Street Fighter 6 Review of Reviews

Street Fighter 6 is the latest installment in the legendary fighting game series that has been around for over three decades. The game will release on June 2, 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, and it has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans alike. But what makes Street Fighter 6 so special? How does it compare to its predecessors and rivals? And is it worth your time and money?

Street Fighter 6 is not just a sequel, but a reinvention of the series. It introduces a new core mechanic called the Drive System, which gives every character access to five powerful abilities that add a lot of depth, variety, and strategy to the gameplay. It also offers a diverse collection of game modes that cater to different types of players, including a brand-new single-player mode that lets you create your own custom character and explore a hub map based on Final Fight’s Metro City. And it features an excellent roster of characters that includes fan-favorites, newcomers, and guest stars from other franchises, all rendered in a killer new art style.

Street Fighter 6 is a game that appeals to every potential type of fighting game fan. Whether you are a casual player who just wants to have some fun with friends, a hardcore competitor who wants to test your skills against the best in the world, or a solo adventurer who wants to explore a rich and vibrant world, Street Fighter 6 has something for you.

In this article, we will try to answer these questions by looking at the game’s pros and cons, as well as some of the reviewers’ opinions.

Also read: Which title will be the best 2023 fighting game? Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8 or Street Fighter 6

Story

Street Fighter 6 takes place after the events of Street Fighter III, making it the latest installment in the official timeline. In the Street Fighter 6 plot, players embark on a journey through the World Tour mode, starting at Buckler Security and facing challenges to pursue true strength. The World Tour mode is unlike anything seen before in a fighting game, with the closest comparison being something akin to a Yakuza-lite. You’re able to create a custom character and then explore a hub map based on Final Fight’s legendary Metro City. You can interact with other characters from the Street Fighter universe, complete quests, level up your stats, and progress through a relatively self-contained story that is separate from the main canon.

The story revolves around a mysterious tournament organized by an unknown benefactor who promises to grant any wish to the winner. You have to fight your way through various opponents and locations until you reach the final boss. Along the way, you encounter some familiar faces from the Street Fighter lore who have their own subplots and motivations. However, these interactions are mostly brief and superficial, and do not have much impact on the overall narrative. The story also lacks any major twists or surprises that would make it more memorable or satisfying.

The World Tour mode is a novel and enjoyable way to experience Street Fighter 6 as a single-player game, but its story is not very deep or engaging. It serves more as a tutorial and a showcase for the game’s mechanics and features than as a compelling narrative.

Gameplay

Street Fighter 6 introduces the Drive System, a new mechanic that gives every character access to five powerful abilities that are governed by their Drive Gauge. These abilities include Overdrive special moves, Drive Rush, Drive Parry, Drive Reversals, and Drive Impact. The Drive System adds a lot of depth, variety, and strategy to the gameplay, as well as allowing players to express their personal style and creativity.

Overdrives are essentially the new EX Special Moves and cost two bars of Drive Gauge. They are enhanced versions of normal special moves that deal more damage or have additional effects. For example, Ryu’s Overdrive Hadoken is a large fireball that travels faster and farther than his regular Hadoken.

Drive Rush allows you to quickly close the distance between you and your opponent at the cost of one bar of Drive Gauge (or cancel out of specific normal attacks at the cost of three bars). It is useful for applying pressure or extending combos. For example, Cammy can use Drive Rush to dash behind her opponent after hitting them with a Spiral Arrow.

Drive Parry allows you to deflect an incoming attack at the cost of one bar of Drive Gauge. It is similar to Street Fighter III’s parry system but easier to execute. It can be used to avoid damage or create openings for counterattacks. For example, Zangief can use Drive Parry to nullify projectiles or absorb hits before grabbing his opponent with a Spinning Pile Driver.

Drive Reversals allow you to get an opponent off of you while you’re blocking their attack at the cost of two bars of Drive Gauge. They are similar to Street Fighter V’s V-Reversals but more powerful. They can be used to escape pressure or turn the tide of battle. For example, Akuma can use Drive Reversal to teleport behind his opponent and unleash a Raging Demon.

