Darkstalkers#Plot

The Darkstalkers series is composed of five arcade games and the home ports and compilations of those games.

Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono said in 2007: "Personally, I'd love to make a new Marvel vs. Capcom, and I'd also like to see the triumphant return of Darkstalkers to a new generation of technology. It would be an interesting challenge with Darkstalkers, because in the old games you'd see a lot of really interesting animations as characters would morph into different forms. That would be tricky to do with this 3D engine, but not impossible. In two or three years, if I got the chance to resurrect that series, I'd like to shock Hollywood with how good the graphics would look".{{Cite magazine|date=January 2008|title=More Capcom comebacks ahead?|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|volume=224|pages=67}} In August 2010, Ono stated during an interview about Street Fighter X Tekken that a new installment to the series would be his "ultimate dream", but only fan demand would cause it to happen. He went on to say that it would take one million requests before Keiji Inafune, then head of research and development at Capcom, would comply. At that point, Capcom had received 5,000 requests.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-09-29-capcom-talks-street-fighter-x-tekken-interview|date=2010-09-29|access-date=2012-09-29|author=Yin-Poole, Wesley|publisher=Eurogamer|title=Street Fighter X Tekken}}{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/only-995-000-more-requests-before-capcoms-inafune-considers-a-n/|date=2010-10-02|access-date=2012-10-02|author=Yoon, Andrew|publisher=Joystiq|title=Only 995,000 more requests before Capcom's Inafune considers a new Darkstalkers game}} By March 2011, Ono reported that Capcom had received over 100,000 requests. He later expressed during an interview at a Nintendo 3DS launch in London that "one day, if it goes half a million, Capcom may raise its eyebrow a little bit and I could do what I did in London in 2007 when I announced the comeback of Street Fighter. In the near future, with your help, it may become true. It's on its way, because we're pretty much where we were with Street Fighter a few years back. So keep it up".{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-03-24-darkstalkers-game-requests-up-to-100k|date=2011-03-24|access-date=2011-03-24|author=Yin-Poole, Wesley|publisher=Eurogamer|title=Darkstalkers game requests up to 100k}}

At the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, Ono revealed during the Street Fighter X Tekken panel that while a new Darkstalkers title had not been approved, he reassured the series' fans that "Darkstalkers is not dead". He then proceeded to take a photo of the attendees at the panel holding up their money to send to decision makers at Capcom to show support for the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/sdcc-darkstalkers-are-not-dead-if-you-ve-got-money-206700.phtml|date=2011-07-21|access-date=2012-07-21|author=North, Dale|publisher=Destructoid|title=SDCC: Darkstalkers are not dead... if you've got money}} Later the following year in June, a message "Darkstalkers are not dead" appeared in a trailer for the PlayStation Vita version of Street Fighter X Tekken; when asked about it, Ono wrote on his Twitter: "I can't announce about Darkstalkers yet".{{cite web|url=http://www.eventhubs.com/news/2012/jun/04/darkstalkers-are-not-dead-tshirt-featured-prominently-latest-street-fighter-x-tekken-episode-2-clip/|date=2011-06-04|access-date=2012-07-13|author=Catalyst|publisher=Eventhubs|title='Darkstalkers are not dead' T-shirt featured prominently in latest Street Fighter X Tekken episode #2 clip}} Ono later teased the presence of Darkstalkers at a panel for Street Fighter's 25th Anniversary Celebration at San Diego Comic-Con in July. Instead of taking a photo to send proof of demand to Capcom's upper management like he had done in the past, he stated: "This year, you don't have to do that, and it's not necessarily bad news!", but refrained himself from saying anything else.{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/07/12/capcoms-yoshinori-ono-hints-at-darkstalkers/|date=2012-07-12|access-date=2012-07-13|author=Spencer|publisher=Siliconera|title=Capcom's Yoshinori Ono Hints At Darkstalkers}}

