P.Reviews: Street Fighter IV and Tekkoshocon VII
Street Fighter IV
Developer: Capcom USA
Publisher: Capcom
System: Xbox 360 (untouched), Playstation 3 (reviewed), PC (soon), Arcade (untouched)
Rated T for Teen, includes Alcohol Reference, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Violence
Publisher: Capcom
System: Xbox 360 (untouched), Playstation 3 (reviewed), PC (soon), Arcade (untouched)
Rated T for Teen, includes Alcohol Reference, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Violence
For more information regarding the ESRB, visit www.esrb.org
"Straight Uppercut The Mounds That Brought You That Love Again."
To start this double post off with a bang, let's get to the video game that is arguably causing a bit stir in the USA right now: Street Fighter IV. Rather than be an awesome game in its own right, instead it's making people believe in the return of the arcades, and not directly, but indirectly. There's underground fighting arcades in the West Coast, but more importantly, a lot of console gamers are simply getting together to play anything that's a fighting game across the globe. It doesn't matter whether it's SF IV, or SF III: 3rd Strike (an awesome technical fighter, which is easy to obtain for $10), Super Smash Bros Brawl (even with argument about how much of a fighter it is in comparison to Melee), or Tatsunoko vs Capcom, which is a game a lot of people in Pittsburgh were vocal over when I was there for the Tekko weekend.
Capcom made Street Fighter IV to be a casual player's entry to becoming a better Street Fighter player. Casual players can pick the controller up and play, and it's a good time. The mechanics are explained in detail, and new Focus Attack is somewhat as well, but then, the cancelling and tricks of Street Fighter IV take over, and make the casual players shy away in fear of the truly pro players. In essence, it's the classic Street Fighter II with some III actions tossed in, and a new element of surprise with Focus Cancelling that makes IV new.
Everyone's favorite World Warriors return (Ryu, Ken, Chun Li, Guile, Sagat, Zangief, E. Honda, Blanka) with the Shadaloo staples (M. Bison, Vega, Balrog) and others that easily had to return to mix it up (Rose, Cammy, Fei Long, Dan Hibiki, Sakura). Meanwhile, Capcom has introduced a few new characters to the Street Fighter legacy, those being the Shadaloo secret agent Crimson Viper, the luchador chef El Fuerte, the agile yet obese American martial artist Rufus, and the emo amnesiac Abel. A new end boss was added, Seth (get it, Seth and Abel? Don't ask about Cain.), who uses a stolen move from every one of the World Warriors, using data taken from the other fighters (ever wonder what Bison was having analyzed in the Street Fighter II animated movie? Now you know why that all went down). The evil Akuma makes a secret return as well, and finally, the EGM April Fools joke finally comes true: Gouken, Ryu and Ken's long-thought dead master, rises up from unconsciousness to meet his students in the Street Fighter story.
Capcom included a lot of things in the game to help players learn the moves and perfect their skills, once they get agile enough with their gamepads or arcade sticks. Besides the story mode and versus mode, there's a training mode, trial mode, time attack mode and survival mode, all used for unlocking various things like titles and player icons. These titles and player icons can be used online to identify yourself. A brief example is one of Cammy's titles for beating one of her trials is "I Like Cats". True story, I'm not making that up! Anyways, the trials range from easy to hard, but most are harder, as they require great skill and timing just to accomplish their feats. Survival mode lets you get back from health between rounds, while time trial mode requires you to beat a certain number of enemies within the time limit given. Beating these unlocks taunts (selected at the character select screen and done in-game by pressing both Fierce Punch and Kick) or costume colors for the default costumes each character wears.
Capcom already has some DLC codes out, to unlock the alternate costumes for Street Fighter IV. While many people find these are a rip-off, other people find they're a good strategy to tease their opponent. For example, the Chun Li alternate costume is a sexy evening dress. Try not to stare as she kicks the living crap out of you, I guess.
Meanwhile, Capcom's still working on the free update to SF IV, called Championship Mode. In that, you'll be able to run your own tournaments, as well as record matches and upload videos of the fights to a fileshare system, similar to what Bungie does with Halo 3. Cool idea, in theory, so I hope everything they have to offer in Championship Mode works, without a hitch. We've yet to see it really in action yet.
I'm always having fun with SF IV, even if I lose a lot (and sometimes, I just get really unlucky). For the most part, I feel that owning an arcade stick would definitely help anyone playing the game, because that's what Street Fighter truly demands. If you do own an arcade stick, or managed to find that very rare Tournament Edition MadCatz SF IV Arcade Stick, then you're well on your way to playing some good "Fighting in the Streets". I give Street Fighter IV a Buy rating, but mainly for anyone who is really into fighting games. Otherwise, try to stay away from it, because it requires some time and money investment that could go to other things.
