Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers Preview
New Trailer
Updated 4/18/17
More Details & Screens
Updated 4/5/17
ULTRA STREET FIGHTER II: The Final Challengers takes players back to where it all began, and with a host of new control options, multiple game modes, online play and the inclusion of Lite controls for newcomers, friends will be able to experience Street Fighter in a whole new way. When Nintendo Switch is docked and by simply removing both Joy-Con from the console, friends can fight for glory from the comfort of their living room, or put their differences aside and team up against the CPU in Buddy Battle. Nintendo Switch can be carried anywhere, empowering warriors to test their might in cafés, at train stations, and any other location to battle all-comers, simply by standing the console upright using the stand and handing a Joy-Con to an opponent.
On top of the 17 classic characters returning to compete in the second World Warrior tournament, powerful new additions Violent Ken and Evil Ryu both join the roster. Violent Ken, who has been brainwashed by M. Bison, and Evil Ryu, the form Ryu takes after succumbing to darkness, are perfect for those that like a highly aggressive playing style. Once players have selected their preferred fighter, they can enjoy a number of modes:
- In Arcade mode, a single player must defeat 12 warriors on the path to becoming the World Warrior champion
- Prepare for intense co-op battles as two friends can team up in Buddy Battle to throw down new two-player combos and attack their opponents from both sides
- Fight locally against a friend or against the CPU in Versus mode
- Go online* and fight against the best players across the mode in either ranked or casual matches
- Brush up on old skills – or learn new ones – in the training mode before taking on new challengers
- In the brand new mode called Way of the Hado, players can play a unique first-person mode and experience what it’s like to be Ryu. By using motion controls to perform moves, players can fight off an onslaught of opponents using the iconic Shoryuken (dragon punch), Tatsumaki Senpukyaku (hurricane kick), and Ryu’s fireball super combo, Shinku Hadoken
For those new to Street Fighter who are looking to level the playing field against more experienced players, there’s an option to switch between Lite and Pro controls. Lite controls let players perform special moves or super combos by either touching the touch screen or pressing a single button, whereas traditional Pro controls offer all the classic button inputs engrained into players’ muscle memory. The game also supports the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, available separately.
Regardless of their experience level, all players can fight in style by using the Colour Editor to customise the colour scheme of their favourite character, giving them their ideal look. Enter the style settings and select between new high-definition visuals for a modern look, or select classic graphics and witness Street Fighter II just as it was in the arcades. Fight fans can relive their favourite local matches and show off their best combos to impressed passers-by with the replay feature. Take a break from brawling and visit the gallery, which includes over 1,400 highly detailed illustrations from throughout the Street Fighter series, taken from the out-of-print Street Fighter Artworks: Supremacy book.
[Source: Nintendo UK]
Release Date Announced
Updated 3/1/17
Street Fighter II was a phenomenon in the early 1990s. You could barely go an issue of EGM without it or Mortal Kombat gracing the cover of the magazine. Now, it’s being reborn on the Nintendo Switch as Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. Not only will it feature the classic pixel-art graphics, but it also has a new modern graphics look as well. The release date has been announced: May 26, 2017. It will be available at retail and the eShop for $39.99.
Street Fighter II, the most iconic fighting game of all time, is back on the Nintendo Switch! The newest iteration of SFII in nearly 10 years, Ultra Street Fighter II features all of the classic characters, a host of new single player and multiplayer features, as well as two new fighters: Evil Ryu and Violent Ken!
Features a stellar line-up of characters, including all of the original fighters and bosses, the characters added in Super Street Fighter II, plus the first new additions in nearly 20 years: Evil Ryu and Violent Ken!
Choose between classic pixel-art graphics for a retro nostalgia trip, or enjoy a refined new modern look!
Utilize the motion controls of the Joy-Con in “Way of the Hado” mode, a new first-person single player experience where players attempt to defeat the Shadaloo army using signature Hadouken and Shoryuken special moves!
