stay in your lane then, lil doogie. Me? Imma see the world... lemme bless you with some wisdom before you dip...井の中の蛙大海を知らず look that line up and think about what it means
the music that comes with the stage tends to get me more than the stage itself. I tend to lean towards stages that aren't too busy and distracting. The drive-in at night in SF4 is gorgeous, but very hard to focus on the match with so many colors and lights flashing. Whereas a stage like Infinite Azure in Tekken 7 is simple enough so as not to be distracting, but also still visually interesting as a place to fight in. It doesn't hurt that the music is amazing. I wanna give praise to Injustice stages, but looking back i realized I never chose stages for their aesthetics and almost always picked ones with interactables that were beneficial to me. I wish I could really say I chose stages for how great they looked and the atmosphere they create, but my brain is just on another wavelength. Gimme a good soundtrack and a subtle, but interesting background and I'm happy.
KOF '97 Bali stage. (The one with the "dancing monster face" on the right of the fighting stage.) The theme music actually uses the traditional musical instruments of the Balinese locals to create the song. There is also a noticable pause in the start for one of the rounds, when the next character steps in.
Tekken 4's Airport stage is probably my favorite from that series. it combines a wall and an infinite stage which is real interesting (it also has a breakable wall in the form of a phone booth). you start out fighting pretty close to the wall part, but in my experience the fight usually moves towards the infinite runway with the planes scattered around. It ends up having a similar feel to those grassy field stages to me, where the emptiness of the surroundings gives weight to the fight in the foreground. Also the music is tremendous, which always helps
My favourite kind of stage is the ones you can pick that immediately make everyone groan because that's real player connection. Stuff like that airplane stage in SFV, or that Neco stage in AACC with that godawful car siren going off in the track. People joke about stage tech and hiding footsies or whatever, but the real stage tech is growing immune to assaults on the senses and picking Volcano in SFIV.
@@TheKazuma410P I like that they remixed the SF4 Intro for the stage and I love it when the Volcano erupts at the end of a round especially when the match ends they should bring back that stage for SF6.
I've never even played the game but the dojo stage in KOF 13 is so great. It feels like the characters are just doing an exhibition for the students and the window makes it so real
I'm very new to fighting games in general, with strive being my first "real" one, but after looking back at some old games the MvC2 stages together with their OSTs really give off a really unique atmosphere and I love it
I'm also a fan of "adventure lurking around the corner" stages and stages involving water but my favorites are night time stages. One of the best being the VSAV stage where you're on the side of the skyscraper with the helicopter and city streets behind you. Such a unique stage and great use of perspective. It's cool to imagine that just outside our window or above us, some crazy shit is going on.
I really like in modern fighting games when the fight affects the background. Stuff like how NPC's fall over due to the ground shaking when a character falls in Street Fighter 4. Dragon Ball FighterZ has one of the coolest ones though, where the trees on Planet Namek blow in the same direction as powerful attacks. It really makes you feel like you're playing as superpowered characters capable of planetary destruction.
I could listen to this man read a car repair manual. Dude's gifted in the ways of narration. Can't wait to see some of the Hustle Chronicles make their yt debut lmao
My personal favorite stage is the Art of Fighting stage from KoF ‘96 (the third game in the series). You’re at a gas station next to a railroad in the American desert with no other civilization in sight. It’s just you, the opponent, and the gorgeus orange hue of the sunset coloring the cloudy sky. As the rounds go by, the stage gets darker and darker until you are in the middle of the night. The music is perfect for a tense, fast paced western brawl, which just fits so well with the gameplay. Special mention to the railroad crossing sign with the ‘r’ and ‘ing’ letters of ‘crossing’ having wood blocks nailed over it to make it look like it’s saying ‘railroad closed’, to imply that the gas station has long been abandoned, especially as the ‘L’ block is loose and dangling by a single nail.
Both the Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting teams version of that stage are breathtaking in a way. Then u got KOF 99 and that games stages are hella top tier. The airport sewer and park stages are my fave. I like it how with the park stage it's clear weather and ppl walkin or playin in the first round. As the rounds progress it starts to pick up with cloudiness and flashes of lighting,the final round is the downpour. As the weather worsens ppl simply just startin to leave. It kinda gives that tension of u and the opponent duking it in that weather condition. SNK really knows how to set the bar when it comes to fine detail in their stages. If only them and other FGs would only bring that detail again.
About the Hong Kong back alley stages as the rounds progress more and more people clear the area especially at the final round where this crazy cop is trying to hit a dog 😂 mein that was hilarious. And the museum stages as the round progress it starts gettn stormy.
Favourite stage is proboably Lost World from DOA. Fighting atop this massive natural stone pillar in the middle of the wilderness with cliffs and waterfalls in the background, and knocking someone off and having them fall a hundred feet onto another pillar, and then jumping down after them. It's an amazing spectacle stage for that, and I always enjoyed that its a stage with an infinite stage transition. It doesn't matter how many times someone gets knocked off the pillar, you can always do it again
Patiently waiting for that Waffle House stage in any fighting game. Excellent job as always fam! Edit: For me, good music cranks my enjoyment of a stage up to 11. Some favs being: Hong Kong stages in 3rd Strike and Tekken 5, Makotos and Ibuki's stages also in 3rd Strike, and Electric Fountain in Tekken 6.
Something about the food court in uni just resonated with me. It doesn't sound like much, but the childlike fantasy of running around in an empty food court at midnight just hits me in a certain way
SNK definitely mastered the art of compelling and interesting stages in their prime with the beautiful 2D sprite work, but I think that some of their more recent attempts after transitioning to 3D models are also quite commendable, especially the stuff in SamSho and KOFXV . The Metal Slug stage in XV especially shows that they still got what it takes. Even XIV despite a lot of it's shortcomings still has very good looking and interesting stages, Kim's stage comes to mind.
@@doogies SNK Sound Team always do an incredible job and they've been incredibly consistent throughout time. Even shit like SamSho Zen had a great OST.
One stage that really stands out to me is the Solar Eclipse stage from SSF4. I just think that stage is too damn cool with the animals in the back and hippopotamus just chilling, i think they react and stumble if you do a knockdown too. The music is great and when the solar eclipse hits, its just too good.
Blazblue has always had my favorite stages, even though generally I'm more of a fan of 2D sprite style art. Hanging Gardens, Rail Station, Downtown, Ishana, and Hidden Field are all bangers.
One of my favorite stages is the house on fire from Last Blade 2. You know they're fighting about some serious business when they're willing to do it in a house that will collapse and kill them any second now. I can't find the stage for some reason but one of the recent Mortal Kombats has a stage, I think it's a throne room, where if you go on either side of the stage you end up outside in a big rainstorm, that looks super cool.
I really honestly love Tekken Tag 2's Heavenly Garden transitioning into Fallen Garden. I like the p chunky thematic elements. Beauty vs Corruption, and the relationship between Jun and Unknown. And I know people get salty about electronic music in games but I still think the fallen garden theme is fucking heavy, especially put in context. Also I think "The Stage is Burning Down Around You" stages are p cool and should be explored more
Love seeing some stage appreciation. Sometimes I just pull up an animated gif of an old SNK or Capcom stage and let it loop in the background for ambiance while I work. As far as 3D games go, Tekken 4 blew my mind by letting you fight in a parking garage. Just the most run of the mill, regular-ass parking garage with concrete columns and a car. I remember making it feel like all of a sudden Tekken was set in the real world. It was quite the contrast from 2, where you've got a desert stage full of clock towers, for example.
I know it gets unreasonable nowadays when there can be potentially well over 30 characters in a game at launch, but I really feel like a game misses out on something when there's no stage dedicated to each character/team that really helps drive home their characterization just that little bit more.
