Street Fighter IV Comments by Simon Parkin

/prays Fight Pad arrives by Friday

It's been been made clear in other reviews that the game is identical on both platforms, with the favour swinging in the direction of the PS3 version due to it's, and I quote, "vastly superior D-Pad."

That's just the way it is, I'm afraid.

"The character designs, popped into polygons for the first time since the mediocre EX spin-offs..."

Er, actually EX+ alpha on the PS1 was eff-ing brilliant.

Street Fighter IV is good, but I still prefer Third Strike as the combat system (especially the parries) is deeper and more refined.

Darren, I agree that 3D can add to the strategic play of a fighter, but only Soul Calibur imo successfully implemented it. for the rest the use of 3 dimensions is superficial limited to a few button combinations that have done little to increase the depth of the experience or develop it's potential for strategic possibilities (more often than not the use of 3D is a means to evade). in contrast 2D fighters have successfully used the vertical plain for decades, which i sure you'll agree considering your time with MvC2 adds considerably to the experience. i'm not saying one genre is better than the other, only that not since SC has the 3D fighter justified it's use of 3 dimensions.

A different controller-centric question:

How do the game's attack buttons map to the controller's face buttons? Is this aspect well handled?

The reason I ask is that (as I understand it) SF uses 6 attack buttons, but both PS3 and 360 only has 4 face buttons. Using the triggers in addition to the face buttons is a pretty high entry barrier, in my experience. I own a 360 and do not plan on purchasing any fighting game specific controllers. I have no problem with its D-pad or stick. Playing DOA4 using the pad is a joy since DOA only requires 4 different buttons.

Thanks for the feedback FADCFTMFW. Yes, as you pointed out, I mean that since there are 6 attack buttons you are forced to use bumpers/triggers. Is the control mapping you outlined the default one? What is the default?

Although all the reviews point out that SF is a mainstream friendly fighter, this aspect seems very un-console friendly to me. One can clearly see the game was not designed with the limitations of a controller in mind.

Can anyone else comment on your experience with attack buttons mapped to the bumpers/triggers? Also, does everyone use their right hand thumb for the face buttons, or do some of you have a "claw"style grip so you can use you other fingers on the face buttons instead? Certain 2-button simultaneous presses are difficult using your thumb...

Usually the console pad set up is by default mapped with the heavy punch and kick on left and right shoulder respectively with medium and light punches and kicks on the face buttons. I havent played it (on console) yet but I would imagine that will be the default - it has been that way pretty much since the Snes through to now.

You'll have to map manually in the way that FADCFTMFW says.... I would agree that that is prob the best way of doing it as it is often tricky to use the left hard punch with Dragon Punch stick input!

Anyone know if installing it to the HDD on 360 makes the loading times much better?

peteb: it actually makes very little difference. I think that the legnth of gaps in between bouts are tied to the transition animations in someway, so even if all the assets are loaded in, the fight screen is held back till the "x vs. y" visuals and audio are finished playing out.

"I agree that 3D can add to the strategic play of a fighter, but only Soul Calibur imo successfully implemented it."

Don't forget fight night round 3. That makes as much use of 3D movement as Soulcalibur IMO. The 3D movement in SC is mostly used as a sidestep to avoid vertical attacks, or to perform a grab from behind. Can also be used to position for ringouts.

Movement around the ring is very important in FN. Getting pinned on the ropes is bad, pinned in a corner even worse as you can't lean away from uppercuts. Using the whole ring is important if you go defensive, or play the jabs against a slugger. That's as much to do with stamina recovery and the abiilty to box for points rather than KO's though.

If you set up the 360 controller so the LT, X and A buttons are punch and the RT, Y and B buttons are kick, I imagine doing the more powerful moves would be easier. You'd use your thumb two hit two of the punches at once, then your index finger would be free to hit the appropriate trigger.

Cheers 1Dgaf

Power Stone was really the only game to take advantage of 3D in any real way for me. I pretty much prefer 2D anyway, it works a lot better.

@ izak

FADCFTMFW and iago71 are 100% correct. The controls are indeed set at default to have the light and medium buttons on the face of the pad. And again as they say, I would also highly recommend swapping the heavy buttons with the light ones. There is of course the option to pick up SFIV joypads- http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?searchty... These are heavily based upon the old Saturn pads, and quite simply they were the best for fighters.

Want.

