Minor but notable, the departure from the large "flappy" costume to what looks more like low cut tank-top and tight dance leggings. If you can see muscle definition through a set of pants, you're either a porn star or you definitely picked up the wrong size pants. This appears to be the primary result of other more notable bad design decisions, which is our next point:
09 - RYU AND KEN ARE NOT A DWARVES OR HOBBITS
Supposing the pants are the right size, Ryu must have been hitting the rice and beans pretty hard prior to Street Fighter IV. The thickness of the legs on screens that show both him and Ken show child-bearing hips and non-existent shins. The knees are practically on top of the ankles and the feet look like swollen Hobbit hooves. Previous SF games do have stylized exaggerated hands and feet, which are great, but when coupled with fat knees and fat legs it just makes him look like a teapot: short and stout. Please choose one or the other!
08 - RYU IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE MUSCLES ON TOP OF OTHER MUSCLES
Think Ryu would allow a chest cavity and space between his neck, biceps, and shoulder to remain unused? No way! He would find a way to develop muscles that didn't exist and grow them there. While it seems they nailed the forearms, Ryu's neck should look like a 500 year old Oak tree and his other body parts should look like they are filled with concrete. The chest and shoulders looked particularly wimpy as a result of not allowing muscles to grow on other muscles. Also, his adam's apple should look like a knife.
07 - RYU IS A RECTANGLE, NOT A SQUARE
Building on the the muscle-on-muscle concept, giving him a thick waist and narrow shoulders (perhaps due to the horribly disproportionate size of his melon) is a leading factor in why the characters look so generic. Ryu needs to look like could carry two giant lamp posts on his shoulders. The current design looks like he might struggle holding up a boom box. The man looks like he's never done a pull-up and that's just wrong.
06 - RYU'S FISTS SHOULD NOT BE SPONSORED BY NERF
Since when is this Street Sparring IV? Ryu's fists need to look like Mack Trucks of Death. The wimpy looking glossy, rubbery hand guards completely pussify how lethal he looks. The red guards have been around for awhile now, but this is the first time they look like NERF products - cushy and ready to bounce off your face. My personal preference is that they go back to their roots and stop this post-Alpha red hands nonsense and use the black or brown ones we saw in SF2. In earlier games it looked like he was concealing bathroom tile in them.
05 - RYU LACKS EPIC EYEBROWS
In the original games and most of the Capcom promotional artwork, Ryu's eyebrows are actually bigger than his actual eyes. It isn't only a style issue -- its an effect that makes him look like he's been frowning for the last 30 years to create a brow ramp that can refract the rays from the sun to burn a hole in your face. All the focus, anger, and hatred he carries is channeled right smack in the middle of his brow, almost burdened by the sour look on his face holding it up. They got the mouth right but his chin is also lacking muscles that don't exist (see number 8).
04 - WHY IS RYU'S HEAD UTTERLY GIGANTIC?
Any comic book artist will tell you this: if you want to make a guy look tough, make his head smaller than his shoulders. This is also common in anime art and a staple on Street Fighter 2 male character design. Somehow, it was completely missed in IV because the artist was perhaps too preocupied in getting realistic proportions right. The cassava on his shoulders pretty much ruins the entire aesthetic, which beyond specific features such as this and fat legs makes me call to question the entire art direction of the project:
03 - RYU WAS CREATED IN THE STYLE OF AN ANIME CHARACTER. KEEP HIM THAT WAY!
Look, Capcom. One of the primary reasons we loved Street Fighter 2 series was the dynamic range of cool looking anime-style characters that came to life on the screen. Personal preference aside, realistic games like Mortal Kombat couldn't hold a token to the distinctive likes of characters like Ryu, which is amazing because he's just a guy in a karate suit. And yet, unmistakable.
It was the nuances of the character's facial proportions, that exaggerated kabuki-like stoic facial expression, that makes Ryu distinctive. It was the ridiculous muscular build-up, the filthy torn outfit, and the yelling and screaming he produces when you wail on your opponent with him that renders all these things together in an orgy of games-as-art grade epic ass-whipping. The anime roots are completely all but lost in these screenshots due to blasphemous concessions in proportions.
02 - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, RYU IS NOT NICARAGUAN!
Before I get into why his face looks like utter shit, I'd like to share an inside joke that I'd like to share with you. When Capcom started localizing Street Fighter for the states they brought on this laughable team of illustrators that completely butchered the character design. Nobody was spared. You probably remember picking up the Street Fighter 2 box for your Super Nintendo praying that the game on the inside did not resemble what they had done to the box on the outside. It was horrible to us, but it seemed that the EGM's of the world seem to be oblivious or at least respectful that it was happening despite how hideous they looked.
