Live Magazine September 2014 Volume 9/2014 | Page 104

retro

STREET FIGHTER 2

THE ARCADE GAMERS DREAM COME TRUE...
In 1992 the arcade scene was reinvigorated with the release of one
game. A game, although drawing
on inspiration of older classics like
Yie Ar Kung fu and International Karate, took the genre of 1 on 1 fighting games to the next level. Prior to
its release, the arcades has come
host to wave after wave of shoot ‘em
ups and side scrolling beat ‘em ups
and the gamers wanted more. More
control, more challenge, more depth.
The ability to choose a character
and make them their own with their
own personal fighting techniques.
A game that would pit one player
against each other in a battle for supremacy of the arcades. This game
was Capcom’s Street Fighter 2.
It was an exciting time indeed, no ar-

had the one protagonist to choose
from, Street Fighter 2 had a whopping 8. Each with theit own fighting styles and personalities. These
characters all had their own tales to
tell with ending sequences illustrating their journey, whether Russian
Dancing with President Gorbachov
, getting married to the love of their
life or just walking heroically into the
sunset looking to better themselves
further. For the first time our heroes
had depth.
Control schemes as well had arcade
goers “finger tied” as the quarter circle joystick motion was introduced to
do moves such as fireballs and hurricane kicks. Players would hone their
skills day in day out and perfect their
timing and tactics.

there it is, the one with the swarm of
people around it”.
There was always “that guy” who
was the street fighter master, who’d
spent all his pocket money on playing. He was the towns best and
no one could better him. Crowds
watched in awe as he’d stroll
through the game and take out the
last boss with one credit. Occasionally he’d offer tips and sometimes
help you get past a tricky opponent.
Sadly I wasn’t that guy. I was the
spotty kid off to the side watching,
quietly, taking it all in… one day…
I’d take that mantle of “Best player”!
There were also the glitch guys,
non-regulars who’d pass through
town who knew tricks that weren’t
normal, like Guiles Handcuffs move

“THE AMOUNT OF 20 CENT PIECES I’D SUNK INTO STREET FIGHTER 2
BACK IN THE DAYS...”
cade, video store or even the local
fish n chip shops were without this
exciting new machine with its &Wf