Following the announcement of Darkstalkers Resurrection at 2012 New York Comic Con in October, a concept trailer was shown during Capcom's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary panel. Darkstalkers Resurrection producer Derek Neal and Yoshinori Ono told interviewers that the re-release bundle was the first step towards revitalizing the franchise.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/10/11/3490410/capcom-unveils-new-old-darkstalkers-game|date=2012-10-11|access-date=2012-10-12|author=Crecente, Brian|publisher=The Verge|title='Darkstalkers Resurrection' bundle brings back second and third franchise titles}}{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/capcom-ono-dreams-of-revitalizing-darkstalkers-wants-darkstal/|date=2012-10-11|access-date=2012-10-12|author=Mallory, Jordan|publisher=Joystiq|title=Capcom: Ono dreams of revitalizing Darkstalkers, 'wants Darkstalkers 4'}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/11/nycc-darkstalkers-is-back|date=2012-10-11|access-date=2012-10-12|author=Clements, Ryan|publisher=IGN|title=NYCC: Darkstalkers is Back}} Neal also claimed that Capcom is using Darkstalkers Resurrection as a test to gauge audience interest in a new Darkstalkers installment. In April 2013, Capcom senior vice president Christian Svensson wrote: "We've not given up. But I'm disappointed in the opening sales response relative to any other fighting title we've put out on the same platforms given the frequency and urgency of requests we've had here over the last several years and the quality of the execution. It is the most fully featured and probably best project of this type we've done. And before people jump to the wrong conclusions, I'm not blaming fans who did buy it and supported the brand. I'm very thankful for those guys (thank you, to all of you). I'm more disappointed by my misread of the information in this particular case".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/darkstalkers-resurrection-fails-to-meet-capcom-sales-targets-6406806 |title=Darkstalkers Resurrection fails to meet Capcom sales targets |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=2013-03-13 |access-date=2013-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716055014/http://www.gamespot.com/news/darkstalkers-resurrection-fails-to-meet-capcom-sales-targets-6406806 |archive-date=2013-07-16 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/29852457/hey-darkstalkers-one-of-the-best-selling-psn-gameswhat-gives?post_num=11#531169161 |title=Ask Capcom > Thread > Hey, Darkstalkers one of the best-selling PSN games...What gives? |publisher=Capcom-unity.com |access-date=2013-07-20}} There was no "Darkstalkers are not dead" line at San Diego Comic-Con in 2013. Matt Dahlgren, Capcom's new fighting game manager, said that because "Darkstalkers Resurrection did not perform as well as we would have liked. You never know what the future may hold, but Street Fighter is definitely not dead. There is nothing Darkstalkers on the immediate horizon for sure".{{cite web|last=Leo |first=Jon |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/capcom-no-new-darkstalkers-game-planned/1100-6411888/ |title=Capcom: No new Darkstalkers game planned |publisher=GameSpot |date=2013-07-23 |access-date=2014-01-26}}{{cite web |first=Earnest |last=Cavalli |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/126245-Darkstalkers-Resurrection-Sales-Kill-Sequel-Hopes |title=Darkstalkers Resurrection Sales Kill Sequel Hopes | The Escapist |publisher=Escapistmagazine.com |access-date=2014-01-26 |archive-date=2014-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203030030/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/126245-Darkstalkers-Resurrection-Sales-Kill-Sequel-Hopes |url-status=dead }}

{{main|List of Darkstalkers characters}}

File:Darkstalkers characters.png

The Darkstalkers games take place on the planet Earth that is in the process of merging with a realm known as Makai. The reason for this merger varies depending on the continuity, but a continuing theme is that the union of realms brings the arrival of the Darkstalkers to the human world, the term being a catch-all for the various creatures of legend. The greatest of these supernatural creatures, and the greatest among those who hunt them, meet in battle to determine who will rule the night.

In the original game and the sequel, Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge, an alien overlord named Pyron returns to Earth after being away for many years. His quest to conquer the world using an army of robots brings the Darkstalkers out of hiding to oppose his rule over humanity and the supernatural. A second sequel, Darkstalkers 3, saw the debut of Jedah, previously one of the nobles of Makai, who decides that the only way to save the realm is to take control of it by force. Accordingly, he lures the Darkstalkers into a trap to use their collective souls to remake the realm and control both humanity and the supernatural.

Darkstalkers characters are either based on various iconic literary and cinematic monsters, or inspired by international mythology and fairy tales. The 1997 anime miniseries Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge, which was based on the first two titles, was faithful to the characters' in-game personalities. The 1995 American-produced cartoon series, simply titled Darkstalkers, dropped the backstory of the games altogether in favor of a standard good-versus-evil plot, altering certain characters' storylines in the process.

