Gran Turismo versus Streetfighter 2 - the creme de la creme of each respective genre.
The game that dubbed itself "The driving simulator" roared onto the scene in 1997 - and Gran Turismo looked gorgeous, quite unlike any of its predecessors. There were no cartoony graphics here, everything was accurate down to the smallest detail thanks to the support of the major motor manufacturers. Sadly, this also meant a lack of in-game crash damage, but this was quickly forgiven by its legion of fans.
Aside from the crisp, realistic graphics and 170+ licensed vehicles, it also boasted attractive vistas, carefully thought out tracks and a superb soundtrack. After passing numerous tests to gain the appropriate driving licenses, you picked one of the varied tracks to pit your wits against some pretty unforgiving computer-controlled opponents. After winning races, cars could be bought, sold or tweaked to enhance their performance.
This was the game that made everyone sit up and take notice of Sony's Playstation.
But what better game to try and give Gran Turismo a good kicking than Streetfighter II? According to Wikipedia, it "was the first one-on-one fighting game to give players a choice from a variety of player characters with different moves". I can't for the life of me think any examples of this that predated Capcom's gaming legend so I'll go along with this.
This was also one of the pioneers of the combo move - where a myriad of button presses launches your chosen character's trademark attack.
Sadly, being rather inept at fighting games, mastering all the moves was never my strong point and I was at somewhat of a disadvantage against all but the most feeble of competitors! I imagine many a gamer has succumbed to a bad case of repetitive strain injury with this offering.
Ken and Ryu had their dragon punch, while Guile had his equally impressive Sonic Boom. Chunky-thighed Chun Li was an old favourite, unashamedly showing off her pins with what my wife PhotoPuddle has dubbed the "kicky leg" move (I think she liked it because it was mighty easy to repeat over and over again with a few simple button presses!)
A mere four years after the original emerged in 1987, Streetfighter II shifted huge numbers of Nintendo's Super NES and gained a cult following. It spawned numerous sequels, culminating in the recently launched - and highly acclaimed - Streetfighter IV on the Xbox 360 and PS3.
- Originality - Gran Turismo added realism and detail to the mix, whereas Streetfighter II was responsible for a major shift in the genre. Winner: Draw
- Longevity - Although it could be argued that both stand the test of time, the original Gran Turismolooks a little rough around the edges nowadays. Streetfighter looks dated too but its old-skool graphics still have a certain charm. Winner: Streetfighter
- Graphics - Streetfighter was big and bold, while Gran Turismo at the time was quite simply breathtaking. Winner: Gran Turismo
- Sound FX - Some guy with a flat top yelling "Sonic Boom" versus accurate engine noises and a fantastic CD-quality soundtrack with some decent bands. Mmmm. Winner: Gran Turismo
- Replayability - You can easily pick up either game today and have a great laugh. However, even though a newer, funkier version has just been released, I'd bet that more of you would still prefer a night in with Streetfighter II than Gran Turismo! Winner: Streetfighter
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