Another one bites the dust: Street Fighter ditches sprites

Strike another blow against 2D. 1UP's big reveal of the long-awaited Street Fighter IV finally lets us in on Capcom's plans for the franchise. As a sort-of confirmation of speculations by the enigmatic Surfergirl, 1UP's Matt Leone writes that "though the screenshot doesn't answer this question outright, we can confirm that the game's graphics are polygonal but the gameplay is strictly 2D."

Pleased though I might be to hear that the gameplay remains same as it ever was, that screenshot -- ugh. I know, I know, it's too early to judge, and hey, it might look like a goddamn dream once we finally get our hands on more. But ditching 2D graphics outright seems somehow improper to me, as Capcom's fighter sprites -- with the exception of their habits to copy and paste characters forever and ever amen -- have always been some of the best in the business. Brilliant composition, animation like buttah, fluid poetry for the eyes. No longer!

Change is good, and I'm all for change -- more than that, I don't want to come off as one of those nerds mumbling prophets of great calamity every time a series gets an update or overhaul. Just comes as a bit of a shock that Capcom of all folks would shirk such a long established tradition.

Ah well, there'll be others. Hey, there's always Guilty Gear, and that's pretty as hell, right? And Vanillaware is still in business, so -- oh, forget it. Can't spin this. It makes me sad. Just one of those things, I suppose.