Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is a tag team-based fighting game in which players control characters with different attacks and fighting styles, and engage in combat to deplete their opponent's life gauge.[2][3] The gameplay is set in a 2.5D environment where the characters are rendered in three-dimensional graphics, but their movements are restricted to a two dimensional plane; they may only move left and right, and upward through the air.[3] Each player may select a team of two characters and can switch between them during combat. Alternatively, players may select one of two "giant" characters, who cannot be played as part of a team.[4] When characters switch, the incoming one performs a special attack upon entry, and the previous one can regenerate health.[5] Characters not in play may be used to assist, and to perform powerful team moves.[2][6] A match ends when a team has no characters left, or when the timer reaches zero—in which case, the team with the most remaining life wins.[1]
The arcade release of Cross Generation of Heroes has a control scheme consisting of a joystick and four buttons.[3] Wii versions of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom have five control options: the Classic Controller, Nintendo GameCube controller, third-party arcade sticks, and two simplified control schemes—intended for inexperienced players—for the Wii Remote.[2][7] Players use controller inputs to perform attacks; the most basic attacks are executed by pressing one of three attack buttons: light, medium, or strong. Players may augment basic attacks with joystick or control pad directional inputs; for example, a standard strong attack can become a sweep when the down input is added.[4][8] Basic attacks can be strung together to perform combos.[4]
Each character has unique "universal techniques"—special attacks that are more powerful than normal moves—that require complex control inputs.[8][9][10] Similar inputs are used to perform even stronger versions of special moves called Hyper Combos and Team Hyper Combos; these deal damage relative to the size of the player's Hyper Combo gauge,[1] which increases when the character inflicts or receives damage.[8][11] Certain universal techniques are usable by all characters; for example, each character possesses one that launches opponents upward, rendering them vulnerable to an "air combo".[12] Other common universal techniques include the "Baroque Combo", which sacrifices the regenerable portion of a character's life gauge, but allows players to extend combos and deal more damage;[13] and the "Mega Crash", which creates a temporary barrier around the character to knock back opponents, but partially drains their Hyper Combo and life gauges.
