Sunday, October 26, 2008, 01:22 AM EST
[
General]
Prologue:
Street Fighter fans picked up Street Fighter II
back in the early 1990s, they then enjoyed a glorious time of Street
Fighter goodness in the mid to late 1990s. These were the "Golden
years." Me personally started playing SF when I was 6 on the SNES.
Before I knew how to multiply, devide, or even know any world history-I
played Street Fighter. Basically SF thought me more 'bout the world
than any school would lol. Discovering all these fighters from all over
the world in these exotic places/stages was amazing, but what always
kept me coming back to SF was the great characters. So through the
great Alpha years I kept true to the SF franchise. And then Capcom
realized that they couldn't leave their biggest and most important
franchise behind it was the best moment ever, sending waves through
the gaming community.
Capcom-Unity:
Many many of us made it
to the SFC down in Brooklyn, New York. It was really something to have
seen so many fans out there, many dieing to just try out this game for
the first time, or just really psyched to get to play the console
version instead(superior version, mind you). Listening to people talk
'bout the game and how the grew up playing the earlier SF games and
talking 'bout all kinds of SFIV stuff was interesting. Gotta give it up
to these fans, they stood there waiting for hours haha, through the
chilly night. You could also tell how "happy" they were to be inside
the place when they finally got in haha. Here let me show you the
feeling I got when they were all outside prepping to get inside:

^Not that they were evil, but their inner desire for Street Fighter IV could be felt in the air. Black isn't always evil, black is also every emotion put into one pure form. So yes that's how I saw everyone, each individual knowing they're ever so close to get into the SFC event to get their hands on the hottest fighting game to date.
The Game, Street Fighter IV:
No matter where you come from as a Street Fighter fan, whether it'd be as a Marvel VS Capcom, Capcom VS SNK, Street Fighter II, or as a Street Fighter III fan, you left that place CONVINCED that there is NOTHING like this game in terms of how amazing it really is.
HD monitors, as crisp as any Arcade cabinet, graphics which you have to see to believe. The images and vids you see of this game is nothing, they're nothing compared to what the game is when you see it face to face. The smallest of details in texture, in pure art, in every little bit of animation is something you'd only find in the most animated movies out there. Heck I'd dare say this looks better than any 2D game ever made. And I know people still regard "artistic" 2D games as having the best animations out there. Those who think SFIII looks better than anything really have to see this game for themselves.
Ok going away from the graphics you'll find a gameplay system that is very in your face. You can't just chicken out and think that you'll get away with not having skills. Believe me those who have actual skills in this game will shine, while those who don't will still manage but won't really go anywhere. Mastering the ULTRA(revenge) system is one of my favorite things, knowing when to strike back when all hope is almost lost is one of the most beautiful and "woooooooooooooow" things you will find in SFIV. You can ask anyone who has played SFIV enough, the "oooooooooooooooooooooooohs" are everywhere, that's because the game is deep like that. It has so many ways of really wowing you that you'll always get some really engaging fights.
Rilvaries built up rather quickly. The group I was playing with were all awesome, a salute to TJDropjones, his friend and everyone else who gathered 'round the first Playstation3 (controller) setup. Great fights formed in where some of us would get into some nifty winning streaks. I personally got into 3 or 4 game winning streaks of 2 to 7 games. I could've easily gone for a longer winning streak if it wasn't for my awesome brother haha. He's really my biggest weakness(since he knows a lot of my strategies). See Kramez, told ya he'd add a lot of fun to the event :P . Anyway this is one of my favorite moments, when I was in a 5 or was it 7 winning streak with M.Bison(dictator):

^Yes, this is when I got somebody with M. Bison's ultra, which looks sick by the way....the 3D animations of these Supers and Ultras are something to behold. Always a "take your breath" away moment, people always go "ooooh" or "oh oh!" haha. That image really says it all, I dominated with Bison how I wanted to(he's been my favorite male character since SFIITurbo). By the way the psycho crusher looks awesome, it's this pink/purple madness RUSHING you down haha, it's awesome.
Sakura!
She's...she's....she's beautiful! What a babe!
Hands down the best version of Sakura there is, her character model is perfect. Gotta tell you she looks buff, she looks somewhat older and definitely fits in as a real fighter in SFIV. My fights with her were always fun. People would always go "oooh Sakura, oh sh*t" haha. But yeah once I got into the fight she would always find a way of coming back, her Ultra is amazing, if you're not carefuly she'll get you big time. Being able to use gave me tears(didn't cry....but my eyes were a bit watery). Those of you who know me know how much I wanted Sakura in the game. Once my first match started(against my brother) I didn't want to lose, at all, I wanted that fight to be all about winning, like putting all the strength Sakura used to get back in SFIV. And that I did, I did win, and won it with her Ultra...she's really something.

^She was there doing her best, she kicked butt everywhere she went, beautiful :3
Lastly I just wanna thank Capcom Japan for their hard work in this game, specially Ono-san for his dedication. At the same time I wanna thank Capcom of USA, wow you guys really pushed for this, you guys made it personal and it shows. You guys have my respect and thanks. And of course a special shout-out to Seth Killian. OMFG I got so nervous when asking him some questions 'bout some rumors haha :D
So yes ask me whatever you guys want, I think I can answer a lot of things(though I can't clear up any rumors, since nothing's official).
SFC in NYC 10/10