Powerful drive system, live commentators, modernized optics, chic effects and animations thanks to the use of the Reach for the Moon engine from Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Village or Monster Hunter Rise and beginner-friendly control options: I can only agree with Benjamin in his preview about Street Fighter 6 over a year ago almost got into reveling: The upcoming offshoot of the series seems to offer a lot more right away than the unfortunate predecessor, which only matured into a proper brawler over the years.
About four weeks before the release, I had the opportunity to beat myself up for a few hours and of course not to take too little. In addition to a few rounds in arcade mode with well-known warriors such as Chun-Li, Ryu, Blanka or Dhalsim and the newcomers Marisa and Manon, I was also able to play the first two chapters of the world tour. I was particularly excited about the new single player experience, in which you create your own street fighter and embark on the long and arduous journey to becoming a martial arts master.
But first there were a few rounds of Fighting Ground, where I could look at the 18 fighters and 16 stages and warm up. And I quickly realized that I was more than just a little rusty and got hit hard in the first matches. The solution to the dilemma is provided by the new control layouts, which minimize the frustration caused by a quick KO and make it easy for newcomers to fight games in particular.
In addition to the classic control, you can choose the modern variant in which special moves are carried out with just one button. You still don’t see any cuts against Street Fighter pros, who can recite every complex combination of direction and action keys in their sleep, but the reduction in the number of keys required for visually opulently staged special attacks helps enormously. It’s even easier if you use the dynamic control layout, which also allows AI-assisted combos to be launched with just one button.
At least in theory, one push of a button is enough for impressive attacks, blocks and counterattacks. In practice, however, this only worked so mediocre: Thanks to AI, I sent my opponent to the ground with a few reasonably well-timed inputs, and sometimes my support failed completely. Maybe the artificial intelligence will learn more, then this control is a real option for everyone who just wants to do a few laps without completing a master course on key assignments.
If you want to create your own rules for a fight, you have the option of creating a special match. First, you set the conditions, for example, whether five knockdowns are enough for victory, only one health bar applies to both players and this shifts in one direction or the other when hits, or random bonuses and penalties are distributed. So it can be that the attack is increased, but special moves or dashs are deactivated. Just let yourself be surprised. In addition, gimmicks can be added, in which a bull randomly runs through the arena and takes the fighters on their horns if they don’t dodge in time or drones and bombs appear, which you should take care of promptly.
Visually, I like the presentation of the fighters who move into the arena with martial gestures after the selection under rap music background and the detailed and animated stages such as Thunderfoot Settlement, the revised carrier Byron Taylor or the fog-shrouded King Street including double-decker bus and British telephone booth . If desired, the fights can also be commented on in real time by people well-known in the Street Fighter scene, such as Jeremey Lopez, Steve Scott, Kosuke Hiraiwa, Hikaru Takahashi or wrestler Thea Trinidad. The voice output is English or Japanese, German subtitles can be displayed, but that distracted me from what was happening on the screen.
Now it’s time for a trip to Metro City, the setting of the single player campaign where you live up to the Street Fighter name with a fighter of your own creation and really hit the streets. But before you can set foot in the city, you have to meticulously create the upcoming master of all classes in the lush character position. Dozens of avatar settings are available to you that make many an RPG look old: identity, body type, proportions, muscle development, skin color, hair or painting, right through to details such as irises, eyelashes and eyebrows, you create exactly the character with which you want to spend the next days and weeks.
I could have spent my entire playing time just creating it, but due to time constraints I decided on a tiger lady that was largely put together from templates. Great: You can save your selection as a recipe and also make it available to the Street Fighter community as a template. Once you have made your choice, you go straight to Luke, who, as a coach, introduces the newcomer to the basics. Once you’ve proven yourself worthy, Luke will release you into the wide world to gain experience on the road. The wide world represents the fictional city of Metro City, in which all sorts of rabble hangs around.
Equipped with a smartphone that you can use to get information and orders, you set out to explore the game world. Metro City is not completely open, but divided into extensive areas between which you travel. The lively city offers you an opportunity to improve your martial arts on every corner. It starts with the residents, who are never averse to a quick fight. Just approach a passer-by, challenge them to a duel and let the 2D brawl begin. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a random snack vendor standing around or an elderly lady. If you want, the fists will fly.
But you should pay attention to the displayed level of the person, even the nice grandma can spank you hard on the butt if her level is significantly higher than yours. So you take your time and collect enough experience points from simple tasks and street fights against peaceful passers-by to become stronger and better. Don’t forget to stock up on drinks and food from the vendors, your health bar doesn’t refresh automatically after battles. You can get the small change you need to make a living with the varied missions and fun mini-games. You can smash vehicles in old-school pixel art as time runs out, or smash planks in a mini-game inspired by a 1970s kung fu movie.
Your goal is to find all 18 fighters from Street Fighter 6 over the course of what appears to be a very extensive campaign and to become the champion. The reward for the effort: you will learn their techniques if you prove yourself worthy. Equipped with the powerful Super Arts of Luke, Chun-Li and Co., you can then take on increasingly powerful opponents, including, for example, the weird cardboard bandits who ambush you in groups. I was able to play until the end of Chapter 2 of the World Tour and already had special moves from two masters, which gave me a significant advantage in the boss fights.
As a Yakuza fan, I really enjoy exploring Metro City. The city seems alive, there is something to discover around every corner and if you want, you can challenge every resident to a fight. Additional role-playing elements, such as learning and improving skills, buying accessories, which also have an effect on one’s own stamina, and fighting the somehow funny-looking bandits with boxes on their heads, are really fun. I’ll definitely be dusting off my Razer Panthera Evo Arcade Stick in June, putting my fighting skills to the test and exploring Metro City further. It’s been a long time, but I’m really looking forward to a new Street Fighter.