Review: Tekkoshocon VII, Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh PA
Oh good God, my first convention. An anime one at that. Jeez, why did I agree to this?
To put things straight, Friday was the best time I've had in a long time. Met a ton of friends that I'd originally met on Gaia Online, and through Twitchblade Kreations. We started giving out bizarre little purple and green pins on Friday, and pretty well enjoyed what we could of the events. I recorded on my JVC Everio the entire Johnny Yong Bosch Q&A, and I'm trying to find a site that'll take the whole thing, it's a long file. Once I find a place that will run it (what, like Youtube? They won't take it right now, too big a file.), then I'll share it on the site here. It's a good interview with the man who is the voice of Ichigo from Bleach, Vash the Stampede from Trigun, Kaneda from Akira, and some other voice acting gigs. He's also the 2nd ever Black Power Ranger, for those wanting to show their age. In any case, I got to shake his hand, and talk to him for a minute of his time at the end. He's rather stoic, I found, and he draws a lot of attention, but he shakes it off when he can, because he can't help that he's popular. Johnny's Johnny, or at least that's what he tried to play off at the Q&A.
The rest of the weekend after Friday seemed to start to go downhill. Many of the videos I wanted to see early Saturday were either cancelled or I slept in... or both. Saturday night was the big concert, Otokage and Freezepop were playing. I thought Otokage killed and rocked the show! If they return next year, it's a given that I'm going again. Freezepop on the other hand I thought were kinda dry, and didn't move the people as much. Some attendees were trying their best to get into it, but it just wasn't as powerful or clean as it is when you hear it in Rock Band or Guitar Hero or DDR or whatever... very bizarre. They did end the show with Journey's Don't Stop Believin', but whatever works for them. I skipped the rest of the concert to see the Yugioh the Abridged Series panel, and laughed my ass off! First time I'd really gotten to see much of it, and on a big screen like the room had, it was something special.
Sunday was ugh, and yes, that's an adjective now. (Is that the word I'm looking for, adjective?) Very little sleep, but also, very little on the card for actual events. Mostly, the group I was in just raided the vender's room and artist's area, for last minute deals. While we stopped into the Artist's room, I came across Kroze from YGOTAS, and finally met him. He's the tech behind the website and forums, and he does a good job with it. Also, he helped the Loading Ready Run guys and gals with some video recording of the crazy stuff they did during Desert Bus for Hope '08. So, Kroze and I talked for a bit, he got in late so he didn't really get to take in much, but he didn't miss much anyways. I told him his panel kicked ass, and all of my friends missed it because they're weird! .... Okay, less awkwardness.
In short, Tekkoshocon was worth the trip for the first day. After that, kinda got dry and wasn't really that momentus. Maybe next year things will get better. In the mean time, meeting my friends was TOTALLY worth it, and I hope to stumble across their paths again the future. With that said, Tekkoshocon, look out, I might be back for another round!
- Ponza
Love the review on Street Fighter. Its worth the buy. (I mean, who doesn't want a Ryu headband?) Also, I wish I could have been there more at Tekko. (Sorry for the long ass car ride out to Robinson.) I wanted to do alot of panels and see alot of things but I got jibbed out because we came late or the bf didn't want to go to a panel. I did enjoy meeting everyone and I did have a good time while it lasted. (It sucks that I don't have internet at home and I know Pyro wants to come back to Pittsburgh because he fell in love with the damned place.) I hope I get a chance to go next year and get to do more things at Tekko. I also hope to keep in contact with both you and Pyro. If and when you get a thing called a cellular device get Pyro to give you my number and all that funn junk.
Until then,
Nan.
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On the extended part of the review for SF IV (which I'll say now), the Ryu headband is pretty cool for those who preordered. There might be some left, not sure how many Capcom had made. The Collector's Edition includes a small figurine, different depending on console choice, the animated movie (which nobody tells you, but you're supposed to watch it before playing the game), and the official game soundtrack on CD. The movie is either on Blu Ray for PS3 edition owners, or in Xbox 360 game disc format for 360 owners of the Collector's Edition. Lastly, the figurine you get is either Ryu in hadouken stance (pre-fireball) for the PS3 edition, and the 360 edition contains a Crimson Viper figurine, in mid-flame kick (pre-flame).
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Well, Late to the party as always but yes, Tekko was a blast and Pitts, PA is kickass on many levels. I will be back for another Tekko, just not sure when tho.
NOW! We move into the future! Twitchblade Kreations 2nd Con! MegaCon 2010 in Orlando.
Heh. The ride just keeps on going. Later.
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