It’s a time honored tradition of Street Fighter to debut a new iteration of the current sequel, whether it be a slight speed increase, or a super meter here or there, or four new characters. Super Street Fighter 4 is no different. But it’s additions far outstrip previous upgrade versions by giving the consumer considerable bang for their buck.
Let’s start with character proliferation. Usually we’re only treated to a small handful of new characters, or in some home versions characters from previous series making their debut. Super Street Fighter 4 treats the player with a grab bag of 10 extra fighters, each unique in their representative fighting style adding to the already packed roster for a total of 35. Dudley, Ibuki, and Mokoto from Street Fighter III, Guy, Cody and Adon from the Alpha Series, T.Hawk and DeeJay from the original Super Street Fighter II, and the two new additions to the Street Fighter canon, Hakan and Juri. Both Hakan and Juri have distinct play styles that give players new strategies to add to the fold, as well as huge personalities to go with them.
Hakan is probably one of the greatest characters in SF history; he feels very much like a character designed for the Alpha series, but only now does he make his appearance. He’s nuts for all types of oil, has a smoking hot wife, and is the biggest family man both figuratively and literally. His fighting style of yağlı güreş Turkish Oil wrestling may be a bit on the comedic side, but with Hakan it makes for a more energetic grappler style. Juri on the other hand is almost like a mirror universe Chun-Li. She’s fast, lithe, and completely nutball evil. She hails from South Korean, and for the first time in Street Fighter brings the korean style of Taekwondo to the mix with lots of kick based fireballs and cross-ups that makes her a punisher. The rest of the new roster just rocks it with some of the most loved (and hated) favorites of the series past.
The gameplay itself has been slightly upgraded. The game now feels like a combination of the strategy of Third Strike mingled with the rampant serious/goofy teetering of the Alpha series. The addition of selectable ultra combos solidifies that. The car and barrel smashing minigames from the series past make a comeback here, and they’re a welcome addition to the already stellar presentation. Those that whined about the online modes will find themselves pleased with the options here. Endless battle basically simulates the classic arcade rules of “winner stays”, without the body stank and low lighting. Team Battle has two teams of up to four players duking it out for bragging rights, and on June 15th, Capcom will release the 8-player Tournament mode update for that low, low price of free. Replay mode is now integrated as it’s own menu option, allowing you to view other matches in-depth and by category, perfect to find that one match for youtube immortality.
The total sum of the parts that make up Super Street Fighter 4 is what makes it one of the best deals in fighting games since the Alpha 3 home versions. It’s a veritable dream match edition filled with just about every thing that makes Street Fighter Street Fighter. The only thing holding anyone from enjoying it is dependent on how much they love Street Fighter. This game will be seen in many EVO Tournaments to come.
