THE ONE TRUE FIGHTING KING RETURNS!

Street Fighter, two words that for many are a perfect representation of videogame entertainment. Two words that have become so popular that even none gamers know what their sons or daughters are talking about when it comes to this special and beloved beat-em up franchise. First appearing back in 1987, Street Fighter as been played by billions all around the World. From the arcade heart of Tokyo to a small arcade in cold chilly Wales. Anyone who knows what videogames are knows what Street Fighter is, even though the beat-em up genre as struggled somewhat over the last couple of years there is still a proud king sitting on the thrown of fighting games, Street Fighter. 

Street Fighter developers Capcom have answered the desperate calls of millions of gamers throughout the World, with the release of the massively hyped latest installment in Street Fighter 4. Those that know gaming will also know that the Street Fighter series as seen many different installments, from reworks of the classicStreet Fighter 2 to the odd but still wonderful Puzzle Fighter games. You don't need to be a fan of the genre to know what Street Fighter is all about, not to mention recognize some of the series iconic fighters. So as you can already guess, Street Fighter 4 had a hell of a lot to live up to now that it's finally being played by PS3 and Xbox 360 owners around the World. Thankfully Capcom did get a chance to beta test the game of sorts when they released the arcade versions in Japan on July 18 2008 and later in North America. The arcade release also gave eager fans the possibility to get a early taste of both the new fighting system and the new characters found in Street Fighter 4. 

But I'm not here to review the arcade version, I'm here to offer my thoughts on the console versions which hit in Febuary of this year. It would be worth mentioning that my past Street Fighter experience is limited so like many others, I came into Street Fighter 4 prepared to learn the hard way and take a beating or two. For those that have never touched a Street Fighter game, they might wonder what the fuss is all about and some hardcore fans would probably talk for the next three hours about how specific this is or why that happens and how it takes years to become a master. He/she would be partly right, it does take years to become even a solid Street Fighter player and that is one of the many reasons it is such a loved franchise because to simply put it, Street Fighter offers one of the most complex but friendly fighting systems in it's genre. Infact it's complexity is worthy of the best Massively Multiplayer Online game out there. 

 That is one of the beautiful aspects to Street Fighter 4, for Capcom clearly know that a whole new generation of gamers are taking up their gamepads or arcade sticks for their first true taste of the beat-em up genre. For those more experienced with both the genre and of course the franchise as a whole, you'll know that both Street Fighter 2 (not to mention it's many different versions) and Street Fighter 3 added a number of new fighting mechanics that made a already deep game even deeper. Thankfully Capcom have gone back to the drawing board with the fourth installment, they are clearly hoping that the changes made will offer a more friendly and welcoming introduction to those that have never pulled off an Hadoken or Shoryuken in their lives and to Capcom's credit, they've done exactly that. Even if the welcoming process isn't as helpful as it could have been. So what exactly can be found in Street Fighter 4.

Well it follows the same path as many other beat-em up games in it's genre, but it's also important to remember that it was Street Fighter itself that pioneered some of these modes. So you'll find the usual Arcade Mode, Multiplayer Mode and Training Mode. Not to mention the somewhat helpful Challenge Mode and extra options that offer fans pieces of concept art and movies that become unlocked as you play through the game. So yes one could moan that nothing particularly new as been done here, but does the genre as a whole require something new and fresh? Many fans will tell you it simply needs a title that will bring back the rise of the genre in the forefront of the videogame media and Street Fighter 4 does exactly that. You can't go on a gaming site or listen to a podcast without hearing the words 'Street Fighter' somewhere at the moment. Many of the modes play out as you'd suspect with a few exceptions, for instance the Arcade Mode allows a friend on your friends list to enter a battle with you and replace the A.I. This is a method used to offer the same sort of experience found in arcades where a fellow gamer can challenge you for a match. It might sound simple, but it's one of the nice touches to Street Fighter 4 that makes you remember that all this was born from the love and determination of those arcaders who spent their hard earned cash daily on the local Street Fighter Arcade machine. 

