Super Street Fighter IV Xbox 360

Released on 30/04/2010

• Super Street Fighter IV: Review

  Director's cut

  
  

  Street Fighter IV was the defining fighting game of this console generation and one of the best in the genre's history, but developer Capcom has gone one better here. Super Street Fighter IV takes what made last year's game so special and retunes and refines it while adding new features that help it surpass its predecessor.

  Familiar yet fresh

  
  

  This remix therefore manages to feel familiar straight away and yet also brand new. SFIV's incredible visuals – its superb character work, animations, and blending of 2D gameplay with 3D camera flourishes and environments - remain intact, but this time the title has a brighter palette. It introduces ten new characters, plus tweaks to the original ones, fresh stages in which to do battle and a much improved online mode.

  The most apparent additions are the extra characters, each of whom fit comfortably into SSFIV's roster and bring something different to the table. These consist of eight classic combatants from Street Fighter's past including T. Hawk, Dee Jay and Cody, and two original ones – Hakan, a huge Turkish oil wrestler with deep red skin, and Juri, a young female South Korean taekwondo fighter.

  Meanwhile, the characters that carry over from SFIV have been updated, with Capcom toning down some of the overly strong fighters and improving the weaker ones, making for a better balanced game. With the introduction of more ultra combo moves there are new things to enjoy even if you end up playing with the same character you used in SFIV.

  Newcomers welcome

  
  

  Fighting games have never been the most accessible to casual players, and Street Fighter's dedicated following has always demanded a level of depth to the franchise's gameplay that rewards commitment. The key to success with your chosen fighter is a willingness to master their abilities, which can be equally time-consuming and rewarding.

  But this shouldn't stop newcomers or more casual fighting fans from enjoying what's on offer here. There's something instinctive about SSFIV's gameplay, and even if you've been nowhere near the series since the early nineties arcade days of Street Fighter II you should feel at home here. It's also a game that's best played in a room with friends, so gather some players of a similar skill level and everyone will have a chance of coming out on top.

  SSFIV's additions and improvements don't end with the characters. There are new fighting stages and a less frustrating challenge mode that sees the return of the classic car and barrel smashing bonus stages. There's also an excellent Replay Channel that enables you to browse and watch your own saved fights or those of others from around the world. It's a nice touch to be able to share your battles with the community, while watching the best players in action serves as a great tutorial too.

  There's also a load of new online options. Up to eight players can now participate in 2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, or 4 vs. 4 team elimination matches, but Endless Battle is the star attraction. This mode sees eight players duke it out in an endless elimination match where the winner stays on and goes on to fight the next challenger. Spectators can chat with each other as they watch the match in progress and plan strategies as they await their turn.

  Jaw-dropping

  
  

  Perhaps the game's only real flaw is that it isn't as enjoyable in single player mode as it is in multiplayer. There's nothing quite like crushing human opponents, who are more unpredictable than the game's AI, while playing online can lack the intimacy you get from defeating a group of friends sitting together in the same room.

  While it's not a vital purchase for casual Street Fighter players, it's a great introduction for those even just a little bit curious to try out a fighting game. And at a bargain price, it's a must-have title for series fans - even those who already own SFIV - thanks to a range of improvements and new features that combine to make one of the best fighting series even more essential.

  GAME's Verdict

  Plus Points

  • Builds on an already winning formula with multiple improvements.
  • Fantastic multiplayer online and especially offline.
  • Gorgeous visuals.

  Minus Points

  • Not as much fun to play on your own.
  • Requires a lot of commitment to match the best players.
  • Not an essential purchase for all SFIV owners.

  Review by: Tom 'KO' Ivan
  Version Tested: Xbox 360
  Review Published: 28.04.10

  Published: 27/04/2010

• Super Street Fighter IV: Review

  Streets ahead

  Last year's Street Fighter IV was a glorious return to form for Capcom's beloved fighting game series. Boasting detailed, stylised 3D characters, eye popping animations and reinterpreted iconic locations and theme tunes from Street Fighter, II the game rekindled the passions of older beat 'em up fans while introducing a new generation to the genre.

