Why Ultra Street Fighter II is a great idea


Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers was one of the most perplexing game-announcements of the January Nintendo Switch Event. An old, 2D game that looked like a lazy port of the ugly HD Remix really made me not interested. But as I dug deeper and discovered more information about it, like the option to use the old sprites and the inclusion of online play, I realized that this game could be a blessing in disguise - a hidden gem.

Street Fighter V is not in a good place right now. The competitive scene is a mess, the online-play is still not great, and despite their efforts, the game is not attracting non-competitive players.

Street Fighter II was the pinnacle of the series, both in popularity and overall balance, so it's great that it's making a comeback, on the newest successor (Nintendo Switch) of the home-console that helped elevate it to enormous success beyond the coin-op (Super Famicom).

Street Fighter II was very innovative and mind-blowing in the arcade, but it rose to a greater plateau of success when it was brought to the Super Famicom and people could practice Hadoukens and Shoryukens at home. I don't know if Nintendo realizes this, but Street Fighter II sold their consoles. I know it did in Japan, and I know it did in the USA. I had a Genesis before the Super Nintendo, and the game I was envious about the most was Street Fighter II; it was a timed exclusive. In fact, it wasn't clear that Sega Genesis could handle a game like Street Fighter II with its large sprites and voice-clips. Street Fighter II on Super Famicom and Super Nintendo is the fourth-best-selling game of that platform at 6.3 million. Having that balance of games that are friendly for everyone, like Super Mario World, and cool, cutting-edge, hip games like Street Fighter II was essential. I wish Nintendo would realize this.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers won't be a system-seller like Street Fighter II was, but as an enhanced port of the most beloved game in the series, it will be great to have on the Nintendo Switch.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Retrotek SCART to Component Converter" Review (SCBV1P3)

Image
I do not like spreading negativity out there, but I needed to warn people about this device. I bought this for 80 dollars on ebay; I'm not gonna link from whom, because he or she does not deserve more sales of this awful device. When it works, it works, albeit with flaws. The image produced is sharp, as a component-video signal should be, and the colors are accurate, except that there is a green tint to the entire picture. I've read that one has to open these things up and adjust the 'pots' inside (an electrical term) with a screwdriver. I never really tried doing that or minded the green tint too much, because it's very subtle. What I did mind a lot, was the fact that sometimes, it won't work, and I'll only get audio. This is a big problem. I wouldn't mind the colors being a little off, or there being some 'noise' in the video-signal, but when the success-rate of the thing actually working is 50%, it's a deal-breaker. I paid 80 dolla...
Read more

White Japanese Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad (Controller) Review HSS-0137

Image
As a recently new Sega Saturn owner, I knew I had to get the Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad because it was the definitive controller for playing Nights Into Dreams. I decided to purchase the more aesthetically-pleasing Japanese version. Upon first inspection, it is noticeably big - bigger than it should be. Sega was probably going for form over function here, because the round shape does look like a mini-spaceship or UFO, which goes with their theme of space with the Saturn itself, but it is not the most ergonomically comfortable controller out there. For example, when playing six-button fighting-games, it is difficult to hold the controller in the left hand and 'piano' the buttons with the right. The d-pad is a little different from the American Model 1 and Japanese Model 2 controllers'. It feels a little stiffer. Of the three controllers I have tried, it has my least favorite d-pad. On the plus-side, however, it features the best start-button of the three. ...
Read more

Japanese Model 2 Sega Saturn Controller Review HSS-0101

Image
Recently, I bought a Model 2 American Sega Saturn, but it came with a Model 1 controller. It was pretty good, but I liked the look of the Model 2 Japanese controller, and the d-pad seemed more comfortable. After ordering one on ebay, and opening the package I later received, I was taken aback at how 'creamy' the controller looked. It didn't look like it had changed color, like old NESes, but it didn't look as white as I had imagined. Even the photo above looks whiter than it actually is. The d-pad is better than the Model 1's, but not by too much. The face-buttons feel the same, but the Start-button is a big improvement. The biggest improvement comes in the form of the shoulder-buttons. I don't think the actual internal switches have changed, but now you don't have to press the buttons on the rear of its plastic-shell to get them to actuate. In general, they feel and sound like mouse-buttons. You won't want to use them in action-games, but f...
Read more