Street Fighter IV ( ストリートファイター IV , Sutorīto Faitā Fō ) is a 2008 fighting game created by Capcom and Dimps and released by Capcom. It was the first main game in the Street Fighter series since Street Fighter III in 1997, which marked a gap of 11 years. The game was designed for the Taito Type X2 arcade machines and later made available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows in 2009, with mobile versions added later.

The game uses 3D models, but the gameplay and its features follow the traditional 2D style that the series is known for. Street Fighter IV received high praise from critics and is often considered one of the greatest games ever made. It was followed by an updated console version in 2010 called Super Street Fighter IV. This was later updated for arcades as Arcade Edition, which was released on consoles in 2011. A version for Nintendo 3DS called 3D Edition followed in 2014, and Ultra Street Fighter IV was also released that year. All versions of Street Fighter IV have sold more than 9 million copies across all platforms. Street Fighter IV was replaced by Street Fighter V in 2016.

Gameplay

Producer Yoshinori Ono said he wanted the game to be more like Street Fighter II. Battles in Street Fighter IV begin with a short pre-fight scene, a short movie-like dialogue that changes based on the player’s chosen character. A new system called Focus Attacks (Saving Attack in the Japanese version) and Ultra Moves were added. The traditional six-button control scheme returns, with new features and Special Moves included, blending classic gameplay with new ideas.

The game feels similar to Super Street Fighter II Turbo but also includes some features from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. Throwing is done by pressing both light attack buttons, while pressing both heavy attack buttons performs a character’s personal action or taunt. Pressing both medium attack buttons performs a Focus Attack. Dashes and quick standing are also in the game. C. Viper and Dan (with the air taunt) are the only characters who can perform a high jump.

Bonus rounds, like the car-smashing stage from earlier Street Fighter games, were originally planned to return. However, Ono later said these bonus stages would not be in the arcade version because they take time away from gameplay, which costs arcade operators money. These stages were later added in Super Street Fighter IV. The game also includes Rival Battles, which have a short scene between two characters before the battle starts.

Focus Attacks (Saving Attack in the Japanese version) is a new system in Street Fighter IV. This move lets the player absorb an attack and then counterattack. It is done by holding the medium punch and medium kick buttons together. The move has two parts. In the first part, the player shifts into a new stance and can absorb one hit from the opponent. In the second part, the player launches a counterattack. The longer the buttons are held, the stronger the attack becomes. There are three stages to the charge:

• If held briefly, no special effects happen.
• If held slightly longer, the character flashes white, showing the attack will make the opponent fall if they are on the ground.
• If fully charged, the attack can break through blocking.

Attacks absorbed during the first part still hurt the player, but health lost from the opponent’s attack is quickly restored. During the first and second parts of the Focus Attack, the player can dash forward or backward to cancel the move. Using two bars of the Super Combo gauge, players can also cancel Special Moves into a Focus Attack. This allows players to interrupt Special Moves with Focus Attacks and then dash backward to avoid the opponent. Ono said this system was added to focus more on reading the opponent’s moves, similar to boxing, where skill is in predicting actions. The system makes ground attacks as effective as jumping was in earlier games. Focus Attacks are a key part of Street Fighter IV’s gameplay.

The game includes powered-up versions of Special Moves from earlier games, like Super Combos and EX Special Moves. It also adds a new type of powered-up move called Ultra Combos. Ultra Combos are long, dramatic moves that show a series of punches, kicks, and other fighting techniques. Like the Super Combo gauge, there is also an Ultra Combo gauge (called the Revenge Gauge or Revenge Meter). The Super Combo gauge fills when the player hits the opponent or uses a Special Move. The Revenge Gauge fills when the player takes damage from the opponent, similar to the K Groove in Capcom vs. SNK 2. Ultra Combos and Super Combos are the only times (except for certain characters’ command throws) when the camera moves away from its normal position to show a more dynamic view of the action.

Plot

Street Fighter IV happens several months after Street Fighter II and before Street Fighter V. It comes before Street Fighter III, which takes place four years after the late 1990s.

