Evo2016:TheUltimateFightingGameChampionship
Everyyear,theEvolutionChampionshipSeries(Evo)bringstogetherthebestandbrightestintheworldoffightinggamestocompeteforgloryandprizes.Evo2016wasnoexception,withthousandsofplayersfromaroundtheglobedescendingonLasVegasfortheannualevent.Fromsurprisingupsetstointenseshowdowns,hereisarecapofthehighlightsfromthisyear'stournament.
TheRiseofStreetFighterV
TherewasnodoubtthatStreetFighterVwasthegametowatchatEvo2016.Withthegameonlybeingreleasedafewmonthsbeforethetournament,therewasanairofuncertaintyastowhowouldemergeasthetopplayer.Intheend,itwasInoue\"Kazunoko\"Ryotawhoprovedhisworth,dominatinginthegrandfinalsagainstfellowJapaneseplayerNakayama\"Moke\"Naoki.Despitethegame'sinitialbacklashduetoitslackofcontent,StreetFighterVprovedtobeaworthyadditiontotheEvolineup.
ANewChampioninSuperSmashBros.
Forthefirsttimeinsixyears,therewasanewchampioninSuperSmashBros.Melee.JosephManuel\"Mango\"Marquezhadfamouslywonthetournamentfortwoconsecutiveyears,butthisyearhefellshortinaclosematchagainstHungrybox.ItwasatriumphantmomentforJuan\"Hungrybox\"Debiedma,whohadbeeninthefinalsseveraltimesbeforebuthadneverwon.Inanemotionalpost-matchinterview,hededicatedhisvictorytohislatefather,whohadpassedawayearlierintheyear.
TheReturnofaClassicwithKingofFightersXIV
Oneofthemosthighly-anticipatedgamesofEvo2016wasthenewestentryintheKingofFightersseries,KingofFightersXIV.Thegamehadbeenindevelopmentforseveralyearsandfanswereeagertoseehowitwouldstackupagainsttheothergamesinthetournament.Intheend,itwasTaiwaneseplayerHsieh\"OilKing\"Tsung-Tingwhoemergedasthechampion,defeatingJapaneseplayerIto\"M'inathrillingset.Thevictorywasamajorupset,asmanyhadexpectedoneoftheJapaneseplayerstocomeoutontop.
Overall,Evo2016wasafantasticeventthatshowcasedthebestofthefightinggamecommunity.WithnewgameslikeStreetFighterVandKingofFightersXIVtakingcenterstagealongsideclassicgameslikeSuperSmashBros.Melee,therewassomethingforeveryonetoenjoy.Asthecommunitylookstowardsthefuture,it'sclearthattheworldofcompetitivefightinggamesisonlygettingbiggerandbetterwitheachpassingyear.