by: Dameon White

March 02, 2009

I’m not going to lie; I’m not a Street Fighter pro. I’m not one of the elite that all ready figured out how to kill my opponent before the round starts. I can’t string together the more intricate combos the series has to offer and I’m not going to be winning any Street Fighter tournaments any time in the immediate future. However, I’m not piss poor either. In fact, I’d say I fit snuggly in the middle of mediocrity and superiority. I’m no vet, but I’m not going down easy either. I may not know all of the best combos, but I’m no button-masher. I’ll hold my own ground in any fight regardless of the outcome. Why all the rant? Simple…this game can be downright annoyingly f*cK!nG hard at times. But, we’ll get back to that later (f*cK SETH and Zangief and the horse they road in on!).

Without a doubt, Street Fighter is not only one of my favorite series of all-time, but I place the franchise easily as one of gaming’s best pastimes. It’s hard to make it stale. Granted, it’s not the most intuitive of fighting games, but Capcom has managed to make a fighting game that not only is relatively easy for the inexperienced gamer to pick up and play, but also intricate enough that seasoned players will be able to take advantage of the combo system to unleash can after can of almighty whoop-ass on anyone that challenges them.

Originating as a 2D fighter, Street Fighter has managed to compete in a now 3D gaming world. What sets – and always has set – Street Fighter apart from the rest is that it’s not only rather simple, but the battles that ensue are primarily a test true test of skill and mind episodes. You see, anyone can figure out a characters’ super move and just repeat it over and over to win a battle, as you find in many fighters. But, that won’t always work in this series, particularly because a majority of the moves can all be blocked. Tricking your opponent (Canceling an Attack for example) has become a pretty big part of the franchise and making it seem like you’re going to do something else is how the fights have always been decided. It’s a rather fun and challenging experience.