Got my PS3 version preordered from Play. It's only a matter of time...

wait, what happened in here? who the hell started a 2d vs 3d debate? what kind of shit is that? they are both in the fighting genre but are as different as can be. 2d fighting = street fighter series, 3d fighting = virtua fighter series, enjoy both!

Farty, don't take offence but i've never considered the sport of boxing in videogames as a fighter so can't comment on FN's merits.

powerstone was brilliant as such that it diluted it's merits as an out and out fighter and became a platforming brawler, which was particularly true of it's sequel.

how can this be a 10! all the great games get 9... killzone2,gears,lbp etc

Related to button mapping:

Can anyone confirm whether custom button mappings are saved for each profile on the 360? This seems like an ideal use for having multiple profiles on one console: when your friends come over for vs play, they just log in and their preferred button mapping is loaded automatically.

However DOA4 somehow managed to stuff this up; it seems to work sometimes, but often visitors have to re-configure their control set-ups at the start of each visit.

@1Dgaf

I don't know which 2-button presses are commonly needed. From your comment I take it there are more PP and KK combinations than PK combinations?

@Rash

"Farty, don't take offence but i've never considered the sport of boxing in videogames as a fighter so can't comment on FN's merits."

It is an odd one isnt it? Some would say FN is more of a sport game, along the lines of NHL, NBA, etc, and it's realism tends to back up that view.

What I'd really love to see is the fight night team apply the sublime body and limb control of fight night to a kungfu game. Not cartoonised, and with no silly moves, just real traditional forms. There's a gap in the market to fill there I think.

Ooops, I spoke without thinking. I stand corrected.

I found that default configuration works for me (light and med on face buttons, heavy punch and kick on right bumper and trigger, with left bumper being PPP and left trigger KK) but that's just me... Of course, haven't faced a human opponent over the Internet so far...

Any news on Xbox 360 pad compatibility?
I'm a bit apprehensive about getting a 3rd party controller! We're in a recession!

@izak

I haven't played yet - plus I've got a stick - so my suggestion was a priori! I think, though, that ultras need three P or K.

Welcome to 10/10.com.

>_>

What a stupid ass website.

Probably a Capcom package deal; expect a similar tone towards a RE5.

(I've nothing against Street Fighter, but yet another novelty 10/10 off this website makes me wonder how the f**k they are still in business... even Official Magazines don't go this mad!)

@ Crofto

What would you consider a 10/10 game though?

hes saying eurogamer know fuck all

"Yeah, a big gamer with pretty strong but informed views on gaming, which often leads to me looking down on most gaming reviewers since they talk complete nonsense. I know what makes a good game, and what makes a bad game..."

Lol.

Anyway, EG are damned if they do, damned if they don't really aren't they? Cf. the Fear 2 review. It seems if you disagree with a mark because you would give it a higher mark then the reviewer is obviously just trying to get attention, innit? IF you would give it a lower mark then the reviewer is being paid by the man, innit?

i'll miss the 2d, but, being an sf2 fanboy, fryday i'll sell my soul to the 3devil

hadouken

A review is just an opinion. I love the way people seem to think it's so much more.

Indeed.

@Darren @Kyron - Read the three IGN reviews... the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are practically the same but the latter has the advantage of quicker loading times with the *optional* HDD install and, arguably has the better D-pad for playing this game.

Hang on, EVERY 360 game now has an optional HDD install. So that option, for quicker load times, is available on both consoles. So your down to the pad suitability... I've never really got on with either... on the one hand, my 360 d-pad is clunky, on the other, the PS3 pad in general is so anti-ergonomic - the triggers just don't sit naturally under the fingers - that my hand aches when I use it. No matter which console I buy, IF I buy this game, I'd need to get the fighter pad too. That expense tends to shy me away from this one. Besides. I've owned both consoles since launch, and there's really no comparison when they go online... all multiformat games, especially if they are online, are bought for the 360.

10/10
I'll break that down to my standards:
Beat-Em-Up= -1 point
Stupid button combinations= -4 points
Restrictive areas- 1 point

So... 4/10. What am I doing here again? Oh yeah, trolling.

For those wondering about the PS3 version, IGN put up the differences between PS3/360 on the last page of the review http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/953/953819p1.html.

@zerolight

Seems right. 360 version with a better controller/arcade stick is the way to go if you have a choice.

"My problem is that I have PS3 and 360 friends who will be getting the game. Since I have both systems, I have to decide which system to get or both. "

Perhaps invite them round?

