The name 'Street Fighter' sends one on a long trip down memory lane. Capcom's series shot to immense fame with its second installment, bringing a simple and accessible one-on-one arcade brawler to the masses. Eventually, console ports and countless spin-offs, followed by a proper sequel, have managed to keep the franchise alive to this date. The third entrant i.e. SF III was criticized for its lack of accessibility and hardcore-centric approach, essentially giving experienced players a massive leverage over newcomers. However, new additions like the 'parry' mechanic gave it a lot more depth than previous games in the series.
Years later, Capcom brings forth its latest installment in the series i.e. Street Fighter IV, with enormous hype surrounding it from the moment it was announced. The big questions: Does it live up to the enormous hype? Does it strike a perfect balance between accessibility and depth? The answer to both is a resounding YES! On the flipside, you may also ask if it bring anything new to the table. That depends on what you're looking for. If you're hoping Capcom has reinvented the wheel with its latest iteration, a huge disappointment awaits you. However, if you seek a pure refinement of what you've come to expect from the series, this is most definitely the game for you.
The game's story is set during the timeline of SF II and III, taking place a few years after the former. The central plot involves the returning shadow organization, Shadoloo, which creates circumstances for another fighting tournament to serve its own ulterior motives. Character specific storylines unfold via animated cut scenes and in-game conversations.
It isn't shocking, then, that you get to see quite a few returning faces. There are plenty of favorites, ranging from Ryu and Ken to Sagat and Bison, all boasting significantly enhanced move sets. In addition, there are several new characters, all having their own unique fighting styles. There's C. Viper, who is somewhat of a Terry Bogard rip-off in terms of gameplay. Then, there's an obese-looking street brawler, Rufus, who's deceptively quick for his size and weight. Ryu and Ken's Sensai, Gouken (no, not Sheng Long), is seen for the first time as a playable character. Another new addition is Abel, a martial arts specialist with an extremely wide grab range. There's even a Mexican pro-wrestler, El Fuerte, who's a little goofy, but at the same time has some deadly maneuvers. All in all, the roster comprises of 25 diverse characters that should keep you busy for quite some time to come.
If I were to describe SF IV's gameplay in one word, it would be "perfection". Not because there isn't room for evolution, but because the game succeeds at what it set out to achieve, tweaking its age old characters to make them as evenly balanced as possible. There are always going to be top tier/bottom tier characters when it comes to competitive play, but the advantages/disadvantages of picking one over the other have been reduced to a minimum. Whether you win or lose will solely depend on how good or bad your actual skills are. The developers appear to have found the perfect sweet spot between SF II's simplicity and SF III's complexity, making the game accessible for the masses, and at the same time, making it rewarding enough for the pros. Being able to effectively perform EX versions of your moves gives you an advantage over casual players, albeit not a significant one. Learning to do Super/Ultra moves isn't difficult and performing these moves can quickly turn the tide in your favor. Similarly, breaking free from a combo is as easy as getting trapped in one.
The greatest new addition to the gameplay comes in the form of the all new focus attack, replacing SF III's parry system. Depending on how long you have the medium punch/kick buttons held, it lets players absorb one blow from their opponent and counter with an attack of their own. It's extremely easy to perform, even for the inexperienced, though hardcore enthusiasts are rewarded for well-timed counters with greater damage and a free hit advantage. The mechanic adds a whole new layer of depth to the gameplay, dramatically shifting the tide in one player's favor.
The game modes are fairly robust, in the sense that there's pretty much every option available that you'd expect from a current generation fighter. There's a story mode, an offline and online versus mode, and a training dojo to hone your skills. You do get to unlock a decent amount of goodies from the single-player modes alone, which helps to enhance the longevity of the solo experience. However, the real "bread and butter" of any fighting game comes from its multiplayer experience and thankfully, SF IV doesn't disappoint.
Whether you're on Xbox Live or PSN, online matches are as easy as flipping a coin down an arcade machine, provided you've got the broadband muscle to sustain a lag-free game. The standard matchmaking options are all present, with the game finding an opponent most suitable to your skill level. Interestingly, in an attempt to emulate the 'arcade experience', the developers have incorporated a neat little touch by letting online opponents challenge you while you're playing a single player game. It actually works quite well considering that once you're done, you return to where you left off in your single player game, just as you would with a real arcade machine. Surprisingly, the game is currently lacking an online tournament mode, something that would've really added to the entertainment value. Here's hoping Capcom eventually adds it into the game via some future DLC. Don't expect it to be for free, though. Nothing's for free these days (Not even horse armor).
The game boasts some brilliant visuals that give it a unique hand-drawn/artistic look. Similar to the EX Alpha games, even though the fighting takes place on a 2D plane, the fighters and backdrops are in 3D, letting the game cover the action from some glorious camera angles. Character models look very detailed, sporting a more realistic look compared to previous iterations. The environments are varied, showcasing quite a lot of background activity. Animations and facial expressions are also top-notch, making every move look all the more menacing and effective. The added on-screen artistic flair while performing special moves makes them all the more fun to watch. The music, while not as catchy as that of SF II, works well within the context of the game. It's also nice to occasionally hear remixes of some of those classic tunes during rival battles, though it would've been much nicer if there had been an option to let you set your personal favorite playlists. Sound effects are just as satisfying as the animations, making every character sound like they can pack a punch. Believable sound effects for background objects and people make the experience even more captivating. Voiceovers are decent enough and get the job done.
Amongst the two console versions, there are a few minor differences that are worth mentioning. Visually speaking, the PS3 version appears to be faithful to the arcade game. However, the X360 version goes a step further and boasts a few minor improvements, mainly in the form of a slightly cleaner look and more depth in color/shade. Also, character models appear slightly sharper on the X360 during close up instances. However, these differences are only visible if you're really looking for them, comparing the two versions side-by-side. The frame rate seems to stay constant in both versions and that's where the real fun is at. In fact, even with the minor technical shortcomings, it can actually be argued that the PS3 version is the way to go, as the X360 controller d-pad is absolutely hopeless whereas the PS3 controller holds its own, probably even against the official SF IV game pad. I personally found it a LOT (and I do mean a LOT) easier to consistently perform super moves and combos using the Sixaxis controller.
Bottom line, SF IV is a hardcore fan's dream come true. At the same time, it's accessible to the casual crowd. If you're looking for the game to take an evolutionary step for the genre, steer clear of this game. On the contrary, if you're looking for a brawler that's been fine-tuned to absolute perfection, then this is the game for you.
9.5 - Value/Worth: Robust modes and options, with a respectable amount of stuff to unlock, enhance the game's longevity.
9.0 - Graphics: Artistic and vibrant 3D visuals mark a glorious and technically proficient return for the series.
8.0 - Sound: Excellent sound effects, coupled with music that works well with the game. Though, the option to shift to SF II remix tunes would've been nice.
10.0 - Gameplay: The perfect blend of depth and accessibility. Characters are well-balanced, and the game is as fun as it is competitive.
9.5 - Multiplayer: Several offline and online versus options make this the "bread and butter" of the game. However, the absence of an online tournament mode is a little daunting.
9.0 - Overall: This is 2D fighting perfected. It isn't the evolutionary leap that some may be expecting, but that was never what Capcom set out to accomplish.
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.Waiting for it to be published in SPIDER MAG
