TGS 2002: Capcom takes 2D fighting to Xbox Live

Microsoft is showing an Xbox version of Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO in its booth at the Tokyo Game Show. The game is currently scheduled for release on the GameCube later this month, but the upcoming Xbox version has one major thing over its GameCube counterpart: online play. The Xbox version of the game is arcade-perfect, duplicating the popular fighting game that has already appeared in arcades, on the Dreamcast, on the PS2, and, of course, on the GameCube.

For those unfamiliar with the GameCube release, the addition of EO to the title signifies a new gameplay style for the game that wasn't in the PS2, Dreamcast, or arcade releases. EO stands for easy operation, and it reconfigures the standard six-button Street Fighter control style to instead use the Xbox controller's analog controls. The left and right triggers execute various strengths of punches and kicks. Moving the right analog stick in various directions performs your special moves. Ryu and Ken, for example, throw fireballs when you push the stick in the direction of your opponent, do hurricane kicks when you push away, and do dragon punches when you push up. Super combos are performed by using diagonal directions on the analog stick.

While the version shown was networked to a machine that was less than six feet away, it's worth mentioning that the game was very playable and showed no signs of lag. But it's anyone's guess as to how the game will perform under actual online traffic conditions. The game also features support for the Xbox Live headset.

Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO is scheduled to come to the Xbox, in Japan at least, early next year. No plans for a US release have been made public at this time.