For me personally the park stage that changes weather between rounds from KOF99 is the most beautiful and atmospheric stage I've ever seen in a fighting game. When I saw it the first time I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Very few games have ever elicited that feeling of delight and awe from me. Sakura's stage from Alpha 2 is also an all time classic and deep personal favorite, and looks arguably even better recreated in SFV. The Gato waterfall stage from Garou is also just supreme work. I know 3D stages generally get a bad wrap when compared to its 2D counterparts, but the Metal Slug stage from KOFXV is already an all time classic. Thanks so much for the video. I would love to see more of these kinds of videos, where it's just an aesthetic appreciation of the art of fighting games, whether it be stage art, character designs, overall artistic direction etc. I mean, most of us fell in love with fighting games because we felt they looked cool and beautiful. That sometimes gets lost when people obsess about character strengths and rollback netcode. It's good to get back to basics every once in a while.
Man, I LOVE Sakura's Stage from Alpha 2. If you want to talk about a stage that makes you feel like adventure could be ANYWHERE, this one is definitely near the top. I remember playing the game on the SNES as a kid and just relating so hard to Sakura's little bro doing the same thing but while a fight was just breaking out between actual martial arts masters in the background.
I LOVE the underpass subway city stage in the new Killer Instinct. The music, the lighting, the way the stage reacts on wins/losses, the way it all starts falling apart in an ultra combo, it's just *chefs kiss* Honorable mention is the Shrine stage as well, for the bell literally collapsing in the background on a ultra as well.
Excellent analysis Obama! I’ve always thought that thing with fighting game stages is that there’s really no single approach that is better, rather several different approaches that might fit your game. I think the game with my favorite stages is still TvC. I think Capcom really nailed it in that game, every stage feels chaotic, dynamic and even the training stage has something going on. But at the same time I can appreciate the approach a company like French Bread takes in their stages and admit it suits their games like a glove… the fact that most of them don’t lag so actually get to see them online helps too.
Yes ! Again, great job ! This Snk stage video would be 👍🏿 !!! Mine would be he Fatal Fury team in 1995... Maybe because of Terry's cap when he throws it on the water ... (And the music, of course... Ahh, this music as a kid... 😎🙏🏿)
Sean's stage from new generation can quite possible be the best stage in all of sf,the detail,the atmsophere,the time,the music everything feel so energetic,natural and just epic,its one of if not the most criminally underappreciated fg stage of all time
I've always enjoyed Sakura's stage in Alpha 2 and SFV just taking place out in the front with her brother chilling playing video games. Also I've always prefered Charlie's version of the Alpha 1 stage compared to Ken, it's more vibrant and when the people throw money at you when the round ends was always sick. Ken's version in comparison doesnt have any people there so it feels like a husk of Charlie's stage.
The only thing cool about Ken's version of the stage is that before the round starts the moment his theme plays they dread guy in the background turns on his boombox. Its a neat touch ngl. For Sakura's stage I kinda prefer her Alpha 3 stage more something about just give me a slight chill and relaxing vibe with the ppl in the background workin and a kid drawing somethin on the ground with a chalk and her theme to go long with its kinda tight.
I love the gigantic scale of the stages in Strive. The gigantic cathedral boat with all the people waving to each other is my favorite. It makes the gg world itself larger than life like the characters
Geese's Stage in Tekken 7 will always be a top one for me; Faithfully Designed to recreate the same atmosphere from Fatal Fury while also using the Geese Falling off the Howard Estate as an actual Mechanic is sick. The stage itself does so many things that I would have it on default if I could.
Speaking of SNK in their prime, pretty much every stage in Garou and Last Blade 2 is a work of art. But the one that immediately comes to mind is "Large Fire at Wadamoya" from LB2, where you fight inside the burning building.
the best fighting game stage of all time for me is ABSOLUTELY spider man's stage from marvel superheroes. It ticks all the boxes of what makes a stage great: -Character tie in/lore; you are fighting while goin up a skyscraper in the middle of new york on a lift in the afternoon, thats some shit spiderman could end up doin in a comic ngl -Atmosphere; at the beginning of the stage, its the afternoon and people are still working. due to the reflection from the sun, however, you cant see them. so you only see the reflected building, that really give off the true vibe of you fighting in the middle of a bustling, big city like new york. and -Dynamism; as you progress through rounds, the stage starts to change from the evening to night, and as that happens, you can actually see people watching you fight. But even after that, if the fight continues, it still goes up and up, until you reach the (supposed) peak of the building. There, not only do you get a beautiful night shot of new york, but a NEWS HELICOPTER is waiting for you and starts reporting on your fight as it nears its end. It's thanks to all those factors that this stage, to me, is just the sickest shit, and there rly isn't anything else that hits quite like it.
One of my favorite stages in fighting games are Tekken 5's Dragon Nest. I'm a sucker for that stage because of the soundtrack, but also because it's like your in a really good Kung Fu flick. For me it isn't just the beauty of the stage. The track has to fit well too.
Tekken 6's Fallen Colony stage is definitely one of my favorites. The bgm, the jets zoomin by, and just fighting in a literal fallen landmass from space is just pretty fuckin badass
Something to touch on in backgrounds is good crowds, not really stadiums but that claustrophobic feelin, someone in the back recording for worldstar type deal. Stages like Tekken 4 and 5 Underground where the crowd cheering and getting busted up really play into the ambience, Def Jam just having the boundaries be people constantly pushing back, and yeah a lot of SNK stages rule at that, Osaka, Japan Festival in 97, its that feeling of everyone on their feet right there with you rather than just a dot in the back.
Shoutouts to Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter (?) with the stage transitions. Falling into the sewers from the street above, blowing up the oil refinery, all really dope memorable stages.
I haven't even played the game, but something just hits different on the alpha 2 grassland. There are many stages that hit that type of atmosphere, but I haven't seen any that can come close to the vibes on that one
i really love the melty and uni stages just cause how much it feels like its just a place, especially in uni's lore that the night is like a special night were ppl just go out and fight so it really feels like two ppl just meet up and start throwing hands where ever, was really cool exiting a whataburger after my university's locals/meetups and than looking at the parking lot going "yeah dudes can fight here" shout out to the old school stage in uni with the pretty trees in the background and central station in bbtag im also a sucker for snow stages and stages in the sunset they just look so nice
I absolutely LOVE the dramatic stages: dark, foreboding, and isolating, with major points added for RAIN or a Thunderstorm in the background! It really hammers home that this fight is important and will major consequences for who loses and who wins. Examples: the raining OSAKA boss stage from CVS2, especially at low, howling theme. There's the HONMARU stage from Tekken 4, where only Jin/Kazuya/Heihachi. There's of course aforementioned FIELD stage from SFA. There's Moonlit Wilderness and GROUND ZERO FUNK from Tekken 5, the Castle Siege from Soul Calibur 3, the Volcano from T7... LOVE a dark and rainy battlefield!!
One thing I wish more games utilized when making stages in public roads and buildings is the types of stages that have one or more variants of the same stage that can create different feelings or vibes when choosing it. An example being Hologram Summer/Starlight Crossing (crossroad/intersection stage) in Melty Blood, where the day variant represents a liminal space you could imagine the characters passing, with the night variant feeling like classic Type-Moon settings depicting characters fighting in the city at night where there's no one but those in battle. Another one being the NMO Arena stage in Skullgirls, displaying a packed arena watching an event match take place, almost making it feel more grand and entertaining to partake in yourself. Opposing that, however, is the NMO Empty version, where it feels like you're sparring for fun, reliving moments gone in a place where the excitement has died down and left, especially accompanied by the banners of the characters you play as that are also present in the original arena stage. It's the small things that a stage should really invoke in you to feel a stronger attachment to the game and its presentation. On that note though, I do wish Capcom's recent character cameos in stages felt like they had more real love for the characters represented in them, as if they're showing their care for them in the only way they can. I don't really know what it is, but it feels more like them using the characters as an excuse to show them onscreen, if they're not using them as a costume per se (though Alex is one of the few exceptions that comes to mind when he was just a backdrop before).
one of my all time fave stages is the swamp stage in marvel 2. the fog and green hue to the stage, combined with the kickass track, really culminate into some low but high energy fun. I've played some of my favorite sets on that stage
I love a lot of the stages in Garou, but definitely one of the highlights is Freeman's stage, the one in the desolate street underneath raised train tracks.. It's definitely a lot more dark and dreary than the rest of the stages in that game, but the the sheer amount of effort that went in to animating a scene where the only other person is some dude scavenging in the background is crazy. Every time the train passes you see light from the windows cast onto the buildings to either side and the headlights hitting the road you're fighting on.
