When we say highly detailed character models, we mean it. One of the new characters, a Mexican wrestling chef called El Fuerte.
Ryu and Ken’s teacher Gouken.
charge by dashing out of it, which can help you play tricks on your opponent. Or, you can expend a portion of your Super meter to cancel a Special Move directly into a Focus Attack. This single system depicts the broader Street Fighter IV picture: it’s so easy to pick up and play but there’s enough depth to keep even the most hardcore competitors satisfied. For those new players, there are also new characters to experiment with. Besides a few unlockable
fighters, Street Fighter IV introduces Abel, Crimson Viper, Rufus and El Fuerte right off the bat and each new competitor is a welcome addition to the cast. I’m particularly fond of Crimson Viper, as her design is extremely stylish and her collection of special moves makes her a (flexible) force to be reckoned with. Of course, all the classic characters are back as well, like Ryu, Ken, ChunLi, Dhalsim and Guile. Like so many of the other elements in Street Fighter IV, the original characters feel exactly like they should and that’s absolutely a good thing. Street Fighter IV feels sublime and is a real blast to play. It’s easy to see that an absurd amount of effort was put into balancing and fine-tuning the game, as every match runs beautifully and controls smoothly. Obviously some characters are stronger than others, as has been the case with the series for years now, but a truly skilled player can still take a character and do some impressive things in the ring, much to the dismay of his or her opponents.
Street Fighter IV is a fantastic game overall and Capcom should be commended for designing a game that can work on so many levels. I’ll admit that when I first heard I was reviewing Street Fighter IV, I wasn’t terribly excited. But as I played and experimented with each character, fighting a variety of the folks at Player Magazine and learning something new with every match, I realized just how irrevocably deep fighting games—and Street Fighter games in particular, really are. I encourage everyone to give Street Fighter IV a try, even if you’re new to the fighting game scene.
Player Magazine verdict Gorgeous character models Plenty of replay value Comprehensive multiplayer modes No tournament mode Accessible but nuanced gameplay
90 %
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