Have you ever had a mobile phone game that makes you stay on the toilet for an extra 25 minutes? Have you ever had a portable title that feels like a micro time machine whisking you back to your youth with each play? Have you ever done a Blade Kick on the bus and then with the same device explained to your boss why you’re running 15 minutes late… again? Have you ever had Street Fighter on your iPhone/ iPod Touch??? Words by Danny Walker

Last night we downloaded one of the best games that has ever graced the iPhone/ iPod Touch. Much like what Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars has done, Capcom’s Street Fighter IV really does turn apple’s wonderful-yet-bloody expensive devices into gaming machines. Its all well and good losing virtual dollars in Texas Hold ’em, flying to the danger zone on Top Gun or curling in a badly pixelated free kick from the half way line in Real Football or FIFA but where have those addictive mobile games gone? The console crack reappears in the form on Street Fighter IV.

Featuring eight classic characters from the big blockbuster including Ryu, Chun Li, Able, Blanka, M. Bison, Dhalsim, Guile and Ken as well as seven environments, Street Fighter IV offers players the most advanced fighting experience on the platform. Veteran players will instantly recognise Street Fighter IV‘s robust move sets including Unique Attacks, Special Moves, Focus Attacks, Super Combos and Ultra Combos. Newbies to the series can get on the path to becoming a world warrior by completing the game’s new “Dojo” mode which provides simple to advanced lessons on dominating the game.

So far, we’re loving the signature moves – I personally had Sonic Booms on lock moments after download – but we’re not too sure about the controls just yet. Even though you can completely edit the settings of the “visual pad” it still seems slightly odd having everything on screen, but hey… you’re on a bloody iPhone/ iPod Touch, it’s to be expected.

Now we just need to try out multiplayer. It’s great that Street Fighter IV can be played head-to-head in “Versus” mode via Bluetooth bringing the excitement of the arcade to the small screen but no one has laid down a “Perfect” challenge just yet.

This game will take some beating.

4/5

Tags: Capcom, Games, iPhone, Street Fighter, Unwind