Out of all the games out this holiday season, this is what I’ve been pouring most of my hours into.  It’s gotten to the point in which other epics, like Fallout 3 and Little Big Planet, are simply neglected and collecting dust.  There’s something about the original Street Fighter II formula that makes it so fun and addicting.  Capcom must have an entire division that is solely dedicated to appeal to our nostalgic appetites.  These re-releases are certainly easy money for Capcom, but at least they know how to do them right.

HD Remix is the same game from 14 years ago except with a major face lift.  The original fighting game engine are still intact while all of the graphics have been redone with gorgeous high resolution sprites.  Udon Comics has done an extraordinary job recreating the characters in beautiful Hi Def.  The once pixelated and blocky textures are now smooth and extremely detailed.  Nothing is left to the imagination anymore since all of the character models are finely illustrated with minute detail.  There is an option to play the game with the classic visuals, but it’s definitely an eye sore to view those outdated graphics on the HD screen.

Although the detail in the character models and backgrounds are superb, the animation department is not up to par.  Because Capcom wanted to keep the core mechanics of the original game, all of the animation frame counts have been preserved.  Unfortunately, this results with every move looking jerky and abrupt when performed.  With the low resolution sprites, this problem was not nearly as noticeable in the original game.  But the upgraded visuals expose holes in the animation that doesn’t look as smooth as it should be.

The multiplayer online aspect is simply stunning.  Capcom made a very wise choice getting the GGPO.net guys onboard with this game.  The lag is almost nonexistent, and is a HUGE improvement over the abismal Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting from 2 years ago.  It’s almost like playing with a buddy next to you.  Although the online performance is done very well, the multiplayer navigation is not.  Take for instance the “Quick Match” option.  Theoretically, if you wanted to find a match with a minimal amount of effort, the “Quick Match” option should find an open match automatically.  But even to this day, the “Quick Match” feature has not worked for me at all.  Even the “Find a Match” feature is cumbersome as it often results with the session being full as soon as you join in.  The only way to play online efficiently is to simply create a session yourself.

This game is heavily catered to the more experienced Street Fighter.  Despite adding a “How to Play” section, along with easier executed special moves, there is still a steep learning curve you must overcome if you want to have a fun online experience.  Since this is a remake of a 14 year old game, you’ll most likely be put up against people who already mastered this game years ago.  Don’t expect it to be like Halo since it will not match you up with someone on your same level.  However, don’t let the high learning curve discourage you from trying either.  You can always build your skill by engaging the single player and practice modes before embarking into the online arena.  Currently, my record is not so impressive at 62-76, but I’m still having tons of fun.  If you’re going to invest your time into a fighting game, this one is not a bad choice.

So is it worth the $14.99?  For the Street Fighter fans out there, it’s really a no brainer.  Just don’t expect it to be revolutionary as it was back in the 90s.  But I would pass if you’re not in the least bit interested in fighting games.  It’s just too bad that this game wasn’t released last year.  With the upcoming release of Street Fighter IV this February, this title will most likely get eclipsed.

Sleepy gamer says … BUY IT!

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