From: tpehrson@javelin.sim.es.com (tim clinkenpeel)
Subject: [SNES:Clinkenreview> Street Fighter 2
Reply-To: tpehrson@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1992 00:36:52 GMT

 _ 
(_ l i n k e n r e v i e w
------------------------------------------------- reviews follow this format:
gameplay is summarized in a short paragraph.  next, highlights and faults are
compiled in the various pertinent areas.  in conclusion, an overall rating is
given on a scale of 1 to 10--see the rating guide at the bottom of the review
for further details.  a hints & strategies section, if available, will follow
(i don't bother on sucky games). --------------------------------------------
old reviews  are  kept  on  file  and  may  be  requested by sending mail  to
tpehrson@javelin.sim.es.com  with  the text 'review request: <string>' in the
subject.   all  reviews  with  titles  matching  <string> (wildcard)  will be
returned, or use "all" to receive all reviews.   my reviews are  my  opinion,
written  with  no  intention  to  neither  appease  nor  offend any person or
corporation.  ---------------------------------------------------------------

let's face it:  if you don't know what STREET FIGHTER 2 is you've been living
in a cave for the past few years.  street fighter 2 is _the_ biggest grossing
coin-op game of all time.  it has set a new standard for arcade animation and
has given birth to a whole new genre of video games.

not everyone is elated.  some fear that too much future coding energy will be
spent on chop-socky games and other concepts will be neglected.  i originally
subscribed to this school of thought; however, i now feel that is a bit
paranoid and unrealistic.  the video game industry pretty much caters to the
players' whims.  presently hordes of gamers flock to SF2, Mortal Kombat,
Sen-Gok, etc... and that's where the money is.  when the desires of the
playing public change the industry will follow.  i like to think of it as a
form of evolution.  it's my personal belief that virtual reality games will be
the big hit of the near future.  i've seen a prototype of such a game that
makes street fighter 2 look like go fish.

now let's get back to the present and back to the review.

   game type:  chop-socky
# of players:  1 or 2 versus
       lives:  must win best out of three rounds to advance
   continues:  unlimited

you must combine dexterity, reflex, know-how and a little luck to succeed at
street fighter 2 (hereinafter "SF2").  what follows is a description of the
game; common knowledge but reiterated for the sake of 'newbies'.  

SF2 is a one-on-one matchup of you versus either the computer or another
player.  you must first select your video-alter-ego from a set of eight
characters, each with unique traits and abilities.  in player vs. computer you
first fight the other seven characters (other than yourself), then move on to
an additional three opponents and the grand finale, either M. BISON or VEGA
depending on your locale.  defeating BISON/VEGA will be rewarded with an
endgame sequence, the complexity based on your skill level and performance.

the game screen is viewed from a "spectator's perspective", eye-level directly
in front of the action.  a 'health' meter for both players is located at the
top of the screen.  when the meter expires, sianara.  double knock-outs or
'ties' are possible.

OVERVIEW:  highlights (+), shortcomings (-) and mediocrities (o) 

+  gameplay is as fast 'n' furious as you decide to tackle (as per your level
   setting) and is highly addictive.  i used to despise street fighter 2 with a
   passion and ridicule those who flocked to it.  then i was asked to do a
   review.  reluctantly i accepted.  i was concerned that my review would be
   unfairly biased due to my prejudice.  now am i am avid player.  i think
   what makes the game work is the plethora of attack moves to choose from, the
   continual learning process involved (which moves counter which moves, speed
   and effectiveness of special moves, etc.) and the skill/reflex--the
   requirement of and the mastery of.  add to that the competition factor; the
   satisfaction gained from crushing your opponent and remaining unscathed.
	
+  an excellent arcade translation, only one shortfall...

-  the barrel stage has been replaced with a 'bash the bricks' stage--very
   lame.  could have been cool, but the fact that the pile of bricks
   actually consists of five 'brick groupings' which simultaneously crack
   and break is weak.  not a major concern.  the 'destroy the car' stage
   is still intact.

+  game control is excellent.  i give the credit to nintendo, the corporate
   bastards that they are, for having the foresight to include a sufficient
   number of buttons on the controllers.  i can't imagine how SF2 is going to
   work on the genesis or amiga.  the benefit of having all six buttons unique
   is that your SNES SF2 skills are directly transferable to the coin-op.
   obviously the configuration will be different, but it is still relatively
   easy to adapt.  the button mappings are fully configurable.

+  graphics are great in regards to the animation; it is smooth but the real
   clencher is the sheer volume of sprites.  i think the desire to see all the
   characters in all the positions is an effective lure for many players.  may
   not sound appealing, but wait until you give Sagat a flying headbutt or
   Bison a few power noogies.  entertaining and devastating.  the 'ground' is
   superbly animated to realisticly appear three-dimensional, but...

-  the backgrounds, although well-rendered, are poorly animated.  many
   background characters consist of nothing more than two flip-flopping frames
   that accelerate at the end of the round.  whoo-pee.  why did they botch it
   in such a visible area?  whereas i didn't even notice the abovementioned
   ground scrolling until i had been playing a week, i criticized the
   backgrounds before i had even touched SF2 myself, merely viewed it briefly
   on machines adjacent to the pinball machine i was playing.  i admit this is
   a minor concern--who spends much time staring at the backgrounds?  not me,
   but especially since they reek.

+  the sound is perfect.  a new tune for each backdrop/opponent, doing a
   good job of adding the the game yet not dominating.  harmonious and
   haunting.  a good choice of instrumentation.  and how about the sound
   effects?  good groans, smacks, chops, hacks, whacks and shouts.  very good.

+  the fun factor rates high.  it converted me.  the longevity also rates
   high.  although i personally don't play for extended periods, i find myself
   playing many consecutive days, taking a few off and then anxiously returning
   to the fray anew.  no feelings that any significant part of the game has
   grown old, that milestones have been past and no new territory lies ahead.
   there are always new adventures to be had.
 
OVERALL RATING:  9.5 -- it's safe to buy this game outright.  if you are
reluctant because beat-em-up's aren't you bag, go ahead and rent it first.
you'll be hooked if you have the stamina to stick with it and get a few
moves down.

+--rating-scale----------------+
| <2  complete trash           |
| <4  not worth the bother     |
| <6  possible cure for ennui  |
| 6-8 merits rental            |
| >8  worthy of purchase       |
+------------------------------+--hints-&-strategies-------------------------+
don't over-use the fierce buttons.  although they can cause a high degree of
damage, they are slow to execute and leave you vulnerable in the meantime.  a
quick succession of jabs or short kicks can be highly effective.

master all the 'special moves'; without them under your belt your opponent has
the advantage.

you can play the same player vs. the sample player (in human vs. human mode) by
entering the following code before the capcom logo fades on the startup
screen: pad down, right button, pad up, left button, y, b, x, a.  a 'chime'
and blue background on the main title screen confirms correct code entry.
+----------------------------------upcoming-reviews--------------------------+
soulblazer
super mario kart
zelda ]I[
+----------------------------------reviews-on-file---------------------------+
addamsfamily.rev	contra3.rev		smartball.rev
adventureisland.rev	doubledragon.rev	smashtv.rev
axelay.rev		krustysfunhouse.rev	streetfighter2.rev
bartsnightmare.rev	rampart.rev		ultraman.rev

-- 
	       there is no religion when a man has  good curry
				       -
      tim clinkenpeel: aberrant analytical skeptical agnostic idealist.
		     -- i exclusively represent myself --
Newsgroups: rec.games.video