(LAST UPDATE: 12/8/2009)
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Developer(s): Capcom
Publisher(s): Capcom
Platform(s): Arcade,
Sega Saturn
Release Date(s): 1995 (Arcade), 1996 (Saturn)
Characters:
Demitri, Talbain,
Victor, Zabel,
Morrigan,
Anakaris,
Felicia,
Bishamon,
Rikuo,
Sasquatch,
Pyron,
Donovan,
Hsien-Ko,
Phobos
Related Games:
Darkstalkers, Darkstalkers
3, Darkstalkers Chronicle: The
Chaos Tower
Story:
Pyron invades Earth to add to his collection of planets that he has devoured.
Enter the world's most fearsome monsters who, ironically, are the last defense
of mankind. Meanwhile, two darkstalker hunters make their presence known and
join in the fray.
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Review: The sequel
to Darkstalkers brings back the entire cast of the original and adds 2 all new characters,
Donovan Baine and Hsien-Ko, who were out to hunt the other Darkstalkers
(hence the Japanese title, Vampire Hunter). The two bosses of the first game (Pyron and Huitzil)
were also selectable this time around for a total of 4 new playable characters.
The series had seen it's best roster yet, and also a presentation that succeeded
the first game in almost every way.
The
main enhancement of the gameplay from the original Darkstalkers was the ability for players to stock up their special gauge, allowing them to
store more than one special gauge and preserve them through the entire match.
There were two kinds of Super Moves featured in the game: "ES Specials"
which requires a portion of the Special gauge, and "EX Specials"
which cost the entire stock of the Special gauge to perform. Player can choose
between a "Normal" gameplay style or one that offers Auto-Blocking.
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Two secret characters
appeared in this game... Shadow and Marionette. Capcom has yet to provide a
backstory for these secret character, which are really more a "mode of
play" than actual characters. Shadow appears to jump from body to body,
allowing you to play as the opponent you just defeated... and Marionette will
fight as a clone of whoever your opponent is, and is seen being lowered into a
doll body of the opponent at the beginning of the match.
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8 / 10 |
Closing Comment:
Only a year later, and the Darkstalkers series received it's first
sequel which definitely assisted it's popularity in the fighting game world. By now, the
series had generated a respectable fan base, and no doubt the amazing artwork
and innovative character designs were the driving force that made this game
stand out. Darkstalkers 2 was an entertaining
& fun 2D fighter for a while, but if you ask me, the gameplay (though
notably improved) was still missing "something"... ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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