There are three types of fighting game enthusiasts in this world, and all argue over which is best - Street Fighter, Tekken or Mortal Kombat. Now gamers can have the best of two of these worlds in one game.
Capcom and Namco have combined their fighting franchises to produce thefirst instalment of a two-part crossover series. Street Fighter X Tekken borrows the best elements from both games and mixes them into one fast-paced fighter in true Street Fighter style. Namco is also developing Tekken X Street Fighter, which will be in typical Tekken style. It's a great idea that opens up a whole load of cross-franchise opportunities across several genres.
The character roster is an even mix of both franchises and each character has their counterpart with whom a pre- and post-game dialogue develops. Gameplay revolves heavily around the tag-team style and fighters can be switched at any time, even during juggles and mid-combo, with perfect fluidity to carry on the move. Once one of your fighters loses though, it's game over.
The game modes aren't terribly inspiring, but their lack thereof doesn't detract from the enjoyment. An addition is the Pandora mode, which you can activate if your character is almost defeated. This gives you 10 seconds of fury to try to finish off your opponent and can make or break the fight. There are also Gems, which allow combos to be more accessible, among other things. They were unnecessary, but again don't bring the game down.
Street Fighter X Tekken is a superb addition to any fighting fan's collection and holds some serious online longevity.Ian Knott
