Yesterday, it was revealed which games will be headlining Evolution(EVO) 2017. The announcement was made by event founder and organizer, Mr. Wizard. He gave fans the full rundown of the nine games they’ll see at the event — which represent the most up-to-date, competitive, and active fighting games of today.
Here are the games that are getting featured:
Street Fighter V
This is arguably the most popular and most played fighter around right now. The franchise has been the main draw of the EVO tournament since its inception. Although the title has experienced its share of bad press, it can’t be denied that it has an active community. It’s also the face of the Capcom Pro Tour.
Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2
Arc System Works has craved a niche within the fighting game community. The series is known to be flashier, more vibrant, and nuanced. Among fans and critics, it’s agreed that Guilty Gear Xrd is one of the most well-designed titles. The game is considered to have a high level of entry for fans and newcomers alike.
Super Smash Bros. (Wii U)
The fourth Super Smash Bros. title continues the series’ popularity. Among professional players, it’s considered to be second only to its Nintendo GameCube counterpart. However, the game it still one of the most technical fighters on the market. The large cast and new characters has added some much needed freshness to the game as well.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Even 15 years after its release, this game has been recognized as the best Super Smash Bros title. It boasts high-intensity gameplay involving control space and damage output. Characters also have a wide array of playstyles. Before Melee became an EVO regular, the community donated in record numbers for years to have the game featured at the event. Those efforts and the level of competition it offered has made it a regular attendee at EVO since.
Injustice 2
This yet-to-be-released title from NetherRealm serves as the sequel to Injustice. The game features gameplay inspired from Mortal Kombat starring popular DC heroes and villains. The sequel features newer characters and improvements.
The first Injustice was a tournament regular for years. The second entry in the franchise was added to EVO’s roster in anticipation of how much attention the upcoming game will receive.
Blazblue Central Fiction
Another series created by Arc System Works, this fighting game has been recognized as “anime fighter” — a term used to describe titles that are mostly 2D, feature a diverse cast, and boast gameplay that favors fighting game veterans.
The Blazblue series is quite different from similar titles like the Guilty Gear series. It’s a much more fast-paced game, and requires intricate knowledge of the cast to be proficient.
Tekken 7
The newest title of in this 3D fighting series will be featured at EVO as well. The game has been showcased over the years for player testing, and each time has been meet with positive reactions. It will see a full release on consoles this June, but it’s seen success in Japanese arcades since 2015. The Tekken series continues to be a fan favorite for 3D fighters.
King of Fighters XIV
The newest entry in this series was very well-received upon release. The title marked a return to form for developer SNK, with impressive roster of fighters and robust gameplay.
The game has found itself featured in a number of smaller events to date. Fans agree that KoF XIV is balanced well and offers an interesting series of comeback mechanics. This version will be an update, featuring two new fighters, and is releasing in the Summer.
After announcing these 8 titles, Mr Wizard went on to mention that a 9th game will be present. But the 9th game will be determined via donation drives by players.
The games up for vote are:
- ARMS
- Killer Instinct
- Mortal Kombat XL
- Nidhogg
- Pokkén Tournament
- Skullgirls
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Windjammers
Players can vote via donation here. The title that gains the most donations will be an offical showcase game.
EVO 2017 is set to take place July 14-16 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Mandalay Bay resort and casino.
