Genre: 2d Fighter
Developer: Capcom/DIMPS
Publisher: Capcom

Outside of video games, two-dimensional artwork is still fantastically more popular than three-dimensional art because it is much easier to infuse richness and detail via paintings and drawings. Street Fighter IV is a rare example of a 3d game that imposes a style as distinct as those of the finest sprite-based titles. Combined with consistent direction and the gloss and sharpness of modern technology, even the most vocal proponents of 2d artwork are awed.

Like all of the other titles in the series, Street Fighter IV's voicework is defined by a nice blend of melodramatic hero-babble, over-the-top voice actors, and outright cheesiness. The soundtrack is a mesh of original melodic light-techno work, and the remixes of previous character tunes are stylistic though not the best renditions in existence.

Street Fighter IV modernizes the Street Fighter formula in the same way the Mario 64 galvanized the concept of the platformer. It maintains the core formula, feel, and sensations that are well loved, but adds just enough new mechanics, like the Focus attack, to do something almost unbelievable: make Street Fighter II's mechanics feel dated.

Street Fighter IV is possibly the best game in the entire series-- it is finely balanced, exhibits the classic charm of the previous titles while debuting an entirely new style of 3d visuals, and contains the perfect cast of characters and mechanics. The bland soundtrack and lack of unique stages for each character are unfortunate but do little to detract from what must be called one of the best fighters of all time.