Street Fighter II (Super NES)
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Arguably the biggest third-party exclusive of the 16-bit era, Street Fighter II did to the Super NES what Final Fantasy VII would later do for the PlayStation. Not only was it the biggest arcade game around, but it forced every other publisher to come up with their own fighting game. Could this Super NES game possibly live up to the hype? To find the answer to this question, we decided to look through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, N-Force, Super Play and other magazines of the era. What did the critics think of Street Fighter II on the Super NES? Find out in this new episode of Review Crew.
(NOTE: Although we occasionally cut for length, no other edits are made to the review. Defunct Games does not change any of the wording, grammar or punctuation use. Also keep in mind that our score is the average of all critics at the time, not just the sample that is reprinted on this page. If you still have more questions, I recommend you check out the
Review Crew FAQ, where we address the review guidelines, converting scores, magazine covers and more.)
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #36
"Phenomenal! Awesome! The Best! Street Fighter II is the only game I have ever seen that really deserves a 10! Superb graphics, animation, no flicker, no slowdown, great music, arcade game play, and let's face it, no game has ever compared to this smash hit in the arcades -- until now! Only SF2 C.Ed. could be better." -Sushi X
(10 out of 10)
GAMEPRO (August 1992)
"Street Fighter II for the SNES is Capcom's best arcade conversion yet! Arcade players will enjoy this version as much as they do the coin-op. They may enjoy it even more, since the cart doesn't have any tricks or bugs like the handcuffs and the air throw. Consequently, Guile players will be forced to fight with their best behavior. By all means, bring this street fight into your home!" -Doctor Dave
(5 out of 5)
SUPER NES BUYER'S GUIDE (July 1992)
"It is hard to criticize a game that is perfect. It took 16-Meg to do it right, but it is the best arcade-to-home translation to date. All of the moves are there and the special stick is on its way also. The sound, graphics and game play are the best ever seen on any home game. This is the standard which all others will be compared to." -Guy
(10 out of 10)
GAMEPRO (August 1992)
"Street Fighter II strikes again! Almost everything's perfect in the Super NES version, and I'll be first in line this July. Despite missing Champion elements, you must check out Street Fighter II for the SNES. It's a nearly flawless conversion of the arcade original that's made even more enjoyable by new options and the convenience of home fighting." -Slasher Quan
(5 out of 5)
N-FORCE #2
"Blam, blam, splat! At last it's here, the most eagerly-awaited event since it stopped raining on the Ark. Now you too can get bloody knuckles, black eyes and fat lips from the comfort of your armchair. The only thing preventing me from awarding it the golden 100 percent, is that Street Fighter III will probably make this pale by comparison. Capcom, we who are about to die, salute you!" -Gunns
(96% out of 100%)
SUPER PLAY #1
"I've got a confession to make. Street Fighter II never tempted me as a coin-op because a) I'd always thought beat-'em-ups were boring and b) it looked so complicated that I knew I'd be completely crap at it. How times change, eh? With the inclusion of Champion Edition's Character vs. Character select and the extra options, I would even go so far to say that this is actually better than the coin-op. For once, believe the hype!" -Jason Brookes
(94% out of 100%)
VIDEOGAMES & COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
(June 1992)
"I must admit, after so many years in the video- and computer-gaming industry, it really has become difficult for any particular game to make an incredible impression on me. You might say that I'm too critical, or it's just that I've experienced sensory overload and I've burnt out. Capcom's much anticipated Street Fighter II is one of the few games that does leave an impression on these old, overused synapses."
(9 out of 10)
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #36
"Street Fighter II didn't grab my attention in the arcades. After seeing this cart at CES for the SNES I was hooked. Now I've been spending my spare time playing the coin-op, waiting for the 16-Meg monster. Well it has arrived and you won't be disappointed. Definitely the best cart available anywhere! Incredible game play!" -Martin
(9 out of 10)
SUPER NES BUYER'S GUIDE (July 1992)
"Adios Genesis. If ever there was a game which will sell systems, this is the one. The interesting thing about the better Nintendo licensees is the fact that they take whatever time and money is necessary to do a game right. Everything is as it was in the arcade and that says a lot for the game. I call it the game of the year!" -Mike
(9 out of 10)
NINTENDO POWER #38
"The hottest arcade game around has been faithfully reproduced for this Super NES conversion. One or two players can participate in a one-on-one battle that takes place in 12 locations worldwide. This is just like having the arcade game at home! The fighters are big, the action is fast and the special moves are incredible." -George
(4 out of 5)
REVIEW CREW AVERAGE: 93% -
Just like the landmark arcade game, critics loved Street Fighter II on Super NES. Even the guy who claimed to be uninterested in fighting games ended up loving Capcom's 16-bitter. As you probably guessed before reading this article, critics were eager to give the game high scores. GamePro decided to run two different reviews just so they could print two perfect scores. But not everybody was willing to give the fighter their highest score. N-Force held back, only giving the game a 96%, four points shy. Why? "Street Fighter III will probably make this pale by comparison." How naive they were.
The one-sided Super NES Buyer's Guide took this as an opportunity to mock the Sega Genesis, which went into the holidays without Ryu, Ken and the rest of the World Warriors. Also, for those keeping track, this is yet another title Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded with a perfect 10 (other examples include
Ys Book I & II and
Ninja Spirit).
ON WEDNESDAY'S EPISODE:
Street Fighter week rolls on with more Ryu and Ken. Tune in on Wednesday when the Review Crew takes on Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition for the Sega Genesis. Did they like it as much as this Super NES version? Find out on Wednesday.
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