When Super Street Fighter IV was released, it became an instant hit thanks to fans who had been waiting for the next game in the series. Because of the success of Super Street Fighter IV, an updated version with all of the DLC, such as new characters and costumes, was released as well. Since then, a lot of fans have demanded that the game go portable, and their wish has been granted with Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition on the Nintendo 3DS.
What are the main differences between the console and the 3DS version? Should a downgrade in the graphics be expected? How does the game compare with the console version? Let’s take a look at the HOTs and NOTs of Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition for the Nintendo 3DS.
HOT
Impressive Presentation w/ 3D treatment
For a handheld game, I was simply astounded to see how beautiful Super Street Fighter IV is on the Nintendo 3DS. I wasn’t expecting the game to be on par with the consoles’ graphics, but Capcom did a good job with compressing the original resolution from the consoles to a handheld, making the characters and environments look extra clear. To take advantage of the Nintendo 3DS’ 3D capability, a new Dynamic Mode is available where players can see the fight from a new perspective. With the Dynamic mode, players will be able to see characters popping out and being separated from the background.
Online Mode
The online portion is one of the main highlights of Super Street Fighter IV. Getting into a match is easy since players can easily look up any matches available. If you’re playing in arcade mode, an option will be available where anyone around the world can challenge you at any time. The online features of Super Street Fighter IV are similar to its console counterparts. I am glad to see that there are no hiccups or anything when playing the game online. Players can also play the game online in Dynamic Mode.
Easy Execution of Combos via the Touch Screen
The 3D version of Super Street Fighter IV can be played using the touch screen. The combos available for a character can be executed by tapping any of the four set macros on the touch screen. While it makes the game really easy, anyone at any age can quickly adapt to the controls of the game without a problem. However, hardcore Street Fighter IV fans might be disappointed by the lack of depth with the combos.
Extras—Collecting Figurines & More
In addition to simply fighting all the time, players can start collecting figurines that can be obtained in two ways: by entering a password or by finishing the game with every character in the roster. For players who are taking advantage of the Play Coins of the Nintendo 3DS, those coins can be used to purchase these figurines. The figurines that players collect can also be traded to a friend, except it can only be done locally. If players have been actively seeking other players via the Streetpass feature, the person that you find using Streetpass will be able to fight using the figurines of the game. Players can carry up to five figurines in StreetPass mode. We only tested the Streetpass feature once, and from our experience, it’s a nice addition but not really ground-breaking in any way.
NOT
Clunky Controls
Many portable fighting games suffer from their clunky controls, and Super Street Fighter IV for the Nintendo 3DS is not an exception. Despite the simple combo execution via the touch screen, there are players out there that will prefer using the buttons to execute combos. While playing the game using the buttons is possible, expect to experience a very basic execution of attacks. Compared to the console version, the 3D edition isn’t as satisfying as players might have expected. I recommend using the touch screen rather than the buttons if players don’t want to get sore hands after an hour of playing.
Frozen Background
Sure, we were pretty impressed with the visuals of Super Street Fighter IV on the Nintendo 3DS, but one of the things that players will noticed as soon as they play the game are the backgrounds. In the console version, players will be able to see the NPCs of the background moving around, making it more interactive and engaging. But in the 3D Edition, everything in the background is static and they don’t move at all.
VERDICT
With very few launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is one of the launch games that I recommend picking up despite its minor flaws due to the hardware’s limitations. For hardcore fanatics of Super Street Fighter IV, they will see little difference between the console and the handheld version. The graphics look spectacular, especially in the Dynamic mode. The portable version of Super Street Fighter IV isn’t a replacement for a true arcade fighting experience, but it’s good enough for players who are seeking a Street Fighter game that they can play anywhere and hey, it has an online mode too!
[Editor’s Note:Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition was reviewed on the Nintendo 3DS platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]