SF4 Impressions (after actually playing)

Tony, man, you know i love you (no banana), but this game has been out for 6 months already. Even if the console exclusive characters somehow broke the game, which it doesn't look like they will, its not a big deal; they'd just be banned from tourney play.

 

First of all, mad props to Haunts for dropping the pearl of the guide in this thread... You rock, and I'm biting through it now /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

And...

Tony, you didn't really mean that did you? This game's been out for over half a year, I've been playing since October and sh*t be good! Seriously, comparing to... errm... Clay Fighter? Seems a bit unfair.

The game is rock solid, whether or not people will like it or not is a matter of personal taste, but making it out to be a flavor of the hour is a bit over the top, don't you think...

 

"The control and gameplay feels like EX/CVS1, neither of which I really liked" <-- statement of opinion

Opinions are fine, everyone's got them; I don't even like the game that much so I'm not about to rag on someone for disliking it.

"His fuck WK tiger knee leave you fucking helpless not even at disadvantage but helpless" <-- statement of fact, and an incorrect one at that.

Statements of fact can be a problem, going around talking mistaken shit about a game makes this whole board look bad.

 

Hey dude, Pit Fighter was the shizzie! I always picked Ti (the kick guy), what about you?

 

Yeah I won the Kennett Square tournament today. Gots me a headband and sweatbands. Now I don't have to worry about my hands getting slippery during intense street fightering action!

 

Alright, alright, I get it pplz. One thing that I learned in life is: if enough good people say something in regards to your behavior, then there's a good chance that it's true.

It's like Overfiend said, a lot of us did have high expectations for this game. I thought "SF4, I can't wait to see what's new!" I really was "foolish" enough to think that Capcom would make an effort to bring something new to the fray. I know that they have been down the 3D path before but I guess I was expecting SF4 to be a "new" game with new moves and innovative gameplay (something like 3rdStrike but even better).
I mean, this is the game that set it all off. I know that we're not going to get that feeling that we once felt when SF2 first debuted but the least they could do is try.

I know times are hard and most game companies don't take as much risks as they once used to but still, Capcom's got money and they have taken risks before. Why NOT actually bring the SF gameplay to a 3D realm and apply real 3D gameplay with 3D options instead of bringing a 3D look to the old formula?
I know it's easier said than done but it's going on 20 years, is it really that bad to expect more than this?

@Shag, I don't mean overhead attacks or a new animation to a kick or a punch, I mean a new and useful special move. Not just for novelty's sake but to show that after almost 2 decades, these old fighters have learned a few new tricks. Like I said, it's been a loooong time bro, why not? Is it that much to ask for? It coulda been something like Brad's Ducking K+G (or Bruce's 66K) on block it chips health but it leaves him at huge disadvantage. It knocks down on any hit and it's fast so it coulda been useful for beating out an opponent's fireball during a medium-range fireball battle. Mind games can ensue from something like this, juno? Anyway, just an example of something different, not that this is what he needed cuz I know he's always been good.

@KoD, love you too man (no hetero) and thanks for not beating me down with one of your posts that makes people look really dumb /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
I meant 6 months out on consoles but yeah, you're all right. I just expected more and that's my problem, not y'alls (I used the Texas accent on that one )

But just for the record: games don't always HAVE to be played to make an opinion on them. I use to have that luxury when I was a teenager to rent games and play them for myself before I made an opinion on it but I'm an adult now, I don't have the time or the money to give all of these games a chance before I bash them. It might sound silly to you guys that I bashed MKvsDC without playing it but I'll be damned if I play that garbage, even for free, I won't play it.
Even if I could afford the free time, I'd rather spend it on other things than giving a chance to a video game that doesn't make me say "I want to play that" from the moment I get to see it in action.

Also, back in the days I HAD to rent a game to see it in action but now there's the internet /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif That's how I got into Kengo3, I saw a vid on youtube and I said "I have GOT to play that game" Played it, loved it. SF4 could be one of those RARE "saw it, didn't like it but then I played it and liked it" type of games, but I have played it and it still hasn't sucked me in. Maybe after I borrow it for a month... but it almost feels like I'm forcing myself, lol.

 

Nice Post Tony. I guess its like listening to the radio lol!

 

Sorry for going off topic but I'm really curious about something.. Grenburg was their ever a mainstream or semi mainstream fighting game you didn't like (for example War gods and dark rift don't count..even thou I'm sure you loved Dark rift). This information wont be used to talk down on Street Fighter 4 it's a question of ones own curiosity and I'm sure for many others on this site.

 

played it today...


VF has really ruined my standards for fighting games. sorry fellas...

 

I strongly doubt he's played any apart from VF5, SC4 and SF4. Damn these young folk.

... And tony don't hate on Pit Fighter /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif Game is still good!

Feels more like Darkstalkers EX Slow Mo Alpha Fighter 2 to me

 

I think every VFer should be able to understand Tony's dilemma quite well. Having spent a considerable amount of time on the VF franchise that evolved with every installment, Tony's disappointment with SFII 3D+ (AKA SFIV) was pre-programmed, his expectations much too high. Then there's the question whether SFIV is even able to deliver a satisfying experience to spoiled, deeply-rooted VFers.

