Time to be a bit vulgar:
When it comes to 2D fighting games, especially anything Street Fighter related, I'm not exactly a trembling virgin. I've been interested in the series since I learned about Street Fighter II through schoolyard fights that I swear formed only to give boys a reason to scream "HADOKEN" while delivering kicks to one another below the belt.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo has long remained my favourite 2D fighter. I've been waiting for Turbo II HD Remix with my head on Udon's lap, looking up at it adoringly with puppy-dog eyes, my tail wagging just the slightest bit. "Now? Is it ready now?"
Now I have it for the Xbox 360 and it's left me shuddering at my own inadequacies. Oh, I'm as good as ever--at least I think so--but it's hard to get a lock on my skills because I can't wrap my hands around the Xbox 360 controller in a manner that's appropriate for executing a Sonic Boom. Instead of snapping forward and delivering air-bladed death, Guile just usually somersaults into the opponent's arms like a love-starved toddler. Two seconds later, he's eating concrete.
Maybe I need practise, or maybe this whole situation just sucks. I had heard the horror stories: the Xbox 360's d-pad is not meant for the semi-ancient 2D genre. Even if the d-pad wasn't as loose as (simile about teenage Aerosmith groupie), it feels awkward to hold for this manner of gaming. I didn't play much in the way of Braid and my Mega Man 9 experience was on the Wii, so experiencing this first hand through a game that I've been waiting for is a downer.
Oh wait, wait. I'm pretty sure I downloaded and played the original Street Fighter II on XBLA and had the same problem. I just assumed it would magically fix itself. I'm good at sitting around and waiting for things to fix themselves.
Alas, nothing has fixed itself and I still want to play Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. I am considering options. I have three:
1) Suffer
2) Practise
3) Buy a respectable controller
I'm thinking a combination of 1 and 2 might be key here. It's a poor craftsperson who blames his tools for his failures. Also, I'm cheap.
(Memorable Sakura image by Kaigetsudo)
Related Links:
Licensing Tragedies: Malibu's Street Fighter Comic
Street Fighter IV's Fighting Spirit in Painstaking Detail
Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix C-C-Combo Makers