TGS 2009: Hands-on: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom vs. that guy from Dead Rising
by JC Fletcher 
{ Sep 25th 2009 at 11:30AM } 
Let's face it, the cel-shaded Frank in this game doesn't look great. All the other characters look like excellent 2D sprites, but Frank looks like a weird 3D model. However, Capcom has made a respectable fighting-game character out of Frank; one that borrows from an obvious source in Capcom fighting game crossover history: Marvel vs. Capcom 2's Jill Valentine. Frank shares Jill's ability to summon a zombie from either side of the screen, which will grapple with the opponent (or Frank) upon contact.
Gallery: Tatsunoko vs Capcom (TGS 2009)
Frank's other abilities make sense both in terms of Dead Rising and as attacks in a wacky fighting game. He can roll out a shopping cart, attack with a bat and, of course, use a Servbot head or a Mega Man costume in special attacks.
Most importantly, Frank feels like a Capcom fighting character. His moves are all mapped to basic quarter-circle, Dragon Punch and half-circle movements like Street Fighter's Ryu and several hundred other Capcom fighting characters. But Frank also feels a bit different from the average cut-and-paste character, since he doesn't have a true projectile or jumping uppercut-type move (despite having the controls traditionally mapped to Ryu-type characters).
Overall, I must say that Frank is fitting in with the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom crowd much better than he did in the setting of his last appearance in a Wii game. Plus, he gets to use his camera again! (Albeit as a taunt.)
Most importantly, Frank feels like a Capcom fighting character. His moves are all mapped to basic quarter-circle, Dragon Punch and half-circle movements like Street Fighter's Ryu and several hundred other Capcom fighting characters. But Frank also feels a bit different from the average cut-and-paste character, since he doesn't have a true projectile or jumping uppercut-type move (despite having the controls traditionally mapped to Ryu-type characters).
Overall, I must say that Frank is fitting in with the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom crowd much better than he did in the setting of his last appearance in a Wii game. Plus, he gets to use his camera again! (Albeit as a taunt.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Seasick Pirate @ Sep 25th 2009 11:37AM
"That guy from Dead Rising"
His name is Frank West. He covered wars, you know!
Nate Addison @ Sep 25th 2009 11:38AM
Hey leave Frank alone, there have been worse adaptations of fighting characters. I don't remember the game but it had Ronald McDonald vs. Col. Sanders. Now thats a WTF moment right there.
Nate Addison @ Sep 25th 2009 11:40AM
found it...that game was called MUGEN....
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Sep 25th 2009 11:44AM
You know that isn't a real game right?
Svenhoek86 @ Sep 25th 2009 11:45AM
Ya you could get sprites from ANYTHING and make it into a character. I saw a penis fight a monster truck once.
Orion @ Sep 25th 2009 12:14PM
Actually, I think the worst was in Fighter's Megamix on the Saturn when they made the Daytona USA nascar a figher and punched and kicked with it's tires as it "stood up" on it's back bumper :P.
Batzarro @ Sep 25th 2009 4:50PM
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/user-menu/myblog-admin/top-5-weirdest-fighting-game-characters.html
Just sayin', you know?
And although they didn't make my list, there is also Pojo from Mace: The Dark Age and Beartank from Rakuga kids. Look em' up.
Svenhoek86 @ Sep 25th 2009 11:42AM
Wow he really doesn't look good in this game. Looks like surviving a zombie infestation changes a man for the worse. He looks like a bum honestly. I could see him on a street corner mumbling to himself about how he's "covered wars you know" and intermittently screaming for Otis to shut up and quit calling him.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Sep 25th 2009 11:50AM
Well, there's two reasons for his look:
1. It's Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop Frank, so he looks like crap by default.
2. It's Japanese Frank West. Chiseled good looks not included.
PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Sep 25th 2009 11:46AM
for some reason i expect this game to hit XBLA/PSN couple months after... they be almost dumb not to, my opinion
Batzarro @ Sep 25th 2009 4:52PM
Why the down voting on just hoping the game gets to XBLA/PSN? What is a nomoi? Why can't we all just get along?
Misanthropic Gamer @ Sep 25th 2009 12:00PM
They managed to add Frank West, who has no charisma or fanbase, and yet they couldn't put Phoenix Wright in the game? Ridiculous.
Svenhoek86 @ Sep 25th 2009 12:17PM
No fanbase?! He's covered wars, you know!
Bluebreaker @ Sep 25th 2009 1:20PM
Eh? Frank has a very large fanbase. Horde-like even....
Samutz @ Sep 25th 2009 12:01PM
He looks more like Nico Bellic than Frank West to me.
ZaxCG2 @ Sep 25th 2009 1:53PM
I can see it now! Rockstar vs. Capcom! IT WILL SELL MEEELLLIONS!
Adv2k1 @ Sep 25th 2009 12:02PM
Nintendo should be clever allow capcom to include Link in the game. Now that would kick ass.
TwEE @ Sep 25th 2009 1:23PM
Or the Eggplant wizard.
Daniel @ Sep 25th 2009 1:29PM
They should just outright make Nintendo vs. Capcom. Now THAT would be epic.
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Sep 25th 2009 12:06PM
2.065 Billion Damage?!?
Massive.
Babaloo @ Sep 25th 2009 12:47PM
Not as much as when you get that pesky crab...
xera077 @ Sep 25th 2009 12:08PM
It's a shame that this game has been out in arcades for quite some time and as well in the Japanese Wii consoles.
Shame that Halo 3: ODST is nothing more than Halo 1 re-packaged.
Shame the 360 couldn't emulate MvC2 which happened to be using the Namoi board which was a perfect port for the DC.
Yes shame.
Dv8thwonder @ Sep 25th 2009 12:44PM
Another great game for Nintendo's latest console.
gaddes @ Sep 25th 2009 1:29PM
His name is Frank West. He covered fighting games, you know!
Mr Khan @ Sep 25th 2009 1:46PM
I'm really mad that they dated this for January 26th, though. A direct conflict with No More Heroes 2 (for the 28th), that this game can't hope to win my money over. And 2010 only picks up from there, from what i've seen.
I was all ready to buy this for Christmas, too...
Protodude @ Sep 25th 2009 2:51PM
I'd love to hear your definition of a 'real console.'
SpikeDelight @ Sep 25th 2009 5:15PM
If you look at picture 4 of 11 in the gallery you can see Niko Bellic is playing the role of Frank West in the game.