Okay, so SSF2THD (what a friggin' mouthful!) is out.
Well, kinda.While Xbox 360 owners are plonking down their 1200 MS Points to download the 300-odd MB game, poor ol' PSN users have to wait a couple of weeks for the 'localised' version. This is only for those in the UK and Australasia mind you.
Retarded? Very.
Anyway, I downloaded this puppy during the weekend, ready for some old skool 'ha-do-ken' action!
SSF2THD has been in the making now for quite some time. And rightly so. The whole game has been re-done from the ground up, using artwork drawn by the guys at Udon Entertainment.
Udon are quite well known as the guys who do the popular Street Fighter comics (amongst other things).
However, if this new-age HD artwork isn't your cup of tea, the game offers players the choice to have the original game with the original sprites.
But that's not why we bought the game right?
Some of the joystick combinations have also been re-jiggered to allow more easy access to particular moves. For example, you can now actually perform Guile's super move. Somewhat.
Now, it may seem odd, but these new sprites can also hinder the experience somewhat.
Hear me out. While these new graphics are very, very well presented. And seeing your favorite character PROPERLY represented on screen, rather than a pixelated mass of sprites, is a sight to behold! The problem herein lies with the animation of those characters. Because the game mechanics are (essentially) the same, and only the graphics are re-done, the frames of animation are exactly the same as the original. Which in some cases are only 2-4 frames of animation. This can make for some odd-looking, highly detailed sprites. It's like watching a flipbook (albeit with fantastic artwork).
Players can compete with each other over Xbox Live (and the PSN...eventually).
If you're like me, and have no-one to play with, this is by far the best way to play.
Provided you can find someone with a decent ping. Which here in NZ can be quite difficult thanks to the pants way XBL finds players (some of us live OUTSIDE America Microsoft!).
But, man, once you get a good game going, it can bring some competitive emotions that you didn't have since playing SF2 in the arcades. Only you're slightly less sweaty by the end of it. But I put that down to the fact you can't see the person you're playing against. You don't need to worry about someone seeing your school boy ego get smashed.
The XBox controller is a pain-in-the-ass to use however (and I'd imagine the same could be said for the Dual Shock 3 for PS3). Serious players however will already have their 6-button joystick ready in the wings. And I wouldn't be surprised if we saw more of these on our regular gaming shelves very soon thanks to the upcoming release of Street Fighter IV.
However, some people can get VERY serious about their joystick choice!
Ignoring my pet peeve with the animation (or lack thereof), this game is definitely worth the small price to pay (which I think is about $20NZ-odd) for any SF2 fan!
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