|
PS2
Street Fighter Zero Fighter's Generation
-
New Import |
 |
 |
|
 |
NCS
Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
A little over a decade after Street Fighter Zero
appeared in Japanese arcades, Capcom collects all four Street Fighter Zero
games on one DVD and throws in Pocket Fighter as a
bonus. The arcade-perfect
ports that have been compiled in SFZ FG are as
follows:
Street Fighter Zero - An adjunct to the
Street Fighter canon
Street Fighter Zero 2 - Sakura makes her
debut, game play balanced
Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha - The USA version of
SFZ2 back in Japan
Street Fighter Zero 3 - The ISM fighting style
selector debuts
Pocket Fighter - Mighty mites battle for their
pipsqueak honor
Players select the games by rotating through placards which depict
artwork from the five selections. After the initial
loading time, each game stays resident
in the PS2's ram and no further disc access
occurs. The speed, controls, and feel of the games
are pretty much 1:1 to the arcade originals. NCS
booted up the old CPS-2 kits this morning (thankful
that the batteries had not committed seppuku yet)
and compared the games alongside the PS2
conversions. We're pleased.
|
|
|
|
NCS
Game Notes
» Capcom didn't produce a new intro for the game but
the title screen is acceptable and features artwork
from the various SFZ releases. After pressing START,
players may flip through the five games that are
featured by way of artwork placards.
» The code for all of the games is based on the
original coin-op versions complete with Q-Sound
teasers, logos, and introductory animation
sequences. By pressing START in any of the games, a
menu appears where a player may change button
configurations, view moves, adjust the display, and
exit from the game. Loading times after the initial
boot of each game are non-existent and all of the
games stay resident in memory.
» On a Dual Shock 2 controller, either the D-pad or
analog nub may be used for controlling the fighters. To view a moves list for your
fighter, press the START button and check out the
COMMAND LIST which shows the various attacks with
D-pad directions and fist icons.
|
Pocket Fighter
Game Modes include:
/ ARCADE / Select a fighter from 12 possible
choices and battle through the ranks
/ VERSUS / Fight against a second human
player to determine who's the best squat fighter
/ TRAINING / Select one of 12 fighters and
the stage upon which to train in
/ OPTION / Set difficulty, controller
settings, sound options, adjust display, etc
/ EXIT / Return to SFZ Fighter's Generation
title screen
The standard characters in Pocket Fighter are
Ryu
Ken
Chun-Li
Sakura
Morrigan
Lei-Lei
Felicia
Tabasa
Zangief
Ibuki
Two "secret" fighters are
Gouki
Dan
» On a Dual Shock 2 controller, either the D-pad or
analog nub may be used for controlling the miniature
fighters. Analog works well here with easy execution
and smooth moves. To view a moves list for your
fighter, press the START button and check out the
COMMAND LIST which shows the various attacks with
D-pad directions and fist icons.
» It's been a couple of years since NCS staffers
have booted up Pocket Fighter on the Saturn,
Playstation, or CPS-2 but the game plays well and
has withstood the harsh test of time. NCS compared
the game to the CPS-2 original this morning and it's
pretty much 1:1. The colors are bright, the action
runs fast, and the fighters have enough charm and
moxie to keep us motivated. Puzzle Fighter
introduced a gem power-up system where treasure
chests give up various jewels which are used to
level-up characters during the course of a round. By
clobbering an opponent with combos, he or she loses
a treasure chest and thus the jewels that have been
accumulated.
» In the backgrounds of the various stages, assorted
character make cameos - for example, in the bar
scene, E-Honda peers over his shoulder at the action
while moving his body, M. Bison from the original SF
bartends, Cammy bops up and down on a stool and
Guile + Nash sit at a corner table enjoying each
other's company. On the right side of the screen,
June Lin Milliam from Star
Gladiator operates the cash register. Not to be
outdone by the background characters, the SD Pocket
fighters ham it up with little antics and special
moves. The most entertaining fighter to watch is
Felicia with her gang-up cat attack, her various
alter-ego morphs, her overly energetic kicks, and
her general love of life. Ibuki has a special move
where she transforms into an attacking geisha and
another where she leaps upwards in penguin cosplay
for a double-kick attack.
|
Street Fighter Zero
Game Modes include:
/ ARCADE / Select a fighter from 10 possible
choices and battle through the ranks
/ VERSUS / Fight against a second human
player to determine who's the best fighter
/ SURVIVAL / Select a fighter from 13
possible choices and face off against the other
fighters in 1-match bouts. After each successful
bout, your fighter's energy bar only retrieves a
partial amount of health based on your performance
in the match.
/ DRAMATIC BATTLE / Player selects two
fighters from 13 possible choices and battles
against a rampaging Adon while the other fighter is
controlled by the game's AI. Despite the odds
against Adon, he beats ass. Your two fighters share
one health bar so any damage that the poorly
controlled AI takes reflects against you. After
beating Adon, Sagat takes the stage for his turn
followed by other bosses.
