At the heart of all video games there is a universal gradient. No matter the genre, no matter the system, there has, and always will be a unifying mechanic that unites all incarnations of digital entertainment. This fundamental force is known most commonly as competition. All video games enforce a style of competition, be it against oneself, against the AI, or more frequently, with another player. The drive to dominate your fellow man has been ingrained since humans discovered their fists, and Capcom tapped into those primal urges most successfully with the gaming phenomenon known as Street Fighter 2. Easily considered by fans and critics alike as the ultimate fighting game, the house that Ryu built has stood the test of time, with remakes, re-releases, prequels, and even the odd sequel now and again. It has been nearly ten years since Street Fighter 3 was released, a game heralded by many to be the best iteration of the series. That title may well be taken away by the recently released Street Fighter IV, who looks to marry the allure of the HD era with the charm and familiarity of the old school, and succeeds near flawlessly.

Shortly after thrusting the disc into your console, the opening cinema sets the tone with impressive authority. Gone are the archaic two dimensional sprites, replaced entirely instead by 3D splendor. Rocking J-Pop thumps in the background while familiar faces abound, each one ready and willing to put hand and foot to unsuspecting nose and cheek. Highly stylized water color effects bleed across the screen as the combatants dance in a montage of martial arts action - and that is only the intro cinema. It sets the stage well for the experience waiting within, an experience that begins with the eyes. Street Fighter IV is easily the best looking game in the series. Every character is lovingly detailed, from the writing on Ryu's belt, to not-so-subtle chest hair of Zangief. The animations are striking, and the effects that mark the special and super moves are spellbinding. Capcom could have easily released a previous incarnation of the series with this visual overhaul and it would have been successful. Graphics make a good game not, however, and thankfully the new visage isn't without substance.

Backing up the new look is a complete restoration of the original cast. Every face from the arcade classic is accounted for, as well as many favorites such as Cammy, Sakura, and the long absent Fei Long. All returning members look astounding, and have been tweaked and balanced for the new system. There are four new challengers to the tournament, however. Rufus, Abel, C. Viper and El Fuerte. Rufus is a corpulent fighter with illusions of grandeur, while Abel is an amnesiac brawler looking for answers. C. Viper is a cold and cynical professional looking to test her company's battle suit, and El Fuerte is a Lucha Libre wrestler with a passion for the culinary arts. Despite the colorful characters that have come before, these four manage to carve an instant niche in both their character design and their play style. Abel mixes pugilism and grappling, and C. Viper's already deadly strikes are augmented by her technology. El Fuerte is a ball of energy that is constantly moving, while Rufus well, some things you have to see to believe.



Once you select your character, the fun begins, and it becomes quickly apparent that the series has returned to its 6-button roots. Street Fighter IV does away with a majority of the technical devices used since its second son routed the arcade scene. The much praised parry system is gone, as well as such recent staples as air-blocking, and 'alpha-counters', introduced in the titular Alpha series. Instead of carrying along and adding to the fighting systems amassed over the years, Capcom has gone back to the basics, but have also implemented a few new features to keep things interesting. The standard super move bar has been segmented into quarters, with each portion filling slowly as the fight progresses. Once filled the individual segments can be used to execute an EX move (a more powerful version of a standard special attack) or all at once to unleash a much more devastating character-specific strike.

Completely new to the franchise are the Revenge Meter and the Focus Attack. As a fighter takes damage the Revenge meter will fill. Once enough is enough, the player can unleash a devastating ultra combo, usually a series of strikes that can turn the tide of battle. The Focus Attack is a completely different animal, however. Perhaps an answer to the lack of a proper parry, this provides a chargeable offensive option that, if landed, instantly stuns your opponent. This is a handy trick to have, as the Focus Attack can absorb an enemy strike during use, therefore providing players with both offensive and defensive play styles. This becomes a very intricate part of higher level play, as the Focus Attack can be used to cancel certain moves and chain into others. While it may sound complicated, the simple fact is these new features are not required to enjoy the game. Most players will be able to start swinging with fantastic results, giving the game a wonderful pick-up-and-play feel. However, fighting veterans who sink their teeth into the nuances of the system will be awarded a much deeper experience.

There are several modes of gameplay to explore in Street Fighter IV. The expectant Arcade and Vs. mode meet the industry standard, and the training option lets you experiment with various methods and tactics. An untried addition to the Vs. mode is the ability to take the fight online, though a lack of other media outlets participating online has rendered this portion of the game unreviewable, however, Capcom promises smooth gameplay, ranked matches, and more. Thankfully, for gamers who want to remain offline (and sharpen their skills) a surprising amount of depth can be found in the robust Challenge mode. Players are able to undergo certain scenarios with every character. These challenges vary from simply executing super moves to learning devastating combos, and ramp in difficulty accordingly. Along with a Time Trial and Survival mode, there is a nice assortment of options available, and the incentives are plentiful. New costumes, titles, artwork and more await the faithful who explore the depths of the Challenge mode, while the Arcade mode is the primary vehicle for unlocking new characters. Ironically, Abel, C.Viper, Rufus and El Fuerte are all available from the beginning, while the likes of Rose and Akuma need to be unlocked.



While there is a lot to love about Street Fighter IV, there are a few stumbles along the path to glory. The aforementioned Arcade mode employs short anime cut-scenes at the beginning and end, respectively, to tell the story of each character. While a good idea in theory, these scenes are jarring and unexpected. They are incredibly short, and for the most part make little sense. Fighting games aren't known for their dramatic prose and epic storylines, and Street Fighter is no exception, but these blurbs of animated fluff almost seem like a shortcut. The in-game engine would have been much better suited for the job.

Along those same lines, the end boss Seth is monstrous. Even on the 'Easy' setting, he is brutal. Players of various skill levels will likely breeze through the cadre of opponents, but once the final round starts, the Yin-Yang wielding maniac is nearly impossible. He has access to the most powerful moves of each character, from Guile's Sonic Boom to Zangief's Spinning Pile Driver. Most frustrating is his use of Dhalsim's teleport, which he abuses indiscriminately. On the higher difficulties, Seth demands nothing less than perfection. Granted, some will love the challenge, but many others will find the sudden spike in difficulty unsettling. On another note, Street Fighter IV doesn't do too many new things. Anyone who has played the classics will know exactly what they are getting into, and that isn't enough for some. If you don't like the series, this game isn't going to change your mind. Other gripes that the game might earn are purely cosmetic. Rufus is the most outrageous addition to the crew since R. Mika, and the design choices behind Seth seem a little out there. Those are far reaching concerns, however, and they hardly take away from the amazing gameplay.

When the bell finally rings, Street Fighter IV emerges a winner. It has the best of both worlds - classic and time tested gameplay combined with cutting edge visuals and undeniable presentation. Fans of the franchise will adore it, and newcomers will find it a refreshing experience unlike any other. Just as Street Fighter II became the icon for one generation of console fighters, the new blood is stepping up to become the icon of another. Welcome back, Street Fighter. We missed you.