Joystiq

Street Fighter IV producer: Console-specific characters 'not very fair'

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-08-26T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

Street Fighter IV is unlikely to have exclusive console-specific characters (like Soul Calibur IV) when it releases next year, the game's producer tells Videogamer. Yoshinori Ono believes the idea of exclusive characters is unfair -- and that extends to "downloadable characters" as well.

Yoshinori expresses that this is only his "policy," however, so we won't rule out the influence of the Capcom overlords. SF IV is expected on consoles around the time the Street Fighter movie releases in early 2009.

Gallery: Street Fighter IV

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Street Fighter IV releasing alongside movie in 2009, says film's producer

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-08-19T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Patrick Aiello, the producer for the upcoming film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (starring Kristin "Lana Lang" Kreuk!), believes Street Fighter IV will launch alongside the film. Aiello tells GameDaily that the "film and game release dates will coincide." According to IMDB, the Street Fighter movie currently has a release date of February 27, 2009.

Although hardcore Street Fighter fans may be upset that the game isn't coming out at the end of this year as originally announced, there's always the option of playing it in arcades at diverse locations on this little planet.

Gallery: Street Fighter IV

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Fei Long, Dan join Street Fighter IV home roster

Jason Dobson — 2008-05-30T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

Following this morning's news that the recently announced home versions of Street Fighter IV would come packing the extra punch of online play and an expanded cast, a new report confirms two familiar fighters who will be added to the game's hurricane kick beyond the arcade.

According to IGN, Japanese publication Famitsu Xbox released concept art illustrating Bruce Lee-inspired Fei Long and Alpha vet Dan Hibiki, adding that both fighters will be home version exclusives. While Fei Long certainly makes sense, the laughably weak Dan has always served more as comic relief, though we look forward to the hilariously drawn out Dan vs. Dan online throw downs to come when the game is eventually released.

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Rumor: Street Fighter IV heading to PS3, Xbox 360, PC this winter

Jason Dobson — 2008-05-26T18:30:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

Since announcing Street Fighter IV, Capcom has given us a number of things to ponder about the upcoming sequel, from 3D graphics to giant thumbs, but one thing the company hasn't given us is a release date, not to mention where exactly we'll be able to play the game once it finally makes its way to retail. However this may be about to change, as according to French blog Jeuxvideo, Capcom recently made mention on a press site that the fighter is headed to the PS3, Xbox 360, and -- surprisingly -- the PC as well, with all three versions slated to hurricane kick retail shelves this winter.

Unfortunately, the site neglected to link to the press site in question, and Joystiq ninjas have since returned from Capcom's press tower with nothing to show for their trouble, leaving us to flag this particular morsel of information as a rumor, albeit one we'd very much like to come true.

[Via Big Download]

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Collectibles cast Street Fighter in plastic, ink

Jason Dobson — 2008-05-15T08:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Fighting

If there's one thing we enjoy as much as playing games, it's collecting various odds and ends that reflect our passion for the hobby. Whether it's a Lunar Ghaleon puppet on the mantel or the Varia Suit statue on the coffee table, there is never any question where our loyalties lie. Now UDON Entertainment has added another collectible to our radar in the form of a limited edition art book dedicated to the numerous brawlers who have thrown down in Capcom's storied Street Fighter franchise. The hardcover will feature the artistic styling of such artists as Penny Arcade's Gabe and pin-up style comic cover artist Adam Hughes, among several others. The book is available for pre-order now, with orders placed today dropping you in the running for Capcom's IGN-branded Okami for the Wii. At $80, the book isn't cheap, but really, when it comes to the things we adore, what price can do love justice?

And while we have Street Fighter on the brain, we'd be remiss not to mention an interesting blog post over at Camp Capcom, as the company is apparently entertaining the idea of creating a collection of figurines based on the upcoming Street Fighter IV, and as such are looking for input on which characters deserve to make the cut. So, of the faces we know, both old and new, who would we most like to see make the leap from polygons to plastic? E. Honda? Vega? El Fuerte? Hit up the poll on Capcom's blog and let your voice, albeit anonymously, be heard.

Gallery: Street Fighter Tribute Art Book

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New Street Fighter IV screens punch out classic bosses

Jason Dobson — 2008-05-01T20:28:00+00:00

Filed under: Arcade, Retro, Fighting

While Capcom's Street Fighter IV wowed us in February with its new fangled graphics and animation, it was the game's decidedly retro feel that grabbed us by the neck and assaulted our head like a barrage of Yoga Noogies. As it turned out, for all its 3D charm the fighter played like a sexed up Street Fighter II, which to be fair is just fine by us.

