Pocket Fighter - PS3

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: 2-8-2011
Critic Score (1-100): Not Availalbe
Genre(s): Action, Side view, Fighting, Anime / Manga
Media Type(s): Physical

Pocket Fighter is one of the most light-hearted fighting games you're ever likely to see. Using the same stylised fighters seen in Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Pocket Fighter manages to combine cute graphics with engrossing gameplay.

12 diminutive characters await the player's control, with a cast featuring recognisable - albeit youthful - heroes previously seen in the Street Fighter and Darkstalkers series. Young versions of Ken, Ryu, Chun-Li, Sakura, Akuma, Zangief, Abuki and Dan are ready to slug it out with the macabre Darkstalkers trio of Felicia, Morrigan, and Hsien-Ko. A new character, Tessa, also makes her Capcom debut, having previously starred in the Warzard arcade game in Japan.

Fighting takes place within a number of beautifully drawn locations, and players battle to collect power-up gems. Each character is equipped with a wealth of special attacks, and these can be pieced together to form devastating attacks worthy of their full-size counterparts.

Unique to the PlayStation version are the battle modes: Arcade Battle, Free Battle, Running Battle and the Training Mode. Another interesting mode is the Edit Fighter Mode which allows you to create your own fighters, choose their moves, save them to Memory Card, and pit them against a friend's stored character.

Pocket Fighter is a single-player and multiplayer 2D fighting game. It features characters from Capcom's major series, such as Street Fighter and Darkstalkers, reimagined in super-deformed chibi style. There is no overarching story tying the roster together, but each fighter has short humorous cutscenes and rival interactions that parody their parent franchises. Players step into the role of one of these pint-sized brawlers and fight through a series of matches filled with slapstick comedy and exaggerated transformations.

Combat uses simplified controls compared to traditional fighting games. Instead of complex inputs, most attacks are mapped to straightforward button presses, making the game accessible to casual players. Standard punches and kicks can be chained into combo strings, which often trigger comedic costume changes or visual gags. These transformations briefly dress characters in outfits drawn from other Capcom games before delivering their next strike, emphasizing the parody style.

A central mechanic is the collection of colored gems. When a character is struck, gems spill out onto the stage, which can then be picked up by either player. Each color corresponds to a different attack type - red for punches, blue for kicks, and yellow for special moves. Gathering gems upgrades those categories, increasing both the power and variety of available techniques. The gem system introduces a layer of strategy, as managing offense and defense directly impacts a character's move set during the match.

Super moves and special abilities play a large role. Each character retains signature attacks from their original series, though presented in exaggerated fashion. For example, Ryu still throws Hadokens, but with over-the-top animations, while Morrigan's attacks are delivered with comedic flourishes. Characters also have unique “Flash Combo” sequences, which are extended chains that automatically launch when the player performs a specific input, often accompanied by elaborate costume gags.

The game includes multiple modes. The single-player arcade mode pits a character against a ladder of opponents, ending with a short comical ending sequence. Versus mode allows competitive matches between two players. Additional features such as training options and survival challenges appear in certain ports.

*** Data by MobyGames.com ***

× Some Disclaimers

  × Video games are pre-owned unless otherwise specified

  × Disc-based video games come with their case and cover art unless otherwise specified

         × PS1 Games May Not Have Their Front Cover Art/Instruction Manual

  × Cartridge-based video games come with just the cartridge unless otherwise specified

  × CD & DVD based discs are resurfaced before we put them out for sale

  × Pre-Owned games may have stickers or marks on them or their cases, either price tags from us or other stickers/markings from other stores or owners.