On the 14th of February 2017, a development team at Capcom stood exactly halfway through building a game that would redefine how a thirty-year-old fighting game could exist on a new console. This was not a simple port but a celebration of the Street Fighter series' thirtieth anniversary, marking the first time a Street Fighter title would appear on a Nintendo system since 2011. The decision to revisit Street Fighter II, originally released in 1991, was driven by series producer Yoshinori Ono, who wanted to return to the franchise's roots while simultaneously appealing to a younger generation. The development team included a mix of veterans and new employees who had worked on recent titles like Street Fighter V and Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, blending nostalgia with modern expectations. The game was announced for the Nintendo Switch in January 2017, and its release on the 26th of May 2017 became a pivotal moment for Capcom's strategy on the platform.
Two Worlds In One Game
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers offered players a unique choice between two distinct visual and auditory experiences, bridging the gap between the 1990s arcade era and modern high-definition aesthetics. The Classic mode preserved the original pixel art graphics in a 4:3 aspect ratio, accompanied by the authentic arcade soundtrack and voice-acting from the original game. In contrast, the New Generation mode featured updated high-definition graphics produced by Udon Entertainment, displayed in a 16:9 widescreen format, and utilized newly remixed music alongside the Japanese voices from the Street Fighter IV series. This dual approach allowed long-time fans to experience the game as they remembered it, while providing a fresh visual identity for new players. The game's ability to support all control options on the Nintendo Switch, including play with a single Joy-Con controller, further emphasized its accessibility, though this feature would later become a point of contention among critics.The Final Challengers Arrive
The roster of Ultra Street Fighter II expanded beyond the seventeen fighters from Super Turbo to include two new characters: Evil Ryu and Violent Ken. Evil Ryu, who first appeared in 1996's Street Fighter Alpha 2, represented a version of the series' protagonist Ryu that had succumbed to the evil power of the Satsui no Hado. Violent Ken made his official debut in a Street Fighter game, having previously only appeared in the crossover fighting game SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, and depicted a version of Ken Masters brainwashed by M. Bison to utilize Bison's Psycho Powers. Additionally, Akuma's Shin Akuma form, a secret boss from Street Fighter Alpha 2, was included as a secret character selectable only through a specific input code on the character select screen during local play. The game featured a standard roster of nineteen characters, each with their own country of origin, ranging from Japan to the Soviet Union, creating a diverse cast that reflected the global nature of the Street Fighter universe.