Review Shi!

As in Shi, the japanese number four. I think I'm going to count my reviews in a different language for as long as I can. Or until I get bored...

Anywho!

Today's review iiiiiiis:

The clash of the decade! Well... One of 'em anyway...

Street Fighter X Tekken!

Yes indeed, a long awaited clash of fighting game titans, Street Fighter X Tekken is a multiplatform fighting game. It's one of a pair; this one is helmed by Capcom, while the opposing game, Tekken X Street Fighter, will be brought about by Namco. Much like the last game I reviewed, this game is a monstrous collaborative effort. But, the question is, does this fighter pack any punch? Let's find out.

Now. Before I go on to this review, I feel I must point towards the Fighting Game Guidelines! Because there are, in fact, some changes to the review style for games of this genre, and I just want to be sure anyone reading is up to date, and isn't wondering "What the hell? Where's the rest of the review?!"

It's all good.

Reviews, away!

Presentation

A fight I never thought I would see happen...

Street Fighter X Tekken seems to boast a watercolor/lava/blood influenced art style, which, combined with it's music pacing, serves to present a pulse pounding, exciting experience once the game gets going. When you first turn on the game, the opening cinematic you're treated with is a combination of all of the CG trailers, but cut together very well to mesh with the music. At times, however, the shading style gets to be something of an eyesore.

The game's story is presented via text assisted pictures, much like the prologues and epilogues in the Tekken series. While this is great for keeping things short and sweet, there aren't enough bits and pieces of exposition in other aspects of the game to really provide any depth.

When fighting, flashing lights and zoom in camera angles keep fights intense, and the music picks up in  speed as rounds progress, really helping the immersion and hype in the fight.

The game modes are fairly standard for a current gen fighter, with arcade, versus, trial and online. I miss the days of survival mode and time attack, and whatever extra modes there were, but they are a thing of the past. However, the game does kick things up with two four player options; regular tag mode with four players, and Scramble mode, which allows four players to get in on the action at the same time in team against team all out brawl. While not the best competitive option, the mode provides hours of fun as the most intense matches break out.

Personally, I'm most impressed by how well the Tekken characters translate to the Street Fighter art style, fighting right in side by side with the Street Fighter cast while still maintaining the distinct and diverse Tekken flair.

In all, the package comes together quite nicely.

8.0/10: The game's presentation has a few flaws, but as a whole, it's quite bueno, doing an excellent job of wanting to keep you fighting.

Graphics

Definitely in yo' face.

Graphically, the game is very fluid, with strikes, blasts and super attacks all accompanied by various spark and trail effects, making all of the fights as visually exciting as they are fun. Characters are expressive, and move in a very distinctive style, one cultivated over various iterations of Street Fighter IV. That in mind, however, if you've played any of the games in that series, then understand that the graphics aren't much more impressive than that. It's sort of like they took a new coat of paint to those older graphics.

7.0/10: On it's own merits, the graphics for the game are very nice, with rarely a stutter or drop in framerate. But the graphics have not progressed significantly since Street Fighter IV, and for anyone looking, it shows.

Sound

Thst's gonna sting!

All of the hits, thuds and slams come across in true Capcom form in this game, with yells of "Hadouken" and "Shoryuken" ringing out clear as a bell. The voice work is pretty damn good, and the ability to individually choose each character's vocal language is a nice bonus, though one quickly becoming a Capcom standard.

The music in this game, however, is nothing particularly notable; there are only a few standout tracks, and while they're nice to hear and helpful for the game's atmosphere, I've heard much better work from Capcom, and the lack of memorable music as something of a disappointment.

6.5/10: The game's sound effects are top notch as is expected, but the musical selection is sincerely wanting.

Controls

Light Punch!

Street Fighter x Tekken plays with a basic 6 button configuration; three punch buttons, three kick buttons, with a light, medium and heavy variant for each. The game primarily runs on the concept of "Cross Gameplay", or the art of abusing switching and using your teammate. Characters are capable of switching on the fly, or by use of a "Launcher" attack, that sends your opponent into the air, and tags in the teammate.

There are also techniques for switching in your teammate in the middle of using an attack to extend your combo. Huge damage is dealt when you use the "Cross Assault", which sics both teammates on an opponent at once in real time, or the "Cross Art", which is the SFxT variant of a Super or Ultra combo, a cinematic where both teammates thrash on the opponent for a bit using some of their strongest attacks.

Throw in some cool new string techniques such as one button quick combos, and the dial-a-combo Cross Rush (performed by stringing low, medium and high attacks together, then hitting high one more time to link into a Launcher), and you have a pretty solid and fun experience.

The game plays solidly and smoothly, with buttons reading accurately, and translating to the screen smoothly. Good stuff.

10/10: Honestly, there really isn't any issue with the controls. The game controls smoothly and intuitively, and between the tutorial and trial modes, the game provides a pretty easy transitional opening to the more advanced techniques of the game.

Fun Factor

And so it comes down to it, the part which stands most important. The whole reason the game is played. the fun factor.

Shoryuken!

 Street Fighter x Tekken is great fun, especially if you have a good group of friends to play with, or a hankering for some online beatdowns. Unfortunately, the game can get stale pretty fast if you're not hard into fighting games, but if you're a throwdown aficionado,  then this game can definitely entertain you for hours on end.

And I re-iterate.

7.5/10: A great romp for anyone into fighting games, but can get stale fast, especially if you played Street Fighter IV FAR too often...


And now... To the score! Wait... First, I direct you to the top of the post just in case you need to review the Fighting Game Guidelines just one last time. NOW THE SCORE!

THE VERDICT!

Street Fighter X Tekken scores a 

39.0

A HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTER!

Applauso.

A solidly enjoyable slugfest thoroughly being hindered and railed on by bad press for Capcom (entirely deserved on their part. Fuck Capcom.) due to their DLC practices, I would recommend this game in a heartbeat. Just because Capcom as a whole is one collective asshole doesn't mean thatg the game sucks. It should be judged on it's own merit. But don't expect me to listen to these reasonable words when DmC: Devil may Cry comes out. Fuck that game, Fuck Ninja Theory, and Fuck Capcom.

But not Ryu and Ken. They're cool. At all times.

'Till next time!