"Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition" Review

When it first debuted in 2016, "Street Fighter V" seemed like barely half a game. With a flimsy list of launch characters, no story mode and a gutted online infrastructure, it played more like an early access entry than a full-fledged release.

Capcom's resilient dev team, though, kept at it. Determined to achieve a flawless victory by methodical iteration, a steady stream of updates and additions -- as well as a dollop of paid DLC -- inched the game closer and closer to the original vision promised in breathless previews leading up to the original release. Now, with the advent of the "Arcade Edition"rerelease -- a free update for owners of the original -- this scrapper is rough and ready to slug it out through the long haul.

In addition to the expected balance updates, the bonus characters from the first two seasons of the game are here, as well as an arcade mode, team battle mode, extra balance mode and additional V-trigger for each fighter. With the likes of Sakura, Sagat, Blanka, Falke and G. Sakura available, there is plenty of new stuff for even hardened veterans to tackle.

A dedicated community kept the spirit of what the game could be alive throughout the doldrums, and players who hop in now benefit in the form of a robust, ever-present stream of competitors to hone their skills against. Finally the sequel emerges from the formidable shadow of "Street Fighter IV" and its umpteen recalibrations. The array of special moves available and the level of rock-paper-scissors strategems keep the game as addictive as ever.

Finally, after nearly two years of pushing, "Street Fighter V" is the world warrior fans always hoped it would become.

Publisher provided review code.