Street Fighter 4

[Strafe Mcgee]

Whilst it's still a while away, Street Fighter 4's starting to look stunningly, incredibly, fantastically awesome fun. What's your opinion on the way it's shaping up? Do you like the fact that it's essentially a remake with a few extra characters? 3D, yay or nay?

I can't wait for the game, but personally I think that it's a bit lazy and uninspired to re-use all of the old SF2 characters. I'd have preferred that they kept the gorgeous graphics engine and actually went through the trouble of creating a new roster of characters. It seems like Capcom's intent upon milking the franchise even further than continual updates of the classic that continue to this day (Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix is due for release sometime this Summer).

In a completely unrelated note, when the hell is Street Fighter 3 gonna get an XBLA release?

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

I really like the makeovers they have given the old characters. Bison's ultimate super move looks absolutely brutal. However I think all of the new characters look like wastes of space. Crimson Viper looks like she belongs in King Of Fighters (and suspiciously like a long-haired Vanessa), El Fuerte is a rip off of El Blaze in VF5, Rufus is a rip off of Cheng from Fatal Fury 2 and Abel is a poor man's Alex from SF3. Who knows, they could be fun to play though.
And technically it's 2.5D; apparently it's all the rage now, with King Of Fighters doing it as well.

SF2THDR looks awesome. I bought Commando 3 just so I could download the pre-release soon.

 

[Churchman]

We got a spammer


anyway I just find it funny Capcom seems to never want to number its games properly.

 

[N-Sef]

I really like the makeovers they have given the old characters. Bison's ultimate super move looks absolutely brutal. However I think all of the new characters look like wastes of space. Crimson Viper looks like she belongs in King Of Fighters (and suspiciously like a long-haired Vanessa), El Fuerte is a rip off of El Blaze in VF5, Rufus is a rip off of Cheng from Fatal Fury 2 and Abel is a poor man's Alex from SF3. Who knows, they could be fun to play though.
And technically it's 2.5D; apparently it's all the rage now, with King Of Fighters doing it as well.

SF2THDR looks awesome. I bought Commando 3 just so I could download the pre-release soon.

Totally agreed, the new characters look like they are either ripoffs of better characters or they look like they don't belong in the series. I honestly don't care about this game, the entire thing screams lack of effort. I would love to see a brand new roster like we did with Street Fighter III, I mean it only makes sense right? Some of the those SFIII characters have garnered quite a following like Alex, Urien and Makoto. But no, we are getting the same characters we've been playing as since the early 90's plus some add-ons for good measure.

Is it me or do the characters all look not quite right? There's just something about them.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

Totally agreed, the new characters look like they are either ripoffs of better characters or they look like they don't belong in the series. I honestly don't care about this game, the entire thing screams lack of effort. I would love to see a brand new roster like we did with Street Fighter III, I mean it only makes sense right? Some of the those SFIII characters have garnered quite a following like Alex, Urien and Makoto. But no, we are getting the same characters we've been playing as since the early 90's plus some add-ons for good measure.

Is it me or do the characters all look not quite right? There's just something about them.

Yeah I can't quite put my finger on what makes them look a bit not quite right. I think it's the facial expressions that throw me.

I think the good thing about the SFIII characters were that they played similar to the SFII characters and also fitted the look. I was hoping to see maybe a couple of them in SFIV, like Ibuki (which may or may not have been possible with Capcom's weird canonical order). Now it just looks like the SFII expansion pack; and haven't we had enough of them! Fei Long, T Hawk, Dee Jay and Cammy anyone?

Alex is an absolute powerhouse once you learn him. The thing that bothers me is that Capcom put in all these new character but who do the majority of people go? Ryu, Ken & Akuma! *sigh*

 

[brabz]

I have to say I'm very excited for the game, and the fact that it's using the characters from 2 feels like they might be trying to return to form instead of when it descended into a gimmicky joke with new characters and no real development in gameplay. The female version of Guile and the boxer come to mind.

My big concern isn't the character list, but whether Microsoft will make and distribute a wireless arcade-style controller, or whether I'll have to get motivated and build my own. Sega had a great one I loved playing SF2 on, but I haven't seen anything that passes muster available from any controller distributor yet. Guess there's still time though.