As kids we had no sophisticated resources or means of explaining this as so we were left to our own devices. Incidentally, we knew a Nicaraguan guy that went to school with us that looked exactly like the guy in the SF2 SNES manual. Thus, we coined the term "Nica Ryu" to describe this art style. I hoped never to see Nica Ryu again after throwing away my instruction manual and graduating, and here he is again! Can we please have him deported once and for all? No offense to Nicaraguans intended, but RYU IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK JAPANESE! STOP THE MADNESS!
And last, but certainly not least...
01 - UGH, MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY PENIS WHY?!!
Seriously Capcom, what the hell were you thinking? While we're all happy to know that Ryu could instantly screw Chun-li if she appeared halfway down the street, we don't need to have his wang in our face when he's in the default fighting stance. I don't mean to rob gay gamers of a full view of this crotch, but seriously, could the this be moved to a less popular stance
Would Ryu wear a cup? Probably not. Hell, he's probably commando in those pants and doesn't wear socks or sneakers. But would Ryu not have discipline his penis to not gayly dangle before his opponent like a hypnotic sock puppet? I think so. If everything outlined in this article is is too much to ask, we at least implore you to vanish Sheng Long. Also, cocks.
Putting my money where my mouth is, I offer you this sloppy Photoshop of all ten fixes badly put together. This is no job for a blogger, but it would be great if somebody in charge over there at Capcom could beat the art director over the head with it.
So there you have it. Poked, prodded, and needlessly over-analyzed we've attempted to quantify what specifically was so horribly generic and off about the Street Fighter IV preview. Even if you're as upset and disappointed about it as we are, the game is still in development and footage of the fighter in action may prove that most of these concerns were addressed ... although I have reason to believe that it will lacks sauce already.
At the very least, I've spoken my peace. What would you change if you could? Be as specific as possible in your comments below as we would like to ultimately invite Capcom to comment.
12/24/2007 14:44
12/24/2007 14:44
"doesn't resemble tree enough"
12/24/2007 14:45
granted, any serious SF player will prefer gameplay>>>>>>>>graphcis anyday, I only wondered why Ryu's muscles outgrew his pants part of the Gi. I know the guy is like the biggest fighting bum, but looking at his highwater Gi and Ken's baggy Gi, makes you wonder.
otherwise, make his hair longer, touch his face up and he's fine. I mean....these ARE early designs and we have more than a year away from anything big coming.
12/24/2007 14:46
12/24/2007 14:46
12/24/2007 14:46
12/24/2007 14:46
12/24/2007 14:47
12/24/2007 14:47
12/24/2007 14:48
12/24/2007 14:48
12/24/2007 14:50
12/24/2007 14:50
I think it might even look better if they go for a more anime-look all around, ala DBZ. You can TELL Goku is fucking ripped, but he doesn't have tight clothes or whatnot.
If they were willing to mess up our graphics, let's pray they don't destroy our gameplay.
12/24/2007 14:53
12/24/2007 14:57
Please send it to capcom.
12/24/2007 15:03
12/24/2007 15:03
12/24/2007 15:05
12/24/2007 15:07
12/24/2007 15:11
12/24/2007 15:19
12/24/2007 15:19
I trust Capcom! The character designs in Lost Planet were top-notch, and MOST times they really nail them. Have faith people!
12/24/2007 15:27
Before I get flamed I worked in comics for a while people.
12/24/2007 15:29
12/24/2007 15:32
I think they should include some of the characters from Street Fighter: The Later Years as a bonus.
12/24/2007 15:32
Anyway, good job Niero.
P.S.
What's wrong with Hobbits and Dwarves?
12/24/2007 15:32
12/24/2007 15:44
12/24/2007 15:45
PENIS......
WHY........?
12/24/2007 15:45
12/24/2007 15:49
12/24/2007 15:49
12/24/2007 15:49
12/24/2007 15:57
12/24/2007 16:00
12/24/2007 16:21
...
...I also think the person that dressed up like Cammy in the pic above need to head over to my place, quickly...
...
...also cocks...
thank you, GOODNIGHT!
12/24/2007 16:29
12/24/2007 16:47
and they need to bring back chun li's old alpha stage, where mostly everyone in china is riding their bikes in the background.
