So why am I excited about this release? Well… it’s Street Fighter 4, duh. Even though the number 4 suggests that this the 4th game in the series, it’s really the 12th if you count all the iterations of SFI, SFII, SF Alpha, and SFIII. Don’t get me started on that crappy Street Fighter 2010. History aside, this entry proves to be just as epic as its previous legacies. Let’s just hope that Capcom doesn’t repeat history and release a Street Fighter 4 Ultra Special Hyper Championship Edition to further confuse the hell out of us.
To be honest, when the first SFIV teasers were unveiled, it really wasn’t my cup of tea. What was the deal with all the ink swirls and why did they keep Chun Li’s thunder thighs? But as you play the final game, you start to realize how genius this art style really is. For the first time, you can vividly see and feel all the pain induced from every punch, kick, and fireball. From their over-the-top facial expressions, to the contorting bodies, you know that they’re in for a world of hurt. In previous games, the 2-D character models seemed very copied and pasted into each level. But because of the new 3-D engine, each character appears more dynamic and is more well integrated into the scenery. Literally adding a new dimension to the visuals. If you preferred the more gritty 2-D nature of SFIII, you might be disappointed. But I can assure you that the game-play will surely change your mind.
Tags: capcom, fighting, sfiv