The Dragon's Nest stage from Tekken 5 is so beautiful to me, it's a simple stage but everything about it was nailed to perfection and the tekken 7 version isn't that bad either. Also, that music, man, adds so much atmosphere especially when those big synths get you pumping.
Man it's tough but i'd have to say my favorite stages of all time are Australia (Alpha 2) Such a tense stages man with the lightning striking constantly and the wind blowing the tall grass, and the music takes it to another level. That stage is iconic man. San Francisco (SF3 Second Impact) Don't know why but i just really like this stage, i think it's beautiful, and you gotta love the energetic theme and the Yacht with a giant picture of Ken's face plastered all on the side of it, lol Kenya (SF3 Second Impact) Just a really beautiful night variant on Elena's New Generation stage. Really beautiful with the stars in the sky, the waterfall in the background and the torch burning beside the bridge. Moonlight Wilderness (Tekken 5) No real explanation needed, brilliant stage Industrial Factory (KOF '95) Amazing and detailed stage for 1995 man, love the crows flying away at the start of the fight, the sunset in the background and the haze and smog coming from the Factory. Stone coliseum (Virtua Fighter 2) Sarah's stage, always loved the dark skies and lighting and the fact that you're fighting in what looks like an old roman coliseum. Spain (Soul Edge/Blade) Cervantes stage, love the way the stage itself rocks back and forth on the water, as if floating out in the sea while you're surrounded by pirate ships Basara's stage (SamSho 3) Very dark and eerie stage (and theme), you're fighting in an old completely dilapidated house with nothing but candles giving you light, after the first round the candles go out and it's just darkness. I always thought this stage was really cool. Man i can keep going and going, i have a TON of fighting game stages that i absolutely love. Great video Obama.
One of the my favorite stages is the home stage of Gordon in Savage Reign because of a funny detail: There are two policemen in the background, one that is very engaged in the combat and cheering up, and his partner that is trying to pull him off while shouting and gesturing they have duties to accomplish. That is seconded only by the stage of M.Bison in Street Fighter Alpha 2 where two of his henchmen are engaged in conversations, but as soon as M.Bison pass in front of them they stand still and salute their leader.
Honestly hard pick between all the Skullgirls stages. They're all so simple with very little motion but they still feel like believable places in this big city, each with their own story significance. Not to mention how they all react to " power hits" like the pyrotechnics going off and the crowd cheering in Beowulf's stage or the water splashing in Eliza's stage. Special shoutout to Annie's stage that brings around the game's stage play theming by turning it into an actual stage play.
The Art of Fighting team stage in KoF ‘96 is really great. It’s got the nice guitar track playing while you fight in train tracks outside this gas station in the middle of the desert. What really elevates it is the sunset, which progresses over every match until it’s dark
This is why I think The Grid -like stages should be banned from tournament play. Not because they give anyone advantages but because artists poured their lives into designing these stages and epic fights and we're all just going to shapeland??? Nah, man. Real fights in real places, get people pumped up. My personal favorite that I miss dearly is KoF 2000 aquarium stage with the guy in a seal costume in the background. That stage rules. I also really like how Arcana Heart 3 picked some random ass town in Massachusetts as a stage lol I don't even know who the fuck went to Franklin but they got it perfect
Really cool to see Jojo's mentioned! I'm a big fan of a lot of the stages in HFTF, but if I had to choose I would probably say the one with all the columns (Chaka's stage) is my favorite. The bridge stage is also super cool, but unfortunately it's exclusive to the single player modes. One thing I really like about Jojo's is how many stages have different versions at different times of day, so even if you've been playing on one stage for a bit, it'll look different every time.
not gonna lie, some of the stages from SF3 NG and SF3 2i are spectacular and their accompanying OSTs give you such a vibe. of those two games my fave from SF3 New Generation has to be Ryu's stages and its beautiful transition after r1. Elenas stage in 2i is really amazing. Cyclops stage from X-Men Children of The Atom also known as "The Danger Room" is easily one of the most beautiful stages Capcom has ever designed. The stage changes background over time, the track is fire too. some honorable mentions include Dreamland ssb64 Seans stage in 2i Oro's stage in 2i Ibukis stage in 2i Battlefield SSBM Terrys stage in Garou MoTW Icemans stage from X-Men Children of The Atom Omega Reds stage from X-Men Children of The Atom Silver Samurais stage from X-Men Children of The Atom
Great video Obama. 1. From Xrd to Revelator it was really cool seeing the stages change signaling the passage of time like axl's and chipp's stages changing seasons. 2. In the strive stage council of three if you look on the edges of the screen it looks like you're fighting above the Accent Core stage "hell". and I bet if you look really close off the side you can see Ogawa do an unblockable stun set up into a instant kill. 3. When fighting team Orochi in kof 97 the stage reacts to each characters element like Shermie with lightning striking in the background or Yashiro trembling the earth and causing magma to erupt in the background.
My favorite has to be the Colosseum stage from Blazblue. When you play on it it feels like an epic showdown that happens between those two characters due to some crazy circumstances, all for the public to see on display
For me its got to be concert stages. Just seeing stages with a big crowd in the background, big logos and tv screens flashing (bonus points if its related to the fight itself). The obvious stand out is the KOF 97 Rave stage especially including that pre match intro with the live broadcast really sold it. Shoutouts to Power Instinct Matrimelee for having a really good one of those as well. I'm also a fan of the KOF 15 Concert stage as well with the big screens showing the character icons and that 30fps band bugging out in the background.
Riverside Plaza from the under night games will always be my fave. i just love how you are fighting next to the river and you can see the construction of the bridge in the background.
Personally I really like the Volcano stages in T7 even though they’re kind of an eye sore, they have very cool ambiance. Also i really like Ryu’s rooftop stages
This video truly shows Majin Obama's passion for fighting games!!! There were so many game name drops spanning decades, and he provided solid info behind each game and stage. Ngl, this is nostalgia fuel. Awesome vid!!!
Im a sucker for dojo stages, especially when the students and masters are lined up and watching intently at the fight. If the characters fighting aren't from that school then its feels like an special event, an invitation to show off their styles. If they are, it's like they are defending their style from this challenger or just another spar between students. KOF XIII has this with the AOF stage. Now that one is cool because usually dojo stages are big and have this aura of "sacred training ground", but this one actually feels like any ol' karate dojo you would find around town!
I love strive's stages and transitions. L'oro Di Illyria is my fave because of the shops, people, and big ass ferry in the background. I also love May stage and that you can see the different airlifted boxes you're fighting on when you're flying in between.
What a great video. I remember my brother would practice Alpha 2 all day, everyday, to finally beat me just once when I came home from school. He was Ryu I was Ken. Every match was on the grass stage. So intense
I think that one of the best stages is CVS2's famous London stage. Besides it being a wonderful game that is incredibly fucked up, I love that there are characters from both companies just there in the back. You have Billy Cane and his sister talking with a dude, then later you see Dudley just casually reading in the back as Dictator is painting the fence on someone. Also the fact that you see the bus that goes across the background at times, that detail is amazing to me. Then of course you can't talk about the stage or CVS2 without mentioning the music. It's such a groovy song with easy to sing lyrics, that can be easily mistaken for "this is tuna with bacon." Then I think another great stage is Tekken 7's Mishima Dojo. Just from playing the game alone, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the broken down dojo. A wall is busted and you can see the night sky, and the moon is out giving it a unique lighting. Then on another wall is a giant Buddha, with lit fires near it. But if you play the story mode you learn about it's connection with Heihachi and Kasumi, with them engraving their names on the floor, and you also learn why the wall is broken. Akuma comes and tries his chance to kill Heihachi as he promised Kasumi, then Jack-bots come fight Heihachi too. The I also really love the music to the stage, I feel that it is one of Tekken 7's best tracks, possibly one of the best in Tekken's history(but that's just me).
SF4 drive in at night resonates with me mad hard because I grew up in a small town where everyone hung out at Sonic on Friday nights. It evokes that feeling of everyone rocking up and seeing what might go down so well.
