Summary
Capcom are the minds behind some ofthe most popular video game franchises on the planet, but while most games within these series are critically acclaimed, not every entry ends up being a complete homerun. Whether it’s because a game is a little too ambitious, or it strays from the core gameplay formula that the series is known for, there are plenty of reasons that can contribute to a game being divisive, and when it comes to Capcom, this applies to more than a few of their titles.
Nobody should be dissuaded from trying out a game if it’s seen as a bit more of a refined taste among the community. If anything, this can make it more enjoyable, considering these games often offer a completely unique experience that many have still come to love. It’s time to uncover exactly these exactly Capcom games received such mixed feelings among players, and whether opinions have changed over time.
WhenStreet Fighter 5launched, many felt it was lacking a lot of the core features that have become synonymous withStreet Fighter, including arcade mode. Despite that, the core fast-paced gameplay was still very solid, and after four years of patches and updates, the game would eventually reach a much better state. With tons of new characters and the unique V-Gauge mechanic, many fans of the series came to, eventually, really enjoy whatStreet Fighter 5had to offer.
However, some felt that these huge improvements came a little too late, and held onto the sour opinion they had at launch. The morerock-heavy soundtrackof the game also received a mixed reception from fans, along with the new characters. WhileStreet Fighter 5would end off on a high note, it is still regarded as a somewhat controversial entry in this iconic series.
In a move very reminiscent ofMetal Gear Solid 2, Capcom decided that, rather than bringing back the iconic protagonist of the series forDevil May Cry 4, these shoes would instead be filled by a fresh new face: Nero. Not everyone was happy that Dante was seemingly being replaced for this game, but Nero still had plenty of fans who enjoyedhacking and slashing demonswith a brand-new character, especially since his Red Queen sword grants him entirely different attacks.
Another divisive aspect of the fourth installment is the backtracking, which feels more suited to theResident Evilseries thanDevil May Cry. It can be easy to ignore thanks to the game’s excellent combat and progression system, but players who like to see a little more level variety might want to jump over to the third or fifth game.
Resident Evil 0allows players tocontrol two characters at once; a concept which, while some fans love, others see as the game’s biggest issue. Both Rebecca and Billy can be controlled with separate thumbsticks, and can also pass items between one another, which they will need to be doing a lot considering the game ditches item boxes altogether.
This game feels like Capcom’s attempt to shake up theResident Evilseries before the fourth game revolutionized the entire gameplay formula. As a result, every fan has their own opinion on it, but many still agree that the game is at least worth trying, especially since it’s quite important to the overall lore and features plenty of unique gimmicks that have not been seen since.
Though Capcom usually sticks to releasing sequels for their already well-established IPs,Exoprimalwas a game that seemingly came out of nowhere. People were understandably a little skeptical about this newP-V-P-V-E gamewhich featured mech-suits and swarms of dinosaurs, but when it did finally launch, the game carved out a pretty unique identity for itself, and still remains popular to this very day.
The staggering amount of deadly dinos that get thrown the players' way can make the core gameplay feel a little overwhelming for some, but there’s no doubt that it’s still not exhilarating, which has resulted in the game receiving varying opinions from onlookers. Still, while it can be considered fairly divisive,Exoprimalis still a game that puts Capcom’s boundless creativity on full display, which makes it well worth jumping into.
The firstLost Planetgame contained a very lengthy and lore-heavy story that revolves around humanity’s attempts to survive on ice planets which are packed full of bloodthirsty monsters. While the second game still explores some of the world’s factions and characters, it focuses much more on thrusting players into epic battles with giant mutants, which are all the more exciting to be a part of when playing infour-player co-op.
Swinging around a behemoth with grappling hooks and jumping inside its mouth to blow apart its arteries is the least most outlandish thing players will get up to during a typical playthrough ofLost Planet 2. Fans looking for a good level of story substance will find a bit more to chew on with the first game, butLost Planet 2is still an absolute blast for quick action-packed co-op sessions.
By the timeMega Man 8was released, the basic gameplay formula of the series had been firmly established, and it was essentially a make-or-break game for players who were keen to see how the latest installment would carry forward the momentum. The factMega Man 8remained largely similar to the previous games and didn’t get too crazy with new additions has made the game quite controversial among the fanbase, though it has always been praised for its amazing soundtrack and level design.
It does, however, contain several gimmick-heavy areas which can disrupt the pacing and general flow of the game, especially the snowboard sections. The game’s obsession with spikes has also been a common point of division among the fanbase. Though the majority ofMega Mangames are beloved classics in the eyes of many, the eighth mainline entry is a particularly divisive member of thislongrunning 2D franchise.
Dead Rising 3was a launch title for the Xbox One, and as a result, it featured a ton of gimmicks and experimental mechanics which some found immensely fun, others found a little boring. A prime example is how the Kinect can be used to pick up noise, meaning players can attract a swarm of zombies to a particular area, giving them a chance to sneak by without being detected. Of course, it can also backfire on the player if they accidentally crunch down a little too hard on a snack, only to be overrun by the horde.
The game also takes the combo-weapon mechanic fromDead Rising 2and builds upon it with combo-vehicle combinations, allowing Nick to stitch together motorcycles, cars, and even streamrollers to conjure up all kinds of weird and whacky modes of transport. Though not everyone was on-board with how outlandishDead Rising 3was with its mechanics, it ended up making the experience a ton of fun for others who came to enjoy it.
Marvel VS Capcom 2and3are some of the most beloved fighting games in the industry, which is whyInfiniteended up splitting opinions, since it was so easy to compare to the gems that came before. The biggest subject of contention wasthe art style, which took a more realistic and grounded angle which was far different from the comic-esqu heavy-ink aesthetic of the previous games.
This also applied to the story mode, where a lot of the characters looked a little off and lifeless. With that being said though, seeing Capcom legends interacting with legendary Marvel superheroes and villains makes for some incredible story moments. Additionally, the actual gameplay itself is still top-notch and very satisfying, especially with the limitless number of teams that can be made thanks to the extensive roster.
