Before we get started, I have to make it clear that this IS NOT the definitive top ten. There are too many classic clips from great games to list. With that said, let's get into it!

Makoto’s grab vs. Mini-godzilla

Game: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

Players: J (Makoto) VS Kokujin (Dudley)

Tournament:?

Makoto’s pairing of one of the best quick dashes in 3rd Strike and generous stun damage has established her as one of the top characters in competitive SF3 play. When mastered, she is a deadly force to be reckoned with.

The real draw of Makoto, that sends opponents into a pant-shitting rage (perfectly captured in the video), is her Karakusa grab, which leaves an opponent up for a combo.

Godlike moment: 0:43 Kokujin has evidently mastered his “stand up and scream like a maniac”-maneuver. Just look at that timing!

Why this video is awesome: The amount of guesswork and split-second timing at play here is unreal. Not many players can say they have double-perfected Kokujin.

That mustache is thick!

Game: Marvel Vs. Capcom 2

Players: Yipes (Storm-Magneto-Psylocke) vs. ? (Storm-Magneto-Psylocke)

Tournament: ?

If you haven’t ventured down to your local arcade over the last couple years -- if you are fortunate enough to even have one -- you may assume competitive players are fat, white anti-social men with ponytails. No, they are all at home playing World of Warcraft.

Part of the fun of competitive play is the personalities of the players and the trash-talk that often comes out. Some players are whiners but a handful are witty, funny and full of bravado.

Godlike moment: 0:36 Yipes pulls off a humiliating juggle and tops it off with a “Fuck Arcana Hearts!”

Why this is awesome: It’s hard to say which did more damage: Yikes’ Magneto or his verbal abuse. Just read through the YouTube comments to see hilarious banter between commentors, trying to decipher Yike’s absurdities. Also, Deadpool quotes this video in MvC3!

The ultimate Evo clip

Game: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

Players: Ken [Daigo] vs Chun Li [Justin Wong]

Tournament: Evo 2k4

Fighting game veterans will claim this clip is obvious and cliche, but even they were blown away -- many even initiated into the scene -- by this clip.

YouTube user Bosquez88 sums it up pretty well: “All you do to parry is simply press forward as soon a player hits you, but to use it against Chun Li's Super Art is tricky as fuck.”

Godlike moment: 2:35 The Evo moment that will never be replicated again, but hopefully it will be topped...some day.

Why this is awesome: The original clip (of much lower quality) has nearly 3 million views for a reason. Just watch.

Yipes gets destroyed

Game: Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Players: Justin Wong (?-Sentinel-Cyclops) vs Yipes (Storm-Psylocke-Magneto)

Tournament:Evo 2k7

In case you really hate Yipes after that trash-talking clip above, here’s a video of him losing at Evo 2K7.

More importantly, here is one of fighting game master Justin Wong making one of the most iconic comebacks in Evo history. After being knocked down to a single Cyclops, Wong makes an unlikely comeback against Yipes 3 characters with nearly full health.

Godlike moment: 0:55 As the action escalates, Yipes gets sloppy and Wong punishes with an uppercut -- it’s now one-on-one. Yipes shouts, “We just got a real match!”

Why this is awesome: There are lots of comeback videos like this in MvC history, but the mix of personality, crowd reaction and timing make this a classic.

If two ninjas were speed-addicts, it'd look something like this

Game: Guilty Gear XX Core

Players: Inoue (Order-Sol) vs. Kusoru (Sol Badguy)

Tournament: Super Battle Opera 7

To newcomers, Guilty Gear is a confusing mess. To two of the top players, it’s a very contemplative mess.

Watching Inoue (the best of the best) go up against Kusoru (the troll) is a mesmerizing sight that highlights the game’s unique style. The long range attacks, wall bounces and crazy boosts add a colorful twist to the fundamentals of grabs, combos and air juggles. Stir it all in a pot and you have one of the craziest matches out there.

Godlike moment: 2:35 The recovery there is epic!

