I’m going to get right to the point - Street Fighter 6 has not only become an obsession for me, but it is also sitting as one of the best fighting games of all time. My entire experience of Street Fighter 6 has been that of an inner child that has had every single wish indulged to an extreme level of satisfaction.

The single-player story mode called World Tour is a goofy rendition of a Yakuza-esque open-world RPG that takes players on a beautifully imagine story arc of the Street Fighter universe. Players can create their own true-to-life avatar, using a robust character customisation menu giving fans a chance to learn from one of the 18 launch characters - enrolling as a student to learn their respective styles. Everyone in World Tour is obsessed with Street Fighter.

Entering the game, you are a student under one of the newer characters - Luke - who sends you off into the world to fight strangers in Metro City. But fear not, everyone is more than happy to entertain you with a good round of fighting. Even the kiosk attendant, where you buy consumables to recover health or boost stats, is ready to pause his day job and clash fists with you. You can’t help but laugh at the way random NPCs are ready to embrace their fighting passion while trying to get groceries, go to their jobs, or simply enjoy retirement.



The comically animated cutscenes make World Tour all the more of a joy to play. Traveling the world, your avatar as a serious narrative is pushed along with goofy antics that feel similar to a wonderfully crafted Kung-Fu movie. Visually, there have been texture pop-ins on the Xbox Series S. This will be different for each platform, but this small issue never once broke the immersion of the game. This can easily be patched in a future update of the game.

You can’t help but laugh at the way random NPCs are ready to embrace their fighting passion while trying to get groceries, go to their jobs, or simply enjoy retirement.

Fighting Ground is a core fighting game that included game modes like Arcade Mode, Training, Local versus, and more. The Arcade Mode is a single-player traditional Street Fighter mode where players can learn about each of the 18 playable characters’ stories, and earn artwork you can view in the gallery. Extreme Battle is an all-new mode, which adds new modifiers that interrupt the match to create an extra layer of difficulty. This is where most players will find themselves if they plan to take a trip through the nostalgia of fighting their friends on a couch, while everyone waits for their turn to be King of the Hill.



Battle Hub is where a majority of the online players will find themselves. Just like World Tour, you can create your own character that you will use to navigate through the arena and interact with other fighters and the virtual arcades that let you fight one another. You will be able to choose your own preferred character out of the 18 available fighters and match up against other players in Ranked, Casual, or Extreme battle matches.

I got the pleasure to enjoy Battle Hub during the open beta, and I have been drooling at the thought of returning back to this beautiful mode when Street Fighter 6 launches. Channel Eternity is a lively host who welcomes you to the Battle Hub. Fighting players from around the world had a slight bit of lag, but most online matches were stable with a fibre connection. Getting a big win streak notifies the entire lobby, letting all the battle-hungry players know where to go if they want to take on a real challenge. We’ll have to see how well the servers handle everyone joining the game after launch, but I haven’t had any severe net code issues in my time within Battle Hub.



Where Street Fighter 6 truly shines is in its gameplay. Newcomers and veterans alike get an opportunity to explore the Tutorials, Character Guides, and Combo Trials. These aren’t new modes, but a necessity to truly master the new mechanics introduced to the franchise. The Drive System is a new mechanic that allows you to take advantage of a situation by dramatically improving your offense and defense.

Over-extending or playing too defensively can cost you the round in an instant. Going into burnout removes your ability to parry or power through your opponent’s attacks - leaving you stranded while you fight for your chance to survive.

Timing has always been key in the Street Fighter series, and Street Fighter 6 puts an even larger emphasis on neutral gameplay. Fifty-fifty situations can make or break for you based on a single decision. The fast-paced nature of the gameplay forces players to put it all on the line. The Drive Gauge, however, forces players to manage just how aggressively or defensively they want to play. Over-extending or playing too defensively can cost you the round in an instant. Going into burnout removes your ability to parry or power through your opponent’s attacks - leaving you stranded while you fight for your chance to survive. Attacks feel perfectly weighted, and the combo system is easier to understand than ever.



Street Fighter 6 offers three new control types - Modern, Classic, and Dynamic. Classic is your traditional layout, giving veterans a chance to master their favourite characters and dominate their opponents, while Modern allows newcomers to bridge the skill gap without having to memorise special moves. Dynamic, however, feels like it is catered more toward casual settings. This is basically Capcom’s rendition of auto combos, which can be considered off-putting to a lot of veteran players.

That being said, there is no control type that feels particularly overpowering to the others. Players will always be able to have a feasible fighting chance, regardless of the control type chosen. There hasn’t been a moment where I felt like I had less fun playing against someone using Modern control, as someone who prefers the Classic layout. The rock, paper, scissors layout to combat is an addictive gameplay loop that leaves me yearning for more every time I put down the controller.



Street Fighter 6 as a package is nothing less than a love letter to the fighting game genre. From the character select screen all the way to the newly introduced play-by-play commentators, players are greeted by an overwhelming sense of immersion in the game. While each commentator has a finite amount of voice lines, the game has a good sense of putting the right line in accordance with what is happening on the screen in real time. It is a fun trick to pull out in front of your friends and family, but I can see myself turning this feature off later down the line. Especially considering the ungodly amount of hours I am willing to invest in this game.

Street Fighter 6 is not trying to redefine visual fidelity in fighting games, but rather give us a perfect blend of nostalgia and forward-thinking design.

The RE engine was the perfect choice to build the next installment in the Street Fighter franchise. The visuals are artistic, striking and beautiful. Illustrations, rendered visuals, and the UI feel nothing short of a timeless classic. Street Fighter 6 is not trying to redefine visual fidelity in fighting games, but rather give us a perfect blend of nostalgia and forward-thinking design. Eagle eye fans will be able to spot all the references to past Street Fighter games throughout the franchise in all three game modes. From mechanics evolved from Ultra Street Fighter 4, to stylised characters seemingly taken away from Street Fighter: Third Strike. I still feel like a kid in a candy store, and even after more than 24 hours of my time being poured into the game, I still find more to enjoy.



Despite the Year One pass already being showcased for Street Fighter 6, it is hard to argue that this isn’t three complete games packaged into one sonnet for the Street Fighter franchise. Regardless of where your interests may be, Capcom has ensured there is something here for everyone and only leaves me excited for what is to come.

Street Fighter 6 is not just a comeback for Capcom, but for fighting games entering next-generation consoles as a whole. It feels like a passion project made by a group of people who were tasked by Capcom to make the last Street Fighter we would ever want to play. With its fast-paced gameplay, beautifully implemented new mechanics, and timeless visuals, Street Fighter 6 has solidified itself among the fighting game hall of fame.



*Xbox Series Review code provided by Capcom | Reviewed on Xbox Series S