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Street Fighter IV (ストリートファイターIV Sutorīto Faitā Fō?) is a 2008 fighting game produced by Capcom. It is the first Street Fighter game in the main series released by Capcom since the arcade release of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike in 1999. The arcade version was released in Japan on July 18, 2008 and was given a limited release in North American arcades in August. Home versions were released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on February 12, February 16, and February 20 in Japan, North America, and Europe respectively. The Windows version of the game was released on July 2, July 3, and July 7, 2009 in Japan, Europe, and North America respectively. The iOS version of the game was released on March 10, 2010. The latest release of the game is on Android OS, released on January 5, 2012.

Gameplay

SFIV Abel vs Ryu

Abel in a battle against Ryu.

While Street Fighter IV features fighters and backgrounds rendered in 3D, the gameplay remains on a traditional 2D plane. Producer Yoshinori Ono has stated that he wanted to keep the game closer to Street Fighter II than its sequels, and as such the parry system from Street Fighter III has been dropped. A new system called Focus Attacks (Saving Attack in the Japanese version) has been introduced, as well as Ultra Combos. The traditional six-button control scheme returns, with new features and special moves integrated into the input system, mixing classic gameplay with additional innovations.

Imgres

A picture of Ryu and Ken about to fight in Street Fighter IV

The game has a very similar feel to Super Street Fighter II Turbo, but also has several natures from Street Fighter III 3rd Strike. Pressing both light attack buttons is still for throwing, and both heavy attack buttons are for the personal action or taunts. Both medium attack buttons are for the newly added Focus Attack. Dashes and quick standing are also in the game. Crimson Viper is the only character who can perform a high jump. Ibuki later joins her in that group when she is added to Super Street Fighter IV.

It was intended that the car-smashing bonus rounds from earlier Street Fighter games would return. Ono later stated that the bonus stages would not be in the arcade game, citing the reason to be that the time players spend on bonus stages takes money from arcade operators. This may also explain the option to turn off the bonus stages in the arcade mode on the home console versions of Super Street Fighter IV.

Visuals

The characters and environments in the game are rendered as 3D models with polygons but use a stylized effect to give them a hand-drawn look, with certain select attacks displaying ink sprays during the fights. The art director and character designer is Daigo Ikeno, who previously worked on Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, aims at staying true to the Street Fighter II style.

Focus Attacks

Focus Attacks, known as Saving System in the Japanese version, is a new system that is being introduced in Street Fighter IV. The Focus Attack is a move that allows the player to absorb an attack and launch a counterattack, and it is performed by pressing the medium punch and kick buttons simultaneously. The system aims to make ground attacks as viable a way of approaching opponents as jumping was in previous games. The Focus Attack system is a core part of Street Fighter IV gameplay.

Ono has stated that this system was incorporated in order to shift the emphasis away from combos and toward a more realistic system he has compared to boxing, in which "the skill is in reading your opponent's move before he starts moving ... We haven't forgotten about combos and linked moves, but focus makes it so that you have to read your opponent."[citation needed]

Ultra Combos

SFIV Viper vs Guile

Crimson Viper executing her Burst Time Ultra Combo on Guile.

Super Combos, the powered-up special moves that have been a series' mainstay since Super Street Fighter II Turbo, return in Street Fighter IV. Similar to Super Turbo, each character has one set super move. The game also features EX Special Moves, the powered-up versions of Special Moves from the the home version of Street Fighter: The Movie. In addition to Super Combos, the game also features Ultra Combos. Ultra Combos are performed similarly to the character's Super Combo but are executed with three attack buttons (much like the Lv. 3 Super Combos in the Street Figher Alpha series and the Meteor Combos in Street Fighter EX3). Ultra Combos are long and cinematic moves featuring a lengthy combination of punches, kicks and other moves. Just as there is a Super Combo Gauge, there is also an Ultra Combo gauge (officially known as the Revenge Gauge), but whereas the Super Combo meter fills as the player hits an opponent, the Revenge Gauge fills when one takes damage from the opponent. Along with Super Combos, Ultra Combos are one of the only times the camera breaks from its normal fixed position to show a more dynamic, or cinematic view of the gameplay. Additionally, when the camera shifts to this cinematic view, the opponent's facial expression will change to a look of surprise and panic. This is easier to see on some Ultra Combos than others, especially if the camera pans around the person in some way.