/ TRAINING / Select one of 13 fighters and
the stage upon which to train in
/ OPTION / Set difficulty, controller
settings, sound options, adjust display, etc
/ EXIT / Return to SFZ Fighters Generation
title screen
Characters in the game include:
Ryu
Chun-Li
Gouki (available in Survival and Dramatic Battle
only)
Nash
Ken
Guy
Birdie
Vega (available in Survival and Dramatic Battle
only)
Sodom
Adon
Rose
Dan
Sagat
» Rose has the ability to reflect a fireball back at
Ken or Ryu with her semi-circular slashing sash
move. Rose also has an air-throw where she'll grab
an opponent in mid-air and chuck him away like
rubbish.
» The original Street Fighter Zero offers measured
gameplay in that it's not as fast as the other
Zeros. The background animations are also fairly
dull and uninspired. For example, in the coliseum
stage, a couple of mangy cats walk around while a
third scratches at the ground in the distance. Each
fighter has weight where a larger bruiser such as
Sagat moves and controls slower than a sprightly guy
like Ken. The game play is well done however and
served as the basis for future Zeros to become
bigger, faster, and more graphically polished.
|
Street Fighter Zero 2 / Street Fighter Zero 2
Alpha
Game Modes include:
/ ARCADE / Select a fighter from 18 possible
choices and battle through the ranks
/ VERSUS / Fight against a second human
player to determine primacy
/ SURVIVAL / Select a fighter from 18
possible choices and face off against the other
fighters in 1-match bouts. After each successful
bout, your fighter's energy bar only retrieves a
partial amount of health based on your performance
in the match.
/ DRAMATIC BATTLE / Player selects two
fighters from 18 possible choices and battles
against a rampaging Adon while the other fighter is
controlled by the game's AI. Despite the odds
against the opponent, he beats ass. Your two
fighters share one health bar so any damage that the
poorly controlled AI takes reflects against you.
After beating Adon, Sagat takes the stage for his
turn.
/ TRAINING / Select one of 138fighters and
the stage upon which to train in
/ OPTION / Set difficulty, controller
settings, sound options, adjust display, etc
/ EXIT / Return to SFZ Fighters Generation
title screen
Characters in the Zero 2 games include:
Ryu
Chun-Li
Gouki
Nash
Ken
Guy
Birdie
Vega
Sodom
Adon
Rose
Dan
Sagat
Dhalsim
Gen
Sakura
Rolento
Zangief
» Street Fighter Zero 2 runs faster and smoother
than the original SFZ. In Normal Mode, the game is
crisp and fast but in Turbo Mode, the fighters move
like banshees from area to area. The backgrounds
aren't elaborate but they are interesting including
the one with the Dekotora truck and the one in the
Asian slum. In Ken's "Happy Birthday Eliza" stage,
guests who enjoy the cocktail party aboard the ship
include Morrigan, Strider, and Captain Commando
while a darkened metropolis is passes in the
background. Felicia's in the pool. In Chun-Li's
stage, a million Chinese are bicycling in the
background while a pagoda stands in the distance.
|
|
|
Street Fighter Zero 3
Game Modes include:
/ ARCADE / Select a fighter from 25 possible
choices and battle through the ranks
/ VERSUS / Fight against a second human
player to determine who's the best fighter
/ SURVIVAL / Select a fighter from 25
possible choices and face off against the other
fighters in 1-match bouts. After each successful
bout, your fighter's energy bar only retrieves a
partial amount of health based on your performance
in the match.
/ DRAMATIC BATTLE / Player selects two
fighters from 25 possible choices and battles
against a rampaging Adon while the other fighter is
controlled by the game's AI. The two fighters have
individual health bars and one losing 1/1 of his
health won't affect the other player. After beating
Adon, Gouki takes the stage for his turn followed by
M.Bison who was modeled after Mike Tyson. The
portrait for M.Bison shows Vega. Balrog is the next
one up - we beat him like a rag doll. The fifth
fighter is Sagat who's a little tougher with his
tiger punch. The final boss is Vega - correctly
portrayed and named for the general. After defeating
himl, you earn a CONGRATULATIONS | DRAMATIC BATTLE
ALL CLEAR before the credits start rolling.
/ TRAINING / Select one of 25 fighters and
the stage upon which to train in
/ OPTION / Set difficulty, controller
settings, sound options, adjjust display, etc
/ EXIT / Return to SFZ Fighters
Generation title screen
Characters in the game include
Ryu
Chun-Li
Gouki
Nash
Ken
Guy
Birdie
Vega
Sodom
Adon
Rose
Dan
Sagat
Dhalsim
Gen
Sakura
Rolento
Zangief
R.Mika
E.Honda
Cody
Karin
Balrog
Blanka
Cammy
SFZ3 introduced the ISM fighting style for each
character as follows:
X-ism / Fighters have a powerful Super Combo
and a simple fighting style
Z-ism / Fighters have a number of Super
Combos and standard fighting
V-ism / Fighters have Custom Combos and a
variable fighting style
The music quality in SFZ3 is
particularly vibrant and NCS staffers spent the most
time with this particular game this morning.
|
|
This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No
reproduction in whole or in part of this document
may be made without express written consent of
National Console Support, Inc.
|
|
|
Street Fighter Zero |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Street Fighter Zero 2 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Street Fighter Zero 2
Alpha |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Street Fighter Zero
3 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Pocket Fighter |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
