View source for Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors

[[Category:Film and Media]]
[[Category:Darkstalkers]]

''For other uses of the word [[Succubus]], see [[Succubus (disambiguation)]].''




{{italic title}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
|image = [[File:Darkstalkers_game_cover.jpg|250px]]
|caption= Japanese cover art of the PlayStation version of ''Vampire: The Night Warriors''
|developer = Capcom
|publisher = Capcom
|designer = 
|engine = 
|released = 1994-1996
|genre = Fighting game
|modes = Single-player, Multiplayer
|ratings = 
|platforms = CP System II, PlayStation, PlayStation Network
|media = CD-ROM
}}

'''''Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors''''', titled as '''''Vampire: The Night Warriors''''' in Japan, is the first title in the ''[[Darkstalkers]]'' fighting game series, developed and released by Capcom in 1994, originally for the CP System II arcade hardware. It was ported to the PlayStation by Psygnosis in 1996.

The game was included in ''[[Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection]]'', a compilation of all five ''Darkstalkers'' arcade games that were released in Japan only for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. In 2011, the PS One version was released separately for the PlayStation Network and is both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable compatible.<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/27/darkstalkers-the-night-warriors-brings-vampire-bliss-to-psn-this-week/ Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors Brings Vampire Bliss To PSN This Week | Silicon Era]</ref>

In this game, the succubus character [[Morrigan Aensland]] appears.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Darkstalkers gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|A gameplay screenshot from ''Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors'']]

The game features ten playable characters (Demitri Maximoff, Jon Talbain, Victor von Gerdenheim, Lord Raptor, [[Morrigan Aensland]], Anakaris, Felicia, Oboro Bishamon, Rikuo and Sasquatch) and two non-playable boss characters (Huitzil and Pyron) as the final opponents of single-player mode.

The game uses the gameplay system Capcom developed for the ''Street Fighter II'' series, but with several new gameplay features such as ''Air Blocking'', ''Crouch Walking'' and ''Chain Combos''. The game featured a ''Special'' meter similar to the "Super Combo" gauge from ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'', which the player could fill up to perform either a unique "super combo"-type move much like the previous ''Super Turbo'' (called "ES" in the ''Darkstalkers'' series), or a powered-up version of one of their specials (called "EX", and a concept which would appear in later ''Darkstalkers'' games as well as ''Street Fighter III''). Unlike the Super Combo gauge in ''Super Turbo'', the Special in ''Darkstalkers'' gradually drains unless the player performs their super move, preventing players from preserving their super moves for later use.

==Plot==
Demitri Maximoff decides to hold a tournament on planet Earth to see which of the Darkstalkers is worthy to rule the Demon World. Pyron, who believes he should rule the Darkstalkers, decides to enter the tournament.

==PlayStation version==
The game was ported for the PlayStation in 1996, converted by Psygnosis. This version featured a new opening theme, "Trouble Man" by Eikichi Yazawa, which was used as the theme music for the American ''Darkstalkers'' animated series. A canceled Sega 32X was also planned at one point.<ref>[http://www.eidolons-inn.net/segabase/32X-Darkstalkers.html 32X - Darkstalkers]</ref> 

==Reception==
''VideoGames & Computer Entertainment'' (''VGCE'') gave it a score of 9/10.<ref>''Video Games & Computer Entertainment'' 71 (December 1994), page 94</ref> Upon the home version's release, ''PlayStation Magazine'' gave ''Darkstalkers'' a score of 7/10, calling it "a sound enough beat'em up but no ''Street Fighter Alpha''."<ref>''PSM'' 12</ref>

''VGCE'' named the arcade version of ''Darkstalkers'' as the second game in the categories Game of the Year and Best Fighting Game of 1994.<ref>''VideoGames, The Ultimate Gaming Magazine'' 74 (March 1995), pages 44-46</ref> In 2007, CraveOnline users ranked ''Darkstalkers'' as the ninth top 2D fighter of all time, the staff calling it "a Capcom title that was essential in the further development of Capcom’s 2-D fighter dominance" and "a surprise hit that paved the way for many great games after it."<ref>{{cite web |first= CraveOnline Poll |title= Top Ten 2-D Fighters of all time |date= 2007-09-07 |url= http://www.craveonline.com/gaming/article/top-ten-2-d-fighters-of-all-time-65021 |publisher= CraveOnline |accessdate= 2009-11-24}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkstalkers:_The_Night_Warriors The original source of this article at Wikipedia]
*[http://www.mobygames.com/game/darkstalkers-the-night-warriors ''Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors''] at MobyGames
*[http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/572428-darkstalkers-the-night-warriors ''Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors''] at GameFAQs
*[http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7524 Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors at the Killer List of Videogames]
*[http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Darkstalkers:_The_Night_Warriors Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors guide at StrategyWiki]

{{Darkstalkers series}}