Street Fighter II shoryukens XBLA Wednesdays
by Christopher Grant 
{ Aug 2nd 2006 at 9:30AM }
Here it is, folks. The one XBLA game we've all been waiting for. Originally unveiled at CES last January, the nearly eight-month wait has been a true test of patience. Lesser gamers blew all their MS loot on puzzler after puzzler, hoping to break The Hunger. Now they sit there, in a jewel/gem/crystal-induced catatonic state, unaware of the day's significance. Street Fighter II is here and you can grab your 800 earmarked MS Points (that's ten of your Earth "dollars") and download the ~50MB arcade classic before venturing online and having a 14 year-old who's never even heard of Street Fighter the game ("the movie was hella great though") embarrass you terribly, sending you back to the warm embrace of the Joystiq comments page.
There, there Joystiq reader. It'll be okay. You'll get the hang of that d-pad in no time, and then it'll be you making them your "bitch." Feel better?
[Thanks to all you Street Fighters for the tips!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
plastictrees @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:35AM
I love this game.
LordAlu @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:38AM
I must admit, having spent some time playing this, the d-pad is absolutely terrible. As soon as someone creates a proper Saturn->360 joypad adapter i'm buying one just for this.
I could have sword the arcade cabinet wasn't this difficult either... although it could just be my Streetfighter skills have dwindeled somewhat since the last iteration I played two years ago :p
Still, it's more than worth the 800 points... getting that "Complete the game on the maximum (7 stars) difficulty" achievement is gonna be a doozy!
devi8i @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:42AM
MS, please please release a wireless pad with a good D-pad and 6 buttons on top arranged in 2 lines....PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
logikil @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:42AM
Man i hate Ken....hehe. Glad to have this game in the Arcade. Now onto UMK3.
docLEXfisti @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:45AM
I also find it harder . ... without a doubt not the original difficulty
JesusXP @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:49AM
Why complain about the D-Pad, everyone knows you just mash the buttons to win :P
FlamingMoe @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:54AM
Too bad Nintendo still has exclusive rights to their superior D-pad. Since Live is the perfect platform for this game, it's a shame the experience is lessened by a 20 year old copyright. Isn't there a SNES controller/USB converter shouth?
FlamingMoe @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:55AM
"though"...
Todd H. @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:56AM
Can someone report how this game looks in HD? Any improvments and does it display in Widescreen?
Thanks!
Todd
http://www.proxbox360.com
Lord Meph @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:59AM
Finally! The best fighter evaaaar is back, and in a form that allows the game to be played the way it was meant to be played - multiplayer, and against an ever-changing variety of opponents online.
I shoulda called in sick but now I gotta sit here at work and wait 8 long hours until I can check it out.
Oh well. Mark my words, it wont be long before I am at or near the top of the leaderboard with a 'hiphipwhirlykick' to the gut and an 'awwwwwyoubitch' to the head!
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:01AM
No, I don't feel any better. Texas Hold'Em still not there. Give me poker or give me death!
Jay @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:04AM
No, it's not in widescreen -- it sets up in proper perspective in a small box in the middle of the screen. The graphics are exactly the same ... just no flickering or anything.
Also, maybe it's something you can learn, but I'm not a big fan of how it controls ... I'm a huge Street Fighter fan -- and, the 360 controller isn't cutting it.
Anyone else not like the response?
Gabriel Asseily @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:05AM
Curses. My skills of jump kick are no longer what they used to be!
No point button mashing. Does not work in SF2. If only they had opted for Street Fighter 2 with the extra characters and costume colours. Nice to go back in time but it was cool having the full extra cast as well!
Oh well! Fun indeed and bring back MK as well as Killer Instinct please!
Martin @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:06AM
There hasn't been a proper fighting game controller since the SNES pad. Unless it's for Soul Caliber or Tekken, then current-gen controlers are okay.
And yes they have a SNES to USB adapter, called the Playjoy or some such. Check lik-sang.
Matt @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:08AM
I'm not really a fighter fan, but even I can see how it might be more difficult. The Xbox 360's D-Pad is truely terrible... very flimsy and inaccurate on every system I've used.
Jay @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:08AM
The best control pad for fighting games EVER was the Saturn controller! By far ... I imported all the Vs. games for the Saturn just because of that. I actually got the PS2 Saturn controller for that reason too :) If you play 2D fighters on your PS2 at all, I highly recommend you get that if you don't have a joystick.
T-Bag @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:10AM
$10, I think not. By the way if you want to play vs mode but you only have the trial just go to arcade mode and have someone with a second controller press start at the character select screen.