 

[lord kamina]

i think the re hash of all the SF2 characters is just a way to open them up to a new genaration of games who would never touch a 2D fighter's and i am quite happy that thay are giveing them a revamp sure thay look a kittle odd but i think thay have a done a good job of it in genaral vega looks fantastic and i know ken will be my first pick also i love the new chuners and guile!

 

[Vortigar]

They replaced most of the characters twice and it didn't have all that much impact. Of all the Alpha characters only Sakura is remembered. Of all the SF3 characters nobody is remembered (by the broad audience). The return to SF2 characters is purely a business decision.

I was really surprised they didn't insert the new challengers from the start. Cammy's all but confirmed for the home version though. But T Hawk was always one of my faves and DeeJay is a pretty iconic character in fighting games right?

I prefer SF3's characters myself, but hey, what'cha gonna do? Please, Capcom, put Q in, how hard can he be to create, eh? Robo Dick Tracy beats all.

Originally I was more interested in ST:HDR, but SF4 continues to grow more impressive with each successive trailer. The addition of a KoF style character makes it really easy for me to pick my fighter. I always preffered SNK's designs over Capcom's, but also preffered Capcom's gameplay over SNK's.

Programmed_For_Damage:
Someone who knows Cheng?! I always feel like I'm the only one who played Fatal Fury 2 on the planet, even when I go to fighting game meets, nobody knows who I'm talking about. That guy is one of the best fatty designs ever, together with the latter day version of Raiden/Big Bear, who actually looks like he'd tear you apart in no time flat.

KoF:XII is actually true 2d. They use cell shaded characters as base for their sprites' animations and then stomp them flat and let artists enhance them to make sense and add details (look at Kyo's pants flutter in the wind during his rising double kick, pure awesome). The end result that goes in the game is a simple sprite, in a very high resolution though. The backgrounds are designed in the semi-3d style SNK has used for KoF:XI and NGBC before. At least, that's what I read from a translation of a Famitsu article posted on SRK somewhere.

It's true many news outlets 'dismissed' the original trailer as pretty use of cell-shading. Shortly after SNK went on a small crusade to debunk that.

 

[lord kamina]

They replaced most of the characters twice and it didn't have all that much impact. Of all the Alpha characters only Sakura is remembered. Of all the SF3 characters nobody is remembered (by the broad audience). The return to SF2 characters is purely a business decision.

I was really surprised they didn't insert the new challengers from the start. Cammy's all but confirmed for the home version though. But T Hawk was always one of my faves and DeeJay is a pretty iconic character in fighting games right?

I prefer SF3's characters myself, but hey, what'cha gonna do? Please, Capcom, put Q in, how hard can he be to create, eh? Robo Dick Tracy beats all.

i have to say first DJ iconic?? i mean come on when you ask someone "hay remember street fighter" they answer "yeah dj was in that!" no its yeah chun lee, or ryu or ken there iconic wile true the 3rd strike characters where a little to quick to be forgotten but i still think a lot of people remember them as its the most popular and bet one to come out of the franchise in my opinion sure Twelve was a bit meh but i think most people remember Elena and ibuki?

 

[SenseOfTumour]

For me, SF2 was the summit of all one on one fighting games. (yeah a big statement, I know)

I found after that, things became too complex, and before it things were too simple.

I felt with SF2 every move had a counter, and you were never consciously thinking 'ok, its back back down forward, LP+HK' because every character used the same 3 or 4 'special move' motions in some variation. Almost all moves were fireball, sonic boom, dragon punch, or tap the buttons like a loony.

Yet with these limitations, you could craft strings of combinations, if you had skill. Not just by slapping a preset string of buttons, but by timing them.

Also you could really freak out other players by actually getting good at Zangief or Dhalsim, and when they try to batter you, repeatedly slam their pyjama clad body into the ground

On a side note, do check the 'streetfighter - the later years' video serial, it's genuinely wonderful.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I guess what I was saying, is when Tekken 6 comes out, with its 240 page game guide, that's my proof that its not a natural flowing fighter, and I don't want to take a course in combo strategy just to play a game.

Also, what I failed to mention was that I'll certainly be interested, but I think it may be a case of 'tetris' all over again.

Tetris, legendary, 483 sequels to tetris, all failed to be as good.
SF2 (yes I know its a sequel), historic, all the others, not up to its standard. I admit enjoying all the SNES versions tho, turbo, etc.

