Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Corey does, as he learns how to quarter-swipe.
Yes, that’s right, we’re now publishing reader reviews here on Kotaku. This is your chance to deliver sensible game purchasing advice to the rest of the Kotaku community.
And thanks to the very kind chaps at Madman Entertainment, purveyor of all kinds of cool, indie and esoteric film, the best reader review we publish each month will win a prize pack containing ten of the latest Madman DVD releases.
This review was submitted by Corey Lee. If you’ve played Street Fighter IV on iPhone, or just want to ask Corey more about it, leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Street Fighter IV (iPhone)
Not only is this game in-des-truc-ta-ble but you can consider it portable now as well. The Street Fighter series is one known for longevity, countless console iterations and more importantly, a fighting system that is difficult to master yet rewarding to learn. Making the transition from traditional consoles, Street Fighter IV on the iPhone returns you to those memorable battles where the difference between life or death is often that tide-turning, last-minute ultra….
Loved
Portable Presentation: SFIV is no slouch in the graphics department. Expect to see your old favourites in their full glory as attacks, ultras and backgrounds are recreated beautifully on the iPhone’s touch screen. Just don’t let your fingerprints ruin the experience!
Simplicity: Understandably, the game has been modified to accommodate for the lack of buttons to vary your low attacks from high ones. Still, the fighting mechanics work just as well in helping you transfer your console skills across to the iPhone. Whatever style you learnt before will still work here.
Relive Those Replays: A surprising feature considering the game’s compressed nature. Saved replays allow you to learn from your mistakes, understand move priorities and show others your finger fighting skills.
Press Ultra for Ultra: Unlike the console iterations, the Ultra and Super symbols on screen conveniently masquerade as one-touch auto commands. Consider it another good move to make SFIV’s steep learning curve a bit easier to manage and the round’s outcome a bit harder to predict.
Hated
Big Hands Mean A Big… Thumb! Which means less of the screen will be visible when you’re obviously playing the game. While the controls are mostly fluid in terms of execution, inputting certain moves might be difficult if you can’t see where exactly your thumbs are moving?
Reduced Roster: The game hosts eight of the most iconic characters such as Ken, Ryu and Chun-Li. Some will be pleased with this popular selection. Others will be disappointed. Most would’ve wanted more choice.
Dojo Is Dumb: A weak imitation of the console version’s trial mode, Dojo mode is a lame attempt to diversify the lack of worthwhile modes available. A series of input command challenges that are graded by ranks, Dan’s smiling face does little to make it any more interesting than his lousy fighting style.
Take it Online: But only with a friend sitting next to you. SFIV’s Versus mode can only be used through Bluetooth, meaning you won’t be fighting complete randoms anytime soon. No friends + No iPhone = No human opponents.
Comes At A Cost: SFIV is one of the more pricier apps out there if you are dirt poor or abhor the idea of paying for your iPhone games.
In a miniaturised nutshell, Street Fighter IV on iPhone is an Ultra achievement in maintaining that sense of depth and reward in each fight. Despite the exclusion of additional modes and more characters, this port has succeeded in keeping that timeless Street Fighter feel as you spam Shoryukens to victory.
Reviewed by: Corey Lee
You can have your Reader Review published on Kotaku. Send your review to us at the usual address. Make sure it’s written in the same format as above and in under 500 words – yes, we’ve upped the word limit. We’ll publish the best ones we get and the best of the month will win a Madman DVD prize pack.
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