I really like the ball room stage in skull girls. The added bonus being they randomize some of the people that are back there so the cameos are a little different every time. Skull girls character design is wild so there's some really colorful characters back there too.
Guardian Dogs Temple from SVC Chaos is a vibe. A true sense of uneasiness as you fight for a second chance at life. To this day I can’t get over how serious fighting on that stage felt; the music, the boss and atmosphere really push you to go all out.
Shoutouts to my favorite stage of all time, Requiem from BlazBlue. Absolutely sick, beautiful stage. The original version with the red roses is fantastic, but the white roses really take it over the top to give it a more somber, serious atmosphere. Love it to death, bar none my favorite stage of all time.
Hallway scene was masterful in its own way, but when you discover that scene at the same short timeframe that you did the protector club scene in your formative years, you gotta admit that you've just been spoiled. Nothing will ever measure up again till you see the bloopers.. Only then do you get the perspective of the planning and fire under everyone's ass to do it in one go. So amazing.
This isn't from a fighting game, but I think one of the most iconic fighting arenas is the burning church in episode 2 of Kamen Rider Kuuga. It's such a sick backdrop that adds so much to the atmosphere and gravitas of the fight.
I really like particular stages because of the music, like Tekken 6's Fountain or 7's Infinite Azure, but sometimes stages like Cammy's stage from Street Fighter 2/5 I just pick because of the cool location that perhaps I would like to go to someday. But I think games like Under Night have a lot of appeal too since I would really like to walk around Japan at night listening to cool music.
There's two that come to mind, ironically both share an element in common. First, the power plant thing from XvsSF/MSHvsSF, particularly that after the first round everything just explodes and is on fire. Second, the burning stage from Last Blade 2, you know the one. There's kind of a sense of tension and urgency, especially in the last one since they put a heat effect in the background.
The interactivity of Dead or Alive stages, particularly from DOA2-4 always keeps me coming back to those games. One of my favorites is DOATEC HQ from DOA3, this beautiful glass building where you can either knock your opponent out the windows into a Chinese electric sign or you can knock them down into a secret lab in the center of the building. It's so sick
One time I really noticed stages was when I realized I liked MK9's stages more then MKXs. I think its kind of like what you said about Fountain of Dreams. They were more colorful and usually simpler. Plus, interactables were neat, but I have mixed feelings about them.
I think arena stages are stages that got me really excited as a kid. Stuff like the urban jungle in Tekken 5, the arena stage in Tekken 4, or Shanghai and Osaka in CVS2. My imagination likes to run wild and I’ll think that this is something that is actually being broadcasted. With Tekken, the added touch of the crowd popping off whenever you knockdown the opponent really makes it feel special
The Last Blade series has some banger states. The temple stage with the red trees and leaves all over the ground, The lava stage where you fight Musashi, Okina's stage with the giant tree. LB2 Flames is the stage where everyone goes WOAH! Yuki-machi night time in a 1860's Japanese city along the river. Graveyard stage with the abandoned house in the background.
One of my favorite stages is from the Darkstalkers series: The stage where you fight on the side of a building. This change in perspective adds a massive amount of spice to an otherwise mundane setting.
Man I gotta say that Rugal's '98 stage is possibly the most kickass stage ever. It's the Black Noah, the ship from '94 that you fought on AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. And there's all the freaky monitors with the eyes, and the creepy machines and God it's so cool.
Tekken 4's inner shrine stage did it for me. The atmosphere, the music, and how it was the last part of the story. Also the birth of devil jin. Very memorable
i love the way obama does these kind of videos. They aren't overly long and feel extremely natural. No "news reporter voice" or anything. It feels like a real conversation with a lot of interesting points. great work.
awesome video, it's really insane to see all these different ideas side by side. for me, i absolutely agree about the appeal of the "everyday" or "anonymous location" type stages -- Underpass Vending Machines in UNI is one of my faves, and you show it off here perfectly. On the other hand, I love the stages that have a real sense of scale and excitement -- the Seventh Heaven District from STRIVE is a perfect example -- it just looks like you're on this midair structure, and then you realize there are dozens of HUGE flying buddhas going by like rocket ships in the background. The stages of Soul Calibur also do well at this, creating a cohesive world that feels like it all fits together -- the Weapon Master mode in SC2 made you really feel like you were hopping the globe and going deeper into strange dungeon mazes
I know others have said it already but for me as well, I think the music goes hand in hand with how I feel about a particular stage (even though they're kind of two separate conversations). For that reason, the clocktower stage from MvC2 and Alex's stage from Third Strike are my favorites. Clocktower being a beautiful stage that is accented by probably my favorite theme in the entire game and Alex's stage theme just being ultra hype and capturing the late 90's jazzy hip hop vibe make these stages memorable. I don't even have nostalgia for them either. I was like 17 or 18 when I first saw them so I think that's low-key a testament to how dope they are.
All my fav stages are character specific stages, almost like their hoods. It feels like you get to know them a little more about them, especially when you play as them.
Stages from other games hit me the hardest, shoutout to the winter stage in mvc3, which reminds me of megaman legacy. I never really went outside too much, video games were just too fun for me, so I appreciate as a gamer when they put a stage from a game ive played. Megaman legends is the Best megaman series, even if there is only 2 of em. The way in megaman 64 where they would take the initial town, and blow buildings up during one of the early boss battles. Man, id love to see them rebooted so ppl realize we need a 3rd.
Any time my mind goes to favorite stages the first one that pops into mind is Tower of Arrogance from Vampire Savior. Fighting on the side of a building with the warped perspective and all that, it helped sell how supernatural the characters are to me. And it just looked cool as hell man.
Kim's stage on kof '94 & '95: the thunter cracking and the rain gives an excellent atmosphere. The church stage of Nightmare. In SC2 while 'rise thy sword' plays,it just give me the chills. And all of m bison temple stages
dude is just flexing the places he been to lmaoo worst type of person get out my recomends
stay in your lane then, lil doogie. Me? Imma see the world...
lemme bless you with some wisdom before you dip...井の中の蛙大海を知らず
look that line up and think about what it means
Bro TOUCH GRASS lmao
stop being a jealous baby and go travel yourself
Wow man, you sound bitter. It’ll be ok lol.
Bro, Who spat in your cereal?
Always gotta finish a set on a grass field stage. No distractions, no onlookers, just two warriors ready to test each other's mettle.
the dramatic battle classic…
the music that comes with the stage tends to get me more than the stage itself. I tend to lean towards stages that aren't too busy and distracting. The drive-in at night in SF4 is gorgeous, but very hard to focus on the match with so many colors and lights flashing. Whereas a stage like Infinite Azure in Tekken 7 is simple enough so as not to be distracting, but also still visually interesting as a place to fight in. It doesn't hurt that the music is amazing. I wanna give praise to Injustice stages, but looking back i realized I never chose stages for their aesthetics and almost always picked ones with interactables that were beneficial to me. I wish I could really say I chose stages for how great they looked and the atmosphere they create, but my brain is just on another wavelength. Gimme a good soundtrack and a subtle, but interesting background and I'm happy.
Street fighter 4 crowded Asian streets song is in my opinion, the best music to fight too.
Man tears with the garden stage in kof 99. Just the feels
Frrr bro that’s wat I’m saying
Guile’s theme nuff said
KOF '97 Bali stage. (The one with the "dancing monster face" on the right of the fighting stage.)
The theme music actually uses the traditional musical instruments of the Balinese locals to create the song.
There is also a noticable pause in the start for one of the rounds, when the next character steps in.
I loved the Darkstalker stage that has you actually fightin on the side of a building, what a wild and genius idea.
I see you putting in work, good stuff 👍
thanks for coming through big dog. I see you
Tekken 4's Airport stage is probably my favorite from that series. it combines a wall and an infinite stage which is real interesting (it also has a breakable wall in the form of a phone booth). you start out fighting pretty close to the wall part, but in my experience the fight usually moves towards the infinite runway with the planes scattered around. It ends up having a similar feel to those grassy field stages to me, where the emptiness of the surroundings gives weight to the fight in the foreground. Also the music is tremendous, which always helps
My fave stages in Tekken 4 are the Mall Parking Lot Building Sky Scraper and the Cali Beach.
