Maybe just never gave the hyper games a chance. How much did you play the two hyper SS games?
See, The Hyper SS games are a smooth progression from the AES versions. For the most part, the hyper games are dark, just as SS3 and 4 were.
The control I found to be very good in the second, but a bit obnoxious in the first with the "energy" meter.
Now, if you didn't like the characters in SS64 2, there's no helping you. Refering to the characters as a more evil Shiki or a more evil Asura is ignorant at best. The Bust versions were completely different. Bust Asura's attacks didn't look half as menacing as the Slash version's, almost like he was "softer" than his alter ego. Shiki's bust version was a lot more sexual than her Slash version, which came off as frigid.
Everything about these characters was superior to their past incarnations. And if you can neglect the SCS combo system, it plays with a similar tempo to the first SS game, relying more on timing and distancing.
Sure, the 3D wasn't up to industry standards. Sure, the pace is slower than Tekken or DoA. I don't care; it didn't have to meet mainstream standards for me. The game excelled past either of those two games - SS64 2 had soul, a feat neither Tekken nor DoA can claim.
Of course, I don't know how many people who frequently post to the hyper section argue with me. Maybe you're too old for this section, ASP? <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">