It's out now! Did anyone get it? I got the PS3 version, and I'm still in the middle of unlocking all the characters.

My response to the game is a mixed bag, but mostly resting on the "I like it" end. The gameplay is nice. It plays mostly like Street Fighter 2, with some ideas swiped from other iterations. I would have liked it to incorporate more from Street Fighter 3. I loved the parry system. However, the new Focus attack can achieve what parrying used to, I just need to get good at it.

The cast is large and diverse, but almost entirely made up of characters from 2 and Alpha, with several new characters added for good measure. I wish they added some characters from 3, because there are none. Why not Alex, Yun, or Yang? Moreover, why did they bring in characters who are technically supposed to be dead? I guess Sakura must have gotten brain damage in the Alpha games, because she hasn't graduated from school yet. I'm not too sold on the new characters:

Crimson Viper: Who let the SNK chick in here? Also, she's hard to use. And unattractive.
Rufus: Looks like a toad.
Abel: Lamest backstory ever. OOOOh, AMNESIA! Plus, you know that friend you play against who cheaply throws you all the time? Now there's a CPU player who does the same.
El Fuerte: At least this guy's a bit interesting, though he looks like Mexican Vega. But come on, he entered the tournament to get cooking recipes?
Gouken: EGM's prank brought to life. I haven't used him yet, though. According to the story he should be dead.
Seth: Haven't used him yet, either. But most of the people in the top ranks online are using him. He's dumb looking and uses a hodgepodge of other fighters' moves.

The visual side is where I have the most gripes. The illustrative style they used for the characters makes them all a bit too muscly and fatty. And in the closeup views of them, you can see the normal maps are almost out of control. The backgrounds also range from nice-looking, to gawdy, to way-too-noisy. I definitely have some backgrounds I love and some that I think are hideous. Luckily, the visuals don't hurt the gameplay at all, and when you get beyond the problems it's just a fun game. I'm sure most people will be less picky about the visuals than I am.

Animated cutscenes accentuate the game and keep it interesting as I play through the cast to unlock everyone. All in all it's a good game and an excellent purchase for any Street Fighter fan.

Some of the characters from 3 show up in the anime cutscenes (like Yun and Yang in Chun Li's opening). Also, I think they are trying to convince us that Gouken was somehow in a coma or something rather than just being dead. Ryu and Ken think he's dead, but apparently Gouki/Akuma is aware that he isn't dead. As for Sakura, I don't think they are every very specific on where the alpha games fall in the timeline except that they are prior to SF2, but after SF1. SF4 supposedly takes place a few months after SF2. Although I would have to argue at least eight months after due to the state of Eliza's pregnancy in the game and the fact that she doesn't marry Ken until the end of SF2, but the two are already married in "The Ties That Bind" (which in and of itself doesn't seem to actually share continuity with the game, bad Capcom!).

As far as the new characters go, I have to agree that C. Viper really does look more like an SNK character. That's pretty much what I also thought of Rufus. And I get that's he's supposed to talk a lot, but did they really need to make all of his end quotes a full paragraph so you can't possibly read them in the time they give you? Design-wise, Abel reminds me a lot of Alex, so I don't know why they didn't just use the more recognizable character. El Fuerte, despite how ridiculous he is, is the only one who really felt like they belonged among the rest of the cast.

I was also rather disappointed that the game was basically just a ground up remake of SF2 with a handful of new people. Same basic eight, same four boss characters, and then the addition of four new characters and Seth (sound familiar? SSF2T did the same thing with the basic eight, four bosses, four extra characters and Gouki/Akuma). They went back to the single super for each character approach, all the same moves for the most part, just with a 3D look that could have been done better (honestly, I didn't believe it at first, but after actually playing the game, this could have been done on the Wii). And honestly, they added Cammy and Fei Long to the mix and the developers admitted they had models and move sets already put together for T. Hawk and Dee Jay, would it have been so hard for them to just finish off the roster and include ALL of the SF2 characters?

It also irritates me a bit that the extra costumes that were part of the arcade version are now locked extras that you have to buy the unlock keys for online. They're already in the game, when you play Japanese players who have the costume packs you can see them, but it's a bit cheap of Capcom to charge extra for content that is already a part of the game. It isn't something they made extra for the home version and the time delays on the packs are also a bit stupid. They're already made and on the game disc, why do they need to delay the release and only make one pack available per week? I can understand why a lot of people are upset by this.

While there are some elements of the game I like, I'm not sure it really sets itself apart from SF2 enough to be considered a true sequel and not just a remake with a couple of additional touches. A lot of the old strategies still work and the moves are basically the same as they have always been.

While out of the box, SF4 feels quite like SF2 with a few new mechanics... hopefully at the high end of play skill the game will play completely different i.e. smoother. SF2's game mechanics (including the SSF2T Remix) have shown their age and feels extremely artificial at the high end of play. I only feel this somewhat (about SF2) because I'm not *that* skilled, but I can see how it's like that as you get better and better.

