Some of my fondest gaming memories come from early Street Fighter games. So, when the opportunity came to play the demo of the yet-to-be-released Street Fighter 6 at EGX 2022, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity!
Gameplay
Within the game, there are several modes to explore. Each one offers exciting gameplay opportunities. While I didn’t get to check them all out in the demo briefly the modes are:
World Tour – A new single-player story mode where you create your avatar and fight legends. Forge bonds, improve your abilities, and prove you have what it takes. What interests me about this mode is the promised level of customisation around your avatar. Fighting styles, powers, clothes, and even facial features can be edited to your style. Fights take place in the streets as you prove your worth, and you can learn moves and styles from the roster of Street Fighter legends. World Tour will start in Metro City and branch out worldwide from there.
Battle Hub – In the Battle Hub you can interact with other players, here you can fight other players, check out older Capcom classic arcade games, and much more. One Battle Hub is set to host around 100 players at any one time. You can also purchase cosmetic items to further change the look of your avatar.
Fighting Ground – Here the tradition of local 1v1 or 1vAI fights takes place. This mode also supports online, cross-platform play. In this mode, you can pick your fighter of choice, select what control mode you want and their outfit (as you would expect), and jump straight into the battle. This was where the demo took place. So, picking my favourite go-to since Street Fighter 2 (Chun-Li), I set about getting to grips with Street Fighter 6.
The ability list is extensive, and there was a good mix of classic moves I remember from previous iterations and some new ones too. The match was fast-paced, but the controls in both Classic and Modern modes were responsive. In this mode, additional features such as matches with unique rules and training arenas exist.
Characters in Street Fighter 6
New characters for the game include Jamie, inspired by Yun and Yang (Street Fighter 3). Jamie uses the Drunken Fist (Zui Quan) fighting style and is an expert breakdancer. The drink in his jug is a medicinal tea and not alcohol! Featuring flowing movements and epic combos, he was a lot of fun to play. Even if unfamiliar. It’s always great to see a fighter with a new style.
Kimberly is also a new character for Street Fighter 6. While I didn’t test playing her directly, I did fight her. As a lover of 80’s pop culture, you can see the references in her outfit. Her fighting style is Bushin-ryu Ninjutsu but with her own flare.
No doubt, there will be others before the development process is complete and it will be interesting to see who else gets added to the roster.
In addition to the new characters, there are also several returning veterans that you’d expect: Ryu, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, E. Honda, Guile, Juri, Ken, Luke, and more.
Visuals and Audio
Taking place more in the streets, complete with vibrant graffiti art and loud music, I have to say I was blown away by how the game looked. It was good, really good, and I can’t wait to see the final release. The abilities looked spectacular with unparalleled attention to SFX. It was loud, vibrant, and busy; everything you would want from a next-gen fighting game.
New Mechanics in Street Fighter 6
One of the most intriguing aspects of the latest iteration is the Drive Gauge. This is a meter that starts full as soon as the round begins. However, the more exotic the move you perform the more of the gauge is spent and if you go too hard, too quickly, this will get spent. Once spent, you’ll be at a major disadvantage in what is called a ‘burnout stage’. While the meter does replenish over time, management of this meter is crucial to victory. From playing a few rounds I quickly learned that battles are now far more tactical. Now the strategy is when to play cautiously and when to explode in a flurry of awesome-looking moves. I loved getting to grips with this system as it gave the bouts a whole new dimension!
Another new feature is the ability to switch between classic controls and modern controls. Modern controls allow you to enjoy the full flow of battle without necessarily having to remember all those button combos. I tried this feature out, and it certainly helped me remember who does what when I couldn’t necessarily remember the correct order of buttons for the perfect combo! This is great for those players who may be put off by remembering complex combos.
Linked to this system are a collection of new moves that can deliver astonishing damage or, if timed well, in the case of the Drive Parry, fantastic defensive capabilities.
Timing is key, strategy is key but when it works… it’s wonderful fun.
Final Thoughts and Release Information
Maybe it’s because I won two out of three rounds, but I really enjoyed my time with Street Fighter 6. Visually it looks great, and the controls seemed responsive. Switching between classic mode (full-on nostalgia with control combos) and modern controls is a nice touch. The Drive Gauge is going to make things interesting too! Now it’s time to re-learn all those combos and prepare for this new era of a legendary franchise!
Street Fighter 6 is slated for release in 2023 and will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Find out more at the official Street Fighter 6 website.
