Posts Tagged ‘Street Fighter’

Top title game releases are becoming a year round event. Gone are the days when a gamer could binge at Christmas and fast through the winter, surviving on the fat of Santa’s spoils. But while the release calendar has changed my buying habits have not, and that maybe about to become a problem.

It was no secret that the traditional lull really wasn’t coming in January this year. Initially my supposition was that the large number of delayed games had simply shifted the off-season to around March. With this in mind I kept buying games. I bought Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2 and MAG to name but a few. I ground my way through all of these, leaving aside titles from Christmas that I planned to return to later when the slump finally arrived. But my belief that the flood of releases would slow was wrong, because as March came and went, and the games kept coming.

I don't want to sound like I am complaining, this is not a bad problem to have.

Now I find myself sat with a pile of fantastic games that I am still itching to finish. They sit on my metaphorical coffee table, begging for attention. Yet even with this heap of games I have discovered that I continue to check new releases, unwilling to miss out on the next significant title.

Late in March it became apparent that it was getting beyond a joke. With games to review, articles to write and a life to lead, it had to stop. I had more than enough unfinished and unplayed titles to keep me going until sometime in October. Even big releases like God Of War 3 I knew I would not have time for; I could easily save myself effort and expense of buying it. I realized that once the buzz died and the price dropped I could come back to it, if I was still interested, but right now I don’t need it in my life. So I made a simple vow; no more new games until I finish the games I already own.

Kratos is just going to have to wait his turn.

Even as I made this promise I add clauses. I reasoned that games applicable to my ‘Scared Gamer’ page on Game People, would have to be bought for coverage. Plus any title that may be hard to find at a later date would have to be snapped up. Sensible provisos I could argue, but the more astute reader can no doubt see them as pre-made excuses for my purchases of Metro 2033 and Deadly Premonition. Yet even with these loopholes I have already broken my promise.

In many respects my actions were almost innate, see wanted game, I buy it. As an adult there is always enough money in my wallet for any game I want (which is different statement from actually having enough money). By simply having the economic means, the chance of me weakening to an impulse purchase rise exponentially. I was coping though; since I made the oath no new games had entered my house. Technically in fact I still have not gone back on my vow, but in my heart I know the preorder for Super Street Fighter 4 sat in my wallet is not sanctioned.

To make matters worse its the collectors edition.

My problem was that Street Fighter is something very special to me. In my youth this was a series that saw me saving for months to enable me to buy it day of release. A franchise that saw me hauling my tubby thirteen-year-old ass through Birmingham (at speeds it had rarely seen) go to Game, just to grab the latest instalment.

I could make a good many justifications to myself (some may even be convincing) to explain breaking my oath for the latest Street Fighter. Deep down I know however that, like so many others, this games will sit unwrapped for some time. My life has changed, I can no longer sit and play for hours on a Saturday with friends, and online play simply does not scratch the same itch. My time for this kind of gaming has passed, so while I can hope to one day relive it, the fact is I will be lucky to ever recapture this part of my youth even for a day.

On the plus side the bonus rounds are back.

Super Street Fighter 4 was simply the game that highlighted this problem that I, and I am sure many other committed gamers have, habitually buying games. Now as an adult I struggle to break the habit of buying games when I can, a pattern established during a time in my life when I could finish every game I could afford. As much as I try to rationalise it and excuse my purchases (‘its for review’ or ‘I have to keep up with the discussion’), I have to accept that I am now an adult with limited time. I am sure that I am not alone in having to take a long hard look at my hobby, its costs and my consumption of it, before conceding that many of my purchases are at best frivolous, and at worst wasteful, especially as the industry now appears set to feed my addiction all year round.

There is a blight, that dogs both I and Darren. We can take it no longer, this offence to auditory senses. But what is this festering pox covered beast which haunts our iPhones? Left 4 Dead stories. Yes, this show we talk about gaming podcasts. What we like, what we don’t like and why we are happy to pander to your every desire to keep you listening to us.

Talking of keeping people listening this week also sees the announcement of the Street Fighter art book winner, as well as the usual news, game discussion and music. Comments, reviews and good vibes welcome at the usual places.

The DoFuss Show - We Don’t Care About Your Left 4 Dead Stories! [ 1:14:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is a quick update. Last week I posted my impressions on the home port of Street Fighter 4. In short I loved it. A further week of play has unearthed a few more facts that I feel are worth mentioning, especially as some of my discoveries apply to a few of my previous points.

Okay, just wanted to get that off my chest. I’ll get back to playing.

I don’t usually mention my choice of platform, but I suspect on this occasion it will make a few differences. I sided with the PS3 version because my play time overlaps with more online friends on PSN, and in Japan I suspect there will be more online players. The PS3’s d-pad also is far superior to the 360’s, not that this is a huge factor for me I have a cheap Hori stick. While I prefer the stick I have tried the controller and find it more than satisfactory, so guest won’t be at too much of a disadvantage. The other difference (and I have no evidence for this it is just a suspicion) is that the 360 version would suffer less from the load times I am experiencing in the PS3 version. Having been spoilt by my time in Japanese arcades the ten second loads between matches is excruciatingly frustrating.

For the most part the game mechanic is unchanged from the arcade version. The extra characters and backgrounds are welcome, though I am not sold on some of the choices. Personally I would have preferred to see some SF3 characters making and appearance to bolster the roster over those from Alpha/Zero. Rose never appealed to me and Seth’s existence still seems like a huge mistake.

That said Seth’s presence as a playable character is not an issue for me, as it seems unlikely that I will ever get around to unlocking him. Yes, the games new characters have to be unlocked. They are obtainable only through the single player, some with conditions to their acquisition. It’s an outdated mechanic and an annoyance for those who only want to play online but are forced into the solo game for several hours.

Capcom didn’t only spend their time on character and backgrounds. People who played in the arcade will also notice that the characters are more balanced than in early versions of the arcade build. Sagat is no longer as god like as he was six months ago. Indeed every character I have unlocked and played with possesses enough moves in their arsenal to hold their own making online games feel fair. And by ‘fair’ I mean you can’t blame the game for the fact you suck.

Strangely though it is not what is added to the arcade game but what is carried over which is exciting. The arcade mode has the option to turn on ‘drop-in’ matches. This enables you to play the single player game while allowing other players to challenge you at any point. This is similar to being in a Japanese arcade in that you never see your opponent and there is a strong possibility you’ll get your arse kicked. It is an amazing addition to the game. It removes the need for a lobby if want to quickly get into a game.

Though this option is fantastic the online isn’t perfect. One possible problem for some people (and I could be wrong about this I can’t translate all the menus) will be that you don’t seem to be able to filter players in the arcade game mode. Fine for some but lacking the option is an oversight in the current online gaming environment where people want the ability to control their experience. It is also lacking tournament options and lobby features present in HD Remix’s online play. While there is a tournament patch in the works, for some this is seems to be something of a false start.

It is impossible for me to separate SF4 from my nostalgia for the series. For me the Street Fighter games remain among my favorite and this is one of its most polished iterations with a beautiful art style. It feels like Street Fighter. Players of the previous titles will find many of their skills will carry over but the addition focus attacks and two special bars add a new layer of complexity to the classic game-play. Personally I whole heartedly recommended it but I do admit I will be interesting to see if new comers to this classic gameplay find it as satisfying.