  Now it's time for another of Capcom's traditions: the yearly upgrade. In the eleven months since work started on Super Street Fighter IV, its makers have added 10 new characters to the mix, overhauled the online modes, added in replay channel for all and, most importantly to those veterans of the first game, rebalanced the game's moves.

  The new characters are vibrant and distinct, never copying what's gone before but instead offering a new feel in the hands, opening up fresh tactical possibilities and demanding careful learning from scratch. Two of the newcomers - Turkish oil wrestler Hakan and Korean Tae-Kwon-Do practitioner Juri - are new to the series, while the other eight reintroduce characters from across Street Fighter's rich heritage.
  

  Superlatives

  Makoto is a fiendishly fast karate expert, dashing in with rushdown attacks to pile the pressure on each opponent. Dudley is an aristocratic British boxer who boasts the power of series favourite Balrog but combines it with rare speed and coiled alacrity.

  Guy's jump in kicks and somersaults cartwheel across the screen, taking opponents by surprise, while Ibuki's ninjitsu mix-up game keeps everyone guessing. The new characters settle into the previous roster perfectly and, for those who complained the previous game favoured defensive play, are all based around offensive patterns, making fights more intense as you search for opening to punish.

  All characters in the game are unlocked from the start - useful for those players who bemoaned having to complete the game multiple times to unlock the one they wanted. Moreover, each character now gets a choice of two Ultras, those devastating finishing moves that become available once you've taken a certain mount of damage.
  

  Live to Fight

  Ryu's screen-shattering forbidden shoryuken breaks his opponent's jaw with a terrifying crack, while Ken's flaming hurricane kick tears across the screen in a literal blaze of colour and fury.

  Your choice of Ultra is decided upon in the character select screen, the option to go for changing tactical play within the match. Across the game, however, almost every Ultra has had its damage drastically reduced, meaning that you're more likely to take risks. Indeed, damage across the game has been reduced so that bouts last longer and allow for more mistakes to be made before the K.O.

  The new stages are bright and engaging and, while the Time Attack and Survival modes from the first game have been dropped, an extended Challenge Mode teaches first the basics and the advanced techniques and combos for each of the characters across 24 levels. The bonus stages from Street Fighter II make a return, interrupting the single player game at set points with a car or barrel breaking minigame
  

  Knock Out

  However, it's into the dramatic overhaul of the Online modes that most of the work has gone. Three core battle modes are available, Ranked, you play one-on-one matches of one, three or five rounds, Endless in which up to eight fighters play winner-stays-on (spectating and commenting on the current match when not in game) and Team Battle, an approximation of a team tournament allowing 2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3 or 4 vs. 4 matches, with a cup for the overall winning team. Each mode records Player Points (your own skill at the game measured in a stat) and Battle Points, which record your proficiency with a particular character.

  A relay mode allows every player to store up to 150 of his or her online fights to watch back later (with a slow motion mode and input data for those who want to discern the weaknesses in their game). An invaluable resource, Replays allow you to debrief from battles, as well as watch the best in the world for tips on how to do it.

  Super Street Fighter IV is a towering achievement, an upgrade for an already magnificent fighting game that emphasises its strengths and fixes its few problems. There's still a steep learning curve for the newcomer as button mashing is wholly ineffective in this world, but with time and dedication, anyone can start on the road to proficiency.

  The result is nothing short of the defining fighting game of its generation.

  

  Super
  + More offensive, balanced game.
  + Well structured online modes.
  + Sublime animations.

  Pooper
  - Poor English voice acting.
  - Steep learning curve for beginners..
  - Lag online.

• Popcorn and Joypads

  

  With Prince of Persia returning to consoles in the same month the Hollywood version hits the big screen, what better excuse to look back at how others have fared when games and films overlap?

  Prince of Persia

  The Game: Nimble, athletic acts of derring-do played out against a colourful Arabian Nights backdrop since 1989. The graphics have changed, but gameplay still focuses on the simple pleasures of swishy swordplay and stunts that laugh in the face of physics.