I settled on the PS3 version as I'm getting a stick and, long term, it seems to me that there're probably going to be more fighters I'm interested in on the PS3 than the 360 (particularly as the PS3 is region free so you can get any Japan only releases that may come out).

Bit of a fan-boy review there. EG constantly mark games down for lack of originality or anything particularly new so a 10 seems a little strange

Thank buggery it's not a let down.

Purchased! :D

PS3's Collector's Edition and Tournament Edition arcade stick should arrive on Friday, if not earlier.

I have a 360 owning friend who was playing this last week as it (as well as FEAR2 and Shellshock 2) got leaked on the net and he is enjoying it, although he grumbles at the shitness of the 360's d-pad. I will ask him if he notices a load difference with/without install.

I just spent about half an hour on skype with a friend of mine discussing what arcade sticks we are going to get with this game. He has a SNES and I have SF2 HD remix and we play it every time one of us is over for a visit. Cannot wait for this game!

Great review by the way.

Score is too low IMO, needs 11/10

I'm not going to act retarded enough to criticise the score, but fighting games are quite a personal preference and Simon is clearly a huge Street Fighter fan. I personally think I will enjoy 7/10 (just a guess) Tekken 6 more than 10/10 SF4.

However, I am pleased as (dragon) punch to see a fighting game of any sort get this kind of attention, as anything which brings people back to the genre is a good thing in my book. I will definitely pick this up (maybe not at launch, have a bit of a backlog to clear) to see what the fuss is about, and who knows, maybe it will convert me.

Hmmm well I find myself disagreeing with EG more and more on gaming these days, it looks good but you can hardly call it innovative(which EG doesnt seem to beable to make their minds up on... sometimes thats 3 points off the score... or 5, other times they dont care because its a good game *shrugs*) and Im not sure why no one else mentions it but why did they have to do the blackouts(well on Akuma anyway... do they all do that?) on the specials? I want to see whats going on :( (some imagination from the devs rather than myself).

10/10?

Too hight for this game. Not even the replay value we have here. The offline is too basic and if we donīt play with anyone the game gets boring easly. Well, maybe if i was a fanboy a gave a 10/10 to this one too. -_- At least this is just a opinion. Like the others opinions.

"Im not sure why no one else mentions it but why did they have to do the blackouts(well on Akuma anyway... do they all do that?) on the specials?"

Err... are you kidding? No, they only do it on Akuma's special and that is a classic move! It's just how it's meant to be!

EDIT: Hehe, just chuckling to myself at the thought of the devs deciding they can't be bothered to do any graphics and you just fight in the dark and have to work out what's going on from the sounds :)

@Calgon

Just Akuma, and thats always been blacked out.

"Too hight for this game. Not even the replay value we have here. The offline is too basic and if we donīt play with anyone the game gets boring easly. Well, maybe if i was a fanboy a gave a 10/10 to this one too. -_- At least this is just a opinion. Like the others opinions."

Fighting games were never meant to be played alone. I know what you're getting at, but it's a bit like saying that an MMO is no good if you're the only player in it. Of course it isn't. That's the whole point.

Get some friends round, go nuts! If you're all creepy and have no friends, or if you're too good and your friends refuse to play you and call you all sorts of names, go online (you'll be called names there too, but hooray for the mute button!). I'd say the bases are pretty much covered.

As for 10/10? Well, until there are some more social options online, I'm not completely convinced. But is this the best example of the genre in a long time? Yes. Am I having 10/10 fun? Yes.

Rhapsody rules, I find JRPGS boring and they tend to have no replay value for me. Just an opinion of course!

Have you played SF4 yet?

"Bit of a fan-boy review there. EG constantly mark games down for lack of originality or anything particularly new so a 10 seems a little strange"

so true

@Darren @Kyron - Read the three IGN reviews... the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are practically the same but the latter has the advantage of quicker loading times with the *optional* HDD install and, arguably has the better D-pad for playing this game.

Hang on, EVERY 360 game now has an optional HDD install. So that option, for quicker load times, is available on both consoles.

OK, to quote IGN:
"The game runs brilliantly on either console, but to get the PS3 up to quick load times, you'll need to perform the optional install. If you do install the game, the versions are nearly identical, though the PS3 benefits from the vastly superior D-pad on the DualShock".

So what it actually says about load times is this: PS3 version loads as fast as the Xbox 360 one *if* and as long as you perform the optional install.