Street Fighter IV

By Liam O'Connor

Although Soul Calibur has the tag line “The legend will never die”, it seems more appropriate to apply it to Street Fighter. Although it’s been over ten years since the last original entry in to the Street Fighter series, it’s never left the public consciousness.

Sure, this is helped by the fact that the games, especially Street Fighter II, are constantly re-released, but when a game is this good it’s not really a bad thing. However, Capcom is now getting ready to bring Street Fighter to the next generation with the release of Street Fighter IV.

The most interesting part of Street Fighter IV is how it manages to make itself both new and familiar at the same time. Caught between a rock and a hard place, it was expected to remain true to the 2D gameplay of the originals yet feature cutting edge graphics.

Capcom has managed to get around this dilemma by retaining the 2D gameplay but featuring gorgeous cel-shaded graphics that manage to retain the cartoon look the game is famous for. Special moves will swing the camera about dynamically to give a feeling of depth, but anyone who has played Street Fighter before will be able to find themselves able to jump in right away.

The game will also lend itself to Street Fighter veterans by featuring the entire original cast of Street Fighter II. So those players who already play a mean Zangief will feel right at home. Of course, the game also brings something new to the table by introducing characters such as C. Viper and Abel, meaning that everyone should be able to explore and try new things.

The gameplay is also changing slightly. The six-button layout will remain, but the parry system of Street Fighter III will be absent. Instead, there will be a saving system where a revenge meter will fill during gameplay. When it reaches certain levels, special attacks can be unleashed. The game will also feature super combos, although it is unknown how these will be implemented into the game. Car smashing will also return, no doubt to much rejoicing.

If there is anything to worry about, it’s that Street Fighter IV often seems very similar to Street Fighter EX, a game that is generally regarded to be a bit pants. However, Capcom promises that Street Fighter IV will be a true successor to Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III, and one that will reinvigorate the series. It’s due for release in arcades in July 2008, with next generation ports inevitably due for release in the future. Keep it locked to NZGamer to find out more about Street Fighter IV as it unfolds.

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