The PlayStation 2 symbolizes the golden age of the fighting game, having some of the biggest and most enjoyable releases of all time. So, unlike other genres in gaming, some of the most competent fighting titles still live in the past. With the combination of things that have to go right for an elite fighting game, developers must delicately balance what to keep and scrap.
Older fighting games also benefit from fans of the genre not being overly focused on the visuals; functionality is king when it comes to 1v1 battles. Newer games also have a much bigger need to appeal to the masses, something the PS2 titles didn’t have to suffer. Less stress on universal appeal means past titles offer some unique experiences and serious difficulty compared to modern releases.
Updated August 20, 2022, by Chris Sanfilippo: After over twenty years, the Playstation 2 is still one of Sony’s most influential consoles. This legacy may explain why the company has made a more substantial effort to expand its PS Plus library with more classics from this console’s era. As we look back on the PS2 catalog, there are several fighting games we would love to revisit if given a chance, including Street Fighter EX3 and Tekken 5, which we added to our list.
12 Street Fighter EX3
The Street Fighter EX series is one of the less memorable outings of the popular fighting game franchise. Still, this series marked Street Fighter’s first foray into 3D combat. Plus, many characters developed by Arika for the series, such as Skullomania and Kairi, would return in the spiritual successor, Fighting EX Layer.
Unfortunately, Street Fighter EX3 did not make much of a splash upon its launch, likely due to its highly successful peer, Tekken Tag Tournament. Still, EX3 is a hidden gem for those willing to revisit it. This game has a flashy super combo canceling system, hectic tag team and dramatic battles, and a neat character creation mode. Despite the game’s obscurity, it holds up well with its peers on this list.
11 Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
Some considered Evolution the best fighting game available at its launch, adding new characters to the roster and revamping the graphics. And while the original VF4 was a massive success, Virtua Fighter 4 only improved with Evolution.
One of the best features of Evolution is the complex training feature that gets down to the bare bones of things, walking through each character and strategy to flesh out the player’s weak points and make them a better player. So if anyone was looking to start from the bottom, Evolution is an excellent place to do it.
10 Soulcalibur 2
With the original Soulcalibur being considered one of the best fighting games, developers abstained from tweaking too much on the sequel. Luckily, the team didn’t do any massive rehauls but improved the mechanics, making fights feel flawlessly smooth.
This restrained approach resulted in Soulcalibur 2 being widely respected in the competitive fighting scene, as little changes go far with fighting games. Furthermore, it speaks volumes that even Soulcalibur 3 couldn’t compete. With so much new content and game modes, it all came down to the fighting mechanics in the end.
9 Capcom Vs. SNK 2
Adding to the era of mash-up fighting games would serve as a detriment to most titles, further confirming the bias against them. However, Capcom vs. SNK 2 flipped the genre on its head and became one of the best fighting games of the generation while combining characters from different franchises.
Blending the fighting styles of Capcom and SNK’s licenses, Capcom vs. SNK 2offers three grooves from each franchise and satisfies fans of either company. The title also offers an extensive color customization option, enabling the personalization of almost every aspect of a chosen character, even more so than current games allow.
8 The King Of Fighters 11
Right off the bat, The King of Fighters 11 makes a significant move by giving every play mode (tag-team, original KOF team, and single battles) a versus mode counterpart. One of the main reasons people pick up fighting games is to play with friends, and now they can experience every aspect of this game together.
One of the KOF series’ strengths has always been its scaled-down flash for increased mechanics. As a result, KOF11’s gameplay is as smooth as butter, and fans of tremendous finishing moves and extravagant characters will be in for a surprise.
7 Melty Blood: Actress Again
An experimental game that took the right pages out of The King of Fighters’ book, Melty Blood: Actress Again’s pixelated graphics emphasizes gameplay mechanics with the added flair of creative characters. This game’s roster delivers imagination and functionality, from robot maids to strapped vampires.
Melty Blood’s design is a little more challenging to get the hang of than other 2D fighting games of its time. However, it also offers much more control over what the fighters can accomplish, giving fans the upgraded experience they crave.
6 Dead or Alive 2
Taking one of the most profound fighting engines in Model 2 and expanding upon it, Dead or Alive quickly became one of the most complex fighting game series. In addition, Dead or Alive 2 stepped up the game by adding tag team battles.
Though the graphics and finishing moves aren’t what players might expect, the difficulty and variation in all aspects are on the next level. If a player can master this fighting game, throwing them off would be next to impossible. DOA’s emphasis on reading opponents and reversing their attacks makes the game’s players some of the most skilled in the fighting community.
5 Tekken Tag Tournament
Tekken Tag Tournament received a massive upgrade in the graphics department, meaning players can go back to the game without the generation shock that frequently comes with revisiting classics.
Fans of the Tekken series will be pleasantly surprised that they didn’t change much in the way of gameplay, adding an intense techno soundtrack that will raise the adrenaline and keep players engaged in battle. It is also one of the first to adopt battle screenshots so players can relive impressive performances later.
4 Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
This game is where Capcom’s series leaped forward in terms of battle mechanics. Street Fighter 3: Third Strike also significantly upgraded the series’ style and graphics. Third Strike introduced multiple new moves and completely overhauled the system, making Street Fighter’s most competitive title to date.
While it doesn’t stand up to the complexity of other fighting games, Third Strike has the added benefit of being accessible to players of any skill level. As a result, it delivers one of the most exciting experiences without getting bogged down in the details.
3 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is one of few older-gen titles that still gets played today. Its extended replay value is likely due to the successful blend of some of the most popular characters of any game into one high-level game. The proof is that the competitive scene lasted a decade after the game’s release, performing better than any Marvel fighting game in history.
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 continues to get relaunched. The title was last released on PS3 and Xbox360. However, Arcade1Up announced the launch of an MvC2 arcade cabinet in late 2022. MvC2’s massive popularity cements its legacy as one of the most extensive and fun 2D fighters ever.
2 Guilty Gear X2: Accent Core Plus
Guilty Gear was never afraid to separate from the crowd, taking a sharp left turn from the usual fighting game tone. Besides the highly stylized character design and visuals, the franchise has one of the most mechanically sound battle systems.
Accent Core Plus represents one of the best-executed versions of those mechanics, making most other franchises look comically simple in comparison. It doesn’t neglect the beginner player, though, offering one of the most detailed training modes of all time. Players of any level can join in the heavy metal madness, as flashy moves are for everyone.
1 Tekken 5
Various entries on this list experienced updates and relaunches on other consoles. However, one fighting title launched exclusively on PS2 that still holds up today is Tekken 5. This game celebrated the series’ ten-year history while making groundbreaking fighting game history of its own.
Namco made various updates to Tekken 5 to address fan criticism of Tekken 4. For instance, the overly complex, multilevel stages got cut. Furthermore, the game’s speed increased significantly, beckoning the popular gameplay witnessed in Tekken Tag. However, most players remember Tekken 5 for its gorgeous HD visuals, region-specific character voiceovers, and its Arcade History Mode, which included arcade-perfect ports of Tekken 1, 2, and 3.
NEXT: The Best Capcom Fighting Games
