Square-Enix vs. Capcom: When Worlds Collide

Square-Enix vs. Capcom: When Worlds Collide is an upcoming crossover fighting game developed and produced by Capcom in collaboration with Square-Enix. The game features characters from both Capcom and Square-Enix's videogame franchises. Longtime Capcom fighting game producer, Yoshinori Ono, the man behind Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V, will serve as the game's executive producer. Lead designers from each company have been assigned with deigning duties for their respective brand. Final Fantasy Dissida designer Tetsuya Nomura is in charge of designs for Square-Enix's roster while Resident Evil: Revelations 2 designer Kazunori Kadoi will be designing Capcom's character models.

In the game, players select up to three characters to engage in combat and attempt to knock out their opponents. It features similar tag-team mechanics to the Marvel vs. Capcom series of fighting games to which it emulates the MT Framework engine of.

The game is slated for an early 2017 release for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.

Plot
After seizing control of Neo-Umbrella Headquarters, dictator M. Bison (Street Fighter) has grown more powerful than ever before. Enhanced from the deadly combination of the C-Virus and the Psycho Power already in his blood, Bison once again seeks world domination. In his endeavors, he lures Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy) to Earth through The Rift, where heroes from both the Capcom and Square-Enix worlds soon follow. With the two overlords at war with each other, they challenge the two worlds to a fighting tournament in a battle for supremacy!

Gameplay
The game replicates the 3-vs-3 tag team mechanics of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 using next-gen graphics. It also features 6 game modes:
 *  Arcade Mode:  Complete a unique story mode vs. a series of opponents before facing the opposing roster's Bosses. (Challenges: "Conqueror": complete Story Mode on SE's side by defeating M. Bison. "Destroyer of Worlds": complete Story Mode on Capcom's side by defeating Gilgamesh.)


 *  Versus:  Play a single match (with options of 1-v-1, 2-v-2 or 3-v-3) against an AI-controlled opponent(s) or another player.


 *  Survival:  Face a series of opponents in one of two modes (in Easy, Normal or Hard):
 * Lone Survivor: Face all 47-59 other characters (excluding Bosses/Sub-Bosses) from both realms back-to-back in singles matches (complete the "One Man Army" challenge upon completing).
 * Tag Team Survival: Face a continuous series of randomly-generated AI tag teams (in 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 modes) until both or all of your fighters are defeated. You replenish a small amount of health for all of your characters after completing each round.


 *  Challenge:  Face a series of battles that can only be won by completing various challenges and winning each round.


 *  Training:  Practice and hone your skills by learning the various combos/techniques against a non-moving AI opponent.


 *  Theater:  Watch character-unlocked Story Mode cutscenes and endings and replay saved battles (online or offline).

The game's Online mode features the cross-play feature utilized in SFV, enabling PS3 and PS4 users to play against each other as well as Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners. They've also instituted a new Companion App with the following features: In the game's Arcade Mode, you play through a unique story set for the first character selected for your respective side and are accompanied by your selected partners. Each character has their own unique story mode with their own set of cut scenes occurring before each battle and a mix of QTE-triggered and Beat-Em-Up style side-missions in between cut scenes for certain chapters. These stories and cut scenes are secretly connected between characters and are often crossing over into the setting of the opposing side, i.e: Lara's story has her journeying through the Arklay Mountains, where you must slay zombie dogs as the game reverts to a Beat-Em-Up arcade-style engine before your next battle. You will then enter the Spencer Mansion, where you're occasionally prompted to shoot zombies via QTEs upon infiltrating reminiscent of the first Resident Evil before running into the team of Dante/Trish, Jill/Ada and Nemesis/Wesker. Also, who you end up facing in each segment is dependent on your combination of characters with many different possible scenarios.
 *  Online: Play online against other players across the globe (matchmaking settings are set locally by region).
 *  Options: Set controller configurations, music/audio settings, subtitles, contrast settings, and other options.
 * Access the latest news such as tidbits on new patches/updates, new DLC packs, and online challenges.
 * Party up with friends and engage in a specialized chat service, set up brackets and play against each other in 1-v-1, 2-v-2 or 3-v-3 modes, or even play against others in the new online-exclusive 6-v-6 game mode, where each player controls one individual character who can be tagged or called in for assists at any time. All 6 players per side face off until a team has been eliminated.
 * Create your own character combos and search/view other players' via archived submissions.
 * Cross-Play: The Companion App also keeps registries of all users across Xbox Live and PlayStation Network in its collective database, allowing Sony and Microsoft console owners (both last and current gen) to play against each other for the first-time ever via cross-play. It's through this app can players/parties be matched with others across platforms.

