Street Fighter IV: The Pain

I recently picked up, Street Fighter IV, a horribly fun fighting game that takes hours of practice and skill to master. I bought the regular version for this game on my PS3 just last weekend using my overdue Christmas money, but it was worth it. Although I wanted to post a short story this week and another article on dream jobs, they will have to wait. Today we fall into the world of video games, yes!

Basic Overview

Street Fighter IV has occupied me between the little time I have left during my college days. I usually just go vampire style and play through this game all night. I skip sleep to play! It brings back memories of my high school MMORPG days. I guess it feels nostalgic to be playing an old school type game you can never beat or master.

This is what SF4 is exactly like. A classic 2D fighting game from the Street Fighter series with a 3D coating and new additions to the game genre. I am not going to review the whole game since there are plenty of websites for that. Instead I am going to pick at the things I found stood out in SF4.

The Good

The thing I really love about this new edition is how beautiful everything looks as you beat the living shit out of another player. The control scheme is fairly simple and adjustable, but the best part is finding a character who is suited for you instead of working out impossible to handle characters. With 19 unique and well polished fighters, there is plenty to choose from.

The Bad

You never really beat this game. After all the trophies, unlockable characters, and challenges are completed there is still the online ranking system. Playing people online can turn into an eternal Fuck fest of who is the best. The way the online ranking system works for the hardcore players goes by how well you win. The better you do and the more BP (Battle Points) you earn. If you suck prepare to be at 0 BP like me for a while. It is an infinite process. Best to not be worried about the 5000 BP players and just enjoy a good match or two.

My Goal

(To be a God)

I always give myself game goals before I consider the game complete and I want to do two things before I call it a day.

Goal 1

Get the final two characters Gouken and Seth (Hard but not impossible)

Guide: Kotaku or Easy way: Joystiq

Goal 2

Master C. Viper (My favorite character so far)

Basic Guide: Mahalo

Now by master I do not mean Pokemon Champion, Geek Award of the year, or anything special like that. I really just want to handle myself vs. intermediate to advanced players online and offline. Right now I struggle at the Arcades, online, and vs. the computer on hard. The game is a challenge. These goals are well within any mortal man’s grasp.

Final Thoughts

I think this is the best 3D fighter out right now (Ever made is an overrated term). Quite hard game, but if it was easy it would not be as fun. With my current character C. Viper I am doing pretty good. Well not really. I lose real quick to tweakers or anyone really. Do I suck that bad? Yes, but it could also be the style of C. Viper who is more geared towards advanced players and takes high damage, but gives a high damage output. A challenge for a challenge. Althoug the game is full of challenges like mastering a character and this is my first time really playing a Street Fighter game for more than 5 minutes. It takes time to appreciate beauty and talent. To avoid early frustration here is a list of the types of players Street Fighter tends to attract or turn people into and you will be one of these, trust me.

1. Button Smashers – Annoying beginners who just dick around or smash the same combo all day long. Cute the first time, but gets ridiculous. I do not get frustrated anymore (My voice caved in). I just stand there and taunt them till I die. I prefer to give them there victory over the torture of me trying to beat someone who is not worth the challenge yet. Unless of course I can kill them with ease (Still trying).

2. Tweakers – This is the stage I am at (Trying at least). People who are taking the game serious and actually attempting multiple combos and maneuvers to form a strategy. These players are slowly getting the hang of playing and add new flavor to the characters some people deem impossible to play. Sometimes you do combos midair or block a move with an ultra or something even greater. Just do it again on purpose and you’re a Pro.

3. Veterans – People who just master the game quickly. You can and should call them Asians or Asians at heart. These players will never give you a chance to make a mistake or even breathe. Sometimes they even play with you. You have to be really good or else you will die ridiculously fast. For fun I faced a Vet (I think it was a random encounter), the gamer got 2 perfect wins off me and I even heard a, wowzers, over his mic. I felt like shit and called it day. Hence why I am here writing this.

Tips/Tricks

Do not just dive into the game. My first mistake was trying the first character who looked cool and jumping all over the place. Probably a bad idea. Here is a list of tips I wish I knew from the beginning:

1. Beat Arcade mode on easiest first. Helps you get familiar with everything.
2. Play Challenge modes with a handful of characters that interest you.
3. Beat Arcade mode with a few characters on medium that you excel with. Next hardest.
4. Play the computer in vs. mode from medium to hardest.
5. Go back to challenge mode and practice with 1-3 characters. Get better.
6. Try online, but avoid the ranking BP system for the first few times. Unless you like torture.
7. Never freak out during a fight. Calm down and try different techniques if one fails. Block!
8. Practice, practice, practice. Always check online for tips and hit the arcades (For a real challenge).
9. Finally if you are ever stuck or forget how to use a character go to the practice mode.

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So yea with all that said, go try the game, at least for a couple of quarters at your local arcade (Movie theatres, school, pizza place, that Asian place).

I would invite you over to my place, but I might take advantage of you for my sexual pleasures. Although honestly, I am a sore loser, if you beat me by button smashing your way through the first time I would... Rape and then Murder you. I would at least throw the controller into your brain.

- Peace and happy gaming.