Video game movies don't need to suck

Street Fighter II

The Potential

It should have been The M♔atrix before The Matrix was ever thought of, pure and simple. Street Fighter II brought properly to live-action life would give us the most staggering, vibrant, effects-laden super-human combat we’ve ever seen. Not only that, but every character has enough back-story and motivation to pack out a full-lengthaction movie, even if most remain part of the♋ supporting cast.

What we got

Ye gods… A contrived plot about a UN task force, no mention of a fightingtournament, and an almost respect-worthy ability to horrifically miscast every character in the movie left Street Fighter: The Ultimate Battle an agonising and cheap-looking disaster which focussed on all the wrong things and didn’t even notice the right ones. More like your office colleagues having a Street Fighter II-themed Hallowe’en party than a genuine a🙈daptation of the game.

Long-time GR+ writer Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.