Amongst the glut of puzzle games
over the past few years, Capcom
throws it's hat into the ring with
Super Puzzle Fighter 2. With the
support of some of their most
famous characters, Capcom
suceeds in breathing fresh air into a
stagnant genre.
Graphics: While most puzzle
games aren't known for flashy
graphics, SPF2 makes the most of
how far one can take graphics in a
puzzle game. While similar to a
columns-style game in whice
blocks of varieng colors descend
from the top of the playfield waiting
for the player to match colors,
SPF2 add a street-fighter like
battle which occurs in the middle of
the screen. The battles are between
4 characters from the Street Fighter
Universe and 4 from Darkstalkers.
These super-deformed characters
fight based on
succesful combanations from the
player. While it is hard to focus on
these battles during play, Capcom
makes the most graphically out of
a puzzle game.
RATING = 8.5
Sound: For those who like quirky
japanease tunes, you'll get a real
kick out of the soundtrack. Each
character comes with his or her
own sayings, which English players
probably won't understand (there
mostly in Japanese). The music is
passable and doesn't detract from
gameplay.
RATING = 7.0
Gameplay: This is where SPF2
shines. The object of the game ,
like most other puzzlers, is to clear
your playfield of blocks by
collecting colored blocks and
breaking them by placing round
color chips on top of them. (ex.
Blue round chip placed on a group
of square blue chips). For
multi-hits, your character will attack
the opponent in a humorous
fashion.
What makes SPF2 stand out from
the others, and adds replayability to
the title, are the various modes of
play. You have the traditional
Arcade mode (where you fight 8
opponents and a boss) and the
entertaining versus mode. But a
third mode, street puzzle mode,
adds a new feature to puzzle
games. At the menu, you pick a
character and a "prize" that you
want to win. You then enter a
one-round battle against an
opponent. Win, and you get a prize
(ex: secret characters, songs, color
combinations, etc.) Lose, and it's
try, try again. This feature thrusts
SPF2 into the "elite" class of
puzzlers.
RATING = 9.5
Overall, SPF2 brings members of
Capcom's stable into an
entertaining puzzle game. It's a
game that everybody can play (my
wife totally dominates me in this
game!) and has hours upon hours
of replay value (that many other
puzzle games lack). For the BEST
puzzle game at a resonable price,
go out and pick up Super Puzzle
Fighter 2. You won't regret it.
OVERALL = 9.0
