Street Fighter IV

Well Street Fighter IV is set to hit stores in about a week.  I have been trying to figure out if I should get excited or not.

Street Fighter II came out just as I was becoming old enough to hit arcades (Street Fighter 1 was a bit before my time).  I had actually prefered Mortal Kombat to the Street Fighter series, but I spent a ton of time playing both.  Countless hours were spent going to the local mall and pumping quarter after quarter into those games.

There was an etiquette to playing, as well.  Since there were few machines and so many players, you'd have to almost "bet" on which player would lose.  You'd line up your quarter on their side and pray for a defeat.  Your incentive to win was much more than just defeating your opponent - winning meant you got to keep playing.  Losing meant the back of the line, and sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else have fun.

Never has a fighting game on a console been able to replicate that experience for me.  Sure, ever since the SNES days the consoles were able to perfectly replicate the game itself, but the experience always seemed lacking.  Gathering a few friends over to play was definitely close, but it was never the same thing.

Now arcades are failing, and I can't even remember the last time I set foot in one (nor would I even know where to find one anymore).  I've played the random fighting game here and there over the years, but never anything that was able to grab my attention and keep it for a while. 

So in comes Street Fighter IV.  It looks like all the best parts of Street Fighter II with a fresh set of 3D graphics thrown on top of it.  I think it looks great, quite possibly the best fighting game since...well, since the days of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat in the arcades.  And yet, how can I justify $140 for it (I can't play with the 360 pad, I'd have to buy the Fight Stick)?

I'm not in high school or college, so the days of inviting 10 people over to play Street Fighter are pretty much over.  But wait, the game features online fighting!  Except, who cares?  Playing against an online opponent is really no different than playing against the computer, with the exception that the online opponent has the ability to talk smack (or even worse, be a Timmy).  But the experience remains the same - you lose and who cares?  Just go on to the next match. 

So I don't know what to do.  On the one hand, it looks like a fantastic game.  On the other I know it won't live up to the experiences I've had playing fighting games in the arcade, and I know I'll probably play it a few times and put it down.