 

[apmpnmdslkbk]

The game looks great but I think i will wait until it is in the bargin bin till I buy it.

 

[lord kamina]

For me, SF2 was the summit of all one on one fighting games. (yeah a big statement, I know)

I found after that, things became too complex, and before it things were too simple.

I felt with SF2 every move had a counter, and you were never consciously thinking 'ok, its back back down forward, LP+HK' because every character used the same 3 or 4 'special move' motions in some variation. Almost all moves were fireball, sonic boom, dragon punch, or tap the buttons like a loony.

Yet with these limitations, you could craft strings of combinations, if you had skill. Not just by slapping a preset string of buttons, but by timing them.

Also you could really freak out other players by actually getting good at Zangief or Dhalsim, and when they try to batter you, repeatedly slam their pyjama clad body into the ground

On a side note, do check the 'streetfighter - the later years' video serial, it's genuinely wonderful.

i agree with some of your points and disagree with others street fighter 2 turbo was a fantastic game and it shaped all fighters that preseded it but it is by no way the best looking back at your youth when the 2 came out on the SNES most people chose Blanka Chun lee and E.honda because thay could do the mash punch/kick moves

it was when the later games came out you moved into the tactical aspects of the game look at alpha, 3 play styles so every one could play in there own way and when 3rd strike came out the game became what i believe the greatest 2d fighter ever (well that and guilty gear) each character had there own style and identity and fan base the where fantastic for there time and for a little play now and then but if you go back now you see how clunky it was but i cant really say that because it was made in 87 thats like saying "hay Galaxian is wank it only has 5 types of enemy" but in the end we all love SF in all its forms be it puzzle fighter or gem fighter its all good!

 

[TheIceface]

The last I saw of it was on the cover of a Game Informer. I have to say, the new 3d style looked a bit strange. Especially the way the did the muscles, I can see the game looking alright as a cartoon, but Ryu looks like he's been packing away more steroids than Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, and Rosie O' Donnel put together.

Never really been a big fan of the series, so feel free to ignore my opinion.

 

[Proto Cloud]

Whilst it's still a while away, Street Fighter 4's starting to look stunningly, incredibly, fantastically awesome fun. What's your opinion on the way it's shaping up? Do you like the fact that it's essentially a remake with a few extra characters? 3D, yay or nay?

I can't wait for the game, but personally I think that it's a bit lazy and uninspired to re-use all of the old SF2 characters. I'd have preferred that they kept the gorgeous graphics engine and actually went through the trouble of creating a new roster of characters. It seems like Capcom's intent upon milking the franchise even further than continual updates of the classic that continue to this day (Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix is due for release sometime this Summer).

In a completely unrelated note, when the hell is Street Fighter 3 gonna get an XBLA release?

I wouldn't call it a remake because it has all the new fighting techniques of SF3, minus parries and the addition of guard-break attacks.

I can't wait for this because it definitely simplifies the game, making it easier for old vets (like my father) get back in the fray. And there's online. Now I could care less of the SF3 characters 'cept Q, Makoto, Ibuki, and Elena. They were the only ones that felt well designed.

 

[karpiel]

hopefully it will be as good as third strike; in either case, I'll likely pick it up as it is actually being natively released for the PC.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I think that's part of the problem in adding new characters, people would complain if any of the original 12 were left out, tho I imagine less than a quarter of the super, 3rd strike, and other SF sequel rosters, would be seen as an esssential character for SF4. I guess a lot of people would trade cammy, t hawk, deejay and fei long for any one of the original 8. (I know a lot would drop the boxer, Bison or Balrog, depending on your version.)

 

[greygelgoog]

I'm rather hesitant about SF4, but only because I was so disappointed by SF3. That was the only time I ever beat a Street Fighter game with only 1 credit the first time I played it. I'll withhold all judgment until the game actually comes out.

Actually, could someone clear up something that's been confusing me? Which came out first, SF3 or SFA3?

 

[Proto Cloud]

I'm rather hesitant about SF4, but only because I was so disappointed by SF3. That was the only time I ever beat a Street Fighter game with only 1 credit the first time I played it. I'll withhold all judgment until the game actually comes out.

Actually, could someone clear up something that's been confusing me? Which came out first, SF3 or SFA3?

The alpha series games are just prequels. SF3 has been the only true sequel to SF2.