Arcade Mode is also the place where you'll be unlocking the games 25 playable fighters, just be prepared to learn the hard way if your unfamilar with how to beat each and every character, thankfully there are a number of differculty levels to choose from so you should eventually find your playin level even if there are still one or two issues with the actual performance of the differculty. One issue that I eventually grew to hate was how on occasion the game would rise up the differculty and leave you frustrated, though I still suspect this is actually more of a bug then a part of the game. But on the odd occasion you will find yourself against an opponent much tougher then they should be, it almost feels as if the game skips back to it's medium differculty settings from time to time. A lot of the personal issues I had with Street Fighter 4 all come down to my particular skill at the game, though I will happily admit to finding the games final boss 'Seth' a real tough son of a gun (but that's how a boss should be of course). This is due to how Seth will let you have a good go at him and then if you beat him in the first round, he'll suddenly open up a very large can of whoop ass on you with a whole bunch of new and unfamilar moves you have a tough time adjusting to. It also doesn't help when he teleports back and forth so you never truly feel prepared to attack him or loosen your tight guard in battle. But even this, despite it being frustrating is all part of what Street Fighter is all about and we wouldn't have it any other way. Part of much of the fun is learning each and every fighters methods of battle and to learn how to counter their strongest moves, it takes time and dedication but it can all be worth it. This also explains why so many of the Worlds best Street Fighters usually only play with one or two characters at most because they simply feel more suited to them, it can takes even longer to get use to all 25 fighters. 

One area in which Capcom have let newer players down is in it's challenge or training modes. Though both are reasonably helpful, neither offer the true helpful depth many new Street Fighters were hoping for. The challenge mode will show you how to perform each characters moves, special combos and ultra finishes (not to mention that the small instructions are not always clear) while the training mode is exactly as you'd expect, offering players a place to practice with each character against poor old Dan. But it would have been nice to see a training mode which offers gamers some Street Fighter tips and strategic guides for actual gameplay online (though there is of course a strategic guide avaliable for purchase). This is especially frustrating considering Capcom bought Seth Killian into the development as special advisor. It's fine reading it on page but performing the actual moves or strategies are total different things. So maybe it doesn't offer the welcome to new players we were hoping it would, but that doesn't mean Street Fighter 4 is poorer for it. Infact the decision to remove a number of older gameplay mechanics was a fantastic one and gives gamers a change to return to the Street Fighter games. There are a few new gameplay techniques to learn though, the focus attack is one of these. This specially time charged attack is both unique and deadly in the right hands, for it can block many attacks and can do considerable damage to your opponent. I have already seen a number of players vary it's use, but it's a new game mechanic that already looks like a massive hit. Thankfully a lot of the classic moves and throws are all in place so it doesn't feel to alien to those familar to the series and know each characters move by heart. Each fighter also as a Ultra Combo to go along with Special Combo's and of course the popular EX versions of moves. Basically the fighting system feels very similar to the one found in Street Fighter 2 while also offering something new and fresh for all to learn, it all works perfectly and is a pleasure to experience.

Street Fighter 4 also offers online play, and for the most part it works fine and is a lot of fun. Though it is inferior to the options offered in the recently released Super Street Fighter II Turbo Remix HD. Which is in itself kind of sad, because you would have thought that Capcom might have bought the same options over from that game after it being so successful, though a future update could expand SF4's online options in months to come. But as it is, well it is dissappointing and it would have been nice if more specific options were avaliable. Though online performance seemed solid from my experience and of course fun, there are some issues with matchmaking which I could see this issue frustrating those that spend a lot of time online and it's matchmaking seemed a little inconsistent. There are a few neat touches, such as the ability to create a small avatar of sorts of your own, with small pics and sentences for fellow gamers to see. There are hundreds of these so it will take ages to obtain them all. So online is solid if a little dissappointing considering how the rest of the game feels, it would have been nice if Capcom streamlined the online matchmaking process a little better and offered more options to more hardcore Street Fighter players. But there is still fun to be had, if your willing to adjust to some of the modes weird issues. But for the most part, your average gamer will get what he wants from his time spent online. Those looking  for a simple fight with human opponents will grow to enjoy the mode greatly and hopefully future improvements and additions will help the experience feel a little smoother for the more hardcore Street Fighter fan. 

So does Street Fighter 4 reach the huge hype generated over the many years of waiting, the simple answer is yes. Though it suffers from a number of issues affecting the beat-em up genre as a whole, it's simply asking to much for Street Fighter 4 to totally rethink the genre as it's already done a fine enough job of bring beat-em ups back into th limelight of the gaming media and thoughts of gamers around the World. Online could have been better streamlined but most importantly the performance was solid and all in all that is whats most important to a fighting game. Thankfully Street Fighter 4 still offers one of the most exciting and complex fighting systems on any format and is a pleasure to experience. When you think you have learnt it all, it punches you in the face with something totally fresh and new. That is what is so special about Street Fighter 4, despite a few rought edges it's still the perfect beat-em up game and you don't require years of mastering it to know that. 

SCORE: 5 out of 5.