Other Beat-Em-Up mission foes preceding actual character battles:

 Square Enix: 
 * Shinryu (Final Fantasy).
 * Follow-up opponents: Lightning (or Yuna), Yuna (or) and Cloud (or Tifa).
 * Vampires (Soul Reaver).
 * Follow-up opponents: Kain, ???, and ???.
 * Chasers (Parasite Eve).
 * Follow-up opponents: Aya Brea, ???, and ???.


 * Guerrillas (Just Cause).
 * Follow-up opponents: Rico Rodriguez, ???, and ???.


 * Trinity Assassins (Rise of the Tomb Raider).
 * Follow-up opponents: Lara Croft, ???, and ???.

 Capcom: 
 * Doombots (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance).
 * Follow-up opponents: Dr. Doom, Sephiroth, and ???.
 * Ultron Drones (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance).
 * Follow-up opponent(s): Ultron and Ultimecia (Sub-Boss Battle).
 * Bionic Soldiers (Bionic Commando).
 * Follow-up opponents: Nathan Spencer, ???, and ???.
 * Shadaloo Guards (Street Fighter).
 * Follow-up opponents: Vega (or Akuma), Seth, and ???.


 * Genma (Onimusha).
 * Follow-up opponents: Samanosuke Akechi, ??? and ???.


 * Demons (Devil May Cry).
 * Follow-up opponents: Vergil (or Dante), ???, and ???.
 * Dinosaurs (Dino Crisis [start out against a pack of velociraptors before facing the "mother" T-Rex]).
 * Follow-up opponents: Regina, ???, and ???.

It also features MvC3's "X Factor" and Score/Grade features, wherein you can unlock several game modes: The game is also complete with several new fighting mechanics:
 * Lickers (Resident Evil).
 * Follow-up opponents: Jake Muller (mind-controlled) and Doll Cammy (Sub-Boss battle).
 * Bison Mode: Beat Story Mode using Square-Enix characters and finish with 30,000 player points. You will then face a series of randomly-generated Square-Enix teams in a specialized Arcade mode (similar to UMvC3's Galactus Mode), where you will unlock M. Bison's character ending after completing.
 * Gilgamesh Mode: Beat Story Mode using Capcom characters and finishing with 30,000 player points. You get a chance to unlock Gilgamesh's character ending after completing.
 * Boss Survival Mode: Beat either Bison Mode and/or Gilgamesh Mode, and you'll unlock a special Boss Survival Mode, where you play in a 3-vs-3 Survival Mode featuring the boss characters. Start out controlling only one of the 2 pairs of sub-bosses in 2-on-3 battles. These turn into 3-on-1 battles once one of the sub-bosses has been KOed. Once the other sub-boss has been KOed, you control the end boss of your choice in 3-on-1 matches the rest of the way until he's been defeated. Unlike in regular Survival Mode, the boss's health meter does not replenish after each round.
 * Assist Hyper Combos/Special Moves: Certain characters will unleash assist characters as special moves. I.E: Regina will unleash dinosaurs as her special moves, one being a stampede of velociraptors that march across the screen and a single T-Rex as her main (Level 3) Special Move. The T-Rex, after biting and flinging the opponent in his mouth, will then toss him/her to the ground, causing a Ground Bounce and leaving him/her open to further attacks/combos. Likewise, Aya will unleash Chasers as one of her Specials. Nathan Spencer can call in the Buraq Armada helicopter from the 2009 game.
 * Hyper Aerial Slam Combos: With a full Hyper Meter, you can perform a unique Aerial Hyper Combo downwards on your opponent causing a Ground Bounce. Once back in midair, an Assist Character will then automatically drive the opponent to the ground with a special slam move after a Super Jump animation. These slams range from a Superman Punch (i.e: Jill) to a Rock Bottom (i.e: Ryu) to a Missile Dropkick (i.e: Hayato) to a twirling Body Slam (i.e: Akuma) to a Backbreaker (i.e: Nathan), or even a simple throw (i.e: Sephiroth). Others will be weapon-based, i.e: Lara drives a pick-axe into the opponent's sternum all the way to the ground while Vega asphyxiates his opponent by jamming his claws into his/her throat while performing his slam move.

