Best Fighting Game This Generation
SFII Roots / Gameplay: If you played SFII back in the 90s, then SFIV is going to immediately feel comfortable to you. All the characters you know & loved return and control basically the same. Once you adjust to the new engine, you'll find that nearly all of your SFII strategies still work.
Graphics: The fighters & stages are gorgeous and colorful 3D models. The animations are fluid. The effects for special abilities like fireballs & 100-hand slap are beatiful to watch. And even the fighters themselves are very expressive (like right before they're about to get hit with an Ultra Combo) throughout each match.
SFIV is just a great looking game. Easily one of the best looking games this gen.
Audio Design: It's kinda weird to think about a 2D fighting game having immersive audio, but SFIV nails it. On a surround sound system, you'll hear each attack, block, Super/Ultra combo and even stage background in crystal clear Dolby Digital glory.
Online Gaming: Of the 30 or so matches I've played over PSN thus far, only about 3 had some lag. Overall, a very seemless, lag-free experience.
Training: There's plenty of Single Player stuff to do in SFIV, all of which help you become a better fighter. There's nine unlockable characters and there's a Challenge Mode to hone your skills. Enough to keep you busy for a while before jumping online.
HATED
Soundtrack: Not only is SFIV's theme song downright irritating, but you also hear it far too often. Very J-Pop. ugh.....makes me really miss the X360's custom soundtrack feature.
Lack of Tourney Mode: How did this awesome and nearly essential feature (which by the way, was included in SFII HD Remix) get left out? How? Needs to be patched in ASAP
Cheap Boss: Yeah, this complaint is universal for every fighting game, but SFIV's boss (Seth) is incredibly cheap. Even on the easiest difficulty, Seth can make you very frustrated.
CONCLUSION
SFIV is the game I dreamt aboutwhen I was a kid playing SFII in Arcades and on my SNES. Everything about SFIV from the precise controls to gorgeous graphics to the fluid animation prove that this game is a work of love by Capcom. They have brought SF franchise back to the forefront of gaming, let alone the fighting genre.