After M. Bison survived an attack by Akuma, the S.I.N. corporation started a new fighting tournament to find the strongest fighters on Earth. This tournament was part of the BLECE project. Each World Warrior has their own reasons for joining, but S.I.N. wanted to find Ryu to study the Satsui no Hadō, which they believed was the final piece needed to complete BLECE.

Gouken, who had just woken up from a coma after surviving an attack by Akuma seven years earlier, learned about S.I.N.'s interest in Ryu. He searched for Ryu to teach him how to stop the development of Satsui no Hadō. Gouken showed Ryu a power called the Mu no Ken, or Power of Nothingness. This power is the opposite of Satsui no Hadō, as it uses calm and peace to overcome strength.

Akuma, knowing what Gouken had done to Ryu, became angry and fought Gouken again. During the battle, Akuma used all the power of his Satsui no Hadō against Gouken’s Mu no Ken.

It was later discovered that Crimson Viper was a spy who betrayed Seth and Juri, who wanted to destroy Shadaloo. She arranged a fight between M. Bison and Seth. Although Seth took control of S.I.N., M. Bison used a clone created by Shadaloo scientists to continue his plans. M. Bison remained behind the scenes, controlling S.I.N. while pretending to be dead. The Seth players see at the end of the game is a clone, as the real Seth was killed by M. Bison.

Abel, a fighter who does not remember his past, was saved by Charlie Nash. He joined Chun-Li and Guile to destroy the S.I.N. headquarters, which helped end the organization.

Characters

The Street Fighter game comes after the Street Fighter II series and before the Street Fighter III series. The arcade version includes all 12 characters from the original Street Fighter II, including the four Shadaloo Grand Masters, plus four new characters. Akuma from Super Street Fighter II Turbo is a secret character you can play as and also appears as a special opponent, making a total of 17 playable characters. The game also includes two additional computer-controlled characters: Seth, who is the final boss, and Gouken, who is a special opponent, bringing the total to 19 characters. The console version allows Seth and Gouken to be played and adds six more characters, for a total of 25. The returning characters are Cammy, Dan, Fei Long, Gen, Rose, and Sakura.

• Abel is a French fighter who uses full-contact karate, Judo, and Russian combat sambo to defeat opponents. He wears a kurtka and is described as someone who has forgotten his past. He fights to defeat members of Shadaloo. Later, it is revealed that he is a prototype for Seth, the game’s antagonist.
• Crimson Viper is a female American spy who wears sunglasses, leather gloves, and a form-fitting suit. She entered the tournament to test her skills.
• Juri Han is a South Korean Taekwondo fighter who works for S.I.N. and follows orders from Seth.
• Rufus is an overweight kung fu fighter who wants to prove he is the best fighter in the United States by fighting Ken.
• El Fuerte, which means "The Strong One" in Spanish, is a Mexican luchador who also wants to become a gourmet chef.
• Seth, also called "The Puppet Master," is the new boss character. He is the CEO of S.I.N., a weapons division of Shadaloo. His body has been changed using advanced technology. His special moves are techniques used by other characters.
• Gouken is the older brother of Akuma and the teacher of Ryu and Ken. He appears in the arcade version as a secret computer-controlled challenger at the end of the single-player mode. This is his first appearance as a fighter in the Street Fighter series.
• Hakan is a tall oil wrestler from Turkey. His fighting style is based on Yağlı güreş, a type of wrestling where he covers himself in oil to make his body slippery. He is the president of his own company and wants to create the perfect olive oil.
• Decapre is an imperfect copy of the series’ antagonist, M. Bison. After escaping Shadaloo, she goes on a killing spree but is saved by Cammy and given a chance to live again.

Development

Before producer Yoshinori Ono shared the idea with Capcom R&D head Keiji Inafune, most people at Capcom believed a new numbered Street Fighter game would not be created. At first, many people were not happy with Ono's plan to make a new Street Fighter game so long after the original. The time between 2000 and 2008, since the last Street Fighter game, Street Fighter EX3, was the longest period without a sequel in the series. However, because fans wanted the game and because Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting was well-received on Xbox Live Arcade, Inafune agreed to start the project. This was Ono's first time leading a new Street Fighter game as a producer, though he had previously worked on Street Fighter III 3rd Strike as a "sound management director" and had produced Capcom Fighting Jam. The experience from Super Street Fighter II Turbo influenced the development of Street Fighter IV.

