So I went out and bought SF4 on a whim ( a very excited whim).  I used to be alright at fighting games (never good but alright) and now I get to realize just how much I actually suck.  I have a hard time winning arcade mode on easiest and it takes me 20mins to a half hour to do one combo in challenge mode (or it takes that long to give up).  It feels as if I will never be able to pull those off in battle.  I haven't tried online yet, mainly because I doubt it would be fun for me.

I am asking for any advice to get better (other than "just play it a lot"), any specific tips or tricks for a beginner?

I must say I am in the same camp as you. I suck myself, and I want to get better but it is going to take forever. There is no advice I can give, unfortunately.

I hate the combos in trial.

I mean, yeah they are good combos, but it isn't often that you are going to get an opponent in a completely defenseless state like that.

Just keep training and trying out characters until you find one that is right for you.

I mean, I was having trouble on Easy mode on Tuesday until I discovered I am apparently awesome with Sagat.

I just beat Hardest mode today.

I'd hate to say it, but "just play it alot" is pretty much the only  way to stop sucking. Also like lordxavierbritish said, rotate characters until you find one that fits your playing style. That will make it a lot easier (and more fun) to progress though the game.

Don't worry about challenge mode, it is indeed what the title suggests, a challenge. I had a hard time pulling off some of the combos. As for tips on how to get better, definitely keep practicing. It's not as hard as you think! Try some different characters around. As I am sure you already know or have been suggested to do, start practicing with Ryu. Ryu is a pretty well rounded character, and learning the basics with him will help you learn the basic movement inputs with over half of the characters. It will really help you nail that QCP + P combination of buttons. You will be doing them like they were nothing!

Once you have that down, it is really easy to get past most of the Easy arcade modes. Once you can do that confidently, it is all up to practice. It's not that you suck, it is more that you have not memorized the timing of how the game is played. The more you play, the easier it will be to recognize when characters are vulnerable and when a good time to attack is. Also, try not to be too aggressive, that is definitely a mistake that many newcomers make.

Ryu is good for a lot of the characters, but it is also good to practice with some characters that have charge moves, such as E. Honda, Guile, and Blanka. These characters can be very effective, and you may like their style more than characters similiar to Ryu.

Anyway, just keep at it! Once you break into it, you will really enjoy it and you will see why it has so many hardcore fans!

"I hate the combos in trial.

I mean, yeah they are good combos, but it isn't often that you are going to get an opponent in a completely defenseless state like that.

Just keep training and trying out characters until you find one that is right for you.

I mean, I was having trouble on Easy mode on Tuesday until I discovered I am apparently awesome with Sagat.

I just beat Hardest mode today.
"

There really is no tips for a fighting game except the condemned tip of, play it a lot. It's all about practice.

Like any game, practice the shit out of it, if you want to become real good, thats really the only way.

Practice isn't going to get you very far though, really.  As a guy once told me, "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect".  You may want to look up some SF4 videos on Youtube, and google "Domination 101".  Me?  I actually like being bottom tier, hell, I play as Dan.

Practice isn't going to get you very far though

"Practice isn't going to get you very far though, really.  As a guy once told me, "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect".  You may want to look up some SF4 videos on Youtube, and google "Domination 101".  Me?  I actually like being bottom tier, hell, I play as Dan.
"