All previous characters have been revised and cleaned up in a multitude of ways. The fighting system feels just as tight and responsive as ever, now made even better with important new additions and revisions. More importantly however, it substantially improves upon the core gameplay in so many ways. Visually and musically, Ultra Street Fighter IV gives a rather old game that new game smell. The rich soundtrack expands even further with new tracks and remixes. Street Fighter IV was a beautiful looking game when it was first released and it still holds up just as well. On top of these new characters the upgrade adds just as many new lavishly vibrant stages, featuring colorful backdrops that are crammed with cool cameo appearances. Make no mistake, Decapre’s debut is a memorable one. Her second Ultra special can be executed in two different ways (each with a different command input) which technically means she has three Ultras. Her moveset is unusual and doesn’t really click immediately, but that’s her strength too as she’s a nuance heavy fighter who is simply rewarding to use and learn. Decapre is certainly among the more challenging characters in the roster, definitely one for the advanced players. Shame on those who mocked Decapre for she brings a style so unique and interesting, bearing only cursory resemblance to Cammy. Mechanically designing a brand new character, and incorporating that into the grand design of a meticulously assembled fighting game, is a work of art. I recall the collective moan from gamers when she was first revealed, complaining that she looked like a lazy Cammy reskin, with PC modders proudly boasting their custom made Decapre mods for Cammy. Her (or his… depending on which version of the character’s history you follow) style just clicks with ease and you can do a lot of cool things. Personally, I found Poison the most fun to use. Poison– a character that has confused and allured many a gamer– makes a damn fine addition with a fighting style that feels familiar and yet so very new. ![]() Hugo gives Zangief a run for his money with his colossal size, his unparalleled strength compensating for his lack of speed and mobility. Elena brings in her distinct capoeira style into the fray with one of her Ultra specials being a healing spell, an interesting rarity in fighting games. Rolento was simply made for the blistering fast and precise gameplay of the Street Fighter Alpha series, and yet he feels right at home in Ultra Street Fighter IV with his unique mobility fully intact. These characters really freshen up a game that many are still struggling to put down for the last five years.Įven if you’ve already experienced playing these characters in Street Fighter X Tekken, they no doubt have a profound sense of newness in Ultra Street Fighter IV. Joining these returning characters is a brand new face: Decapre. They’ve cleaned up and retooled these four characters to fit comfortably within the excellent design and balance of Street Fighter IV. While some may moan and accuse Capcom of recycling assets, it’s anything but. Therefore, having these characters in a far superior fighting game is a blessing. Granted, four of these characters– namely Poison, Rolento, Hugo, and Elena– are based on their renditions in Street Fighter X Tekken, but that game wasn’t very good. Ultra Street Fighter IV adds five new fighters and brings the impressive roster to a whopping 44 combatants. To put things into perspective, there is a full three year gap between Ultra Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, and it is priced very generously. In doing so, it allowed the game to remain genuinely fresh and relevant in an industry that has been moving at an increasingly rapid pace. The way I see it, the company actually supported the hell out of the game with huge updates that were timed and priced appropriately. To say they cashed in on Street Fighter IV over the years with Super, Arcade Edition, and now Ultra is not entirely true. Is this an example of Capcom milking a successful game for all its worth till the very end? Well that’s one negative nancy way of looking at it. Even as we usher into the next generation of gaming, the company gives the old dog one last run in the spotlight with Ultra Street Fighter IV. They revitalized mainstream interest in fighting games with Street Fighter IV, its popularity and impact almost comparable to what Street Fighter II accomplished back in the day. ![]() Even though it seemed that things were done and dusted with Street Fighter IV, Capcom eventually announced Ultra Street Fighter IV. Capcom arguably started this trend way back when and has become almost notorious for it. ![]() If you really think about the context of fighting games, new editions of an existing game are a blessing when done right. Let’s get one thing out of way: expanded/enhanced editions of a fighting game is a necessary evil.
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