Yes, that's Edmond Honda, bitches. Fear his hundred-hand slap.

Last night Capcom updated Street Fighter IV again. Two new characters (E. Honda and Crimson Viper) and the option to spend some cash on new outfits for Ryu and Chun-Li. I’m very impressed with the support Capcom have given this game – so much so that I’ve actually tempted to reward them by buying the outfits. I probably won’t, though.

I’ve mainly been using newcomer Juri, because I can with her. Not very often, but I’ve got a ranked match win rate of over twenty percent, which for this old idiot thumbs is pretty incredible. Of course, I’ve not played online since the weekend, so everybody’s now probably got used to fighting her and I’ll never win another match.

I love Juri.

As well as fighting ranked matches online I’ve also been playing Arcade mode and tried out an endless lobby with someone from rllmuk. It’s a setup where up to eight people sit around playing winner stays on. It’s a good job that watching Street Fighter IV is highly entertaining, because I didn’t win a single match. I don’t think I even won a single round, thinking about it.

Anyway, this is probably the best fighting game ever, even playing on a thumb-wrecking SixAxis pad. It’s one of those simply essential video games that come along every now and again.

A glorious sight.

Anyway, rather than fight as Blanka, as normal, I decided to do some training with Chun-Li. She’s very odd, with her mix of half circles and charge moves. Seems like she might be fun if I could get used to her, but her special move training missions were harder than I expected.

I’m really excited about Super Street Fighter IV, you know. The PS3 version is in the post to me right now, but I really wish there was an equivalent of the iPhone control system. The iPhone version of the Street Fighter IV is so good because it’s all about good fighting tactics and not just performing complicated thumb movements.

Yep, still Blanka.

I haven’t switched away from Blanka, but maybe I should. I just enjoying using him an awful lot and I still need to get the hang of charging while doing other things.

You wouldn't like him when he's blurry.

I think this game is probably up there with Chinatown Wars and Orbital as the very, very best the iPhone has to offer, even now, before the inevitable DLC.

Oof!

For a game that’s pretty lacking in content, I’ve played this an awful lot. I can’t seem to stop. I’m not even going for new best times or doing missions in the dojo – I’m just playing the game for the sheer joy of it.

Stupid, rubbish Ken.

Turned the difficulty up to Hard last night. Seems about right for me at the moment. I’m probably winning more rounds than I’m losing, overall, but there’s not much in it. I’m actually having to play better and mix things up a bit with my Blanka, which is a great feeling.

I love this game a lot.

Always, always satisfying.

I tried Abel for a bit last night, just a couple of fights, and got smashed in the face. He uses Ryu-like motions for his special moves, but I haven’t yet worked out how to actually use them properly. Might be worth trying to learn to play as him properly, though Blanka keeps calling me back.

Great success!

Also completed the tournament with Blanka without using a continue. I was hoping for a different Super Street Fighter IV preview movie than the one I’d got when I’d won the tournament with Ryu, but I was disappointed.

Utterly fantastic game, this. I really hope they build it up more over time, with more fighters and modes.

Take that, you lanky bastard!

Main problem with the game, though, is that there’s no way to save tournament progress. Hit the Home button or get a call and you lose everything. Please update, Capcom.