If you told me the return of Killer Instinct would usher in a new era of fighting games, I would have called you a liar whose only goal was to spread rumors aimed at raising the hopes of past fans. While the return of Killer Instinct was a great surprise and has generated a great deal of interest in its strong reboot, I couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed.
With the next generation of consoles, there is always that hope for something fresh but when it comes to fighting games fresh isn't quite what you find and its a bit debilitating..who am I kidding ; I love seeing reboots and the current gen had this in spades. Once multi-player online came into the mix, I was pretty much sold on the return of everything no doubt excited at the opportunity to have real human competition.
Although I'm far from done with the library of fighting games titles available on the current gen system, one can't help but be mesmerized about the future and what amazing things it MAY have to offer. If there is any indication about what to expect, you should only look to the recently released Killer Instinct and the eagerly awaited return of Guilty Gear with their Next-Gen offering titled Xrd.
More reboots!!! Sounds so exciting right..right. It's a conflicting feeling to appreciate the nostalgic appeal of a returning franchise especially when it makes its' way to a next gen console. I for one don't want my favorites to fade but I do want to see some new ideas being thrown into the mix.
So many of us have this pick a fighter and cuddle with it till the end of time mentality and its well founded due to the level of commitment to consider yourself a master. For the most part, developers have been some what understanding of this only making a few changes and additions with each new offering.
Often times, I would love to see a cut the umbilical cord approach from developers taking everything we held dear about our favorite fighting game characters and giving them a severe make over similar to what KOF has done with some of their main characters. Call me a sadist but I'd love to see an overhaul approach taken cries of character tampering be dammed.
If this is the destiny of fighting games, a few new titles per generation with reboots, I say we need a drastic change. This is just another opportunity for Capcom to the lead the charge. My hope for the future of fighting games may seem a bit far out but their based on good intentions..and maybe hopes of creating an even playing field ;D.
