Fighting games are a part of history and have been since the days of video game invention. And over many decades, the games have become more refined and explored, and during the eras of pixel-to-3D rendering there are some series that stand out on top. Whether that is due to the modes on offer, the character roster players can choose from, the spectacle of the fights and the flashy moves, or the integral mechanics of the game have brought players back for more.
Some of these games defined a generation of players and consoles alike. One such console is the PS3. Sony's juggernaut console launched a thousand fists and kicks and revolutionized the fighting genre fans know today in all of its splendor. However, which games appeared victorious overall and took the fighting crown back in the PS3's heyday?
8 Tekken Tag Tournament 2
A fighting game known for its particle effects, juggling combo mechanics, and a fighting style that goes beyond the 2D planes of such other games. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 includes a wide variety of fighters spanning different martial arts, origins, and even sometimes different species.
In a game proving quality trumps quantity there may not be a myriad of modes to engage with, however, their fighting mechanics were almost perfect. Taking the single-fight experience and doubling the fun by introducing tag teams proved to be a massive hit in online multiplayer.
7 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 & Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate Of Two Worlds
Comics and cartoons have been holding crossover events for years. However, Capcom has decided to run with the idea including Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom and Street Fighter X Tekken. The PS3's installments of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 & 3 prove to be victorious against its other competitors.
Taking the best parts of each Marvel and Capcom franchise, many fans regarded it as the best fighter that was available on the PlayStation Network at the time with spectacular graphics, simple move sets, and character choice. A fine brawler for those wanting the best of both I.P. worlds.
6 Soul Calibur 4
This Japanese fighter has each character in the roster equipped with different weapons from bo staffs to nun-chucks and titular good and evil swords: Soul Calibur and Soul Edge.
The sixth entry into the series debuting on the PS3, this game shines and oozes quality coming over the adversity of a bad marketing job and finding a solid and dedicated fan base. A game crammed with many different modes and a surprising, but well-received, character creation mode for those players wanting to insert themselves in the game or create the power-tripping anime fantasy they have yet to explore.
5 Persona 4 Arena & Arena Ultimax
The Persona series has never been precious with its characters even though their main story games are often dark and deal with aspects of the human psyche and metaphysical abstract concepts. On their days off they dance to music or in this case, settle their disputes with a good old-fashioned slugfest.
In this iteration, Arena & Arena Ultimax, transplants characters into a roster where players can pick their favorites to do battle. Players may seem a bit lost with this game as it is aimed specifically at those who played the original flagship RPG. However, for the fans and already invested players, this is a resplendent fighting game with surprising depth and quality of the fighting mechanics.
4 Mortal Kombat (2011)
From chain-slinging with Scorpion to giving the cold shoulder with Sub-Zero, Mortal Kombat is a powerhouse of a game in a series of well-renowned games. Regraded as the game that brought the franchise back on track by bringing the arcade experience into players' living rooms, this installment brought a breath of fresh air to the series and set up a platform for many (successful) sequels to come.
Taking its 2-D pixilated roots and bringing it to modern times, this reboot was a commercial hit within the fighting game community and with gamers on the whole with its brutal style and over-the-top attacks making each attack and finisher feel visceral and brutal.
3 UFC Undisputed 3
Unlike the other games based on fantastical fighting championships, this game takes the real high-octane thrill of fighting in the octagon and brings it to the gamer's hands.
With strikes, grapples, submissions, and knock-outs: Undisputed 3 is the ultimate game on the PS3 for fans of mixed martial arts. This game also comes with the upside that is dedicated to just fighting, and some fans of the sport may find their favorite people to play with, while newcomers can jump straight into the fights that brought them to purchase the game in the first place.
2 BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger & Continuum Shift
BlazBlue is a long-running fighting series established back in 2008 with a more weird, eccentric character design than other games in the genre. A very polished 2D fighting experience with an interesting complex lore and loving chibi animations thrown in.
This game may not appeal to mainstream fighting fans with a complex story that encourages players to play through each character's narrative to unlock interconnecting storylines. Some players, however, may be put off by BlazBlue's story arcs, which are laden with Japanese-style anime tropes.
1 Street Fighter 4 & Super Street Fighter 4
The fourth installment in one of the biggest fighting franchises, Street Fighter, this game is touted by some fans as a spiritual successor to the Street Fighter 2 game that started the large roster of the modern-day adaptation.
A solid mechanic-based fighting game fought between two players with a large roster of new and returning characters. Compared to the current day iterations, players may find the modes available to play are a bit sparse. However, it is a good place for fans of the genre and new gamers to start off with. The super version just brings a more refined experience of the base game.
