Summary
Capcom has been a major developer of video games for the better part of 40 years. In that time they have not only created many of thestaple video game franchisesgamers have come to love but extended their reach into almost every genre and style of title possible.
Even within the science fiction genre, Capcom’s legacy is as varied as other aspects of the company’s ventures. This extends from chibi-esque action platformers to extravagant war simulations requiring hundreds of dollars worth of investment.
10Star Gladiator - Episode I: The Final Crusade
A 3D Breakthrough In Capcom’s Fighting Game Legacy
Capcom is arguably the fighting game video game publisher; developing genre classics likeStreet Fighter,and crossover behemoths such asMarvel vs. Capcom.However, while these franchises were making the most out of pixel-perfect graphics, in 1996 Capcom’s first in-house polygonal fighter,Star Gladiator, was released.
More similar to weapon fighters likeSoul Calibur, this 3D sci-fi fighter was originally aStar Warstie-in. What resulted was a solid, unique fighter with characters such as a monkey-like alien and an assassin robot entering the fray.
9Battle Circuit
Capcom’s Sci-Fi Beat ‘Em Up Swansong
While the arcades had been the breeding ground for some of Capcom’s best-known franchises, in 1997 the company sought to release its last arcade title.
Following a group of bounty hunters in an alternate future,Battle Circuitincludesupgradable abilities and unique playstylesbetween its four available characters who can be played simultaneously by four individual players. Thankfully, though it was developed as a Capcom arcade swansong, it is now available as part of theCapcom Beat Em Up Bundlereleased in 2018.
8Section Z
An Adored NES Adaptation of Capcom’s Arcade Shoot ‘Em Up
Section Zmay seem like anothershoot ‘em upon platforms that did not lack the genre. However, set in the third millennium, instead of controlling a separate ship you control the pilot himself.
As such, you have control of both the X and Y axes of movement as you attempt to destroy theAlien-esque space station housing the deadly Bangalool nest. While the game was released in arcades, the NES port is seen by gamers as one of the best titles on the system.
If there is one thing gamers know aboutSteel Battalion, it’s most likely the expansive required joystick controller setup. Placing players in the role ofa bipedal mech pilot,the title is more of an action simulation than a typical action adventure. That’s not to say that the explosive action on display is anything to smirk at.
However if players don’t eject their mechs, having received a deadly amount of damage, they should be prepared to explode and have their save data overwritten.
6Mega Man Legends 2
A Much-Loved Sequel Of A Capcom Legend
Capcom’sMega Manseries is one of its most prolific. As such, it’s no surprise the franchise has spawned more than its fair share of subseries, across genres.
Many gamers’ favorite of these is the third-person 3D action-platformerMega Man Legendsseries. The original 1997 spin-off saw the inclusion of RPG elements and a sandbox style of gameplay. However, its 2000 sequel is seen by gamers as the subseries’ best. While the core gameplay had little changed, the graphical design and style were heavily praised.
Tasking players with braving the sub-zero temperatures of E.D.N III, 2007’sLost Planetis the opening title from Capcom’s third-person shooter franchise. While patrolling the frozen landscape of the new planet after a postapocalyptic disaster, players can also switch to a first-person perspective or even control the game’s gargantuan mechs, called Vital Suits.
While the alien-killing action and gameplay of the series would become tighterwith each entry,the desolate sci-fi narrative of the original is seen by gamers as the strongest of the trilogy.
4Strider
A Fluid Action-Platformer With A Long-Lasting Legacy
Despite not being as well-known asStreet FighterorMega Man,Strideris a title many gamers hold dear. Released in 1989, this 2D action platformer set itself apart by distancing from stoic platformer controls.
What players experience is an acrobatic adventure taking down near-future Russian antagonists with a selection of ranged and melee weaponry. Beautifully rendered pixel art depicts aesthetically contrasting stages and enemies in a title that is as fluid asPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown- 40 years before that title’s release.
3Bionic Commando Rearmed
A Revitalised Remake With No Strongarmed Gimmicks
Bionic Commandois a series with a very chequered past as one of Capcom’s former flagship series. However, before the mediocre reception of its 2009 reboot, Capcom celebrated the series’ 20th anniversary with a 2.5D pseudo-remake of the 1988 classic.
Players control the eponymous Bionic Commando, an action-hero protagonist with a robotic arm that can be extended and used as a weapon. This action-platforming reimagining sees gamers tackle Axis-esque uniformed antagonists and is one of the platform’s best-received Xbox Live Arcade titles.
Capcom has developed some of the most intuitive gameplay systems in gaming. Beyond that, they are arguably thebastions of the survival horror genrethrough theirResident Evilfranchise. However, in 2013 they looked to bolster their narrative prowess through the release ofRemember Me.
A psycho-narrative third-person action adventure,Remember Mewas designed specifically to provide an engaging narrative. Its much-loved female protagonist Nilin may suffer from amnesia but uses memory-themed powers to tackle enemies - stealing memories to gain abilities and scrambling antagonists' minds.
With such an expansive franchise asCapcom’sMega Manseries,it’s nigh-impossible to attempt to whittle it down to its very best title. However, one installment that shone brightest for most fans is 1988’sMega Man 2.
A direct sequel to the original, it took everything that made the original platforming classic great and expanded upon it. What resulted is one of the greatest video games of all time, with Takashi Tateishi’s NES score still being considered one of the medium’s best.
