by SupaSlick

(Note: This is the final edition to a three part series. Click for PART 1 or PART 2.)The fighting game genre is dead, or at least it will be if we don’t see some big changes soon. The sad part it is, most of you will read that sentence, shrug, and move on. That’s the problem, no one really cares, and for those of us who do there’s nothing we can do about it.

Fighting games may exist, but their future is certainly bleak. Fighting game designers need to think of a way to bring back the community feeling that I’ve mentioned before. Designers need to create a way to engage more people at once. Also they need to create a new form of intensity. If people got the same thrill out of 3 hit combos like they did from a head shot with a sniper rifle, we might be on to something.

Designers need to take all these customizations and online capabilities out there and import them into the fighting game world. Imagine if the technology behind the Halo 3 level editor was put into a standard fighting game! Don’t like the available characters? You should be able to TRULY create your own. Tiger Woods let you do it, why not a fighter?

How bout customizing your character controls and special moves. Don’t like those quarter circle movements? Create your own! Think that fireball should be able to hit the feet instead of the chest? Change it! The more customizeable, the better.

As I look ahead to the holiday season, and 2008, I wonder if the dismal selection of titles coming out will do anything to revitalize the genre. I’d like to take a moment to give props to the Super Smash Brothers series, as I’ve neglected it so far. They were some truly great games, and broke new ground in the multiplayer fighter (more than 2 people). The new version for the Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, could be the breath of fresh air the genre so desperately needs. But even if it does, it won’t be enough.

So what else is on the horizon? I’ve spoken about Virtua Fighter 5 for 360, which hopefully will be great, but that’s already out for PS3. Next year, we can expect Soul Calibur 4, which will for sure generate some press, but part 3, an exclusive for the PS2, was a bit of a disappointment.

As far as 2d fighters go, some forums members may remember the Guilty Gear series. Its coming back with a new sequel next year. Then there’s the new HD remix of Street Fighter coming out for XBLA. I’m excited about these two, as they are probably the only 2d fighters on the horizon. I just hope they do both their series proud.So, is that it? What’s that, four new games, and none of them will be all that revolutionary. So tell me, is it even possible for fighting games to make a comeback? What features would an awesome fighter need to have? Are fighting games dying because most are made just for 2 players, or is it something more?

I say if we don’t see a true revamp soon, we can kiss the fighting game goodbye.

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