The original game idea, called Street Fighter IV Flashback, was imagined in part by David Sirlin, the designer of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. The idea was never completed beyond the planning stage. Flashback would have used a mix of 2D and 3D gameplay and included classic Street Fighter II characters, Sakura, and a few new characters. It would also have had a single-player mode with 3D action (like the God of War series) that told Ryu's story, as well as original versions of all Street Fighter arcade games and a 3D version of Super Turbo. The simple control system proposed for Flashback was later used in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, but without the "flashback" gameplay feature.

Although Street Fighter IV uses 3D models and backgrounds, the gameplay remains on a 2D plane. The camera sometimes moves in 3D during fights for dramatic effect, similar to the Street Fighter EX series made by Capcom and Arika. At first, the game was designed to use 3D hit detection, but testers said it did not feel as precise as a Street Fighter game, so the developers changed to 2D hit detection. Ono said the arcade version of Arc System Works' Battle Fantasia inspired the game's 3D art style. Art director and character designer Daigo Ikeno, who had worked on Street Fighter III 3rd Strike, chose to use non-photorealistic rendering to give the characters a hand-drawn look. Visual effects included calligraphic strokes, ink smudges, and ink sprays during fights.

The music for Street Fighter IV was mainly composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa. The game's soundtrack included both new and old music created for it. Some songs, like those for returning Street Fighter II characters, were rearranged for Street Fighter IV. Earlier Street Fighter games had limited voice acting, but Street Fighter IV was the first in the series to include a lot of voice acting. Players can choose between the original Japanese version or an English dub.

The game runs on the Taito Type X arcade board inside a Taito Vewlix cabinet. It uses the Type X board's network features to allow players on separate machines connected to the same local network to fight each other.

Home versions

The game was first released on arcade machines in Japan in July 2008 and in North America in August of the same year. Versions for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 were released in February 2009, and a Microsoft Windows version came out in July 2009. These versions included extra playable characters and features not found in the arcade game.

Capcom later released an iOS version on March 10, 2010. An Android version was first available only on certain LG devices in May 2012 and later became available for all Android devices on the Play Store by December 31, 2012. However, this version was only available in Japan. In March 2017, the Xbox 360 version of Street Fighter IV became compatible with the Xbox One.

The home versions of Street Fighter IV include eight unlockable and playable characters not found in the arcade version. These characters include Seth and Gouken, who were computer-controlled in the arcade, and six characters from other Street Fighter games, bringing the total number of playable characters to 25. The added characters are Dan, Fei Long, Sakura, Cammy, Gen, and Rose.

Home versions also include online play, six new stages, downloadable content, and a Challenge Mode that helps players practice moves and combos. Players can choose between English or Japanese voices for characters, making Street Fighter IV the first game in the series since the original Street Fighter to include English voice acting for all characters. The game also includes a new opening cinematic with the theme song "The Next Door" by Exile, available in both Japanese and English. Each character’s story in Arcade mode has animated opening and ending sequences.

The iOS version allows multiplayer through Bluetooth, but it includes only eight characters and stages from the console version. These characters are Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Dhalsim, Blanka, Abel, and M. Bison. Later updates added Zangief, Cammy, Sagat, and an unlockable character, Dee Jay.

The Windows version includes all features from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, plus extras. It supports online play through Games for Windows – Live, with voice chat and PC-exclusive achievements. It also includes higher resolutions and three new visual styles: "Ink," "Watercolor," and "Posterize." The game had two bundles: one with the game only and another that included a Mad Catz FightPad with a Ryu design. Pre-ordering the game at Best Buy included a DVD with an animated comic. The retail version used SecuROM copy protection for the North American release.

A benchmark version of the game was released to test if a computer could run it properly. This version had a menu similar to the full game but included a "Loop Mode" that repeated the benchmark test. After the test, players received a score to determine if their computer could run the game.

For Western markets, three versions were released: the European version, the North American standard package, and the North American Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition included a mini strategy guide, a 65-minute animated film titled Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind, a soundtrack CD (not in Europe), figurines of Crimson Viper and Ryu, and five downloadable character costumes.

