Street Fighter II coming to Virtual Console?

by Blake Snow { Dec 12th 2006 at 7:45PM }

1UP speculates that Street Fighter II is coming to a Virtual Console near you, this according to a recent ESRB rating approval of Street Fighter II: The World Warrior for Wii. Does this mean the game will hit the Virtual Console? Not necessarily, but it's unlikely Capcom would release a single game compilation specific to Wii. The ESRB's database also includes Kirby's Adventure, Kid Icarus, PilotWings and Punch-Out for Wii with no release dates accompanying the approved ratings.

If true, the expected $8 emulated Wii port wouldn't support online play, widescreen, or any new game modes, all of which Street Fighter II': Hyper Fighting on Xbox Live Arcade does for only $2 more ($10). So which is better; a "purist" $8 version on Wii, or the added meat and potatoes one for $10 on XLA?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

PC @ Dec 12th 2006 7:52PM

Wii all the way. I can't pull off one dragon uppercut with that damn 360 Controller.

matt @ Dec 12th 2006 7:53PM

Once you get used to the quicker pace, extra characters and more balanced gameplay you can't go back to World Warrior from Hyper Fighting. I'd rather not play it again (I mastered the game with every character) than play a less-evolved version.

Lame.

Pete @ Dec 12th 2006 9:27PM

Yeah I'm really frustrated with the 360's controller as well. The D-pad sucks sooo bad.

NintendoFanbot @ Dec 12th 2006 7:56PM

ANYTHING but Hyper Anniversary, or hopefully an upgraded version.

My problems with HA:
-Characters unbalanced
(I can beat the game with Original-II Guile but not with Hyper Ryu?)

-Bonus Rounds are Missing
-Enemy AI unbalanced
'nuff said

Though I'd buy them on a disc and have additional programming and stuff, like Anniversary Collection.

I'll pay $50 for an Anniversary Collection+Alpha Collection Bundle! And $30 more for a Marvel VS. Series Collection!!!

PLEASE bring SF3 3rd Strike to Wii, Capcom! Nintendo made a better traditional controller this time!

PS and maybe Online kplsthx

Fozziebear53 @ Dec 12th 2006 8:02PM

Why not? It's already readily available to download on the Japanese Virtual Console Service.

Neil @ Dec 12th 2006 8:02PM

It'll probably be the Super NES version.

CoolPoochie @ Dec 12th 2006 7:57PM

word, i'm all about street fighter.
Down, R, Up, L, Y, B!

FSK405K @ Dec 12th 2006 8:13PM

Which version? If I buy it depends on which it is: original, Tournament Edition, Turbo, Super, etc.

SuMtOnE @ Dec 12th 2006 8:11PM

If only its online...with ps3, xbox360 and wii where they can all challenge each other... dang it would be amazing...

Howard Moon @ Dec 12th 2006 8:16PM

The absence of online will be the death of the Wii. Without online the interest will fade quickly, at least for me...and I love the damn thing! I mean a lot. However, I remember when I opened my 360 the joy of finding a fully operational online service, downloading demos, and communication! Why Wii? Why!?!

I would say that $2 is worth it.

Bob @ Dec 12th 2006 8:18PM

Don't you have to pay a subscription fee on top of paying for the games on XLA?

livefromphiladelphia @ Dec 12th 2006 8:19PM

Last time I tried the 360 version, it was kinda laggy. If they didn't fix it, I'd go for the cheaper one.

T-Man @ Dec 12th 2006 8:23PM

Hows about getting some games I haven't bought 20 times on the VC? Old games are nice and all, but when that is all there is, it sucks. Especially when there could be so much more. I suggest everyone who wants unreleased japanese games from days past to see VC write nintendo a letter stating so. I also am refraining from VC purchase until I can buy a game on the VC that has never seen a NA release.

Interstate78 @ Dec 12th 2006 8:48PM

It's very difficult for me to understand why anybody would like the crappy snes version when they could get the arcade version with online play and hd support for 2$ extra.

You guys are silly.

eM @ Dec 12th 2006 8:39PM

"a 'purist' $8 version on Wii"

The SNES SF ports were substandard; it would be hard for any of them to satisfy a "purist". It wasn't until the Dreamcast that we saw a good port (SSF2X, and online at that).

uglyteeth @ Dec 13th 2006 1:07AM

I agree with t-man, I want new content. I've played and beat all these games numerous times already. I think the vc is great for people who never owned a snes or genesis. But for me, games are like movies or books. I can only beat, watch, or read one so many times before I'm done with it. Take street fighter, I played that game to death on the snes. I don't want to play it anymore, especially with no online. But of course, this is just my opinion.

