Street Fighter II

Name: Street Fighter II
System: Arcade
Designed By: Capcom
Release Date: 1992
Type: Fighting, 2D
Players: 2

Before fatalities and death matches, before dinosaurs or superheroes enter the fray, there was the greatest fighting game ever made. Back when fireballs cancelled each other out and a combo was getting in two hits; the Street Fighter II series reined supreme. Heroes named Ryu (my favorite), Ken, E.Honda, Guile, Zangief, M.Bison along with others ruled the video game world.

The 1992 release of Street Fighter II turned the gaming industry on its head; it single handedly created the fighting genre. Throughout the 90′s the benchmark of all fighting games was the Street Fighter II and its progressively better spawns (Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter II CE, Super Street Fighter II, etc.).

Its design was simple two fighters in a 2D arena trying to knock each other unconscious. The six button controls are the basis for every fighting system known to man. The move sets were simple and easy to learn, yet just difficult enough to keep you irritated when you missed the fireball counter move. How many of you still remember the Sonic Boom or the 100 Hand Slap?

I can still pick-up this game and play my way straight through it. I’ve been playing a version of Street Fighter II for over a decade solid, and without a doubt I believe that it is one of the greatest games in existence, new or old school across any genre. If you’re looking for an instant classic and must have for the SNES, SEGA, or PS1 you have got to get one of the 25 different SFII spawns.

- CM