Since the summer of ’92, I have been spending my quarters in arcades across the country looking for a fight. In that time,  I have punched and kicked my way through countless battles, occasionally throwing in a fireball or flaming uppercut for good measure, repeatedly defeating the Shadaloo crime boss and succumbing to the Raging Demon.

What I have never been able to do, however, is properly execute super moves and ultra combos. Thankfully, Capcom has found a fix for this issue with the use of touchscreen technology in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. In addition to the standard six attack buttons all Street Fighter alum are used to, there are also four touch panels that allow you to pull off regular super moves, super combos, and ultra combos. Gone are the days of ridiculous inputs to pull off anything with Zangief or the deadliest moves of Akuma. With these new controls, this Street Fighter game offers a better user experience than previous editions for newbies and veterans alike.

The good features do not end there, as Capcom has not just ported over the console version of Super Street Fighter IV. In this version, there is also a training mode that works similar to that of the Mortal Kombat or SoulCalibur franchises seen on past PlayStation and Xbox platforms. A series of challenges teach you each of the characters’ moves from the game, starting with simple commands such as fireballs and advancing to the more complex moves such as ultra combos. This is a great way to learn each character’s strengths, weaknesses and advanced moves so touch controls can eventually be phased out. Also included is an over-the-shoulder 3D mode that, despite taking a little getting used to, offers a clearer view of your opponents facial expressions.

If these modes were not enough, Capcom has also included a figure collection mode, allowing you to spend coins and points earned in during gameplay to buy figures via a touch screen roulette game. Thankfully, from the get go, many of the downloadable costumes seen in console versions of the game appear as well.

Capcom has made sure the fighting in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition feels as fantastic as ever, and with the capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS, Street Fighter has never looked better. Honestly I was shocked to see how well this game looks. Though I wasn’t expecting Tiger Electronics-style graphics, the 3DS Street Fighter looks as good as any previous console version, with the 3D technology enhancing it even more.

I have played many of the launch titles that the 3DS has to offer and I can honestly say that besides looking the best in graphics with or without the 3D turned on, Super Street Fighter IV also plays better than many other games on the market. This is easily the best handheld fighting game I have played. Whether you’re a Street Fighter vet or new to the fighting scene, this game is the best the Nintendo 3DS has to offer thus far.

Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is available for Nintendo 3DS. Rated T. www.streetfighter.com.

Review by Jason Von Stein