Plot

SFIV-Select

Full character select screen featuring Rose and Ryu.

Street Fighter IV takes place several months after the events of Street Fighter II. After Seth's escape, the S.I.N. corporation began another fighting tournament in order to draw out the most powerful fighters on Earth to complete the BLECE project. Each character has their own reasons for entering this tournament, but S.I.N.'s real desire is to lure Ryu to them in order to analyze the Satsui no Hado, believed to be the last piece of data needed to complete BLECE.

The tournament is publicly organized by S.I.N., apparently using preliminary matches and a point system to determine who is allowed to enter (as shown by the conversation between Seth and his lackey about how Dan Hibiki was able to "squeak by with just enough points to qualify"). It can be assumed that the only participants in the tournament are the playable characters in SFIV not including Seth.

Arcade roster

Chronologically set between the Street Fighter II series and the Street Fighter III series, Street Fighter IV was initially meant as a return to the series' roots, i.e. Super Street Fighter II Turbo, which Ono considers to be "the king of Street Fighter games." Thus, the experience provided by Super Street Fighter II Turbo became the main influence for the Street Fighter IV development team, and all its characters were intended to be in the game. However, the four characters introduced in Super Street Fighter II were dropped for the arcade version of the game, so the final playable character roster became that of Street Fighter II' - Champion Edition, along with four additional characters, new to the series.

Returning characters

Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Ryu Hiroki Takahashi Kyle Hebert
Ken Yūji Kishi Reuben Langdon
Chun-Li Fumiko Orikasa Laura Bailey
E. Honda Yoshikazu Nagano Joe DiMucci
Blanka Yūji Ueda Taliesin Jaffe
Zangief Kenta Miyake Anthony Landor
Guile Hiroki Yasumoto Travis Willingham
Dhalsim Daisuke Egawa Christopher Bevins
Balrog (M. Bison in Japan) Satoshi Tsuruoka Bob Carter
Vega (Balrog in Japan) Junichi Suwabe Doug Erholtz
Sagat Daisuke Endou Isaac C. Singleton Jr.
M. Bison (Vega in Japan) Norio Wakamoto Gerald C. Rivers

New characters

Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor Notes
Abel Kenji Takahashi Jason Liebrecht Abel is a French mixed martial artist. He is described as an amnesiac, a "man with no past" looking to defeat surviving members of Shadaloo.
C. Viper Mie Sonozaki Michelle Ruff Crimson Viper is a female American spy wearing sunglasses, leather gloves and a form-fitting suit.
Rufus Wataru Hatano Chris Kent Rufus is a fighter bearing Kung Fu moves and a rotund appearance, who seeks to fight Ken to prove himself as the best fighter in the United States.
El Fuerte Daisuke Ono J. B. Blanc El Fuerte (Spanish for "The Strong One") is a Mexican luchador and aspiring gourmet cook.

Bosses and hidden characters

Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor Notes
Seth Akio Ohtsuka Michael McConnohie Seth, also known as "The Puppet Master", is the new boss character. He is the CEO of S.I.N., the weapons division of Shadaloo. His body has been modified using advanced technology. His Special Moves are techniques used by other characters.
Akuma (Gouki in Japan) Taketora Dave Mallow Akuma appears in the arcade version as a secret final boss in the single-player mode as well as a secret time-release playable character.
Gouken Tōru Ōkawa Rod Clarke Gouken, Ryu and Ken's sensei and the elder brother of Akuma, appears in the arcade version as a secret computer-controlled challenger in the end of the single-player mode, making his very first, albeit highly anticipated debut in a fighting game. The character was featured in the game as a tribute to the "Sheng Long" hoax initiated by the original Street Fighter II.

Home version additions

The home versions of Street Fighter IV feature additional characters not included in the arcade version of the game. They are Cammy (the top voted character suggested for the home version of the game in an online poll posted on Capcom's English site), Fei-Long from Super Street Fighter II, Dan and Rose from Street Fighter Alpha, Sakura from Street Fighter Alpha 2 and Gen from the original Street Fighter.

