There's one classic fighting game that every gamer needs to learn to play

Published 8 minutes ago

Jakejames Lugo is a writer that has been covering video games and other entertainment for many years. He has written and published reviews, guides, listicles, and other content that anyone interested in gaming would follow. A lot of his work can be found in places like IGN, Dot Esports, Red Bull Gaming, The Outerhaven, Playboy Gaming, and many other outlets.

Jakejames continues to be part of the big conversations surrounding video games and entertainment. You can always find him sharing his undying passion for games online.

Published 8 minutes ago

Jakejames continues to be part of the big conversations surrounding video games and entertainment. You can always find him sharing his undying passion for games online.

Fighting games are some of the most competitive games around, while also remaining some of the most fun to play with other people. Whether you’re trying to be a champion or dominate your personal friend group, playing fighting games is always a great time. The genre has been very popular for decades, with tons of unique and unorthodox fighting games being released on consoles and in arcades. But there is one classic game in the genre that every gamer, of any age, should learn how to play at some point in their lives.

For most fighting game enthusiasts, Capcom are the undisputed king of the genre for their many arcade releases. And because of that, we have one of the most important fighting game releases to ever come out in arcades, Street Fighter II. But it’s an updated version of the classic that went further and perfected the formula for what makes a great fighter, and it ushered many into becoming champions within the competitive scene. Super Street Fighter II Turbo is not only the best fighting game to introduce someone to the genre, but is also one that has helped tons of players become more skilled at fighting games overall. There’s one classic fighting game that every gamer needs to learn to play at some point in their life, and it’s definitely Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

Systems

Released February 23, 1994

ESRB Teen // Animated Violence

Developer(s) Capcom

Publisher(s) Capcom

Engine Kart Fighter Engine

Multiplayer Local Multiplayer

Prequel(s) Super Street Fighter II

Genre(s) Fighting

Essence of execution

Learning how to play flows into others

What makes Super Street Fighter II Turbo great was how it took the already solid foundation from its predecessors and continuously tweaked it to perfection. The original Street Fighter II was vastly different from its predecessor, the often forgotten first game in the series, because it had many fundamental differences in how it controlled and played. The concept of combos and linked attacks started in Street Fighter II by accident, but then became a vital part of the gameplay, especially in competitions. These same aspects were iterated on, tweaked, and improved again and again up until Super Street Fighter II Turbo, where the roster of characters was as balanced as possible.

Why this is important is because learning how to execute special moves and movement in the game can translate into nearly every fighting game that has been released since. Many 2D fighters, and even some 3D ones, follow a lot of the same principles and methods of control that Super Street Fighter II Turbo made so popular. Being precise with special move inputs, knowing when to jump and block, or timing counterattacks against opponents are all key parts of matches in any fighting game. And in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, being accurate with timing, and exact inputs quickly is part of what separates skilled players from novices.

It also helps that many of the games that Capcom has released over the years follow similar principles and gameplay design. Even the games that aren’t connected to Street Fighter in any way are similar, both in controls and general gameplay. If you learn how to do a quarter-circle input in Super Street Fighter II Turbo very well, chances are you’re going to be able to do so in every fighting game that has something similar. The same goes for charging inputs, multi-button inputs, and everything else that is required to make characters do special moves and attack opponents. It’s like learning how to ride a bicycle at an early age. The same type of coordination and care is transferable into other modes of transportation.

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The way of match-ups

Elements to be competitive

While Super Street Fighter II Turbo has different kinds of match-ups within its roster, the approach to matches and concept of counter-picking is relatable to so many other fighters. The casual crowd who doesn’t get too competitive with these games won’t always think about things like this when playing. They’re only concerned with getting into matches and beating down others for as many wins as possible. It’s not complex, but it’s a lot of fun, and is the basis of so much within the arcade scene when Street Fighter II first released.

But everyone else who looks at fighting games and begins to think of things like this has *Street Fighter II *to thank for it. This was taken further with Super Street Fighter II Turbo, as the roster size increased and balance changes made match-ups more complex. No two combinations of fighters are going to have the exact same type of match-up, mostly due to what special moves and types of attacks work best between them. For high level competition, things like this really matter, right down to the frames of animation for each character. Knowing what attacks are best to use, how far they reach, and how quick they are can make all the difference in one match-up over another. Switching characters in the middle of a set can give a player a chance to make a comeback, or have a better chance at fending off the competition.

As other fighting games have come out over the years after Super Street Fighter II Turbo, much of this remains the same. And not just for 2D fighting games, but for 3D fighters as well. The idea of the best match-ups and counter-picks for every character on a roster is pretty much standard nowadays for any kind of fighting game.

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Dominating space

Not just holding it in any game

If there’s one universal lesson that any gamer can take from learning how to play Super Street Fighter II Turbo, it’s the understanding of space. On a screen, there’s only so much area that characters can move through and occupy, which gets crowded with other things like special attacks and other hazards. But the common thing about all of them is the amount of space they take up, which is used to judge when and how attacks can connect. Super Street Fighter II Turbo is a game that is heavily focused on this, being an early 2D fighter where things are much more simple in practice. So the application of it all, and how much one can learn, is the most potent for anyone learning how to play fighting games.

While the first Street Fighter game established this, it’s sequel and the updated versions later turned it into what we understand about the genre today. Every attack in Super Street Fighter II Turbo is connected to the space it takes up, where it leads to, and how it interacts with opponents. Truly skilled players in tournaments and high level competition take a lot of time to understand these intricacies of every character they play, as well as the ones they often encounter. Because knowing how to exploit the weak points of attacks, or where a character is vulnerable, opens up a lot of opportunities to capitalize on. It’s a type of skill that can take time to pick up, but also is applicable to any fighting game one might play.

Credit: Capcom

2D and 3D fighting games follow these same principles. The only big difference between a game like Super Street Fighter II Turbo and a game like Tekken 8 is the addition of the Z-axis of movement in 3D space. The actions and reactions of every movement and attack is still the same, whether fighting on a 2D plane or a 3D plane. Keeping these things in mind can allow someone to pay attention to more subtleties in match-ups in nearly any type of game, giving them a competitive edge.

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Continuing to fight all over

The essence of what makes the fighting game genre so appealing and fun to play can be found in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. It’s a game that everyone should learn to play at some point in their lives, especially if they find themselves encountering different games that are like it. Many of the skills and techniques one can pick up from playing it for an extended period can translate into other popular titles within the genre, even when things are visually or mechanically different. And whether you’re a casual player or looking to become much more competitive, everyone can get something out of playing Super Street Fighter II Turbo that can stay with them long after.