Dude everytime I think of Tekken 4, the Airport BGM instantly pops in my head. That song is practically the Tekken 4 theme to me lmao
The underground car park stage is my personal fav
Tekken 4 is DEADASS the reason why so many open areas look like possible fighting game stages to me.
My favourite kind of stage is the ones you can pick that immediately make everyone groan because that's real player connection. Stuff like that airplane stage in SFV, or that Neco stage in AACC with that godawful car siren going off in the track. People joke about stage tech and hiding footsies or whatever, but the real stage tech is growing immune to assaults on the senses and picking Volcano in SFIV.
Well Volcano has a pretty sick theme.
Volcanic Rim is pretty godlike as a stage.
Goin' ham with Vskill-2 Necali on the beach stage in SFV 8-)
Neco Burst Camp is a godlike stage and that theme is a banger smdh
@@TheKazuma410P I like that they remixed the SF4 Intro for the stage and I love it when the Volcano erupts at the end of a round especially when the match ends they should bring back that stage for SF6.
I've never even played the game but the dojo stage in KOF 13 is so great. It feels like the characters are just doing an exhibition for the students and the window makes it so real
Cherry Blossom in MBAACC is my favourite stage. The petals start to fall and the music begins... That's heaven right there
I'm very new to fighting games in general, with strive being my first "real" one, but after looking back at some old games the MvC2 stages together with their OSTs really give off a really unique atmosphere and I love it
I'm also a fan of "adventure lurking around the corner" stages and stages involving water but my favorites are night time stages. One of the best being the VSAV stage where you're on the side of the skyscraper with the helicopter and city streets behind you. Such a unique stage and great use of perspective. It's cool to imagine that just outside our window or above us, some crazy shit is going on.
I really like in modern fighting games when the fight affects the background. Stuff like how NPC's fall over due to the ground shaking when a character falls in Street Fighter 4. Dragon Ball FighterZ has one of the coolest ones though, where the trees on Planet Namek blow in the same direction as powerful attacks. It really makes you feel like you're playing as superpowered characters capable of planetary destruction.
I could listen to this man read a car repair manual. Dude's gifted in the ways of narration. Can't wait to see some of the Hustle Chronicles make their yt debut lmao
Thanks for the kind words!
My personal favorite stage is the Art of Fighting stage from KoF ‘96 (the third game in the series). You’re at a gas station next to a railroad in the American desert with no other civilization in sight. It’s just you, the opponent, and the gorgeus orange hue of the sunset coloring the cloudy sky. As the rounds go by, the stage gets darker and darker until you are in the middle of the night. The music is perfect for a tense, fast paced western brawl, which just fits so well with the gameplay.
Special mention to the railroad crossing sign with the ‘r’ and ‘ing’ letters of ‘crossing’ having wood blocks nailed over it to make it look like it’s saying ‘railroad closed’, to imply that the gas station has long been abandoned, especially as the ‘L’ block is loose and dangling by a single nail.
Both the Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting teams version of that stage are breathtaking in a way.
Then u got KOF 99 and that games stages are hella top tier. The airport sewer and park stages are my fave. I like it how with the park stage it's clear weather and ppl walkin or playin in the first round. As the rounds progress it starts to pick up with cloudiness and flashes of lighting,the final round is the downpour. As the weather worsens ppl simply just startin to leave. It kinda gives that tension of u and the opponent duking it in that weather condition. SNK really knows how to set the bar when it comes to fine detail in their stages.
If only them and other FGs would only bring that detail again.
About the Hong Kong back alley stages as the rounds progress more and more people clear the area especially at the final round where this crazy cop is trying to hit a dog 😂 mein that was hilarious. And the museum stages as the round progress it starts gettn stormy.
@@kaceejones2282 SNK always knows how to make a good stage.
Favourite stage is proboably Lost World from DOA. Fighting atop this massive natural stone pillar in the middle of the wilderness with cliffs and waterfalls in the background, and knocking someone off and having them fall a hundred feet onto another pillar, and then jumping down after them. It's an amazing spectacle stage for that, and I always enjoyed that its a stage with an infinite stage transition. It doesn't matter how many times someone gets knocked off the pillar, you can always do it again
Aerial Gardens for me! Love that stage
vampire series has PLENTY of stunning stages.
ive been playing a lot of Super DBZ, so the music changes for stage transitions come to mind
U should play some classic and modern Naruto games their stages are more unique especially with the interactions
@@kaceejones2282 im more into traditional fighters, but i might mess around with those games sometime. im curious about Narutimate Accel 2
@@gpbear4 Trust me man Ultimate Ninja 5 is the best game in the series
Patiently waiting for that Waffle House stage in any fighting game. Excellent job as always fam!
Edit: For me, good music cranks my enjoyment of a stage up to 11. Some favs being: Hong Kong stages in 3rd Strike and Tekken 5, Makotos and Ibuki's stages also in 3rd Strike, and Electric Fountain in Tekken 6.
thanks for watchin
Something about the food court in uni just resonated with me. It doesn't sound like much, but the childlike fantasy of running around in an empty food court at midnight just hits me in a certain way
SNK definitely mastered the art of compelling and interesting stages in their prime with the beautiful 2D sprite work, but I think that some of their more recent attempts after transitioning to 3D models are also quite commendable, especially the stuff in SamSho and KOFXV . The Metal Slug stage in XV especially shows that they still got what it takes. Even XIV despite a lot of it's shortcomings still has very good looking and interesting stages, Kim's stage comes to mind.
100% agree
14 stages the music hard carries tho lol. kims stage, ikari warriors come to mind
@@doogies SNK Sound Team always do an incredible job and they've been incredibly consistent throughout time. Even shit like SamSho Zen had a great OST.
One stage that really stands out to me is the Solar Eclipse stage from SSF4. I just think that stage is too damn cool with the animals in the back and hippopotamus just chilling, i think they react and stumble if you do a knockdown too. The music is great and when the solar eclipse hits, its just too good.
I love each and every stage in Capcom vs SNK 2 because they all look like stages where you are the spectacle that everyone is tuning in to. I love it.
Blazblue has always had my favorite stages, even though generally I'm more of a fan of 2D sprite style art. Hanging Gardens, Rail Station, Downtown, Ishana, and Hidden Field are all bangers.
Couldn't agree more!
my personal fave is kaka village, so much live
also same reason for strive's coffeehop
One of my favorite stages is the house on fire from Last Blade 2. You know they're fighting about some serious business when they're willing to do it in a house that will collapse and kill them any second now.
I can't find the stage for some reason but one of the recent Mortal Kombats has a stage, I think it's a throne room, where if you go on either side of the stage you end up outside in a big rainstorm, that looks super cool.
I really honestly love Tekken Tag 2's Heavenly Garden transitioning into Fallen Garden.
I like the p chunky thematic elements. Beauty vs Corruption, and the relationship between Jun and Unknown.
And I know people get salty about electronic music in games but I still think the fallen garden theme is fucking heavy, especially put in context.
Also I think "The Stage is Burning Down Around You" stages are p cool and should be explored more
Love seeing some stage appreciation. Sometimes I just pull up an animated gif of an old SNK or Capcom stage and let it loop in the background for ambiance while I work.
As far as 3D games go, Tekken 4 blew my mind by letting you fight in a parking garage. Just the most run of the mill, regular-ass parking garage with concrete columns and a car. I remember making it feel like all of a sudden Tekken was set in the real world. It was quite the contrast from 2, where you've got a desert stage full of clock towers, for example.
I know it gets unreasonable nowadays when there can be potentially well over 30 characters in a game at launch, but I really feel like a game misses out on something when there's no stage dedicated to each character/team that really helps drive home their characterization just that little bit more.
Favorite stage gotta be Melty Bloods field with the full moon in the back, so simple yet sets such a mood that captures the spirit of Tsukihime
For me personally the park stage that changes weather between rounds from KOF99 is the most beautiful and atmospheric stage I've ever seen in a fighting game. When I saw it the first time I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Very few games have ever elicited that feeling of delight and awe from me. Sakura's stage from Alpha 2 is also an all time classic and deep personal favorite, and looks arguably even better recreated in SFV. The Gato waterfall stage from Garou is also just supreme work. I know 3D stages generally get a bad wrap when compared to its 2D counterparts, but the Metal Slug stage from KOFXV is already an all time classic.
