AI is probably less significant because fighting games are best when playing other people.

On that note, how about fighting more than 1 other opponent (player or computer).

Smash Brothers lets you fight more than one player but I would not really call it a standard fighting game.

I''m going to get shot for saying this, but Super Smash Bros. and its sequel are the best fighting games of all time. Lots of variety and easy to control. Perhaps they had too many items, though...

Yea, they are good, but both of them have some balance problems. Some of the characters are to weak are to strong, and some of the items are to effective.

That reminds me, something a good fighting should have is balance between the characters. I notice that quite a few fighting games have characters that are to powerful. I think it is better to have 12 balanced characters instead of 80 unbalanced ones (like in Super Street Fighter Alpha 20 EX Plus Turbo Championship Edition.).

Who can forget the satisfaction brought on by a fatility (or other *ity) when playing a Mortal Kombat game. Finishing moves definately add to any fighting game, its just sad they appear in so few.

A good fighting game should have a decent followable general storyline and storyline for each character (don''t think so... then play Dead or Alive 2 or 3), fluid controls, balanced fighting techiques (there shouldn''t be one player that can dominate all the players in a game) so a player with skill will win, and nowadays interactive background and foregrounds. And some good AI (but not like SFII where special moves, especially charged ones, were being done out of the air).

Actually, I''d say the three best fighting games that''ve rocked
my world are:

a. Bushido Blade Series - PSX: Tactical, fun and ''realistic.''
b. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 - DC: Fun as all hell trying to unlock all
of the characters, costumes and levels. Great effects as well.
c. Thrill Kill - PSX: Combination of Mortal Kombat, Tekken and
a smidgeon of Smash Brothers.

-Hyatus
"da da da"

A good fighting gam would be one that you could make up your own moves. Theres one coming out in japan soon I think but that seems a bit limited. I reacon one where you get a animation package of some sort so you could then make your own moves and then assign it a key or combination and power. imagine fighting against other people using your own moves and them thiers.