| Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers | |
|---|---|
 Packaging artwork | |
| Developer | Capcom |
| Publisher | Capcom |
| Director | Toshiyuki Yamamoto |
| Producer | Yoshinori Ono |
| Artists |
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| Composers |
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| Series | Street Fighter |
| Engine | MT Framework |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Release | May 26, 2017 |
| Genre | Fighting |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is a 2017fighting game developed and published byCapcom for theNintendo Switch. Released to celebrate theStreet Fighter series' 30th anniversary, it is an updated version ofSuper Street Fighter II Turbo (1994), itself an update ofStreet Fighter II (1991). The game features two graphical styles: classic pixel art and updated high-definition art. New gameplay mechanics and modes were also introduced, with minor changes being made to the game'sbalance. The game garnered mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who praised its updated visuals, but criticized its price, the Way of the Hado mode, and control problems with the Switch's includedJoy-Con controllers.
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is an updated version of the 1991fighting gameStreet Fighter II: The World Warrior.[1] Gameplay is based on theSuper Street Fighter II Turbo iteration ofStreet Fighter II, howeverUltra Street Fighter II introduces new mechanics like grapple breaks and re-tunes some aspects ofgame balance.[1]Combo timing has also been adjusted from the original games.[2]
The intro for the game is based on that ofSuper Street Fighter II, but is now intercut with excerpts of gameplay, and brief glimpses of Evil Ryu towards the end.
The game is playable in two styles on both graphic and sound settings: the "Classic" graphic mode featuring pixel art graphics of the original game which is played in 4:3 aspect ratio, with the "New Generation" graphic mode featuring the updated high definition graphics of 2008'sSuper Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix and is played in 16:9 widescreen.[3] In the classic sound style, the game uses the original arcade soundtrack and voice-acting, while in the updated new generation sound style uses newly remixed music and the characters' Japanese voices from theStreet Fighter IV series.[4] The game supports all control options on theNintendo Switch console, including play with a singleJoy-Con controller.[2]
Ultra Street Fighter II has a standard roster of nineteen characters,[4] plus one hidden character. In addition to all seventeen fighters fromSuper Turbo, two characters–Evil Ryu and Violent Ken–have been added to the game's roster.[3][5] Evil Ryu first appeared in the series in 1996'sStreet Fighter Alpha 2.[2] He is a version ofStreet Fighter protagonistRyu that has succumbed to the evil power Satsui no Hado.[3][2] Violent Ken makes his official debut in aStreet Fighter game, having previously only appeared in the crossover fighting gameSNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos.[2][6] He is a version ofKen Masters that has been brainwashed byM. Bison and makes use of Bison's Psycho Powers.[3][2] AsAkuma becomes a regular selectable fighter, his Shin Akuma form, a secret boss fromStreet Fighter Alpha 2, is also featured as a secret character only selectable in local play through the input of a code on the character select screen.[7]
| Character | Country of origin |
|---|---|
| Akuma | Japan |
| Balrog | United States |
| Blanka | Brazil |
| Cammy | England |
| Chun-Li | China |
| Dee Jay | Jamaica |
| Dhalsim | India |
| E. Honda | Japan |
| Evil Ryu | Japan |
| Fei Long | Hong Kong |
| Guile | United States |
| Ken | United States |
| M. Bison | Thailand |
| Ryu | Japan |
| Sagat | Thailand |
| Shin Akuma | Thailand |
| T. Hawk | Mexico |
| Vega | Spain |
| Violent Ken | United States |
| Zangief | Soviet Union |
The game features local and online multiplayer.[8][6] Online multiplayer includes a point-based ranking system based on a player's wins and losses.[9] A "standby" feature has been added to the game's arcade mode, which allows other online players to challenge and take the place of theCPU opponent that the player typically battles in arcade.[9] A localcooperative game mode, known in theAlpha games as "Dramatic Battle", has been added inUltra Street Fighter II now known as "Buddy Battle".[2][3][10] It allows players to team up in a two versus one fight against aCPU player.[2][3][10] Additionally the game includes a simplified one-hit knockout mode.[10]
In addition to the standard 2D gameplay, the game also includes an exclusive newStreet Fighter V/Street Fighter IV-styled first-person battle mode known as "Way Of the Hado".[11] In this mode, the player controlsRyu in a first-person perspective to defeat as many Shadaloo Soldiers as possible, while M. Bison also appears as a boss. For this mode, the player must hold the Joy-Con controller in both hands to perform attacks such as Hadouken, Shoryuken and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku in order to defeat enemies. As the player progresses throughout the game, the player can earn growth points to power up Ryu. The mode has three difficulties: Beginner, Standard and Extra. There is also a practice mode for practicing attacks, as well as an Endless mode that lets the player fight until Ryu's health bar is empty.