Mad Catz made six controllers for the game, including two arcade sticks and a game pad for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Hori also made two joysticks for Japanese and Asian markets.

The iOS version was released on March 10, 2010. It had simplified features, such as 2D pre-rendered sprites instead of 3D models, and included Bluetooth multiplayer and Game Center achievements. More characters were added through free updates. This version is no longer available on the iOS store.

A version called Street Fighter IV Volt was released for iPhone and iPod Touch in 2011, enabling online play. A version called Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition was released in 2017, adding Poison, Ibuki, and Dudley to the roster. Later updates added six more characters: Gouken, Rose, Elena, Juri, Guy, and Evil Ryu.

An Android version called Street Fighter IV HD was released for LG phones in 2012. It was later re-released on Google Play as Street Fighter IV, available only in Japan. In 2018, an Android version of Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition was released worldwide, featuring 32 playable characters, including Dan as a platform exclusive. This version had one million downloads.

The console versions of Street Fighter IV support downloadable content.

Related media

Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind is an animated movie directed by Jirō Kanai. It was included as a bonus disc in the Collector's Edition of Street Fighter IV for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The story takes place before the events of Street Fighter IV. It follows Cammy's Team Delta Red group as they investigate an energy anomaly. At the same time, Chun-Li and Guile look into the disappearance of famous martial artists. Meanwhile, Crimson Viper is sent by Seth to capture Ryu. Seth knows about Ryu's Satsui no Hadou and wants to use it for himself.

Four short anime videos featuring characters from the game were also released.

In addition to the animated movie, UDON published a four-issue comic mini-series based on Street Fighter IV. The first issue was released on February 18, 2009. The comic focuses on new characters (Abel, Viper, El Fuerte, and Rufus) and their interactions with other main characters from the series.

Capcom created a Street Fighter IV-themed game space called "S.I.N.'s Secret Base from Street Fighter IV" for PlayStation Home, the online service for PlayStation 3 users. Features include a "Challenge Opponent" mode, where players can compete based on their skill level in Street Fighter IV, and a shop with themed costumes and decorations of all the characters. The space was released in Japan on July 30, 2009, in Asia on September 24, 2009, in Europe on October 9, 2009, and in North America on October 23, 2009. The game space also allowed users to launch multiplayer games directly from PlayStation Home, with advanced options. This feature was added on April 23, 2009. Some trophies in Street Fighter IV also gave rewards for PlayStation Home.

On October 12, 2011, Enterrise released a pachislot version of the game in Japan. This version includes all characters from the console release. Players control Ryu in the story, though other characters like Ken or Chun-Li can only be used at specific points. New features include 3D overworld segments where Ryu travels through parts of the game's stages. Battle segments return, but they are now turn-based, like in Pokémon Stadium and its sequels. A new bonus stage called "Reg Bonus" was added, which was not included in the arcade or console versions. A sequel based on Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition was released on March 22, 2016.

Reception

The home versions of Street Fighter IV received high praise from critics on Metacritic. The PlayStation 3 version earned a score of 94 out of 100, the Xbox 360 version received 93 out of 100, and the Microsoft Windows version scored 91 out of 100.

The arcade version of Street Fighter IV was named Best Game of 2008 in Japan by Arcadia magazine in its February 2009 issue. It also won awards for "Best Graphics," "Best Production," and the "Reader's Choice Award." The character Ryu was ranked No. 1 in the magazine's "Top 20 Characters of 2008" in the same issue. In the February 2009 issue of PlayStation: The Official Magazine, the game received a 5/5 rating. The February 2009 issue of Official Xbox Magazine gave it a score of 9.5/10. IGN awarded it 9.3/10, calling it a "very deep fighting game," but noted that the anime cutscenes were poorly animated and provided little story context. GameSpot named Street Fighter IV the Best Fighting Game of 2009 in both the Editor's Choice and Reader's Choice categories. GameTrailers also named it the Best Fighting Game of 2009. The game won "Fighting Game of the Year" at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards and at the 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, where it received the same honor from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

Giant Bomb gave the game five out of five stars, saying it blends old and new elements in a way that appeals to both returning fans and newcomers. Eurogamer awarded it 10/10, noting that it works well for players of all skill levels without losing its quality.