Seroth @ Dec 12th 2006 9:06PM

Some people might own Wiis and not a 360, so they have no choice but to get the SNES game on the VC.

Me, I don't have a 360, but I'm not getting Street Fighter II for the SNES VC. Now, Street Fighter II: TURBO...maybe.

is @ Dec 13th 2006 6:50AM

Yeah interstate - cept its not 2 bucks extra is it? Its that plus a 360 plus a live subsription.

I take the point tho, its annoying that VC hasnt got online retro gaming. Im pretty sure it will do in the near future however. Wiloll be interesting to see how they are implememted

mkoracer @ Dec 14th 2006 1:26PM

EXACTLY #13 eM, The XBLA is based on the Arcade version and the VC will be based on the SNES version, which was a good translation when it came out, but shoot... same with Donkey Kong being the NES version and not Arcade... c'mon Nintendo, don't sell us emulated ports! I'm pretty sure it's the original SFII, and we will see ESRB approvals come down the pike for every iteration on the SNES.

I wish they would release the NES version of SFII that briefly appeared in Asia somewhere. It could have been a hack, but I remember reading about it in VG&CE around when the TurboExpress was coming out.

Josh @ Dec 12th 2006 9:18PM

"Don't you have to pay a subscription fee on top of paying for the games on XLA?"

No. You can download and buy games with a silver XLA account, which is free.

GJM @ Dec 12th 2006 9:03PM

"It wasn't until the Dreamcast that we saw a good port (SSF2X, and online at that)."

Nope, the Saturn had great ports well before the Dreamcast and SFA3 with the RAM cart is considered a better port than the Dremacast version!

"Wii all the way. I can't pull off one dragon uppercut with that damn 360 Controller."

You need to buy an extra controller to play this on the VC so why would you use the crappy 360 dpad and not buy the DOA4 Hori Stick?

Blazur @ Dec 12th 2006 9:00PM

Hell...yeah. I'd pay for SF2. This was the game I bought a SNES for way back in the day. I used to watch people play it all the time in the arcades. I'd walk through a mall and all I could hear was Blanka's yell and "Hadoken!"

emmzee @ Dec 12th 2006 9:41PM

Although it may horrify purists of the arcade game, people like me, who played the majority of their SF on the SNES, would actually prefer the SNES version, since it's what I played most often growing up.

superberg @ Dec 12th 2006 9:15PM

"You need to buy an extra controller to play this on the VC so why would you use the crappy 360 dpad and not buy the DOA4 Hori Stick?"

I don't know, maybe because it's not $100 on ebay? Good luck finding one elsewhere without paying hella crazy amounts for shipping, too.

Dracula Jones @ Dec 12th 2006 9:15PM

"Don't you have to pay a subscription fee on top of paying for the games on XLA?"

No. The only thing you REALLY need a Gold subscription for is online multiplayer.

XBLA SFII burned me out on the entire franchise. It was too difficult, even apart from the controller issues. I understand it was a straight arcade port, but it's not like they need to get more quarters out of us on a home console, so why does Ken destroy me on the easiest difficulty level unless I'm super-cheap?

I'd've been interested in a VC port of the SNES version, but unfortunately, having already spent $10 on a more robust-featured version of the game for XBLA (in spite of the complete letdown of the actual gameplay), I can't justify spending another 8 bucks on Street Fighter II. Anybody else feel the same?

FSK405K @ Dec 12th 2006 9:59PM

You ought to be able to use the Gamecube controller, which has seven buttons, so ignore the "plugs into your Wiimote, those moron designers" Classic Controller.

azesino @ Dec 12th 2006 9:48PM

"a 'purist' $8 version on Wii"

The snes version never touched the arcade or the genesis as a matter of fact.it wasnt bad but not up to par with those 2.

BrotherEstapol @ Dec 12th 2006 10:08PM

Welcome to last month.

This was rated by the Aussie equivelent of the ESRB(the OFLC) last month.

http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/index.php?v=news&p=7780

Old news...stay on the ball Joystiq! :P

LuigiHann @ Dec 12th 2006 10:47PM

Once again, I have access to like a million versions of Street Fighter and its sequels through gametap.

I don't have a point, I'm just bragging.

whosmav @ Dec 12th 2006 11:00PM

Would I rather have widescreen & an arcade perfect version? ehn, maybe. Will I get it on the Wii anyway? yeah

joe smith @ Dec 13th 2006 12:08AM

I played all these old games when they were new. Why would I pay to do it again? at least on XBLA you get SOME new features.