You can also perform Double or Triple versions of the Hyper Aerial Slam Combo if 2 or more characters have a full Hyper Meter. To accommodate these new features, Capcom/Square-Enix have developed several new gameplay mechanics designed to help players counter "spammers" in order to promote balance:
 * Grab Combos: Combine hit combos with throws, each character having their own unique set of hits used in conjunction with throws after grabbing your opponent (2 grab combos per fighter).
 * Redistribute Energy: For the first time ever, you can redistribute health from your Assist Characters and use it to boost your Point Character's Hyper Meter. You can't, however, redistribute health to any of your characters.
 * Interactive Maps: You can knock opponents through walls, off cliffs, through trap doors, etc, leading to different parts of the map similar to the Dead or Alive series.
 * Free Reign: You can now move freely around each map, basically adopting VF/DOA/Tekken 's "free reign" style of play in conjunction with the MvC/SF MT Framework engine.
 * Stun Counters: Depending on your Hyper Meter gauge, you can now counter combos while stunned (while being hit in the middle of a combo). Cross-Over variations are also available. However, doing so will drain your Hyper Meter.
 * Wall-Gliding: When cornered, you can glide off walls to break free.
 * Hyper Counter: With a full Hyper Meter, you can counter your opponent's Hyper Combo or Special Move with a Hyper Combo/Special Move of your own by pressing Counter+Special at the right time. M. Bison's Psycho Punisher and Ultimate Psycho Crusher, however, can't be countered.
 * Cross-Over Hyper Counter: One of your Assist Characters can bail your Point Character out of an Air or Hyper Combo with a Hyper Combo/Special provided he/she has a full Hyper Meter.

Characters
Square-Enix vs. Capcom: When Worlds Collide features a base roster of 48 characters (24 per side) with 6 unlockable characters (3 per team, those being the bosses/sub bosses of each roster) and 6 DLC characters per side. Of the 12 DLC characters, 4 are Sega characters licensed as Square-Enix and Capcom characters in-roster and will compromise the first batch of DLC; Shenmue 's Ryo Hazuki and Alien from the Alien(s) films and games published by Sega and Virtua Fighter 's Akira Yuki and Predator from the Fox-owned film franchise (and Sega-published Aliens vs. Predator game), respectively. In a marketing-oriented deal originally designed to regain usage rights to the 2 iconic monsters in Capcom's 1994 Alien vs. Predator arcade game, Sega also agreed to lease their 2 star fighters to Square-Enix and Capcom as a promotion for Shenmue III. In return, Sega will get a share of the DLC revenue which will go towards its development.

In addition, Marvel's Ultron, who has never been in a MvC game previously, appears as an unlockable Square-Enix sub-boss fresh off the success of Avengers: Age of Ultron and SFV. Dr. Doom is also appearing as an accommodation to the magical moves of its Final Fantasy characters. Both will be appearing as a tribute to the now-defunct MvC series in an agreement with Disney, who own the rights to all Marvel comic book properties. Disney has also agreed to let them use their SQ-owned properties (Kingdom Hearts characters) in exchange for distributing the game.

