It’s amazing how giddy one can get over a new video game. The anticipation of arriving at the store, the fresh wrapping and scent of the case and instruction manual; these are just some of the things you appreciate when you invest in a game you feel is worth your purchase. It seems like it was yesterday when Street Fighter IV was released roughly a year ago and Capcom is once again back with a new iteration of the franchise, Super Street Fighter IV. It may seem silly to release such an update only one year in advance, but Super is a culmination of everything Capcom wanted to do with the first release of IV and the voices heard from the thousands of fans who dreamed of a more balanced and expansive fighter. As I went and picked up my copy of SSF IV at mid-night, the excitement wasn’t dulled by any expectations or false pretenses. It was like shooting me back one year ago, remembering how awesome it was to have Street Fighter back in business. Sure, it’s essentially the same Street Fighter we all know and love, but now there’s ten new fighters added to the roster, two ultra moves for each character, bonus stages (from the original Street Fighter II) and extensive balancing tweaks, all adding up to quite an update to the original formula.
What first strikes me the most with SSF IV is the updated presentation and elegancy. While there was nothing wrong with the menus in the previous iteration of SF, the menus in Super have been significantly spruced up, with lively backgrounds showing up various character art and sketches, to even the streamlined online interface. The online component of Super is much stronger than that of it’s predecessor. One of the nice features I really enjoyed was the fact that in Super titles and icons are much easier to unlock than SF IV. Now you don’t have to clear all the character’s trials in order to get their specific icons. Instead, you just have to complete a certain number, making the personalization and online community aspect much simpler and unique.
On top of that you have the new replay channel. You can now finally record and save battles onto your Hard Drive and even upload them to Capcom’s servers for everybody to see. What’s real neat about the replay system is how the game handles when it records or not. It works by tracking how many Ranked Battle wins you have in a row at a given time. Winning three matches in a row puts you in an “on fire” like state. When you begin another battle, a little reel-to-reel icon turns red and begins spinning at the “versus” screen, indicating that the battle will be recorded. You will be given the option to upload your replay should you prevail against you’re competition. It’s a really fun system and adds excitement to the battles that never really existed before. The Replay Channel hub is also really neat simply because all the replays are broken up neatly into various categories, such as Random, New Face, Boss, etc.
In terms of finding a match and latency issues, I did occasionally run into problems with lag, but when both people had a good connection, online play ran smoothly. The two new modes, Endless Battle and Team Battle both add to the community aspect of Street Fighter. They both somewhat replicate the feel of being in an arcade, with Endless battle giving you an up to eight player winner stays, loser goes type scenario and Team Battle allowing for 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3, 4 vs 4 battles where the winner of a team continues fighting until he or she is knocked out. What ends up making these modes flawless is the fact that now you can watch battles in progress, whereas before you had to wait in a lobby. This difference creates more community and allows players to watch other player’s strategies and techniques. It also at least gives the player a sense of what he’s up against, just like if he were standing in line at the arcade. The feel of these modes are strong and it’s great to see them implemented so well.
Visually, Super Street Fighter IV is not much different from its original, but it definitely looks sharper overall and is still one of the prettiest games I’ve ever seen this decade. The new stages are absolutely gorgeous (especially the Dhalsim and the Solar Eclipse stage), displaying vibrant colors and landscapes that only enhance the overall experience. The ten new characters are also add much needed style to the roster, boasting creative design that is top notch. The two completely new fighters, Hakan and Juri are both extremely interesting in looks and play style. Hakan is certainly the silliest character Capcom has conjured up in a while, and his Turkish oiling antics are as fun as they are ludicrous. Juri, on the other hand is a fighter who is deceivingly quick and powerful. She has an incredible set of moves in her arsenal, which are all easily combo-able into each other, allowing her to be an extremely deadly on the rush down.
The same applies to Guy, a badass city ninja from the Final Fight universe who has a slew of interesting defensive and rush down moves. He even has his popular Target Combos (a technique new to the Street Fighter IV realm and first established during the Alpha series) that are utilized as combos that may link into special moves or other combos. Cody, also from the Final Fight universe is so laid-back that his power will surprise players seeking revenge on the jailbird. He also has fun little tricks up his sleeve such as being able to throw rocks (acting as an attack and anti-projectile) and he can even pick up his knife and slash away. T-Hawk and DeeJay of the original remaining cast of the original Super Street Fighter II are back as well and are equally as fun. T-Hawk’s power is unmatched and will seriously rival Zangief and Sagat. Deejay has some fun tricks up his sleeve and his play style is very similar to that in SF II. Ibuki, Makoto and Dudley are the new characters from Street Fighter III: Third Strike and they are also wonderful additions. People will love Ibuki’s evasive nature and her acrobatic prowess, while fans of Fei Long will dig Makoto’s old school fighting technique. Players looking for a new powerhouse to their lineup will enjoy the fine balance of Dudley’s speed and strength, as he’s certainly one of the coolest and more exciting characters to play.
Verdict:
Super Street Fighter IV is simply awesome. For $40 you get the definitive Street Fighter experience, one that supersedes the groundwork that Street Fighter IV paved last year. It’s an update that the fans wanted and we couldn’t be happier. With all the new balance tweaks and characters, Super Street Fighter IV will without a doubt make the original obsolete. It just feels tighter, more responsive, and most importantly balanced. No longer will I be simply KOed by two pile drivers by Zangief. I’ve been playing this non-stop since last week and it will always be one of those games I go back to. Whether it’s a couple rounds here or there, or teaming up with a friend in Team Battle mode, beating the crap out of each other just never gets old with the Street Fighter formula. I learn something new every time I play SSF IV and that simple fact is what invites me to never stop playing.
Score:
out of 5
-Eric Egavian
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