Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360, 2009)

Possibly one of the worst fighter games ever created--sure, the game was good for 1991, but that was 18 years ago--games have evolved a lot since then. Unfortunately, this is just the same old 1991 game with 2009 graphics. Imagine if instead of making Mario 64, Mario Sunshine, and Mario Galaxy, Nintendo just remade Super Mario 3, except with better graphics? Yeah, Street Fighter IV is like that.

The Street Fighter series has possibly the worst user-interface ever designed. There are six, yes, SIX attack buttons, all of which do largely the same thing (light kick, medium kick, heavy kick, light punch... etc.)--most fighter games get by just fine with 2 - 3 attack buttons--god knows why Capcom decided they needed 6. Worse yet, because they wasted all their available-buttons on redundant attacks, there is no block button--blocking and back-steping are the same thing, retarding your ability to do both.

It gets worse. In order to use any worthwhile moves as your character, you have to memorize and enter inane (character-specific) and unecessarily complicated controller commands, and inputting these commands is very tricky and unreliable--if the timing of your command-inputting is slightly off, nothing will happen. Control-stick forward, back, hold, forward back, kick, kick, kick? Why don't you just let me pull off my special-move by pressing the L-trigger or L-button (which are unused buttons)? Isn't it possible to create a more reliable and simple user-interface? The interface is so absurd that people will be impressed by your ability to pull off basic character-specific moves.

No doubt the "elites" of the Street Fighter community will decry and mock my suggestion of simplifying the control interface. Because then most of the difference between newbs and good players would disappear--a majority of the "skill" in this game derives simply from mastering its artifically complicated interface. Of course, the game in no way tries to teach you how to play itself, so few people do master its interface, and simply resort to mashing buttons. (The majority of the people who pick up this game will never understand it--they simply mash buttons the whole time until they find a better game to play.)

Also, this is still a 2D fighter game, meaning it lacks side-stepping, which would have added a new dimension of strategy to the game. Instead they use jumping as an ad-hoc stand-in for the side-step. The attacks are also too fast (and look retarded because of it--Vega can throw 4 knees a second?)--the ability to see things coming and counteract them is a basic element of most other fighter games.

The character designs largely suck too--Guile has the stupidest hairstyle ever and no forehead, Chun-li's thighs are way too thick, Ryu is the most generic looking martial artist ever conceived, Ken is a repaint of the most generic martial artist ever conceived, Blanka looks plain retarded, etc. Most of the character-designs are simple stereotypes (though there are a few original characters).

The only positive thing I have to say about this game is that visually, it has some very nice style, the cut-scenes are a nice addition, and I like the music too. Online play is well-handeled too, but the game itself sucks so the point is moot.

Who knows really not Street Fighter? Who has never been a karate champion on his screen "Hadokeeen" call heard? Actually, nobody counts ...;-)
The Street Fighter series, since the pioneering second part to build an incredible fan base, especially the developers has remained very loyal.
I have looked at before buying the game honestly a little worried. The picture I saw in videos and pictures to somehow bulky and Street Fighter I had previously always been a little slow in comparison to more modern beat 'em ups like Dead or Alive. Now that I have the game, I see not much different, except for the fact that I know that the game but the purchase was something of value.
For graphics, we can say that this really looks very nice, even if it is first of all getting used to. The characters are all very tall and muscular, and are correspondingly less series of realistic combat styles lookalike, but are a bit like a comic book collected, but no negative is. The environments are all 3-Dimensional design and look on the whole very nice. Especially the jungle level and the volcanic-level show the graphical beauty of the game, which is not at first glance.
Technically, the game has not changed much, actually. The game mechanics than old-fashioned stamp, would be the wrong term. Classic fits far better. The game is held in classic 2D and protzt not with a variety of moves per character, but with attention to detail. While the characters in games like "Dead or Alive" with the 70 moves to splurge, this is at "Street Fighter IV" on the 10-15 confines, but thanks to the sophisticated game technology is more than enough. The developers at Capcom have understood it perfectly, on quality instead of quantity setting. Instead of level 70 moves per character to implement thirds of which 1 is poor, a second third is not out and only 1 third actually used in a fight, here we used each of these moves again and again, it varies, it depends on each other after fit, and created in this manner thrilling battles. The great at "Street Fighter IV" is that this wild Knopfdrückereien nothing involved, whereas one with "Dead or Alive" or "Soul Calibur" with blind press a button Profi have, which can not be the case. "Street Fighter IV" relies on a perfect blend of timing and overview of what it is difficult to make a newcomer, an experienced player to defeat. But you learn so fast always something new, so it is not really long, until the forces converge, especially when playing with friends in front of the screen makes for a lot of fun. In fact, the depth of the game scary: At the 20 characters, each with completely different priorities and tactics, which in turn in each of the other 20 other characters requires a different approach. For example, it is something completely different when dealing with bison is fighting against Ryu than Ken, Akuma, Dhalsim, whoever the fight is completely changed, even with the exact same players and that's just super. Man always tries out new characters, new games in the battle, new combinations, they steadily improved his timing, his assessment of the situation, the list is infinitely long.
What with the very basic orientation of the game but a bit of bother is the low number of different game modes. There is a Time Attack Mode and a Survival mode, but in the end but it just plays all the time just the same. "Dead or Alive" offers a bit more variety, admittedly, where the games are difficult to compare.

