Ultimate Street Fighter 6: The Best Fighting Game Yet

Street Fighter was once the top dog of fighting games, so much so that the success of SF4 single-handedly revived the genre from a slump. However, in 2016, the franchise suffered a major blow with the release of Street Fighter 5, which lacked key features like arcade and story modes at launch. Moreover, the game's rollback netcode was plagued with bugs that were never fully resolved. As a result, Street Fighter lost its casual audience to leading competitors, and even though SF5 gradually improved, it never managed to fully recover its lost ground. With Street Fighter 6, the franchise not only needs to prove itself as a new fighting game but also needs to mend the wounds inflicted by its predecessor. But despite the seemingly impossible task, Street Fighter 6 is poised to make a comeback that rivals Mortal Kombat's 3D era to Mortal Kombat 9. With its World Tour mode, this game could set a new standard for AAA fighting games in terms of single-player content.

Street Fighter 6 prioritizes the World Tour mode over the online Battle Hub, which addresses feedback received on Street Fighter 5's story mode. The mode's integrated tutorial and progressive introduction of battle mechanics make it an ideal starting point for beginners to both Street Fighter and fighting games in general. Additionally, World Tour could be a departure from the cinematic story modes that have become standard in AAA fighting games.

The game begins with an extensive character creator that doubles as a Battle Hub avatar. After meeting their mentor Luke and rival Bosch, players are free to explore the world of Street Fighter. They can train with Masters, challenge random passersby, and uncover a larger conspiracy. Mid-battle items, helpers, and extra lives ensure players can progress, and their avatar will level up through skill trees and gear. With cameos from Street Fighter and Final Fight's extended universe, as well as special moves repurposed as movement tools, World Tour is a fan service-filled action RPG that celebrates the fighting franchise's history.

When a World Tour avatar is brought to the Battle Hub, it becomes apparent that Street Fighter 6's main online mode is inviting and comprehensive. The Battle Hub offers players the ability to enter 3D lobbies and challenge human opponents. With excellent rollback netcode, crossplay, tournaments, player profiles, and signposting to draw beginners together, it's the most impressive online fighting suite to date. Even issues like choppy matches and rage quits have been accounted for in SF6, although the lack of a Wi-Fi indicator can be felt. For players looking to take a break from the competition, there's also the option to try custom avatar fights, emulated retro games, wacky Extreme Battles, or simply pose, spectate, and DJ in the Hub itself.

The Battle Hub brings to light the biggest issue plaguing Street Fighter 6 - an overwhelming number of options. From complete integration with Capcom Fighters Network to control over the player's online profile, titles, and greetings, the game offers too much. This has led to the presence of three pause menus, each accessible through their own buttons, all within the Battle Hub. Moreover, most of the menus in SF6, including those with unconventional formatting or those that load into different spaces like the Gallery, branch off from the initial menus. Although it was perhaps inevitable given the game's grand ambitions, the interface bloat could have been handled better.

In Fighting Ground, Street Fighter 6 offers a range of familiar modes such as Arcade, Training, and Versus, but with exceptional teaching resources that cater to newcomers and veterans alike. Character Guides, Combo Trials, and Tutorials on basic tactics are available to answer any questions a newcomer may have. Online matchmaking is also streamlined, with a Training tool that measures frame data, demonstrating the game's commitment to both hardcore and casual audiences. Street Fighter 6's focus on accessibility is also reflected in its Dynamic mode, which deploys context-sensitive actions with every button press, providing assistance in navigating 3D environments, and activating audio cues for distance, attack height, and more at the user's discretion. Additionally, real-time commentators can be helpful in learning on the fly and maintaining bearings.

Street Fighter 6 offers an exceptional gameplay experience that no one should miss out on. The game has evolved from its predecessor, Street Fighter 5, with the elimination of frame traps and countdowns to V-Trigger activation, creating a high-power, high-tension environment that keeps fights exciting. Each character feels like a compilation of their best moves from previous franchise installments while also adding new features. The new combatants in Street Fighter 6 stand out in their unique ways, and the base roster lacks any obvious weak links. The movements and gameplay are smooth and responsive, especially when paired with the lower latency option of current-generation systems. However, the Drive System takes Street Fighter 6 to new heights, making it even more thrilling and captivating.

Players have access to a range of special abilities in Street Fighter 6, including EX specials, parries from SF3, Focus Attack from SF4, and V-Reversal from SF5. The game also offers Drive Rush-canceling parries and attacks that provide bursts of speed, making for a thrilling gameplay experience. However, players must be mindful of the Drive Gauge, as losing it can trigger the Burnout state, which reduces stats, enables chip damage, and can potentially lead to being stunned in a corner. Despite these consequences, the Drive System is highly useful and players will find themselves trying to use it all the time, learning to manage it over time. This makes it appealing to both inexperienced players and pros, who can find new ways to use it for years to come. Additionally, Street Fighter 6 comes with several live service elements, including Fighter Coins, Drive Tickets, and various pass options.

Street Fighter 6 has managed to steer clear of any concerns related to monetization as it offers an abundance of content that has been impeccably polished. The level of detail is striking not only in terms of the playable characters and environments, but also in every other aspect of the game. The game developers have even taken into account the players' preferences with features such as the ability to create their own version of the "challenger approaching" card, use facial emotes during loading screens, and search for specific replays based on the starting characters of player 1 and 2. The game is further elevated by its stellar voice acting and a massive, dynamic soundtrack with multiple vocal tracks, which is a testament to the developers' dedication and passion towards creating a top-notch game.

The presentation of Street Fighter 6 is nearly flawless, with very few flaws to be found. However, when a gap does appear, such as the lack of a free music selection in Versus mode, it becomes glaringly obvious. Another issue is the Resolution Mode setting, which fails to ensure the necessary locked frame rate for optimal gameplay. This is particularly problematic in World Tour, where the game's visual shortcomings are most noticeable. While the mode includes stages and playable characters, other elements pale in comparison. Despite the rough player equipment, NPCs, and occasional camera bugs during loading, these issues are easy to overlook in the grand scheme of the game.

Nevertheless, this was a risk that Street Fighter 6 took when it combined three game-sized modes. World Tour is a single-player attraction that is both accessible and content-rich, gamifying the process of learning to play a fighting game. Battle Hub boasts one of the most engaging fighting game lobbies ever, introducing variety in the name of fun. Fighting Ground fills any gaps left by the other modes, while also emphasizing traditional gameplay and introducing SF6's new mechanics like the Drive System. These modes effectively engage their intended audience, and it seems that Street Fighter 6 has reclaimed its top spot in the world of fighting games.

Street Fighter 6 launches June 2 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided with a PlayStation 5 code for this review.

Street Fighter 6