Very difficult and frustrating at times. I would only recommend this game to SF purists, as anyone new to the series will more then likely find the learning curve to be a bit extreme.

It's been a long time coming, but SFIV is finally here. First of all, let me just say that this is by far THE greatest Street Fighter game to date. Great graphics, sounds, controls, and replay value. There are enough single player modes to keep you busy for a while and the multiplayer/online options are abundant enough to satisfy everyone. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more characters, though 25 is enough. The gameplay combines a little of everything from the previous street fighter games. In addition to the special moves, each warrior has a focus attack which can be charged (they work like Alpha counters), a super combo, and an ultra combo. You can also use part of your super meter to perform an EX move which ups the strength of your special moves. The animations on the characters is very detailed and the effects from the moves themselves look very lifelike. A cool addition is the revenge meter, which lets you perform your Ultra combo as sort of a comeback move to help turn the tide of battle. Every character is perfectly balanced so no match up ever seems unfair. Skilled players will find a few new tricks to add to their repertoire and newcomers will find the game very accessible from the start. I always thought SF Alpha 3 was the greatest in the series, but am glad to see this one take the crown. Downloadable content has been announced and will hopefully live up to its promise. An A+ game.