So yesterday when I got home I finally received the latest EGM magazine with the Street Fighter IV cover/feature. I am very glad I signed up when we posted that free EGM subscription deal because it works. I sat and read and I must say I was impressed by the feature and more importantly, I was impressed by what was said in the feature by Street Fighter 4 Producer Yoshinori Ono.

I will try to quote and speak on what I feel are the most important points made in the feaure though I think any SF fans should read the actual article because a lot of important information is relayed in the article. In was surprised on how much was actually revealed and the straightforwardness of Yoshinori Ono about the project and failures of the last Street Fighters like Street Fighter III for example. Ono was so very spot on in his statements in the feature that I would be surprised if Street Fighter IV turns out to be a flop. Here are some points:

1. He worked on Street Fighter III and acknowledged the fact that more original characters should have been in it instead of the weird characters that were put in it.

“As a nod to the fans, we’re trying to get as many of the original SF2 characters into the game as possible. SF3 was a very great game, but we have our regrets about having a whole new roster of characters… We feel that we may have betrayed the audience we built up with SF2.” - Yoshinori Ono

2. The classic moves will remain intact. Yep still 6 buttons. The same ones. jab,strong, fierce… etc.

“The first time you grab an SF4 joystick, you’ll be able to pull off Dragon Punches and hadoken fireballs you remember without thinking too deeply” - Yoshinori Ono

3. Interactive stages will be included. We did love punching people into barrels and crates.

“We’re doing experiments with having elements in the stages react to being hit by fireballs, or when your character lands from a jump having the objects near his feet move in real time.” - Yoshinori Ono

4. Parry system replaced by something more robust. Now there is a new system tentatively named the “save system”. So the game can be simple and complex depending on skill levels.

“The hardcore players are terribly important to us so we have to give them a deep system to keep them interested.” - Yoshinori Ono

Those are just some highlights from the article and there is too much to cover. They even hint at “Sheng Long” being added as a playable character. Special move button presses are also detailed in the article. In all the feature has increased my anticipation for the game and I am more sure that it will be great since it seems that Yoshinori Ono knows whats up. Read the issue.