The iOS version also received strong praise. Gameplayershub.com gave it a 97% score, calling it highly polished. Edge magazine ranked Street Fighter IV as #14 on its list of "The 100 Best Games To Play Today," saying it makes the fighting genre accessible to all players without losing its depth. In Edge's 2017 list of the best games of all time, Ultra Street Fighter IV was the only fighting game included.

Street Fighter IV sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide by March 31, 2009, and was one of the most rented games of 2009. In the UK, it topped multi-format charts and set sales records, with 53% of sales coming from the PlayStation 3. As of December 2024, the game has sold over ten million copies across all versions, making it the second-highest-selling title in the Street Fighter series after Street Fighter II.

Updated versions

Super Street Fighter IV was released on April 27, 2010. It was the first major update to Street Fighter IV. This version added new online game modes, five new stages, a new announcer, ten new characters, and changes to existing characters, such as new Ultra Combos and extra costumes. Returning characters included T. Hawk, Dee Jay, Adon, Guy, Cody, Ibuki, Makoto, and Dudley. New characters were Juri, a Korean taekwondo fighter who works as a spy for Seth's group, S.I.N., and Hakan, a Turkish oil wrestler. The game also included new introductions and endings for all characters from earlier versions.

The game was first released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Later, an arcade version with extra content was made. This arcade version was later added to consoles as Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. A handheld version, called Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, was released for Nintendo 3DS in March 2011. It used 3D graphics and had new features.

In December 2010, Capcom released an arcade version titled Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. This version added Yun, Yang, Evil Ryu, and Oni to the game. It also included changes to existing characters. The Arcade Edition was later sold as a separate game and as a downloadable update. In late 2011, a free balance update called Version 2012 was released.

A new update, called Ultra Street Fighter IV (ウルトラストリートファイターIV), was announced in early 2014 at the 2013 Evolution Championship Series. Before its release, Capcom tested the game to get feedback from fans. The game was released in Japanese arcades in April 2014. Later, it was made available for home platforms as a paid update for Super Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, and as a standalone retail game. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions were released on June 3, 2014, with retail versions following on August 5. PC versions (digital and retail) were released on August 8. The PC version was delayed to allow console versions to be ready for the 2014 Evolution Championship Series. The PC version used Steam for the first time in the series, after Games for Windows – Live was discontinued.

Ultra Street Fighter IV added six new stages and five new characters: Rolento, Elena, Hugo, Poison (who had appeared in Street Fighter X Tekken), and Decapre, a member of M. Bison's Dolls who first appeared as a playable character. This brought the total number of fighters to 44. The game also added a feature called "Edition Select," which lets players choose different versions of characters, similar to Hyper Street Fighter II. It also added "Ultra Combo W," which allows both Ultra Combos to be used at the same time but with less damage.

The update included balance changes and new fighting mechanics. A new move called Red Focus was added, which is similar to the regular Focus move but has more invincibility. A "delayed wakeup" technique was introduced, letting knocked-down players take longer to stand up. Based on fan feedback, most unblockable setups were removed.

On September 21, 2014, it was announced that Ultra Street Fighter IV would get a free DLC pack in October. This pack added new Omega variations to characters, giving them new moves and abilities. Improvements to online play were also planned for the PC version. The DLC was released on December 15, 2014.

On December 6, 2014, it was announced at PlayStation Experience that Ultra Street Fighter IV would be released for PlayStation 4 by Other Ocean Interactive. The game was digitally released on May 26, 2015. However, the PS4 version had many bugs and glitches. The 2015 Evolution Championship Series used the Xbox 360 version instead. On July 18, 2015, the Steam version was free to play for one day to celebrate EVO 2015. Capcom's Peter "Combofiend" Rosas later stated that the PS4 version was now the official version, with major issues fixed and input lag improved. Western Capcom Pro Tour events began using the PS4 version starting with VSFighting 5, while Asian events continued using the PS3 version until the PS4 version was released.

At the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Ultra Street Fighter IV was nominated for "Fighting Game of the Year."

In May 2018, Ultra Street Fighter IV was included as a pre-order bonus with the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, adding 13 games to the series' original timeline.