Games

The two biggest rivals in the beat ‘em up genre – Capcom’s Street Fighter and Namco’s Tekken – have put their differences aside to, ahem, beat the crap out of each other in this super-charged arcade smackdown. But can any game really live up to the kind of expectations that surround this one? Well, as far as this reviewer is concerned, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’.

Suffice to say, this isn’t just the best arcade beat ‘em up to surface this year, it’s the most addictive we’ve encountered since the genre-defining Street Fighter 2 first unleashed a Spinning Bird Kick on SNES owners back in 1992.

With Capcom’s brawler taking first place in the title, it’s hardly surprising that this crossover takes both gameplay and graphical cues from Street Fighter IV. But given that game’s standing in the genre, it’s no bad thing. And it’s all been given a big old twist through the implementation of power gems that can be used to enhance different aspects and abilities in the featured fighters.

This is a title no self-respecting fight fan can be without. Just make sure you pick up an arcade stick if you want to stand a chance pulling off a Tatsumaki Senpukyaku or Phoenix Smasher.

Capcom, Xbox 360/PS3, £50 Approx, On sale now
HCC VERDICT: 5/5