2023 will be remembered as a good year for versus fighting fans. A lot of the cornerstone titles for the genre are getting new instalments this year – likes of Mortal Kombat, Tekken and, of course, Street Fighter. Capcom have just unleashed Street Fighter 6 on the world and it’s brilliant.
A neo-masterpiece that hits that sweet spot where casual fans can have fun but with enough depth to keep the hardcore happy.
Combo Master
Big, bold and brash are the best way to describe Street Fighter 6, as its takes what you know and throws a lot of new ideas into the mix. There’s also a feeling that much was learned from the missteps of the past, especially the issues Street Fighter 5 had.
Which it’s also fair to say put a black mark on this once galvanised series, so to say this new title had some graft on its hands is an understatement.
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Capcom have taken it right back to the core ideas of the series, and have recrafted it from there. Now it is worth saying that this review will be based the version available just now. But as is the way with brawlers, it’s a title that will evolve over time with buffs, tweaks and little changes.
Street Fighter 6 is first game in the series to run on the RE engine. It’s smooth, fluid and packed with details there is a lot going on at any given moment. Fighters have a lot more character now. Each pull off the most subtle of looks and gaits as they stride towards the fight dripping in style. It’s a feast for the eyes before we even get to play.
Thrown Down
But looking good is only half the battle for a fighter. Street Fighter 6 is tight and responsive making it incredibly satisfying to land off a flashy, punishing move. And this basic sense of fun is helped by Street Fighter 6‘s roster.
The core 18 fighters are a well-rounded group. It feels like there is a brawler for everyone’s fighting style. More importantly is that each of the fighters feels like they have had the love and care they need to be fighting fit.
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Each one has a unique feeling move set. Even the returning characters, who do keep the core moves. Those who have kept their core moves have seen a hefty dose of new higher-level moves made available.
The 18 fighters to pick from out the box includes lots of returning favourites. Ryu, Ken, Cammy, Guile and Juri, to name a few. There’s also a few fresher faces like Jamie, Kimberly, and Lily, who are all new to the series.
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Capcom being Capcom, they have confirmed more fighters are on the way as DLC. Expect to pony up for Akuma and Rashid amongst others if you want to add them to the mix.
Mode Selector
Street Fighter 6 is split into three core modes. Fighting Ground is the most traditional. This is where you’ll find arcade mode, training, trailers and one vs one modes. Each of these are well implemented and fleshed out. Fighting Ground serves as a good training ground to get to know your brawler of choice.
The second core mode is the online Battle Hub which is handled extremely slickly as you enter virtual arenas crossed with an arcade. Here you can craft your custom avatar, and then challenge players to fight. You can also practice while waiting for a fight to come to you. You can also pass the time on old school Capcom cabs playing Street Fighter 2 or Puzzle Fighters. There’s also a shop in which you can spend your winnings on exclusive wares.
Net code can be a mixed bag but is mostly solid. 90% of the time the online matches run well, you get a few choppy games here and there. This seems to depend on how busy the Hub is or where your opponent is.
One issue though is that you need to escape to a separate menu to change your fighter This is a pain if you have a bit of a grudge match going on – it would be nice to be able to change at the rematch screen.
Combat Adventure
The final mode is the most interesting and newest addition to the Street Fighter formula. The World Tour is a sort of open-world fighting story mode. One where you create a character using the same character creation tool as the Battle Hub.
You then fight your way around Metro City. The same city from the related Final Fight games and a lovely touch for the old people in the crowd. Your goal is simple – to be stronger and fight harder. Along the way, you’ll meet a number of characters who will teach you their moves and styles. And then you fight ordinary Joes on the street, bagging XP with which to continue your progress.
The RPG feel is bolstered by a skill tree and the varying levels of the random persons you bash. However, it’s a bit of a grind. Without rushing through the levels, you will be stuck with the same moves at the same level for a while. Street Fighter 6‘s World Tour is notably stingy with its novel content and it hurts the pace of what is otherwise a fun diversion.
Additionally, the AI only comes in two flavours. A complete pushover, which it is for 99% of the time. Or an unbeatable force. World Tour is, on paper, an interesting idea, but in reality nothing more than a distraction from the truly outstanding other modes in the game.
Perfect Reversal
Street Fighter 6 on the whole is a powerful return of a legendary series that delivers an outstanding new brand of combat. One that is a blast no matter your level of skill. Plus, the game gives you enough things to enjoy no matter what you are looking for from the Battle Hub, to the Fighting Ground, and even the World Tour.
This is everything fans have wanted and more as it moves the series forward in the best way and throws down the gauntlet as the best brawler of 2023.
So far.