  The Movie: Based on the 2003 game, The Sands of Time, this shamelessly entertaining romp captures the daredevil thrills of the game perfectly, while inserting appropriate amounts of character and story. The yummy Jake Gyllenhaal and the yummier Gemma Arterton supply the eye candy and witty banter, while Ben Kingsley camps it up as the villainous Vizier.

  Verdict: Since the original game was inspired by Errol Flynn?s swashbuckling antics, Prince of Persia was always ripe for the movie treatment. Thankfully, they got it right.

  Street Fighter

  The Game: The fighting fan's franchise of choice for over twenty years, this venerable series continues to go from strength to strength with the superbly balanced refinement of Super Street Fighter IV, released last month. Crazy characters with sublime gameplay - it doesn?t get much better than this.

  The Movies: Oh dear. The 1994 movie version is terrible, but has at least taken on a certain cheesy charm over the years, if only for the bizarre pairing of Jean Claude Van Damme as Guile and Kylie Minogue as Cammy. The laughably bad 2009 movie slipped past cinemas and went straight to DVD, more dull than demented. For a truly faithful film experience, fans should stick to the Street Fighter II anime.

  Verdict: Bizarre characters smashing each other to a pulp should be perfect B-movie fodder, but the lack of plot combined with dense backstory keeps tripping Street Fighter up.

  Ghostbusters

  The Movie: A seminal combination of action, comedy and horror, the 1984 original is still one of the most enjoyable and quotable blockbusters around. The 1989 sequel repeats the formula to disappointing effect, but the cast manage to keep things lively even as the story droops into slimy sentimentality.

  The Game: There have been several Ghostbusters games over the years, but it wasn't until 2009 that we got something that truly recaptured the movie's unique tone. Having Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis on script duty helped, but getting the notoriously reluctant Bill Murray to return was a real coup. Strip away the fan-pleasing scenarios and dialogue and it's just another corridor shooter, but a shamelessly entertaining one all the same.

  Verdict: It took twenty five years, but the result was an affectionate game that expanded and honoured its source material rather than just exploiting it.

  Super Mario Bros

  The Games: Really? You need this explaining? The most successful videogame franchise in history. A catalogue of nigh perfect game design. A series that continues to inspire and innovate, whether its New Super Mario Bros on the DS or Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Wii. If you hate Mario, you have no soul. That?s science, people.

  The Movie: Urgh. Look away, children! Taking the bright, inviting worlds created by Miyamoto and drowning them in an oily mess of techno-grunge architecture and smug 1990s blockbusterisms, this is one of the worst films ever made. Bob Hoskins has the moustache and dungarees, but the film bears no resemblance to the games, either in quality or intent. Horrible.

  Verdict: Burn it with fire. The perfect videogame hero, Mario simply doesn't translate to live action. Never try this again, Hollywood.

  Resident Evil

  The Games: Bombastic sci-fi horror with a parade of tough cops and military types creeping around mansions and secret labs trying - and spectacularly failing - to contain the monster-making T-Virus. Since Resident Evil 4 the games have become more about action than atmosphere, much to the annoyance of some fans.

  The Movies: Well, they've got the sci fi and horror bits, and key characters from the games crop up occasionally, but this surprisingly hardy series exists more as an alternate off-shoot from the games than a literal translation. The lack of blood and guts is the number one complaint from fans used to brain-bursting headshots.

  Verdict: Both are as daft and camp as each other, but apart from sharing a title and some characters, there's not much connection between the two. Harmless dumb fun.

  Tomb Raider

  The Games: Posh girl Lara Croft travels the globe, locating ancient relics, battling supernatural forces and shooting endangered species while wearing the very latest in bottom-and-boob hugging outfits. Some would say her appeal has dimmed in recent years, as developers struggle to find new ways to do the same old thing, but she?s still a force to be reckoned with.

