Entertainment

Games: Street Fighter makes a return to classic, arcade-era brawling

Street Fighter V (PS4) by Capcom
Street Fighter V (PS4) by Capcom Street Fighter V (PS4) by Capcom

Street Fighter V (PS4)

By: Capcom

WHEN Street Fighter II hit the arcades over 25 years ago, it sucked the coins from the greatest generation. And while we've come a long way since the heady days of Way of the Exploding Fist, Yie Ar Kung Fu and IK+, in gameplay terms, the one-on-one fighter hasn't really changed at all.

A quarter of a century's worth of sequilitis and a god-awful movie starring acting sensation Kylie Minogue may have sullied the good name of Capcom's seminal brawler, but fifth time in the ring marks a return to classic, arcade-era brawling.

Its complex dance of special moves may requires a digital ballet to outwit your opponent, but at its heart, Street Fighter V still involves gleefully thumping someone in the face with Japanese martial arts masters, violent rubber Ghandis, Russian wrestlers and whatever the hell Blanka was.

While the formula has been honed over the years, Street Fighter V represents one of the biggest steps the series has taken, with a back-to-basic routine inviting series Diaspora to whet their thumbs once again.

A compact roster of 16 characters mixes series stalwarts with four newbies, and with plenty more waiting in the digital pipelines. Newcomers Rashid, Laura, Fang and Necalli rub muscular shoulders with classic punch-mongers, and while Dhalsim’s since grown a beard (surely an occupational hazard when spitting yoga fire?), British thug Birdie has ate all the pies and Chun-Li's marvelous boobs seemingly never still themselves, fans will be wrapped in a snug comfort blanket of fistcuffery.

Despite a severe lack of modes for soloists (the classic arcade mode has been axed in favour of an overly simple and short Story Mode), fans should prime their arcade sticks for a wealth of online tournaments, including April's Pro Tour.

A new V-Trigger system lets players unleash even more combo options, including bigger Hadoukens and fiery Shoryukens, though the basics have been simplified to open proceedings up to newcomers, who will have their retinas prised open with anime-styled visuals.

Street Fighter II taught a generation that beating a woman in public would attract largely appreciative crowds of chicken stranglers, and gamers who remember kicking a car to bits while getting a glimpse of Chun-Li's knickers will be right at home as Street Fighter V's sleek design, incredible roster of fighters and gameplay revamp drags Ryu and co into the next generation.

Despite a focus on online play and a business model that gradually rolls out the goodies through DLC, SFV represents the pinnacle of polygonal pummelling that's sure to attract lapsed fans from the SNES days. After all, there's nothing wrong with some good old-fashioned button bashing.