Street Fighter IV

aka: SF4
Moby ID: 39354
Arcade Specs
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Description official descriptions

Street Fighter IV is the first main game in the fighting series, since the release of Street Fighter III: New Generation in 1997, to up the main number in the game title. Produced by Yoshinori Ono, the game was launched following the positive response to Street Fighter II': Hyper Fighting.

The game is chronologically set between the second and third main series and features a cast of well-known characters. The most important change is the visual style. Instead of choosing full 3D like the Tekken or Virtua Fighter series, SF IV stays true to it roots with stages on 2D planes. The characters are rendered in 3D with polygons similar to the Street Fighter EX sub-series, but now with a hand-drawn touch of strokes and smudges, providing an effect of ink or paint in the visual design.

The gameplay is largely reminiscent of Super Street Fighter II Turbo and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike with a six-button scheme for light, medium and heavy kicks and punches, throws, dashes, quick standing, combos and special moves. New to this game are Focus Attacks (Saving Systems in the Japanese version), based on two stances where an incoming attack can be absorbed and consequently countered. These attacks can be used to cancel out special moves, leading to new opportunities for combos and putting the emphasis into reading an opponent's move, rather than relying on strict combos. Regular special moves can be powered up through a super combo gauge. There is also a revenge gauge that is filled up by taking damage. When full, an ultra combo can be performed, with a long cinematic set of moves, often shown from a camera perspective that breaks away from the regular view.

Compared to the arcade version, the home version offers online multiplayer, new characters, both Japanese and English voice acting, animated introductions and endings for all characters, bonus stages, a new introduction, a challenge mode that introduces players to the basics, and downloadable content.

The set of playable characters includes:

  • Abel (new)
  • Akuma
  • Balrog
  • Blanka
  • Cammy
  • Chun-Li
  • Crimson Viper (new)
  • Dan
  • Dhalsim
  • E. Honda
  • El Fuerte (new)
  • Fei-Long
  • Gen
  • Guile
  • Ken
  • M. Bison
  • Rose
  • Rufus (new)
  • Ryu
  • Sagat
  • Sakura
  • Vega
  • Zangief

Other characters are Gouken, Ryu and Ken's sensei and the elder brother of Akuma, as a computer-controlled character, and Seth as the new boss character.

Spellings

  • 快打旋風4 - Taiwan spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Windows version)

492 People (469 developers, 23 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 91% (based on 93 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 62 ratings with 1 reviews)

Street Fighter Kicks Back

The Good
Street Fighter IV returns the series back to its roots which brought it success. Set in the timeline between Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III, SF IV includes several characters from the the original series with a slew of new characters as well. In addition to new characters, Street Fighter IV also includes fully animated (complete with voice overs) cut scenes for each of the playable characters during the intro and post final boss fights.

The controls for Street Fighter IV a quick paced and very fluid, giving the game a very arcade feel, making for intense fights between friends or the computer and ensuring a good amount of challenge.

The Bad
Where Street Fighter IV falters is trying to find a balance between good challenge and flatout frustration. Even on the easiest setting, Street Fighter IV is a challenging game, but not on a consistent level: Rather than building up challenge as the player progresses, the difficulty fluctuates from character to character, leading to sometimes very imbalanced fights and some very aggrivating boss fights. This makes Street Fighter IV a slightly frustrating game for single players.

Also, despite upgrading to the XBox 360, Street Fighter IV is lacking in technical upgrades. Post fight victories lack voice work, and only one in game cut scene appears per character (not including the animated cut scenes, which are still short).

The Bottom Line
Street Fighter IV does an admirable job of bringing the franchise forward with its quick action, new characters, and story elements. However, its controller throwing frustration and lack of features commonly found in other games may be a deterrent for most casual gamers.

Xbox 360 · by Lawnmower Man (137) · 2011

Trivia

1001 Video Games

Street Fighter IV appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Sales

According to publisher Capcom, Street Fighter IV has sold 3.4 million copies worldwide since its initial release (as of June 30, 2016).

Awards

Street Fighter IV was named Best Fighting Game in Spike TV's Video Game Awards 2009.

Analytics

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Sciere.

Windows added by Picard. Arcade added by chirinea.

Additional contributors: Big John WV, Paulus18950, CalaisianMindthief, Starbuck the Third, Plok, FatherJack.

Game added February 19, 2009. Last modified February 13, 2024.