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  1. Home
  2. Xbox One
  3. Fighting
  4. Ultra Street Fighter IV

The 27 most amazing fighting game backgrounds (without the fighting)

By David Houghton
published 14 February 2014

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Time to clean things up a bit

Time to clean things up a bit

There's pixel art, and then there's pixel art. You might not realise it--understandable given how they're never the player's main focus--but fighting game backgrounds comprise some of the most impressive, most technically accomplished, and flat-out most artistically imaginative work in all of games. But no-one ever gets to appreciate how good they are, because of all the HUD gauges, health bars and actual fighting going on in front of them.

That's the ironic thing. A lot of this stuff is good enough to work as visual art entirely on its own, but the very nature of its existence means that that potential is always buried. Well no more. I've collated a gallery of some of my favourite fighting game background art, completely free of clutter, so click through, take your time over each one, and get a real look and feel for these places for the first time. And for the love of all that's scared and holy, please click on the 'expand' icon in the top-right of each image for the full-screen versions.

Page 1 of 29
Page 1 of 29
Marvel Super Heroes - Shuma Gorath

Marvel Super Heroes - Shuma Gorath

Because apocalyptic, skull-strewn wastelands can be picturesque too.

Page 2 of 29
Page 2 of 29
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift - Halloween

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift - Halloween

Creepy, yet cozy, and altogether, er, rosey? Look, I know they look more like poppies, but I had a contrived Addams Family gag to squeeze in. And I did. So move on.

Page 3 of 29
Page 3 of 29
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift - Rest Time Orient Town

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift - Rest Time Orient Town

Admit it. Wherever you live, Orient Town looks cooler.

Page 4 of 29
Page 4 of 29
Darkstalkers - Bishamon

Darkstalkers - Bishamon

Being on Bishamon's stage is like inhabiting the warmest, most festive Christmas card ever drawn. And then beating monsters' heads in on it.

Page 5 of 29
Page 5 of 29
Darkstalkers - Fetus of God

Darkstalkers - Fetus of God

You think that's nightmarishly vile, just wait 'til you see it move (opens in new tab).

Page 6 of 29
Page 6 of 29
Darkstalkers 2 - Red Thirst

Darkstalkers 2 - Red Thirst

"Red desert at night, camel's delight. Until the moon crushes everyone, because they were all too occupied with how pretty it was to notice the impending danger."

Page 7 of 29
Page 7 of 29
Darkstalkers 2 - Vanity Paradise

Darkstalkers 2 - Vanity Paradise

Seven slides in and I'm already losing my ability to write amusing captions. Look, I've got 27 of these to do. But anyway, isn't this one lovely?

Page 8 of 29
Page 8 of 29
Darkstalkers 2 - War Agony

Darkstalkers 2 - War Agony

We have found what war is good for.

Page 9 of 29
Page 9 of 29
Guilty Gear X - Grove

Guilty Gear X - Grove

The municipal park of MC Escher's outdoor survivalist cheese-dreams.

Page 10 of 29
Page 10 of 29
Guilty Gear X - Hell

Guilty Gear X - Hell

The municipal planning meeting of Hieronymus Bosch's k-holes.

Page 11 of 29
Page 11 of 29
Guilty Gear XX - Frasco

Guilty Gear XX - Frasco

This probably took longer to design than the rest of the game. And Guilty Gear is a Hell of a deep game.

Page 12 of 29
Page 12 of 29
Guilty Gear XX - London

Guilty Gear XX - London

I was in the real London twice last week. This is far better than the real London. Far, far better. Real London, look upon this in shame. Think about what you could be if you made the effort.

Page 13 of 29
Page 13 of 29
King of Fighters '99 - Osaka

King of Fighters '99 - Osaka

I presume there's a Japanese journalist making similar comparisons to the real Osaka right now. But alas, I can't do that myself. I have not been to the real Osaka.

