Super Street Fighter 4 may not be a complete overhaul but it does come packed with fresh new content that’s likely to have fans drooling on their arcade gamepads. We take a look at what’s new, what’s different and what’s missing in our Super Street Fighter 4 review right here.
Read the rest of our Super Street Fighter 4 review:
Super Street Fighter 4 review: A Capcom classic?
Super Street Fighter 4 review: New challengers
Super Street Fighter 4 review: Online battles
In the twelve or so months since the original Street Fighter 4 hit shop shelves countless players around the globe have dragon-punched and sonic-boomed their way through hours of competitive matches against friends, family and online acquaintances. So what’s different in Super Street Fighter 4, other than a few syllables slapped on the title?
The answer, you’ll be pleased to hear, is lots. The augmented collection of fighters in Super Street Fighter 4 makes a massive difference the way the game plays: by injecting such a massive amount of new talent Capcom has expanded the appeal of the game almost immeasurably. With new challengers thrown into the mix, there are now 35 cast members to get to grips with, each one with their own unique combat style.
Thankfully Capcom hasn’t entirely focused its attention on the newcomers. The existing roster of 19 combatants has also received something of a face-lift. Capcom has tinkered around here and there to rebalance the old guard, ensuring that those fighters who were overpowered (or underpowered) are now on a more level standing with their rivals.
Every fighter has been awarded more combat options with the introduction of two Ultra Combo specials in Super Street Fighter 4, as opposed to the single one they possessed in Street Fighter 4. However, you can only select one Ultra Combo per session, so while there’s more customisation available, you still need to keep your strategy tight.
Veteran Capcom fans will love the return of the bonus stages, which hark back to the classic versions seen in Street Fighter 2. One sees you smashing up an expensive car in the quickest time possible while the other is a painstaking test of timing and accuracy as you attempt to break falling barrels.
What’s more, Super Street Fighter 4 has a handful of new fighting locations to brawl in. It’s now possible to crack skulls in the African savannah and dice with death atop a skyscraper construction site in Metro City, complete with a rather worried foreman who bares more than a passing resemblance to Nintendo’s Mario.
If you were one of the many Street Fighter 4 players that grumbled incessantly about the limitations of the game’s online modes then you’ll be pleased to learn that Capcom has revitalized this aspect of Super Street Fighter 4.
You’ve got more multiplayer choices in Super Street Fighter 4 than ever before, including a brilliant Endless Battle mode which gets as close to the original arcade feeling as is possible without allowing lots of beer-swilling, sweaty bikers into your living room. The ability to chat with rival players, be it trash-talk or friendly banter, adds an incredible dimension to proceedings, too.
For all of Super Street Fighter 4’s new features, some things have been removed but they’re pretty irrelevant so you’re unlikely to miss them. The Time Attack and Survival Modes have been cut from the training portion of the game, and the much-loved Tournament Mode is missing from the online component, although Capcom has confirmed that a new and improved version will be made available for free download later in the year.
Super Street Fighter 4 was never intended as a fully-fledged sequel and while sceptics will be quick to point out that much appears to be the same as it was in the original game, true fans will know the moment they scoop up the joypad that Capcom has put an impressive amount of effort into refining its flagship fighting game. Whether you bought the original or not, Super Street Fighter 4 represents one of the most addictive and rewarding multiplayer titles yet released on the Xbox 360 or PS3.
Read the rest of our Super Street Fighter 4 review:
Super Street Fighter 4 review: A Capcom classic?
Super Street Fighter 4 review: New challengers
Super Street Fighter 4 review: Online battles