Now Capcom has released screenshots of Street Fighter II's bad guy quartet, Balrog, Bison, Sagat and Vega, all of whom make a return in the upcoming sequel. We can hardly wait to face down Vega's (or M. Bison for those of you with a name hang up) ever-annoying Psycho Crusher, something judging by the above pic has Ryu equally enthused.

Gallery: Street Fighter IV

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Classic SFII combos work the same in SFIV

Kyle Orland — 2008-03-21T10:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Arcade, Retro, Fighting

If you read our hands-on impressions of Street Fighter IV from GDC, you know the game bears more than a passing resemblance to Capcom's classic Street Fighter II (with admittedly updated graphics). Well, the folks at GamesRadar wanted to see just how far that similarity went, and found that many classic combos from the original game work exactly the same way in the new one.

The video evidence (also available below the jump) highlights the cosmetic differences in the two games while at the same time showing how seemingly identical the basic gameplay is. We can't say this is necessarily a bad thing -- Street Fighter II is a classic for a reason -- but that classic is already available as a Virtual Console download, an upcoming HD remix, and even a PS2 Anniversary collection. Why are we supposed to trudge out to the arcade for a dressed up version of a 15-year-old experience that we can get at home?

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GDC08: hands-on with Street Fighter IV

Richard Mitchell — 2008-02-22T22:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Arcade, Features, Fighting, GDC, Galleries

After playing Street Fighter IV on its (fantastically expensive) arcade cabinet at GDC for well over an hour, I can't help but feel like Capcom will soon pull off one of the best cons in gaming history. You see, if you've played Street Fighter II then you've essentially played Street Fighter IV. There are a few differences, of course -- we'll get to those in a minute -- but for the most part it's the same game it was nearly two decades ago. There's a common axiom that states, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," or in Capcom's case, "if it ain't broke, keep repackaging it and selling it to the same people over and over again." That's basically what Street Fighter IV does once again. My would-be journalistic sensibilities tell me I should be angry about that. Honestly though, I was having too much fun to care. Hence, a con.

Playing Street Fighter IV is like visiting an arcade (remember those?) in the mid-90s. Capcom's trademark rock solid controls, flamboyant characters, super moves, it's all there. It's more closely aligned with the original series than, say, Street Fighter Alpha. Don't expect any huge chain combos or extreme juggling. Combos are small and mostly rely on the tried and true 2-in-one system, which allows players to fire off an attack while performing a special move (like having Ken follow up a crouching fierce punch immediately with a fireball, for example). There is no air blocking (though certain characters do have air throws) and there aren't midair combos either.

Traditional super moves make return. Rather than choosing them before a round as in SFIII, each character has two from which to choose at any given time, assuming the combo gauge is full. It's also possible to power up normal special moves by using two buttons instead of one. This causes special moves to do two hits instead of one, but it also drains some of the combo gauge.

Removed from the game is the parry system introduced in Street Fighter III, which allowed players to negate all damage and counter an attack if they were quick enough. In its place is the new saving attack, which a rep told me is being renamed focus attack for North America. To initiate a saving attack, one has to press both the medium punch and kick buttons simultaneously. Holding down the buttons allows players to charge the attack for up to approximately one second. If fully charged, the attack is unblockable and will knock opponents to their knees, opening them up to a free combo, though they will collapse if the attacker doesn't act fast. While charge moves are nothing new, what makes the saving attack interesting is that it allows players to absorb one attack without stopping the attack. Because of this, it's possible to use the saving attack as a sort of counter. This is still a dangerous strategy though, as any follow up attack will interrupt the saving attack. Still, with practice, saving attacks could easily become one of the most important elements in the game.

Finally, there is also a new revenge meter, which fills as players take damage. When full, it allows for the use of devastating super combo.

The full Street Fighter II cast makes a return in SFIV, and players should instantly be instantly familiar with old favorites. Ken is Ken, Blanka is Blanka, and Zangief is the same mad Russian he's always been. Pick your favorite, pull off your standard combos, and enjoy. Abel is currently my favorite of the two new characters. He utilizes a fast wrestling system (I'm pretty sure it's Judo) that feels a lot less ponderous than other heavy characters like Zangief. Abel's most interesting special move is a custom two hit combo followed by a throw. Both the combo and the throw can alternate between high and low attacks, which allows players to mix it up. He also has a throw that pulls opponents directly out of the air and a special throw that requires spiral joystick input akin to Zangief's spinning pile driver. Crimson Viper, whom I actually didn't try, uses several dashing maneuvers and a ranged shock wave attack.

