Capcom releases Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie on UMD…

...hopes to avoid bloodshed in high street rush

Movies based on video games have a more chequered past track record than Jenson Button – for every okay adaptation such as the original Tomb Raider (Angelina Jolie 'is' Lara Croft, discuss) there's a dire Super Mario Bros (Bob Hoskins 'isn't' Mario, discuss) waiting in the wings. Considering the live action version of Street Fighter starring Van Damme and Minogue spinning-kicked its way into the latter camp, you might be less than excited at the prospect of a street fighting flick on your PSP.

However, Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie sagely removed the Muscles from Brussels along with all the other 'real actors' in favour of an anime approach more in line with the game's aesthetic and a suitably convoluted tale featuring Ken, Ryu, Akuma and a whole host of their pugilist pals.

The result was considerably more enjoyable, as all who bought the DVD back in 2000 will testify. And anyone who didn't catch it first time round, along with those who'd like to relive the 100 minutes of animated action (plus making-of featurette) on a plane, train or automobile, can now do so thanks to a freshly minted UMD from Capcom.

Currently available in the US at $19.99, we can expect to see it hit these shores suitably hard in the near future (and hopefully at a more reasonable price than UMD films to date).

If 100 minutes of action isn't enough, consider getting your fists into the 29 episodes (split into five volumes) of the Street Fighter II: V animated series, as well as a further two UMDs based on fellow beat 'em up Dark Stalkers.

Then again, if you just can't wait for your fighting fix, there's always the more interactive version of events in the shape of Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max (screenshot above), available to buy here.

By Chris James.