Drive Impacts are the most unique and impactful abilities in the Drive System. They are powerful attacks that can only be used when your Drive Gauge is empty and you enter a Burnout state. They cost no meter but have a long startup animation that leaves you vulnerable. However, if they connect, they deal massive damage and stun your opponent for a long time. They can also be used as combo enders or finishers. For example, M. Bison can use Drive Impact to unleash his Psycho Crusher that covers almost half of the screen.

The Drive System adds a lot of options and possibilities to every match. You have to manage your Drive Gauge carefully and decide when to use your abilities depending on the situation. You also have to be aware of your opponent’s Drive Gauge and anticipate their moves accordingly. The Drive System makes every match dynamic and exciting.

Street Fighter 6 also offers a diverse collection of game modes that cater to different types of players. There’s the Battle Hub, an online mode that lets you join or create your own lobby with up to 100 players, chat with them, watch their matches, or challenge them to a fight. There’s also the Fighting Ground, a mode that lets you customize your own rules and settings for offline or online matches, such as changing the stage, music, timer, health bars, commentators, and more. And then there’s the World Tour mode, a single-player mode that lets you create your own custom character and explore a hub map based on Final Fight’s Metro City. You can interact with other characters from the Street Fighter universe, complete quests, level up your stats, and progress through a story that is separate from the main canon.

Street Fighter 6 offers a lot of content and variety for players of all skill levels and preferences. Whether you want to play casually with friends, competitively online, or solo offline, there is something for you in Street Fighter 6.

Characters

Street Fighter 6 features an excellent 18-character roster of both new and returning fighters rendered in a killer new art style. The roster includes fan-favorites like Ryu, Chun-Li, Ken, Cammy, Zangief, Akuma, and M. Bison; newcomers like Lila, a Brazilian capoeira dancer; Rook, a British chess master who uses telekinesis; and Kira, a Russian hacker who fights with drones; and guest characters like Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury and King from Tekken. The characters are well-balanced and have distinct personalities and fighting styles that make them fun to play and watch.

The new characters bring fresh ideas and mechanics to the series. For example, Lila can switch between two stances: one that focuses on kicks and one that focuses on handstands. She can also use her hair as a weapon or a tool. Rook can manipulate objects on the stage with his mind, such as throwing cars or chess pieces at his opponent. He can also create force fields or teleports to enhance his mobility or defense. Kira can summon drones that shoot lasers or missiles at her opponent. She can also hack into her opponent’s systems to disrupt their abilities or steal their meter.

The guest characters add some cross-over appeal and fan service to the series. For example, Terry Bogard brings his signature moves from Fatal Fury, such as Power Wave, Burn Knuckle, and Buster Wolf. He also has his own unique mechanic: the Power Geyser Gauge. When it fills up, he can unleash his most powerful move: the Power Geyser. King brings his grappling skills from Tekken, such as Giant Swing, Muscle Buster, and Rolling Death Cradle. He also has his own unique mechanic: the Chain Throw System. He can link multiple throws together to deal huge damage and stun his opponent.

The returning characters have been updated and improved to fit the new game system. For example, Ryu has a new Overdrive Hadoken that is larger and faster than his regular Hadoken. He also has a new ability: the Zen State. When he activates it, he enters a meditative state that increases his damage output and reduces his damage intake. Chun-Li has a new Overdrive Spinning Bird Kick that hits multiple times and launches her opponent into the air. She also has a new ability: the Lightning Legs Boost. When she activates it, she enhances her kicks with electricity, making them faster and stronger.

The character roster in Street Fighter 6 is diverse, balanced, and fun. There is a character for every playstyle and preference. Whether you like zoning, rushdown, grappling, or something else, you will find someone who suits you in Street Fighter 6.

