Capcom isone of the most prolific publishers and developersin video game history. It has developed some of the most popular franchises around, includingStreet Fighter,Resident Evil,Monster Hunter, and more.
Throughout its long life going back to the 80s, Capcom easily developed over hundreds of games, kickstarting plenty of franchises that have managed to survive to this day. However, many other franchises failed to attain the same kind of longevity, despite gaining cult followings among the myriad of Capcom fans. Here are some great Capcom franchises whose last entry was a long time ago, and also seem unlikely to make a comeback.
Heated Rivalries Between High School Fighters
Rival Schools: United by Fate
Rival Schools…Out Of Control!Capcom unleashes explosive tag-team fighting action in Rival Schools™ - the most innovative 3-D fighter that teams up 14 brand new warriors united by fate. Vibrant graphics, an intense storyline, outrageous new combos and Capcom’s signature gameplay make Rival Schools™ the 3-D tag-team battle that’s completely out of control! In the ultimate fight for justice, there is no rival!
Capcom created plenty of unique and diverse fighting game IPsduring the fighting game boom of the 90s, withRival Schoolsbeing one of their more popular efforts. The roster is made of characters from various high schools, who have begun getting into brawls with each other after students have been randomly attacked and kidnapped on the streets. The game was followed by a single sequel,Project Justice, which released in 2000.
Since then,Rival Schoolshas yet to receive another entry, despite it being more than twenty years sinceProject Justice. Though fighting games did drop in popularity in the mid-2000s, the revival following the release ofStreet Fighter 4failed to stir up any possibility of a similar revival forRival Schools. With designer and director Hideaki Itsuno now leaving Capcom, the future ofRival Schoolsseems more uncertain than ever.
Viewtiful Joe
LIFE IS VIEWTIFUL!
… Meet the world’s newest celluloid super-hero! Introducing Joe… an average guy that gets caught up in a crazy stunt-filled action movie world in order to rescue his girl, Silvia, from the clutches of evil! Blessed with viewtiful moves, Joe must use his newly acquired super powers to clobber an army of enemies. Utilize VFX power to zoom in, slow down or activate mach speed to fight your foes with style! Loaded with cool and funky visuals and non-stop action, Viewtiful Joe will remind you just how fun video games can be!Henshin a Go Go Baby!
Viewtiful Joe is way cool.
• Re-defines Action Games! Innovative 2D/3D Hybrid Action with Stunning Visual Effects!
• Fight Evil-Doers with Style and Rescue Your Girl, Silvia from the Clutches of Evil!
• Obliterate You Enemies Using VFX Power (Slow, Zoom In & Mach Speed)
• Vividly Comic and Funky Cartoon-Style Visuals… An Absolute Joy to Play!
Of the more unconventional video games created by Capcom,Viewtiful Joeis easily one of their most ostentatious and outlandish works. Developed by a team that would eventually become Clover Studio, the game was a side-scrolling beat-em-up that followed the titular Joe as he journeyed through the fantastical world of Movieland in order to save his girlfriend Silvia.
The game received several follow-ups, but hadn’t seen any follow-ups since 2005. With Clover Studio folding in 2007, many of the original developers that createdViewtiful Joeleft to make their own companies, leaving the franchise on hold at Capcom.While creator Hideki Kamiya has expressed interest in revisiting the series, it’s unlikely to happen due to him not even working at Capcom currently.
Initially developed as a follow-up toStreet Fighter,Final FightbecameCapcom’s flagship beat-em-up franchise, kickstarting a series of games that would last through the 90s. Set in the same universe asStreet Fighter, characters like Cody and Guy would also begin appearing inStreet Fightergames, connecting the two series permanently.
Though theFinal Fightseries had plenty of popular entries, the poor reception ofFinal Fight Revengein 1999 and the disastrous performance ofFinal Fight Streetwisein 2006 left the franchise hanging in limbo. Currently, the only time Capcom brings upFinal Fightis when characters from the series appear inStreet Fighter, but no new games for the franchise seem to be coming over the horizon.
Mega Man Legends
THE BLUE BOMBER BLASTS INTO A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION
Mega Man blasts his way into the third dimension in an amazing new adventure. Mega Man Legends combines the best of classic Mega Man action with enormous bosses, a riveting storyline and all the depth of the hottest RPG.
Explore vast 3-D worlds in your quest to find the treasure of all treasures, the Mother Lode. You’ll love the new 3-D graphics, deadly weapons and non-stop action… unless of course, you’re a boss.
•AWESOMEWEAPONS!•DIABOLICALBOSSES!•LEGENDARYGAMEPLAY!•NON-STOP 3-DACTION!
Mega Manis one of Capcom’s most popular and prolific franchises, with a history reaching all the way back to 1987. The original series branched off into all kinds of spin-offs and subseries, withMega Man XandMega Man Battle Networkbeing some of the most popular.Mega Man Legendswas a 3D reimagining of the franchise, turning the traditional side-scroller to a third-person action-adventure game.
Of the many subseries in theMega Manfranchise,Mega Man Legendsis easily one of the most openly mourned, due to not receiving a follow-up in over twenty years. TheMega Manfranchise overall has slowed down production considerably,with the only new game in the last ten years beingMega Man 11in 2018. WhileMega Man Legends 3was announced in 2010, it was ultimately canceled, leaving the subseries essentially dead in the water.
Capcom’s 90s Flagship RPG
Breath of Fire
Long ago, the war between the dragon clans almost destroyed the world. Now, centuries after the Light and Dark Dragons settled their scores, evil is rising again! Join Ryu, a descendant of the Light Dragons, who has the ability to transform into a powerful beast, in a quest to rescue his sister and stop the Dark Dragons’ plans. He is joined by a band of seven companions, each with unique animal powers. Developed by Capcom, Breath of Fire also features cleverly-hidden character cameos – if you know where to look!
While fighting games were incredibly popular in the 90s, another genre of video games was also taking the world by storm:role-playing games, particularly ones from Japan. Capcom threw their hat in the ring in 1993 with the firstBreath of Firegame, which followed a hero named Ryu, who has the power to transform into dragons. The game received four follow-ups between 1994 and 2002, withBreath of Fire 3and4commonly being seen as some of the best entries in the series.
Despite the franchise’s relative popularity, the franchise was put on hiatus, with Keiji Inafune chalking it up to the rise in popularity of other RPG franchises. There was a free-to-play gacha game calledBreath of Fire 6released in 2016, but it shut down the following year and is generally not considered a true entry by fans of the franchise.
The Classic Horror Fighting Game
Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
Add CA2S: Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors to your Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium game line-up!A mysterious force has awakened the warriors of the night. They rise from the darkness, baring their fangs. The night’s silence is broken by a distant howl. They are coming—the Darkstalkers!Players: 1-2 Player VSGenre: FightingVersions: Japanese & English
ThoughStreet FighterandMarvel vs. Capcomeasily take the first two slots when it comes to Capcom’s most popular fighting game series,Darkstalkersmost certainly occupies that third spot. A gothic-horror inspired fighting game with a roster that takes from all kinds of ghost stories and folklore,Darkstalkerspioneered plenty of unique gameplay mechanics that continue to be relevant in fighting games to this day.
Despite its relative popularity, especially considering characters like Morrigan and Felicia,Darkstalkershas not received a proper follow-up since 1997, leaving the franchise inactive for over 25 years. Capcom attempted to revive the franchise in 2013 with the release ofDarkstalkers Resurrection, a compilation of the 2nd and 3rdDarkstalkersgames. The poor sales of the collection led to the franchise’s revival being canceled,and no new entries in the series seem likely.
