Discuss this feature

 

The purpose of this detailed comparison isn't to prove which port of Street Fighter II Champion Edition is the best or definitive version. First and foremost this is a gallery of the aesthetics of this wonderful game. Secondly, it's to simply highlight the ways in which each version is unique. All three ports are great but technically obsolete games. For most of us interested in any of these ports, the appeal is based on the console, generation, series or an interest in console conversion in general. So it doesn't matter if one version could be decisively be judged the best overall of this select group, everyone has a favorite based on personal taste.

I often use terms like "Arcade faithfulness", "vibrant colors" and "consistency" and when breaking down each aspect of the game. These are independent terms used to point out unique qualities and indicate why they stand out. I try to indicate the whys more than simply the hows. The Arcade isn't the best in every way simply because it came first. When an aspect of a port deviates from the original Arcade, it can be an improvement, a downgrade or simply something different. Some people use Arcade "exactness" as the sole attribute to measure a port by. I'm just relating it as one part of the overall picture.

By "vibrant", I mean bright, rich, complimentary colors that stand out the way that Super Famicom ports often do against the Mega Drive version of the same game. In many ways, the PC Engine and occasionally the Mega Drive version use nicer looking colors than the Super Famicom version or even the Arcade. A good example is Chun Li's stage, in which the Super Famicom version looks similar in color to the Arcade, but washed out compared to the PC Engine version.

 

The Super Famicom port is the most consistent overall with it's pros never reaching too far beyond the rest nor its lows too far below. Consistency like Arcade faithfulness isn't a measure of underline superiority, they're just two of the main themes that I have chosen to compare and contrast the ports. For those of you interested to delve deep enough into this comparison, you'll likely find new ways in which each of these ports stands out.

This is only a comparison of Street Fighter II' Champion Edition, the Turbo/Hyper Fighting/PLUS aspects are not covered here as they are a separate version of Street Fighter II. However you will still be able to judge the aesthetics of the Turbo variants, since the only difference will be alternate player colors.

 

Further down this page you'll find an overview of each of the major aspects of the game. If you'd like to jump straight into the detailed breakdowns, use the menu below:

 

 

 

 
PROS:
 Generally uses the most vibrant colors overall. Graphic quality is roughly on par with the Super Famicom version.
CONS:
 Flat backgrounds except for the floors and sometimes ceilings that line scroll as well as various objects that scroll along with the foreground.
PROS:
 Similar amount of background layering as the Super Famicom. Has extra details and animation not found in the other two ports.
CONS:
 Noticibly less color and less shading overall, with some details missing altogether.
PROS:
 Graphic quality is roughly on par with the PC Engine version. Has an extra layer over the Mega Drive version on some stages.
CONS:
 Maintains most of the artwork from the World Warrior port, missing many of the Arcade faithful additions found in the other ports.

 

 

 

 
PROS:
 Has the most vibrant colorful sprites which look the best overall in all but a few cases.
CONS:
 Alternate Dhalsim, Vega and Sagat colors.
PROS:
 Similar to the PC Engine in most cases with the Super Famicom based sprites equally solid.
CONS:
 Regular Ryu and Ken, alternate Ken, Dhalsim, Vega and Sagat colors.
PROS:
 Solid all round. Although most aren't quite as nice, none are as weak as some of the few examples in the other two ports.
CONS:
 Drabber, sometimes more realistic tones which often end up looking like darker or color drained versions of the other ports. Alternate color Zangief.

 

 

 

 
PROS:
 The best voice and sound effects. Best music composition. Music fades out like the Arcade.
CONS:
 Music has the least realistic sounding instruments. Even by PC Engine PSG standards the sounds used are nothing special.
PROS:
 Some of the best sounding instruments. Samples are uncut like the PC Engine and Arcade versions.
CONS:
 Inconsistent and unbalanced music. Lowest quality sound samples. Uneven and early music fade out.
PROS:
 Has a consistent soundtrack with a consistent assortment of typical SFC/SNES'ish sounding instruments. Second clearest voice samples.
CONS:
 Remixed soundtrack is softer/less heavy. Over the top reverb. Sped up, chopped up/cobbled together and echoed samples. The awful post round crowd cheer.

 

 

 

 
PROS:
 Nicest color overall, fully shaded. Nicest and most Arcade faithful Player Select screen.
CONS:
 Guile and alternate Balrog's skin tones.
PROS:
 Arcade faithful animated losing portraits.
CONS:
 Some portraits missing shading, looks the most washed out overall.
PROS:
 Consistent, fully shaded portraits.
CONS:
 Drabber or washed out coloring compared to PC Engine. Letterboxed screens.

 

 

 

 
PROS:
 Overall variety, shaded colorful fonts, colored dust clouds, nicest projectiles and hit effects.
CONS:
 Basic intro, only two bonus stages, least amount of options.
PROS:
 Overall variety, Arcade intro, the most options.
CONS:
 Many things low on shading or use unapealing colors.
PROS:
 Has some things that one of the other versions don't.
CONS:
 Least variety of fonts. Many fonts and KO bar are two-toned. Missing blood animation.

 

 

 

Discuss this feature

 

e-mail superpcenginegrafx.com