New Guest Characters in Fighting Games: A Growing Trend
The latest installment of Mortal Kombat 1 has introduced Conan the Barbarian and T-1000 as guest characters, while Tekken 8 recently added Clive from Final Fantasy 16. It’s becoming less common for fighting games to feature guest characters, as seen with Street Fighter 6 including Terry and Mai from Fatal Fury, or Guilty Gear Strive featuring Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. However, if these guest characters are aptly integrated into the gameplay, the appearance of legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is certainly a standout.
In a recently released trailer by developer SNK on their official YouTube channel, Ronaldo appears as a game character with a distinct fighting style, blending offensive attacks with long-range capabilities.
Notably, he will use a soccer ball to unleash powerful kicks, catching opponents off guard. Shortly after, another trailer was released, showcasing impressive combo sequences that players can execute with Ronaldo. The most remarkable feature is his ability to perform a special move called “Siuuuu” when unleashing the spectacular Hidden Gear Super. This will undoubtedly draw players eager to battle alongside this superstar.
Currently, SNK has yet to announce the exact release date for Ronaldo’s character in the game, aside from confirming that Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will officially launch on April 4th. However, with his early appearance in the trailer, it’s likely that Ronaldo will be available right at the launch, included in the initial roster of characters.
The increasing appearance of guest characters highlights a new trend in the fighting game genre. With Ronaldo joining Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, it’s not far-fetched to expect to see Mohamed Salah featured in Street Fighter 6. It’s just a matter of time!
