Street Fighter IV has a pretty big cast for a fighting game – but it could potentially be even bigger, the game’s producer told Famitsu, specifically mentioning the two characters from Super Street Fighter II that didn’t make the cut.
The console version of the title that hit shelves yesterday already has a bigger roster than seen in arcades, including Street Fighter Alpha cast members Sakura, Rose, Gen, and Dan. Also returning are two of the “New Challengers” that first made their appearance in Super Street Fighter II: Kung-fu movie star Bruce L – er, Fei Long, and British special agent Cammy. However, there were four new characters in Super SF2 … what happened to the other two? Where are Native-American T. Hawk and Jamaican kickboxer Dee Jay?
According to SF4 producer Yoshinori Ono, the development team had originally planned to include them – indeed, they still “want them in!” In fact, the discs whirring away inside many an Xbox 360 or PS3 might actually contain some character data – both characters had modeling done up to the “pre-texturing” phase, and T. Hawk actually has SF4 gameplay data. According to Ono, “If user’s [sic] make their voices know [sic], this prep work is something we can revive at anytime.”
Of course, this begs the question: How would you deliver them? Would they be downloadable content, similar to the alternate costumes? If so, how do you compensate for balance, so that someone doesn’t get an unfair advantage over another player just because they have the extra cash to fork out for additional characters?
Also, nostalgia aside, T. Hawk and Dee Jay aren’t the most memorable cast members in the Street Fighter series. Personally, before we get either of them, I’d love to see some faces from Street Fighter III: Ibuki, Dudley, and Alex, anyone?
On the other hand, we could always just wait for the inevitable release of Hyper Street Fighter IV: Worldwide Championship Edition EX 3.
