Update: Arcade Edition
==================
I'm late but I felt I needed to update my review for Arcade Edition. This is without a doubt the best entry point for SFV. It is very much a complete package and what SFV should have been on launch. Buying this bundle will net give you acces to plenty of Fight Money, which you can use to get the remaining 6 DLC characters for free, as well as stages, costumes, colors and music from the shop. While the price point is fair I've regularly seen the price drop down to $20~$35. In this bundle you start with the following Content.

+28 Characters (12 more than Launch Edition)
+12 Bonus costumes
+5 different themed Arcade Mode ladders (earns Illustrations/Endings)
+Free Cinematic Story Mode DLC
+Individual Character Stories (earns Fight Money* and Costumes for purchase in the Shop)
+4 Levels of Survival Mode (earns Fight Money*, Colors, Consumables and Fortune tickets)
+Extra Battle (earns Fight Money, Costumes, music and other misc. items)
+3 Seasons of Trials (earns Fight Money*)
+3 Seasons of tutorial demonstrations (Character Demonstrations earn Fight Money*)
+Weekly and monthly missions (earns Fight Money and Titles)
+Team Battle mode
+Crossplay Ranked Online (earns Fight Money and Exp)
+Crossplay Casual Online (earns Fight Money and Exp)
+Crossplay Battle Lounge with up to 8 players

The game has done a complete 180 from it's launch and is now packed to the brim with content. There are MANY opportunities for Fight Money for anyone starting fresh with AE, and it won't feel like a grind as you bounce between different modes. Even if you only want to play online, you can turn on Fight Request while you blast through the other modes available.

Between crossplay, unlockable DLC, constant dev support and a slew of content, it's clear they listened to fan feedback to fix every problem they've had in the past with this game. No other fighting game out now has been as ambitious as this. If you're an SF fan, a fighting game fan, or even someone with a passing interest, get SFV AE.

*(Modes with an * next to Fight Money reward large amounts of EXP which give FM with every level up. Starting from level 0 you can earn about 25-30k fm per character playing offline exclusively)
--------------------------------------
OUTDATED
--------------------------------------
While the game isn't overflowing with content yet (just hang on til march guys) Capcom has managed to nail the one thing I haven't been happy with since SFIII: 3rd strike... Gameplay. During the SFIV era I felt like the game was plagued with sluggishness, and incredibly difficult combos. The movement was stiff and unnatural while the only great thing about it imo was the roster.

SFV has improved on this so much to the point where sometimes I feel like I'm playing 3rd Strike again. Netcode is excellent (dude cross platform play! thats frickin awesome!) the graphics look far better than SFIV ever could, toning down the cartoony look just a bit. The roster is varied and interesting and the character designs are generally pretty good! The soundtrack is also better than SFIV's but not quite on the level of SFII or SFIII.

Basically the only issue I have atm is server issues, which I would expect on launch day from basically any major series now, but Local VS., Survival and Sory Mode are all good enough to keep me busy until everything is worked out.

Everything I've seen people complaining about has already been guaranteed to be fixed (though I agree some of this should have been fixed before launch), and I have no problem patiently waiting and racking up points for the store in the meantime.

Update: Arcade Edition ================== I'm late but I felt I needed to update my review for Arcade Edition. This is without a doubt the best entry point for SFV. It is very much a complete package and what SFV should have been on launch. Buying this bundle will net give you acces to plenty of Fight Money, which you can use to get the remaining 6 DLC characters for free, as well as stages, costumes, colors and music from the shop. While the price point is fair I've regularly seen the price drop down to $20~$35. In this bundle you start with the following Content. +28 Characters (12 more than Launch Edition) +12 Bonus costumes +5 different themed Arcade Mode ladders (earns Illustrations/Endings) +Free Cinematic Story Mode DLC +Individual Character Stories (earns Fight Money* and Costumes for purchase in the Shop) +4 Levels of Survival Mode (earns Fight Money*, Colors, Consumables and Fortune tickets) +Extra Battle (earns Fight Money, Costumes, music and other misc. items) +3 Seasons of Trials (earns Fight Money*) +3 Seasons of tutorial demonstrations (Character Demonstrations earn Fight Money*) +Weekly and monthly missions (earns Fight Money and Titles) +Team Battle mode +Crossplay Ranked Online (earns Fight Money and Exp) +Crossplay Casual Online (earns Fight Money and Exp) +Crossplay Battle Lounge with up to 8 players The game has done a complete 180 from it's launch and is now packed to the brim with content. There are MANY opportunities for Fight Money for anyone starting fresh with AE, and it won't feel like a grind as you bounce between different modes. Even if you only want to play online, you can turn on Fight Request while you blast through the other modes available. Between crossplay, unlockable DLC, constant dev support and a slew of content, it's clear they listened to fan feedback to fix every problem they've had in the past with this game. No other fighting game out now has been as ambitious as this. If you're an SF fan, a fighting game fan, or even someone with a passing interest, get SFV AE. *(Modes with an * next to Fight Money reward large amounts of EXP which give FM with every level up. Starting from level 0 you can earn about 25-30k fm per character playing offline exclusively) -------------------------------------- OUTDATED -------------------------------------- While the game isn't overflowing with content yet (just hang on til march guys) Capcom has managed to nail the one thing I haven't been happy with since SFIII: 3rd strike... Gameplay. During the SFIV era I felt like the game was plagued with sluggishness, and incredibly difficult combos. The movement was stiff and unnatural while the only great thing about it imo was the roster. SFV has improved on this so much to the point where sometimes I feel like I'm playing 3rd Strike again. Netcode is excellent (dude cross platform play! thats frickin awesome!) the graphics look far better than SFIV ever could, toning down the cartoony look just a bit. The roster is varied and interesting and the character designs are generally pretty good! The soundtrack is also better than SFIV's but not quite on the level of SFII or SFIII. Basically the only issue I have atm is server issues, which I would expect on launch day from basically any major series now, but Local VS., Survival and Sory Mode are all good enough to keep me busy until everything is worked out. Everything I've seen people complaining about has already been guaranteed to be fixed (though I agree some of this should have been fixed before launch), and I have no problem patiently waiting and racking up points for the store in the meantime.