Team-up with a friend to take on the CPU opponent in “Dynamic Battle” mode. 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.
Browse through a beautiful 250+ page digital artbook featuring over 1,500 illustrations throughout Street Fighter’s 30-year history.
[Updated 2/18/17 – Way Of The Hado Mode Details]:
When Capcom first showed off Ultra Street Fighter II last month on the Nintendo Treehouse Live segment, the trailer hinted at a first-person mode. That has now been confirmed with the new Way of the Hado mode (Hadouken!).
This new mode is in addition to the normal 2D fighting action that fans are expecting. In it you’ll see Ryu’s hands as players hold a Joy-Con in each hand. They can then perform hadoukens by utilizing the Joy-Con controllers’ motion. Players simply hold them sideways and push forward with both hands, simulating the movement from the game series. Other moves will be at your disposal as well. Read on for details:
Hey World Warriors!
We are just about two weeks away from the release of Nintendo Switch and we’re excited to reveal the brand-new “Way of the Hado” mode coming to Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers.
By holding the left and right Joy-Con in each hand respectively and utilizing the motion controls, you’ll be able to perform Ryu’s iconic special moves. Full descriptions and demonstrations are available in Training Mode, so you can practice your attacking and defending there. Once you’re ready to jump in, you can challenge yourself to obtain a high score in Beginner or Hard difficulty. And if you want a real test of endurance, try out endless mode where Shadaloo soldiers will continue to appear until you have been KO’d.
Hadoukens are performed by turning the Joy-Con controllers sideways and pushing forward with both hands. This is a great way to stop enemy projectiles and deal damage from a distance.
Shoryukens deal great damage to a single target and is your go-to special move when an enemy is up close. To perform a Shoryuken, keep one arm still while you punch the other into the air in an upward arc.
Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku’s allow you to hit multiple opponents up close, making it effective when several enemies try to swarm you. You perform it by holding both Joy-Con controllers upright in front of you and rotating your hips side to side.
The best way to deal massive damage to enemies close up and far away is by doing Ryu’s Shinku Hadouken. You’ll need to build up your Super Meter while playing, and once it’s full, hold down the SL and SR buttons while doing the same motion for a normal Hadouken.
After each stage in “Way of the Hado” mode, you’ll earn valuable experience points that you can invest in various stats such as Attack, Health, Speed, and Defense. Improving your stats are key to defeating soldiers quickly and obtaining a higher score. Once you’re ready for the ultimate test, fight M. Bison himself!
[Updated 2/14/17 – Japanese Gameplay]:
[Original Preview]:
One of the biggest surprises at the Nintendo Switch Presentation was the announcement of Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. Just when you think Capcom can’t possibly add another adjective to the front of its venerable arcade classic, they go and do it again.
Although I’m not a huge fighting game fan, I have fond memories of playing this game in the arcade and on the Super Nintendo. Seeing Capcom bring the pixelated art from the original back for this release definitely warms my heart. Of course, most players will probably want to enjoy the game with new HD visuals, and that graphic style is included as well.
In some ways, Ultra Street Fighter II is the perfect game for the Nintendo Switch. Because every system already comes equipped with 2 Joy-Cons, a match could happen anytime and anywhere. This type of multiplayer gaming on one screen could be the killer feature of Switch if games continue to focus on supporting it.
So, what’s new with Ultra Street Fighter II? Well, for the most part it’s the game you love and remember. There are two new fighters: Evil Ryu and Violent Ken. All of the original fighters and bosses are present here, plus all of the characters that were added in Super Street Fighter II are here to use as well. As I mentioned earlier, you have the option of playing is classic pixel-art graphics to really milk that nostalgia or you can go for the HD animated visuals. You can even team up with a second player to play co-op against a CPU opponent.
Capcom has hinted that there’s at least one more mode that they haven’t shown off yet. We should learn more in the coming months as it approaches its release date. We don’t have a timeframe for release just yet, but the game looks pretty far along so I’d expect it to come out this year.
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
