Hiya!
It was a month ago when Arc System Works blew the collective fighting game community’s minds when they revealed they were working on a fighting game based on Marvel comics. Even if you aren’t a fighting game fan and you just like video games in general, the mere fact Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls looks as good as it does was more than enough to catch your attention.
Since then, however, Arc System Work has gone radio silent about the game. Hardly any news about how the game will play and what the mechanics are going to be. This also means that we don’t know how many characters will be in the roster as well as who’s going to be playable in Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls. So far, the only ones we know who are going to be in the game are the 8 characters they did show off in the trailer.
Of course, this has led to a lot of content creators to speculate and put together their dream roster. A lot of them are going to be pulling their ideas from what other Marvel characters have appeared in other fighting games, such as the Marvel vs. Capcom series. Well, I’m different as I see this as an opportunity for Arc System Works to pull in Marvel characters who haven’t been in a fighting game before. After all, why should Miss Marvel and Star-Lord be the only new Marvel characters in their new fighting game? Let’s go check out who I think Arc System Works should give chances to!
I mean, don’t you wonder how a guy with extending mechanical tentacles would play in a fighting game?
As of right now, the only Marvel villain to be confirmed for Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls is Doctor Doom. This makes a whole lot of sense as he is a staple of the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. However, I did come to realize how, despite how Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s most popular and recognizable characters, hardly any of his rogue’s gallery has shown up in a fighting game. Side note: Venom doesn’t count anymore as he’s more of an anti-hero than a Spider-Man antagonist.
Initially, I thought about picking Green Goblin as he’s supposed to be Spider-Man’s greatest foe. While I do believe Arc System Works could do wonders with him in a fighting game, I do want them to be a little more ambitious and go with a character who would play a little more unique than “guy with a glider and throws bombs” archetype. So, I went with Doctor Octopus. I just think it would be more fun to see what Arc System Works would do with this kind of character. Would they make Doctor Octopus a slow, defensive character who can poke great distances with his tentacles? Would they make him someone who has a long range grab or someone who can spring surprisingly fast by pushing the ground using his mechanical arms? There’s just so much unrealized potential and that’s why I would like to see Doctor Octopus in this game.
#2 The Thing
Why is the man who’s catchphase is “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” has never been in a mainstream fighting game yet?
Although there is a mod where you can put the character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, The Thing has never made an official appearance in a fighting game as far as I know. I think it’s a crying shame how someone who seems built to be in a fighting game hasn’t been in one. This does open the door for Arc System Work to do what’s right, though.
Most people would think The Thing would play much like The Hulk in the Marvel vs. Capcom games. If Arc System Works does this, I would be disappointed because I do see The Thing more suitable as more of a grappler archetype. He can still have some rushing attacks because it does look like Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls will be a fast paced game. Even so, I do hope, if Arc System Works does put The Thing in the game, he becomes someone focused on tossing his opponents around.
If you’re going to add a female to the roster, why not pick one of the most powerful Marvel characters?
I do think Arc System Works has done a good job of balancing the gender count for Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls based on the trailer. While they only revealed Miss Marvel and Storm as being the only female Marvel characters who are playable so far, that ratio isn’t terrible considering there are much more males than females in the comics… as far as I know. Even so, I would be remiss if I didn’t add another female fighter to the game. Although there were many girls I wanted to put here, Scarlet Witch just edged out the likes of Jubilee, Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost.
The biggest reason why I chose Scarlett Witch over the others is essentially her power set and how much Arc System Works can do with it. She started out as a bit player to becoming one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel. This would allow the game’s developers to simply go wild with what to do with her and they can have a lot of unbridled creativity with her moveset. It also doesn’t hurt how, thanks to the live-action movies, she’s also has become one of the most recognizable females in Marvel, which would help reel in the more casual crowd.
#4 Morbius
It’s Morbin’ Time!
Okay, meme’s aside, am I the only one who actually thinks Morbius, The Living Vampire, would make a cool fighting game character? I mean, the concept alone of adding a vampire-like creature to a fighting game has worked out wonders in the past! Just look at Demitri and Morrigan of Darkstalkers fame!
As someone who has vampire-like abilities, Arc System Works would have a blast utilizing his powers in Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls. Aside from the usual suite of punches and kicks all fighters get, Morbius could have a command grab where he would replenish some of his life by sucking on his opponent’s blood. His hypnotic ability could be used to temporarily switch up their controls or disable their special moves. There are probably more but I’m not a Morbius fan… but I do like vampires in fighting games!
#5 Blade
If you have a “living vampire” in your fighting game, you gotta have a vampire slayer as well to balance things out!
Now, Blade is simply another character who was made to be in a fighting game. Not only is he super agile and fast, he’s also got a slew of tools and equipment suitable for, not only fighting against vampires, but going against Marvel’s greatest heroes and villains!
Although he would be more of a weapons-based fighter, he would still play much more different than someone like Star-Lord as his weapons are, well, blades and such. Sure, Blade would use some guns but, when you think of the character, you do picture him doing more flips and dips with things like swords and that weird bladed boomerang thing. Also, I do think he would just be cool in the game and, as he hasn’t been in any fighting game yet, Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls would make an excellent debut for him.
BONUS: Sentry
Can you say “Final Boss Character”?
I kind of miss how fighting games would have a big boss battle at the end of their story/arcade mode. SNK still keeps the tradition alive somewhat but it’s slowly going out of fashion. I say this because I actually don’t want Sentry to be a pickable fighter as I think he would be pretty boring. Rather, I would like it if he was the last guy you had to face as he is powerful enough to illicit the need to get 4 characters to try to take him down. Make Sentry the big threat of Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls but not someone you can pick. That way, Arc System Works can make him as powerful as they want.
Byee!
What other Marvel character (who hasn’t shown up in a fighting game before) would you want to see in Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls? Who else would you want to see Arc System Works work their magic on? Let me know in the comments section below!
3rd World Geeks 