Why this is awesome: Though there aren’t many videos out there of Guilty Gear played at high-tier play, this is one of (if not THE) best. Guilty Gear’s presence at Evo will be missed.

Akuma victory pose

Game: Super Street Fighter IV

Players: Akuma (Tokido) vs Ibuki (ClakeyD)

Tournament: SoCal Regionals 2010

You didn’t think I would completely ignore SSFIV?

There are too many great matches out there to count, but none of them have a moment as memorable as Tokido’s victory pose at the end of this very tense set.

Godlike moment: 8:40 Classic comeback with a classic moment of showmanship.

Why this is awesome: Dude, just look at that pose! I wonder if he practiced that more than playing Akuma.

East vs. West   

Game: Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Players: Demon Hyo (Storm-Magneto-Sentinel) vs. Dark Prince (Sentinel-Storm-Captain Commando)

Tournament: Evo 2k7

In the biggest transcontinental beef since 2Pac vs. Biggie (maybe?), the pressure was on when Dark Prince came to Evo 2k7. Dark Prince is known mainly for his trash-talking and occasionally being able to back it up.

He’s the kind of player you love to hate, but he makes the game more interesting -- proving to be a force you want to lose but hardly does. After talking trash about the East coast scene and placing 2nd at Evo West, Internet boards rejoiced to see him utterly destroyed by Demon Hyo

Godlike moment: 2:08 After getting his ass handed to him for approximately two minutes, Dark Prince soft resets the Dreamcast.

Why this is awesome: It’s a classic match of rivalry, assholery and comeuppance. It’s always satisfying to see the bad guy beat so badly. As much as we love to hate you, DP, please come back and play MvC3? :P

Decide the destiny!

Game: Fist of the North Star (2005)

Players: Dora(Rei) vs Amiba(Kenshiro)

Tournament: ?

Fist of the North Star doesn’t have the biggest following in the West, but this match shows why it should.

The crazy speed, brutal hand-to-hand blows and crazy “Fatal KO” attacks make for a unique fighting game that is immensely entertaining to watch when you have a match-up like this one. Both players play very offensively, trading blows and throwing each other into merciless air juggles.

Godlike moment: 2:05 That’s one creepy cackle.

Why this is awesome: It’s like Guilty Gear on crystal meth!

Bionic arm saves the day

Game: Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Players: Marn (Zero-Magneto-Sentinel) Vs Combofiend (She-Hulk-Taskmaster-Spencer)

Tournament: Final Round XIV

Final Round XIV was, in many ways, the proving ground for MvC3. With a month of practice since the game’s release -- although some pros had time with early builds -- the first major tournament would unveil the game’s secrets that the best of the best extracted.

Of all the matches, Marn vs. Combofiend was the most memorable of the tourney. It established Spencer’s inescapable combo arm combo and that Sentinel isn’t the unbeatable beast many thought he was at the time.

Godlike moment: 6:40 What seems like Combofiend’s end turns into his moment of glory.

Why this is awesome: Beyond MvC3 being a gorgeous hi-def spectacle that the eyes won’t soon grow tired of, this is a very exciting match where every second feels like an opportunity for either player to take-over and win.

Time Over

Game: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

Players: Ricky Ortiz (Ken) Justin Wong (Chun Li) vs Kuroda (Q) Hayao (Q)

Tournament: SBO3

Stakes were high when Kuroda went up against Justin Wong at SBO3. You have one of the best players in the West playing against one of the best players in Japan on his home turf.

Supposedly, Kuroda was upset by his teammate Hayao being taunted by Wong’s teammate Ricky, so Kuroda was extra pissed for this match. Between the select screen trolling and playful taunts, Kuroda amused the crowd while putting up a good match.

Godlike moment: 6:00 The perfect ending.

Why this is awesome: This is a classic example of out-playing, out-witting your opponent. The mind games at play here are immense.

[Special thanks to Cry+Tuff, Mueti and others for sending me clips!]

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Hope you enjoyed my picks! I'd love to see what you guys dig up, so please share links in the comments below.