Micro$oft, please your fans. Not just a few consumer whores with the extra money to afford these games.
yarsrvenge @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:13AM
Have you guys tried the DOA4 joystick?
greg @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:16AM
saturn pad is the greatest 2D control pad of all time, and this is coming from a nintendo fan boy.
copa @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:19AM
How is the network lag?
KR @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:19AM
Martin: "There hasn't been a proper fighting game controller since the SNES pad. Unless it's for Soul Caliber or Tekken, then current-gen controlers are okay."
The Saturn controller takes the SNES pad, bends it over, kicks it in the ass, and throws it off a five-story balcony. This is a fact, not an opinion, so please don't bother trying to argue it.
devi8i @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:22AM
Guess I have to buy a $60 joypad to play a $10 game lol
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4082093&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.HOO+DOA4-STICK
Thomas Crymes @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:23AM
Wasn't there a 6 button stick released for the 360 along with DOA back in December? Maybe only in Japan?
I don't play fighthing games, but if I did I'd want a stick with all six buttons in front of me. This D-Pad nonsense is a sham.
Of course it is completely illogical for a company to produce a single controller for one game or a handful of games. How could they hope to turn a profit.
Now I'm waiting for people to start complaining about lag, expecting Capcom to somehow alter space and time to eliminate lag. It is why games that require instant reaction are still difficult to play on the net and why Sega won't even make Virtua Fighter multiplayer over the internet (if I remember correctly).
Marty @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:26AM
Crap!! Another Martin. No wonder people are always calling me a retard and telling me I need to get laid. They must be talking about 0 star Martin instead of me 2 Star Martin.... I must officially change my name now!
RyanV @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:26AM
I'm definitely excited that this one finally dropped, but i am with you guys - i'm not looking forward to playing it with the terrible MS D-Pad. I never really noticed how bad it was till i started playing Live Arcade games... and it is very unfortunate because i like everything else about the 360 controller
KingOfGods @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:27AM
The game can be in widescreen if you want it to be.....I sometimes play on a 20.1" widescreen PC monitor and I was able to adjust the screen size and position in the menu to fit the entire screen.
I found the d-pad almost perfect for offline play but had (very) few problems with it online.....nothing I can't get better at over time
akil @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:29AM
you can make the game stretch to your whole screen under the options.
i played some this morning it was pretty sluggish at times on live. (plyaed like 6 quater matches), the quarter matches seem pretty cool that you get to watch the match before you if you join before it starts...
nootau @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:29AM
I dont feel bad now. I was playing DOA4 (i recently got my 360) and the D-pad is HORRIBLE! I dont remember the original Xbox D-pad being this bad. At first I thought i just sucked because i had not played DOA in awhile, but then i realized the D-pad was being totally crazy. Its very obvious when you go to the training mode in DOA, you'll press back and it'll register as down-back or some crap. I guess i'll have to get use to it (its also noticable on GRAW when dealing with teammates and vehicles). I own the Street Fighter anniversary (or anthology?) edition for the xbox with all the street fighter games (SF2, SF3, etc). So i may not buy this one for another $10 bucks...But street fighter is awesome
Geist @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:38AM
Damnit. Fanboys aren't doing their work today.
*ahem*
OMGZ IT IS TEH SUXX SO MUCH BETTER ON SNES THE SUX-BOX IS TEH POO.
pete @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:38AM
Lag is horrible.
Not at all in the studder way - it's actually silky smooth.
The real problem is timing. I feel there is a 1/10 of a second delay betwen input and execution, and it's ruining it for me.
Btw, I'm wired on a 20/2 connection.
copa @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:39AM
Forum posters are reporting that you can quit out of a ranked match with impunity. Eight months of QA and nobody noticed this?
This makes competitive online play completely useless, as the leaderboards will be dominated by griefers.
MosquitoControl @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:45AM
The dpad definitely blows. As mentioned, it sucked in DOA4. However, I found myself getting used to it in Oblivion. Oddly, my roommates claimed they never had issues with it in Oblivion, which is weird, because I certainly saw them having difficulty selecting the right hotkey...
J.Goodwin @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:51AM
I would recommend AGAINST the Hori stick. It's not very good either.
I'm thinking about doing this:
http://www.gamersreports.com/article/24/
Pal @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:51AM
True World Warriors train themselves to overcome any shortcomings!
