Street Fighter 6 by Capcom made its debut on June 2, 2023, continuing the legacy of the Street Fighter game franchise that began in 1987. This series has transformed from its early platformer roots into the iconic fighting game we know today. Street Fighter 6 places a primary emphasis on tournament play rather than a narrative-driven campaign mode.
True to its fighting game heritage, Street Fighter 6 prioritizes the brawl over storytelling. Upon launching the game, the first screen isn’t dedicated to a story mode; instead, you’re welcomed with notifications about tournaments and updates, immediately guiding you to the tournament and online options. However, it’s worth noting that the story mode leaves much to be desired.
In the campaign mode, you select a fighter and specify the number of rounds you wish to engage in. Subsequently, the character’s backstory unfolds in comic book style, narrated by the character themselves. While the comic artwork is visually appealing, it lacks the cinematic cutscenes and high-quality voice acting found in previous iterations, leaving these segments feeling somewhat incomplete.
Street Fighter 6 introduces a new control system, utilizing each button for different attack types (light, heavy, medium) instead of mapping punches and kicks as in earlier versions. This change may benefit newcomers to the franchise, but it poses a learning curve for long-time fans. While the traditional button configuration can be reactivated, it’s not the default out-of-the-box setting.
The modernization extends to character design, with updated costumes and appearances. However, the reviewer expresses a preference for the nostalgic sprite-based characters over their newer counterparts and wishes that unlocking the new sprites, skins, and outfits was part of the gameplay experience.
The review does not delve into online play, which is likely the game’s strong suit. However, the story and arcade modes receive criticism for being lackluster. The reviewer, while not a staunch Street Fighter enthusiast, has enjoyed the story and arcade modes more in previous versions, particularly favoring the SNES and other recent iterations of Street Fighter 2.
In summary, Street Fighter 6 shines brightest when played in a tournament style with friends or engaging in online battles against strangers. The story and arcade modes fail to impress and may not justify the game’s price tag. Enthusiasts of the franchise primarily interested in the combat mechanics will find Street Fighter 6 to their liking.
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