Night Warriors is an upgraded version of the previous game, with the same story and returning cast. In addition, several new characters were added to the game, and the boss characters Pyron and Huitzil were made playable.

Darkstalkers 3 was the first actual sequel title, introducing several new characters and a new storyline. While originally Pyron, Donovan and Huitzil did not return, variations of the game were released that did, including Vampire Hunter 2 and Vampire Savior 2. The PlayStation port included the cast as a whole, with new story mode endings provided for the originally cut trio. Years later Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection included a special version of Darkstalkers 3 with one more additional character, Dee.

|{{nihongo|Lilith|リリス|Ririsu}} is a fragment of Morrigan's soul separated from her as an infant to keep her power in check. Jedah later discovers this fragment, and after giving it a form resembling a younger Morrigan with pink short hair, tasks her with luring worthy souls to his domain. Meanwhile, Lilith seeks to reunite and take control of Morrigan's body, which she sees as rightfully hers. Lilith was originally designed to be androgynous, with her gender officially listed as "Unknown".{{Cite web|url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/game/content/?p=5515|title=CAPCOM：カプコン ゲームズ – カプコン伝説 第六回 妖魔のタイマン勝負格ゲー（後編）|website=capcom.co.jp|access-date=2018-12-12|archive-date=2018-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224136/http://www.capcom.co.jp/game/content/?p=5515|url-status=live}}

|{{Collapsible list|title=Expand|Namco x Capcom|Cross Edge|Onimusha Soul|Marvel vs. Capcom}}

|-id="Marrionette"

|Marionette

| None

| A secret character, Marionette can be played in some versions of Darkstalkers 3 by inputting a special code at the character select screen. When chosen, it will take the form of its opponent, causing a mirror match.

|

|-id="q-bee"

|Q-Bee

|Miyuki Matsushita
Arisa Nishiguchi (Project X Zone)

|{{nihongo|Q-Bee|キュービィ|Kyū Bī}}, short for "Queen Bee", is from a race of humanoid insects called Soul Bees that at one time served Jedah. Driven near extinction after his initial death, they now seek to consume and breed rapidly.

|Namco x Capcom
Project X Zone
Project X Zone 2

|-id="shadow"

|Shadow

| None

| A secret character, Shadow can be played in some versions of Darkstalkers 3 by inputting a special code at the character select screen. When chosen, the player will be assigned a random character, and will play as the character they last defeated as they progress through the game's story mode.

|

|}

{{main|Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (anime){{!}}Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (anime)}}

Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (originally titled {{nihongo|Vampire Hunter: The Animated Series|ヴァンパイアハンター THE ANIMATED SERIES}} in Japan) is a four-episode Original Video Animation anime series by Madhouse under license from Capcom, directed by Masashi Ikeda and originally released in 1997–1998.

{{main|Darkstalkers (TV series){{!}}Darkstalkers (TV series)}}

Darkstalkers (also known as Darkstalkers: The Animated Series) is an American children's animated TV series produced by Graz Entertainment and aired in broadcast syndication from September to December 1995. It was only loosely based on the games and ran for one season of thirteen episodes.

{{main|Darkstalkers (comics){{!}}Darkstalkers (comics)}}

Darkstalkers is a Canadian comic book series created by UDON and originally published through Devil's Due Publishing.

There are many Darkstalkers manga books and series (including yonkoma parodies). A few of them were also published in North America:

• A manga adaptation authored by Run Ishida and published in Japan by ASCII in 1996.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hh_ePQAACAAJ|title=Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge|isbn=9781569314289 |last1=Ishida |first1=Run |last2=Jones |first2=Bob |year=1999 |publisher=Viz Media }} This manga was adapted by Viz Media under the title of Night Warriors: The Comic Series and published in 1998 as a six-issue comic book which were later collected in a single trade paperback volume.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicvine.com/night-warriors-darkstalkers-revenge/49-19040/|publisher=Comic Vine|title=Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge}}
• A one-shot Red Earth crossover manga Darkstalkers / Red Earth: Maleficarum authored by Mami Itou in 1997. It was released in English by UDON Comics in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-05-22/udon-entertainment-to-publish-darkstalkers/red-earth/maleficarum-manga|date=2010-05-22|access-date=2010-05-22|publisher=Anime News Network|title=Udon Entertainment to Publish Darkstalkers / Red Earth: Maleficarum Manga}}{{cite web|url=http://www.comicvine.com/darkstalkersred-earth-maleficarum-/37-239331/|publisher=Comic Vine|title=Darkstalkers/Red Earth: Maleficarum}}

