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Fighting
2 players
4 MB RAM cart included

Although it's a superior 2D fighting game, X-Men vs. Street Fighter has two deadly strikes against it: First, it's bundled with the Saturn RAM cart, which is required to play, but increases its price, and second, it may never even make it to the U.S. That's a real shame because gamers will miss out on one of the most fun fighting games ever to hit the home market.

Mixed Doubles
Combining two popular series, X-Men vs. Street Fighter enlists nine Street Fighter Alpha characters and eight X-Men comic-book heroes. True to their roots, the SF characters keep their familiar special moves, and while the X-Men possess similar attacks, some also retain their comic-book powers. For example, Rogue can steal special moves from opponents and Storm relies on weather attacks.

The game has two play modes‹Versus and Arcade‹but its best feature is the tag team structure, where you pick teams of two, then switch between fighters during a match (until one is defeated). The tag-team play is especially cool because you can combine your characters' super powers for a two-on-one assault against an opponent.

Choose the standard modes, however, and you'll get a mixed bag. Versus will keep you and a friend fighting for hours, but the Arcade mode often becomes an exercise in frustration. (Just wait until the A.I. executes the same eight-hit air juggle combo three times in a row and you'll get the idea.) The only missing options are a practice mode like in the Alpha games and the ability to select Apocalypse's stage as a fighting background.

X-Men vs. Street Fighter, in fact, is similar to X-Men: Children of the Atom and Marvel Super Heroes with air juggles and battle stages as high as they are wide. And like those two titles, the gameplay at times relies more on flash than actual skill.

X-Cellent Fights
X-Men requires the new 4-meg RAM cart that fits in the Saturn's memory expansion slot. The extra RAM makes possible lightning-fast graphics and incredibly fluid character animation, while almost eliminating load times. It also helps the fighters alternate seamlessly during fights with no interruption in the action. And unlike the home versions of Marvel Super Heroes and Darkstalkers, X-Men retains most of the frames of character animation during gameplay. The only exception is that some bigger characters (like Juggernaut and Zangief) suffer from slightly choppy animation.

The CD audio also shines with its likeness to the arcade version's, though this means it includes some of the annoying character themes as well. The characters' voices, from Akuma's grunts to Rogue's triumphant "I did it!", are crystal-clear and easily understood.

Total Control
X-Men's controls are equally heroic. They're very responsive, so combos, special moves, and super moves are a breeze to execute. Two more pluses are the arcade-true six-button controller layout and the custom configuration that enables you to tailor the buttons so you can switch between fighters by pressing one button instead of two.

"Yes!"
X-Men vs. Street Fighter may not be identical to the arcade version, but it comes pretty damn close. Hopefully this game will make it to U.S. shores soon.

PROTIP: To score extra hits and execute an air juggle, pummel an opponent up in the air, and chain that move into a super move. For example, playing as Chun-Li, pop an opponent in the air with a standing Roundhouse Kick, then immediately motion ' << >> and press any two Kick buttons simultaneously to juggle 'em across the screen.

PROTIP: To perform Akuma's Death move, tap JP, JP, >>, SK, FP when his Super Bar is at level one. Johnny Ballgame and Dan Elektro love this one.

PROTIP: To run at an opponent, simultaneously tap all three Punch buttons and press Toward your opponent. To hastily retreat, simultaneously press all three Punch buttons and press Away from your opponent.

PROTIP: Although Cammy's one of the smallest fighters in the game, she's one of the best. To perform her "Eat this!" counterattack, motion >> << ' " " and press any Punch button when an opponent attacks with a kick or a punch.

PROTIP: When fighting the last boss, Apocalypse, jump or teleport past his giant drill-this attack can deplete your life bar by half even if it's blocked.

PROTIP: Rogue can steal another fighter's special moves. For example, when fighting Zangief, motion >> << ' " " and press any Kick button. After Rogue kisses Zangief, motion ' << >> and press any Kick button to use Zangief's Spinning Piledriver.

PROTIP: To play as Chun-Li in her other outfit, at the fighter-select screen, put the cursor over her, press and hold Start, and press any Punch or Kick button. To play as Akuma, keep pressing Up at the fighter select screen.

SOUND: 5.0
GRAPHICS:4.5
CONTROL: 5.0
FUN FACTOR: 5.0