It’s always hard being away from good friends for years and years.  When you see them again a lot of times they have changed and aren’t the people you used to know.  The last time Ryu and the other World Warriors played a part in gamer’s lives was 12 years ago in the various iterations of Street Fighter 3.  When last you saw them they had changed quite a bit and brought lots of new people to the party.  Lots of people didn’t think it was the same as before, but those who stayed and got to know the new characters and moves were few and far between.  Now over a decade later, Capcom wanted to bring people back to their childhood where things were much simpler and the faces were recognizable.  Its safe to say, it is good to see old friends again.

            Jumping straight into the roster, the entire cast of Street Fighter 2 returns along with a dash of fresh faces.  Not only are the characters familiar but so are their styles and move sets.  Ken and Ryu  still use the basic controls they always have (down to forward and punch for a Hadoken, etc.), while characters like Guile and M. Bison use a charge move list (Hold d-pad in one direction for a second or two and release in another, usually opposite direction, followed by a punch or kick).  The new fighters have their own move sets and play-styles that certainly change the way people will play the game and all four regular new characters are a welcome addition to the classic roster.  Along with the cast from the Japanese arcade release, the console port has a couple surprises.  There are a total of nine unlockable characters which include fan favorites Sakura, Cammy, Akuma, and for the first time ever: Ryu’s master Gouken.  There are plenty of World Warriors to choose from and everyone will find a favorite in the lot.

            The fighting itself is fluid and fun.  It truly is a game that lets you decide how you want to play.  You can be more methodical with your attack with a character like Dahlsim, or be quick and offensive like El Fuerte and Sakura.  The fights move at a quick pace, but not as quick as something like Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, but it’s fast enough that it feels frantic and fun.

TestFreaks: 9/10
MetaCritic: 9.4/10
GameStats: 9.4/10