Hadouken, grapple-fans! The wait is over and the Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix beta test hits Xbox LIVE Arcade today.

There are a couple of strings attached, though. Firstly the beta will only allow players to choose either Ken or Ryu – this won’t be a problem for SF aficionados since they’re the best characters (in our arcade-honed and highly esteemed opinion). Secondly players will need to purchase Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 for 800 MS Points (approx £6.80) in order to unlock the code and take part. Again this might not be deemed to be much of an issue given that WOTB is among the best games LIVE Arcade has to offer.

So those are the caveats. They’re not too much to ask for what promises to be some of the finest, funnest online action yet offered on XBLA, are they? Sure the retro-styled visuals don’t hold any kind of candle to the next-gen offerings currently available or, indeed, the awesome looking Street Fighter IV. But, as any fule kno pretty visuals are not (necessarily) what it’s all about and SFII Turbo’s gameplay is gloriously undiminished, by any standards you care to name. And here it’s all available in a variety of online options (Quarter Match, Ranked and Tournament modes), plus, of course, an offline battle for two.

It’s great stuff, honest, and it’s yours to test until at least August 20. What a pity it is, though, that Capcom couldn’t shape up and create a beta test for PS3 owners too. Ah well...