Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium

Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium brought together on one roster legendary fighters from the worlds of Capcom, above all from the Street Fighter series, and SNK, chiefly from King of Fighters and Fatal Fury, into one carefully balanced crossover title that remains among the most highly regarded fighting games of the turn of the millennium. The key innovation was the Groove system, where before a match the player picks one of several fighting styles drawn from various games by both companies, fundamentally changing the chosen character's controls, combos, and special mechanics, such as evading attacks instead of blocking them or how the special-move meter fills. Choosing a style effectively meant choosing an entirely different experience even with the very same character, giving the game enormous variety.

This freedom let players tailor the gameplay to their own style — from the fast combo chains familiar from Street Fighter III to a more strategic, defensive game inspired by King of Fighters. A large roster of characters, carefully tuned balance between styles, and the depth of the Groove system made the game a beloved tournament title played in arcades and at home alike, including on the PlayStation 2, which offered the full version with extra bonuses and unlockable content — making the home version a sought-after target even for players already familiar with the arcade original.

Capcom vs. SNK 2 is often ranked among the finest works in the entire 2D fighting genre, praised for its depth, balance, and near-endless replayability afforded by the huge number of character-and-style combinations. Its influence on later crossover fighting games and on style-selection system design was felt across the whole genre for many years afterward. On PS2 it remains one of the best fighting games ever released for the console, and many players still consider it one of the high points of the entire Capcom vs. series.

Why play: For near-endless replayability thanks to the huge number of character-and-style combinations, which makes it one of the best fighting games ever released on PS2.