Multiple other books (guide books, art books, illustrated books, and novels) were published as well, mostly in Japan only. However, some of them were also published in North America:

• In 2008, UDON released the Darkstalkers Graphic File, a collection of screenshots, storyboards and concept art from the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicvine.com/night-warriors-darkstalkers-revenge/49-19040/|publisher=Capcom|title=Capcom Store - Buy Darkstalkers Graphic File book}}
• In 2009, UDON released a 15th anniversary art book Darkstalkers Tribute. It consists of submitted artwork from fans of the series, along with artwork from some of UDON and Capcom's own artists and several famous manga artists such as Yasuhiro Nightow.{{cite web|url=http://shop.capcom.com/store/capcomus/en_US/pd/productID.158311300/Darkstalkers-Tribute-Book.html|publisher=Capcom|title=Capcom Store - Buy Darkstalkers Tribute Art Book}} The book was first available in August at several anime conventions before being widely released the following September.
• In 2014, UDON released a 20th anniversary art book Darkstalkers Official Complete Works that "collects the artwork of every Darkstalkers game, including key visuals, character illustrations, promotional artwork, rough concepts, and creator commentary", as well as "multiple new interviews with the creators behind the series, plus all-new tribute pin-ups" from Capcom artists.{{cite web|url=http://www.udonentertainment.com/blog/tag/darkstalkers-official-complete-works/|title=UDON Entertainment » Darkstalkers: Official Complete Works|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=4 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904121857/http://www.udonentertainment.com/blog/tag/darkstalkers-official-complete-works/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://shoryuken.com/2014/05/16/udons-darkstalkers-official-complete-works-artbook-now-available-in-north-america/|title=UDON's Darkstalkers: Official Complete Works Artbook Now Available in North America|work=Shoryuken|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010234351/http://shoryuken.com/2014/05/16/udons-darkstalkers-official-complete-works-artbook-now-available-in-north-america/|url-status=dead}}

Soundtrack CDs for Darkstalkers games were released in Japan under different record labels including Sony Records, Suleputer and Victor Entertainment. A collection of original tracks from the games, previously included as a part of Vampire Sound Box in Japan,{{cite web|url=http://shoryuken.com/2014/08/02/capcom-releases-original-darkstalkers-soundtrack-features-over-thirty-classic-jams/|title=Capcom Releases Original Darkstalkers Soundtrack, Features Over Thirty Classic Jams|work=Shoryuken|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=11 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011153958/http://shoryuken.com/2014/08/02/capcom-releases-original-darkstalkers-soundtrack-features-over-thirty-classic-jams/|url-status=dead}} was released digitally by Sumthing Distribution in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.sumthing.com/p/darkstalkers-volume-1/|title=Darkstalkers Volume 1 - Game Soundtracks, New Releases, Latest Releases, Vintage Soundtracks, 8-Bit, Vintage - Sumthing|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009152640/http://www.sumthing.com/p/darkstalkers-volume-1/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sumthing.com/p/darkstalkers-volume-2/|title=Darkstalkers Volume 2 - New Releases, Game Soundtracks, Latest Releases, Vintage Soundtracks, 8-Bit, Vintage - Sumthing|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009145808/http://www.sumthing.com/p/darkstalkers-volume-2/|url-status=dead}}

Vampire (ヴァンパイア) is a pachislo game using the series' license was announced on May 12, 2009 and released on July 6, 2009. The game was released by the Capcom subsidiary, Enterrise (エンターライズ, Entarāizu){{ cite web|url=http://p-kn.com/slot/986/|website=K-Navi|title=Information of Vampire from K-Navi in Japanese|accessdate=2022-12-12}}{{cite web|url=http://sp.pachinkoslot.jp/open/machinespec.php?t=s&mc=1052|website=sp.pachinkoslot.jp|accessdate=2022-12-12|title=Information for Vampire from sp.pachinkoslot.jp in Japanese|date=25 June 2009 }} featuring the cast of the original Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, although the game's website utilized artwork from Darkstalkers 3 along with new secondary characters exclusive to only this title.{{cite web|url=http://www.enterrise.co.jp/slot/product02/|access-date=2022-11-04|publisher=Capcom|title=Website for the pachislo game Vampire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104023942/http://www.enterrise.co.jp/slot/product02/ |archive-date=2015-11-04|quote=The website as recovered from the Wayback Machine has playable flash graphics that might not display properly depending on the current browser, its settings, and flash not long being supported.}}