But enough of all this talk about gameplay. What about the fancy "three-dee" graphics we keep hearing about? I can safely say that screenshots really don't do the game justice. In motion, Street Fighter IV has a lot going for it. Character animations are top-notch, and 3D does allow for detail that was never seen in previous iterations. You'll notice facial expressions change depending on the situation. For example, when moving towards and opponent, Blanka's face is contorted in a snarl. When backing up, he looks almost timid, as though he's afraid of the beating to come. The touches are subtle, but definitely cool. There are also lots of background details to notice, like a dog stealing a chicken from a vendor's stand in Chun-Li's busy China street.

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GDC08: Joystiq interviews SFIV's Yoshi Ono

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2008-02-22T19:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Arcade, Fighting, GDC, Video

Shortly before we furiously mashed buttons in an attempt to play Street Fighter IV, Capcom ~~programmer~~ producer Yoshi Ono agreed to have a brief (punchy?) chat with us regarding the franchise's triumphant return to arcades. Be sure to thank the disembodied voice of David Crislip for translating -- without him, the conversation would have been considerably more awkward. We'll have a full report on the gameplay soon.

[Thanks to Veronica Belmont of Mahalo Daily for acting as our inquisitive vector!]

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'Crimson Viper' joins Street Fighter 4 roster

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-01-09T22:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Arcade, Fighting

Ryu and Ken have a new sparring partner, as "Crimson Viper" joins the Street Fighter IV cast. The series' newcomer might sound like a character cribbed from Kill Bill's deleted scenes, but her true origin is being kept under wraps. A preview in Famitsu reveals that Viper's fighting style will be completely new to the series; her voluptuous proportions are not.

Famitsu has also confirmed SFIV's first official platform: the arcade. Though long thought to be extinct, these musty dwellings for underdeveloped men and teenage angst still thrive on the islands of Japan. Within such havens, SFIV will make its debut later this year.

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Shoryuken find a reason to watch Street Fighter IV footage

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-12-28T15:14:00+00:00

Filed under: Fighting

As is the case with the upcoming, expansively titled Street Fighter II remake, emotions tend to run high before Capcom's latest franchise additions are seen in motion. If the knowledge drip-feed springing from the Street Fighter I.V. has you in a daze and unable to focus on other things in life, you'd best glance past the break to see footage of the game in action, courtesy of the 1UP Show. You might also find interest in the included developer interview and extraordinary tale of sibling nerd violence.

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Street Fighter IV: first details revealed

Scott Jon Siegel — 2007-12-06T05:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Fighting

We'll spare you the suspense: Street Fighter IV will feature fully-3D graphics, but gameplay will be purely 2D, retaining the feel of the classic non-EX Street Fighter titles.

Now that you can breathe again, we'll let you know that 1UP has scored the first exclusive details on Street Fighter IV. The first publicized screenshot (above, and taken from the in-game engine) confirms the unique art direction for the sequel, as first hinted upon in the teaser trailer. 1UP reports that Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Dhalsim are all returning to the series, although a more complete character roster has not yet been revealed.

Gameplay-wise, it's classic Street Fighter, utilizing a six-button control scheme while introducing new moves, features, and locations to the repertoire. No word yet on which platforms the game is headed to, although we can certainly hazard a few guesses. Even more details on Capcom's latest fighter will be revealed in the January 2008 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, so keep your eyes peeled on the news stands.

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GameTrailers breaks down Street Fighter IV trailer

Griffin McElroy — 2007-11-25T19:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Arcade

In case you missed the Street Fighter IV trailer that popped up about a month ago, here's a quick summary: There was much punching, and quite a bit of kicking. Also, an obligatory Hadouken. Boom. We're on the same page -- or so it would seem. According to Capcom bigwig Christian Svennson, there are clues in the trailer revealing certain key aspects of SF4's gameplay (it still isn't known if the fighter will be 2D or 3D) and also, the location of One-Eyed Willie's treasure.

GameTrailers was kind enough to break the trailer down for those of us not well-versed enough in the series' mythos to catch the subtle hints. Watch it a few times, let us know your theories. Let's just pray that it's not secretly a preview for a second live action Street Fighter film starring Jean Claude Van Damme.

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Capcom announces Street Fighter IV

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-10-17T11:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Fighting

This sort of thing doesn't happen very often, you know. According to Games Radar, a Capcom Gamer's Day event in London has revealed a brand new (and not entirely unexpected) entry in the seminal 2D fighting franchise, Street Fighter. Most notably, this new entry increases the numeral at the end of the title as opposed to the number of Super Hyper Ultra adjectives at the start.

Not much is known about Street Fighter IV at present, save for the fact that its release is more than a year away. Other things you can likely expect while we wait for more details and media to arrive: Ken and Ryu in HD, Hadoukens and extremely pithy victory remarks.

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