Street Fighter 4

06.06.2008

Although, they aren't really fireballs. It is more a form of pure energy, derived from nature and the forces that surround us... But this is not about the analysis of certain energies, nor is it about showing what I know about the Street Fighter universe. It is about the reincarnation of one of the most popular games - if not the most popular bashing game - which has ever seen the darkness of the cartridges or the light of the laser. It all started in the good old amusement arcade and will hopefully never stop.

The time is ripe for the "4"! After about a million Street Fighter 3 titles – Zero and Alpha, Upper und Double Upper, New Generation, Second Impact, Third Strike – it is time for the real, fourth coup. Whether you are SF pro or SF apprentice, "Street Fighter IV" promises to guarantee fun for everyone. The latest part comes with a never-seen-before 3D comic jumpsuit, but still banks on 2D gameplay. That means that you won't be able to circle each other or run all over the arena. This delights the connoisseur and may annoy the newbie. Instead all counter and parry-moves were completely discarded. This irritates the connoisseur and the newbie probably does not give a damn.

Compared to its predecessors "Street Fighter IV" is mainly one thing: more aggressive. Gone are the times of staring at each other until the last few seconds. That explains the above-mentioned lack of two familiar defensive moves. But only one thing, which was essential in all SF games, still leads to victory: The right timing. Anyone who thinks "to hell with it! I'll just flatten every opponent", may be right, but should also know that not everything is as it used to be. The timing of certain characters and also their speed must be re-learned, or rather you have to get a feel for it. Vega, for example, whizzes around a little slower than he used to, which probably has something to do with his age. Despite this, the acclimatisation quickly takes place and soon the bashing works just as well as it used to.

The game still relies on the old distinction of high, middle and low strike or kick, where every attack causes different damage. With a few exceptions, for example the new versions of grips or an impenetrable block, everything has stayed the same as far as controls and buttons are concerned. You hurl bundles of energy at your opponent as ever and let "focus attacks", "super combos" and, with the necessary practice, also devastating "ultra combos" loose on your challenger. Of course, there will also be new combos and attacks, otherwise it wouldn't be part 4. Those for whom all this gibberish and madcap connotations are Double Dutch don’t need to agonise over it. "Street Fighter IV" will have a beginner mode, which explains everything nicely in a tutorial and trains you to be a powerful fighter. You find out afterwards how powerful you are in the extensive network online mode.

Four new fighters are waiting in "Street Fighter IV" for their assignment and four bosses will try everything to spoil your final victory. Among the new warhorses is the fast El Fuerte, a Mexican wrestler, the clumsy Rufus, a popcorn-gobbling giant, the newbie-friendly sexy serpent Crimson Viper, and the versatile Abel, a slightly weaker Zangief with special gripping techniques. The appearance of new fighters overlaps a bit with the long-established and popular standard characters. Let's see how well they do, and if they find as many fans as Guile, Chun-Li or even Ryu.

"Street Fighter IV" dares a unique fusion of old and new. The graphics are a feast for the eyes, and what already looked great in still pictures, is even more surprising when moving. Although the 2D gameplay was kept, the fighters and various venues present themselves squarely in 3D. And it is alive! On the well known military airport, in the middle of the Amazon or on a ship you are cheered from all sides, admire nature or the uninhibited view of the open sea. Taken hits are not just answered by a short, painful scream. Now eyes bulge from their sockets, faces wreathe in pain, mouth snarl angrily and generally there is a suitable facial expression for every situation. Personally I couldn’t stop grinning.