Over the years, Capcom has released many different versions of its now classic fighting series, Street Fighter. Aside from a mediocre attempt to break into three dimensions in Street Fighter EX, most entries in the franchise since have been remixes and upgrades of the original with new characters and gameplay mechanics scattered throughout. In Street Fighter IV, things are a little different. With a fresh build of a trusted formula, a robust cast, and online multiplayer that is both accessible and fun, the game retains a lot of the familiarity of the series but throws in a few curve balls to keep things interesting. It may not be a revolutionary step forward, but SFIV certainly is the best entry in the series thus far.

Like most brawlers, there is just enough story involved to get you into the fighting. The plot is developed through anime sequences at the beginning and end of the single player arcade mode. Each fighter has his or her own reasons for entering the tournament, and in the end, all things come to involve the S.I.N. organization and BLECE project. Through the use of advanced technology, the people at S.I.N. have created an ultimate fighter who can assimilate the styles of any opponent he faces, and presumably, use these talents to take over the world. As such, there's a lot that rests on this simple martial arts tournament. The animated scenes vary in quality from relatively solid to downright terrible. In this regard, Blanka and E. Honda's tales are the true gems, but let's face it; you probably aren't playing Street Fighter IV because it fulfills your literary needs.

Fireballs have never looked this good before.

The gameplay modes offered are relatively standard for the genre, but are all well done. The classic arcade mode is the place to go for most of your single player bouts. It is also the central hub for unlocking the many of the hidden characters in the game. There is also a fairly deep training mode in which you can alter a substantial number of settings, and even record a combo for the AI to perform against you. This is especially useful if you find yourself always being defeated by the same types of moves.

Arcade and training options are supplemented nicely by an additional challenge mode. Simple adaptations of time trial and survival modes make up two thirds of the challenge, and a trial event makes up the third. While the challenge mode is a solid offering, the trials themselves are a bit shaky. They consist of sequences where specific button combinations are required for progression. On paper, this sounds like a great idea, but in practice, it doesn't quite work that way. Instead, the sensitivity of the controls and timing demanded to pull off some of the advanced combos turns this into a chore that is clearly geared toward the experienced player.

As for the classic one-on-one fighting, each bout is based around the tried and true six-button system made most famous in Street Fighter II. With more complex control schemes, it often takes a long, extremely elaborate array of movements to initiate combinations. SFIV stands apart in this as most special moves involve relatively simple movements of the joystick, and even the most complex maneuvers can be accomplished with a bit of practice. Even super and ultra combos can be unleashed by beginners. Super moves are made available by filling the EX meter at the bottom of this screen. This gauge is quickly filled by performing well in a match, and the energy here carries over from round to round. The ultra meter, on the other hand, is a simple revenge tool that starts empty at the beginning of each fight and increases as you take damage. Once a round ends, so does your ultra meter. Once either of these meters have reached a certain point, you can unleash a powerful attack that will significantly punish your foe should they not block it. You can also use the EX gauge to enhance regular special moves by pressing two punch or kick buttons instead of the usual one.

Another new combat feature is the focus attack. At its root, it's a charge attack that can absorb one hit, and then dish out a knockdown blow to your opponent. With enough practice, you can use focus attacks to cancel moves, set up combos, and more. When you combine this with the robust fighting mechanics, there's a lot depth to the fighting. Be warned, though, that this relatively simple control scheme does not, by any means, make the game easy to play. While only a few minutes of practice will allow just about anybody to perform special moves, it will take many hours of playtime before those new to the series will be able to compete at an advanced level.

Speaking of which, much of one's time with Street Fighter IV will be spent with the multiplayer. Playing locally is made easy, as opponents can jump in during almost any game type. While this is nice feature, the core of multiplayer comes into focus when you play online. Fortunately, matchmaking is executed without a hitch. Both a stat tracking and battle points system (which keeps track of your successes) serve to make it simple for anybody to find an even match-up. Sadly, there is no online tournament mode, a flaw that is not easy to overlook, since the mode was included in other recent editions of the Street Fighter series. As for lag, there are occasions when it will crop up if both connections are poor, but for the most part, things flow smoothly.

Spectacular special effects make Street Fighter IV a stunning show for the eyes.

Through a fantastic interweaving of 2D and 3D, Capcom's artists have created character models and levels that are absolutely spectacular. The stylistic choice to use cartoon-like figures works excellently as it allows characters to show a wide array of facial expressions. When a fighter takes especially hard hits, eyes will bulge, mouths will grimace, and the overall affect of pain is clearly communicated. Super and Ultra attacks are veritable light shows, and focus strikes are accompanied by subtle changes in the thickness of borders around characters. Ink splatters are heavily employed throughout the combat, and provide a nice substitute to gore. As if this was not enough, the animation is flawless. The combatants practically dance from move to move while the backgrounds will immerse you into the fight. All of this and there is never a hitch in the frame rate. Audio, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. The theme song is well done (if not a little cheesy), and pre-match banter adds atmosphere to the fights. Eventually though, the repetition of the music and announcer's phrases will wear on you. This is not a bad-sounding game by any means, but the lack of audio variety can be a bit of a disappointment.

When all is said and done, Street Fighter IV establishes itself as an excellent example of what a high-quality 2D fighter is capable of. With a wide array of gameplay modes, solid online multiplayer, superb production values, and a balanced character roster, the game excels in every area that a brawler should. On the other hand, there's not much here that pushes the genre forward, and while the fighting may appear newbie-friendly, there's a significant time investment required to fully grasp the mechanics involved. If you're familiar with the series, you'll find a lot to like in Street Fighter IV. If you aren't, there's still fun to be had if you're willing to dedicate some time.