Also, sub-bosses from Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds return, albeit separate from the respective end bosses with a cut scene (written by Square-Enix's crew) preceding each of them (as distinct from [U]MvC3), meaning all 3 of your characters return to full health before facing the end boss. In contrast, however, there is no more "disorienting" the bosses as seen in the last Capcom crossover fighting game (MvC3/UMvC3 vs. Galactus). Notes:

Fighter Pack
If you purchase the Fighter Pack ($30) available at launch, you'll get day 1 access to all DLC characters and skins to be released across 3 separate DLC packs throughout the year (once every 4 months):
 * Warrior Pack (DLC Pack #1):
 * Characters: Alien (Square-Enix), Predator (Capcom), Ryo Hazuki (Square-Enix), Akira Yuki (Capcom).
 * Skins: Uroboros Wesker (Capcom), Valkyrie Lightning (Square-Enix), Devil Trigger Dante (Capcom), Iron Man Armor Ultron (Square-Enix), Nelo Angelo Vergil (Capcom), Crossbones Armor Dr. Doom (Square-Enix).


 * Gunner Pack (DLC Pack #2):
 * Characters: Wanzer Zenith (Square-Enix), PTX-140R (Capcom), Hazasuki Tohru (Square-Enix), Wayne Holden (Capcom).
 * Skins: P30 Jill (Capcom), Angel of Darkness Lara (Square-Enix), RE6 Ada (Capcom), Dress Aya (Square-Enix), R.P.D. Leon (Capcom), Thief Yuna (Square-Enix).


 * Anime Pack (DLC Pack #3):
 * Characters: Blair (Square-Enix), Lilith (Capcom), Gyrozetter (Square-Enix), Falcon (Capcom).
 * Skins: Bayonetta Trish (Capcom), Dissidia Ultimecia (Square-Enix), Bikini Morrigan (Capcom), Prophet Magus (Square-Enix), Black Dress Chun-Li (Capcom), Heartsuit Riku (Square-Enix).

Bosses
The bosses in question are determined by who you select in Arcade Mode. If you select 2 of more Square-Enix characters, you face Capcom's set of bosses: a P30 mind-controlled Jake Muller and Doll Cammy who, thanks to the T-Veronica Virus experimentation done to her at the hands of M. Bison, is able to wield unlimited Psycho Power through the P30 device on her chest after linking it to the Psycho Drive (both are donning the red P30 mind-control device seen in Resident Evil 5). This is immediately followed by a now-mutant M. Bison wielding both the C-Virus and Psycho Energy's power simultaneously.

Conversely, if you select 2 or more Capcom characters, you fight SE's bosses: Marvel's Ultron and Final Fantasy 's Ultimecia as a prelude to Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy XII).

To compensate for the "3-on-1 full health advantage", each boss will also be much more "aggressive" than in any previous Capcom fighting game, MvC or otherwise, i.e: M. Bison frequently uses his Knee Press Nightmare combo, Psycho Inferno, Psycho Blast and Ultimate Psycho Crusher in rapid succession, each of those being "super-powered" versions of the moves that are so powerful, they leave a giant trial of flaming Psycho Energy, distorting the air around him. He's also equipped with a telekinetic grab move via his new C-Virus powers, wrapping the opponent in vines and violently tossing him/her back and forth with harnessed Psycho Energy, causing a Ground Bounce and leaving him/her further exposed to damage. Gilgamesh, meanwhile, has various grab and special moves where he stabs/slashes his opponents with many or all of his blade hands, also causing a huge background flash effect in doing so.