{{VG Series Reviews

|gr = no

|game1 = Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower

|mc1 = 74/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/darkstalkers-chronicle-the-chaos-tower/critic-reviews/?platform=psp |title=Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower for PSP Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2014-01-26}}

|game2 = Darkstalkers Resurrection

|mc2 = 82/10 (X360){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/darkstalkers-resurrection/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=Darkstalkers Resurrection for Xbox 360 Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |date=2013-03-13 |access-date=2014-01-26}}
80/100 (PS3){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/darkstalkers-resurrection/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=Darkstalkers Resurrection for PlayStation 3 Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2014-01-26}}

}}

File:Darkstalkers FanimeCon 2014.jpg and Q-Bee cosplayers at FanimeCon 2014 in California]]

Despite its limited commercial success, Darkstalkers was very well received by critics and acquired a sizable cult following. Destructoid's Kyle Mac Gregor described it as "beloved",{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/darkstalkers-resurrection-258530.phtml |title=Darkstalkers laid to rest after failed resurrection |date=23 July 2013 |publisher=Destructoid |access-date=2014-01-26}} and IGN's Richard George described it as both "obscure and beloved".{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/17/returning-to-the-world-of-darkstalkers |title=Returning to the World of Darkstalkers - IGN |date=17 January 2013 |publisher=Uk.ign.com |access-date=2014-01-26}} According to MTV, although Darkstalkers "has developed a loyal fanbase over the years, it was never enough for the developer/publisher to give the series much attention".{{cite web|url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2013/07/23/darkstalkers-revival-failed-to-generated-excitement-franchise-being-put-back-on-ice/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225041420/http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2013/07/23/darkstalkers-revival-failed-to-generated-excitement-franchise-being-put-back-on-ice/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 25, 2013 |title='Darkstalkers' Revival Failed To Generate Excitement |publisher=Multiplayerblog.mtv.com |date=2013-07-23 |access-date=2014-01-26}} Including Darkstalkers in their list of video game franchises "founded on boobs", GamesRadar US called it "second only to Final Fantasy as an object of Japanophilic cosplay figurine collector worship. While the character design in immensely cool, some of the fan art is downright disturbing".{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/videogame-franchises-founded-on-boobs/?page=3 |title=Page 3 - Videogame franchises founded on boobs |publisher=GamesRadar |date=2014-06-17 |access-date=2014-06-21}} Keith Stuart of The Guardian ranked the series fourth in his 2012 top list of vampiric video games, citing its "beautiful visuals and superb animation".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2012/nov/08/bram-stoker-books-vampire-games|title=Bram Stoker's books are all very well...but what are the best vampire games?|first=Keith|last=Stuart|work=The Guardian|date=November 8, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2014}}

The cast of characters for the franchise has been credited with making the games "a standout among the fighting games of the era", as instead of "conventional cast of martial artists with the occasional odd creature, Darkstalkers was a gallery of monsters".{{Cite web |last=Ciolek |first=Todd |date=2022-06-13 |title=What's The Deal With Darkstalkers? |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2022-06-13/what-the-deal-with-darkstalkers/.186429 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}} Hardcore Gaming 101 stated that the game's colorful cast earned the game a cult following, despite its relative lack of recognition.