But Tony is not alone with his devastating SFIV opinion. David Sirlin, for example, said that he had a very different idea about how to usher in a new era of Street Fighter but that SFIV simply "isn't it." In the 1UP interview he then followed up with some usual Sirlin-esque disgressions self-promoting his own fantasy cast of characters that he wanted to make a fighting game of if he had have the money.

But coming back to the SFIV dilemma, Sirlin - how could it be any different - knows best. "As for SF4, I have several ideas for a Street Fighter 4: Champion Edition (if such a thing ever comes up) -- but I have no connection to SF4 at all, so that's up to Capcom," says Sirlin.

But isn't there a slight chance that he would really be capable of making a better SFIV?! Capcom's SFIV Flashback idea on which Sirlin also partly worked doesn't quite prove this point ...

 

VF France XBL or offline = dead
VF Euro on XBL = around 10 regular players in europe (lol)
Thanks SF4 to bring some action in fighter /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

Wow, you are so confused about the image of yourself you present.

 

I have a special place in my heart for Street Fighter because it's the thing that attracted me to the fighting genre in the first place. SF4 is without a doubt my favorite SF since the original SF2 back when it was first released in arcades. Championship Edition, Hyper Fighting, and Super Turbo were enjoyable but this game to me is superior in almost every way. The focus attack is probably the most interesting thing the series has done in a while IMO. It's so versatile. Much more versatile than a simple parry. That, combined with the art style makes this game feel so fresh compared to previous games.

The online play is also very well done. They're not using ggpo, but whatever netcode they're using really does a good job of concealing the lag. The "quick match" search option sucks, but custom search works great. As long as you join someone's session with 4 bars(3 bars wasn't too bad either), the game runs very well. I also like what they've done with the special titles/icons for your profile, and the battle point system is similar to VF's which obviously means that it's good.

My only problem with the game is the lack of a proper in-game tutorial explaining how the system works. The instruction manual does a good job of explaining things, but I cannot understand why companies haven't copied the things that were done in VF4 on the PS2, including AM2 themselves. If capcom wants street fighter to grow, they need to give people a more interactive way to learn the system.

In terms of character design, this is basically what I've been waiting for ever since SF2 EX. After EX was discontinued I was very sad to see Capcom go back to flat, 2D sprites after they had taken such a major leap forward. This one of the main reasons I've stayed away from the series for over a decade (the other reason is I didn't like the alpha series or third strike), but now I'm back and loving it. I know this game is probably not for everyone, but I'm having a lot of fun with it.

 

Tony that is exactly what Tiger Knee does. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

Sure it would look cool but as I stated before Sagat doesn't need any more special moves.

 

After playing it some more. I actually enjoy the game...especially after I took off the VF goggles, hehe.

But I don't really know much about 2-D fighters, this is the first one i'm really sinking my teeth into. So far I like it.

The little bit of familiarity I have with the old cast is actually a bonus for me and it doesn't overwhelm me that much. I could at least beat random noobs online /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif But I'll probably loose to most VFDCers.

To recapitulate, I give it two thumbs up. I won't be joining tourneys but it's a great diversion before VF5:R.

 

Shag, in a medium range fireball battle, can you really beat out your opponent's next fireball by inputting a Tiger Knee instead of a Tiger Shot?
I'm seriously asking bc I'm not a SF pro (or any game pro) but I know you and others here are really good at SF so, serious question.

Still, that wasn't something I put time and thought into man, lol. I was just putting something out there as an example.
It took me all but 2 seconds to think about that and there wasn't any money incentive either BUT if you give me 2 decades (now I know that I have to watch my P's and Q's around you guys that love SF and think that I'm just attacking it so plz, no need to correct me that it hasn't been 2 decades yet... or maybe it has... who cares, it's been long enough! XD )
and some financial incentive, I can guarantee you that I can come up with something.
Shoot, with as much time as they've had and as much money as they've made SF should be taking it to the next level with EACH and every single installment.

Buuuut, that's just me... maybe Im just too demanding,
Maybe Im just like my father, too bold
maybe I'm just like my mother
shes never satisfied (shes never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When tony cries ;_;

 

LMAO! At aleast im not confused about the games i play though. Anyways i think i feel this way because of the options there was in mid to late 90's fighting Genre.There wew a lot of good games to choose from and companies did care about what released in the same quarter. I can feel it that Capcom is going to Shaft us with a New version of this game in months with a Street Fighter IV Turbo. they will probably input more super moves to characters and fix issues like a Longer hit pause on Focus attacks ETC. If they dd do this i would like to see though is if i cancel into a focus attack and spend 2 bars for it i should be able to dash out of the connectiing hit to rack up a few more hits into a special or something.At the current moment you have to cancel the attack altogether.

To each his own though.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Buuuut, that's just me... maybe Im just too demanding,
Maybe Im just like my father, too bold
maybe I'm just like my mother
shes never satisfied (shes never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When tony cries ;_; </div></div>
Pure Gold Tony. Trust i understand your cries Bro. I think you would like to see a new sagat move that would just gave a extra option huh? I think is low tiger shot should has a longer recovery time.

 

Uh, that's exactly what you can do in SF4.

 

Not after the focus attack connects. you have to Cancel the attacking motion.

Example. Jumping HK,Standing HP,FA,Dash, whateva combo you can make after it. Not Jumping HK,Standing HP,FA Cancel,Dash, ETC.