Previously, I talked about the lack of new IP's when it came to fighting games and the fact that the next generation has the possibility of continuing this trend and maybe, just maybe I got a little ahead of myself. How you ask? Honestly, I felt like I saw the glass half empty and this was partly due to my focus on the major fighting game companies and their blockbuster titles.
Though we've come to the end of the road when it comes to the current gen systems, I'm astonished to find there are a great deal of potential fighting games that are galloping on the horizon..even if their primarily exclusive to one system. The long awaited announcement of Under Night In-Birth was like a heavy burden lifting off my chest.
I was so convinced that this game would never touch a console and that I'd only be able to gaze upon it's magnificent sprite based animation if, I chose to fly half way around the world to find it in one of the last few standing arcades on the planet. No worries!! The game is making its' way to Northern shores by next year but more importantly, if you can't wait, you can grab it now!
For sometime now, imports have always been a very infectious option for curing the ailment of your anticipated impatience. As a young man, I spent a great deal of money during Playstation One's golden era to experience my first import Street Fighter Vs X-Men. Whether the impulse was premature didn't matter. For that moment in time, I was elated at the fact I had my hands on the home version of the next era of fighting game goodness.
Imports are even more accessible now then they used to be. Now a days, you can download them and their region free. Patience is taking an ass whopping of epic proportions from technology and you honestly can't help but love the happiness it brings to those who no longer have to wait from across the pond to get their hands on an amazing fighting game title.
While our Northern American brethren have not quite embraced this idea of creating more fighting game IPs(NRS being the only company holding fort), Japan has been quite the opposite. Sega, a company whose been pretty quiet on the fighting front, has Denki Bunko Fighting Climax slated to release in japan on November 13 and they've already gotten another title Blade Arcus in development soon to be released in Arcades!!
Add a few japan only titles in the mix, and I would have to say that this current gen had a pretty good representation. Unfortunately, a few titles didn't make the play it online roster like cult favorite Chaos Code but I really have to admit that we've gotten more then enough when it comes to fighting games this generation.
So I'm saying that I was totally wrong. Expecting the power houses that stand a top fighting game god mountain to create more original titles was maybe just a little too much of an expectation but I know at least one company that has done this in past..you know who you are. The possibilities for next-gen are getting just a little bit brighter each day and I know I can at least count on one continent to bring the fighting games full force. If import is the only way to play, so be it, I'm just glad we can get our hands on it.
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