Will @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:57AM
Saturn Controller for the XB360:
http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000540073801/
dish @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:59AM
@20
that thing is 1773
StratTastic @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:03AM
I use the Haori DOA4 joystick and it works great. It was $39.99 at EB. Also, works great with Galaga, Frogger, Robotron, (I'll assume Pac-Man) and most of the other retro XBLA games.
devi8i @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:09AM
Thanks for the heads up on the stick J.Goodwin. I was about to drop $120 and pick up two of em..... guess I will just wait around a while for someone to release a good pad for 2d fighting games for the ol 360. Has anyone had any experience with any other 3rd party pads for the 360? Do any of them have better dpads???? Any help would be appreciated.
dl @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:09AM
6-button Genesis/Saturn controller are the best for all 2D fighting games, period. SNES, Dreamcast, PS1,2,3, XBOX/X360, GCube/Wii controllers are terrible.
sambo @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:12AM
Man this is hard. I think we have all gottem spoiled on our "25 hit super combos" and forgotten the basics.
Bodie @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:20AM
"30. Forum posters are reporting that you can quit out of a ranked match with impunity. Eight months of QA and nobody noticed this?
This makes competitive online play completely useless, as the leaderboards will be dominated by griefers."
That's what the feedback system is for. There is a specific category for "quit early" when reporting someone. Enough of those and they wont be griefing for long.
Matthew Titus @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:32AM
I woke up early this morning and played against a friend online.
This game rocks. I played it on the SNES just this past weekend, and the XBLA version blows it out of the water.
Now, if they just fix the D-Pad (I heard the madcatz controllers are awesome for it) I'd be straight :).
I've experienced NO LAG, until a guy from Austraila decided to play with us and it was hella slow...
other than that...all is well.
Woody @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:36AM
The Sega Genesis had a 6 Button Controller. I bought it specifically for Street Fighter when it came out for the Genesis. Non of my friends would play me, because they only had the 3 button controller.
SuicideNinja @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:38AM
"Too bad Nintendo still has exclusive rights to their superior D-pad."
As a person who dislikes Sony, I can say that the only redeeming quality of the Dualshock controller is the d-pad. I found it way better than Nintendo's offerings...in ANY of their consoles or portables. Even the original Xbox's controller had a better dpad than the Gamecube, although not much better.
I knew the 360 d-pad was going to suck when SF2 came out. But someone mentioned the Hori DOA4 Joystick works...that's very good since I have one. ;)
I'll have to ramp up the skills again, and it will be good to finally have fresh competition at this game...it's been so long.
copa @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:41AM
"There is a specific category for "quit early" when reporting someone. Enough of those and they wont be griefing for long."
LOL! Quit Early is not a bannable offense. If they get an insanely high number of Quit Early responses (most frustrated gamers won't bother with the feedback), they might lose a precious half-star in their online rating. I'm sure those griefers are shaking in their boots!
The only positive to the feedback system is that when a roach quits early, I can avoid being matched up with him again. There's really no benefit, however, when the ranked matches are festering with thousands and thousands of roaches.
After all of the wait and the build-up, ranked play is unusable. We will have to wait two more weeks for the patch and the leaderboard reset.
qbix @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:49AM
There's a way to improve the responsiveness of the 360 D-Pad:
http://www.ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/360dpadfix/360dpadfix.htm
forensick @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:50AM
ROFL at the guy who said he plays Robotron with the Hori stick. You do know you can also shoot in that game right?
I had a horrible time with the game last night. Right now, I'm chalking it up to it being 3:30am when I tried. None of the online features were working. I was 0-0 after five matches, I would set up a private slot but not have the option to invite any friends, noticable button lag, and could connect to exactly zero matches unless I set them up.
The Hori stick also continuously did that crap where I'd jump straight up instead of backwards. Again, I'm hoping it was just the 3:30 thing.
qbix @ Aug 2nd 2006 12:03PM
Actually, there's a better way of taking the controller apart (link below). Also, you don't need to use sand paper if you have a thin enough bit for your dremel tool.
http://tinyurl.com/e9dsd
Salamande @ Aug 2nd 2006 12:15PM
23. Of course it is completely illogical for a company to produce a single controller for one game or a handful of games. How could they hope to turn a profit.
O rly? Wouldn't be the first time Capcom's done it.
http://www.capcom.com/SB/
Binkley @ Aug 2nd 2006 12:16PM
The Hori stick is an OK solution, I agree it could be better but it's the best you'll get w/o hacking together your own or buying an adapter. It's also on sale at GS/EB Games everywhere, I think at the shop near me it's on Clearence at like $30 or so. I guess no one around here plays fighting games.