After the re-release of SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, which included a woke disclaimer and censored key artwork in both Japanese and global regions, Capcom then announced the Capcom Fighting Collection 2, featuring bastardized renditions of classic titles such as Power Stone and Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro.
The main issue is that nearly every title in the eight-game collection has been modified to align with what is deemed appropriate for “modern audiences.” Capcom has subtly indicated that these changes address problematic depictions of attractive women across various stages and character endings.
These alterations aim to eliminate “sensualization” and “objectification” of women in gaming, reflecting Capcom’s effort to conform to Western political ideologies influenced by DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives funded by entities like BlackRock.
The recent release of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics seemed likely to follow existing trends of content modification, especially after it was revealed that the collection included censored ending cinematics for The Punisher.
However, fans were surprised to find that the game retained the visible panties of Roll, a beloved character from the Mega Man franchise.
Roll is a character from Capcom’s Mega Man series, debuting in the 1987 release of the original Mega Man game. In various iterations of the franchise, she functions as a supportive ally to Mega Man.
Typically portrayed as a young girl with blonde hair, Roll’s appearance usually features a dress and a headband. Her primary role across the games is to offer assistance, guidance, and information to Mega Man, helping him on his quests.
Roll is characterized by her kind-hearted and cheerful nature, often serving in a support role rather than as a combatant in her original appearances.
In the Marvel vs. Capcom series, Roll was reimagined as a playable fighter, characterized by her unique abilities and distinctive fighting style.
As a smaller, “fun” or gimmicky character, her attack power is relatively low, which makes her a less conventional choice for players. However, her small hitbox and enhanced mobility provide advantages against larger opponents.
Despite her light-hearted and playful design, high-action sequences, such as jump kicks or spins, occasionally result in moments where her panties become visible as an innocent bonus gesture.
In response to a fan comment about the visibility of the Roll’s underwear being visible during fights, a Twitter account believed to be associated with Marvel vs. Capcom planner Atsushi Tomita claimed that the decision to show Roll’s panties was made entirely by Keiji Inafune.
Keiji Inafune, the original character designer for the Mega Man series, also served as producer and director for later entries before leaving Capcom in 2010.
During the development of the Marvel vs. Capcom games, Inafune was a key figure overseeing Mega Man-related content. Given his role as producer for both Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, it was asserted that Inafune personally demanded Roll’s sprites be modified to include depictions of her panties.
Given her short stature physique, often labeled as “loli,” many vocal advocates expressed outrage over the developmental easter egg. Critics on platforms like Twitter and Resetera frequently view these fictional characters as resembling real-life children.
In Roll’s case, critics argue that any visibility of her panties constitutes sexualization, even though the character is intended to be innocent and non-sexual.
This debate over alleged “child exploitation” in fictional characters highlights how some individuals project real-world concerns onto fictional drawings and even pixelated sprites. The controversy surrounding Roll’s design in a game that’s over two decades old exemplifies a modern trend where fictional characters are examined through the lens of real-world morality.
This scrutiny often blurs the line between explicit content and innocuous portrayals in media, with critics labeling any criticism or defense of such depictions as indicative of genuine pedophilia, watering down actual explicit material and allowing actual child predators to simply hide behind a mask given the overt vocal scrutiny directed towards the Japanese animation industry and the like.
It has become increasingly common to see this trend, especially as Japanese anime has become a globalized mainstream, leading ti a new wave of so-called “fans” who seem more interested in gaining clout and expressing outrage than respecting or appreciating the medium.
They often aim to subvert the essence of the industry by being vocally offended by almost everything they find problematic, such as fan service and character tropes such as loli being akin to real life children.
Whether or not it’s accurate, the notion that producer Keiji Inafune was floored that the original depiction of Roll didn’t include panties and insisted her sprite work be redone to include such a feature is both amusing and a testament to what game design used to be. It reflects an era when games were created with love and passion to entertain players, rather than being censored and monetized to the maximum extent.
