Tatsunoko vs. Capcom

Ultimate All-Stars cover

**Tatsunoko vs. Capcom** is a crossover 2.5D fighting game featuring characters from the Japanese animation studio Tatsunoko Production and Capcom. It was developed by Eighting and published by Capcom. This is the seventh game in the *Versus* series

The game was originally released as *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes* only in Japan in 2008 for arcades and the Nintendo Wii. Later, a newer version called *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars* was released for Wii in Japan, North America and Europe, featuring five new characters not available in the original version, but removing one Tatsunoko character from the previous version. The release date for the Japanese edition was on January 28, 2010, January 26, 2010 in North America, and January 29, 2010 in Europe.

Promotional art and character design was handled by Shinkiro, with some guest art produced by Ippei Kuri (famed Tatsunoko artist), The animated sequences were all produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The *Ultimate All-Stars* ending art (which replaces the animated endings from the Japanese version) was done by the artists at UDON. The game was produced by Ryota Niitsuma.

## Gameplay

In the game, each player has a team of two, switching their characters at any time, and even performing two special moves at the same time (which, however, uses up three special bars). However, the game's two large characters, Tatsunoko's Gold Lightan and Capcom's PTX-40A, fight on their own without a partner. There are also mini-games and the option for a simplified control scheme. The game has support for the Classic Controller and the Gamecube Controller as well. The buttons are listed as "Assist" "Weak" "Medium" and "Strong".

Universal mechanics are similar to *Marvel vs. Capcom* and *Marvel vs. Capcom 2*. Characters can call their partner to do a predefined Variable Assist attack. Characters can tag with another character, performing an attack upon entry called a **Variable Attack**. Performing a **Variable Counterattack** also lets the player tag out with another character. **Snapback** is an attack that forces the opponent to switch characters should it land. **Hyper Variable Combination** lets characters of one team perform their Hyper moves, attacks that require a stock of level, at the same time, whereas **Delayed Hyper Cancellation** cancels a current Hyper move of the character with another Hyper move of the character's partner. Each character has a launcher to send the opponent to the air, allowing the character to do an **Aerial Rave**.

There are also new universal techniques found in the game. **Variable Aerial Rave** lets the character switch to his or her partner while in mid-air. **Mega Crash** is a defensive maneuver that frees the character from the opponent while sacrificing a part of his or her life and two stocks. **Assault** is an offensive variation of Mega Crash. **Baroque** is a mode where the character sacrifices the red portion of the their life - activating the mode cancels the current attack animation, allowing the player to extend combos and deal more damage relative to the amount of red life that is sacrificed. Baroque ends when the character stops or performs a Hyper move.

The large characters (Gold Lightan and PTX-40A) cannot do the universal techniques that require a partner due to their single-character limit.

## Plot

*The city is safe tonight, but not for long. An ancient evil from another universe has come to consume time and space by causing many universes to merge together into a worldwide crisis. Heroes, Villains, and the like from these worlds must fight to survive and find the evil that caused this crisis and destroy it.*

However, once they get to this evil, can they win? Because if they can't, all is lost.......

Ready? FIGHT!!

## Characters

### Origin

*Tatsunoko vs. Capcom* was conceived when Tatsunoko Production asked Capcom to develop a game with Tatsunoko characters. Capcom producer Ryota Niitsuma was interested in producing a fighting game, and agreed with other Capcom employees that Tatsunoko's characters would be better suited for a *Versus* game than a *Street Fighter* game. The resulting project was the seventh Capcom-designed entry in the *Versus* series and the first in over seven years. In the 2000s decade, fighting games were less popular and plentiful than in the mid-1990s, with multiplayer competition shifting towards other genres.

The research and development team started work in parallel with *Street Fighter IV*. "Capcom [hoped to] bring back the fighting genre into the mainstream market [...] with a serious fighting game for very hardcore fans, and another with a slightly lowered barrier to entry," Niitsuma said. Eighting, Capcom's hired developer, took on the job in early 2007. The design of the game was a departure from the complex attack systems of the *Street Fighter* series, and of certain *Vs.* titles. The game is built around a simplified three-button attack system (light, medium, and strong); it was inspired by the control systems commonly used by both the *Vs.* series and the Wii, which allows intricate moves to be performed with basic control inputs.

On May 22, 2008, Capcom announced the game, titled *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes*, for release in Japanese arcades. The arcade cabinets' system board was proprietary hardware based on the Wii. Beta units were sent to test locations in Tokyo (July 10–13) and Osaka (July 25–27). By September, the game was 70% complete, and a Wii version was announced for Japanese release. Capcom gradually revealed the game's cast until release. It was released in Japan on the Wii on December 11, 2008, and an arcade version followed in mid-December 2008.