Thanks so much for the video. I would love to see more of these kinds of videos, where it's just an aesthetic appreciation of the art of fighting games, whether it be stage art, character designs, overall artistic direction etc. I mean, most of us fell in love with fighting games because we felt they looked cool and beautiful. That sometimes gets lost when people obsess about character strengths and rollback netcode. It's good to get back to basics every once in a while.
Man, I LOVE Sakura's Stage from Alpha 2.
If you want to talk about a stage that makes you feel like adventure could be ANYWHERE, this one is definitely near the top. I remember playing the game on the SNES as a kid and just relating so hard to Sakura's little bro doing the same thing but while a fight was just breaking out between actual martial arts masters in the background.
I LOVE the underpass subway city stage in the new Killer Instinct. The music, the lighting, the way the stage reacts on wins/losses, the way it all starts falling apart in an ultra combo, it's just *chefs kiss*
Honorable mention is the Shrine stage as well, for the bell literally collapsing in the background on a ultra as well.
Excellent analysis Obama! I’ve always thought that thing with fighting game stages is that there’s really no single approach that is better, rather several different approaches that might fit your game.
I think the game with my favorite stages is still TvC. I think Capcom really nailed it in that game, every stage feels chaotic, dynamic and even the training stage has something going on.
But at the same time I can appreciate the approach a company like French Bread takes in their stages and admit it suits their games like a glove… the fact that most of them don’t lag so actually get to see them online helps too.
Stages are such an underrated aspect of FGs. Great Work as always.
thanks for coming through!
Yes ! Again, great job !
This Snk stage video would be 👍🏿 !!!
Mine would be he Fatal Fury team in 1995... Maybe because of Terry's cap when he throws it on the water ... (And the music, of course... Ahh, this music as a kid... 😎🙏🏿)
Sean's stage from new generation can quite possible be the best stage in all of sf,the detail,the atmsophere,the time,the music everything feel so energetic,natural and just epic,its one of if not the most criminally underappreciated fg stage of all time
I've always enjoyed Sakura's stage in Alpha 2 and SFV just taking place out in the front with her brother chilling playing video games.
Also I've always prefered Charlie's version of the Alpha 1 stage compared to Ken, it's more vibrant and when the people throw money at you when the round ends was always sick. Ken's version in comparison doesnt have any people there so it feels like a husk of Charlie's stage.
The only thing cool about Ken's version of the stage is that before the round starts the moment his theme plays they dread guy in the background turns on his boombox. Its a neat touch ngl.
For Sakura's stage I kinda prefer her Alpha 3 stage more something about just give me a slight chill and relaxing vibe with the ppl in the background workin and a kid drawing somethin on the ground with a chalk and her theme to go long with its kinda tight.
I love the gigantic scale of the stages in Strive. The gigantic cathedral boat with all the people waving to each other is my favorite. It makes the gg world itself larger than life like the characters
Dragon's nest from tekken 5. That stage combined with the incredible music literally sold that game to me. Even in tekken 7 it's my go-to stage.
Geese's Stage in Tekken 7 will always be a top one for me; Faithfully Designed to recreate the same atmosphere from Fatal Fury while also using the Geese Falling off the Howard Estate as an actual Mechanic is sick. The stage itself does so many things that I would have it on default if I could.
Great content like always. Keep doing what you’re doing your hands down my favorite content creator.
I appreciate that!
Speaking of SNK in their prime, pretty much every stage in Garou and Last Blade 2 is a work of art. But the one that immediately comes to mind is "Large Fire at Wadamoya" from LB2, where you fight inside the burning building.
Last Blade 1&2 have godlike stages.
Agree. Playing on that stage always gave me anxietu
This was a cool vid Obama u should do more stuff like this
as long as people come through and hit that sub button, you know i got more on the way
the best fighting game stage of all time for me is ABSOLUTELY spider man's stage from marvel superheroes.
It ticks all the boxes of what makes a stage great:
-Character tie in/lore; you are fighting while goin up a skyscraper in the middle of new york on a lift in the afternoon, thats some shit spiderman could end up doin in a comic ngl
-Atmosphere; at the beginning of the stage, its the afternoon and people are still working. due to the reflection from the sun, however, you cant see them. so you only see the reflected building, that really give off the true vibe of you fighting in the middle of a bustling, big city like new york.
and
-Dynamism; as you progress through rounds, the stage starts to change from the evening to night, and as that happens, you can actually see people watching you fight. But even after that, if the fight continues, it still goes up and up, until you reach the (supposed) peak of the building. There, not only do you get a beautiful night shot of new york, but a NEWS HELICOPTER is waiting for you and starts reporting on your fight as it nears its end.
It's thanks to all those factors that this stage, to me, is just the sickest shit, and there rly isn't anything else that hits quite like it.
The MSF and Xmen stages are the Pinnacle of arcade fighting game stages. That shit just feels so satisfying to see.
One of my favorite stages in fighting games are Tekken 5's Dragon Nest. I'm a sucker for that stage because of the soundtrack, but also because it's like your in a really good Kung Fu flick. For me it isn't just the beauty of the stage. The track has to fit well too.
Tekken 6's Fallen Colony stage is definitely one of my favorites. The bgm, the jets zoomin by, and just fighting in a literal fallen landmass from space is just pretty fuckin badass
Something to touch on in backgrounds is good crowds, not really stadiums but that claustrophobic feelin, someone in the back recording for worldstar type deal. Stages like Tekken 4 and 5 Underground where the crowd cheering and getting busted up really play into the ambience, Def Jam just having the boundaries be people constantly pushing back, and yeah a lot of SNK stages rule at that, Osaka, Japan Festival in 97, its that feeling of everyone on their feet right there with you rather than just a dot in the back.
Shoutouts to Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter (?) with the stage transitions. Falling into the sewers from the street above, blowing up the oil refinery, all really dope memorable stages.
This
I haven't even played the game, but something just hits different on the alpha 2 grassland. There are many stages that hit that type of atmosphere, but I haven't seen any that can come close to the vibes on that one
i really love the melty and uni stages just cause how much it feels like its just a place, especially in uni's lore that the night is like a special night were ppl just go out and fight so it really feels like two ppl just meet up and start throwing hands where ever, was really cool exiting a whataburger after my university's locals/meetups and than looking at the parking lot going "yeah dudes can fight here" shout out to the old school stage in uni with the pretty trees in the background and central station in bbtag
im also a sucker for snow stages and stages in the sunset they just look so nice
I absolutely LOVE the dramatic stages: dark, foreboding, and isolating, with major points added for RAIN or a Thunderstorm in the background! It really hammers home that this fight is important and will major consequences for who loses and who wins. Examples: the raining OSAKA boss stage from CVS2, especially at low, howling theme. There's the HONMARU stage from Tekken 4, where only Jin/Kazuya/Heihachi. There's of course aforementioned FIELD stage from SFA. There's Moonlit Wilderness and GROUND ZERO FUNK from Tekken 5, the Castle Siege from Soul Calibur 3, the Volcano from T7... LOVE a dark and rainy battlefield!!
Fatal Fury 1 tung fu rue stage. 2nd round
@@MrERLoner Yes! I didn't know about that stage when I first wrote the comment, but yes. Love that stage too.
One thing I wish more games utilized when making stages in public roads and buildings is the types of stages that have one or more variants of the same stage that can create different feelings or vibes when choosing it. An example being Hologram Summer/Starlight Crossing (crossroad/intersection stage) in Melty Blood, where the day variant represents a liminal space you could imagine the characters passing, with the night variant feeling like classic Type-Moon settings depicting characters fighting in the city at night where there's no one but those in battle. Another one being the NMO Arena stage in Skullgirls, displaying a packed arena watching an event match take place, almost making it feel more grand and entertaining to partake in yourself. Opposing that, however, is the NMO Empty version, where it feels like you're sparring for fun, reliving moments gone in a place where the excitement has died down and left, especially accompanied by the banners of the characters you play as that are also present in the original arena stage. It's the small things that a stage should really invoke in you to feel a stronger attachment to the game and its presentation.
