Alicia Ashby: If you ever haunted arcades looking to kill time with some mean games of Street Fighter II, then it's impossible not to be at least curious about this game. Yeah, the 2.5D gameplay smacks of Street Fighter EX, and all I have to say about that is that Skullomania had better get his moment in the sun. Playing a fighter in 2D is going to offer a nice return to real strategy in the game, instead of just timing and poking. Of course, getting to "go home again" with beautiful 3D graphics is going to be fantastic. This'll be another title where gamers make plenty of fun for themselves. All we need is some good online multiplayer.

Alan Butterworth: HADOUKEN! Ken, Ryu, Dhalsim, Chun-Li and others return to offer healthy fistfuls of ass-kicking action in one of my favorite fighting franchises. In a good sign, Capcom seems to be mindful of fans' concerns and doesn't appear to be fixing anything that was never broken from the original games, so we've got a 2D perspective with 3D flourishes and a familiar six-button control scheme. At the same time, they're touting fresh features such as new special moves, fight mechanics and gameplay locations. The screenshots and trailers look hugely promising with fast-paced, brutal gameplay, bright visuals and blistering effects. Look to this game to deliver a painful, bruise-filled trip down memory lane.

Redmond Carolipio: I have a soft spot for this franchise, mostly because it's the one that unearthed my competitive nature when it came to gaming. It's also helped establish the core lessons that one needs for every fighting game: the concept of defense, style-vs-style, counters, combos and fundamentals against flash. It'll be in 3D, which I can take now that I've seen the screens. I'm also a fan of some of the other concepts, like the "saving" system. Super moves and ultra moves are a big plus for me, as it looks like the series wants to touch on its SFII roots. Oh, and I want to see what Crimson Viper might have to offer.

Anthony Chambers: When rumors of a new Street Fighter were swirling around, I was wondering if it was going to be something like Super Street Fighter Alpha 3 DX HD, but thankfully that was not the case. Street Fighter IV will incorporate 2D gameplay with 3D graphics, and it's going to bring back classic characters such as Ken, Ryu, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim, just to name a few. New characters, like the vicious vixen Crimson Viper, will also be making their debuts. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least everyone from Super Street Fighter II comes back. Even though the game will be 2.5D, it will incorporate some of the features that have become popular in the SF realm, such as super moves. It will be interesting to see the parry system removed, but let's keep our faith in the development team as it finishes the game that could take us all back to our childhoods.

Xav de Matos: When Street Fighter IV was revealed in January 2008, fighting game fans were floored. Not only was it a surprising reveal from Capcom, but the assumed 3D conversion was an immediate call to arms for retro warriors. Since then, Capcom has confirmed that while the art of Street Fighter IV is presented in 3D, the characters fight on a rotating 2D landscape. Early screens look promising, and the promised return to classic characters and ideas (à la Street Fighter II) have alleviated concerns some fans have had for the series' future. The most exciting part of Street Fighter IV is the talk that Capcom has attempted to address all the issues hardcore fans have had with the series. Focusing on the core of what made Street Fighter II so incredible and bringing it to the next generation, Street Fighter IV proves that you don't need to reinvent the wheel to be a potential powerhouse.

Geson Hatchett: Every time someone approaches me about this title and has the gall to ask just what all of the excitement is about, I simply end up looking at them as if they've grown a second head. Seriously, now. Street. Fighter. Four. For an entire generation of gamers, these three words are the Holy Grail of interactive entertainment. Sure, said generation is fast becoming the previous generation, but there's still no denying that the original fighting franchise still has lots of life left in it, and as a fighting game fanatic, I honestly can't wait for Street Fighter to be brought into today's gaming world. Plus, for a game that's supposedly only two percent complete, it's looking pretty darned good!

James King: The Street Fighter games have had countless incarnations through the years, and the series has graced virtually every console and handheld ever made. Although the franchise has had many spin-off games, it has had very few true sequels. The core game has undergone little change since Street Fighter III, which was originally launched in 1997. Street Fighter IV is highly anticipated, mostly for the fact that it is such an old and famous series that has not had a true sequel for a decade. Most fighting games have transitioned into the 3D realm, but SF4 is staying true with 2D mechanics and a very unique art style that resembles the older animation of previous Street Fighter games while giving it a fresh perspective.

Chris Lawton: What can I say about Street Fighter IV that hasn't been said before? Some of my fondest memories in the arcade involve putting my quarter on the Street Fighter II machine to signal my right to the next game. When Street Fighter III came out, it blew me away; they had taken everything that was good and fun about SF2 and added stuff to make it even better. SF4 has me so giddy, especially with the recent announcements. I'm happy they're sticking with 2D, and I'm really happy they're bringing back some old favorites. Above all else, though, I'm really happy that I might get a chance to lay down a quarter on another SF machine. Because, you know, I got next game.

Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen: Not everyone's going to be looking forward to Street Fighter IV, the newest release in the fighting game series, and possibly Capcom's most-used property outside of Mega Man. This may result in many jaded casual fighter fans not expecting too much out of it, but this is probably the largest update the series has ever received. No more anime graphics. In fact, no more 2D at all in the graphics, as the graphics finally switch over to 3D. They're also getting rid of the parry mechanic that defined the tournament-heavy Street Fighter III series, in favor of new tricks designed to be more accessible without weakening play for hardcore gamers. The fact that the game looks surprisingly complete at what the developers have described as "one, maybe two percent" indicates just how many man-hours Capcom intends to put in this game. Lots of people are looking forward to seeing the end results, and for very good reason. There's intense speculation over the announcement that they plan to port it to as many consoles as possible, introducing the possibility of this game seeing a DS version. Now, how would that work?!

Thomas Wilde: You have to dance with the one who brung ya. I probably wouldn't be interested in video games, let alone writing about them, if not for the arcade culture of the early '90s and the game that fueled and started it all, Street Fighter 2. SF4 has needed to happen for a very long time, and why it took this long is one of the great questions of our time.