Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition

Game Info

Take the fight from your couch to the streets, literally.  With the Nintendo 3DS release of Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, you have everything from the popular console version packed into a cartridge for on the go play.  The Street Fighter series has made a very successful name for itself with every new game being as demanded as the last.  The 3DS version had people overly curious to how this would translate on to the handheld.  It has all 35 characters and has some new features exclusively for the 3DS.  There is a new selectable over-the-shoulder 3D-perspective which allows gamers to experience Street Fighter in a way that has never been seen before.  You can also collect figurines of all the fighters to use for trading or the StreetPass option, which is a lot of fun.

The arcade mode is just as addicting as the console release.  The only complaint from hardcore fans is the still-frame backgrounds.  However, in an intense match, the background is not the main concern; it is worrying about executing a sonic boom or yoga flame at the right moment.  For winning matches players receive figure points which can be used on the figure slots to increase the figure collection.  The training mode is also still available to master every fighter’s move lists and combos.  In challenge mode, gamers can play the trial option, which is where players can practice all the moves and combos with no time limit or have fun with the Car Crusher or Barrel Buster modes.  The 3D-effect is quite nice within this title, especially with the 3D versus, over-the-shoulder option.  It mainly shows depth and a typically normal 3D-experience that is very comfortable to use.  The touchscreen has a really useful set of tools, as long as you have lite control settings enabled.  There are four squares on the touch screen that can be configured and can be used to place desired moves on them which can be used on the fly.  If you select the pro control settings gamers do not have access to the simple touchscreen features and will have to perform all the moves the old fashioned way.

The three multiplayer options available is download play, local wireless and online.  The online for this title is actually really well done, with little to no lag.  You can choose quick match, custom match or friend match.  3D versus (over-the-shoulder view) is also available for online play.  There are also special avatar like icons and titles available for other challengers to see.  An awesome feature is the rival system, that puts a person you have fought in an online or local wireless match on a special list.  You can then choose your rival list and select that player and see their medals they have received, similar to achievements or trophies as in the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions.  The local wireless mode has a feature called channel live that should have been implemented in the online matches.  Participants can watch the battles of others in local wireless play with channel live.  The street pass option is very cool as well.  Figures can be acquired in two unique ways: figure slots or trading.  The figures are selected, forming a team of five ranging from levels 1-7.  When StreetPassing someone who also has a figure team, they fight in out automatically.  This collects figure points that can be used for more figures in the slot machine mini-game to receive new ones.

Super Street Fighter IV: 3D does not fail in its translation to the handheld.  The StreetPass fights are a great touch, making sure that the 3DS is in your pocket so you don’t miss a pass with someone that has this game as well.  The online was very impressive for Nintendo’s newest handheld, which makes me very anxious for later online titles.  Graphically, it’s very well put together, aside from the still-frame backgrounds.  The touchscreen controls is a very productive tool for veterans and first time players.  If you want a very great on-the-go fighter for your new Nintendo 3DS, then Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition is a justified purchase.