On that note though, I do wish Capcom's recent character cameos in stages felt like they had more real love for the characters represented in them, as if they're showing their care for them in the only way they can. I don't really know what it is, but it feels more like them using the characters as an excuse to show them onscreen, if they're not using them as a costume per se (though Alex is one of the few exceptions that comes to mind when he was just a backdrop before).
yeah alex and necro cameos are exceptions more than the rule, imo. A lot of the time now its just copy paste asset drop into the background
one of my all time fave stages is the swamp stage in marvel 2. the fog and green hue to the stage, combined with the kickass track, really culminate into some low but high energy fun. I've played some of my favorite sets on that stage
I love a lot of the stages in Garou, but definitely one of the highlights is Freeman's stage, the one in the desolate street underneath raised train tracks.. It's definitely a lot more dark and dreary than the rest of the stages in that game, but the the sheer amount of effort that went in to animating a scene where the only other person is some dude scavenging in the background is crazy. Every time the train passes you see light from the windows cast onto the buildings to either side and the headlights hitting the road you're fighting on.
The Dragon's Nest stage from Tekken 5 is so beautiful to me, it's a simple stage but everything about it was nailed to perfection and the tekken 7 version isn't that bad either. Also, that music, man, adds so much atmosphere especially when those big synths get you pumping.
Man it's tough but i'd have to say my favorite stages of all time are
Australia (Alpha 2) Such a tense stages man with the lightning striking constantly and the wind blowing the tall grass, and the music takes it to another level. That stage is iconic man.
San Francisco (SF3 Second Impact) Don't know why but i just really like this stage, i think it's beautiful, and you gotta love the energetic theme and the Yacht with a giant picture of Ken's face plastered all on the side of it, lol
Kenya (SF3 Second Impact) Just a really beautiful night variant on Elena's New Generation stage. Really beautiful with the stars in the sky, the waterfall in the background and the torch burning beside the bridge.
Moonlight Wilderness (Tekken 5) No real explanation needed, brilliant stage
Industrial Factory (KOF '95) Amazing and detailed stage for 1995 man, love the crows flying away at the start of the fight, the sunset in the background and the haze and smog coming from the Factory.
Stone coliseum (Virtua Fighter 2) Sarah's stage, always loved the dark skies and lighting and the fact that you're fighting in what looks like an old roman coliseum.
Spain (Soul Edge/Blade) Cervantes stage, love the way the stage itself rocks back and forth on the water, as if floating out in the sea while you're surrounded by pirate ships
Basara's stage (SamSho 3) Very dark and eerie stage (and theme), you're fighting in an old completely dilapidated house with nothing but candles giving you light, after the first round the candles go out and it's just darkness. I always thought this stage was really cool.
Man i can keep going and going, i have a TON of fighting game stages that i absolutely love. Great video Obama.
One of the my favorite stages is the home stage of Gordon in Savage Reign because of a funny detail: There are two policemen in the background, one that is very engaged in the combat and cheering up, and his partner that is trying to pull him off while shouting and gesturing they have duties to accomplish.
That is seconded only by the stage of M.Bison in Street Fighter Alpha 2 where two of his henchmen are engaged in conversations, but as soon as M.Bison pass in front of them they stand still and salute their leader.
Honestly hard pick between all the Skullgirls stages. They're all so simple with very little motion but they still feel like believable places in this big city, each with their own story significance. Not to mention how they all react to " power hits" like the pyrotechnics going off and the crowd cheering in Beowulf's stage or the water splashing in Eliza's stage. Special shoutout to Annie's stage that brings around the game's stage play theming by turning it into an actual stage play.
The Art of Fighting team stage in KoF ‘96 is really great. It’s got the nice guitar track playing while you fight in train tracks outside this gas station in the middle of the desert. What really elevates it is the sunset, which progresses over every match until it’s dark
This is why I think The Grid -like stages should be banned from tournament play. Not because they give anyone advantages but because artists poured their lives into designing these stages and epic fights and we're all just going to shapeland??? Nah, man. Real fights in real places, get people pumped up.
My personal favorite that I miss dearly is KoF 2000 aquarium stage with the guy in a seal costume in the background. That stage rules. I also really like how Arcana Heart 3 picked some random ass town in Massachusetts as a stage lol I don't even know who the fuck went to Franklin but they got it perfect
preaching to the choir
Really cool to see Jojo's mentioned! I'm a big fan of a lot of the stages in HFTF, but if I had to choose I would probably say the one with all the columns (Chaka's stage) is my favorite. The bridge stage is also super cool, but unfortunately it's exclusive to the single player modes. One thing I really like about Jojo's is how many stages have different versions at different times of day, so even if you've been playing on one stage for a bit, it'll look different every time.
not gonna lie, some of the stages from SF3 NG and SF3 2i are spectacular and their accompanying OSTs give you such a vibe. of those two games my fave from SF3 New Generation has to be Ryu's stages and its beautiful transition after r1. Elenas stage in 2i is really amazing.
Cyclops stage from X-Men Children of The Atom also known as "The Danger Room" is easily one of the most beautiful stages Capcom has ever designed. The stage changes background over time, the track is fire too.
some honorable mentions include
Dreamland ssb64
Seans stage in 2i
Oro's stage in 2i
Ibukis stage in 2i
Battlefield SSBM
Terrys stage in Garou MoTW
Icemans stage from X-Men Children of The Atom
Omega Reds stage from X-Men Children of The Atom
Silver Samurais stage from X-Men Children of The Atom
The Chuck E. Cheese brawl already got me dude 💀
Great video Obama.
1. From Xrd to Revelator it was really cool seeing the stages change signaling the passage of time like axl's and chipp's stages changing seasons.
2. In the strive stage council of three if you look on the edges of the screen it looks like you're fighting above the Accent Core stage "hell". and I bet if you look really close off the side you can see Ogawa do an unblockable stun set up into a instant kill.
3. When fighting team Orochi in kof 97 the stage reacts to each characters element like Shermie with lightning striking in the background or Yashiro trembling the earth and causing magma to erupt in the background.
My favorite has to be the Colosseum stage from Blazblue. When you play on it it feels like an epic showdown that happens between those two characters due to some crazy circumstances, all for the public to see on display
For me its got to be concert stages. Just seeing stages with a big crowd in the background, big logos and tv screens flashing (bonus points if its related to the fight itself). The obvious stand out is the KOF 97 Rave stage especially including that pre match intro with the live broadcast really sold it. Shoutouts to Power Instinct Matrimelee for having a really good one of those as well. I'm also a fan of the KOF 15 Concert stage as well with the big screens showing the character icons and that 30fps band bugging out in the background.
Riverside Plaza from the under night games will always be my fave. i just love how you are fighting next to the river and you can see the construction of the bridge in the background.
Personally I really like the Volcano stages in T7 even though they’re kind of an eye sore, they have very cool ambiance. Also i really like Ryu’s rooftop stages
This video truly shows Majin Obama's passion for fighting games!!! There were so many game name drops spanning decades, and he provided solid info behind each game and stage. Ngl, this is nostalgia fuel. Awesome vid!!!
Thanks for watching
What really makes a stage for me is the music bro!!!!
What if its music that isnt tied to a stage
Im a sucker for dojo stages, especially when the students and masters are lined up and watching intently at the fight. If the characters fighting aren't from that school then its feels like an special event, an invitation to show off their styles. If they are, it's like they are defending their style from this challenger or just another spar between students. KOF XIII has this with the AOF stage. Now that one is cool because usually dojo stages are big and have this aura of "sacred training ground", but this one actually feels like any ol' karate dojo you would find around town!
Yo, same. KoF 13's Kyokugen Dojo is up there as one of my favorites, for sure.
No love for the undulating stages in Virtua Fighter 3? I personally loved Jeffery’s small island stage and Wolf’s endless desert stage.
My man consistently on top, this video is some prime real estate
I love strive's stages and transitions. L'oro Di Illyria is my fave because of the shops, people, and big ass ferry in the background. I also love May stage and that you can see the different airlifted boxes you're fighting on when you're flying in between.
