Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

Written by Matt Swider  on December 09, 2008

Review: A game that downloads faster than you saying its full name.

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Street Fighter finally makes its high-definition debut in Super Street Fighter Turbo HD Remix and, even though it has been one of the most hyped downloadable games for Xbox Live Arcade, the results meet our high-definition expectations. Beautifully updated graphics combined with a rebalanced port of Super SFII Turbo's gameplay make it worth the 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15) if you're a fan of 2D fighting games. The only people who should download the free Super SFII Turbo HD Remix demo first are fighting genre novices. This game, like its predecessors, is hard even on the УeasyФ setting.



Super SF II Turbo HD Remix makes use of skillfully redrawn character sprites and backgrounds for everyone's HDTV, a significant improvement over XBLA's problematic Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting from 2006. That version did nothing more than stretch the display to 16:9. It also had lag-filled online gameplay, which is another thing that the new remix improves upon. Seeing the replaced sprites jumping around the vibrantly lit Casino level with special moves pulled off left and right and absolutely no slowdown was a real test for this game. It passed with flying, lively colors.

The character animations in the background were the only graphical aspect that didn't get an overhaul. The two-frame movements of spectators look dated compared to other fighting games, making it our only gripe besides the fact that this isn't a very inviting game for 2D fighting amateurs. At least we know that Street Fighter IV will contain 3D environments full of movement and, for this version, we can say that the simple backdrop animations keep the game rooted with an old-school feel. That goes along with the game's remixed music, which is new, but delivers a quality soundtrack that's reminiscent of the 1990s. Very fitting since Super Street Fighter II Turbo first released in 1994.