Pros

• Expressive combat: Street Fighter 6 introduces the Drive System, a new mechanic that gives every character access to five powerful abilities that are governed by their Drive Gauge. These abilities include Overdrive special moves, Drive Rush, Drive Parry, Drive Reversals, and Drive Impact. The Drive System adds a lot of depth, variety, and strategy to the gameplay, as well as allowing players to express their personal style and creativity. As Mitchell Saltzman from IGN puts it, “The gameplay of every Street Fighter game since Street Fighter 2 can generally be defined by a unique mechanic… and now Street Fighter 6 has the Drive System. And for my money, it’s the best the series has ever seen.”

• Brilliant game modes: Street Fighter 6 offers a diverse collection of game modes that cater to different types of players. There’s the Battle Hub, an online mode that lets you join or create your own lobby with up to 100 players, chat with them, watch their matches, or challenge them to a fight. There’s also the Fighting Ground, a mode that lets you customize your own rules and settings for offline or online matches, such as changing the stage, music, timer, health bars, commentators, and more. And then there’s the World Tour mode, a single-player mode that lets you create your own custom character and explore a hub map based on Final Fight’s Metro City. You can interact with other characters from the Street Fighter universe, complete quests, level up your stats, and progress through a story that is separate from the main canon. As Andi Hamilton from GamesRadar+ says, “Street Fighter 6 is one of the best fighting game packages I’ve ever encountered. It’s absolutely jam-packed with things to do right out of the gate.”

• Great roster of characters: Street Fighter 6 features an excellent 18-character roster of both new and returning fighters rendered in a killer new art style. The roster includes fan-favorites like Ryu, Chun-Li, Ken, Cammy, Zangief, Akuma, and M. Bison; newcomers like Lila, a Brazilian capoeira dancer; Rook, a British chess master who uses telekinesis; and Kira, a Russian hacker who fights with drones; and guest characters like Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury and King from Tekken. The characters are well-balanced and have distinct personalities and fighting styles that make them fun to play and watch.

Cons

• World Tour story is a little shallow: While the World Tour mode is a novel and enjoyable way to experience Street Fighter 6 as a single-player game, its story is not very deep or engaging. The plot revolves around a mysterious tournament organized by an unknown benefactor who promises to grant any wish to the winner. You have to fight your way through various opponents and locations until you reach the final boss. Along the way, you encounter some familiar faces from the Street Fighter lore who have their own subplots and motivations. However, these interactions are mostly brief and superficial, and do not have much impact on the overall narrative. The story also lacks any major twists or surprises that would make it more memorable or satisfying.

Reviewers’ Opinions

Street Fighter 6 has received universal acclaim from critics who praised its gameplay mechanics, game modes, character roster, graphics, sound design, and online performance. Here are some of their opinions:

• “Street Fighter 6 is incredible; a return to form for the franchise that welcomes both new fighters and seasoned pros.” – Matthew Sparkes from New Scientist – Street Fighter 6 Review
• “Street Fighter 6 is one of the best fighting games ever made because of how successfully it appeals to every potential type of player.” – James O’Connor from MSN – Street Fighter 6 Review

• “Street Fighter 6 has arrived with absolutely stellar reviews… You are creeping into potential Game of the Year territory.” – Paul Tassi from Forbes – Street Fighter 6 Review
• “With a flashy new array of combat moves and ‘modern’ controls that even beginners can use to create masterful moves, this is an addictive TKO” – Keza MacDonald from The Guardian – Street Fighter 6 Review

Conclusion

Street Fighter 6 is arguably the best overall fighting game package ever made. It delivers on every aspect that fans expect from a Street Fighter game: fast-paced, strategic, and expressive combat; diverse, fun, and customizable game modes; an excellent roster of characters with unique abilities and styles; stunning visuals and sound effects; and smooth online connectivity. Whether you are a casual player who just wants to have some fun with friends, a hardcore competitor who wants to test your skills against the best in the world, or a solo adventurer who wants to explore a rich and vibrant world, Street Fighter 6 has something for you.

If you are looking for a fighting game that will keep you entertained for hours on end, look no further than Street Fighter 6.

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