System: Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Developer: Capcom
Players: 1-4 (both online and offline)
Review by: Matt Bosko

Editor’s note: This is a regular column in which Matt Bosko reviews Xbox Live Arcade games. Since XBLA titles are smaller in nature than full-blown retail releases, the reviews are shorter and forgo the Criteria page.

If you’re like me, when you hear the title, “Street Fighter,” the timeless series of fighting games comes to mind. Well, Capcom is trying to roll that same classic feel into their puzzle fighting venture, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, the game where it’s good to build up to knock down your opponent. The question is, though, will this title build us up or let us down?

SPF2 sets you in opposition to another Street Fighter and challenges you to overload the other’s “pit” with blocks. Blocks come in four different colors. Like in most puzzle games, it’s better to group together certain colors, as you’ll earn more points or gain the ability to throw more blocks into your opponent’s pit. The blocks you drop into the other player’s pit is decided is by your character; each character has a certain set of blocks that comes down after making a small or big combination.

The game offers several different modes. For example, “Z” mode allows you to move the gems horizontally, while “Y” mode challenges you to connect at least three blocks of the same color in a row. The modes also play well over Xbox Live, although I’ve been on the receiving end of some serious butt kicking.

The game features great looking HD visuals. In fact, the character models look better than ever a projector sized TV. The developers have given the backgrounds and blocks a noticeable facelift as well. Another good selling point for SPF2 is its playability; good luck not getting addicted.

Overall, SPF2 is worth every penny of its 800 MS points. Achievements are difficult but not impossible to attain. Most achievement points require that you complete a mode in either hard or extreme to receive the points. With unlimited lives, all you need to be is persistent and you’ll gain them in time. I hope to face you online in this one soon.

-Matt Bosko-

Want to see how you stack up against me in this game? Check me out on Xbox Live! My gamer tag is MattBWild11.