Fans of the Street Fighter franchise have been aware of the upcoming fourth installment for quite some time now, but Capcom finally announced this week which platforms Street Fighter IV would gracing. Although it was certainly no surprise that the game be coming to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 console, it was quite a surprise to learn that a Windows-based PC version is also in the works - and that a version for Nintendo's Wii isn't.
The game is currently in development over at Japanese development studio Dimps, founded by Street Fighter co-creator Takashi Nishiyama and best known for its work on Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. Dimps currently has just one PC game to its credit, Gundam Online: Dawn of Australia. There was no mention of the Wii in Capcom's official statement, but it's possible there could be an announcement further down the road. Street Fighter IV currently does not have a release date.
According to Capcom, the classic Street Fighter characters went through extensive plastic surgery in order to appeal to a new generation of gamers. The entire cast of Street Fighter II will return, as well as a new breed of brawlers such as martial artist Abel, super-spy Crimson Viper, wrestler El Fuerte and many others; the new installment will retain the standard 2D perspective while rendering 3D characters and environments. Focus Attacks, Super Combos and an Ultra Combo system are just a few new special moves added as well as new locations not seen in previous installments. Capcom also said that the six-button control setup would return.
The latest game will also feature an online component, and its story supposedly takes place between Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III. Producer Yoshinori Ono, who struggled with Capcom to give the green light on the new Street Fighter project, was quoted saying that he wanted this fourth installment to feel like Street Fighter II; he even plans to incorporate car-smashing bonus rounds.
In other Street Fighter news, the new video game film "Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li" is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2009. Just this past December, Kristin Kreuk of TV's "Smallville" signed on to play the role of Chun-Li and the movie recently began production in March. "The Legend of Chun-Li" will also feature Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog, Robin Shou as Gen and Chris Klein will take on the role of Nash. Director Andrzej Bartkowiak, who helmed the mediocre movie adaptation of id Software's Doom, hasn't revealed any plot details other than the obvious focus on Chun-Li. Hopefully this new film will take on a more serious nature than 1994's "Street Fighter" movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Stay tuned for more on Street Fighter IV and the upcoming "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" movie on Tom's Games.
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