Gaming is something that deserves to be celebrated, and fan service nods to the history of a series or this pastime can be an amazing way to highlight how far we’ve come or how our characters and their stories have grown alongside our own. We would like to share 15 of our favourite moments, but of course there is way, way, way too many to fit onto a single list. In the spirit of community, make sure to share and discuss your favourite fan service moments just below in the comments. Also, last warning, there will be spoilers. Big ones, so click ahead if you intend to play anything we discuss, since these are too good to spoil for you.

Sonic Adventure 2 – Green Hill Zone

The last official Sonic game to release before the unavoidable collapse of the Dreamcast and Sega’s foothold in the console scene is still an undeniable favourite among series fans, though new players may find it hard to stomach in 2018. Should players have been crazy enough to comb through each and every level, conquer those Chao events and collect every last emblem in the game, one final stage would be unlocked. A fully 3D recreation of Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 1 became open for play as a bonus for those faithful enough to 100% the game, and a great way to put a capstone on the Sega dynasty.

"Where Project X Zone lacks the slow and methodical strategy of other SRPGs, it does involve some unlikely strategic planning in the form of some resource management."

Nothing exemplifies this as well as the combat system. Project X Zone would describe itself as a tactical RPG- an SRPG in the wake of this year’s brilliant Fire Emblem: Awakening– but it’s actually a far cry from that game’s slow, methodical pace. Unlike Fire Emblem, or other tactical strategy based games, where placement of units is key, and the outcome of each encounter is determined using cold, hard stats for each combatant, Project X Zone throws you into combat, expecting you to fight your way out of each encounter.

Yes, you still move around a grid based map, but once combat is initiated, you have to actually fight, inputting commands. While you can always try to button mash your way out of an encounter- and sadly enough, that remains a viable strategy for a good chunk of the game- actually timing your commands and executing paired combos properly nets you bonuses like extra experience, so it is always recommended, even if not necessitated by the game itself.

Where Project X Zone lacks the slow and methodical strategy of other SRPGs, it does involve some unlikely strategic planning in the form of some resource management. No, you don’t have to collect resources like you would in an RTS. Instead, there is something called an EX bar, which is necessary to perform crucial actions in combat.

"The story in Project X Zone, whatever there is of it, is absolutely nonsensical, and frenetic without justification. "

Things like blocking, healing, and moving beyond the predicated range for your character all use up your EX bar, so you need to actually plan ahead- would you rather use it to heal an ally this turn, or use it to move further next turn and take out an enemy? It’s some quick, on the feet thinking, but it adds necessary depth to the gameplay, and it also adds an incentive to actually try and battle properly.

Of course, not all is shiny and peachy with the game; for example, the story never quite works. I guess that’s a fallout of the game being what it is though. We are talking of over sixty characters from multiple different franchises from three completely different, disparate video game franchises made at different periods in gaming history.

There was no way such a crossover would work from a narrative perspective, and, well, it doesn’t. The story in Project X Zone, whatever there is of it, is absolutely nonsensical, and frenetic without justification. It moves from one major development to another without attempting to explain anything that happens or make any sense, and after a while, you just stop caring; you’d probably have better luck trying to understand what went on in the Subspace Emissary.

Thankfully, the story really is the only crack in the otherwise shining coat of paint this game presents us with, and even there, it does attempt it attempts to make it easier for us to at least keep track of all the characters (if not in context of their motivations and their place within the story) via something it calls a CrossPedia, an in game compendium of each character, and the franchises they come from. It’s great fan service, and the game is perhaps worth the price just for that alone. It is clear that the developers really did care about all the franchises and characters that they decided to throw together.

"Project X Zone is a wonderful, wonderful experience, an SRPG unlike any other, a crossover so unlikely that it's a miracle they managed to get it all together to begin with. "

Indeed, fan service permeates everything about this game. In addition to the game’s very existence, and he CrossPedia, every character is self referential, and makes quips about himself, and the franchise he comes from. If you have had any investment at all in a few of these franchises that came together in this game, Project X Zone is going to be a treat for you.

And even if you didn’t, it’s fun to play it simply because of how bizarrely chaotic the game can get. Project X Zone is a wonderful, wonderful experience, an SRPG unlike any other, a crossover so unlikely that it’s a miracle they managed to get it all together to begin with. It’s not the best game on the 3DS, it’s not even the best game in its genre on the 3DS, but it is one of the more unique ones, and giving it a spin is definitely recommended for any and all fans of any of the franchises that are represented within it.

This game was reviewed on the 3DS.

Project X Zone sees characters from Namco Bandai, Capcom and Sega taking part in a massive crossover, where you traverse the world from an isometric perspective and fight against enemies in a 2D fighter style with team-ups, special attacks and combos.