12/24/2007 16:55
12/24/2007 17:03
Fuck yeah!
Also, cocks... are unnecessary.
12/24/2007 17:04
SF needs to be a 2D game. 3D just isn't gonna work!
12/24/2007 17:07
12/24/2007 17:22
12/24/2007 17:27
12/24/2007 17:31
12/24/2007 17:48
"Street Fighter needs to be a 2D game."
No. Simply because no. I mean, way to stay the same and bore everyone else. I'm already looking forward to the HD Remix of Street Fighter II, so why would I need another. Also, from reading the EGM article, it seems that the developers are trying to keep the game true to it's roots.
I'm in no way concerned about the this game. They have their ear to the wall and are listening to people's complaints. I just hope they ignore all the whiny bitch babies who are crying for sprites. If you want that, wait for the remix or buy III Strike. It's quite simple.
The game is going to play 2 dimensional and they're trying to get more people to play other than the douche bags who want everything to stay the same. This is why Zelda for me, is God awful boring. Why to slow down the creative juices?
Also, the thing about Street Fighter being designed as an anime styled game couldn't be more wrong. The only anime I remember is from Alpha. There's plenty of anime in Dragon Ball Z and Naruto if that's your bag, kids.
12/24/2007 17:52
12/24/2007 18:01
12/24/2007 18:37
12/24/2007 18:40
12/24/2007 18:40
I can has breakfast off it?
12/24/2007 18:59
I'm redesigning my website currently and as such I have nothing online at the moment, however if you look up the 1st 4 issues of The 10th Muse by Image and issues 8-12 of Rising Stars by Top Cow you'll see a lot of my work - I did backgrounds and some inks (occasionally colours too) in these books while in a studio up north. We also did a lot of design work for Hasbro and that's where I was most productive while I was there.
I'll hit ya up with my website when it's complete, definitely before the new year. My blog header was a sketch I decided to colour and I kind of liked it, hence it's header status now.
I accept no responsibility for the otherwise terrible quality of the books hahahaha
12/24/2007 19:17
12/24/2007 19:27
IMO
12/24/2007 19:35
you a fan of infected mushroom?
also: i trust capcom to do what they do.
i'm not going to die if street fighter ends up shitty.
12/24/2007 19:44
I know who they are but I had no idea they had an album called Vicious Delicious!! I've been using this aka for a few years now and will demand royalties.
My friend actually named his cat the same thing like 5 years ago so I stole it. Who do I give royalties to?
12/24/2007 19:46
Especially after the Cammy pic - I can has her ass in a frame?
12/24/2007 20:12
12/24/2007 20:24
12/24/2007 20:32
12/24/2007 20:32
12/24/2007 21:03
The feet and hands have ALWAYS been huge in Street Fighter games.
"RYU IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE MUSCLES ON TOP OF OTHER MUSCLES"
He looks the same as he always has.
"WHY IS RYU'S HEAD UTTERLY GIGANTIC?"
...It's far too small in your version. How is that not obvious to everyone? A human head is about half the width of the shoulders.
"RYU WAS CREATED IN THE STYLE OF AN ANIME CHARACTER. KEEP HIM THAT WAY!"
He still looks "anime" to me. Besides, "anime" is a group of many many different styles. Berserk, Cardcaptor Sakura, Bleach, Trigun, Inu Yasha, Death Note, and Shin-Chan do not have the same art style.
"UGH, MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY PENIS WHY?!!"
....Okay, I'll give you that one. Next-Gen buldge strikes again!! NNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
12/24/2007 21:12
12/24/2007 21:23
I doubt they're going to change the art direction at this point, but I fear Chun Li's thighs might end up resembling telephone poles than actual legs.
12/24/2007 21:25
And why does Ryu have a penis sticking out...
12/24/2007 22:24
12/24/2007 22:34
12/24/2007 23:13
Also, nice article. I agree. They should have stuck to a anime-inspired art design when moving to IV, not this Westernized bullshit.
12/24/2007 23:37
I really agree on the premise that they are making him look generic-y, the face lacks the dedication to the art that it used to.
And beyond being aesthetically questionable (with the obvious exceptions), a penis on Ryu is pointless. I don't think Ryu has ever had a sexual thought let alone used it for anything but pissing on defeated enemies.
He probably doesn't know what it is, Sheng Long raised him on nothing but fighting, so every time a young, pubescent Ryu got wood Sheng made him stand outside all night holding a razor sharp sword on it. "If you don't use it for fighting it gets cut off!", Sheng would scream. Then Ryu would cry and suppress another memory.
