There are some folks out there who are really into fighting games.  I mean, REALLY into fighting games.  Heck, people have big publicized fighting game competitions every year, that’s how big it is.  So if you’re one of those types who are really into fighting games, or if you want to get that way, then BradyGames has you covered with their Ultra Street Fighter IV Official Bible.  This guide, based on the new iteration of Capcom’s flagship fighter, is written for pros, by pros.  Let’s take a quick look and see what you’ll find inside.

First of all, this book is thick.  Like, twice the size of an average strategy guide book!  The first part of the book is a lengthy glossary of all the terms they used in the guide and in fighting games in general.  It also lists facts like every character’s movement speeds, and much more!  The rest of the book features information and moves for each of the game’s fighters.  Everyone from Abel to Zangief.  We’ll take a closer look at the pages featuring my favorite Street Fighter character: Cammy.

Back when my good friend and I were teenagers, Street Fighter II in arcades was huge.  My friend was really good at it, but I was awful.  The first time I saw the joystick and six buttons, I thought, “How can I do that?  I only have five fingers!”  When Super Street Fighter II came out, it included some new characters, including Cammy.  When my friend and I first tried it, I picked Cammy and actually beat my friend for the first time!  Yeah, I know you could say I won because my friend wasn’t familiar with the new characters.  But hey, just let me have my victory, OK?  So that’s why Cammy is my favorite character in that game.  Plus she looks cool, has a neat storyline, and wears a cool hat.

So anyway, not only does this book show every character’s moves, special attacks, and combos, it also shows the hit boxes and hurt boxes for every frame.  These boxes show where exactly each character takes and dishes out damage.  It also shows the damage of each move, the speed at which it is executed, and much more!  Also you’ll read about each fighter’s history, advantages, disadvantages, and all that good stuff.

The last couple of pages has a code for a digital online version of the same guide, as well as an ad for an app you can download to your tablet that shows you the frames of animation for all the characters!  So it’s clear that this guide was written for only pros in mind.  My only problem with the guide is that the print and pictures are rather small, but then, I guess they had to do that since the guide is pretty thick as it is!  And the Southern Baptist in me doesn’t like how it’s called the ‘Official Bible,’ but then, it’s just a strategy guide for a game so no need to get all persnickety about that, I guess.  Also keep in mind that this guide is designed for a T rated game.  So if you’re a pro who is really competitive and serious about your fighting games, you’ll definitely want to get this guide!

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