Loading ...
2971 Views | 1 Comment
Before the screen-filling Supers, before the dozen-hit air combos, before the EX Specials and parry system – Street Fighter II, the successful and iconic fighting game franchise that practically kick started the genre of the very same, was all about just that: fighting. With a few Hadoukens and Spinning Bird kicks thrown in for good measure, of course. Which is why it comes as no surprise that series pioneer Capcom decided to pluck their latest revision of said franchise and give it a much-loved paint job for both old and new fans to digitally download to their new-fangled video game consoles. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is certainly that, but so much more than a simple “paint job”.
Capcom did three fundamental things to differentiate itself from previous remake attempts. Firstly, HD Remix was handled by Canadian developers Backbone Entertaiment, a company known for porting/remaking tons of classic titles to Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network. Secondly, rather than going the way of 3D (à la Bionic Commando ReArmed and 1942: Joint Strike), Capcom decided to utilize high-resolution sprites and background art based upon the stylings made popular by UDON Entertainment, who worked on a number of Street Fighter comic books. Thirdly, video game music website OverClocked Remix were enlisted to handle the entire soundtrack (which can be downloaded here). All this makes HD Remix one enticing package not to be overlooked.
Newcomers will be happy to know that Backbone Entertainment on top of porting the original source material frame-for-frame (right down to even including the “slow-downs”), took the liberty of rebalancing particular gameplay aspects as well as adding newer ones borrowed from other Street Fighter games. Special moves can be much easier to pull off this time around, making older characters feel a lot more fun to experiment with, but at the same time mixes up the established core mechanics quite a bit. For example, it’s much simpler to use Cammy’s Hooligan Throw now and she can also go through projectiles thanks to her Spinning Backfists. In turn, this makes her a much more offensive character. Even the most subtle of changes, like Ryu’s Fake Hadouken and Guile’s Forward Flash Kick, can drastically change your game plan. And if you’re a die-hard enthusiast who doesn’t want to have to play with what shouldn’t have been fixed in the first place, HD Remix also offers a Classic Mode to go along with the Remixed Mode, coupled with Super Street Fighter II Turbo’s original look, feel and sound but sans all the extra fluff.
Players will also be happy to know the ample number of options for competitive online play. Aside from your standard Worldwide Rankings and Leaderboards, HD Remix also gives an 8-player tournament option as well as the befittingly named Quarter Match mode – opponents can act as spectators for any on-going brawls and call dibs on the next match. It’s no virtual replacement for the arcade atmosphere the series was known for, but a nice thought nonetheless. There’s even a Smoothing option that tries to compensate for online lag – just dial the input delay to however you see fit, and you’re set. Add all this along with the choice to not see your challenger’s character selection box right before a bout (and vice-versa), gives HD Remix maximum bang for buck.
And it goes without saying over and over again, this game looks real good. Granted, the animation doesn’t fully complement in contrast to how well the character sprites have been pain-stakingly detailed, but it doesn’t stick out as a major huge eyesore either. In fact, take any moment to pause in the middle of a match and appreciate how crisp and clean HD Remix’s visuals really are. Nearly every screenshot captured thus far looks like it was pulled from an animated feature. Even the endings have been given a total makeover. If you’re not comfortable with the widescreen option, you can always switch to the normal 4:3 motion. But honestly, the best part about this remake for me has got to be the music. Many props to the talented artists over at OC Remix.
Complaints are few and far between, but are there nonetheless. If all the fighting games you’ve ever weaned off start with a ‘Mortal’ and end with a ‘Kombat’, the transition to HD Remix may seem somewhat jarring. It can feel like a old game, but that’s because it’s supposed to. Once you get past that mental block, enjoyment and appreciation comes a lot sooner. For US$15 (or 1200 MS Points), HD Remix is an experimentation worth risking, and sizes up to even some similarly, full-priced retail games – if not besting them outright.
9.0 / 10
Review Copy Courtesy:
TRANSLATE
Translate this post into your favorite language. Click on any of the flags below to view the translated version. NOTE: Translations use the AltaVista Babel Fish Translation Service and may not be 100% accurate.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  | ||||||
| By N2H | |||||||||
January 21st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I just picked up this game for the PS3 a few days ago off the PS Network, and my controller has been in toils ever since. In just two days, my buttons have lost its springs, and the joystick tilts to one side. It’s so good to rekindle our relationship.