There is a huge problem with SFZ2 and it is, as I commented, that the best available version, the Saturn one, has the music from Street Fighter Zero 2 Dash PSX instead the classic SFZ2 tunes.
That's not exactly what I'd call a "huge problem." It doesn't have any effect on the game whatsoever. I agree with you that the SFZ2 arcade music is better, but it's something most people (as in anyone other than SF freaks like us) won't care about or even notice, for that matter.
So the choose of the best one will be motivated by choosing between music or graphics/load times.
I have never played the PSX version so I can't further comment on this.
The Saturn versions are, without a doubt, the best versions of SFA2 and SFA2'available on a home console. The only thing that the PSX version has over it is better sound quality, and it has to be something memory-related, since the muffled voices become clear when doing same character vs. same character, much like how the missing animations are restored in same character vs. same character matches in the PSX games. Load times are pretty much the same on both systems; between 6-10 seconds each. PSX versions are missing frames, and IIRC also have slightly smaller sprites. In the original SFA2, the PSX version was also missing Evil Ryu, but he was added back into SFA2' (which is in the Street Fighter Collection)
But the best way to play Street Fighter Alpha 2 nowadays is emulated. You'll get everything; all the animation and perfect sound quality, and even better, you can go one step further than the home versions:
Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha is fully playable. This update to the game was what the home versions of SFA2' were SUPPOSED to be; many of the features were added to the home versions (and Cammy was added to the versus mode), but the biggest difference is that Zero 2 Alpha features a Dramatic Battle mode similar to the ones ones in SFA3.
I play the game on my modded Xbox all the time, and haven't touched the Saturn version in years now.
-Sound. You can compare it to SFZ3 DC and notice how the sound is worse quality...SS never had the best sound available...due to a problem with codecs licenses.
With the 4MB RAM card, there's no more muffled voices. Yes, the sound quality isn't as good as the DC, but it's hardly noticeable.
-Load Times. Almost zero but slightly superior to the DC ones. It's not like Marvel vs Street Fighter where there was instant load. Imagine the DC version with loads a .25seconds larger.
The DC version's load times are only 2-3 seconds long, and the Saturn version has load times of around 6-7 per battle. It's a pretty big difference in this area. The DC version also has a different resolution, so it's regarded as being a LOT uglier.
But it does have 3 player dramatic battle play, which can be pretty fun.
How do I know it ? My obssession with SFZ3 games surpasses the natural. I have all them and have compared them to death.
I pretty much agree with the rest.
Me too.
I wish I could drop this habit, actually...I'm about to go and buy the PS2 SF3 Limited Edition for $80+, even though I won't touch it once the XBox version comes out.
