Darkstalkers
Vampires, werewolves, and a pharaoh's mummy. The night Capcom let the monsters loose in the arcade.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1994
- Manufacturer
- Capcom
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Fighting games
- Decade
- '90s arcade games
Right in the middle of the Street Fighter II craze, Capcom dropped a fighter that was something else entirely. Instead of martial artists, you got a cast straight out of a horror movie marathon: an aristocratic vampire, a succubus, a catgirl, a werewolf, a mummy, a rock-and-roll zombie. All of it animated so smoothly your jaw hit the floor.
It was the cabinet you'd watch even if you weren't playing, just to see the characters move. And for Street Fighter regulars, it was a whole new challenge: faster, wilder, and full of moves that didn't look like anything else.
History
Capcom released Darkstalkers in 1994. In Japan it was called Vampire, and in the West it arrived as Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors. It was one of Capcom's first games on its CPS2 arcade hardware.
Its art style, inspired by classic movie monsters and anime, and its outstanding animation turned it into a cult series. Morrigan the succubus became one of Capcom's most recognizable characters and has popped up in plenty of crossover games.
How to play
The controls use Capcom's six-button setup: three punches and three kicks of different strengths. Special moves come from joystick motions, and a power meter lets you fire off souped-up versions of those attacks.
Compared to other fighters of the time, Darkstalkers lets you chain light hits into heavier ones with ease and block in midair. That makes it fast and aggressive. Every character moves in a very distinct way, so your best bet is to pick one and really learn their tricks.
Fun facts
- In Japan it was called Vampire.
- It was one of Capcom's first games on CPS2 hardware.
- Morrigan, Demitri, and Felicia are among its best-known characters.
In the arcade
Darkstalkers isn't in the arcade yet. It's on the wish list, and you can hit “I Want to Play It” on this page to help it climb. Coming soon to UsuArcade if the votes call for it.
Meanwhile, if you want a Capcom fighter, Street Fighter II is already on the floor for one-on-one bragging rights, and if you're in the mood for monsters and dark fantasy, Ghosts 'n Goblins is waiting with its zombies and demons.
Once Darkstalkers lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
When did Darkstalkers come out?
1994, from Capcom.
How many players is Darkstalkers?
Two players at the same time, head to head.
Are Darkstalkers and Vampire the same game?
Yes. Vampire is the Japanese title, and Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors is the Western one.
Can I play Darkstalkers on UsuArcade?
Not yet. Vote for it with “I Want to Play It”; meanwhile, Street Fighter II is in the arcade.
