Assemble! - Fighting Game Archetype Roster - The Copycat

This is Assemble, where we look at several different characters across multiple series to form a perfect team-up. Whatever the case may be, whether it’s a fighting game roster or an RPG adventuring party, we’ll find the best team for the job. In a change of style from the more long-form articles featured here, these articles will be shorter entries, focusing on one or two characters each, and spread out over time until the complete roster is formed.

What would a fighting game be without a roster of several different, powerful, and engaging characters? In this batch of articles for Assemble, we will be assembling a fighting game roster using characters from several different fighting games based on different character archetypes.

The picks will be based on where the characters fit in terms of game mechanics and their place in the story and world of the game. Only characters that originated in fighting games will be observed here. That means no guest characters, no licensed fighting games (unless their roster includes original characters), and no crossover titles. Finally, I’ll only be discussing games or characters that I am at least somewhat familiar with. While this means I won’t discuss all the fighting games out there, there should be at least some variety from just the major titles.

=

THE COPYCAT

The Copycat is a character that can use moves from other characters as part of their own moveset. It can be certain combo strings or special moves, but this character, as the name implies, copies other characters and uses their strengths as his own. Especially strong cases for this character can even shift into the appearances of the fighter they’re copying mid-match. They may have some moves of their own separate from anyone else, but a prominent feature of the character is their ability to use moves from others.

Our choice for the Copycat is…

Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat.

Since his appearance in the first Mortal Kombat, this sorcerer has been able to take the appearance of other fighters, even fighters he is not currently in a match against, to use their moves and abilities in combat. Later games, like Mortal Kombat 9, have given the explanation to it as him stealing a part of their soul, since Shang Tsung is known in Mortal Kombat canon as being able to absorb the souls of fighters. While he has his own moves that he can use in a fight, a large part of his characters revolves around being able to turn into other characters to use their moves against an opponent.

For being able to switch between the moves and looks of other fighters and his own mid-match, we now add Shang Tsung to the roster.

ADDED!

=

What did you think about this article? Want to see what other characters get picked for our roster? Do you think someone would fit this role better besides whoever got picked? Make your voice heard in the comments below. Thanks for coming.