In 1989, Capcom unwittingly began a legacy when they released Street Fighter into arcades. Mixing typical graphics with a unique fighting engine, they cemented their way into history with the game's popularity. Street Fighter II followed along in 1991 and changed the fighting game genre as we know it, introducing blocking, special moves, and faster movement to create a bigger legacy. Now, in 2004, the game's practically a namesake in Capcom's library, as new Street Fighter games continue to pour out and define both 2D and 3D fighting as we know it, from releases in the 3D EX series to the enjoyable Alpha games. Now, we come to this, an essential collection that caters to the fans of old and beckons new ones to take notice of the massive history the series has built.

Street Fighter Anniversary Collection packages a great deal of 2D fighting greatness across two discs, with six games that are sure to grab your attention and not let go. With the inclusion of several playable characters, each armed with a great deal of moves, throws, and super moves to batter their opponents, and different styles in each game (some rely on tactics while others offer speed enhancements and different bonuses), it's definitely worth digging into.

The Alpha and EX games didn't make the cut, nor did the original Street Fighter game, and that is a slight shame, since a few of these games helped advance the series along into the realm of legacy. However, what's here isn't to be scoffed at. On the first disc, you'll find the entire Street Fighter II saga, spanning across five games. There's Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II: Championship Edition, Street Fighter II: Turbo, Super Street Fighter II, and Super Street Fighter II Turbo, all packed with options to tweak and great fighting action. The second disc has but one game, but it's one of the best of the series, Street FIghter III: Third Strike, which originally found a release on the Dreamcast and has enjoyed immense success both at home and in the arcade.

Capcom's refined the experience so that the games still play as great as they did back in the heydays of the arcade and the SNES. The gameplay is spot on, right down to some of the trickier combos and special moves. The game also looks to be visually arcade perfect, as characters still animate with the greatness they had before, right down to the victory animations. Even the floor line scrolls look downright perfect. Add in the traditional music for the previous games, as well as sound samples that fire off after each individual move (like the mighty "SHORYUKEN!" that Ken and Ryu let off during a dragon punch).

Our personal favorite, though, has to be Third Strike. Packing a great deal of meaty combos, interesting characters (gotta love Q), and some superb animation and music, the game just gets incredibly addictive. It challenges players to progress not just defensively, but with key offensive maneuvers, like a crucial air attack or throw. It really is a wonderful game, and the fact that Xbox and PS2 owners will finally get to see what all the fuss is about is a great deal.

New features will be added into each game, like bonus goodies in the games themselves and a great gallery mode, which allows you to delve into the artwork and sounds of the Street Fighter series. Think of it as a private exhibition that you control.

Street Fighter Anniversary Collection isn't an entire history of the Street Fighter series, but it has enough components to keep gamers well entertained and practicing their moves and combos well into the next morning. It looks to be a must-have for fighting fans all over, and for good reason.