C.Viper:
I don't like the fact that every random person off the street knows super kung fu. Later editions of KoF abuses this, and I hate it that Capcom decides to follow this annoying trend rather than homage the excellent character ideas of the earlier KoF. I mean, how the heck does someone like her shoot lightning and fire out of her hands and feet??! It would have only made sense if she wore a military powersuit. But nope, she wears a spandex business suit cuz it looked good on KOF Vanessa. Sorry, unlike you Vanessa can actually wear her clothes outside a con. And Vanessa's cooler than you.

Rufus:
Not only does he have a ridiculous reason for knowing super kung fu, he's a knockoff of the fat, rolling Chen Singzan from Fatal Fury. I'd like him much better if he's a big muscular athletic man and has a legitimate sensible backstory.

Abel:
A fighter who actually makes sense, thank god. And belongs in Street Fighter. Looks like Kiefer Sutherland which is funny. But yeah, why not just Alex?

El Fuerte:
Finally a new character who belongs in Street Fighter and doesn't replace someone who was more awesome.

Crimson Viper apparantly have some built in tech that makes her do those specials.
And although i agree she is more of a SNK design, i think she is the most interesting of the new characters that otherwise have pretty boring designs.

As for the game, essentially a SF2 remake. Lots of fun, but it feels like I've played it a million times already.

Capcom
Crimson Viper uses devices concealed in her gloves and boots. She unleashes the power of electricity with her left hand and uses the power of seismic shocks with her right. Crimson Viper also uses jets hidden within her boots for fiery kicks and propulsion assisted high jumps.

I mean, how the heck does someone like her shoot lightning and fire out of her hands and feet??! It would have only made sense if she wore a military powersuit.

As VegaX mentioned above, she actually does have a powersuit that she wears under her clothes. Although they also make sure to let you know that of all the people in the CIA, she's the only one capable of using it to its full potential, so in a way she is just another martial artist. In the movie that came with the collector's edition, she can also fly using the jets in her boots.

I quite like the game. As someone who hasn't played SF in quite some time, I really enjoy it. I did play SF2THDR recently, and I don't know what it is but I find it easier to play IV. I think it just reads the buttons a bit more cleanly, or is at least more forgiving in the aspects I'm bad at. I do prefer multiplayer with friends over the other modes, though. Seth is too annoying a final boss for my tastes. I like all the new characters, though I don't really use Abel at all since I've never been one for grapple characters. I do wish that there was more to separate this form SF2, though. Three felt like its' own game, and was a real reminder of why they released so many versions of SF2; they were never really different enough to be considered a true sequel.

I have to say, though, the more I see the in-game art the more I like it. It's interesting to see the unusual, almost paint-like rendering on the characters. I'm glad they didn't go for realism. I think I'll always miss the sprites in my own way, but they did a good job of maintaining the energy and style with the transition to 3D.

One thing I miss, too, is character specific backgrounds. In the past games every character had their own background. This takes a chapter out of the vs series design book, though, and just has a number of generic backgrounds and randomly chooses opponents for those stages.

I got the collector's edition which came with the Ryu action figure that I thought would be a lot bigger... ah well. Once again, my left thumb is red/sore and I still hate Zangief. And as a Mexican-American, I am offended by the antics of El Furte. Street Fighter 2.5

Doesn't El Fuerte do exactly what luchadors do? Showy acrobatics and aerial attacks?

Or maybe do you mean Capcom gave him a horrible voice actor? Japan typically does give gaijin characters the "less heroic" voices.

One nice thing is that you can choose between the Japanese and English voice actors for each character. I have characters from any Asian country speaking Japanese, and anyone else speaking English. If you don't switch Guile to English, he says English things with a Japanese accent. "Mission Stert!"

I just watched the movie that came with special edition game. It was actually pretty dumb.

My biggest problem with the movie is the continuity errors. it was obviously just an afterthought that they threw together to explain some of the story elements that were tossed together for the arcade mode. You would think that they could have at least tried to make the two stories fit together, though, rather than having dumb moments like when Cammy meets C. Viper supposedly for the first time in the game despite having them fight in the movie which supposedly predates the game. They seem to need far more data on the Blece project than you would expect after the movie, as well, or at least they seem unfamiliar with it. The movie also has Blanka on the cover, yet he doesn't appear in the film at all.

While I appreciate the ability to change the voices back and forth, another feature I would have liked to have seen would be one where you can change the subtitles based on which language and naming scheme you're listening to. It just makes things more confusing for those of us that can understand some Japanese when Chris is subtitled as Amy, Vega as Bison, Bison as Balrog, Balrog as Vega, and Gouki as Akuma (same goes for the movie).

hey don't be dissing abel he's the man nothing like a french guy with a russian/scottish accent. He's bad freaking ass bad backstory or not.

also my PSN is TunderlineK if anyone wants to hit me up for an easy win :D

Just unlocked Gouken...

