Overview
This game is basically just a dream match between many of CAPCOMS famous and popular fighters fighters.
Teams of 4 representatives from each of these series, street fighter zero/alpha, street fighter 2, street fighter 3, Vampire Slayer/Hunter and Warzard have been "jammed" together plus the 2 bosses, one from street fighter 2 and one from vampire slayer/hunter have been shoved into the mix. There are a bunch of characters missing which many would want in but each have a close represntative to sort of give the game a feel, such as guile pretty much summing up remy and charlie and yun pretty much catering for yang fans. Plus Ingrid from "you know where" is also on the roster.
Graphics 6/10
Backgrounds are OK at worst and spectacular at best. All of the "normal" places look realistic while all the "spooky" places look like they were taken out of a horror movie. The colors blend in well where jungle and myanmar have green/blue color schemes and that spooky place and hong kong having red/black color schemes.
Sprties are also pretty nice with many either having a new sprite or a touch up such as zangief. Despite many people complaing about the recyclness of many of the sprites, in my opinon, they are allright and blend in quite nicely.
Effects are spectacular, you'll love them. Also most moves also have CGI versions now rather than 2D versions such as uriens projectile moves. This also applies to the supercombo effects to as well as the super combo KO effects.
The graphics between battles and character select screens are great and the endings are the BOMB! ...and so is the intro movie, great stuff!
The game also looks/feels like a KOF at times too, and thats a good thing. Also when a 2P challenger comes in, you can't help but think about soul calibur 2.
Gameplay/Controls 8/10
The gameplay is sort of like your pre-KOF2003 but after a match has been decided, you can chose whether you change to your next character or stay and then with the next battle, both players have full life gauges again and the super combo gauge staying at what it was in the previous battly. Battles are 2-on-2 and the characters super combo gauge is pretty much the same as the game the character represets, eg: Guile having a SF2 style gauge and Demitri having a Vampire Slayer/Hunter style gauge with all gauges having most of the features from the game from which it came from, eg. only the SF3 people can do parrying and the SFZ/A people can have the custom super combo.
Controls are sweet as always and super combos come out pretty fast. Some characters have also been toned up to play better, such as Ryu because now, he has heaps of super links but some were made worse like Alex missing move and modified super combo. Also many characters are missing moves but despite that small problem, many of these handicaps are easily overcome.
One bad thing though is the fact that characters will repeat their entry sequence if they are selected for the next battle and were fighting in the previous one. Something slightly annoying but something you will eventually overcome.
Sound/Music 7/10
The music couldve been better because at times, especially at the begining of certain peices, a certain tune would sound like heavy metal but in the end, this would not occur. Most background music sounds like pop and some sound like native music but each tune suits its background very well.
The voices, though many people disliking yet another recycled thing are good but not tops. Sometimes they sound muffled but for the most part, the voices are pretty clear and allright. The super combo execution sound is hectic to the max and so is the selection sound. Pity there is no announcer talking between battles lke in SFA3 or in CVS2 but those are the little things you don't really tend to notice anyway.
Replay Value 8/10
For the arcade version, this game will keep you going when you verse other people as well as so you can see the endings.
For the console version, it's really good, bosses to unlock and tunes from each character keeps you playing for a short while. Also finishing the game to watch the ending is also another point added(AGAIN!), because the endings are so great. Then there are times when you have people over. If they can play allright, this game could keep you going for yonks!
Overall 9/10
This game could've been done a whole lot better but by the way it is, I reckon it's allright. Most of CAPCOMS great fighters have been accounted for.
- By DoNuT kInG
