God is a geek - 10/10

Street Fighter IV was a superlative experience even before today, but Ultra Street Fighter IV, with its well devised additions, has added the bacon to what was already a tasty burger – you don’t know that Street Fighter IV needs these mechanics until you’ve tasted it with them. Then it chucks some new characters on top for good measure. After the disappointingly meagre Arcade Edition, Ultra is an expansion every bit deserving of its title, and more than worthy of the time of anyone that has, does, and is yet to enjoy Street Fighter. Here’s to the next five years of brave Ultra counters and delayed wake-up mix-ups

IGN - 9/10

Ultra Street Fighter 4 takes an already incredible, content-rich fighting game, and builds upon it in ways that fighting enthusiasts can get lost in and casual fans can enjoy. Every addition and refinement, both big and small, works. The new characters feel like they've been here all along, and the rebalancing gives old characters a fresh lease on life, making Ultra a must-have for anyone who's enjoyed any version of Street Fighter 4.

Eurogamer - 8/10

The only thing that holds this sequel back is the sense that it was made on a fairly tight budget. It's the little things, like the meagre choice of "new" characters and the way that some of the new Ultra animations lack the dramatic flair of their predecessors. But with the development team's passion taking up most of the slack, £11.99 for the digital upgrade feels like a fair price. It's not the Street Fighter 5 that we've all been hankering for, but as the fifth (and reportedly final) version of Street Fighter 4, Ultra is an ultimate end in more ways than one.

CVG - 8/10

For casual players or newcomers, Ultra Street Fighter IV is the same thrilling, deep, and accessible fighting game it always has been. And with the retail release featuring all previously released costume DLC content, it's a game that every Xbox 360, PS3 or PC owner should have in their collection.

USgamer - 4/5

Ultra Street Fighter IV continues Capcom's continuing evolution of the Street Fighter IV series. Five new characters join the roster, though four are from Street Fighter x Tekken and one was created using animations from an existing character. That said, with 44 total characters, a host of balance tweaks, new fighting options, and native YouTube uploading, Ultra Street Fighter IV is a release that's worth picking up for hardcore Street Fighter fans or returning casual players.

I wonder, since Games with Gold currently has SF 4 Arcade Edition for free, can you upgrade from that to Ultra?

I don't know, these Ultras look pretty dope to me. The new characters are also chosen fairly well even if they all were in SFxT but nobody plays that game anymore anyway. I also happen to think that Decapre looks really cool despite the fact that she seems like a Cammy reskin at first glance. Her being a charge character and the addition of teleports and the "psycho knife" will make sure that she doesn't play like Cammy at all. It also helps that her cinematic ultra is probably the best in the game. I'm going to wait for the PC or PS4 version though (I mean why would they not put it out on next gen eventually right?). Bummer that the PC release is not simultaneously but it gives me time to practice charge characters since Decapre is the first charge character I have interest in playing.

Just checked it out a bit on my copy of Super. The opening movie and title screen seemed to stay the same, but that new menu music is hype!

Does anyone know if you can play others with older version like how Arcade Edition owners can soft downgrade their copy to Super?

I'm excited for this just have to wait a couple months for the PC edition. :(

@altairre: Those 5% ultras.

The gameplay is solid but the overall package feels like it's rushed. Couldn't even throw in a new title screen?

Pretty sure all of this will be changed when the game launches everywhere though, knowing this was pushed up quite a bit to give people time to practice before Evo

Yeah, $15 DLC I'm pretty sure.

OK not 100% sure because I don't pay much attention to Xbox stuff, but I vaguely remember some tweet mania about it a few weeks ago.

Yes, you should be able to for $15.

Who are these reviews for really? The update is for such a specific group of people who already know they are going to get it.

@darkstalker: Site views.

Now the interesting question is, if I get SSF4:AE through the Free Games with Gold program, then upgrade to Ultra for $15 - will I be able to keep playing Ultra when my Gold membership lapses and I technically don't have access to SSF4:AE anymore?

@humanity: I'm pretty sure games you get free from Gold on Xbox 360 are "Free to own" and Xbox One Gold games are "Free with a Membership". I don't think it can lapse on Xbox 360.

You have to access AE to play Ultra since the upgraded version is just additional content which will be scanned after the press start screen.

Oh man.... that damn web series just made me care, but I remember already having my fill of SFIV.

I bought it, despite the part where I don't want to re-up my Xbox Live gold and I don't have anyone to play with locally. I might be a sucker.

@arbitrarywater: Yep.

Yep.

Well that sounds like a no then.

Same here.

I have it and I'm enjoying it. Hugo is a ton of fun to use and Decapre is neat.

@arbitrarywater: same but damn it I love HUGO and even if I suck this and Heathstone will break up the monotony of writing all the damn time.

Yep, anything you download through Games with Gold on 360 is yours to keep even if you unsubscribe.

Hmm, still shows Dark Souls on my Games with Gold. Am I doing something wrong?

God damn I miss that old theme... INDESTRUCTIBLE!

@mortuss_zero said:

AE is coming later in the month.

Man, Indestructible is so catchy. All the new SF4 updates menu music is hot fucking garbage in comparison.

You don't lose access to 360 Games with Gold games when your membership lapses. Only Xbox One Games with Gold require an active membership.

@thephantomnaut: thank you, from the seems of it, people were saying it was already available.

@kedi2: @euandewar: Ahh thanks for the info. In all honesty I got kind of confused with the latest policy changes and thought the new ownership model applied to both!

This got me to play SF4 again.

Although this didn't add a lot, I skipped AE so this was nice to go back.