26-Oct-2004 Tatsumaki Senpukyaku! Shoryuken! Um... Judo Chop! Yes, it's been 15 long years down this old videogaming highway, but still those cries ring out across the land as misty-eyed nostalgia has us looking back on the SF collection. Bundled together are Street Fighter II (World Warriors, Championship Edition, Turbo, Super and Super Turbo editions), and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, and what a weird sight they are.
Times have a'changed and, as fondly as we remember Street Fighter, we can't help but look upon it like an old dog. You love it but if it pisses on the floor one more time you'll put it down.
To add some spruce, this collection is online compatible and you can play any fighter against any other, whether it's Ken from the original SFII or Turbo Edition Ken with his extended Dragon Punch. But beyond that, very little has changed; it's all just been opened up and laid bare. Every SF character is here, but they're still animated at a framerate which these days wouldn't make submission.
Thankfully, despite the clearly creaking gameplay, the Xbox controller deals well with the demands of the multi-button combos, leaving your thumbs mildly aching rather than crippled (handy when those car-smashing levels have been included again), and there is a certain sense of feeling like a kid again when you get Blanka to frazzle his opponents, but we've grown up and moved on, just as this series should have done. Catching up with Chun Li and chums is fine and the replay value is bolstered by the chance to play all the character variations but it's one strictly for nostaligia buffs.
Official Xbox Magazine staff
// Overview
Verdict
Street Fighter is regurgitated yet again, so we assume people are eager for it. Just be prepared for a touch of disappointment.
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