What Are You Doing Here?!
Fighting games have certainly come a long way over the years, not only in terms of mechanics and narrative, but also in their use of guest stars. Originally nothing more than Easter eggs, additional fighters have become something of a gem, with series like Mortal Kombat continually pushing the envelope in terms of just who they can manage to get on their roster. As you might expect, some cameos have been awesome, others disappointing, and some just downright bizarre.
We’re not saying that these little appearances can’t be enjoyed, but there’s also no denying that none can be taken seriously!
#3: Darth Vader and Yoda
“Soul Calibur IV” (2008)
While these two are certainly no pushovers and could be considered some of the greatest “swordsmen” in fiction, the meshing of fantasy and sci-fi here feels rather off-putting. While we’re sure some could make an argument for the Force somehow tying into Soul Edge, watching Vader struggling to try and cut through Kilik’s staff with a friggin’ lightsaber is almost laughable.
#2: Fred Durst
“Fight Club” (2004)
The game itself was already nothing more than a pointless cash grab, one that completely missed the point of David Fincher’s masterful movie. Then they decided to throw in the frontman of Limp Bizkit. We’re not sure who exactly was asking for Fred Durst to be added to a fighting game, but we got it anyway, the results being so strange and underwhelming that it made the rest of the game’s bland cast somewhat more enjoyable.
#1: Michael Jackson
“Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2” (2000)
We have no idea what possessed the developers to put the King of Pop in a boxing game, but lo and behold they went ahead with it. This sequel by itself is decent enough, but the inclusion of Michael Jackson as a contender almost manages to bump up its overall score just for how staggeringly weird the whole thing is. Add to the fact he looks like a bloated muscle man with his face digitally stretched across his skull, and you have one of the fighting genre’s most outlandish ventures.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Best Fighting Games Characters of All Time!
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