  The Movies: All the pieces are there, but the fact that both the Angelina Jolie-starring efforts have been average (and that's being generous) suggests that you need more than an ass-kicking babe and exotic locations to make a good movie.

  Verdict: The movies are accurate enough in translating all the important elements of Lara to the big screen, but her exploits are inevitably more interesting when you're controlling every leap and scramble.

• Street Fighter x Tekken headed for the 3DS?

  With Nintendo eye-popping handheld hitting stores in the UK today, who up for a little bit of speculation? How this, then? Street Fighter x Tekken could be headed for the 3DS.

  The man who started the rumour is Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono, who told Eurogamer yesterday that a 3DS version of the crossover title hould happen

  "As far as fighting games are concerned, we've come a long way," he said. "It used to be that you had to go to an arcade machine, pay money and play it. Then it came to home console and you could play it in front of your TV. Now you can play Super Street Fighter IV anywhere if you've got a 3DS. I think that's an amazing thing. The next step would be to have Street Fighter x Tekken, which is the celebration of all top fighting gamers' dreams in one, to be on 3DS, where you can play anywhere you want. That's an ultimate idea. Personally speaking, it should happen. We should probably start making more noise about this. But officially, nothing has been considered yet."

  Whether it makes it onto the handheld or not, Street Fighter x Tekken is definitely headed our way: it should be arriving on the PS3 and Xbox 360 next year.

• Street Fighter and Tekken take the battle to the streets of Britain

  Fans of fisty-kicky fighting games should already be quivering in anticipation for Street Fighter X Tekken, which pits the warriors from Capcom and Namco's rival franchises against each other for the first time.

  To whet those whistles further, Capcom has just announced that it'll be taking the whole bruising affair on the road so fans can sample the game before its official release in March 2012. The tour gets off to a lavish start on August 20th at the KO Gym in Bethnal Green, London.

  Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono will be there, signing things and pretending not to be freaked out by people dressed as Chun Li, and there will also be grub and music to add to the party atmosphere. Capcom has also hinted that while the event is to promote Street Figher X Tekken, there may be ther secret thingsgoing on. The event kicks off (literally) at 7.30pm and you should get there early, as there are free gifts for the first fifty people at the door.
  
  The game will then head off to Bristol, Edinburgh, Norwich, Brighton and Liverpool. Dates and venues for the rest of the tour have yet to be confirmed in the next few weeks.
  

  In the mean time, get in some practice on either the superlative Super Street Fighter IV or the equally impressive Tekken 6.

• Popcorn and Joysticks - GAME goes to the movies!

  
  

  With Prince of Persia returning to consoles in the very same month the Hollywood version hits the big screen, what better excuse to look back at how others have fared when games and films overlap?

  

  Prince of Persia

  The Game: Nimble, athletic acts of derring-do played out against a colourful Arabian Nights backdrop since 1989. The graphics have changed, but gameplay still focuses on the simple pleasures of swishy swordplay and stunts that laugh in the face of physics.

  The Movie: Based on the 2003 game, The Sands of Time, this shamelessly entertaining romp captures the daredevil thrills of the game perfectly, while inserting appropriate amounts of character and story. The yummy Jake Gyllenhaal and the yummier Gemma Arterton supply the eye candy and witty banter, while Ben Kingsley camps it up as the villainous Vizier.

  Verdict: Since the original game was inspired by Errol Flynn's swashbuckling antics, Prince of Persia was always ripe for the movie treatment. Thankfully, they got it right.

  

  Street Fighter

  The Game: The fighting fan's franchise of choice for over twenty years, this venerable series continues to go from strength to strength with the superbly balanced refinement of Super Street Fighter IV, released last month. Crazy characters with sublime gameplay - it doesn?t get much better than this.

  The Movies: Oh dear. The 1994 movie version is terrible, but has at least taken on a certain cheesy charm over the years, if only for the bizarre pairing of Jean Claude Van Damme as Guile and Kylie Minogue as Cammy. The laughably bad 2009 movie slipped past cinemas and went straight to DVD, more dull than demented. For a truly faithful film experience, fans should stick to the Street Fighter II anime.