Ho-LEE Shit, could they have possibly made the conditions for unlocking him any more esoteric? Thank god it doesn't care if you do it on easiest mode, or I'd never get the correct combination of perfects and ultra finishes...

Technically, all you need is one perfect and three ultras and beat the game with no continues. It should still work with more than that, though. It's the same thing as unlocking Akuma, just with three ultras.

Capcom's blog says you also need something like 5 first hits, too (on 1 round matches). I know that's not particularly hard, though.

I haven't bothered with Akuma or Gouken yet... too busy. But I'll get them next week.

I hate this game!!!....mainly cuz I'm terrible at it.

A lobby would be nice for multiplayer though so it feels more like an arcade.

man, I'm easy pickings in this game. I have yet to win any matches against human opponents... :(

Chun Li + man hands + legs that could choke a horse = fail.

I'm sorry, I've played most of the street fighter games, but I've always wanted them to make Chun-Li's legs reasonable again. I understand that everyone in that game is ridiculously muscular, even Sakura, but whatever.

The game actually aint bad.

I'm liking this game so far, although I miss some things things from 3rd strike, namely multiple supers and Makoto and Q. I'm liking it so far though. I play Gouken, Cammy, and Abel, although Gouken is far and away my favorite character. He is a defensive powerhouse, and severely punish opponents for their mistakes. This is one shoto you never jump at, because no only does he have diagonal fireballs, but his own super focus attack which smashes opponents. Only complaint is I wish his tatsumaki was better, as it is only vertical and starts high, so it's easy to avoid.

This game is fun to play against your friends. However thats about it. Playing against most computer controlled characters isn't bad, but some of them such as Zangief and Seth are horrifically cheap (especially Seth). And as for the online, don't bother being your favourite character to have fun. Everybody who plays online has a distinct plan when they go into a match, most commonly I have found to be Ken or Ryu spamming a particular move. In fact, theres about 10 characters who all use the same uppercuts and Hadoukens, but whatever. It also seems pretty unfair that characters like Sagat have far more strength than others, but are no slower than other characters who are much weaker.

Honestly overrall it's not a bad game, I've never played or owned a SF game before, so it's all new to me. It takes a while to get into it, it's not an easy game at all. To beat the cheap the AI you often have to be cheap yourself. The same goes for playing people online. You have to get used to the combos and things, I only manage around 20 wins from 100 games online so it's pretty challenging - as I refuse to be like everyone else because that takes away the fun.

I'd say it's worth getting, if only for listening to the menu music.

(I noticed Chun-Li's huge thighs whats up with that?)

Bekefel
(I noticed Chun-Li's huge thighs whats up with that?)

Simply put, the character designer has a boner for thighs. If you notice, all the girls have pretty meaty thighs, though obviously they pale in comparison to Chun-Li.

Playing Balrog is pretty hard enough with his moves being charge moves and the guy being a really big target, but I've run into an even worse problem... The old Fireball/Jump/Shoryuken trap.

Now I'm not a skilled player. Dodging fireballs is pretty hard for me. I've tried jumping over them only to be met with a rising fist. But I can't huddle in a corner enduring a fireball barrage. Any suggestions on how to get out of this trap?

Oh... and I tend to have a nickname for Chun Lee... Miss Horse Legs. XD

I believe Balrog has a move that allows him to pass through fireballs if timed right. I think it's the one where you hold down all three punches or kicks, and during his beginning spinning phase he'll go through fireballs.

Hawk
I believe Balrog has a move that allows him to pass through fireballs if timed right. I think it's the one where you hold down all three punches or kicks, and during his beginning spinning phase he'll go through fireballs.

As someone who plays as Ryu, because I suck, I can tell you he DEFINITELY has that move.

Is it odd that I'v been using Dan as my main lately? I know they tried to make him a bit more balanced, but he's still weaker than everyone else. I dunno; I just do better in matches with him.

I've had a lot of luck with that move. It's nice that I can pull it off right before or after a charge move. Well...

Some Akuma and Ryu players do counter it; when they're close enough they pull off a short Dragon Punch which hits after Balrog completes his spin. Akuma and Abel(?) players are annoying as they continually teleport around me preventing me from using my charge moves and making it difficult for the spin punch to connect.

While I'd rather use Dan, I don't want to be known as a "shoto" player, a title given to those who played Ryu/Ken and any SF characters with moves similar to theirs (Shoto comes from "Shotokan", which Capcom U.S.A. named their fighting style in the instruction book).

As for fighting style... I like to look for openings, but I'm not a turtle player. If I think I can get away with it I always try to have a move ready to use when I'm knocked down. I like using Balrog because IMHO he's not as hard to use as Zangief, but still hard to use compared to the other characters in the game.

I've yet to challenge any DDers to a match, but I bet I'll still be easy to defeat... :(