WEIRDNESS: .Street Fighter 2 released on... Virtual boy!?!?

Street Fighter 2 was big, I mean really big. It defined what would become "modern" fighting games for the next 24 years (and counting). It defined the mechanics and the now norm "arcade tested, console refined" cycle of development and as such landed on almost every system.

I would say its a safe bet that SF2 has hit every console in some form, whether it's been one of it update versions, compilations, remakes or ports. Everything from the last gen all the way down to the 2-bit, monochrome Gameboy but one platform didn't see a port. Nintendo's first 3D system (and massive failure) the short lived Virtual Boy ("famous" for making your eyes "bleed") never saw a version of the revolutionary fighter... till now!

Two talented homebrew developers Mr Anon and "MK" have rectified that "mistake" and have created not only the above packaging, booklet and cart but also their very own version of Street Fighter 2: Turbo (titled Hyper Fighting) for the eye-destroying-black-mark-on-Nintendo's-history Virtual Boy

Obviously the guys aren't "selling" it as doing so would surely bring Cacpom's lawyers' wrath (who here are played by M.Bison and Akuma) but several copies have made their way into collectors hands and I'm sure these have jumped to the top of the "collectable" versions of Street Fighter 2 list.

Check it out




Want to read more about another game with the Keywords Terrible, Retro and Fighting? Check out JM's Hourglass review HERE

Update: Thanks to Retro game collector and YouTuber VetrexRoli we have a better look at gameplay (check out his channel HERE)




Abe's Take
Over the last 5 years we've started to see retro consoles getting new games, whilst usually indie or long-delayed titles. Hell the recent Ducktales remaster's special edition came with a seemingly decorative golden NES cart of the original, which turns out to be a fully functioning game. It's good to see old systems getting love and this has certainly but these guys on our radar for their future adventures.

It's also a little frightening that SFII is 25 years old next year and it's celebrations will possibly limited to PlayStation, when it should belong to everyone (Nintendo being Street Fighter 2's spirital home makes this more unpleasant

Hour's Take
So here is the proverbial hero, the one the Virtual Boy deserves but not the one it needs right now. I don't know whether to bow to its majesty or savage my eyes with a rusty screwdriver. In acknowledgment of the efforts this pointless project required, I choose neither and instead respectfully opt to blueprint a mechanized pendulum of swinging torture to stab me in the eye for me. And by grace of Lady Justice alone this is still not the worst port of the game meaning U.S. Gold will continue to be pelted with warm apples. Hurrah!!