Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Pocket Fighter delivers a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play fighting experience by shrinking beloved characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth into adorable chibi forms. The core fights unfold in various iconic Capcom locations, each stage packed with vibrant details and interactive elements. Players choose from a roster of characters, each retaining signature moves translated into punchy, over-the-top animations that fit the game’s whimsical tone.

At the top of the screen sits your health bar and that of your opponent, while just below is the unique gem meter. Landing kicks or punches on an opponent causes them to drop colored gems, which litter the arena until someone scoops them up. Collecting gems fills your special attack gauge; reach higher levels to unleash devastating super moves. Learning to juggle offense with gem collection becomes a satisfying tug-of-war, as you balance chip damage against setting up your next big combo.

One standout feature is the difference between the Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions. The Saturn edition introduces a deep card battle mode that completely changes the strategic layer of the game. Instead of direct button-mashing in this mode, you build an attack by picking a hand of three to six cards. Each card has attack, defense, or counter values, and combining them yields an overall power rating that determines who strikes first.

The card battle mode dives into resource management and reading your opponent’s choices. Guard and evasion cards can thwart powerful attacks, while recovery and special move cards turn the tide in tight situations. Outside of versus play, you can trade collectible cards via the Communication Cable, making each session feel fresh as you hunt for rare artwork and powerful combos.

Graphics

Pocket Fighter’s art direction is a delightful departure from the hyper-realistic renderings of contemporary fighters. Characters retain their recognizable costumes and color palettes, but are reimagined with oversized heads and stubby limbs, resulting in an irresistibly cute visual style. Every special move is accentuated by exaggerated effects—fiery Shoryukens, swirling dark energy, and magical projectiles pop off the screen in a riot of color.

Stage backgrounds draw from classic Capcom stages—ruined temples, Gothic mansions, and city streets—scaled down to chibi proportions but still brimming with detail. Environmental animations, such as lanterns flickering and barrels rolling, lend each fight a sense of place. The sprite work is crisp and expressive, capturing each character’s personality as they smack into walls, leap into the air, or perform comical taunts.

While both Saturn and PlayStation versions look charming, subtle differences exist. The Saturn release often boasts richer colors and fewer texture pop-ins, thanks to the console’s 2D strengths. The PlayStation build, meanwhile, occasionally shows slower load times and minor sprite flicker, but still maintains smooth animation at full speed. Either way, the art style is the star, and the hardware distinctions rarely detract from the game’s overall visual appeal.

Story

As a crossover fighter, Pocket Fighter doesn’t revolve around a deep narrative campaign. Instead, it stages whimsical matchups by plucking heroes and villains from three of Capcom’s biggest franchises and pinning them against each other in fantastical arenas. Between bouts, brief text vignettes and character portraits tease lighthearted motivations—Ryu chasing an oversized hadouken gem, or Morrigan flirting her way to victory.

Each character’s mini-arc unfolds over a handful of fights, pitting them against rivals from other series. The plot threads are thin by design, serving more as humorous connective tissue than as a serious story mode. Still, fans will appreciate seeing Zangief trying (and failing) to grapple with a tiny Anakaris, or Felicia chasing fleeing gems with feline agility. The tone is consistently playful, and the chibi art keeps things nonthreatening and fun.

For those seeking more structure, the card battle mode on Saturn adds its own twist on progression. You gather themed card decks as you clear Arcade mode, unlocking collectible art cards and special challenges. Though not a traditional narrative, this layer provides extra context for why these pint-sized fighters are duking it out—hint: it’s all about gem supremacy and bragging rights.

Overall Experience

Pocket Fighter strikes a rare balance between accessibility and depth. Newcomers will appreciate the simple button scheme—light, medium, and heavy attacks, plus one button for throwing gems—while veterans can master gem juggling to land extended combos and maximize super meter. Matches are brisk, rarely lasting more than a minute, which makes it perfect for quick sessions or crowded party settings.

The chibi character design and whimsical tone give the game broad appeal. Casual players will enjoy the cuteness and ease of execution, while hardcore fighters can dig into frame-perfect setups and card-mode strategy. Trading collectible cards via cable adds a social element, and the WonderGate online high-score board once tracked top gem-gathering runs for competitive bragging rights.

Despite its age, Pocket Fighter remains a joyous romp—an inventive mash-up that celebrates Capcom’s greatest hits in pint-size fashion. Whether you’re drawn in by nostalgic cameos, the dynamic gem system, or the bespoke card battles of the Saturn version, this title offers hours of entertainment. It’s a must-own for collectors and a delightful diversion for any fighting-game fan looking for something refreshingly cute and cleverly designed.

Retro Replay Score

null/10