Roomba will wipe the floor with you
I’ve had the pleasure of playingStreet Fighter 6multiple times since its initial reveal, just one short year ago. I first checked out the rad-looking sequel during the summer of 2022 at Birmingham’s VS Fighting tournament, then later that year at EGX London. I’ve also had the good fortune to take part in both beta tests and,as previously reported, I have been left in a pretty excitable state from each experience.
A fortnight ago, I was kindly invited to Capcom’s UK headquarters in order to check out what was, more or less, the full and final build ofSF6. And, by the end of my short time spent with the complete game, my anticipation for this scrapper has, more or less, reached something of a eye-twitching, hand-scratching fever pitch… Or maybe that’s just the coming of summer pollen. Who knows?
While therewere limitationsplaced on what I could and could not play, (so save yer gripin’), as well as whatI may or may not reveal, I was given the opportunity to check out one character’s arcade mode, a healthy chunk of the “World Tour” feature, and poke around within various Tutorials, Character Guides, and Combo Trials. Most excitingly, I was given free rein withSF6‘s 18-strong launch roster, affording the opportunity to step into the ring with returning veteransHondaandDhalsim, as well as frankly frightening newcomers such asMarisa,Manon, andJP.
I’ll tell you this much, whoever you’re taking to the lab, you may shape into a force to be reckoned with. And, for the first time sinceKiller Instinct, I truly want to — and feel like I could — exceed asanybody.
Choose Your Fighter
While I hardly had the time to get neck-deep into the entire roster, the key element of theSF6lineup that stands out to me is the perceived viability of almost every character, at least on first impressions. The sequel’s fast, aggressive playstyle and incredibly flexible mechanics allow for all 18 World Warriors to feel solid and practical, while also owning their bespoke playstyles. With a roster of zoners, rushdown champs, grapplers, and hybrid fighters,SF6has a highly varied pack of pugilists, each character built around one (or more) personal mechanics that offer them distinct personalities among their peers.
For example, Zangief and Marisa are both incredibly dangerous and dominant grapplers. But while Zangief is about smothering the opponent with ground-gaining strikes and singular, devastating throws, (many of which havewaymore armor than should belegal), Marisa’s gameplay revolves around charging her buttons, (withallof her standing normals able to be held for alternate effect), with the Roman giant locking her opponents down with unpredictable striking rhythms that leave her hapless foes scared to press buttons.
So, while both characters boast what is essentially a “wrestler” archetype, the two titans are completely different from one another in control, strategy, and offensive and defensive tactics. It’s this emphasis on distinction that makes the entire roster interesting, resulting in the player being almost spoilt for choice.
Lily is a fantastic hybrid character. The Thunderfoot Tribe member has learned many Specials of her predecessor, T. Hawk, but she is imbued with mobility and reach that was not afforded her chunky-sized ancestor. Of all of the new characters played, Lily isperhapsmy favorite. There’s just something so infectious about her. I also spent a little time as Manon, who very much felt a “specialist” character, one that will require deft study and experimentation, to be ultimately rewarded with a fighter who is frightening at mid-range and franklyterrifyingin close quarters.
Cammy, delightfully, is still Cammy, and slips right into her role as an acrobatic rushdown character relying on dizzying speed coupled with assault from myriad directions. Within seconds the Delta Red Queen felt extremely comfortable, and her fans will be very pleased with her latest incarnation. If it ain’t broke… right? Cammy’s most important new addition is definitely her newest cat pal, who both hangs out with her on the character select screenandinterrupts her mid-match victory poses.
An interesting note about piano commands, directly affecting Messrs E. Honda and Blanka in particular. BothHundred Hand Slap and Electric Thunder are now Command Moves(qcf/qcb + P). In fact, during my short time playing the full game, I did not find a single piano-based input, a change perhaps necessitated by the addition of the new “Modern” and “Dynamic” control systems.
As for the sinister-looking JP, a variety of scary, multi-planed projectiles — one of which is actuallya throw— brings about the same cautious anxiety conjured up by say,Mortal Kombat’sCetrion orKing of Fighters‘ Goenitz. Oh, and he also has a screen trap, with a time-delayed release, (ala Korin), which isalsoa teleport… which he canalsofeint. Cheers. You can check out some of these moves in the video below.
We’ll solve the puzzle, but JP is going to be an online monster in the early going. Put that in the bank.
