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 Has it really been 15 years since I first popped a quarter into the machine that would redefine fighting games and in essence an entire industry? The masterpiece that “shoryukened” competitors left and right to always come out on top is here along with a much-respected newer entry. For those who have been craving a complete version of the Street Fighter legacy, or for those who simply want to experience it for the first time, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection is a must buy.
Many of us witnessed first-hand the arcade fighter that showed us there was much more to the arcade experience than pinball, platformers, racing, and gun games. Street Fighter 2 taught us all (and is still teaching us!) how to perform forward, down, forward; charge; tiger knee; or the infamous 360-degree and 720-degree motions. It taught us how to play footsies, to be patient, and to spam those fireballs!
This oft-revised legacy has culminated in Hyper Street Fighter II, a potpourri of unquestionable goodness for the Xbox. And if that isn’t enough, Capcom hits us with the two-hit combo, offering up Street Fighter III: Third Strike as well, in what is no less than the best deal you are going to find this winter and perhaps all year. Why pick this version over the PS2 one? For two reasons—online play and 480p (VGA/HDTV) support.
ROUND 1
Prior to this release, Street Fighter fans looked to the import Dreamcast to get their fix—Super Street Fighter II Turbo. The Dreamcast version is still the one of choice for many tournaments, but on a technical level, it can’t compare to the latest release of this classic in graphics, options, or arcade accuracy.
 It is reported that the DC version on Turbo 3 (the arcade speed that the game should be run at) is a bit different than the arcade counterpart. Thankfully, the Xbox and PS2 ports of Hyper Fighting have more accurate Turbo 3 speeds. Another issue was the filtering method used in the DC version that washed out the graphics and softened the image incorrectly (Vampire Chronicles and Third Strike also have this problem). Not a major concern, but one that Capcom thankfully addressed and corrected.
Capcom brings us a brilliant looking version of Hyper Fighting for the Xbox, with vibrant and more accurate colors and a sharp picture that looks fantastic even on VGA or HDTV (considering the game is low-res).
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