Pixels x Pens Newsletter - It's Evo 2025!

Over the weekend, thousands of competitors made their way to Las Vegas to compete in Evo. This year, they added a few of the OG games to the main stage, which is great for people who never watched a Marvel vs Capcom 2 (MvC2) match at high-level play.  Before we get into the videos, if you need a refresher on fighting games, you can always check out the previous newsletter, where we discussed the mechanics of fighting games. 

The Big Dogs

Let's start with the two most popular games - Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. What you'll notice, if this is your first time watching fighting games, is the flow of each game. Tekken combos are longer and deal massive damage if you can push an opponent against the wall. Street Fighter is going to feel more like your old-school fighting games, with shorter combos strung together with special moves. 

Gonna Take You For A Ride!

MvC2 holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the few games that lived in my Sega Dreamcast. This year, Evo brought the legacy to the main stage, which is a big deal because usually those matches happen off-stream.  What else made this special? The legacy games are home to the Uncs. Everyone in this Top 8 had a 401 (k) and probably one bad knee. 

Top 8s!

Of course, there were more than three games on display at Evo, but you know I like to keep these posts short and to the point. Below are the other top 8 matches if you want more fighting games. 

Capcom vs SNK 2

The King of Fighters XV

FATAL FURY: City of Wolves

Guilty Gear - Strive

Samurai Showdown

Until next time. Peace.