  Verdict: Bizarre characters smashing each other to a pulp should be perfect B-movie fodder, but the lack of plot combined with dense backstory keeps tripping Street Fighter up.

  

  Ghostbusters

  The Movie: A seminal combination of action, comedy and horror, the 1984 original is still one of the most enjoyable and quotable blockbusters around. The 1989 sequel repeats the formula to disappointing effect, but the cast manage to keep things lively even as the story droops into slimy sentimentality.

  The Game: There have been several Ghostbusters games over the years, but it wasn't until 2009 that we got something that truly recaptured the movie's unique tone. Having Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis on script duty helped, but getting the notoriously reluctant Bill Murray to return was a real coup. Strip away the fan-pleasing scenarios and dialogue and it's just another corridor shooter, but a shamelessly entertaining one all the same.

  Verdict: It took twenty five years, but the result was an affectionate game that expanded and honoured its source material rather than just exploiting it.

  

  Super Mario Bros

  The Games: Really? You need this explaining? The most successful videogame franchise in history. A catalogue of nigh perfect game design. A series that continues to inspire and innovate, whether its New Super Mario Bros on the DS or Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Wii. If you hate Mario, you have no soul. That?s science, people.

  The Movie: Urgh. Look away, children! Taking the bright, inviting worlds created by Miyamoto and drowning them in an oily mess of techno-grunge architecture and smug 1990s blockbusterisms, this is one of the worst films ever made. Bob Hoskins has the moustache and dungarees, but the film bears no resemblance to the games, either in quality or intent. Horrible.

  Verdict: Burn it with fire. The perfect videogame hero, Mario simply doesn't translate to live action. Never try this again, Hollywood.

  

  Resident Evil

  The Games: Bombastic sci-fi horror with a parade of tough cops and military types creeping around mansions and secret labs trying - and spectacularly failing - to contain the monster-making T-Virus. Since Resident Evil 4 the games have become more about action than atmosphere, much to the annoyance of some fans.

  The Movies: Well, they've got the sci fi and horror bits, and key characters from the games crop up occasionally, but this surprisingly hardy series exists more as an alternate off-shoot from the games than a literal translation. The lack of blood and guts is the number one complaint from fans used to brain-bursting headshots.

  Verdict: Both are as daft and camp as each other, but apart from sharing a title and some characters, there's not much connection between the two. Harmless dumb fun.

  

  Tomb Raider

  The Games: Posh girl Lara Croft travels the globe, locating ancient relics, battling supernatural forces and shooting endangered species while wearing the very latest in bottom-and-boob hugging outfits. Some would say her appeal has dimmed in recent years, as developers struggle to find new ways to do the same old thing, but she's still a force to be reckoned with.

  The Movies: All the pieces are there, but the fact that both the Angelina Jolie-starring efforts have been average (and that's being generous) suggests that you need more than an ass-kicking babe and exotic locations to make a good movie.

  Verdict: The movies are accurate enough in translating all the important elements of Lara to the big screen, but her exploits are inevitably more interesting when you're controlling every leap and scramble.

  Published: 18/05/2010

• The Beat 'Em Up Resurgence

  
  

  

  Round 1 - Storied Reputation

  Fighting games like Tekken and SoulCalibur have enjoyed an unprecedented resurgence over the last two years. But before Mitsurugi's katana skills and Paul Phoenix's extreme hairstyle came into style, old-school gamers were playing The Way of the Exploding Fist and Yie Ar Kung-Fu on their humble ZX Spectrums and Commodore 64s. These early fighters - which were inspired by martial-arts films - then paved the way for the most important fighting game of all time.

  Street Fighter II: The World Warrior kick-started the golden era of fighting games in the early nineties. It achieved this with a cast of eight international fighters and an epic (and allegedly accidental) combo system. Street Fighter then matured into a globally adored series and inspired everything from Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct to Virtua Fighter and Dead or Alive. But when the genre fell into decline in the years following the turn of the millennium, it seemed like the honeymoon period was finally over.

