Jubenhimer
Member
Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. shook up the entire crossover and fighting game realms when it was introduced in 1999. Not only did it finally allow Nintendo's iconic characters to be pitted against each-other, but it also offered a unique twist on the fighting game genre that even those who don't even like Fighting games can enjoy and understand. 13 years later, Sony Computer Entertainment, who had already amassed respectable roster of fan-favorite characters in its own right through the PlayStation brand, threw their hat into the ring with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. While the execution and handling of the game left a lot to be desired, the fact that Sony was able to attempt such a thing showed that Nintendo isn't the only Platform holder with a line of beloved characters.
And then there's Microsoft. Xbox Game Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Microsoft Corporation, doesn't have the same quantity or recognizably of mascots and characters that Nintendo or even Sony do. There's Master Chief, Marcus Phoenix, Banjo and.... Nope, that's it. Granted, a large part of this is due to the risk-averse nature that Xbox Game Studios has had for the last 10 years or so, resulting in their general struggle to creating successful or at least cult-favorite new IP for Xbox systems, but its very difficult for me to imagine an Xbox Crossover game even being a thought.
That said, let's imagine that Xbox Studios got its act together, and managed to crank out a roster at least as beloved as its closest competitor, Sony Interactive, what would their crossover game be like? Well I already know what it wouldn't be like, a Fighting game, let alone a Smash Bros. Clone. With the exception of the new Killer Instinct game, Xbox Game Studios has no real experience with the Fighting game genre. Granted Nintendo didn't either, but Massahiro Sakurai did (He was a competitive Street Fighter II player and big KoF fan at the time), and his team at HAL Laboratory was able to craft a fighting game that distinguished itself from the competition. And even if Xbox went the Smash Bros. route, it wouldn't escape the comparisons and eyerolls from detractors, and if they try to make it different from Smash, then it just wouldn't be nearly as fun or interesting as NIntendo's offering. Sony learned this the hard way when making PSABR.
So rather than a Crossover Fighting game, I think what Xbox should do instead, is a crossover team-based hero game. Similar to Overwatch, or even their own upcoming Bleeding Edge. Have a variety of Xbox Characters battle in a 4v4 match of capture points. That way, Microsoft can truly distinguish themselves, while also playing to their main strength, which has always been Online Multiplayer.
And then there's Microsoft. Xbox Game Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Microsoft Corporation, doesn't have the same quantity or recognizably of mascots and characters that Nintendo or even Sony do. There's Master Chief, Marcus Phoenix, Banjo and.... Nope, that's it. Granted, a large part of this is due to the risk-averse nature that Xbox Game Studios has had for the last 10 years or so, resulting in their general struggle to creating successful or at least cult-favorite new IP for Xbox systems, but its very difficult for me to imagine an Xbox Crossover game even being a thought.
That said, let's imagine that Xbox Studios got its act together, and managed to crank out a roster at least as beloved as its closest competitor, Sony Interactive, what would their crossover game be like? Well I already know what it wouldn't be like, a Fighting game, let alone a Smash Bros. Clone. With the exception of the new Killer Instinct game, Xbox Game Studios has no real experience with the Fighting game genre. Granted Nintendo didn't either, but Massahiro Sakurai did (He was a competitive Street Fighter II player and big KoF fan at the time), and his team at HAL Laboratory was able to craft a fighting game that distinguished itself from the competition. And even if Xbox went the Smash Bros. route, it wouldn't escape the comparisons and eyerolls from detractors, and if they try to make it different from Smash, then it just wouldn't be nearly as fun or interesting as NIntendo's offering. Sony learned this the hard way when making PSABR.
So rather than a Crossover Fighting game, I think what Xbox should do instead, is a crossover team-based hero game. Similar to Overwatch, or even their own upcoming Bleeding Edge. Have a variety of Xbox Characters battle in a 4v4 match of capture points. That way, Microsoft can truly distinguish themselves, while also playing to their main strength, which has always been Online Multiplayer.
