Duos in fighting games and brawlers are nothing new, but they do offer a unique dynamic that other playable characters can’t bring on their lonesome. However, Tom and Jerry fromMultiVersusstand out among all other duos for having arguably a very unusual moveset for the genre. Warner Bros.' iconic cat and mouse join a roster of many other classic characters from its extensive library of films, cartoons, and beyond, and even among these fighters the two are the only duo available - at leastuntil moreMultiVersusfighters are announced.
However, true to Tom and Jerry canon, it seems the pair cannot put aside their differences as they continue to beat, trick, and wind each other up. Officially described as “frenemies” byMultiVersus,unlike other fighter duos such as Rosalina and Luma, Duck Hunt Duo, or even Ren and Stimpy, Tom and Jerry play as if they were really only ever fighting each other, and other characters just happen to get in their way. Compared to these other famous fighting duos, this makes Tom and Jerry one of the more unique duos existing in brawlers.
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How Other Fighting Duos Work
Traditionally, fighting duos arise from two characters who complement one another or are rarely ever seen apart. In the example of Ren and Stimpy, it would be unusual to feature one as a fighter but not the other. In other examples like Rosalina and Luma, though these two characters were loosely connected,Rosalina could have easily appearedas a lone fighter, but since Nintendo combined the two it provides a unique edge to the fighter, such as Luma being the focus of certain attacks. The extent to which these duos are developed varies from game to game, duo to duo, but they are usually seen as balanced evenly.
However, regardless of where these duos originate from, their movesets are usually informed by both their canons and are befitting of their personalities. For example, Rosalina’s reliance upon the Lumas to aid her could be a callback toSuper Mario Galaxy, whileNickelodeon All-Star Brawl’s developer Ludosity have confirmed that whendeveloping Ren and Stimpy’s moves, it wanted to channel their personalities. But at these duos' cores, their moves and gameplay focus on working together, whether it’s to help in traversing stages or to counter other fighters.
Tom and Jerry Stand Out
As mentioned above, Tom and Jerry’s moves aren’t designed in a way to help one another fight other opponents. Instead, true to the quintessential cat-and-mouse stereotype, Tom is constantly chasing Jerry around the stage, and their moves revolve around one attacking the other. Whether it’s Tom swinging a mallet or a frying pan to Jerry-seeking acme-inspired rockets, Tom appears to be fighting Jerry and not any other fighters. Unlike other moves from fighting duos that work together, Tom and Jerry are doing the exact opposite. Their appearance inMultiVersusis consequently a refreshing change from the likes ofTom and Jerry: Joyful Interaction.
Not only does this bring Tom and Jerry into the spotlight over other iconic fighting duos, but it fits their canon perfectly. When the pair is just one of many inMultiVersus, the depth of characterization and attention to detail demonstrates the consideration Player First Games undertook. Looking to other fighters, it’s easy to see the evidence of careful thought that went into each design, such asUltra Instinct Shaggyor Velma’s “I’ve lost my glasses” trope. It’s therefore no surprise that Tom and Jerry outpaced other fighting duos, even if it was only due to a slight rework of the usual duo format.
MultiVersusis available in Open Beta now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