  

  Round 2 - Re-enter the Dragon Punch

  This all changed when Capcom pulled the pin on a grenade labelled Street Fighter IV in 2008 - because not only did the ensuing explosion revive the genre in spectacular style, it made it the strongest it's ever been. SFIV kept all the iconic characters and special moves from Street Fighter II, and by reworking the classic 2D controls with the new Focus and Ultra systems, it offered accessibility and depth in equal measure. But while Street Fighter IV set the benchmark, its 2010 follow-up, Super Street Fighter IV, smoothed out the kinks and offered unrivalled diversity.

  SSFIV could have been a lazy update. Instead it offered ten new faces and a choice of two Ultra Combos. This allowed each fighter to be played in two distinct styles. But Super isn't the end of the story, as it was ported onto Nintendo 3DS as Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, and on June 7th, Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition will be released. The inclusion of Yun, Yang, Evil Ryu and Oni will bring the roster up to 39, making Arcade Edition the definitive Street Fighter.

  

  Round 3 - The New (and Old) Challengers

  Street Fighter IV was the game that led the charge, and in its wake, other fighting games followed. A particular highlight was BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger in 2009. This beautiful 2D fighter was the spiritual successor to the intense Guilty Gear series, and much like its eccentric forbearer, BlazBlue was brimming with innovation. It featured a rapid tempo and an ingenuous Drive system which made each fighter unique. Then, when BlazBlue: Continuum Shift tightened up the gameplay in 2010, BlazBlue established itself as the hardcore fighter of choice. An accomplished port of Calamity Trigger is also available for the PSP.

  But the award for “most accessible fighting game” goes to the long running Vs. Series. This Capcom-developed series began in 1996 with X-Men vs. Street Fighter. After a long hiatus, it returned to Europe last year with Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars on the Wii. But while Tatsunoko is massively popular in Japan, it only has a niche following in the West. So when Marvel vs. Capcom 3 launched earlier this year with its familiar cast of celestial wolves, bionic commandos, thunder gods and less-than-jolly green giants, it stole the show in style. Its rabid tag-team combat and X-Factor system also allowed for many astonishing combos.

  

  Round 4 - Fatal Fantasy

  Another classic that made a comeback this year is Mortal Kombat. This brutal fighter was on a slippery slope after switching haphazardly to 3D, but with a series reboot having just been released on the 360 and PS3, Mortal Kombat is back in the realm of 2D gameplay where it belongs. We get the classic Raiden torpedo dive and Liu Kang bicycle kick, as well as a new super gauge that allows for gory X-Ray attacks. But Mortal Kombat's crowning achievement is the variety of content it offers, because even after finishing the seven-hour Story Mode, a Tower of 300 challenges awaits.

  If a fully fledged narrative isn't surreal enough, how about a PSP fighting game based on Final Fantasy? Dissidia Final Fantasy is a 3D fighter that brought together the heroes and villains from Final Fantasy I through to Final Fantasy X. This allowed RPG fans to fight battles between Sephiroth and Squall using a unique combat system that centred on HP and Bravery attacks. The recent sequel, Dissidia 012 Duodecim Final Fantasy, included more characters - including Tifa and Yuna from Final Fantasy VII and X - as well as a significantly expanded single-player mode.

  

  Round 5 - Fight for the Future

  When you add all these excellent games to the likes of Tekken 6, The King of Fighters XII, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny, it's clear that fighting game fans are being spoilt for choice. But what's next for the genre?

  In the coming months we'll see the release of Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus on the Wii and PSP (May 6th), the manga-inspired Arcana Heart 3 on the PS3 and 360 (June 24th) and Dead or Alive Dimensions joining Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition on the new Nintendo 3DS (May 20th).

  After that, we have the Capcom-developed Street Fighter X Tekken to look forward to next year, as well as the long awaited Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and the Namco Bandai-developed Tekken X Street Fighter. All in all, there's never been a better time to own an arcade stick!

  Published: 01/04/2012

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