In addition, the two computer-only boss characters from the arcade version, Seth and Gouken, are also both playable in the home versions, and Akuma is a hidden character.

Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Dan Toshiyuki Kusuda Ted Sroka
Fei Long Yuuichi Nakamura Matthew Mercer
Sakura Misato Fukuen Brittney Harvey
Cammy Miyuki Sawashiro Caitlin Glass
Gen Youhei Tadano Michael Sorich
Rose Akeno Watanabe Gina Grad

iPhone/iPod additions

Dee Jay Character - Unlockable when Arcade is finished 1 time (in the most recent updates).

North America: Skyscraper Under Construction - A construction site set in Metro City from Final Fight featuring cameos from Hugo and Mike Haggar, the latter in the form of a large statue that appears in the background.

Dojo Mode - Similar as Trials Mode.

Comic Books Reading - Read some SSFIV Comic Books.

Super Street Fighter IV Trailers

Stages

East Asia: Old Temple - A sacred temple in Japan.

South Africa: Small Airfield - A Shadaloo secret airport.

South America: Inland Jungle - Amazon Forest at morning, where Blanka lives.

East Asia: Overpass - A street next to a river and under a Highway Bridge in Japan.

East Asia: Deserted Temple - The Old temple destroyed in Japan.

East Asia: Crowded Downtown - A number of restaurants in China at afternoon.

Europe: Cruise Ship Stern - A fighting stage on a Shadaloo Cruise.

Europe: Snowy Rail Yard - A train station in Russia.

U.S.A.: Drive - In At Night - A crowded street filled with cars.

Europe: Historic Distillery - A Shadaloo distillery.

Unknown: Secret Laboratory - The S.I.N's secret laboratory in the Bermuda Triangle.

East Asia: Run-Down Back Alley - A number of restaurants in China at night.

South Asia: Morning Mist Bay - A fishing boat in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay at morning.

Oceania: Volcanic Rim - Oni's refuge after the sinking of the Goukuento Island.

South Asia: Beautiful Bay - A fishing boat in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay at sundown.

South America: Pitch-Black Jungle - Amazon Forest at night, where Blanka lives.

Unknown: Training Stage

Development

Before producer Yoshinori Ono pitched the idea to Keiji Inafune, who was the head of Capcom R&D at the time, the prevailing attitude around Capcom was that a new numeric entry to the Street Fighter series would not be made. Initially, there was much resistance to Ono's pitch for a new Street Fighter game for many years. However, in light of fan demand plus the positive reaction to Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting on Xbox Live Arcade, Inafune eventually allowed the project to begin. This was Ono's first take on a new entry for the Street Fighter series as a producer, although he had previously worked on Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike as a "sound management director" and previously produced Capcom Fighting Jam.

The game runs on the Taito Type X2 arcade board inside a Taito Vewlix cabinet and takes advantage of the Type X2's network capabilities and allows players in separate arcades to play against each other.

Home versions

Street Fighter 4 ps3 x360

North American cover artwork.

Collector s EditionStreet Fighter 4

European box and cover artwork of the Collector's Edition (Xbox 360 version).

Street Fighter IV has been released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows. The home releases features additional playable characters and online play functionality. The North American and European localizations of the home ports features English voice acting for all the characters, as well as fully animated ending sequences.

The North American, European, and Japanese releases are available in standard packaging and in a Collector's Edition variant. The Collector's Edition is available only to the console versions of the game, and comes with a figurine (Crimson Viper for Xbox 360 owners; Ryu for PS3 owners), the animated short "Aratanaru Kizuna", (Renewed Bonds) called The Ties That Bind, in North America, produced by Studio 4°C, game soundtrack, and a Prima hint guide. Collector's Edition retails at $79.99 USD.

Downloadable Content

The console versions of Street Fighter IV has received downloadable content following its release, which is available for download via Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network. The first expansion pack, titled "Championship Mode", is free of charge and provide players with a replay mode, a new points system and an enhanced tournament matching system. Also, five alternate costume packs has become available for purchase via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. The costume packs includes the alternate costumes included in the arcade versions of the game.

