Street Fighter EX2

Infobox VG
title = Street Fighter EX2


caption = Sales flier for the arcade version.
developer = Arika
publisher = Capcom
released = PlayStation version
vgrelease|JP=1999-12-09|PAL=1999|NA=2000-06-01
genre = Fighting/Action
modes = Single Player
Multi Player
platforms = PlayStation
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=Teen

"Street Fighter EX2" is 3D head-to-head fighting game co-produced by Capcom and Arika originally released in vgy|1998 as a coin operated arcade game for the Sony ZN-2 hardware. It is a sequel to the original "Street Fighter EX", a 3D spinoff of the "Street Fighter" series. A revised version of the game titled "Street Fighter EX2 Plus" was released in vgy|1999 for the arcades as well and subsequently ported to the PlayStation. It was followed by "Street Fighter EX3".

Gameplay

The original version of "Street Fighter EX2" retains all the features from the previous game, "Street Fighter EX Plus", including original features such as "Guard Breaks" (unique moves which cannot be blocked by an opponent) and "Super Canceling" (the ability to cancel a Super Combo into another Super Combo).

The primary new feature in the game are "Excel Combos", ("excel" being abbreviation for "extra cancel"). Much like the "Custom Combos" featured in the "Street Fighter Alpha" series, Excel Combos allows player to connect a series of basic and special moves for a limited time. During an Excel Combo, the player begins with a basic move and can follow up with a different basic move or follow-up a basic move with a special move, which can be followed by a different special move. However, the player cannot connect any move with the same move, nor can they cancel special moves into basic moves during an Excel Combo.

Characters

Recurring "Street Fighter" characters Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Zangief and Guile, who were all in the original "Street Fighter EX", return for "EX2", along with original characters Hokuto, Skullomania, Doctrine Dark and Cracker Jack. Dhalsim, who was in the PlayStation version of "Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha", also returns along four additional characters new to "EX" series: Blanka and Vega from previous "Street Fighter" games, along with new characters Sharon (a gun-wielding hitwoman) and Hayate (a Japanese swordsman).

The game also features four hidden characters: Kairi from the original "EX" returns as a hidden challenger, along with new characters Shadowgeist (a costumed vigilante similar to Skullomania) and Nanase (a young girl who wields a staff). Garuda, also from the original "EX", returns as a boss character. All four characters can be selected by the player after meeting certain requirements

Versions

Arcade

An enhanced version, titled "Street Fighter EX2 Plus", was released for the arcades a year after the original "Street Fighter EX2". The game retains all the characters from the original game, with the exception of Hayate, who was removed from the game. Nanase now serves as a regular character in his place. Bison, along with Pullum Purna and Darun Mister, who were all excluded from the original "Street Fighter EX2", returned in "EX2 Plus". Sagat makes his debut in the "EX" series along with new characters Vulcano Rosso (an Italian martial artist) and Area (a young girl equipped with a large mechanical arm). A non-selectable version of Bison named "Bison II" appears in the game as a final opponent in the single-player mode.

In addition to the Super Combos and Excel Combos in the original "EX2", "EX2 Plus" also features "Meteor Combos", more powerful Super Combos which can only be performed filling up all three stocks of the Super Combo gauge. While the previous "EX" games feature characters who had Lv.3-only Super Combos, in "EX2 Plus" it became a standard feature for all the characters, with each character having at least one Meteor Combo. The Excel Combo system from the original "EX2" was also slightly revised. The player can now connect a basic move or special move into the same move instead of being limited to a different move.

Home

A home version of "Street Fighter EX2 Plus" for the PlayStation was also released in vgy|1999, released a few months shortly after the arcade version. The PlayStation features a standard arcade, versus and practice modes, along with an all new "director mode" and a "bonus game". The home version also brings back Hayate as a secret character.

External links

*KLOV game|id=9809
* [http://www.arika.co.jp/arika_eng/index.html Arika] - Developers of the "Street Fighter EX" series.
* [http://shop.capcom.com/store/capcomus/DisplayHomePage Capcom] - Publishers of the "Street Fighter EX" series