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Stephen couldn't review "Street Fighter IV," but resident "Street Fighter" fan and Multiplayer intern Sal Basile could. Sal's been playing the game non-stop for the past few days, and he talks about the satisfaction of finding true competitors and why he misses parrying.
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By Sal Basile
Let me get this out there: I like "Street Fighter." I like "Street Fighter" a lot. I've waited a long time for the release of "Street Fighter IV," and Capcom has promised that it will be the best of the franchise yet, combining the old and new in powerful ways. Did they stay true to their promise? The short answer: Hell yes.
The long answer: "Street Fighter IV" is how every transition of an old classic to next-gen game should be. It expands upon the revered foundation it has laid before it, making it one of -- if not the best -- in the series. Capcom listened to fans, and heard what we liked and what we didn't like. They took the best of the best, and stripped the worst from the pages, and put together a fighting game that makes me yearn for an arcade to go to again.
In two days, I've unlocked all characters. I've beaten the arcade mode several times, and acquired Achievements for 100 Focus Attacks, EX moves, Special moves, Super combos, and Ultra combos. Not because I am some sort of "Street Fighter" expert, or grand guru of the "quarter-circle," but because this game imbues the need to win inside of everyone. Even if you've never played a "Street Fighter" before and you throw a fireball by accident, you're going to want to know how you did that.
To brush up on my skills before the release of "SFIV", I purchased "Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix" for the Xbox 360. "HD Remix" was a remake of the ground-breaking title from the '90s arcades. I soon learned that practicing on this game was like if I had been practicing on "SFIV." The two games play identically, from the same motions to perform special moves to being able to pull off crossover attacks. Capcom made this possible by using the 2D hit boxes of the original, rather than 3D collision detection.
"SFIV" isn't just a dolled-up retro game, however. Two new mechanics add new thrills to the fighting ring. Ultra moves can be performed after taking a certain amount of damage, becoming the ace-in-the-hole of most players fighting style, while Focus attacks bring a completely new way to play "Street Fighter" to the table. Pushing the two medium attack buttons together results in the character charging up an attack, also protecting against flinching if the opponent attacks while doing so.
Even though I enjoyed the "parrying" mechanic from past games, hoping one day to use it like it was used in the 2004 EVO match, it was removed from "SFIV." Parrying was a short-lived addition that added so much more depth into an already deep game. To be able to read an opponent to the point where you can parry most of their attacks instilled a sense of accomplishment, making you proud of your fighting style. Producer Yoshinori Ono claimed it was removed because it was too hard for the vast majority to master. Many players won't miss it, but many will, including me.
"SFIV" isn't about its single-player modes; it's for fierce player-vs.-player competition. After unlocking the characters, I ventured online to see what my competition looked like. The way I play "Street Fighter" may be different from others. If I get paired up with someone I can completely demolish, I take my win, say goodbye, and leave the room. It's only when I find someone who completely demolishes me that I truly have fun.
I racked up an eight-consecutive win streak before I got paired up with someone playing Gouken, one of the unlockable characters. This guy knew how to play "Street Fighter," and I didn't leave this player's room until I beat him. After a few matches, he even showed me up by choosing Ken, the character I was playing as, and then beat me with him. I finally beat him after he racked up a nice 15-consecutive win streak against me. After that first win I got though, I could read him, and we had competitive matches into the early morning hours.
This is exactly why I bought "Street Fighter IV." To find the best of the best, learn how they play, and adapt. I can do fireballs, hurricane kicks, and flaming uppercuts, but nothing is the same as fighting someone better than you are -- and then beating them. I play to win. I need to win.
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