Street Fighter IV features a mix of returning favourites such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile along with new characters created exclusively for this game such as Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. Characters and environments are rendered in high definition 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Six-button controls for the game return, with a host of new special moves and features integrated into the input system. Street Fighter IV also incorporates state of the art online match making and worldwide online gameplay. Mixing classic genre-defining game mechanics the franchise is known and loved for with all-new, never-before-seen gameplay systems, Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting game to fans the world over. With the inclusion of Capcom's latest advancements in new generation technology, Street Fighter IV promises to deliver an extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honoured art of virtual martial arts. New special moves that go beyond any Street Fighter fan's wildest imagination, including Focus attacks, Super Combos, and the revenged-fueled Ultra Combo system. Classic Street Fighter characters recreated for a new generation of gamers, including the original cast of Street Fighter II. New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more. New gameplay elements provide new challenges for both newcomers and the most seasoned Street Fighter pro. Online gameplay features, including instantaneous online challenges, versus mode, tournament mode, and world wide online gameplay.

2D fighting games have been dead for quite some time, so I appreciate the guys at Capcom putting in some serious thought into making a solid, classic fighter for the next-gen consoles. This is old-school game play presented with cutting-edge graphics. Just like its predecessors from decades ago, Street Fighter IV takes minutes to learn, and years to master. Those who love tight combat mechanic and insane depth will find the fourth iteration of the most meticulously crafted 2D fighting series to be a real gem.

For the first time in console fighting game history, the online play is buttery smooth. Two players across the country with high speed internet can enjoy lag free matches. No skips or pauses to throw off the timing of combos. None. Kudos to Capcom for actually getting this to work.

In short, the game is superb. It falls short of immaculate for not including a replay-save feature, or online lobbies that include more than 2 people so that others can watch your matches. Add those in the next update, and the game is a 10/10.

By now, all you proud fighting game veterans should know which developers take 2D fighters seriously. Real fighters are about reading your opponent's moves and refining your original combos to the point that you are counting frames of animation, not memorizing silly preset dial-up commands to watch some dude's head explode. That Capcom's SF4 falls in the former is a no-brainer. Love fighting games? Get SF4. End of story.

Description
Street Fighter IV is simply incredible fighting arcade game played in a wide assortment of levels with stylized 3D characters and environments. Street Fighter IV kicks off with superb visceral visuals and a thumping soundtrack that gives you a foreshadowing of what is to come. You can play among the favorite classic characters, such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile, along with new characters, including Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. To hone your skills in this Xbox 360 game, there is an extensive Challenge mode, broken into Time Attack, Survival and Trial, along with a Training mode to learn the basics. Street Fighter IV when played in XBOX 360, provides smooth controls via the analogue stick, 720p resolution, superior lighting, less loading time and great graphics.

Special Features

Classic "2D" Street Fighter gameplay with stunning 3D characters and environments

New special moves that go beyond any Street Fighter fan's wildest imagination, including Focus attacks, Super Combos, and the revenged-fueled Ultra Combo system.

Classic Street Fighter characters recreated for a new generation of gamers, including the original cast of Street Fighter I

New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!

Amazing locations never seen before in a Street Fighter game

New gameplay elements provide new challenges for both newcomers and the most seasoned Street Fighter pro

Warnings
Alcohol Reference, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

Details
Players: 1-2
Memory Card: n (0)