GamesRadar's Lucas Sullivan ranked Darkstalkers first on his 2012 list of "obscure" fighting games deserving an HD remake, opining it "offers just as much 2D fighting goodness as the venerable Street Fighter series, but it's never gotten the same kind of respect ... and that just ain't right".{{cite web|author=Lucas Sullivan |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/20-obscure-fighters-deserve-hd-remakes/ |title=29 obscure fighters that deserve HD remakes |publisher=GamesRadar |date=2012-10-20 |access-date=2013-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116142513/http://www.gamesradar.com/20-obscure-fighters-deserve-hd-remakes/ |archive-date=2014-01-16 }} UGO.com included Darkstalkers on their 2010 list of the games that need sequels.{{cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/darkstalkers-1|date=2010-11-23|access-date=2010-11-23|publisher=UGO Networks|title=25 Games That Need Sequels|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127182244/http://www.ugo.com/games/darkstalkers-1|archive-date=2010-11-27|url-status=dead}} Complex writers put Darkstalkers at number 40 in their 2012 ranking of best video game franchises, adding that they would "love to see a modern incarnation",{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/09/the-50-best-video-game-franchises/darkstalkers |title=The 50 Best Video Game Franchises |publisher=Complex |date=2012-09-25 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-date=2012-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230034935/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/09/the-50-best-video-game-franchises/darkstalkers |url-status=dead }} and listed a hypothetical Darkstalkers 4 among the 15 games they wished would be announced at E3 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/03/games-we-want-e3-2011/darkstalkers-4|date=2011-03-29|access-date=2011-03-29|publisher=Complex|title=Hype Dreams: The 15 Games We Hope Are Announced At E3 2011|archive-date=2014-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630015451/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/03/games-we-want-e3-2011/darkstalkers-4|url-status=dead}} The magazine's Andrew Hayward ranked Darkstalkers first on his 2011 list of most missed fighting franchises, stating that "every time Capcom announces a new fighting game, the hardcore community gets whipped up about Darkstalkers{{'}} continual absence, and demands a modern iteration. The supernatural 2D franchise wasn't a big hit, but fervent fans have kept its name alive and seem unwilling to let it fade away".{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/08/the-10-most-missed-fighting-franchises/darkstalkers|date=2011-09-23|access-date=2011-09-23|author=Hayward, Andrew|publisher=Complex|title=The 10 Most Missed Fighting Franchises|archive-date=2011-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004001456/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/08/the-10-most-missed-fighting-franchises/darkstalkers|url-status=dead}}

One attack from the game's cast, "Midnight Bliss", has also received significant praise on its own. A move where Demitri will charge forward and temporarily transform the opponent into a girl before draining their blood,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-vampires-video-games/ |title=The 10 Best Vampires in Video Games |website=GamesRadar+ |accessdate=2024-10-25 |date=2014-02-24}} it has been described by Chris Hoffman of GamesRadar+ as one of Capcom's greatest contributions to gaming history.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Hoffman |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/capcoms-30-greatest-contributions-gaming/2/ |page=2 |website=GamesRadar+ |title=Capcom's 30 Greatest Contributions to Gaming History |date=2013-06-27 |accessdate=2024-10-25}} Writer Zoran Iovanovici in an article for Game Developer observed how fans took to the concept, citing it as a mini-genre of a "gender swap" genre among fan artists, crossplayers, and custom fighting game communities such as those built around M.U.G.E.N.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/analysis-gaming-s-midnight-bliss-gender-swapping-made-fun |first=Zoran |last=Iovanovici |website=Game Developer |accessdate=2024-10-25 |date=2009-10-18 |title=Analysis: Gaming's Midnight Bliss – Gender Swapping Made Fun}} The transformed state of The King of Fighters character Goenitz, a priest serving the villain Orochi, proved extremely popular. Appearing as a nun, the fandom dubbed the character "Goeniko" and fleshed her out as a full character for M.U.G.E.N, albeit with a more sexualized design. This later resulted in her appearing in commercial mobile game title The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Battle OL,{{cite magazine |magazine=游戏机实用技术 |trans-magazine=Ultimate Console Game |pages=110–111 |language=ja |script-title=ja:如果你是女人, 也好 从库巴公主聊聊娘化题材 |trans-title=If You Are a Woman, OK. Let’s Talk About Girlish Themes from Princess Koopa |date=November 2018 |issue=483 |issn=1008-0600}} as well as in The King of Fighters All Star as "Lady Goenitz" and with a different appearance.{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/the-king-of-fighters-allstar/lady-goenitz-and-xv-chizuru-kagura-update/ |website=Pocket Gamer |title=The King of Fighters Allstar Adds Lady Goenitz and XV Chizuru Kagura in Latest Update |first=Tanish |last=Botadkar |date=2023-05-21 |accessdate=2024-11-07 }}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/darkstalkers-series Darkstalkers series] at MobyGames
• [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/darkstalkers/darkstalkers.htm Hardcore Gaming 101 retrospective]

{{Darkstalkers series}}

{{Franchises by Capcom}}

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