Street Fighter IV

Street Fighter IV combines old and new in powerful ways, resulting in a game familiar enough to bring retired fans back into the fold while being different enough to appeal to the players who have stuck with the genre since day one.

66%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

music, optimization

81% User Score Based on 597 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

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About

Street Fighter IV is a classic fighting game that features a variety of characters, each with their own unique moves and fighting styles. The game utilizes a six-button control scheme and introduces new features such as Focus Attacks and Ultra Combos. With improved visuals and fast-paced gameplay, Street Fighter IV offers a challenging and exciting experience for both new and returning players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 611 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

optimization1 negative mentions

Street Fighter IV features classic gameplay with modern mechanics, making it enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers.
The game has stunning visuals and smooth animations, providing a captivating experience for players.
It offers a diverse roster of characters, each with unique moves and styles, ensuring a variety of playstyles.

The game is tied to the now-defunct Games for Windows Live, rendering it unplayable for many users.
Players have reported significant issues with launching the game, often resulting in crashes or failure to start.
Capcom's addition of DRM and lack of support for older titles has frustrated many fans, leading to a loss of trust in the publisher.

gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The gameplay of Street Fighter IV is widely praised for its blend of classic mechanics and modern innovations, offering smooth controls, stunning graphics, and engaging fight mechanics like the focus attack that enhance strategic depth. While many players find the gameplay enjoyable and fun, some criticize the controls and overall experience, suggesting that the game may not be worth the investment due to technical issues. Overall, it stands out as a strong entry in the franchise, appealing to both veterans and newcomers alike.
- “Amazing street fighter game! If you played the classics, you will probably love this one. Classic street fighter gameplay with stunning cel-shaded graphics, the game runs smooth and very stable. You can enable multiplayer invites so other people can join against you anytime when you are playing.”
- “Street Fighter IV successfully integrates traditional gameplay with innovative features like the focus attack, which adds depth to combat and encourages strategic thinking. This mechanic allows players to absorb an opponent's attack and counterattack, offering new layers of strategy that enhance the fighting experience.”
- “Amazing single player with an even better online multiplayer combined with superb graphics and gameplay makes it a top must-have game on your list.”
- “Whist I recommend the gameplay itself, I do not recommend buying this title, as it's broken.”
- “The controls are not that great and even the gameplay and difficulty need to be set on very easy just to enjoy the game.”
- “This version is a pretty big waste of your money and won't reward you with many hours of gameplay, in my opinion.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
31%
7%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its stunning cel-shaded visuals and beautiful artwork, often highlighting it as one of the best in the genre. The game runs smoothly and maintains a stable performance, effectively blending classic gameplay with modern aesthetics. Overall, the graphics are described as superb, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and competitive nature.
- “Amazing street fighter game, if you played the classics, you probably will love this one, classic street fighter gameplay with stunning cel-shaded graphics. The game runs smooth and very stable.”
- “Besides the great graphics (10/10), you'll be beating yourself with a dragon uppercut after an hour of trying to play this.”
- “If you think this is going to be Street Fighter II (any version) with better graphics and more characters to choose... you are wrong.”
- “One of the most striking aspects of Street Fighter IV is its art style.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its anime-styled antics, particularly during fights where characters teleport and laugh, creating a lighthearted atmosphere. Players appreciate the comedic elements that have led to the creation of amusing memes among friends, despite some similarities to previous titles in the series. Overall, the humor adds a fun and engaging layer to the gameplay experience.
- “It just reads your inputs for the second part of the fight as it teleports around laughing.”
- “The birth of many hilarious memelets within a few people I know.”
- “- anime styled humor?”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's story is praised for its engaging narrative, set immediately after the events of Street Fighter II, offering a fresh perspective compared to the storylines of Super Street Fighter IV and later titles. Players find it to be a fun and enjoyable experience.
- “Interestingly, the story takes place right after Street Fighter II ended.”
- “Still a good fun game, with a different storyline than Super Street Fighter IV onwards.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some praise it as part of the overall great design, others criticize it for being overly whimsical or "fruity."
- “Kudos to Capcom for great gameplay, character design, music, and backgrounds.”
- “Why did they have to make the music all fruity and weird?”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has been criticized for significantly hindering performance, with users reporting a reduction of 10-15 fps and noticeable stutters. Additionally, it restricts modding and the use of cheat engines, further limiting player customization and experience.
- “Prevents modding, cheat engine, and reduces performance by up to 10-15 fps with stutters.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express significant frustration with the game's stability, citing the need for extensive troubleshooting before they can even start playing. Many feel that a game that should be quick to launch instead requires an unreasonable amount of effort to get running.
- “Thank you for reading my review. I'm not an angry person; I'm frustrated because of all the advanced troubleshooting I've had to do for a game that should take about 20 minutes to get going.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight Capcom's strong character design, noting that the characters are well-crafted and visually appealing, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, there is little mention of in-depth character development or narrative growth, suggesting that while the characters are visually impressive, their personal arcs may not be as fully realized.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently highlight the game's surprisingly high replayability, indicating that it offers engaging content that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Surprisingly high replayability.”
- “Surprisingly high replayability.”