Super Street Fighter II Turbo

Super Street Fighter II Turbo is one of the most faithful home conversions of this arcade fighting game ever released for the 3DO. The basics are familiar to everyone: a broad roster of fighters with their own special moves, matches won over two rounds, and a system where distance, timing, and reading what the opponent can do at any given moment all matter. The Turbo version added faster pace, hidden super combos charged in a bar beneath the health meter, and the mysterious fighter Akuma, who appeared only if certain special conditions were met. It was precisely the super combos and increased speed that made this the version the competitive scene stuck with for an unusually long time, and many players still consider it the best-balanced form of the entire second generation of the series.

The 3DO conversion benefited from the disc's capacity: character animations were smooth, backgrounds kept their detail along with animated background characters, and the music played at noticeably better quality than on cartridge-based consoles. The console didn't come with a six-button controller like the arcade cabinets, so serious players reached for alternative controllers; it was playable with the standard pad, but handling six strengths of attack was less comfortable. Loading between rounds was short, and the gameplay retained the sharpness of the original, including the precise timing the entire game is built on. Anyone who knew the arcade version noticed the difference only in small details.

At the time, this version was considered one of the technically best conversions available and, for 3DO owners, proof that the console could hold its own against arcade competition. Street Fighter II's influence on the entire fighting-game genre is beyond dispute — from the system of special moves through move cancels to the very format of tournaments. Today it still plays well on the 3DO, though a better controller and a second player beside you help. Playing solo against the computer is tough, and opponents in later rounds behave considerably more mercilessly than you might expect.