It has been a long time since the mainstream had any reason to care about Street Fighter. Since Street Fighter II took the world by storm back in the 90's, the game has remained out of the public eye, yet still maintaining a loyal following with its rock solid fighting mechanics. With the release of Street Fighter IV earlier month, however, Capcom has invited the public at large to once again step into the ring and throwdown with the greatest fighters in the world for the series IV iteration. Despite still maintaining a deep, old school, and at times, "hardcore fighting system", Street Fighter IV is without a doubt a fighting game anyone can learn to love. The modes may not be numerous, but what is in Street Fighter IV is addicting and extensive, as is the game as a whole.
There is no real "story" in Street Fighter IV. Although each fighter has their own background and there is a loose story to tie it all together, it's not an overall engaging tale. The story in Street Fighter IV occurrs on the battlefield... and that's that.
And there is a few ways one can get onto the battlefield. The fighting game standards Arcade and Vs. modes are here, both with what you'd expect. Also, there are trial modes similar to those found in MK vs. DC that can teach you the ins and outs of some effective techniques for your chosen fighter. These, again, can become frustrating as there is no explicit explanation as to how these moves should be executed, but the blow seems somewhat softened here. On top of this, Time Trials and Survival modes are nice distractions from the standard fights. Each of these modes help reward the player with various things from new fighters to new costume colors. One of the unique features of Street Fighter IV plays into the online game, where titles and icons can be attached to your gamertag to help form your online identity through completeing various tasks in single player. This actually comes into play because, unlike MK vs. DCU, the Street Fighter IV online play is not only playable, but OUTSTANDINGLY playable. You'll be taking your lumps with fighters all over the world, and this is by far the best way to play the game. Although only player and ranked matches are available, its' still horribly addicting to go up against human opponents with little to no lag or hiccups whatsoever.
The playability of Street Fighter IV is what really sells the game. Despite its asthetic, Street Fighter IV is still a 2-D fighting game. The controls are quick and responsive, and it's no difficult task to start forming your own combos and learning the correct way to utilize each character's special moves. Street Fighter is relatively easy to play, but difficult as hell to master. Beginners can easily recieve a rude awakening at higher CPU levels or when against human opponents. However, the game is extremely well balanced, and it isn't a difficult proposition to begin learning the ropes after a few lost matches. Although the core remains intact from SF II, the inclusion of Super and Ultra meters makes for more strategic and balanced gameplay. There is also a new focus technique that allows parrying of moves which can be exploited in a number of different ways.
Street Fighter IV's presentation is both stellar and laughable, but always positively so. On the graphical side, Street Fighter IV's cell shaded and illustrated asthetic is gorgeous. All characters animate and express beautifully, and the stages and fighters are both vibrant and stylish. The soundtrack is a mix of energizing themes, including perhaps the most catchy song ever written that plays during the opening and on a loop during the menu screens. The voice acting is mixed at best, but some laughs can be had at some of the cheezy-ness of the dialogue. If it really bothers you, a single Arcade Mode playthrough unlocks Japanese voices for all fighters, which you can then set per fighter to increase authenticity.
Street Fighter IV certainly isn't a game that every and all players can instantly be competitive at, but its ease of play and overall fun factor make it well worth a try at becoming a master. It also creates a supportive and encouraging environment that aids in the games appeal. The modes may be few, but online play extends the games life to almost infinite. If you're an old fan of the franchise and wanting to step back in the ring, this game is a no brainer. But even if you are a new challenger appearing to take on the world warrior tournament, you can find plenty to enjoy for months to come.