What is a Roman Cancel in Guilty Gear XX?

DEF JAM: FIGHT FOR NY

EA Games · AKI · PlayStation 2 · 2004
Def Jam Fight for NY American PlayStation 2 box art, hooded eyes over the New York skyline held in two hands
America · 2004
No fighter on the box at all: a hooded stare over a skyline cupped in two hands. The license itself is the cover star.
 Def Jam Fight for NY Japanese PlayStation 2 box art, same skyline painting with katakana subtitle, CERO 15
Japan · 2005
Japan kept the painting untouched and added only the katakana subtitle and a CERO 15 mark. This file is a smaller scan, flagged in SOURCES.md as a swap-in candidate.
The History
The AKI wrestling engine under a fighting game: how Def Jam: Fight for NY was made, and how it was received.
The License
How did the Def Jam license shape Def Jam: Fight for NY?

STREET FIGHTER II

Capcom · Super NES · 1992
Street Fighter II American Super NES box art, Blanka and Chun-Li
America · 1992
Blanka rears over a floored Ryu while Chun-Li strikes. The box that had to stand in for the arcade, and outsold every expectation of it.
 Street Fighter II Japanese Super Famicom box art, the full cast
Japan · 1992
The Japanese box gathers the whole cast around Ryu, on the first 16 megabit cartridge the Super Famicom ever carried.
The History
The home ports as a phenomenon: the 1992 Super NES conversion, Turbo, Special Champion Edition, and 14 million cartridges.
The System Seller
Why did the SNES Street Fighter II matter so much in 1992?
The Three Button Problem
What did the Genesis Street Fighter II have to solve with a three-button pad?
The Music
Who wrote Street Fighter II's music? Yoko Shimomura, country first, then at danger tempo.

MORTAL KOMBAT II

Midway · Super NES · 1994
Mortal Kombat II American Super NES box art with under 17 warning label
America · 1994
The American Super NES box. Read the white label at lower left: "May Not Be Appropriate For Players Under 17." That warning was the settlement, printed on the box.
 Mortal Kombat II Japanese Super Famicom box, cartridge and manual
Japan · 1994
The Japanese edition, shown as the complete package. In Japan the same game shipped with its blood recoloured green.
The History
The reversal at home: Nintendo uncensored the sequel, Mortal Friday shipped 2.5 million copies, and the warning label replaced the censor.
The Reversal
Why did Nintendo allow blood in Mortal Kombat II?
The Joke Finishers
What were Friendships and Babalities for?

TMNT: TOURNAMENT FIGHTERS

Konami · Super NES · 1993
Tournament Fighters American Super NES box art, Donatello and Armaggon
America · 1993
Donatello fronts the American Super NES box, with Armaggon lunging below. One of three different games that shared this title.
 Tournament Fighters Japanese Super Famicom box art as Mutant Warriors
Japan · 1993
In Japan the Super NES game is Mutant Warriors, its box crowded with the whole roster. A different name for a game already different from its siblings.
The History
Three consoles, three games, one title: the Super NES standout, the darker Genesis game, and the last Konami NES game.
Three Different Games
Why are the three Tournament Fighters versions different games?

DRAGON BALL Z: SUPER BUTODEN

Bandai · Super Famicom · 1993
Dragon Ball Z Super Butoden Japanese Super Famicom box art, Goku and Cell
Japan · 1993
Super Saiyan Goku in front of Cell on the Japanese box: the first Dragon Ball fighting game, and a million seller at home.
 SOJ gold owl, in place of an American box that does not exist
America · No Box
No American box exists. Super Butoden was never released in North America in the 16-bit era, so this shelf shows the gap honestly instead of borrowing another game's art.
The History
The import only Dragon Ball fighter: the split screen invention, 1.3 million Japanese sales, and a 25 year wait for America.
The Missing Release
Why did Super Butoden never come to America?
The Split Screen
How does Super Butoden's split-screen flight system work?
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