SF4 brings back the oldschool with the hot sauce of new school graphics and brilliant balance.
I loved this game the moment it went into my Xbox. The graphics were gorgeous, the speed was perfect, the menu system was easy to use (for the most part). It was a vast improvement on the series and as someone who already loved the formula, I like it.
The title music is HORRIBLE. I can understand that boy band music makes me want to punch the guy singing it dead in the throat, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't equate to boy band music = I want to fight to this song. I have no idea why they went in this direction, it baffles me. It is the only glaring flaw the game has and it's the first thing you hear when you start it up. The Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo Remix soundtrack (produced by OverClocked.org) was perfect and glorious for all the right reasons! And then you give us THIS!? Ugh.
Anyways, the only other problem I have with the game is the steeeeeeeep learning curve. Luckily, there is a Practice system that teaches you simple and advanced techniques. I still can't do most of the advanced ones on the fly in mid-combat, but if the guy stands still without blocking, his ass is grass!
Perhaps the best part of this game is the balance. I don't think I've ever won a match against a skilled opponent with T Hawk before, but I can now! Akuma feels a LITTLE overpowered simply because of the mid-air fireball thing, but once I got used to him, I can beat Akumas all day. It's a wonderful thing because it means that you can play with any character you want, and given you have the skill to use him/her you have an equal chance against your opponent no matter who they use. There are a few minor exceptions of course, but the balance is way smoother than it ever has been in the past. As a man who likes to play with every character on the menu, this is a great thing. If you're a one-trick pony picking Ken all day... you might miss the days of Street Fighter Alpha 3 a bit more than me of course.