Tatsunoko VS Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars has been the hot internet buzz since we announced that the game is actually coming to North America. Unlike Marvel VS Capcom 2, however, the game features some rather unusual (perhaps, obscure) characters from both companies — I mean, Batsu, really? In order to bring you up to speed on this great fighting game, we’ve decided to shine a light on the entire line-up over the next few months. We’re pleased to present Episode 1: Dragon Versus Eagle, with a look at two of the biggest fighters in the game. This feature is looooong, but is packed with radtastic Capcom art, some choice video clips and lots and lots of info. Stay tuned to Unity in the coming weeks for more!

Ken Washio The Eagle

Bio : Suck it, Power Rangers, true henshin super-sentai heroics started in 1972 with the man in the bird suit to the left. As part of the five-person Gatchaman team, Ken is the showman — the super spy, martial artist and ninja. He’s quick and charismatic, and don’t let those big blue eyes fool you — he’s a hell-raiser who constantly takes foolish risks. He pilots a transforming jetplane, tosses a bird-shaped boomerang that slashes open armies of baddies and has a watch that turns him into a flying eagle-powered ninja. Bonus: when times are tough, his spaceship can burst into flames, potentially killing the entire crew. Whee! With a focus on speed and maneuverability, Ken is as much of a badass in TvC as he was in the original anime series. His moveset and abilities are reminiscent of Jon Talbain from Darkstalkers or Spider-Man from Marvel VS Capcom 2. Part ninja, part superhero, Ken is the ideal frontman for this game.

From Wikipedia: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, is a 5-member superhero team which comprises the main characters in several Japanese anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions, later adapted into several English-language versions, Battle of the Planets (or alternately G-Force , not to be confused with the subsequent 1980s English adaptation of Gatchaman , known as G-Force: Guardians of Space). Gatchaman is the show that introduced the concept of a five person team distinguished by different colored costumes, which would become a dominant feature in the Sentai Tokusatsu (which is what they call Power Rangers in Japan) series which followed. Gatchaman has an upcoming CGI movie based on the original animeseries of the same name which is scheduled to be completed in 2010 by Imagi Animation Studios.

The team used various signature weapons and vehicles which each had a more mundane looking disguised form. To change modes, each member is equipped with a special wrist device that, aside from being a communicator and tracking device, enabled the change when the proper gesture and voice command, “Bird Go!”, is given. Their vehicles are docked in the team’s main vehicle, the GodPhoenix, a supersonic plane capable of underwater travel and minor space flight as necessary.

Where you know him from: If you grew up in the late 70s/early 80s, chances are good that you were transfixed by Battle of the Planets (aka G-Force ), the US version of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. For many kids at the time, Battle of the Planets was their first exposure to the wonders of Japanese anime – back before the dawn of the internet and the rise of DVD, learning about or seeing anime was a scattershot affair , more luck than anything else. Battle of the Planets took some liberties with Gatchaman , shortening the series overall (105 original episodes shaved down to 85 in the US), changing up character names (which is why you may think of this character as “Mark”), erasing the most egregious of violence, disguising the weirdo she/he nature of the main bad guy to keep kids from asking their parents uncomfortable questions and adding that damn robot and his damn robot dog.

Signature moves :

Birdrang : Ken tosses his razor-sharp, bird-shaped boomerang either low, medium or high, depending on the button pressed. The birdrang hits twice, once going out and again on the return flight.

Kagaku Ninpou Hinotori: This Level 3 Super will toss an opponenet into the air, where they are summarily torched by the fiery form of the God Phoenix, the gigantic spaceship that the Gatchaman team use both for travel and to fight giant enemy monsters.

First appearance: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972) aka Battle of the Planets (1978)

Last seen in: The Gatchaman OVA mini-series released in 1994 . Will also be seen in the CGI movie currently in production .

Watch Gatchaman on DVD, it’s good for you!

The original Gatchaman anime series

The American-ized Battle of the Planets

Ryu

Bio : Trained by Gouken. Betrayed by Akuma. Friend of Ken Masters. Rival of Sagat and the nemesis of M. Bison, Ryu is the barefoot warrior and master of Shotokan-style karate, the definition of the lone-wolf street fighter. His stern determination to become a master of his fighting style has inspired many fellow martial artists. His training is his life and he will do whatever it takes to perfect his technique.

Where you know him from: If you’re on Capcom Unity, you know who this dude is. Perhaps the most recognizable of the Street Fighters, Ryu has been a consistent force to be reckoned with since he showed up as the playable character in the original Street Fighter back in 1987. Nary a SF game has gone by in the intervening years without his mug plastered on the front of the box and/or side of the arcade cabinet. Ryu can be found outside the game world in cartoon, anime, manga, action figure, clothing and comic book form, as well as in the original Street Fighter movie starring JCVD.

Signature moves :

Shoryuken : It wouldn’t be a Capcom game without the “dragon punch,” one of the moves that defines Street Fighter as a game. In a game like Tatsunoko VS Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, Ryu’s Shin-Shoryuken anti-air attack is more amazing and important than ever.

Shinku Hadouken: As you’d expect from a VS game, Ryu’s juiced fireball blasts out of his hand in a stream of fire and destruction that positively rocks anyone foolish enough to miss their block.

First appearance: Street Fighter (1987)

Last seen in: Street Fighter IV (2009)

Buy Street Fighter IV, it’s good for you!