ShareThisStreet Fighter IV
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC.
Genre: Fighting.
Publisher: Capcom.
ESRB Rating: T for Teen.
Grade: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
"Absolutely, yes." That was my quick response when asked by a gamer buddy if he should invest in the new "Street Fighter" title. While I had not been sold by "SFIII" and will always think of "Street Fighter II" as the quintessential fighting game, I have to say "SFIV" exceeded even my lofty expectations.
Fans of the series should pick up this game just for its visual beauty, if nothing else. The pseudo-cel-shaded look with its muted color palette seems perfectly suited for older gamers who have fond memories of the series. Since I was pumping quarters to play "Street Fighter II" after school nearly 20 years ago, it's nice to see a more mature-looking game, featuring the environments and characters I have known for so long.
The classic characters are there to choose from, whether your favorite is Blanka, Vega, E. Honda, Ryu or more. Six characters have been created for this edition, and they weave into the cast flawlessly. One of the strengths of the franchise has always been the level playing field, no matter the two fighters' size, combat style or speed.
The game does have a few flaws. On-line play can get dragged down by poor connection speeds, plus too many players quit when they are going to lose, with no penalty to their ranking. Some bonus content, like old game modes, would have been nice, but they are not present, either.
However those drawbacks do not ruin the overall product. This series has always rewarded practice with success, but even the most basic of fighters can defeat the most experienced, just by using the right combos and seizing opportunities.
With its strong visual design and an "anyone can play" control scheme that can make champions out of all of us, "Street Fighter IV" is easily one of the best fighting games to date.
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3.
Genre: First-person Shooter.
Publisher: Warner Bros.
ESRB Rating: M for Mature.
Grade: 2.5 stars.
I was an unabashed fan of the original "F.E.A.R." I was struck by the excellent blend of horror, atmosphere and general FPS glee. So I had been looking forward to seeing Alma in the sequel for some time.
Alma (if you didn't play the first game you'll get to know her quickly in the sequel) is a bit older than the creepy, doll-clutching child in the first game. You play as Beckett, a Delta Force member who has some psychic skills/problems. Alma constantly messes with players by popping up with gruesome sequences that provide some fun moments of fear.
The game features a somewhat typical variety of combat level designs, from subway stations to skyscrapers and back to streets. The weapons have a nice kick and do plenty of damage, but movements feel slick and rarely does the soldier/mutated freak/creature ever truly get tough to beat.
The problem is that the first "F.E.A.R." set a bar that "Project Origin" is unable to clear. The single-player campaign is good and lengthy, but the real challenge for Warner Bros. and developer Monolith is to create a final act to this franchise that offers the high grit and creep factor that made the original such a huge success. In the meantime, you may want to catch up with Alma and her tricks via rental before committing to buy this game.
(E-mail Chris Campbell at game_on_games(at)mac.com)
Game On
