Street Fighter II goin' all-out on 360's Live Arcade

Thanks to a few choice words delivered from Peter Moore at CES the other day, we all know that Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting will be making its way to the Xbox 360's Live Arcade "in early 2006." What we didn't know was the extent to which the coin-op classic would be emulating its arcade roots in the process.

The "Quarter Match" system will follow up on the Live-lobby efforts of original-Xbox title Dead or Alive Ultimate, staging a spectator mode where interested parties can "use a 'virtual quarter' to 'buy into' heated two player matches," and to check out potential friends and rivals alike. What really has SF aficionados stoked, however, is the free "feature-limited" demo planned for download on Live, which will allow players to try out "two playable characters for one match" -- just the thing to lure 6-button fighting fans back into the fold. (Ken or Ryu vs. Chun-Li, anyone?)

Street Fighter Anniversary Collection added online play, while Capcom Classics Collection restored Hyper gameplay balance and backgrounds (two titles notably still absent from the official 360 BC list), but this latest iteration on Live puts the best elements all together, and sounds like the "next-gen" arcade experience (albeit on a console) that Capcom fighting fans have long been waiting for. Running from the hard drive can only help with load times and disappearing-sound issues. If they can solve any all-too-current-gen issues with lag online, there oughtta be a remarkably potent old-school alternative to the newest 3D fight fests being offered on Microsoft's latest machine.

The rest of the announced features are detailed on Capcom's official site, but the Live Arcade manager quoted seemed to put it best: "Offering this flagship title in Xbox Live Arcade... is the answer to many gamers' dreams, including mine." So how long until Konami and Sega's beat-em-ups join the fray? Whether on one or all the next-gen consoles, we wanna see more of the old (and good) stuff. Here's to a refreshing first step... 'cuz it's about time. Fight!

[Thanks, Justin Nolan & JamesO]

Reader Comments (14)

This is nothing like the Revolution, because these are classic MULTIplayer games coming out. The whole point isn't playing SF2 on your console, but being able to be matched up against real players, and having a leaderboard, and real competition. That is the real Live experience.

Hows that going to work for Zelda or Metriod? Who beat the game in the shortest time?

Mike- you are stupid, xbox live DOES give you a free game with live arcade, its called HEXIC! And just because you are a cheap ass gamer that wont pay a few dollars for a game you just admitted was a classic, thats your problem! People like you are the same type that buy non-American made cars because they "last longer" or are "cheaper" but end up dead after a car accident because your "cheapness" couldn't buy safety, as in Cadillac or Lincoln!

WHen the hell is this ish coming out....capcom smokes waaay to much weed dayum!!!!!!!They are really dragging their feet with this

damn, now I have to go get a 360. that and a 1080p hdtv, classic gaming never looked sooo good.

Cool. My roommates and I are setting up a SF2:Turbo tournament starting next week. Seems like more people around my university are more excited about classic SNES games than XBOX (minus Halo).

With LIVE Arcade's success, I can't believe that Nintendo's classic backlog will be anything but spectacular, provided that it's implemented correctly.

Let's see some old Genesis games please. Streets of Rage co-op on Live!

I think Live arcade is going to take the revolution and smash it's concept to bits. Honestly I'd rather play an arcade perfect port than some Nintendo'ized game. SFII at the time was good, but it wasn't arcade pefect. Unless they have gotten on board with the actually arcade game makers themselves, there won't be any reason to purchase an "arcade" port on the revolution, the games they made weren't even close to what the arcades offered, aside from SFII, Mortal Kombat anyone? No blood? COME ON! I'd rather have it on my 360! It sounds like the 360 is ready to battle with both machines more and more everyday. The addition of HD-DVD, Live Arcade, downloadable demos, entertainment system integration, great games....It's great to be a 360 owner.

Tiremfej,

I think Nintendo is going to release it's back catalog of Nintendo developed games. That wouldn't include SFII anyway.

Basically you'll be seeing classic Mario, Zelda, and Metroid titles. Although I did here something about SEGA being part of Revolution's catalog as well, so maybe you'll see some old Sonic games too.

Not to be negative, because I love both classic games and XBOX Live. But it seems that the excitement only reflects the growing stagnation with current gaming. I think to myself, I and other gamers are excited by the XBOX Live and the new Nintendo Console because of their ability to play classic games?

I think the reason everyone is so excited about classic gaming is not due to a "stagnation" of current gaming, though I do think the sequels are getting out-of-hand, but rather the nostalgia factor. Think about it, is anyone excited to play the NES, SNES or arcade games that weren�t hits? No. I want to play the games I grew up with, without having to scrounge around for the actual console. It�ll be great to be able to play the original Mario Bros. or Duck Hunt without blowing on a ton of cartridges. In terms of arcade favorites, it�s fantastic to be able to play the game, within your own home, that cost you 20 pounds (weight) in quarters a decade ago.

No, classic gaming is not due to a lack of great new games, and playing old games will certainly not REPLACE playing new games, but many people, myself included, will be ecstatic to have easy access to so many favorite games from years past. And, if the games are priced right, those companies that release the right classic games will be raking in the cash. It�s the same reason why Disney restricts the availability of 70-year-old animated movies, then re-releases them for the same $20 or $25 they charged last go round.

P.S. Joystiq, you have to fix these comments sections. I've been wanting to post for over an hour, and no matter what browser I open the page in or how many times I refresh it, I still cannot get a comments box. I know others have had the same problems. Engadget's works, despite having the same "upgrade".

I thought revolutions back catalog was going to be free?

Nintendo has offered plenty of free ports in the past (gamecube had ports of zelda 1, 2, ocorina of time and majoras mask and they were givin out free.)

I currently do not own any not free content off xbox live arcade. I just cant bring myself to pay for these old games (even ones as fun as street fighter). Sure street fighter 2 was classic back in the days, but if I really wanted to play it again, I would just turn on my SNES (which IS hooked up through a switchbox along with all my older consoles)

I think Live games should be free, or at least microsoft should give you 1 or 2 free lives games with every 360 game purchase.

Why would something be free if it's a lucrative market? I think I read somewhere that the Nintendo Console downloads won't be free, but they'll be cheap (think $1-5 for NES and SNES, $5-10 for N64).

IIRC, those ports were all offered as a bonus for preordering a game (I got OoT on GC for preordering LoZ:WW, the others where on a bonus disk with the preordering of Four Swords, right?). Not exactly free if you have to buy another product to get it.

And as far as hooking up the console, most of us don�t have that option. I luckily still have my SNES, but most of my games got lost or sold in a garage sale. I want my games back! ;)

"What really has SF aficionados stoked, however, is the free "feature-limited" demo planned for download on Live, which will allow players to try out "two playable characters for one match" -- just the thing to lure 6-button fighting fans back into the fold. (Ken or Ryu vs. Chun-Li, anyone?)"

-Actually, I don't think anyone would be too 'stoked' about that. That's a pretty cheesy demo. I think what people are going to be stoked about is playing Street Fighter online on the cheap.

"I think what people are going to be stoked about is playing Street Fighter online on the cheap."

My point exactly (though I didn't want anyone to have any illusions about what the free demo entailed). Hopefully, the feature-limited version will include Live head-to-head play "on the cheap," too, which wouldn't be that bad even with just two characters for one match at a time. (I know I'd surely appreciate it.)

Street Fighter II goin' all-out on 360's Live Arcade

Reader Comments (14)

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Posted: Jan 7th 2006 1:43AM (Unverified) said

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