Those who downloaded the fun, short shooter Commando 3 on the Live Arcade can wake up to extra bonus this morning. The headline eating Super Street Fighter II (deep breath) HD Remix beta is up and available for download. The options are slim, limited to a single stage and two characters, Ken and Ryu. The beta is set to run until August 20th. Online and local play are available, though it’s all multiplayer. There is no option to fight the AI yet. Some initial impressions after the jump.
- Absolutely stunning remix of Ken’s theme plays over the options menu. If this is a taste of things to come, the newly redone soundtrack could be the best the game has ever received.
- The sprites look amazing. You can make out a small smirk on Ken’s face during his stand still pose. Ryu has a serious, deep in concentration look on his mug. It’s going to be hard to fully appreciate unless you’re viewing in a minimum of 720p.
- Special effects are kept to a minimum, but are nicely done. The heat trail that follows the fireballs is superb.
- Online play is smooth once into a match. However, beta or not, there’s no excuse for complete system lock-ups when trying to match up. It’s a frustrating and common problem.
- Collision detection and speed match up perfectly with the original. Those expecting a revolution in game play or even an update are bound to be disappointed. This is purely a visual makeover… and an impressive one at that.
Tags: beta, capcom, commando 3, juli from street fighter, live arcade, street fighter, street fighter drawings, super street fighter hd remix, xbox live