Capcom relaunch the 2D fighter wars with a Street Fighter IV that pairs manga illustration and a deep Focus Attack system. Ryu and friends return sublimely in 2.5D, the competitive scene is reborn, and the 360 finds in this comeback an instant Capcom versus classic.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
2D fighting game by Dimps and Capcom, February 2009. Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and rivals clash in technical 2.5D duels with the new EX Super Combos and devastating Ultra Combos system. 25-character roster including C. Viper and Abel, Online and Arcade modes. Street Fighter franchise return after ten years.
Street Fighter IV review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Charging a Focus Attack to absorb a blow and strike back introduces a reading of timing that renews the duel without disowning the fundamentals. The demanding chains and the balanced roster reward practice. A renaissance of modern 2D fighting, it preserves firm, legible handling that still wins over versus aficionados.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The triumphant return of the king of 2D fighting, reviving the formula with a striking visual style and gameplay of exemplary precision. Landing a devastating combo or a saving parry delivers an instant satisfaction, while mastery is savoured indefinitely. Snappy, balanced and accessible, a benchmark versus that relaunched a whole genre and rekindles the flame of competition.
North American (NTSC-U) edition of Street Fighter IV, the entry that resurrected Capcom's fighting game and the genre at large through its return to fundamentals and stylized 3D rendering, a resounding success. Sought, its desirability rests on this status as a historic versus rebirth and a tenacious demand rather than a manufactured scarcity. A prime piece for a fighting-game set on the console, a major genre milestone to own.
Better with friends
A benchmark of competitive fighting, whose Focus system and precise fundamentals make duels an unmatched arena for technical expression. The competition rewards zoning, anti-airs and reading intentions, welcoming to the curious yet abyssally deep. Local versus makes it an essential for game nights, where beginners and veterans find their footing face to face in a timeless rivalry.
Is Street Fighter IV still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2009 on Xbox 360, Capcom's Street Fighter IV resurrected the two dimensional fighting game and relaunched the whole genre, thanks to a stylised three dimensional art direction and a play system of masterful accessibility and depth. The return to fundamentals, garnished with the Focus Attack system, appeals to veterans and newcomers alike. The iconic roster and the exemplary precision of play set a genre benchmark. The server shutdown limits the online side. But the local stays excellent. For fans of versus fighting and the curious about the genre's revival, this title keeps a strong appeal.
