The Cynical Critic

In case you aren’t aware, a new Street Fighter has been in development for quite some time now. Just recently some new information has been released, along with a short gameplay video as well. Anyway, I decided to just post a quick preview of some of the stuff I have found out. First things first, an actual in game shot showing the new “2.5D” look.

As you can probably tell, the game itself looks to be in full 3D. However, the actual gameplay is still 2D, exactly like how the old Street Fighter played. The camera switches to a more dynamic, or full 3D view whenever characters use there super or ultra special moves. The character models are also insanely more detailed this time around, and actually show varying levels of reaction facially when they get hit. Thus, the game has become dubbed “2.5D”.

The majority of the gameplay has been changed around since Street Fighter 3rd Strike in order to give the game a more “realistic” feel. A lot of the gameplay has also been changed, or reverted rather to give it more of a feel like the original Street Fighter. A new fighting system currently being called the “Saving” system enables players to charge up a gauge whenever they are damaged. This gauge, known as the revenge gauge, lets players use unblockable attacks, or add extra damage to EX and Ultra specials (both brought back from past Street Fighter games). Finally, the development team has scrapped the four button gameplay (I.e. just weak and strong attacks), for the oldschool six button play (weak, medium, strong).

Online play has been confirmed for Street Fighter IV, and it can be assumed that the game will be released for 360 and PS3 indefinitely. Of course, it will most likely come out to the arcade first. Along with this, the addition of at least three new characters has also been confirmed. Those three include, Abel, a French Martial Artist with “no past”, Crimson Viper, an American female fighter, and finally El Fuerte, a Mexican luchador.

I have read a number of hands on reviews and for the most part, most everyone is saying that SF IV plays a lot like the old Street Fighters, which is definitely a good thing. More importantly however, is that SF IV has been said to make a return to the original Street Fighter, something that should prove to make this game quite awesome if all continues to go to plan.

Here’s the gameplay trailer I promised…