The success and popularity of the new hit TV series, X-Men ’97, has people talking about our favorite gang of mutants in the fighting game space once again. The X-Men, specifically the 90s designs and characters, have been prominent in fighting games over the years thanks to beloved titles like the Marvel vs. Capcom games and earlier entries in the Versus series like X-Men vs. Street Fighter.
All this talk has somehow lead some fans to sharing clips from an old school fighting title that isn’t quite as competitive or popular as something like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Specifically, footage of playable fighter Professor Xavier (yes, you read that right) in X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 is circulating on Twitter right now and is introducing many of us to what is one of the most unintentionally funny fighting game characters I think I’ve ever come across.
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 was released back on the original PlayStation on September 18, 2001. It was developed by a company called Paradox Development, which was later rebranded to Midway Studios Los Angeles Inc. and has credits such as Backyard Wrestling and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks on their resume.
Mutant Academy 2 is a 2.5D fighting game that features several very popular characters from the X-Men franchise on the roster. Combatants such as Beast, Cyclops, Juggernaut, Magneto, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and well, Professor X all find themselves as part of this game’s cast.
Now, it isn’t very often that we see Professor X, the head of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, in the thick of a fight. Generally, he has his highly skilled team of X-Men go out and do the fighting, and if he’s ever in danger, Professor X uses his incredible telepathic abilities to thwart enemies without ever really having to lift a finger.
Professor X being a part of a fighting game roster, in and of itself, isn’t strange or funny at all. As a telepath, one might expect a fighter like this to have long-ranged maneuvers that utilize his mutant powers to their fullest while wanting to stay away from any physical combat… right?
Well, this is why ol’ Prof is such a funny case in X-Men: Mutant Academy 2. While the developers definitely incorporated some of his mind control and telepathic powers into his playstyle, there is also a surprising number of speedy physical attacks one might not expect from this particular X-Man.
One of Professor X’s super attacks sees him do what can only be described as revving up his wheelchair, then he speeds toward the opponent as he mows them down for multiple hits. If that wasn’t crazy enough for you, allow me to add that he finishes this super by swiftly spinning in place and rising up into the air as he carries his opponent up with him all while hitting them…
X-Men Mutant Academy 2 (2001) pic.twitter.com/tGMHLumOBR
— Perfect Fighting Game Shots (@FGPerfectShots) May 16, 2024
Another of his techniques in the game looks like a command grab that sees him actually use his mind control skills to take over the opponent’s thoughts and force them to, well… hit themselves. While this is totally something someone with mind control might do — especially if they’re trying to avoid physical combat like Professor X probably should — this technique essentially sees one of the most powerful mutants in all of the X-Men universe hit his foe with the ol’ “stop hitting yourself!”
happy to see people paying respect to one of the funniest fighting games of all time pic.twitter.com/xguISDZ0Pf
— Sean Seanson (@SeanSeansonYT) May 17, 2024
And while the act itself certainly isn’t funny and is a very serious matter, there is definitely something to be said about the fact that all of the other characters on the roster are essentially seen striking a man in a wheelchair whenever they fight Professor X. Here in 2024, that’s pretty wild as far as optics go, and I can’t imagine something like that would fly nowadays — but the sheer craziness that the devs dared to do it back then does deserve a laugh.
We haven’t seen Professor X make his way into any of the Marvel vs. Capcom games as a playable fighter just yet. If we ever see a Marvel vs. Capcom 4, I suspect we still probably won’t see him join the cast, but anything is possible at this point.