What a great video. I remember my brother would practice Alpha 2 all day, everyday, to finally beat me just once when I came home from school. He was Ryu I was Ken. Every match was on the grass stage. So intense
Loving these documentary type videos man, they're so godlike
Glad you like them!
I think that one of the best stages is CVS2's famous London stage. Besides it being a wonderful game that is incredibly fucked up, I love that there are characters from both companies just there in the back. You have Billy Cane and his sister talking with a dude, then later you see Dudley just casually reading in the back as Dictator is painting the fence on someone. Also the fact that you see the bus that goes across the background at times, that detail is amazing to me. Then of course you can't talk about the stage or CVS2 without mentioning the music. It's such a groovy song with easy to sing lyrics, that can be easily mistaken for "this is tuna with bacon."
Then I think another great stage is Tekken 7's Mishima Dojo. Just from playing the game alone, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the broken down dojo. A wall is busted and you can see the night sky, and the moon is out giving it a unique lighting. Then on another wall is a giant Buddha, with lit fires near it. But if you play the story mode you learn about it's connection with Heihachi and Kasumi, with them engraving their names on the floor, and you also learn why the wall is broken. Akuma comes and tries his chance to kill Heihachi as he promised Kasumi, then Jack-bots come fight Heihachi too. The I also really love the music to the stage, I feel that it is one of Tekken 7's best tracks, possibly one of the best in Tekken's history(but that's just me).
SF4 drive in at night resonates with me mad hard because I grew up in a small town where everyone hung out at Sonic on Friday nights. It evokes that feeling of everyone rocking up and seeing what might go down so well.
I really like the ball room stage in skull girls. The added bonus being they randomize some of the people that are back there so the cameos are a little different every time. Skull girls character design is wild so there's some really colorful characters back there too.
Most of the cameos on that stage are just the OCs and fursonas of the kickstarter backers, not Skullgirls characters.
Guardian Dogs Temple from SVC Chaos is a vibe. A true sense of uneasiness as you fight for a second chance at life. To this day I can’t get over how serious fighting on that stage felt; the music, the boss and atmosphere really push you to go all out.
Please make more videos like this my guy. Appreciating the artistry behind d fighting games is always so interesting
Shoutouts to my favorite stage of all time, Requiem from BlazBlue. Absolutely sick, beautiful stage. The original version with the red roses is fantastic, but the white roses really take it over the top to give it a more somber, serious atmosphere. Love it to death, bar none my favorite stage of all time.
Hallway scene was masterful in its own way, but when you discover that scene at the same short timeframe that you did the protector club scene in your formative years, you gotta admit that you've just been spoiled. Nothing will ever measure up again till you see the bloopers..
Only then do you get the perspective of the planning and fire under everyone's ass to do it in one go. So amazing.
Your videos whether its videos like these or the Voices of Fighting games, or Obama tales, always top notch.
RIP Felix.
smoking that felix pack tonight
This isn't from a fighting game, but I think one of the most iconic fighting arenas is the burning church in episode 2 of Kamen Rider Kuuga. It's such a sick backdrop that adds so much to the atmosphere and gravitas of the fight.
I really like particular stages because of the music, like Tekken 6's Fountain or 7's Infinite Azure, but sometimes stages like Cammy's stage from Street Fighter 2/5 I just pick because of the cool location that perhaps I would like to go to someday. But I think games like Under Night have a lot of appeal too since I would really like to walk around Japan at night listening to cool music.
There's two that come to mind, ironically both share an element in common.
First, the power plant thing from XvsSF/MSHvsSF, particularly that after the first round everything just explodes and is on fire. Second, the burning stage from Last Blade 2, you know the one. There's kind of a sense of tension and urgency, especially in the last one since they put a heat effect in the background.
aurich mentioned the LB2 burning stage too. Im personally more impressed with the waterfall stages from LB2 though I understand the appeal
The interactivity of Dead or Alive stages, particularly from DOA2-4 always keeps me coming back to those games. One of my favorites is DOATEC HQ from DOA3, this beautiful glass building where you can either knock your opponent out the windows into a Chinese electric sign or you can knock them down into a secret lab in the center of the building. It's so sick
One time I really noticed stages was when I realized I liked MK9's stages more then MKXs. I think its kind of like what you said about Fountain of Dreams. They were more colorful and usually simpler. Plus, interactables were neat, but I have mixed feelings about them.
I think arena stages are stages that got me really excited as a kid. Stuff like the urban jungle in Tekken 5, the arena stage in Tekken 4, or Shanghai and Osaka in CVS2. My imagination likes to run wild and I’ll think that this is something that is actually being broadcasted. With Tekken, the added touch of the crowd popping off whenever you knockdown the opponent really makes it feel special
The Last Blade series has some banger states. The temple stage with the red trees and leaves all over the ground, The lava stage where you fight Musashi, Okina's stage with the giant tree.
LB2 Flames is the stage where everyone goes WOAH!
Yuki-machi night time in a 1860's Japanese city along the river.
Graveyard stage with the abandoned house in the background.
One of my favorite stages is from the Darkstalkers series:
The stage where you fight on the side of a building.
This change in perspective adds a massive amount of spice to an otherwise mundane setting.
Man I gotta say that Rugal's '98 stage is possibly the most kickass stage ever. It's the Black Noah, the ship from '94 that you fought on AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. And there's all the freaky monitors with the eyes, and the creepy machines and God it's so cool.
Tekken 4's inner shrine stage did it for me. The atmosphere, the music, and how it was the last part of the story. Also the birth of devil jin. Very memorable
i love the way obama does these kind of videos. They aren't overly long and feel extremely natural. No "news reporter voice" or anything. It feels like a real conversation with a lot of interesting points. great work.
thanks for watching man!
awesome video, it's really insane to see all these different ideas side by side. for me, i absolutely agree about the appeal of the "everyday" or "anonymous location" type stages -- Underpass Vending Machines in UNI is one of my faves, and you show it off here perfectly. On the other hand, I love the stages that have a real sense of scale and excitement -- the Seventh Heaven District from STRIVE is a perfect example -- it just looks like you're on this midair structure, and then you realize there are dozens of HUGE flying buddhas going by like rocket ships in the background. The stages of Soul Calibur also do well at this, creating a cohesive world that feels like it all fits together -- the Weapon Master mode in SC2 made you really feel like you were hopping the globe and going deeper into strange dungeon mazes
glad you enjoyed. out of strive i prefer the cafe with the polar bear
I know others have said it already but for me as well, I think the music goes hand in hand with how I feel about a particular stage (even though they're kind of two separate conversations). For that reason, the clocktower stage from MvC2 and Alex's stage from Third Strike are my favorites. Clocktower being a beautiful stage that is accented by probably my favorite theme in the entire game and Alex's stage theme just being ultra hype and capturing the late 90's jazzy hip hop vibe make these stages memorable. I don't even have nostalgia for them either. I was like 17 or 18 when I first saw them so I think that's low-key a testament to how dope they are.
All my fav stages are character specific stages, almost like their hoods. It feels like you get to know them a little more about them, especially when you play as them.
Stages from other games hit me the hardest, shoutout to the winter stage in mvc3, which reminds me of megaman legacy. I never really went outside too much, video games were just too fun for me, so I appreciate as a gamer when they put a stage from a game ive played. Megaman legends is the Best megaman series, even if there is only 2 of em. The way in megaman 64 where they would take the initial town, and blow buildings up during one of the early boss battles. Man, id love to see them rebooted so ppl realize we need a 3rd.
Any time my mind goes to favorite stages the first one that pops into mind is Tower of Arrogance from Vampire Savior. Fighting on the side of a building with the warped perspective and all that, it helped sell how supernatural the characters are to me. And it just looked cool as hell man.
Shoutout to Tower of Arrogance in Vsav.
The angle and moving traffic is so crazy and atmospheric at the same time.
Kim's stage on kof '94 & '95: the thunter cracking and the rain gives an excellent atmosphere.
The church stage of Nightmare. In SC2 while 'rise thy sword' plays,it just give me the chills.
And all of m bison temple stages