KNOCKED FOR SIX

Street Fighter 6 steps into the ring as a game-changer for the genre. Alan Wen goes a few rounds and speaks with Capcom developers about the bout of their lives

Your fighters strut down an alley before their bout, revelling in the cheers of spectators and the neon glitz like superstars. With more than three decades of martial arts mastery to his name, that self-confidence is what you’d expect from Ryu, though up-and-comer Luke also takes a moment to smile at the camera. But when it’s fighting time, veterans like Chun Li have their game faces on.

Well, they do until you hold down the directional buttons, which allows them to pull a few other silly expressions as you size up or throw off your opponent. That light touch is welcome, and a sign of the confidence the developers have in the early build of Street Fighter 6 that we’re hands-on with. Within just a couple of rounds, it becomes clear Capcom has laid solid, and most importantly fun, foundations to take its reigning fighting game series to the next level.

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Ryu The original Street Fighter may have overcome the Satsui No Hado but continues to seek new challenges and opponents, though given he’s wearing a Buddhist robe similar to his master Gouken’s, we assume he’s mellowed a bit. It’s not his only new attire, as this older Ryu also sports an eye-catching beard much like from his battle outfit in SFV that sent some fans swooning. Meanwhile, his Hashogeki, previously his V-Reversal, is now its very own move, which can also be charged up.

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