Antonio @ Dec 13th 2006 12:48AM

I really think Nintendo shouldn't even bother releasing competitive two player games if they aren't going to include online play. You can play the first three iterations of SFII (plus Final Fight) with Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1 for $20 on Xbox or PS2 and all four of those are a hell of a lot closer to their arcade counterparts than the equivalent SNES versions (where applicable).

bubbacrosbysucks @ Dec 13th 2006 3:14AM

this is how it should be at current prices:
Have both original version and 'updated feature' edition (online, new levels, and other easter eggs, with or without graphical enhancement) for one payment.

And even then I'd only buy never-released oversea titles, any GameBoy/VirtualBoy game, and every badass Sega arcade experience. For some reason, the VC games aren't cool enough to take up my space and bills.

D-Town @ Dec 13th 2006 9:51AM

I guess many of you miss out on Nintendo's business perspective on the Virtual Console. It's not to offer games that never made it to your region, but to make old titles available to gamers who want to play them again.

So primarily it's not a Live Arcade service, but a (pricey) memory lane service. A lot of you people would sleep easier if you brought your desires in sync with reality. It might save you 250 dollars to boot!

Richard @ Dec 13th 2006 5:04AM

Hi, Additional features can be added to virtual console games at any time! All one has to do is access an update button on the games download page (when and if available)! It is fee to update games you have already downloaded! This is stated in the Wii shop guide accessed via the Wii shop.

James @ Dec 13th 2006 8:33AM

I had both SFII and the Championship version for SNES back in the day -- the first one was worthless compared to the second. I can't believe they would bother with what should have been SFII Beta 1...

Greg @ Dec 13th 2006 8:48AM

I agree that online play is a draw, but the online play for SFIIHF on XBLA was laggy as hell (has this actually been fixed yet?). And besides, I've had INFINITELY more fun playing SF with real friends in the same room as me than I've had playing against PwNzR8n6HIMRulz on XBL- and this is what the Wii was designed for- playing with your friends.

I just think it's strange that only older version of SFII are getting released on the various download services- what about the Alpha games or III? And let's not forget the Vs. series.

VampireHunter Z @ Dec 13th 2006 11:48AM

Live is the deal breaker here. You can still play on the same console with your friends like on VC anyway if you don't care about Live. Seriously, who are you going to play against if there is no online? The same 2 people?

The 360 controller is definitely a challenge but I've played a lot of people who seems to pull off their moves flawlessly. Quarter Matches can be laggy but if you switch to Traditional mode you can get smooth connections as if you were playing on the same console.

Nintendo is reselling the games bare bones like when it was released. At least XBLA adds online play, a leader board and a couple extra modes for your $$.

ackmondual @ Dec 13th 2006 1:31PM

@ #12
""Hows about getting some games I haven't bought 20 times on the VC? Old games are nice and all, but when that is all there is, it sucks. Especially when there could be so much more. I suggest everyone who wants unreleased japanese games from days past to see VC write nintendo a letter stating so. I also am refraining from VC purchase until I can buy a game on the VC that has never seen a NA release.""

@ #37
""I guess many of you miss out on Nintendo's business perspective on the Virtual Console. It's not to offer games that never made it to your region, but to make old titles available to gamers who want to play them again.""

I would like to see non-NA releases being relased here
as well, but I doubt it. This was covered in another discussion. Those games were never released in NA for many reasons, the least being they were never translated to english. Stuff like licensing the game to regions and what Nin/3rd parties wanted was, and may still be the hurdle.

D-Town @ Dec 13th 2006 4:51PM

@38
See, this I don't understand. Nintendo said from the start that Virtual Console will primarily be a retro service and that future online additions might be in the cards. That's all. Seems most people can't really listen, demanding online facilities like dead babies, usually in combination with 'fuck you Nintendo'.

Nintendo never promised you a rose garden, okay? If you like the principle of XBLA better, well, then go play THAT! If you don't want unadulterated retro games then don't mind Virtual Console. It's that simple, really.

Meevious @ Dec 23rd 2006 6:55AM

I'd get the Wii version over the box version any day, simply because my money would be going towards the next zelda game instead of age of empires four. I think playing street fighter with friends in the same room is much more enjoyable anyway. I am disappointed that it is World Warrior that is coming to the VC though, as imho Alpha II was a much better game and having one make of Street Fighter II on the VC greatly decreases the chances of another being put up in the next few years..