The game is the first Capcom-designed *Vs*. installment to be rendered fully in 3D. *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom* and its graphical characteristics were optimized for the Wii, which prevents the game from being ported to other consoles without completely re-building the game. Niitsuma explained that its Wii exclusivity was also due to a lack of Capcom fighting games for the console, and because the Wii's casual quality matches the *Vs.* series trait of accessibility. The producer suggested that porting a sequel would be easier, but that Capcom would gauge the reception of the Wii game before making such plans.

On November 7, 2012, Capcom USA's senior vice president Christian Svensson revealed that Capcom's rights with Tatsunoko have lapsed, meaning Capcom is no longer authorized to sell *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom* physically or digitally.

### Fighters

When choosing candidates for the Tatsunoko and Capcom character rosters, the development team was free to nominate any character it wished. However, the team faced limitations on its Tatsunoko candidates; Niitsuma explained; "*[the development team] had to consider licensing issues. Once [they] had that list [they] had to figure out how to make a balanced fighting game. On top of that [they] wanted a good balance between male and female characters.*" Selection emphasis was placed on main characters, rather than on villains. Certain characters were denied by Tatsunoko Production without explanation to Capcom. Niitsuma said: "*We weren't privy to a lot of their decision making process. They didn't share a lot of reasons with us. When they said no and we asked why, they wouldn't tell us, but would give us another suggestion*". Tatsunoko Production disallowed characters from *Genesis Climber MOSPEADA* or *Samurai Pizza Cats*, despite the high number of fan requests for the latter. The eponymous characters of Tatsunoko's *Muteking, The Dashing Warrior* and *Nurse Witch Komugi* were among those planned for inclusion, but were eventually scrapped. The finalized Tatsunoko cast consists of characters that the team enjoyed in their youth. At one point, Go Mifune from *Mach Go Go Go* (known as *Speed Racer* in International territories) was considered as a potential fighter, but difficulties on assembling a moveset aside from those enabled by his car made him difficult to implement.

As for Capcom candidates, the development team hoped to include Phoenix Wright and Franziska von Karma from the *Ace Attorney* series, but while the latter's use of a whip made her easy to incorporate, the problems the team had with the former's game mechanics (specifically his movement and the *Ace Attorney* text bubbles) prevented them both from getting in. Other Capcom characters who were considered for inclusion were Arthur from *Ghosts 'n Goblins*, Ingrid from *Capcom Fighting Evolution* and *Street Fighter* (as shown in the game's *Secret File* book, she was however used as a test character model), Charlie Nash, Ibuki and M. Bison also from *Street Fighter*, a Tyrant (unclear which one specifically) and Leon from *Resident Evil*, Date Masamune from *Sengoku BASARA*, Hsien-Ko from *Darkstalkers*, Zero Gouki from *Cyberbots*, Tiara from *Gaia Master*, Rouge from *Power Stone*, June from *Star Gladiator*, Nero from *Devil May Cry* and The Smith Syndicate from *Killer7*.

On September 9, 2009, Capcom announced the Japanese release of *Ultimate All-Stars* and starting on that day, periodically revealed the game's new characters; however, the full cast was leaked through JavaScript code on the game's official Japanese site. With the exception of Hakushon Daimaō, who was removed due to unspecified licensing issues, every playable character from the original Wii release was included. Hakushon Daimaō was also removed in *Ultimate All-Stars* version's Japanese release, due to both his unpopularity with players, and the game's status as a localization of the North American version.

The new characters encompassed Frank West from *Dead Rising*, Zero from *Mega Man X*, Yatterman 2 from *Yatterman*, Joe the Condor from *Gatchaman*, and the title character from *Tekkaman Blade*.

### Localization

On May 6, 2009, Capcom listed two "mystery games" as part of their Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 lineup. The *Nintendo Power* magazine revealed "Capcom Mystery Game #1" to be the North American localization of *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes*, with the new subtitle "*Ultimate All-Stars*". It was playable at the company's E3 booth.

European and Australian releases were announced on later dates. The game was originally unintended for release outside Japan, but was localized by Capcom due to positive fan reception. Tatsunoko Production assisted Capcom with its character licensing issues; while Tatsunoko Production holds such rights in Japan, they are licensed to companies such as Time Warner in other countries. Niitsuma said that acquiring character licenses was difficult, as it was largely done one at a time, and characters cleared in North America had to be checked separately in Europe. Another issue was the possibility that Eighting would be occupied with other projects. Time constraints led Niitsuma to replace the character-specific minigames of *Cross Generation of Heroes* with "Ultimate All-Shooters", an expansion of PTX-40A's minigame.

Artwork by UDON replaced the animated character-specific endings.

A Capcom press release in June 2009 stated that the North American release would have more mini-games, an "enhanced" story mode, and support for online play. The roster would be expanded by five characters, but would lose one unnamed Tatsunoko character. However, Capcom later revised this press release, as it was incorrect, with the statement that they were "looking into adding new features to the game, including possible additions of several new characters from both Capcom and Tatsunoko and [...] exploring the option of online gameplay.

