Play Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors (USA 940705) Online

Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors came out in 1994, and I first played it years later through MAME, the arcade emulator. It was developed and published by Capcom, and it felt like a product of its time, a clear evolution from Street Fighter II but with a much darker, weirder aesthetic. The game didn't try to be realistic; it leaned into comic book horror with a style that was both grotesque and playful.

You control one of several supernatural fighters, like the vampire Demitri or the werewolf Jon Talbain, with the objective being to defeat your opponent in a best-of-three rounds match. The game introduced mechanics like chain combos and special moves that often involved dramatic transformations or summoning creatures. The pacing is fast, with a high emphasis on aerial combat and aggressive pressure, and the difficulty can be punishing against the computer. It feels frantic and creative, a game where you're constantly trying to out-weird your opponent with flashy, over-the-top attacks.