Both bosses are also prone to countering Flight Screens and Aerial Exchanges while having a Health Meter that stretches all the way across the screen, i.e: M. Bison will often counter Aerial Combos with a throw into a telekinetic field of Psycho Energy and hit an Ultimate Psycho Crusher into it on the Ground Bounce, forming a raging cyclone of Psycho Power on impact and causing much additional damage in the process.

Stages
Capcom: Square-Enix:
 * Arklay Mountains
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players into a cave or down a waterfall.
 * Spencer Mansion
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players through various doors and onto the staircase above (Aerial/Hyper Combo or Special Move), potentially leading to more trap doors.
 * New York City
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players through a smashed skyscraper window many feet below.
 * Fortuna Castle
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players through the balcony many feet onto the bridge below.
 * Inabayama Castle
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players through the door into the field below.
 * Jurassic Era Research Facility
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players into a laboratory with caged dinos inside (NOTE: when cornered against them, they will bite and toss you many feet across the map for damage).
 * China
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players into a bistro or dojo.
 * Neo-Umbrella Headquarters (Final Stage)
 * Knock-down bonus:You can knock players into a generator, causing extra damage, and onto a catwalk above (3 flight combos).
 * Airship
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players into a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier (interior via windows many feet below.


 * Military Airport
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players into one of various hangars.


 * The Abyss
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players into the ravine below.


 * Saint Thomas Church
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players through the doors into the city streets.


 * Croft Manor
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players onto the staircase above (Flight/Hyper Combo/Special Move), who can then be knocked into the pool area below (through the nearby catwalk), even the pool itself (will cause a rift effect that'll drain the pool on impact)!


 * Latveria Doom Bot Factory
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players (through the windows) into the Latverian city streets below.


 * Valhalla (Final Stage)
 * Knock-down bonus: Level players off the giant bridge into the city streets below (Gilgamesh will compound this with an energy-siphoning Double Foot Stomp).

Development
In recent years, Capcom has been aiming at maximizing profits and cutting costs due to their dire financial situation. With Capcom's highly-popular Marvel vs. Capcom license having expired due to Disney's acquisition of Marvel, the success of the rebooted Tomb Raider franchise-including the awaited sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider-and Street Fighter 5 with it's innovative crossplay feature, and Capcom's relationship with the company, Capcom reached out to Square-Enix, and signed a deal for a new series of crossover fighting games featuring Capcom and Square-Enix-licensed characters. Much like Sony with Street Fighter 5, Square-Enix has agreed to co-fund any Square Enix vs. Capcom fighting games. In addition, they've also decided to bring over the hugely-popular cross-play feature between platforms.

Interestingly enough, this game had been hinted at for several years as a Street Fighter V ad was seen donning the Square-Enix copyright at the Tapei Gameshow in 2015. What started out as an accidental leak turned into a money-making machine for many parties involved. The very first teaser trailer featured Dino Crisis ' Regina in an open field with dinosaurs after opening with the Capcom logo, capitalizing on the success of Jurassic World when "something" sets off the nearby alarms. They then cut to the inside of the now-compromised control center, where they show the back of a silhouetted gun-toting blonde woman before fading out with the Square-Enix logo and copyright. This led to rampant speculation for months on end.

E3 2016 Trailer (second trailer)
This hype train was capsized at E3 2016, where a new promo hyping Lara Croft vs. Jill Valentine was teased. The two are eventually seen wielding guns at each other on top of BSAA Headquarters. They begin fighting, but are soon cut off by Wesker. It then cuts to Nate Spencer shooting at a running Rico Rodriguez on top of a skyscraper and thereafter leaping at him when "something" destroys his chopper. An energy-covered silhouette then flies around the panned shots of a dueling Dante and Cloud Strife, Sephiroth and Vergil, Dr. Doom and Seth in an energy-charged exchange and a twirling Zero fighting a flying Morrigan before crash-landing where Lara and Jill are both getting manhandled by Wesker on top of the BSAA HQ (just as it happened in RE5's "Lost in Nightmares" chapter). Wesker turns around to a surfacing Ultron rising in the flames right before it cuts to the Square-Enix vs. Capcom logo. Following the insane applause from the crowd, they are treated to one final clip of Jill regrouping when "something" runs past her off-screen (reflected by a shadow running by her), further fueling the hype train.