Also, that cat picture is wrong, so I fixed it.
12/25/2007 00:20
@Niero: We need to battle in SSFIITurboHDRemix when it comes out. It shalt be epic.
12/25/2007 00:41
12/25/2007 01:10
God bless us, every one.
12/25/2007 01:12
MOAR PLZ K THX BYE
12/25/2007 01:16
12/25/2007 01:20
12/25/2007 02:28
Also, Sandra Bollocks.
12/25/2007 02:56
Spoiler: cammy is a dude. I also found some disturbing adult cosplay sites while researching this story. amazing!
12/25/2007 04:28
one hour later....
damn she is hot anyway i 100% agree with the article i was so frustrated with the characters ugly 3d design
please droid send this to capcom or make a petition !
12/25/2007 09:42
ps: MOAR CAMMY PLZ!
12/25/2007 09:47
12/25/2007 10:08
1. Ryu's head is proportonate to the rest of his body.
2. He is still "anime" style, just a different "anime" style.
3. People are just bitching for the sake of bitching.
Thank you.
12/25/2007 14:08
12/25/2007 14:10
12/25/2007 14:14
12/25/2007 14:17
That said, that three percent was funny as all hell.
12/25/2007 16:36
12/25/2007 18:12
As for the topic at hand:
Yes, the penis thing sucks, but it's honestly probably just a bad angle. I don't think we're going to be exploring cock physics in SFIV.
The characters look a bit on the unrealistic side, but I will say this: don't expect the final versions to look quite the same, Niero. I think that Capcom is going to be listening to what the Interwebs will say, because let's face it - the real reason they're making this game is for Street Fighter fans like you and me, and if they blow it, they're going to get hell for it.
Really, this seems more like a style change for me, that they want the over-blown, kind of cartoon-like style instead of going super-realistic. I think their heart's in the right place, but I'm not quite sure if they've got it nailed down yet.
But if they put Cammy in this and fuck up her looks... then by the power invested in me by the great states of Michigan and Ohio... I will go absolutely ballistic.
12/25/2007 19:23
First of all that "destructoid remix" looks like SHIT. you're head is WAY TOO FUCKING SMALL. take some art classes before you start bitching abour proportions.
I'd wait to see it in motion before I see any more hack bloggers picking this game apart.
also for gods sake take that god damn "where reviews arent for sale" bullshit down. you're making yourselves sound like self righteous douches. and they my as well be for sale with the "informed" bullshit I see on this site.
12/25/2007 19:53
12/25/2007 20:12
Penis
WaHaHyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...
12/25/2007 20:59
12/25/2007 21:47
12/25/2007 22:43
I have faith in Capcom and their design teams. What many of the muppets on here don't seem to realise is that japanese artists, while having a base in human anatomical/life drawing etc, do steep their design work in a very manga mold. Remember, back in the day, they had to sell their games to japanese gamers first, so that mangaesque appeal has to be there to help sales.
This is true of many of Capcom's games.Do check them.
From the screens shown so far, and as an artist myself, the majority of design triats and likenesses of the characters have been kept in 3D quite well, without making them look too real like Tekken or VF, they have fallen, one foot in the manga SF house style and the other in 3D games.
Go back and look at the Alpha designs, because these SFIV designs are obviously taking their cues from those games and building on them. Again they keep that anime/manga feel, and that's important to the series and the fans.
So, give Capcom a break and be glad we are getting SFIV at all. And enough aboout the crotch of a still character (I think many of you picky gamers are seeing what you want to see). Ryu is male and you expect him to have nothing like some bad Disney/WB cartoon character?
If you really wanna see weird SF innuendo, check out one armed bandit Oro's waist rope in SFIII. Now what does that remind you of?
12/25/2007 23:25
12/26/2007 06:11
12/26/2007 06:34
Elena > Cammy
12/26/2007 09:59
12/26/2007 17:57
2.)Ryu got dark skin in SF 3,because he is a hobo who walks around the world in his tattered Gi.
3.)AWWW,SF2 HD remix,threathened much?
12/27/2007 00:33
Also apparently this stuff is from a really early build, so I dunno... I just can't imagine it will look like this as a final product... I hope...
12/27/2007 11:02
12/28/2007 03:10
12/28/2007 10:34
12/29/2007 02:37
It kinda makes sense...
12/29/2007 12:06
12/30/2007 05:31
In the future, more Cammy pics please.