USFII includes a gallery mode, containing over 1400 illustrations from the art bookSF20: The Art of Street Fighter. The player can also listen to each fighter's modern or classic-styled stage music while in gallery mode.
In the Color Edit mode, the player can make their own alternate palettes for each of the 19 fighters, then use them in Arcade Mode, VS Mode and Online Battles, allowing for the storage of up to 10 custom palettes for each character.
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers was developed by Japanese video game companyCapcom.[1] The development team was composed of a mixture of old and young employees, some of whom worked on recent Capcom fighting games likeStreet Fighter V andMarvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.[1] On February 14, 2017, development of the game was 50% complete.[11]
The game was announced for the Nintendo Switch console in January 2017.[3][5] The announcement marked the beginning ofStreet Fighter's 30th anniversary celebration.[1] With the lastStreet Fighter title to release on a Nintendo system being 2011'sSuper Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition for theNintendo 3DS, Capcom saw the launch of the Nintendo Switch as an opportunity to bring a brand-new remixed version of a classicStreet Fighter game to a Nintendo console.[1] There are currently no plans to release the game on other consoles.[12]
On the decision to revisitStreet Fighter II, series producerYoshinori Ono noted that they wanted to go back to their roots.[1] Capcom chose to include two graphical styles so that the game would give old players a sense of nostalgia but still appeal to a younger audience with the updated art.[1] The game's high-definition graphics were produced byUdon Entertainment.[3] The development team did not want to overhaul the game's balance as they want the game to feel like a fighting game from the 1990s.[1] However, they felt that some questionable aspects of the game's balance should be re-tuned.[1]
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers was released on May 26, 2017.[13]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 66/100[14] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 7/10[15] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 65%[16] |
| Game Informer | 7/10[17] |
| GameRevolution |   [18] |
| IGN | 75%[19] |
| Nintendo Life | 6/10[20] |
| Polygon | 6/10[21] |
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers received a mixed reception, according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.[14] Though the updated graphics were praised, the game was criticized for charging a US$40 retail release for what is essentially an updated port of the much cheaperSuper Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix.[20][21] The "Way of the Hado" mode was also criticized for poorly implemented motion controls that are prone to confusing attack inputs for other attacks, as well as being shallow in content.[15][17][18][20][21] The game's functionality of the Joy-Con controllers was also criticized[16] with critics pointing out issues with the Joy-Con's D-Pad and analog stick controls and suggested players pay an extra $70 to get a Pro Controller.[22]IGN concluded "Despite being the most complete version ofStreet Fighter II to date, the specific additions for the occasion just do not excite us."[19]
The game reached number 8 in the UK sales chart,[23] number 3 in Japan,[24] 2 in Australia and 3 in New Zealand[25] and number 3 in Switzerland.[26] In the USAeShop the game was number 2 behindMinecraft.[27] In August 2017,The Wall Street Journal's Takashi Mochizuki reported that the game sold over 450,000 copies, selling more than what Capcom expected. Because of this, Capcom has shown more interest in selling more games on the Switch.[28] As of 2018[update], the game has crossed 500,000 sales.[29]