After getting the OK from Disney, who owns Square-Enix, to use Dr. Doom and Ultron, Capcom's licensing relationship with Sony on SFV inspired them to reach out to snag a couple more of their old IPs who've butted heads multiple times across various mediums: Alien and Predator, owned by Sega, who are likewise looking to build on their Shenmue brand after selling the rights to Yu Suzuki for Shenmue III.

Tokyo Game Show 2016 (third trailer)
In a deal benefiting both parties, they revealed a second promo at the 2016 Tokyo Game Show, teasing not only the return of Regina and Aya Brea and Alien and Predator, but Shenmue 's Ryo and Virtua Fighter 's Akira as well, making it the most-hyped fighter ever. Picking up where the second (and first "full") teaser picked off, Jill runs into Alien, who's then seen fighting it through first person infrared vision. It then cuts to Regina riding a T-Rex to attack Aya, Ryo and Akira fighting and Jill being pinned down by Alien, only to be stalked by none other than archrival Predator, who lets out familiar cackles before warping in front of the Xenomorph to face him head-on. The screen then fades to black as the two foes charge at each other.

They then went on to announce a Fighter Pack with the following advertisement after fading out: "Purchase the Fighter Pack, and get early access to these and more DLC character and skin packs." Dante in his Devil Trigger form shortly appears along with Wesker in his Uro monster state, Vergil in his Nelo Angelo suit, Lightning in Valkyrie armor, Ultron in Iron Man armor, and a Crossbones-plaited Dr. Doom skin (Dr. Doom in black Crossbones armor and Crossbones-styled Doom mask), compromising the first wave of DLC skins.

Game Box Art
The game's official game cover/box art features a close up of BSAA Jill Valentine wielding a gun while Lara cocks her bow pointing at her on the left-hand side. These 2 are standing front and center just above the "Square-Enix vs. Capcom" logo with the trio of Cloud, Lightning and Sephiroth facing the trio of Dante, Trish and Vergil somewhere on the bottom. Above Lara and Jill, Tifa (left) cocks her fist while Chun-Li (right) is shown charging at her with a leaping kick, Chrono is facing Ryu as he poses for a Hadouken, and Agent 47 is facing off against Leon S. Kennedy with both men aiming their pistols at each other. In the background, a face silhouette of Gilgamesh and a now mutant M. Bison (now donning a facial look similar to mutant Piers Nivans {Resident Evil 6}), the game's end bosses, is imprinted on the top left and right hand corners. The Square-Enix side (left) is enclosed in a red gradient while Capcom (right) is encased in blue.

Sequel
At E3 2017, Capcom producer Yoshinoro Ono confirmed that a sequel, Square-Enix vs. Capcom 2: Clash of the Warriors, is in the works.

Trivia

 * The game is rated 'M' due to the Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Dino Crisis, Onimusha, Bionic Commando, Just Cause and Parasite Eve side-missions in the game's Story Mode, all mirroring their respective game counterparts.
 * With the inclusion of these missions, Capcom's famous "This Game Contains Scenes of Explicit Violence and Gore" warning message/screen appears when you first load the game up. Producer Yoshinori Ono included this as a throwback to these classic titles.
 * The success of SF5's PS4-v-PC cross-play feature is largely credited with MS head Phil Spencer agreeing to allow cross-play between Sony consoles.
 * Alex Wesker (Resident Evil: Revelations 2) is included as an alternate skin for Albert Wesker (captioned and announced as simply "Wesker" in-game to avoid confusion).
 * In an interview with Ono, the game's planned sequel promises "more Marvel characters (on SE's behalf) and more guest characters that are sure to blow you away, including some you probably never saw coming."