Darkstalkers is one of Capcom’s oldest fighting game franchises. Unlike other older properties, it hasn’t seen much of a resurgence this generation. With the revival of Street Fighter over 4 years ago and the resulting comeback of the fighting game genre, it was only a matter of time before rumors of a Darkstalkers revival starting swirling. Perhaps to gauge consumer interest in the brand, Capcom has released Darkstalkers Resurrection on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Blast Processing

Darkstalkers Resurrection is a compilation release similar to last year’s Marvel vs Capcom Origins, containing two titles: Night Warriors (which was Darkstalkers 2) and Darkstalkers 3. Both games have HD filters for the character sprites, a variety of display modes, and new character select art in high definition. Like previous installments in the HD remakes from Capcom, there is a vault with unlockable artwork.

To be frank, I didn’t even notice that the game was in HD. Not only is that sort of thing not that important to me personally, but the game is just too old to really take advantage of this kind of a makeover. Without a complete redraw, like what happened with Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, the sprites just look pixelated and kind of there with no real pizzazz. At least some of the backgrounds happen to look pretty good, being smoothly animated for their time. Unlike Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition, there is no remixed music to be found in this package, which I think is a shame. The music here is mostly forgettable, and it was a perfect opportunity to add something extra. I’m really just thankful that the game is playable online. Darkstalkers Resurrection utilizes the GGPO middleware for silky smooth online play, even with pings above 200.

Another new feature I really like are the character tutorials. I admit I groaned a bit when I saw tutorial in the selectable options, and thought it would be some cookie-cutter “How to Play”, but imagine my surprise when I found that the tutorials are done on a per-character basis. They quickly tell you what each character is good and bad at while also giving you combo challenges and tutorials. This is the thing I love to see in fighting games because it’s this kind of information that makes beginner players into intermediate players.

A Motley Crew Of Combatants

Darkstalkers has one of the most memorable cast of characters in fighting game history. Each fighter is based on a monster of mythology or lore. From vampires to succubi, mermen to mummies, your favorite creature of the night has an avatar to play as. They’ve all come together because in Night Warriors, Pyron, some intergalactic lord of the heavens, has challenged all the monsters of the night to see if any are worthy, and absorb their power into his own. Then, in Darkstalkers 3, Jedah, some demon from hell, has challenged all the monsters of the night to see if any are worthy, and absorb their power into his own. Story is not the strong point of Darkstalkers.

Each fighter’s techniques are inspired by their origins. Anakaris the mummy can summon coffins to strike you with, while Demitri the vampire’s ultimate attack is a series of brutal bites. Sasquatch the sasquatch uses ice and snow to stun his foes, while Victor, the Frankenstein’s Monster, can charge his slow punches and kicks with electricity for added range and damage.

Darkstalkers 3 cranks the wacky dial up, adding the Red Riding Hood-like B.B. Hood, a satanic force in Jedah, who fights with his own body parts and blood, and Q-Bee, a giant frickin’ hornet woman who fights with bees. In addition, several characters get new moves that accentuate their wackiness. Victor gets a charging headbutt which actually increases the size of his head temporarily! And Morrigan, the popular succubus, can shoot over a dozen projectiles with one new super technique.

A Shot In The Darkstalkers

The two games in this bundle are mostly similar, but Night Warriors plays a bit slower and more methodically than Darkstalkers 3. Also, Darkstalkers 3 doesn’t use a traditional round system. The life you have at the end of the “round” is the life you start with immediately. Both games utilize a chain combo system, in which normal moves can be cancelled into other normal moves. However, unlike the Versus series, chain combos cannot be cancelled into specials or most supers. Speaking of supers, almost every special move in the game can be powered up by pressing multiple attack buttons, like in Street Fighter 3 or Street Fighter 4. Finally, characters have powerful EX moves, which are like traditional supers.

So how does it all play? In a word, kinda awkward. It’s not what you might be used to. Especially with the quick pace of Darkstalkers 3, you have to be on your toes. When a character dashes and then cancels into a normal, the momentum of the dash continues to propel them forward while the normal comes out. This game can really be a pokefest, since even the most meager of jabs can turn into a free combo. It gets crazier, as some characters’ dashes (Morrigan, Felicia, J. Talbain) carry them off the ground, giving them an instant overhead attack. Those used to Street Fighter will have their minds blown by the speed of the high-low mixup game.

Matches can feel like they end quickly. It’s kill or be killed. I recommend starting off with the slower pace of Night Warriors. Thankfully, at least for the time being, it seems like both games in the collection have an ample online presence. The online community for Marvel Super Heroes died quickly in favor of Marvel vs Capcom 1. Though, to be fair, Marvel Super Heroes is broken to bejeezus and back.

Embrace The Night… Or You Know, Whatever

Neither Night Warriors nor Darkstalkers 3 are easy games to learn, in my opinion. You have all kinds of offensive options, different kinds of dashes, and just as many defensive options. Guard breaks are much more vital in Darkstalkers than in other fighting games, and push-blocking to get your opponent off you is important. There is no time to breathe in this game; you are as active on defense as you are on the attack. It is a difficult game to learn if you are new to fighting games. I personally think the freedom to do darn near whatever you want is freeing… and really fun. It’s not for everyone, but this game has a style all its own.

Ted played dozens and dozens of games online with Morrigan and Lilith as his mains, and futzed around in Tutorial mode, completing Morrgian’s challenges.

Related Link(s):

• Darkstalkers Resurrection Out Today

+ Both games in collection feel worthwhile
+ Great online
+ Great tutorial mode
-HD Remake doesn’t feel HD
-Vault is still useless

Available on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Version Reviewed: PlayStation 3