1. Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (Arcade/Dreamcast, 2000)

If Street Fighter II is Biggie or ’Pac, then Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is Jay-Z. Seriously, the game was a step up in every way. 50+ characters, three-man teams, crazy super moves, crazy combos, speedy gameplay, epic levels, and you can’t find a new copy of the game for less than $100. It was so successful that fans begged for eleven years for a sequel to be made. Forget what you know about other fighting games, MvC2 is the sublime apotheosis of the genre.