nad_masters's Full Review: Street Fighter IV (PC) for Windows
Maybe a bit late to the game, but Street Fighter IV is now on the PC! XBOX 360 and PS3 owners already have been enjoying this 3D brawler for a while now, so why a PC version?
Well, first of all, the PC version was already planned and announced when SF4 was being marketed. It's just that the release date for the PC version was months after the console versions.
The PC version also gives people with hefty hardware to play SF4 with better graphics settings, as well as different styles. It is a Windows Live game, and therefore works with the XBOX 360 controllers, including the special joysticks and joypads from MadCatz. Oh, and if you created your own joystick or bought a custom one from Aracde-in-a-Box or elsewhere, they will work as well!
If you own the XBOX version, you'll actually be happy to see SF4 using Windows Live as their online play service. It works very much like the XBOX version!
Graphics Thankfully, the graphics remains spectacular on the PC version! The days where the PC version is usually toned down or altered is no longer the case. As long as your hardware is up to the task, the graphics look exactly the same as the console versions! The animates are just as fluid and slick, and the default art style won't make you think it's a port at all!
I want to say that it seems slightly sharper, but I realize there isn't any technical reason why - both the console and PC versions play at 1080p at 60hz. The PC lets you set the frames as well, and play with more technical settings, including details and resolutions. However, played at the full 1080p, the graphics is awesome! Perhaps on a PC, a smaller monitor compared to a 50" HDTV with the same resolution will give that impression of a sharper image.
I was able to play on a nVidia GeForce 8500GT card, but just barely. There is noticable lag from the controller's input no matter how smooth the animation is (even though it still says 60 fps). This is with all graphics settings toned down, which makes the game look like a cel-shaded anime-based game. The game itself is highly scalable.
Art-style wise, the distinct water paint style looks the same as the console version, but the PC version gives you more choices in the art style as well! Aside from the standard setting, you can also choose Watercolor, Poster, and Sumi-E ink. It's hard to describe what each of them look like since there are lots of variations, but while playing around with them, some make the outline thicker, while another makes the color pop more. Yet another gives it more smudges, which make the graphics more like the trailer videos.
They all have a distinct look, and very cool! They don't affect actual gameplay or physics, so it's all cosmetics. However, being visual animals, the distinct differences may make you feel like it's a different game depending on the one you choose.
Sound The sound hasn't changed either! And if you have a multi-channel setup, it the use of the surround speakers are the same as the console version. Basically all sounds come from the front, and the rear speakers are only used in the character or menu areas for ambience music. This makes sense, I guess, since this is a 2D fighting game.
Still, every punch and thud sound meaty, and just as good as the console version!
Of course, just like the console version, you get to choose different vocal languages for all or individual characters. I rather keep everyone speaking Japanese as it sound more authentic. Yes, Zangief and Guile speaking Japanese sound more natrual because he's been doing it since Street Fighter II! Plus, I find the English voice tracks more annoying as they seem to talk more (especially Sakura!).
Controls How can one evaluate controllers for the PC version? You can play with the keyboard, joystick, and joypads from different makes and models! That's the amazing thing about PC gaming!
The easiest way is just use the controllers that were made for the XBOX 360! Of course, I hated using the original Microsoft XBOX controllers, but the MadCatz SF4 joysticks and joypads work on the PC version, too! If you have a custom joystick, you can use that, too! A bit of fiddling to set up the buttons to the right punches and kicks may be required though if you go that route.
While it works pretty good with the keyboard, you'll find that moves that require all three punches and kicks may not work out very well. Most keyboards aren't made to recognize that many simultaneous key presses. Not only that, but it feels kinda weird. The default key mapping is just not usable at all. I've mapped the traditional first person shooter directional keys (W, A, S, and D) for the direction part of the controls (joystick replacement), while I use whatever letters that give me the traditional 6-button layout on an arcade.
You won't be competitive online with a keyboard, but it's doable when playing in arcade or story mode. Characters I've always hated SF3 for getting rid of most of the classic characters. It just didn't have the SF feel. Thankfully, SF4 feels more like a part of the SF series since it focuses more on the classic characters, while new characters are added sparingly as in Super Street Fighter II.
There are many classic characters that still need to be unlocked, while the new characters are already selectable by default. You unlock characters by beating the game with a specific character, while others (such as Gouken, Akuma, and Seth - the boss) require special conditions.
Here's SF4's character roster.
Classic Characters: Ryu Ken Chun-Li E. Honda Blanka Zangief Guile Dhalsim Balrog (M. Bison in Japan) Vega (Balrog in Japan) Sagat M. Bison (Vega in Japan)
New Characters Abel Crimson Viper Rufus
Unlockable Characters Fei Long (unlocks with Abel) Sakura (unlocks with Ryu) Rose (unlocks with Bison) Dan (Unlocks with Sakura) Gen (unlocks with Chun Li) Cammy (Unlocks with C. Viper) Akuma (Unlock everyone except Gouken, fight him on arcade mode - need 2 perfects, defeat Seth with no continues, then fight Akuma). Gouken (Unlock everyone, fight him on acrade mode - need 2 perfecs and 3 Ultra finishes). Seth (Finish game with every character)
Online Surprisingly, there are a lot of people on the PC version, so it's not very hard to find others to play with! I'm surprised because I thought the majority of the SF4 players would be on the XBOX, while the PS3 would be 2nd on the list. It almost seems the PC version is close to, if not better than the XBOX version!
First of all, it seems easier to connect to players. Less chance of disconnects it seems. Lag, while still an issue, is less of a problem on the PC version. I'm not sure why, though, since it's the same ISP and network I play the XBOX on.
Either way, matching with different players seem to be easier and faster. In fact, if you play Arcade mode with the online challanges turned on, you'll barely be able to finish your game, since you'll get constant challenges from online players!
I still like the lobby-like online play on SFII Hyper Fighting HD-Remix and Marvel vs Capcom 2 (both on XBOX Live) much better than the 1 on 1 only in SF4. However, this isn't a PC version specific, as the consoles also have this kind of match system.
The Upshot If you haven't bought the console versions yet, give the PC version a try! I find that it's usually cheaper than the console versions by $20 at most places. In fact, if you buy from online distrubutors such as Steam or Impulse, you may be lucky and get it for $20 on special sales! That's how I got mine!
I am happy to say that the PC version is not a hacked up version, and in fact, Capcom did a great job making the arcade, PS3, XBOX 360, and PC version feel, play, sound, and look identical to each other! Kudos, Capcom!
SynopsisReturn to the adrenaline-fueled world of the street and show off your moves in Street Fighter IV. This latest installment in the storied fight...More at Best Buy ®
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