Street Fighter™ 6: The Legacy Continues
Capcom steps back into the ring with Street Fighter™ 6, combining classic beat-em-up mechanics with new-age polish.
last updated Jan 18, 2024
Capcom remains a heavyweight champion in the ring, delivering a must-have title despite a few low blows.
Combo Meal with a Side of Innovation
Take the stage with Street Fighter™ 6, the series' latest installment, where the legacy of knuckle-bruising brawls continues. At its core, the gameplay blends familiarity with freshness, as this title punches above its weight with new mechanics like Drive Rush and Drive Impact. These tweaks offer a slugfest of strategic depth and improved meta-game, satisfying both the button-mashing rookie and the combo-crunching virtuoso. Yes, veterans might complain that poking is 'so last edition,' but for those embracing the evolution, there's enough tactical meat here to sink your hadoukens into. Accessibility shines through too, with the introduction of modern controls opening the dojo doors to fresh recruits; they can now play without breaking a sweat over complex inputs.An Auditory Smackdown
Ready your ears for the auditory spectacle that Street Fighter™ 6 serves. From bone-crunching punches to iconic hadouken blasts, the audio is a flawless KO. Beyond the sounds of battle, the game's soundtrack is pretty competent – although it won't be remembered as fondly as themes from the likes of 'Street Fighter II.' It's like savoring a fine wine only to find out it doesn't have a memorable aftertaste. It gets the job done but doesn't leave you humming in the shower. That said, World Tour mode brings the beats, packing jams so groovy they may just convince you to start a career as a fighting game DJ. Nonetheless, while the soundtrack does its best to keep tempo with the action, it doesn't always match the high notes of the gameplay symphony.Visual Haymaker
Feast your eyes upon the visual spectacle that is Street Fighter™ 6. Capable rigs are treated to exquisite character animations and vibrant stage settings that drip with detail – it's like watching a high-budget anime where everything punches back. While the game's performance scales better than Ryu's dragon punch, players with lower-end setups can still enjoy smooth gameplay without their computers crying for mercy – just forget cranking those settings to eleven. And let's talk about the eye candy! From the character designs to the UI, someone's been taking their aesthetic vitamins at Capcom. However, if we start nitpicking - and as a discerning connoisseur of digital brawls, we must - there are occasional vsync nightmares that haunt some players, shadowing what should be a pristine visual experience.Money Fights and Digital Rights
Now, let's jab at the less savory side of Street Fighter™ 6 - the monetization. Is it just me or does dropping a fistful of dollars for an alternate color feel like being kicked by Ken's heavy shoryuken? The two-tier currency system can often resemble a microtransaction-infested battleground, making certain parts of the game feel less like prizefighting and more like price fighting. Despite this, the saving grace comes in the form of character diversity and abundant game modes that still make the game worth the investment. Yet, if Capcom's business model were a character, it'd likely be dubbed 'Paywallrog'. But hey, as long as they refrain from nerfing the fun and buffing the fees, at least we won't have to contend with a total pay-to-win scenario.The Online Dojo
For the glory-seeking fighters, the online scene in Street Fighter™ 6 comes with rock-solid connectivity thanks to the best-in-class rollback netcode. This ensures that your well-timed hits register faster than you can scream 'hadouken!' at your screen. Capcom's Battle Hub serves as an upgraded digital arcade, where nostalgia marries the modern with an online twist. Although beginner-friendly with its slick matchmaking, newcomers may occasionally find themselves pit against martial arts demigods, resulting in a painful lesson in humility and a reminder to practice more. And as much as wiping the virtual floor with your opponent is satisfying, the lack of voice chat in Battle Hub is as disappointing as a misfired tatsumaki senpukyaku. But that's a minor gripe in an otherwise top-tier online experience, one that can elevate the temperature of your competitive spirit without setting your modem ablaze.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Release Date
June 01, 2023
The Verdict
Street Fighter™ 6 nails a charismatic dragon punch in the realm of fighting games, standing tall with its robust mechanics, stunning visuals, and accessibility. While it runs the gambit of modern gaming monetization sins and could crank up the decibels when it comes to memorable music, Capcom remains a heavyweight champion in the ring. Toss in a commendable single-player campaign and a praiseworthy online experience, and this game checks most of the boxes for a must-have title. So lace up your virtual gloves, brave the microtransaction maelstrom, and get ready to fight.