Street Fighter IV

The decline of the classic 2D fighting game can be traced in the decline of the once-seminal Street Fighter series. The first couple of games are now regarded as bona-fide classics and, while none of the following releases will ever be considered poor, the reliance on convaluted gimmicks and ill-considered distractions meant thatquality suffered and audiences dwindled.

Thankfully, Street Fighter 4 takes the series back to it’s roots and, at the same time, delivers what could be the definitive version of one of gaming’s most-loved franchises.

Street Fighter veterans will feel instantly at home with the gameplay served up by Capcom, which has obviously poured as much love and dedication as possible into the revitalisation of its prize franchise. Bouts are kinetic, energetic affairs that reflect the near-perfect balance of the numerous characters and their tight, focused moveset. The action never lets up and never becomes boring, and there’s a surprising amount of depth beneath the cartoon graphics.

Basic moves come up the normal light, medium and heavy varieties, and combinations of holds, throws and character-specific moves dole out more damage. It’s possible to conquer much of the game using just these attacks – if you’re more of a button-basher – but using them builds up the focus bar. Holding down two buttons at once charges this pent-up energy into a more powerful move – and can also withstand an enemy attack without taking damage. It’s an instant way of turning the tide of battle and surprising your opponent, and introduces a surprising layer of tactical gameplay to Street Fighter 4.

Super Combos do much the same thing, although they’re charged by a gauge that fills up as you absorb damage. These moves are even more powerful, unleashing a cinematic sequence that both moves away from the 2D plane and shows off the gorgeous particle and environmental effects that Capcom has served up. Again, it’s another weapon in your arsenal that can turn a fight around and, again, adds more tactical nuance if you want it.

This may sound daunting for the younger player who may not be familiar with Street Fighter’s rich heritage, but the game never feels too complex for inexperienced players. A useful ‘trial’ mode explains each character’s moves in five layers and, as you ascend the levels of skill that they require to execute, you find them seeping into your bouts. You’ll begin using moves when you’re ready to use them, and it’s an effective way of getting you accustomed to the Street Fighter way of doing things, as well as learning the individual quirks of each fighter.

The fantastic, near-perfect gameplay is complimented by an excellent roster of characters. All of the classic Street Fighters are present, from Ken and Ryu to Blanka, Chun-Li and sangat, and Capcom has introduced four new combatants – techno-businesswoman C. Viper, obese Rufus, gastronaut lucha libre star El Fuerte and tough Frenchman Abel all fit in reasonably well, with some feeling like they’ve been there for far longer.

As if this wasn’t enough, Street Fighter 4 is one of the finest-looking combat games we’ve ever seen. The action is kept on a 2D plane but rendered in 3D, and the frenetic, action-packed bouts look stunning thanks to the cartoon style and lashings of neat, attractive touches.

Characters are animated with a remarkable fluidity that never lets up and a healthy sense of individuality – it’s possible to tell which character you’re looking at in silhouette form – and it’s easy to see the obsessive amount of effort that has gone into making this game look so good. The cartoonish, stylised design harks back to the older Street Fighter titles but also looks incredibly modern, instantly trouncing its fighting competition on any console. Characters have neat, hand-drawn touches all over their over-muscled frames, and the absorbing style even extends to little bursts of ink splashing off characters when they’re struck.

The excruciating detail extends to the backdrops, too, and the numerous locations are covered with plenty of gurning, cheering spectators – all imbued with their own personalities – and objects that will rattle and fall over when Honda drops to the floor. The legion of lighting and particle effects look fantastic, too, from the flames that burst from your super meter and special moves to the classic blue ripple of a bout-ending Haduken. Fights bristle with action, and it’s difficult to keep up with what’s going on – watch a bout as a spectator, though, and you’ll soon appreciate the rich and deep graphical experience that Street Fighter 4 offers.

The game offers plenty of longevity even for skilled players. The standard arcade mode is joined by tutorials, time attacks and various challenges, there are thousands of objects to unlock, and the online element of the game is rock solid – so finding a willing adversary shouldn’t be a problem at any time of day.

Nevertheless, Street FIghter 4 isn’t perfect. Occasionally, an AI-controlled character will resort to repeating the same move to win bouts – a tactic we’d expect from a crafty younger cousin rather the finest fighting game of this generation. It may result in an annoying bout or a lost round, but it’s soon lost in the shuffle. The anime cut-scenes that prelude each story are also pretty worthless – poorly-animated and revealing little about the characters. Thankfully, they’re skippable.

These microscopic issues aren’t worth thinking about when you consider Capcom’s stunning achievement. The gameplay will appeal to both novice players and purists thanks to its break-neck action, perfect balance and surprising depth, and the roster of characters and mind-blowing graphics will convince both visual freaks and people looking for some 8-bit nostalgia. It’s definitely a Street Figher game and, like all of the all-time classic games, it just feels right. It’s an essential buy for fighting fans and well worth considering for those not yet converted. You’re a Haduken away from Street Fighter heaven.[rmgallery id=40]