Street Fighter 6: A Spectacularly Feature-Rich Fighting Game

Street Fighter 6 spices up the franchise with a bold new direction, addressing the concerns that plagued its predecessor and delivering an exceptional fighting game experience. With a diverse roster of 18 characters, a stunning new art style, and an ambitious online Battle Hub, Street Fighter 6 offers a wealth of content for players to enjoy.

What’s new in Street Fighter 6

One of the standout features in Street Fighter 6 is the Drive System, which introduces five powerful abilities governed by the Drive Gauge. These abilities, including Overdrive special moves, Drive Rush, Drive Parry, Drive Reversals, and Drive Impacts, open up a myriad of options for players. Unlike previous games where the meter had to be built up, players start each round with a full meter, providing immediate access to all abilities. This system adds a layer of strategy and depth to the gameplay, making every match a cerebral experience.

The implementation of the Drive Impact mechanic is particularly noteworthy. This move costs one bar of Drive Meter and offers super armor that can absorb up to two hits. Landing a Drive Impact on an opponent in the middle of their attack results in a crumpled state, allowing for devastating follow-up combos. Even blocking a Drive Impact has consequences, as it pushes the opponent back and depletes half a bar of their Drive Meter. The mechanic adds a whole new layer to Street Fighter 6’s gameplay, which requires players to constantly be on their toes or risk being taken by surprise.

Street Fighter 6: Fresh new faces

The roster of Street Fighter 6 is a mix of returning characters with fresh additions, each offering unique playstyles and movesets. Familiar faces are reimagined with new quirks and mechanics, but don’t sell the newcomers short, they all pack a punch. For example, we’ve got Kimberly's ninja-inspired moveset, Jamie's drunken melee brawling style, and the diverse representation of character archetypes cater to a wide range of playstyle preferences. We’re pretty sure there’s a character that represents your playstyle.

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Street Fighter 6: The RPG

Street Fighter 6’s World Tour single-player mode is surprisingly fun, and offers a lot more than we expected from a fighting game. That said, it’s still Street Fighter 6’s weakest element, which is saying something. We weren’t expecting much in terms of a story; the plot lacks depth and the characters feel underdeveloped, resulting in a dull narrative. However, the mode excels in teaching new players the fundamentals of the game, gradually increasing in difficulty over the 20-hour or so campaign. Yes, 20 hours, that is pretty long, but we would say it’s ultimately worth it, especially if you’re looking to learn the game’s mechanics. The tone of the mode remains light-hearted and fun, fitting well with the Street Fighter universe. Engaging minigames further enhance the experience, gamifying techniques used in actual fights.

Despite the story lacking any actual story, the character customization aspect of World Tour is surprisingly robust. Players can outfit their character with moves from every fighter, allowing for endless possibilities and broken combinations. However, unlocking moves can be a lengthy process, requiring a significant investment of time. Also, you can pretty much create what your heart desires when it comes to creating your character.

Street Fighter 6: Battle Hub sets the bar

The online Battle Hub in Street Fighter 6 is a standout feature, providing an engaging social space for players. Players can showcase their character creation skills in the Battle Hub. Participate in various activities beyond matchmaking, including classic Capcom games – even Street Fighter 2, streetfighterception –, Extreme Battles with unique rule sets, and Avatar Battles. The best part is that participation in the Battle Hub is entirely optional, and players can choose to engage with the core modes directly.

Street Fighter 6 excels in delivering a polished fighting game experience. It offers excellent netcode, an extensive training mode with helpful features like frame data, character guides, and combo trials. The game boasts quick load times, crossplay functionality, club creation, and other quality-of-life features that make it a standout title in the genre. Additionally, the introduction of the Modern control scheme and the option to customize button layouts further enhances accessibility for players of all skill levels. The developers have also put a significant effort into balancing the characters, addressing feedback from the community and ensuring fair gameplay.

Street Fighter 6: Graphics and Audio

Visually, Street Fighter 6 is a treat for the eyes. The game features a stunning art style that combines vibrant colors, detailed character designs, and fluid animations. Each stage is meticulously crafted, capturing the essence of different locations around the world. The attention to detail extends to the character models, which showcase intricate costumes and impressive visual effects during special moves and super combos. Whether playing on a high-end gaming PC or a console, Street Fighter 6 delivers a visually impressive experience.

The audio design in Street Fighter 6 is equally impressive. The game features a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the intensity of the matches, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The sound effects are punchy and satisfying, making each hit and combo feel impactful. The voice acting, while not the main focus of the game, is well done, with each character having their own unique voice and personality.

Street Fighter 6: Future content

In terms of DLC and post-launch support, Capcom has committed to providing regular updates, including new characters, stages, and balance adjustments. The developers have expressed their dedication to listening to player feedback and engaging with the community to shape the future of the game. This commitment to ongoing support ensures that Street Fighter 6 will continue to evolve and remain fresh long after its initial release.

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Street Fighter 6: Verdict

Overall, Street Fighter 6 is a spectacularly feature-rich fighting game that successfully builds upon the franchise's legacy. With its diverse roster, innovative Drive System, engaging online Battle Hub, and polished gameplay experience, it offers something for both casual players and competitive fighting game enthusiasts. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or new to the Street Fighter universe, Street Fighter 6 is a game worth diving into for hours of thrilling battles and exciting moments.

SKOAR!: 9/10

MOAR!

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Arcade game, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Capcom

Publisher: Capcom

Played on: PlayStation 5

Price: INR 3,999

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Manish Rajesh

Manish can usually be found fervently playing video games of all kinds or… no wait he’s pretty much always playing games View Full Profile