Page 14 of 29
Page 14 of 29
King of Fighters '99 - Rainy Park

King of Fighters '99 - Rainy Park

You have to see this animated (opens in new tab). You just have to see this animated. You won't be able to die happy until you have.

Page 15 of 29
Page 15 of 29
King of Fighters XIII - London

King of Fighters XIII - London

I'm usually against stereotypical foreign representations of the UK in video games. But this one is so deliriously overloaded with sugar-rushing, cartoon Britishness that it gets a free pass. Also, it is better than the real London.

Page 16 of 29
Page 16 of 29
Marvel vs. Capcom - Moon Base

Marvel vs. Capcom - Moon Base

A spokesperson for NASA said, "This is the one thing we didn't want to happen."

Page 17 of 29
Page 17 of 29
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Hong Kong Back-Alley

Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Hong Kong Back-Alley

Never has wretched urban decay been so damn beautiful.

Page 18 of 29
Page 18 of 29
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Metro City

Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Metro City

Oh Mike Haggar. Always consigned to the background in Street Fighter games. It's the same in this year's Ultra Street Fighter IV. Guy and Cody are already in the roster. Get of your pampered local-government arse in gear and join them.

Page 19 of 29
Page 19 of 29
Street Fighter II - Dhalsim

Street Fighter II - Dhalsim

You're hearing the sound of roaring elephants right now, aren't you? Don't worry, I am too.

Page 20 of 29
Page 20 of 29
Street Fighter II - Ryu

Street Fighter II - Ryu

Moody and enigmatic as it is, the design of Ryu's stage has always confused me. Just why is this the only house with a flat roof? It couldn't have been designed just for fighting, could it?

Page 21 of 29
Page 21 of 29
Street Fighter II - Sagat

Street Fighter II - Sagat

However many times I've fought on this stage, I've never noticed how disapprovingly the Buddha seems to be looking down upon the fight. Makes sense though, I suppose.

Page 22 of 29
Page 22 of 29
Street Fighter III: New Generation - Sean

Street Fighter III: New Generation - Sean

I'm going to get this one blown up and put on my wall. I'm not even joking.

Page 23 of 29
Page 23 of 29
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike - Akuma

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike - Akuma

Gloomily ethereal, black-skied woodland setting? Ominous. Gloomily ethereal, black-skied woodland setting with subliminally oppressive fisheye-lens effect? You are definitely going to die.

Page 24 of 29
Page 24 of 29
The Last Blade - Kaede

The Last Blade - Kaede

Again, you need to see this one animated (opens in new tab)

Page 25 of 29
Page 25 of 29
The Last Blade 2 - Large Fire at Wadamoya

The Last Blade 2 - Large Fire at Wadamoya

This one (opens in new tab) too.

Page 26 of 29
Page 26 of 29
The Last Blade 2 - Cloudy Battlefield

The Last Blade 2 - Cloudy Battlefield

War. It is also good for this.

Page 27 of 29
Page 27 of 29
X-Men vs. Street Fighter - The Temple of Fists

X-Men vs. Street Fighter - The Temple of Fists

This Buddha looks a lot happier. Presumably because it's snowed. The deer look pretty cool with it too. Everyone's happier in the snow. Even people getting punched in the face.

Page 28 of 29
Page 28 of 29
The end?

The end?

Of course not. This is just the tip of what's out there. As follow-up ogling, I'd implore you to check out Slateman.net (opens in new tab), for a look at some lovely re-creations of some of the best backgrounds in the business (a far trickier process than you think, when you take parallax art into account). And definitely look at RudeBootie's glorious, 125-slide gallery (opens in new tab) of fully-animated fighting art GIFs. This feature wouldn't have been possible without either of those sources.

And while you're here, check out some of our related stuff. Try the GamesRadar quiz: Concept or classic art? (opens in new tab), and then maybe check out our gallery of the best video game fan art (opens in new tab).

Page 29 of 29
Page 29 of 29
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David Houghton
David Houghton
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Long-time GR+ writer Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.
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