CAPCOM

Capcom was founded in 1979 in Osaka, Japan, by Kenzo Tsujimoto as Japan Capsule Computers Co., Ltd. - initially producing electromechanical amusement machines. In 1983, the company pivoted to electronic video games and renamed itself Capcom, a portmanteau of “Capsule Computers.”

Capcom’s first arcade game, Vulgus (1984), established the studio’s technical confidence. The following year, Ghosts ‘n Goblins (1985) became a breakout hit - designed by Tokuro Fujiwara, notorious for its punishing difficulty, and ported to the NES in 1986. Capcom had arrived.

Through the NES era, Capcom produced the Mega Man franchise (six mainline entries, 1987–1993), DuckTales, Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Bionic Commando. In the arcades, the CP System (CPS-1, 1988) delivered Final Fight and Street Fighter II, redefining both the brawler and the fighting game genres. The SNES brought Mega Man X and the home port of Street Fighter II.

Mega Man 2 (NES, 1988/1989) is Capcom’s most celebrated 8-bit title. Eight Robot Masters, Takashi Tateishi’s transcendent soundtrack, and stage design that remains a benchmark for action-platformers - it elevated the franchise from curiosity to phenomenon and set the template for four more NES entries. Keiji Inafune and the team built it knowing the series might never get another chance.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins (Arcade, 1985; NES, 1986), directed by Tokuro Fujiwara, gave Capcom its identity: precision-demanding gameplay wrapped in gothic atmosphere. Its legendary double-loop structure - complete the game twice to see the true ending - defined the studio’s design philosophy. Every Capcom game that demands mastery traces back to Sir Arthur’s graveyard run.

Street Fighter II (Arcade, 1991; SNES, 1992) created the competitive fighting game genre as it is still understood today. Yoko Shimomura’s iconic score, the CPS-1 board’s graphical muscle, and eight distinct world warriors made it the most culturally significant arcade game of its era - and the SNES port brought that power directly into living rooms for the first time.

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