Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers (NSP, XCI) ROM + v1.1.1 Update

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is a fighting game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Switch video game console, which was released worldwide on 26 May 2017 to celebrate the Street Fighter series’ 30th anniversary. It is an updated version of 1994’s Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

The game features two graphical styles—classic pixel art and updated high-definition art. New gameplay mechanics and modes were also introduced, with minor changes being made to the game’s balance. The game garnered mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who praised its updated visuals but criticized the $40 price, the Way of the Hado mode, and control problems.

Get ready for the return of the most iconic fighting game of all time! Street Fighter II is back and better than ever on the Nintendo Switch. Experience all of the classic characters, as well as two new fighters – Evil Ryu and Violent Ken – along with a range of new single-player and multiplayer features. Choose between the classic pixel art graphics for a nostalgic throwback, or enjoy a sleek modern look.

In “Way of the Hado” mode, players can use the motion controls of the Joy-Con for a new first-person single-player experience, defeating the Shadaloo army using signature Hadoken and Shoryuken special moves. Team up with a friend in the new co-op mode to create new two-character combos and attack the CPU on both sides! Battle it out with a friend in local multiplayer or take the fight online in Ranked and Casual matches. Additionally, browse through a stunning 250+ page digital art book featuring over 1,500 illustrations throughout Street Fighter’s 30-year history.

GAMEPLAY

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is an updated version of the 1991 fighting game Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. Gameplay is based on the Super Street Fighter II Turbo iteration of Street Fighter II, however, Ultra Street Fighter II introduces new mechanics like grapple breaks and re-tunes some aspects of the game’s balance. Combo timing has also been adjusted from the original games. The game is playable in two styles on both graphic and sound settings: the “Classic” graphic mode featuring pixel art graphics of the original game which is played in a 4:3 aspect ratio, with the “New Generation” graphic mode featuring the updated high definition graphics of 2008’s Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix and is played in 16:9 widescreen.

In the classic sound style, the game uses the original arcade soundtrack and voice-acting, while the updated new generation sound style uses include newly remixed music and the characters’ Japanese voices from the Street Fighter IV series. The game supports all control options on the Nintendo Switch console, including playing with a single Joy-Con controller. Ultra Street Fighter II has a standard roster of nineteen characters, plus one hidden character. In addition to all seventeen fighters from Super Turbo, two characters–Evil Ryu and Violent Ken–have been added to the game’s roster. Evil Ryu first appeared in the series in 1996’s Street Fighter Alpha 2. He is a version of Street Fighter protagonist Ryu who has succumbed to the evil power Satsui no Hado.

Violent Ken makes his official debut in a Street Fighter game, having previously only appeared in the crossover fighting game SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos. He is a version of Ken Masters who has been brainwashed by M. Bison and makes use of Bison’s Psycho Powers. As Akuma becomes a regular selectable fighter, his Shin Akuma form, a secret boss from Street Fighter Alpha 2, is also featured as a secret character only selectable in local play through the input of a code on the character select screen. The game features local and online multiplayer. Online multiplayer includes a point-based ranking system based on a player’s wins and losses. A “standby” feature has been added to the game’s arcade mode, which allows other online players to challenge and take the place of the CPU opponent that the player typically battles in the arcade.

A local cooperative game mode, known in the Alpha games as “Dramatic Battle”, has been added in Ultra Street Fighter II now known as “Buddy Battle”. It allows players to team up in a two-versus-one fight against a CPU player. Additionally, the game includes a simplified one-hit knockout mode. In addition to the standard 2D gameplay, there is also an exclusive new Street Fighter V/Street Fighter IV-styled first-person battle mode known as “Way Of the Hado”. In this mode, the player controls Ryu in a first-person perspective to defeat as many Shadaloo Soldiers as possible (Sometimes, M. Bison also appears as a boss). For this mode, the player must hold the Joy-Con controller in both hands to perform attacks such as Hadouken, Shoryuken, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku to defeat enemies.

As the player progresses throughout the game, the player can earn growth points to power up Ryu.  The model has three difficulties: Beginner, Standard, and Extra. There is also a practice mode for practicing attacks, as well as an Endless mode that lets the player fight until Ryu’s health bar is empty. USFII includes a gallery model, containing over 1400 illustrations from the art book SF20: The Art of Street Fighter. The player can also listen to each fighter’s modern or classic-styled stage music while in gallery mode. In the Color Edit mode, the player can make alternate palettes for each of the 19 fighters, then use them in Arcade Mode, VS Mode, and Online Battles, allowing for the storage of up to 10 custom palettes for each character.

The game has a few changes from Super Street Fighter II Turbo. Teaching throws is now possible. The balance changes from HD Remix aren’t returning for Ultra Street Fighter II, with characters retaining their gameplay from Super Street Fighter II Turbo. This means certain moves and changes from HD Remix, like the addition of Ryu’s fake Hadoken and Zangief’s Spinning Piledriver being a “180” motion are not in the game. Chun-Li and E. Honda can’t store their supers. However, Vega’s Cage Climb has returned, but, as before, can only be performed in the Fighting Barroom arena.

GAME MODES

The game features three new modes and one returning mode. The Way of the Hado mode is a first-person shooting gallery where players take control of Ryu and fight waves of Shadaloo soldiers using the Joy-Con motion controllers. To perform moves, they have to be mimicked with the controllers. Ryu can be improved in this mode using the Practice Mode, which lets players practice a fighter’s moves and gain experience points to improve the following parameters: vital (health), attack, speed, guts, defense, and luck. The Arcade Mode has three stages: Beginner, Standard, and Extra. Gallery Mode features over 1400 illustrations from the official Street Fighter artbook, Street Fighter Artworks: Supremacy. Color Edit mode allows players to make custom color schemes of a given fighter; up to ten colors can be saved for each custom character, which can be used in all game modes, including online.