Capcom 'underestimated' popularity of Street Fighter 5's single-player features

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Street Fighter 5? More like Street Fighter 4.5, am I right?

For everything SF5's gameplay nails, the game is likely to go down in infamy for what can most kindly be described as a disappointing launch: threadbare single-player modes, server snafus, and barely there A.I.—and that's just for starters. Producer Yoshinori Ono is aware of the game's paucity of content, and admits he and the team didn't quite plan on the absence of Street Fighter staples like Arcade Mode ruffling so many feathers.

Speaking to Game Informer (via Gamespot), Ono admitted "that we underestimated the popularity of some of the single-player features. That said, we are excited about the two all-new single-player modes--character story and survival--and we have plans to continue to refine and expand onto those experiences."

Not that Capcom will be resting on its laurels until then. "As we've stated in the past, Street Fighter V is an evolving platform that will continue to get more refined and built upon over time," Ono said. "For us, this is a marathon and not a sprint, and we appreciate all of the words of support as we embark on this journey together."

Sorry, Mr. Ono. You won't be getting much in the way of "words of support" from me. Speaking as a fan of the Street Fighter franchise since being gob smacked by the colorful characters and fluid animations of SF2 the first time I laid eyes (and quarters) on its sleek arcade cabinet, I'm pretty bummed at how cobbled-together SFV has felt. Ono 'fessed up in the interview that Capcom all but pushed the game out of the nest before it could fly to get it in front of pro players in time for Capcom Pro Tour in February.

But for players like me, who don't play much multiplayer online or with friends (note: I'm not as sad and lonely as that clause implies), Arcade Mode was the bread-and-butter of Street Fighter 2, 3, and 4. I can even overlook the absence of Story Mode. This is Street Fighter: Ken's a goof, Ryu wants new and better challengers, Guile combs his hair. Who cares about backgrounds for these two-dimensional toons? I wanted a ladder-based, traditional arcade game mode with A.I. that toed the line between cheap and dumb.

Will I ever get that? Maybe later.

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