Street Fighter II: Champion Edition – A Pivotal Evolution in Fighting Games

Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, released by Capcom in March 1992, stands as a landmark in the evolution of 2D fighting games. Building upon the success of the original Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, this edition introduced significant enhancements that deepened gameplay and expanded character selection. Notably, it allowed players to choose from all twelve characters, including the four previously unplayable bosses: Balrog, Vega, Sagat, and M. Bison. This expansion not only diversified the roster but also introduced the concept of mirror matches, enabling two players to select the same character, distinguished by alternate color palettes.

The gameplay refinements in Champion Edition focused on balancing the abilities of the original eight characters, ensuring a more competitive and fair experience. Adjustments to move priorities and damage outputs were implemented to create a more strategic fighting