After a full console generation spent with Street Fighter 5, fighting game community members everywhere are ready for a change. Fortunately, Street Fighter 6 is just around the corner, and its closed beta test has only raised expectations. Street Fighter 6 may have most of Street Fighter 2's cast present or referenced in its launch roster, but it's not advertising itself as going back to basics like Street Fighter 4 and 5 did. With its Drive System in tow, Street Fighter 6 is pushing the franchise in a new direction.
That's felt in all aspects of the game. Street Fighter 6 has the first interactive lobby in the franchise, and that lobby has several bonus features alongside the typical matchmaking and spectating. The game also brought back World Tour, which is the classic Street Fighter Alpha mode in name only due to SF6's take expanding into a full 3D adventure. With Street Fighter's first fully customizable avatar at the center of both modes, so much of Street Fighter 6 is new that it almost looks like a different series. While playing Street Fighter 5 could build up some skills to help players pick up Street Fighter 6, they are going to be very different games.
Street Fighter 6 Does Not Play Like Street Fighter 5
In case its feature list hasn't made it clear, Street Fighter 6 prioritizes quality and quantity in equal measure. Street Fighter 5 was infamously bare-bones at launch, and this permeated every aspect of the game. Characters were considered limited and reliant on setups involving frame data knowledge, and it took until the last few major updates to open the game up more. Experimental characters and the V-Shift mechanic changed Street Fighter 5 for the better, but it was too little, too late. Many players felt that the V-Trigger system locked away moves that characters should have always had. Amidst SF5's many other controversies, underwhelming gameplay was not a problem it could afford to have.
Street Fighter 6, meanwhile, is looking to dodge those difficulties with style and aplomb. While gameplay may feel a little slow at first, that only lasts as long as it takes for one to start using the Drive Gauge. Unlike the V-System, Drive mechanics are universal and standardized across the cast. On top of that, abilities once paired with the V-System are now integrated directly into move sets, leaving everyone with the most abilities a Street Fighter has ever seen.
The Drive Gauge is full at the start of each round, and similarly to Mortal Kombat 11, gauges can refill quickly if the player goes on the offensive. Players should feel strong, and like they always have a tool for the situation at hand. The feeling of having a lot to do permeates every part of Street Fighter 6 as well, and that's going to mean great things for the game's longevity.
Street Fighter 5 and 6's Similarities Only Reinforce Their Differences
The features that Street Fighter 5 and 6 share are few and far between. The V-Reversal has returned as a Drive Reversal, but may be used less often thanks to the wealth of Drive options. The launch rosters for both Street Fighter titles will be comparable, although Street Fighter 6’s looks to be a bit larger, and the custom character blows the roster's doors wide open. It's difficult to even compare the story modes in each game, as Street Fighter 5 did not receive its A Shadow Falls update until several months after launch. And of course, it seems like Street Fighter 6 has worked out the kinks from Street Fighter 5's rollback netcode.
In all respects, Street Fighter 6 reads like a response to feedback on Street Fighter 5. The development staff working on the upcoming title want to make a good Street Fighter, and they also want to make a distinct one. With frame data thrown to the wind thanks to modifiers such as Drive Impact, Drive Shift, perfect parries, and Burnout, Street Fighter 6 may not even look like itself all the time. Street Fighter 6 appears to be launching with a more stable base than Street Fighter 5 did, and hopefully Capcom and the fans will both be able to enjoy its success.
Street Fighter 6 will be released in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.