Characters from franchises like XenoSaga, Tales of Vesperia, Street Fighter, Mega Man X, Mega Man Legends, dotHack, Resonance of Fate, Rival Schools, Space Channel 5 and many, many more make an appearance, either as main fighters or support characters.

The game is currently available in North America and will launch in Australia on July 4th and in Europe on July 5th for the Nintendo 3DS.

The next edition in Namco Bandai’s mech simulation series, developed by From Software, got some new screenshots during E3 2013. While the game will still feature a campaign mode, the focus will be on a persistent online multiplayer mode that sees three factions competing against each other dominance. Each season, the conflict then “resets” and the three go at it again. So far, it has a release date of September 26th in Japan for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 is developed by Tecmo Koei, and puts the all-out melee battles of Dynasty Warriors firmly into the One Piece universe. Of course, this will be post-timeskip and players will take advantage of new powers that Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are touting. A new Support Gauge will also allow for tagging in different characters for short intervals. Look for it to release on PS3 in Q3 2013.

Project X Zone

Finally, we have Project X Zone, a crossover title featuring characters from Namco Bandai, Sega and Capcom titles. The game features an extensive campaign mode and 2D character battles with team-ups and special attacks. The game boasts more than 200 characters from franchises like Tekken, Devil May Cry, XenoSaga, Resident Evil, Street Fighter and more. Project X Zone will release on June 25th in North America for the Nintendo 3DS.

The demo will feature characters from Sakura Wars, Cyberbots, Space Channel 5 and Valkyria Chronicles, along with Sakura Wars’ Imperial Theatre level. Interestingly enough, there will be a second demo on June 27th featuring Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins.

Project X Zone functions like a normal isometric RPG when exploring the world map but enters into a 2D fighting like perspective, wherein you can deal team attacks and special moves against opponents. Among other franchises, there will be characters from Street Fighter, Tekken, XenoSaga, Devil May Cry, Mega Man X, Resident Evil and much more.

The English trailer for the game was showcased earlier today, and you can check it out again for further confirmation that the game will be awesome.

For those not in the know, Project X Zone is a crossover hybrid strategy RPG/fighting game that features more than 50 characters from franchises spanning Sega, Namco Bandai and Capcom.

This includes characters from Street Fighter, Tekken, XenoSaga, Darkstalkers, Mega Man X, Tales of Vesperia, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil and many, many more as three man teams take on enemies with dual attacks and special finishing moves.

Each major brand – Capcom, Sega and Namco Bandai – gets equal precedence in the trailer, whose main focus is showing off the team-up attacks and how different character combinations work together. Whether it’s seeing X and Zero tear into an enemy with the X Buster and Z Saber or Chun Li and Morrigan executing their classic combos, there’s plenty of fan service on offer.

And that’s even before we get to the super attacks, which are just phenomenal.

It may not be for everyone but Project X Zone will definitely appeal to those who’ve always wanted to see their favourite characters all in the same game. Project X Zone releases on June 25th in North America and July 5th in Europe.

Featuring well known characters like Dante and Lady from Devil May Cry, X and Zero from Mega Man X, Jin and Ling from Tekken, Kite and Black Rose from dotHack and many more, Project X Zone is a tactical RPG hybrid. This is because battles take place from a side-scrolling, fighting game perspective wherein you and two other team members annihilate enemies.

Team-up attacks, combos and chain attacks are a common occurrence in Project X Zone. And apparently there’s a story about a rift in space-time causing all these universes to merge together, but who cares?

Check it out when it releases this Summer in North America, if you even have a passing interesting in seeing Zero team up with KOS-MOS.

Though it seemed impossible that we’d see another crossover on the scale of Project X Zone, a fighting game/RPG hybrid developed by Banpresto and Monolith Soft for the Nintendo 3DS, it seems Namco Bandai UK has allayed those fears via Twitter by announcing the game’s release for Europe and North America this Summer.

That’s right: We’re finally going to be able to go at it with Namco Bandai, Capcom and Sega characters in arguably the biggest crossover since…since forever, actually.

Project X Zone features over 200 characters from legendary franchises like Darkstalkers, Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter, Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Xenosaga, Tekken and many more. It was released in Japan on October 11th 2012 and immediately generated fervor due to the sheer amount of characters it featured.

Usually crossovers don’t see much exposure outside of Japan, due to rights issues, but Project X Zone is just too good to ignore.

If you know the “Cross” franchise, you already know about the union of the most famous icons of Sega, Namco-Bandai and Capcom, as heroes and villains unite in a fighting game/field-RPG extravaganza.

And if you’re not familiar with it, then watch the trailer and mark out when KOS-MOS fights alongside Mega Man X and Zero.

Source: AllGamesBeta