We are The World
Many of you will have, by now, played the World Tour opening as featured in theStreet Fighter 6demo, available now on PC and console platforms. I got the chance to push a little further beyond what is shown in the demo, touching base with Chun-Li and her adorable chum Lei-Feng, getting into scrapes with several cardboard box-headed ruffians, and even agreeing to some (fairly dopey) sidequests from various Metro City residents.
The World Tour mode, aside from the character-building elements featured in the demo, also offers up an array of (mostly silly) side activities, which include smashing up trucks at Abigail’s Scrapyard, (no sign ofthe Big Man himself, thankfully), breaking boards for a scene in a kung-fu movie, teaching a wannabe gang member the error of his ways, (kicked the shit out of him, basically), and promising an “infooencuer” that I’d help him make some red hot fighting content for his channel. I won’t.
This story-cum-adventure mode appears to be mostly designed to help introduce players to SF6’s mechanics, characters, and fighting styles, piece-by-piece, while also offering up single-player fun for those who want to take time out from one-on-one matchmaking.SFVwas rightfully lambasted at launch for its barebones release and utter disinterest in single-player content, which was eventually “rectified” with acrushinglylong-winded story campaign.
Clearly, World Tour is an effort to offer players their own out-of-the-ring adventure, presented in the style ofLike-a-Dragon-lite, if you will. I can’t deny that I find the script and strange central plotline of “Chasing Strength” cheesy, even childish, with a stilted delivery and muted presentation style that feels generations old. But, all that said, Idoreally dig the excellent character creator, as well as some of the fun side modes and cameo appearances from some ofStreet Fighter‘s finest combatants (and beyond).
Besides, where else in gaming could you find yourself assaulted by a very angry Roomba?
No Train, No Gain
My final few minutes were spent with two of the Training tools inStreet Fighter 6‘s arsenal, namely the Character Guides and the returning Combo Trials. The Character Guide aims to go way beyond the act of merely showing you a respective fighter’s moves, and instead breaks down exactly why and when you would use them, offering examples of counterplay against numerous eventualities. Essentially, the new Character Guides are not only hoping to teach you the ways of Juri, Guile et al, but they are also hoping to tutor you in the basics ofStreet Fighteritself.
Not justHowto throw a Hadouken, butWhento throw a Hadouken. Knowledge that is equally important.
While the Combo Trials will be immediately familiar toStreet Fighteraficionados, theSF6edition includes a valuable new feature, that allows players to slow down the action to better build the wrist-shattering attacks moment-to-moment. With several speed settings, the trickier combos can now be started and completed in super slo-mo, with the player gradually increasing the speed and input window until they find themselves cracking out a 20-hitter 10 times out of 10.
Or, in my case, a two-hitter 8 times out of 14. Nobody ever said the path to enlightenment was easy.
Fun Fact: Cammy has a Ryu-style mule kick (B+HK) that cancels into numerous specials/supers.
I think part of the reason I was greatly encouraged to spend time in the World Tour, Character Guide, and Combo Trial modes was Capcom’s enthusiasm to demonstrate thatStreet Fighter 6is not only being built as a fully-featured title, but also a title that hopes to pull in newcomers and wayward veterans.
WithSF6‘s triple-control system, overhauled tutorials, new practice tools, and info-feeding story mode, Capcom clearly wants to educate players of all persuasions that its spanking new fighter, while undoubtedly deep,willbe accessible. A title that will offer an array of tuneable options to allow even the youngest, newest, or most befuddled of fighting game fans to take their first steps to glory.
As for myself. Well, I’ve seen just about all I can ahead of next month’s launch. WithStreet Fighter 6, Capcom is hoping to see its flagship fighting series, one that defined the genre itself, make a grand challenge for its (lost?) fighting game throne, offering fans old and new a fully-featured and engaging sequel that has learned from the mistakes of its past, while evolving its entire pedigree for a bold and electrifying future.
At this point, it’s all over bar the fight itself. And in just five short weeks’ time, we’ll find out whetherSF6is set for the mother of all comebacks, or is to be left flat on its back, staring at the lights in a final K.O.
I’m not a betting man. But I know where the smart money’s goin’
Street Fighter 6launches June 2 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. In the meantime, be sure to check out our reports on the50 things I loved in the beta,afull playlist of character themes, and my suggestions on the10 World Warriorswho would fit right into the new title as post-launch DLC.
[This preview is based on a build ofStreet Fighter 6played on a PS5. Expenses were not provided by the publisher.]