Director Hidetoshi Ishizawa admitted that, just as *Cross Generation of Heroes* was not initially planned to be released internationally, neither was *Ultimate All-Stars* planned to be released in Japan. However, fan appeals and the research and development team's own hopes resulted in the game's Japanese localization.

## Release

An official launch event for *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars* was held at the Nintendo World Store in the Rockefeller Center on January 23, 2010, featuring autograph signings by Niitsuma, giveaways, competitions, and playable demo kiosks. Hundreds of fans were expected to attend between 11 pm and 3 pm. The game was released in North America on January 26, in Japan on January 28, and in Europe on January 29.

Certain versions of *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars* are bundled with a Mad Catz arcade stick, whose artwork was produced by Japanese artist Shinkiro. Pre-orders from GameStop included eight of thirteen lenticular trading cards. As a buying incentive, Capcom's Japanese online store offered a *Secret File* compilation book of concept art, illustrations and design notes; it is the twenty-seventh volume of the *Secret File* series, which was originally published between 1996 and 1999 as a supplement to Capcom games of the time.

The store also included an audio CD with four vocal tracks from the game: the opening song from *Cross Generation of Heroes*, "Across the Border", sung by Asami Abe, *Ultimate All-Stars* English re-recording of this song, sung by Anna Gholston, with rap by James C. Wilson; and the Japanese and English versions of Roll's theme song.

## Reception

### Sales

Capcom's former community manager Seth Killian expressed satisfaction with the North American sales of *Ultimate All-Stars*. "[*Tatsunoko Vs Capcom*] certainly beat the initial expectations. It didn't set any land speed records, but it was a success," Killian stated. "And that's really saying something considering that we're talking about a game that was not only never coming out, but has a title that most people can't even pronounce." In Japan, *Ultimate All-Stars* sold 18,913 units as of January 2, 2011, and, as of December 27, 2009, *Cross Generation of Heroes* has sold 62,805 units.

## Trivia

* *Tatsunoko vs. Capcom* is the second known fighting game that features Tatsunoko characters, the first was *Tatsunoko Fight* which was developed by Electronics Application (Eleca), published by Takara and released for the original PlayStation game console only in Japan on October 2000.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4184/gamasutra\_versus\_capcom\_the\_.php
2. ↑ http://g4tv.com/games/wii/62262/tatsunoko-vs-capcom-ultimate-all-stars/review/
3. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/ultimatemortalkombat3/review.html
4. ↑ http://www.videogamer.com/wii/tvc/preview-1837.html
5. ↑ http://games.ign.com/articles/875/875970p1.html
6. ↑ http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6210358/tatsunoko-vs-capcom-ultimate-all-stars-first-look/
7. ↑ http://www.videogamer.com/news/capcom\_no\_plans\_for\_tatsunoko\_vs\_capcom\_xbla\_psn\_port.html
8. ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-08-capcom-can-no-longer-sell-tatsunoko-vs-capcom-due-to-rights-lapse
9. ↑ http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/tatsunoko-vs-capcom-ultimate-all-stars/preview/e3-09-tatsunoko-vs-capcom-interview/a-2009060815494768059/g-20090602143737971093
10. ↑ http://kotaku.com/5454192/the-lost-characters-of-tatsunoko-vs-capcom
11. ↑ http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14143517&postcount=3808
12. ↑ http://www.destructoid.com/a-better-look-at-the-stuff-cut-fromtatsunoko-vs-capcom-161902.phtml
13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 http://www.siliconera.com/2009/05/17/these-characters-didnt-make-the-tatsunoko-vs-capcom-cut/
14. ↑ https://www.destructoid.com/samurai-pizza-cats-speed-racer-almost-in-tatsunoko-vs-capcom-161208.phtml
15. ↑ *NGamer*, October 2009, page 35, "Fighting Talk with Ryota Niitsuma, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom's Producer"
16. ↑ http://wii.ign.com/articles/102/1022808p1.html
17. ↑ http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/10/22/tatsunoko-vs-capcom-leaves-one-character-out-again/
18. ↑ http://www.capcom-unity.com/jgonzo/blog/2010/01/08/all-new\_endings\_in\_tatsunoko\_vs.\_capcom:\_ultimate\_all-stars,\_courtesy\_of\_udon\_
19. ↑ http://www.destructoid.com/e3-09-five-new-characters-coming-to-the-us-tatsunoko-134560.phtml
20. ↑ http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2009/09/17/introducing\_tatsunoko\_vs\_capcom\_game\_director\_ishizawasan
21. ↑ http://www.e-capcom.com/ec/srDispProductListProductLink/doProductTreeLink/1/1/A10002336/10/10/srDispProductList/
22. ↑ http://www.destructoid.com/bit-transmission-episode-6-with-capcom-s-seth-killian-172324.phtml
23. ↑ http://geimin.net/da/db/2010\_ne\_mc/index.php
24. ↑ http://geimin.net/da/db/2009\_ne\_fa/index.php

## External Links

* Official site (JP)
* Official site (US)
* Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars on the Capcom Wiki