Want to know the secret ingredient that can turn a good fighting game into an amazing one? Guest characters! When done right, they inject a shot of adrenaline, sparking excitement and debate among players. But here's the thing: not all guest characters are created equal. Some are legendary additions, while others... well, let's just say they're better left forgotten. Ever wondered who the absolute best guest characters in fighting game history are? Get ready, because we're diving in! And remember, this isn't just a list of Mortal Kombat characters (though they certainly have a strong showing!). We're spreading the love across multiple franchises.
So, buckle up as we count down the top 5 guest characters to ever grace the fighting game stage:
5) The Baz – *Divekick*
Divekick is, at its core, a brilliant parody of the entire fighting game genre. Imagine a game with only two moves: diving and kicking. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! There's a surprising amount of strategic depth packed into those two actions. But the humor is definitely front and center, and that extends to its roster of characters, which are all loving jabs at fighting game tropes. Most of these references are pretty obvious. Kung Pao, for example, is a clear nod to Kung Lao from Mortal Kombat. Dr. Victoria Shoals cleverly mashes up Dr. Doom from Marvel vs. Capcom 3 with Dr. Scholl's, the foot care company. But The Baz? He requires a little backstory.
And this is the part most people miss... Back in the development days of Street Fighter 2, one of the rejected character concepts was a burly, bearded man covered in ropes and spikes named Zubaz. This concept art was eventually unearthed by fans, who instantly fell in love with the bizarre design. Zubaz even became the unofficial mascot of the popular YouTube channel, Two Best Friends Play. When Divekick launched its Kickstarter campaign, the YouTubers contributed funds specifically to get Zubaz included in the game. For legal reasons, the developers at Iron Galaxy changed his name to The Baz, and a cult hero was born!
4) Mega Man – *Street Fighter X Tekken*
The initial announcement that Mega Man was joining the roster of Street Fighter X Tekken back in 2012 felt like a dream come true for many fans. Mega Man is an iconic character, and the prospect of seeing him in a new fighting game was incredibly exciting. But here's where it gets controversial... Then Capcom revealed his design. Instead of the sleek, futuristic Mega Man we all know and love, they opted for the... less flattering design from the original Mega Man's North American box art from 1987. Yes, the infamously "Bad Box Art Mega Man"!
Seeing that, shall we say, less athletic version of Mega Man enter the fight was both hilarious and slightly horrifying. Bad Box Art Mega Man might not be the most effective fighter in the game, but no other guest character will elicit quite as many laughs. He's a testament to Capcom's willingness to poke fun at themselves, and for that, he earns his spot on this list.
3) Akuma – *X-Men: Children of the Atom*
Akuma made his debut as a hidden boss in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and he was notoriously difficult to defeat. But once you unlocked him, you had access to one of the most powerful characters in the game. Then, Capcom created X-Men: Children of the Atom, and, for reasons that remain somewhat mysterious, they decided that Akuma absolutely needed to be included in the Marvel fighter. It was a bizarre choice that didn't make a whole lot of sense (and Capcom didn't even bother trying to explain it), but it turned out to be a pivotal decision. Why? Because it paved the way for X-Men vs. Street Fighter, which, in turn, led to the legendary Marvel vs. Capcom series! Think about it: without Akuma's seemingly random inclusion in Children of the Atom, fighting game fans might have missed out on one of the most beloved and influential crossover franchises in the genre.
4) Link – *Soul Calibur 2*
Much like Mortal Kombat, the Soul Calibur series is renowned for its impressive roster of guest characters. Over the years, players have had the opportunity to control the likes of Yoda, Darth Vader, Heihachi Mishima, Geralt of Rivia, and many more. But none of them have integrated into the Soul Calibur universe as seamlessly as Link in Soul Calibur 2. Remember, Soul Calibur is all about weapon-based combat. Link, with his Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and various other iconic items, fit right into the series, making it feel as though he had always belonged there. For a franchise so well-known for its guest characters, Link stands out as the absolute best the team has ever incorporated. His moveset felt natural within the game's mechanics, and his presence added a unique layer of depth to the already rich combat system.
1) Predator – *Mortal Kombat X*
As previously mentioned, selecting just one guest character from the Mortal Kombat series feels almost unfair. Especially in recent years, NetherRealm Studios has been cranking them out at an impressive rate. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if some of you would prefer to replace Predator with Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Omni-Man, or any of the other fantastic guest characters featured in recent MK games. But here's why Predator takes the top spot: it's not just about the character himself. Sure, he's a fantastic addition with a fun moveset, a striking aesthetic, and some genuinely hilarious interactions with other characters. But the real star of the show is what dropped alongside him: the skin you unlock for Jax!
The Predator pack allows you to dress Jax up as Carl Weathers' character, Al Dillon, from the original Predator film. And NetherRealm even went the extra mile by bringing Weathers back into the recording booth to re-record his dialogue! But it gets even better: if you use the pack to dress Johnny Cage up as a commando and then pit him against Dillon Jax, instead of the usual pre-match banter, they recreate the iconic scene of Weathers and Arnold Schwarzenegger clasping hands in the manliest handshake of all time. It's an all-time classic addition to MK that perfectly captures the spirit of both franchises.
So, there you have it: the five best guest characters in fighting game history! But what do you think? Do you agree with our list? Are there any other guest characters that you feel deserve a spot? Let us know in the comments below! Which guest character completely changed how you looked at a fighting game? Or perhaps you think guest characters are a gimmick that detracts from the core experience? We want to hear your opinions! Join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
