Street Fighter 4 Review

Street Fighter 4 Review: Back 2 two

Street Fighter 4 has been out for a while now, which has given much time to experiment and get the whole experience out of it. This game is a very solid game, which is a sigh of relief for all the fans of the series out there. The game delivers a very well structured fighting system that is sure to be a main contender for tournament play. This does not mean the game does not have its weak points, as every game in existence does. However the overall presentation of the game is hard to beat.

+Large variety of character types and diverse lineup available.

+Gorgeous art style brings the game’s original style into the next gen era.

+ Combat is very tightly tuned and flows nicely.

+Great online multiplayer system in place.

+Great for parties and tournaments.

+Training mode allows for players to learn and master the different combos each character has.

- Seth, the final boss in arcade mode, is overly hard to beat and just frustrating.

- Not very friendly to newcomers and those not proficient at fighting games.

- Step back from Street Fighter 3 by focusing on older characters instead of new characters.

-Need a joystick to get the real feeling of the game (especially for the Xbox 360).

-No real leap forward for the genre or series, just a small tweak on an existing game.

Although I have these criticisms, which might seem to be nitpicking, the game is still very good. I have highlighted these problem areas because for some people this could prove to be a deal breaker. The final boss, Seth, is extremely hard and can serve as a deterrent for many to actually continue playing the game. Although there is a training mode available, the overall difficulty of play isn’t really set for beginners looking to break into fighting games, unless they are up for a challenge. Furthermore, if you are to really get the most out of this game, you have to buy a fightpad-- preferably a fightstick. If you have an Xbox 360 then it is nearly impossible to play with the d-pad, although some have found the analogue stick to be fairly decent.

The main reason why I could not give this game a 5-star rating was because it didn’t make any real strides forward. The game played it very safe and close to its comfort zone. I would have really liked to see the game push the genre forward the way Street Fighter 3 did with the parry system and a total overhaul of the existing roster.

Bottom Line- Street Fighter 4 is an awesome fighting experience; however for those looking for a fighting game that will push the genre forward may not be as satisfied.

---Explanation of rating system---

*= Stay Away

**= Diehard fans need only apply

***= Pretty good game. Has its good points and equally bad points.

****= Very good game. You should definitely give it a look as you will most likely enjoy it.

*****= Amazing game! Comes around only so often and serves as the shining example of the potential of the industry.