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Street Fighter IV Launch Date Announced
We saw leaked screenshots. We were treated to the first video coverage. We found out that the original eight were back and then we saw them in action. All this said, the biggest part missing from the Street Fighter IV picture was a launch date. And now we have that too.
Word has come out of the AOU Fair in Japan that Street Fighter IV will be arriving in arcades as early as this July, granting fighting game fans the chance to shoot out hadoukens and destroy their opponents with screw piledrivers all over again. Better still, if you head out to Plaza Capcom in Tokyo, you’ll be able to play Street Fighter IV starting this Friday and the machine will stay there until February 24th. The arcade console will then be removed and you’ll have to wait a few more months to get your hands on the final version.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that the initial launch will be Japan only with arcades ordering both the Street Fighter IV game board and its Taito VEWLIX cabinet receiving their delivery in late July. Arcades ordering just the game board will have to wait until mid-August. Again, this is for Japan only and Capcom has made no indication as to when Street Fighter IV will arrive on North American shores, nor have they made any mention of a launch date on the PS3 or Xbox 360.
In the meantime, just take a look at thunder thighs (aka Chun-Li) kick the crap out of an eye-popping Ryu. I guess that’s better than something else popping.
Source: Gamespot [Via Kotaku]
Street Fighter IV More Retro Than Ever
When Street Fighter III hit the scene, we were largely treated to a new battalion of characters. As such, people started to suspect that when Street Fighter IV would finally arrive in our homes, we would once again have to learn the backstory of several new fighters. That may still be true, but for this go-around, we’ll also have the option of playing as the eight classic characters that we’ve come to know and love.
Up until now, screenshots have only featured Ken and Ryu. A whole series of other fighters have now been announced through the latest issue of Famitsu, revealing to us that the original eight are here in full swing. And they’ve got character sketches and screenshots to prove it. Joining Ken and Ryu in this fourth Street Fighter generation are E. Honda, Blanka, Guile, Chun-Li (with her thunder thighs!), Zangief, and Dhalsim.
And they look great. Check out the page scans at Kotaku. The detail is astounding and I’m really starting to dig the art direction of this highly anticipated fighting game. You can really start to appreciate the 2D gameplay in a pseudo 3D environment when you consider the outstretched arms of Dhalsim and the overgrown muscles of Zangief. Blanka looks a little weird.
On a side note, the latest episode of Street Fighter: The Later Years has been released by College Humor. Hop on over to see Part 8.
Street Fighter IV: First Video Coverage
It’s here. It’s time to go back to the basics. It’s time for a Hadouken, Shoryuken, and maybe even a Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku. It’s time for a Street Fighter IV…VIDEO!
Street Fighter IV - 1up Show Exclusive (WM)
