14 DAY TRIAL // Capcom’s Street Fighter IV for iPhone is now out and available for download from the iTunes App Store. Setting gamers back $9.99, the title is everything one would expect from an iPhone port, which includes a rather awkward control scheme, according to those who’ve tested it out.
TUAW reports that GDC 2010 saw Capcom projecting the actual App Store interface for sending its Street Fighter IV game to the App Store on various screens around the room. “We actually got to see them press the button on the release live and in person, and sure enough, the game is in the App Store right now for $9.99,” the unofficial Apple weblog writes. Softpedia followed the link to the game’s exact location. Indeed, Capcom’s highly acclaimed Street Fighter franchise has officially reached the iPhone as well. The game costs $9.99 to buy and requires any iPhone or iPod touch with OS 3.0 installed.
Below is Capcom’s official description of the game. Playing Is Believing! Street Fighter 4 delivers the first true fighting game on iPhone. This uncompromising fighter features all the visceral thrills, fantastic graphics and brilliant gameplay that are hallmarks of the series. Long time Street Fighter fans can jump into the action and have an instant familiarity with the controls. For more casual players Street Fighter 4 features numerous settings and tutorials that put you on the path to world warrior.
Oh, and did we mention MULTIPLAYER. Street Fighter 4 supports head-to-head arcade play over Bluetooth!
Capcom then proceeds to list the main features of Street Fighter IV for iPhone, which include: - Fight as eight Street Fighter characters in seven different environments. - Full move sets including Unique Attacks, Special Moves, Focus Attacks, Super Combos and Ultra Combos. - For a true arcade experience, battle head-to-head on Bluetooth against friends and foes alike. - Robust “Dojo” boot camp transforms neophytes into Street Fighter masters in five in-depth lessons. - Customize the controls for your style of play. Move the buttons anywhere you want on the screen and set the level of transparency. - Unleash super moves with a tap of the “SP” button, or toggle it off from the “Options” menu if you want to enter the button combo manually. - Four levels of difficulty.
TUAW points out that, “While it is about as faithful a Street Fighter IV game as you can get on the iPhone, playing a fighting game without actual buttons is not really an ideal experience.” Softpedia itself noted touch-screen control would never work to the benefit of the gamer, compared with physical buttons. Moreover, covering the screen with your fingers when playing such a graphically handsome iPhone game is an insult to the Street Fighter franchise.
In related news, gaming site PocketGamer has been talking to people close to Namco learning that Tekken is also headed to the iPhone. The Tekken series of fighting games is years away from becoming just as popular as Street Fighter, but its dominance on the market is secured in the long run, especially thanks to an ever-expanding new generation of gamers. An iPhone port is only logical for Namco at this point, with the iPhone and iPod touch still selling like crazy. Download Street Fighter IV for iPhone ($9.99)