Archie taps Obscure Video Game Licenses from Sega and Capcom for Worlds Unite

Archie previously revealed that the Worlds Unite crossover is going to feature two huge video game characters (Mega Man and Sonic) teaming up together. The publisher confirmed several more beloved franchises from Sega and Capcom that are coming out to play in the storyline. A brand new teaser from the crossover shows some wish fulfillment that you wouldn’t believe. Everything from Golden Axe to the obscure Alex Kidd franchises are contained in the full scope of this crossover. Here’s a quick lowdown on some of the different franchises teased in the image released today from the publisher.

Let’s kick things off with Sega:

Alex Kidd

• First Appearance: Alex Kidd in Miracle World (1986)
• Why do we care?
• Kidd was Sega’s answer to Mario in the late 80s, and while he hasn’t been seen in a little while, we still have a soft spot for the Kidd.

Billy Hatcher

• First Appearance: Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (2003)
• Why do we care?
• Anything from Sonic Team is worth a second look.

Golden Axe

• First Appearance: Golden Axe (1989)
• Why do we care?
• College.

NiGHTS

• First Appearance: NiGHTS into Dreams… (1996)
• Why do we care?
• NiGHTS was one of the first games to take advantage of the video game art form featuring a heroine flying around on the Sega Saturn.

Skies of Arcadia

• First Appearance: Skies of Arcadia (2000)
• Why do we care?
• The game is an early 3D RPG sporting good characters and a strong setting.

Panzer Dragoon

• First Appearance: Panzer Dragoon (1995)
• Why do we care?
• Dazzling visuals and a unique approach to gameplay made this game an essential entry into the Sega Saturn library of games.

Onto the Capcom games:

Breath of Fire

• First Appearance: Breath of Fire (1993)
• Why do we care?
• Breath of Fire is a Japanese title early on in the SNES library that contained an actual plot and cast of fleshed out characters.

Ghosts N’ Goblins

• First Appearance: Ghosts N’ Goblins (1985)
• Why do we care?
• Ghost and Goblins was one of the first games that really challenged gamers on consoles while still being fun and intuitive to play.

Monster Hunter

• First Appearance: Monster Hunter (2004)
• Why do we care?
• While the game initially may seem archaic to some American gamers, there’s something mystifying and deceptively simple about the original Monster Hunter that makes it an incredible game to play.

Street Fighter

• First Appearance: Street Fighter (1987)
• Why do we care?
• Street Fighter earned it’s acclaim as a staple game among fans in the arcade fighting scene.

Okami

• First Appearance: Okami (2006)
• Why do we care?
• Okami took it’s time melding Japanese folklore with a more cerebral Zelda-style game design.

Viewtiful Joe

• First Appearance: Viewtiful Joe (2003)
• Why do we care?
• This is one of those major gamecube titles built around the personality of the main character that can rewind time. Viewtiful Joe was an original idea in the space of video games.

A full prologue is launching along with Free Comic Book Day on May 2nd from Archie, after that this comic is directly spinning off into an epic 12-part crossover. Thanks to Comics Alliance for the cover. The tale is broken up into a flipbook featuring separate Mega Man and Sonic versions. Ian Flynn is writing the story. The Sonic comic includes art from Adam Bryce Thomas, with the Mega Man portion complete with art contributions from Patrick Spaziante, Jonathan Hill, Powree, Ryan Jampole and Jamal Peppers.