Downloadable Content Release Date Descriptions
Brawler Pack February 17, 2009 This pack includes alternate costumes for: Zangief, E. Honda, Rufus, El Fuerte, and Abel.
Femme Fatale Pack February 24, 2009 This pack includes alternate costumes for: Chun-Li, Cammy, Sakura, Rose, and Crimson Viper.
Shoryuken Pack March 3, 2009 This pack includes alternate costumes for: Ryu, Ken, Akuma, Gouken, and Dan.
Shadaloo Pack March 10, 2009 This pack includes alternate costumes for: Seth, M. Bison, Sagat, Balrog, and Vega.
Classic Pack March 17, 2009 This pack includes alternate costumes for: Guile, Dhalsim, Fei-Long, Blanka, and Gen.
Championship Mode April 24, 2009 Championship mode is a game mode where a series compete against each other for ranking points.

Trivia

  • Notably, there are no playable fighters in this game who debuted in the Street Fighter III series. Though Super Street Fighter IV eventually added three fighters from said series, two more were later added in the Arcade Edition followed by another two in Ultra.
  • Street Fighter IV can actually be considered the third tournament, with Street Fighter III being the fourth.
    • The characters that debuted in the Street Fighter III series, however, can be considered new. Since Street Fighter IV takes place before Street Fighter III, Super Street Fighter IV marks the first actual tournament that Ibuki, Makoto, Dudley, Yun, Yang, Elena and Hugo participated in.
  • In the iPod Touch/iPhone version of the game, Abel, Blanka, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, Guile, M. Bison, Ken, and Ryu were the only eight characters that were playable, prior to an update adding Cammy and Zangief, and then another update came, adding E. Honda and C. Viper. The most recent update includes Sagat and an unlockable Dee Jay.
  • Another iPod Touch/iPhone game called Street Fighter IV Volt Battle Protocol would be made. All the characters from the original iOS version would be here. Balrog, Vega, Cody, and a hidden character, Akuma, would also be added to the roster. An update added Sakura and Makoto to the roster. Another update added Yun and Fei Long.

Reception

Site Score
1up.com A
Game Informer 9.25
IGN 9.3
Official Xbox Magazine 9.5
PlayStation Magazine 5/5
Edge Magazine 9/10
X-Play 5/5
GamePro 5/5
Metacritic 93/100
GameSpot 9.0/10.0
Giant Bomb 5/5

Reception for the game has been overwhelmingly positive, with scores appearing in reviewer's top rankings. Joe Juba from Game Informer's stated that the game, "...is a distillation of everything the genre does right. It delivers the intensity of competition...all through elegant techniques that are easy to learn and difficult to master."

James Meilke of 1up.com wrote that, "It's a bold, confident fighter that celebrates its heritage while bringing fresh, new ideas to the table, arriving in a remarkably complete package..." while Dan Amrich of Official Xbox Magazine stated that, "If you’re a novice, a training mode and eight levels of difficulty will help you find your way. If you’re a pro, SFIV contains all the depth you’ve ever loved about the series, without compromise." In the Plus section of the review, he states that it, "Does the impossible: Preserves the past, embraces the future."

Criticism came to the anime-style scenes, "...these cutscenes are almost a disgrace to anime as they are so poorly animated and tell you almost nothing about the story or the context for each character's participation in the tournament," wrote Ryan Clements of IGN. James Mielke also added words about the featured stages in the game, stating that, "Sure, Drive-in at Night, Crowded Downtown, Pitch-black Jungle, Deserted Temple, Cruise Ship Stern, and Small Airfield are nice enough, but anyone longing for E. Honda's onsen hot spring will be left wanting."

Street Fighter IV is also rated on Gamestats.com. The Xbox 360 version has an overall score of 9.0 and the PlayStation 3 version has an overall score of 9.1.

Controllers

MadCatz has released two licensed FightSticks and five wireless GamePads to coincide with the game's release. The Tournament Edition FightStick features a Sanwa joystick and 30mm buttons, as well as various modification abilities. GamePro's official review of the stick(s) state that the Tournament Edition also comes with a compartment to store the sticks' cord, along with rubber feet located on the underside. The Tournament Edition will retail at $150.00 USD, however only 3000 are being produced with MadCatz receiving over 20,000 pre-orders.

