While Super Street Fighter IV was first released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 last year the 3DS version seems perfectly at home on a console that includes the return of many franchises that have not been seen for some time (Pilotwings, Dead or Alive and Kid Icarus to name a few). If anything the fact it is an enhanced port means it was able to make the console's launch easier and provide gaming fans with a fantastic fighting experience.

Super Street Fighter IV 3D certainly gives you plenty of options to choose from. The game features 6 different modes, 35 characters, 23 stages and numerous alternative costumes, special moves etc. While some gamers will gladly pick up the game and enjoy a fight now and then if you really dig into it there is a lot more to this game than initially meets the eye. Of course this is something fans of the series know and love anyway but it shouldn't go without being noted.

After kicking off with a dramatic and beautiful opening cinematic you are presented with a variety of modes to choose from; arcade, versus, 3D versus, internet match, challenge and training. Additionally players can check their records and the figures they have collected, which are similar to the ones collected in the Super Smash Brothers series.

The classic mode is the same as it always has been - select a fighter and battle your way through a variety of increasingly difficult opponents while occasionally beating up a car or barrels. The vs. mode is just a standard fight but with numerous customisable options, such as who plays whom (player vs player, player vs cpu, cpu vs cpu) and difficulty levels, time length etc. You are also able to enter 'Channel Live!', whereby you can watch players fighting in local matches, and engage in Download Play. The training mode allows newcomers to get to grips with the various characters and their moves and is quite in-depth, meaning that even new players can become expects given enough time.

Super Street Fighter IV 3D's online features makes it one of the most exciting launch titles. Some of the most beloved DS games featured great online modes, such as Mario Kart DS, but with the 3DS' inclusion of a universal friend code it makes the whole process a lot easier. Additionally the increased wireless capabilities of the 3DS means that battling others from around the world is much accessible. To engage in a fight is simple and it doesn't take long to begin a match. I personally had troubles finding a variety of people to compete against but I was trying at around 8am Japanese time, where most of the players currently reside. Undoubtedly, as soon as more and more gamers pick up the title the easier it will come to find an opponent.

The online mode has a variety of options including Quick Play, which launches you into a game with anyone in the world, Custom, whereby you decide the parameters and Friend, in which you play against a friend. Super Street Fighter IV 3D offers one of the 3DS' most complete online gaming experiences so far, allowing you to improve your skills against people from all over the world, and is hopefully a sign of things to come for the console.

The 3DS version of Super Street Fighter IV features three big additions to last year's Xbox 360 and PS3 versions: the inclusion of a 3D viewing mode, essentially an over-the-shoulder view, StreetPass battles and trophy exchange and the ability to perform combos using the touch screen.

The touch screen combos have caused some controversy already, with fans of the series claiming that it just promotes cheating. The lower screen is split into four sections; two standard combos and two special ones. You have access to the two standard combos at all times but you must work to earn the right to use the other two. This can be altered by changing the control method from 'Lite' to 'Pro', which still has the four touch screen buttons but they now perform very basic moves and the more advanced moves must be performed through button combos.

The controls come in two varieties, 'Lite' and 'Pro' as mentioned above, but you can fully customise all of the moves to match your requirements. The design of the 3DS enables you to be able to easily press buttons without concentrating on which button is located where, crucial to a game such as this.

While the primary element of Super Street Fighter IV 3D is obviously the fighting, in its numerous modes, there are a variety of little extras to complete if you feel like trying something else. As well as the car crushing and barrel breaking mini-games there is a trophy collection system, as mentioned earlier, and a Medal List. These medals are essentially like Xbox 360 achievements - you obtain them by meeting certain requirements. As in Super Smash Brothers Brawl each medal contains a hint as to what you need to do to unlock it. Once you have completed it a little box pops up informing you that is now yours. You can't do anything with the medals other than display them but anyone who wants to get the most out of this game will enjoy the fact that this really extends the length.

This game seems to be one of the worst for retaining battery life. While the 3DS' battery is notoriously low anyway Super Street Fighter IV 3D appears to sap it quite quickly. Another website tested the title and claimed you would get less than two hours if playing online with the 3D mode turned on. While this flies in the face of recommended playing guidelines anyway it is easy to understand some people's concerns. Even just playing offline without 3D the battery does seem to dip quicker than other games. Whatever the technological reason may be for this it should be noted you will probably be charging your 3DS a lot if you are playing this game frequently.

It is somewhat of a cliché to describe a game as "easy to pick up, difficult to master" but this really is the case with Super Street Fighter IV 3D. A novice such as myself can enjoy it on one level, as a challenging and extensive fighting game, while a fan of the series will like the variety of options available as well as the ability to fight across the internet. Obviously many fans may dislike the inclusion of the touch screen combos but they by no means have to use them. If you're a fan of the series you won't put this down but if you are a casual player than this game will be one you frequently go back to when the mood strikes you and with the numerous players and modes you won't be getting bored of it any time soon. Additionally the online system allows you to fight people all over the world, meaning you won't be reliant on the computer or finding friends with the game.