Many ports of games onto the Arcade result in sub-par game play from titles which are outdated and really don’t live up to the original title. We’ve seen some gems though, including Pacman Championship Edition and now Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. For the purposes of the review we won’t refer to its full name!
As the title suggests this isn’t just a poor man’s Super Nintendo port. This is Street Fighter as we loved it, but with HD visuals and improved music to boast. Now believe it or not, I was never a fighting game fan back when the original was out and I only played it briefly on a friend’s console.
So then, quite why I’m reviewing the update is another question, one which you’ll have to ask the boss. But what I can say is that after button bashing my way through Arcade (yes I am a button basher I’m afraid!), I bloody love it!
I think we all know Street Fighter is hard. Unlike games of today, the classics always remain tough to beat and Capcom haven’t removed any of that difficulty here. You get two games for the money, the original Arcade classic and the new HD version. The sprites in the game are lovingly recreated to look crisp and clear on that brand new HD telly; something we dreamed about years ago. What is great is that the visual update hasn’t ruined the feel of Street Fighter at all. It is merely a foot forward in the right direction and not a step backward. Not only that but the music has received an update too, remixed themes adjourn the game. The game is full of funky beats which enhance the original themes and it is something which has been developed very well.
Fans of the original will be pleased to know that no radical changes have taken place with the engine. It remains true to the original but with enhancements that make the game flow for new players and seasoned veterans alike. Some moves are slightly altered to allow for fairer matches and Akuma is now playable in the tournament.
Online is also included with both ranked and player matches. These type of games tend to suffer from lag problems but upon testing the game out against various worldwide opponents, there was no sign of lag and the online threw in for some very competitive and fun battles. In fact I’d go as far to say it’s one of the more enjoyable online experiences I’ve had in some time.
If you want to remain faithful to its roots though, the original Arcade version is included for fans, which is a remake of the Turbo version. It includes all the classic music and visual look complete with online play as well.
For seasoned fans this is worthy of a purchase, but at 1200 MS Points, it is a little at the high end of the Arcade spectrum. It is a polished and solid remake from Capcom and what they have achieved fills a very impressive gap prior to the release of Street Fighter IV. However, if you already have versions of the game downloaded you might pass this time around, but it certainly packs a good punch and sets a new standard for LIVE Arcade remakes.
