Street Fighter IV

          In development, technically, since the early 2000s Street Fighter IV's plot is set between the second & third's with many of the fighters still constantly attempting to better themselves. Today I'm setting out to explore Capcom's sinful new fighter and deliver the verdict on what the game has become, a step in the right direction or a completely wrong turn.

          Keeping the fan's pleased, Capcom has returned every Street Fighter from the previous game, in timeline respect that is. Yes the evolution fighters from Street Figher III are absent, but in my mind that is not a very bad thing. Aside them, yes everyone has returned for another go round with six new playable characters added to take the roster's total of 26 characters in all. Including Ryu, Cammy, Ken, Honda, Bison, Guile, Sakura and many more all making a 3D debut alongside the six new characters.

Yup the man hands are back

          Visually, the series has under-went a massive make over. Completely abandoning the 2D sprite gameplay of the other game and instead taking a full 3D presentation. So now we get see every impact in full detail as the characters cringe from the beatings they're getting as fists fly and feet swing in rapid fired combat.

Three guesses what this move is...

          Gameplay, however, as retained most of it's Street Fighter soul. The basic mechanics, although abstract, are definetly in there along with a layer of new ones to freshen up the fighting system. More strategic elements have been added to the game, creating a more quicker paced combat routine. Blocks no longer save the defender from everything. Focus attacks break up the usual combat by allowing players to smash their opponents defense and power through them in a massive counter attack. The super attacks return in more visual glory than every before as cinematics introduce each move. A new combo style, the ultra combo, has been added as a last chance attack which quickly turns the tide of any fight.

          All of these are governed by new mechanics such as the revenge meter. Unlike the one which powers the super attacks, the revenge meter increases when you take damage. Meaning player will usually be low on health by the time they are allowed to use it, making it a last chance move which will even out, or probably even win, the bout.

Ken gets to know the newcomer, El Fuerte

          All of this is very interesting and good, but no game is perfect and SFIV is no different. This may be a Playstation exclusive problem but the match-making online takes a portion of time to work and when it did find a player, or when I tried to enter the bout, it disconnected and returned me to either the menu or the main lobby. However that isn't to say it happened a lot, usually it worked but too many times I found myself staring at the menu when I'm itching to get into the action.

          Something I noticed, as I went through the campaign mode, was that the mini-games had vanished. Yes the time old challenges of smashing a car to pieces with your bare hands have gone with the wind, replaced by a rather boring challenge mode where you are given challenges such as simply performing moves or getting a combo of so many hits.

          Another issue is the sound, I don't know what they did. Ryu doesn't sound like Ryu. Ken doesn't sound like Ken. Punches don't sound like they hurt and kicks sound like someone hit a loaf of bread. It just isn't up to the levels of the game's other features and it hurts the experience, but there is however a revamped soundtrack of most of the series' classic theme songs with new and cool battle themes. Making the sound quality a bit of a mixed bag.

          Scores:-

          Visuals: 9.4, all the glory of the old in the style of the new.

          Story: 8.5, the main plot and each character's background is thin at most but it all mixes together nicely.

          Gameplay: 9.2, classic yet new at the same time.

          Sound: 7.9, a great soundtrack but poor in-game sound makes it, for me, a let down in some parts.

          Lifespan: 8.8, like all fighters they usually like a decent lifespan but the online will keep you holding onto it for a good while.

          Overall: 43.8/50 = 8.76/10 = 8.8

It's a good game, but I warn you when I say that you might not enjoy it