The basic FightStick is considerably smaller in size, but has been reviewed to be for intermediate players, and has the capability to be rested comfortably on a player's lap. The face of the controller is marked with a graphic displaying the original eight fighters from Street Fighter II, but it is clear the stick can be modded. The model retails at $79.99 USD for the Xbox 360, and $69.98 for the PS3.

Both FightSticks position the Start/Select buttons on the rear side of the model. Turbo, Home (PS3) and Guide (360) buttons are located on the upper left corner of the models, as well as a lock switch to keep from accidental initiation during play.

Also both FightSticks ships with detachable wires, for easier switching out buttons and joystick modding example

The GamePads features graphics of Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Blanka, and Akuma, and retails at $39.99 USD. The pads feature an 8-Way floating D-Pad, along with the trigger (R1 and R2 for PS3) buttons located directly onto the face. The button layout is similar to the FightSticks, with the Guide (Home) button located on the lower area of the controller.

Gallery

Videos

See also

Updated versions

Other

  • Street Fighter IV Character Quotes
  • Street Fighter IV Offical Game Guide

External links

Street Fighter series
Video games (Full list)
Main games Street Fighter · Street Fighter II (Champion Editon · Hyper Fighting · Super · Turbo · Hyper · HD Remix · Ultra) · Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams (Alpha 2 · Alpha 3) · Street Fighter III (2nd Impact · 3rd Strike) · Street Fighter IV (Super · Arcade Edition · Ultra) · Street Fighter V (Arcade Edition · Champion Edition) · Street Fighter 6
Spinoffs Street Fighter EX (EX2 · EX3) · Street Fighter 2010 · Street Fighter: The Movie (Arcade version · Home version) · Street Fighter II: The Interactive Movie · Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game · Chun-Li ni makase China · Street Fighter: Puzzle Spirits · Street Fighter: Battle Combination · Super Street Fighter IV: PachiSlot Edition
Crossovers Marvel vs. Capcom series · SNK vs. Capcom series · Namco × Capcom series · Taisen Net Gimmick Capcom & Psikyo All Stars · Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo · Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix · Capcom Fighting All-Stars · Capcom Fighting Jam · Cannon Spike · Tatsunoko vs. Capcom · Street Fighter Online: Mouse Generation · Street Fighter × Mega Man · Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U · Street Fighter × All Capcom · Japan Sumo Cup: Yokozuna vs. Street Fighter · Puzzle Fighter · Super Smash Bros. Ultimate · TEPPEN · Street Fighter: Duel
Compilations Street Fighter Anniversary Collection · Street Fighter Alpha Anthology · Street Fighter Collection · Street Fighter Collection 2 · Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
Shared Universe Final Fight series · Slam Masters series · Rival Schools series · Captain Commando
Miscellaneous List of games · List of playable characters · List of non-playable characters
Other media
Film/Television Future Cops · Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie · Live-action film · Street Fighter II: Yomigaeru Fujiwara-kyō · Street Fighter II V (List of episodes) · US TV series (List of episodes) · Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation · Street Fighter Alpha: Generations · Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li · Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind · Super Street Fighter IV OVA · Street Fighter - Round One: Fight! · Balrog: Behind the Glory · Street Fighter: Legacy · Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist · Street Fighter: World Warrior · Matador · Street Fighter: Resurrection
Comics Street Fighter II (manga) · Street Fighter Gaiden · Street Fighter (UDON) (Legends: Chun-Li · Legends: Ibuki · Issue 0 · Street Fighter IV Issue 2 · The Life and Death(s) of Charlie Nash · Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers) · Street Fighter Alpha (manga) · Sakura Ganbaru! · Cammy Gaiden · World Warrior Encyclopedia (Hardcover) · Ryu Final · Street Fighter Zero (HK comic) · Street Fighter (Brazilian comic series) · Street Fighter Zero (Brazilian comic) · EX2 Plus (comic) · Street Fighter (Malibu comic) (Issue 1 · Issue 2 · Issue 3)
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