|
While the Street Fighter series makes its way into 3D, Capcom has delivered its best and most complete version of Street Fighter II to the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. Sporting a mouthful of a title, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix not only captures the spirit of the celebrated series, but also manages to make it even better than before.
The phrase HD Remix is an understatement. The graphics are nothing short of breathtaking and the character animations have never been so brilliantly detailed. Screenshots alone cannot do this title justice as the fluidity at which these characters move has to be seen to be believed. Character sprites are beautifully drawn with vivid color in gorgeous high definition. Added details like projectile collision and the subtle changes to the familiar backgrounds give the game a more modern look. The graphics do come with a small downside however. While the sprites are nicely done, their somewhat larger size gives the characters a much wider reach across the screen, especially with tall fighters such as Sagat.
Graphics aren't all that have changed with this updated version of the classic fighter. Characters have been tweaked to allow for a more balanced experience and signature moves are slightly easier to pull off than before. This doesn't mean that the challenge isn't still present or that players won't find M.Bison to be anything but unforgiving, but suffice it to say that while the overall mechanics remain unchanged, the minor adjustments go a long way. T.Hawk's clumsiness is now a thing of the past as the massive character is a lot more manageable than when he made his debut over a decade ago.
As mentioned before, the challenge of this old-school fighter is still intact. Chun-Li is still incredibly fast and Zangief remains as a hulking powerhouse of a fighter. Players won't find the comfort of parry, super-cancels or even rolls in this revitalized classic. Normal Moves, Special Moves and a single Super Move are all a player has to use against their adversaries. But the tweaks have allowed for a more flexible experience as players will find their opponents aren't as predictable as before. This makes for plenty of strategy and as players become more experienced with the moves of their favored players, the more fun it is to play.
The soundtrack has been revamped as well as many of the familiar tunes have been remixed. While some of the changes are a bit questionable, players will find that the soundtrack compliments the frenzied fighting and the overall atmosphere of the game. The announcer of yesteryear has also been replaced with a more suitable persona. It isn't much but the absence of that unexcited voice helps make the overall experience a lot more satisfying.
Of all the features of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, the addition of online play is by far the most exciting. For many players, this is the sole reason for their timeless devotion to this series: to challenge a stranger. With the inclusion of online play, players can challenge some of the most skillful players in the world. Bragging rights won't come easy however. A few rounds of online play will serve as a painful reminder of just how deadly characters like Ryu and Ken can be when handled properly. There is hardly any lag during online play but joining a fight does require a bit of patience. Fights are done in turns and when players join a room they will simply have to wait until the players ahead of them have been eliminated.
Fans of the series could easily remember dropping an endless amount of quarters into arcade machines to play this beloved franchise. At the price of $14.99, makes it quite a bargain. While it isn't perfect, Capcom has redefined one of its most popular titles and gamers can expect to fall in love with this brutal fighter all over again. It is sleek in its presentation and the online play will have gamers honing their skills for years to come. This isn't simply for fighting game fans, but all gamers.
Fun Factor: Fighting at its purest and most fun.
Game Length: Players can expect to be done with Arcade Mode in very short amount of time.
Difficulty: Tweaks have helped make the fighters more accessible to newcomers but there is still a decent challenge to be found here.
On the Negative Side: Character sprites can fill the screen which can result in some cheap tactics.
Bang for your Buck: At such a reduced price, players will find their purchase to be well worth it.
|
