[Playing…] Street Fighter 6: The definitive evolution of the fighting saga

Being a fan of Street Fighter since I had Street Fighter II Turbo on the SNES back in the '90s, I had my sights set onStreet Fighter 6since they announced it, but for one reason or another, I had never bought it. Thanks to the offers on Steam at the end of the year and the fact that I now have theROG Ally, I finally bought it and I couldn't be happier.

What a good game! Ever since I got my hands on Street Fighter 6, I couldn't stop playing. It's as if Capcom had read the minds of all the fans of the saga and had created the ideal game. The combat system is excellent, with the new Drive Gauge mechanic adding an extra layer of strategy to each confrontation.

The Drive Gauge allows you to perform a variety of special actions, such as Overdrive Arts (replacing EX moves), Drive Impact (a hit that can change the course of battle), and Drive Parry (a perfect defense that gives you a chance to counterattack). The great thing is that you have access to all of these options from the beginning of each round, allowing you to be creative and aggressive from the first second.

But be careful, because if you abuse the Drive Gauge, you will enter a Burnout state that will leave you vulnerable. It's a risk-reward system that keeps you constantly on edge and forces you to think about every move.iment. Likewise, as in other Street Fighters, these strategies are reserved for the most advanced. You can perfectly play the game and even spend the entire thing without using the Drive Gauge, although you will have to use it and refine your fighting style if you want to play online against experts and have a chance to beat them.

And speaking of moves, the characters look spectacular in action! The new visual style is impressive, with detailed models and fluid animations that make every punch and kick feel powerful and satisfying. Seeing Ryu with his new beard and more mature appearance, or Chun-Li with her elegant mix of sporty and traditional Chinese style, makes you feel like the characters have grown up with you too. It's the same Ryu as when I was a teenager, but I'm already an adult and the years have passed for Ryu too.

But Street Fighter 6 isn't just content with offering epic combat. The game comes loaded with modes that will keep you hooked for hours. HeFighting Groundis where you'll find classic modes like Arcade, Practice mode, and local and online Versus mode. This is where I've spent most of my time, perfecting my combos and strategies while battling other players from around the world.I screamed with euphoria, I screamed with anger, and I even shook and kicked the floor several times.Those who have played Street Fighter online and like it will know the whole range of emotions that arise.

Practice mode deserves a special mention. It is, without a doubt, the most complete I have seen in a fighting game. You can study the frame data of each movement, practice specific situations and even see a visual representation of your inputs. It's an incredible tool to improve your game, whether you want to learn the fundamentals or master advanced techniques.

But the real gem of Street Fighter 6 is the modeWorldTour. They practically put an open world RPG inside a fighting game! You create your own character and embark on an adventure through the world of Street Fighter, learning from legendary masters and discovering your own fighting style.

The first thing that surprised me was the number of customization options for your avatar. I spent about 40 minutes adjusting every detail, from the hairstyle to the shape of the ears. And it's not just aesthetic,Your appearance affects how you perform in combat., which adds another layer of strategy when creating your character. For example, having longer limbs will increase your reach, or being heavier will make your blows stronger (but slower).

Once you enter the world, you find a city vibrant and full of life. You can interact with NPCs, accept a huge number of side quests and, most excitingly, meet iconic Street Fighter characters. Each encounter with a famous fighter is a unique experience. I remember the excitement I felt when I ran into Ryu for the first time and he offered to train together. He was learning Hadouken from Ryu himself!

The great thing about the master system is that not only do you learn their special moves, butyou can adopt his full fighting style. Switching between Ken's style and Chun-Li's, for example, feels completely different. It's like having several characters in one, and thefreedom to mix and match stylesallows you to create a truly unique fighter.

As you progress through the story, you unlock more moves and improve your skills. The progression system is well balanced, you always feel like you are improving and unlocking new things. And the best thing is thatYou can take your custom character to Battle Hub mode to take on other players online.

Speaking ofBattle Hub, is another aspect of the game that has greatly impressed me. It's like being in a virtual arcade, where you can walk around with your avatar, sit at the machines to play against others, or simply watch games. The community feel is incredible, and there is always something to do or see.

And I can't stop mentioninghow well online works.I played dozens of games on Steam and the experience was impeccable. Even in games with high ping, the response is fluid and without interruptions. I don't know how they did it but there really is no lag. TherematchesThey are almost instantaneous, keeping you in the flow of the game without long waits. Oh, and it has cross-play between PC, Xbox and PlayStation players.

Another aspect I like is how Street Fighter 6 strives to be accessible to new players. The new control scheme «Modern» Simplifies special move inputs, allowing anyone to perform impressive techniques right out of the box. It is a great option for those who want to enjoy the game without having to memorize complex button combinations. I had already seen and used it in Street Fighter IV, when I played it on 3DS, and now in 6 I was also using it.

But don't worry, veteran, the classic control scheme is still there for those who prefer the traditional challenge. And believe me, mastering all the nuances of the combat system is as satisfying as ever.

Por supuesto, la posibilidad de un control moderno hace que algunas veces te cruces en el online con jugadores que spammean un par de botones y son todo hadouken, hadouken, hadouken, shoryuken… Pero nada que no se haya visto antes, y no es culpa del juego.

El modoExtreme Battlees otra adición divertida que añade un toque de locura a los combates. Con reglas especiales y elementos aleatorios que aparecen en el escenario, cada partida se convierte en una experiencia única y desafiante. Es perfecto para cuando quieres algo un poco diferente o simplemente pasar un buen rato con amigos.

Y hablando de escenarios, los de Street Fighter 6 son una delicia visual. Cada uno está lleno de detalles y animaciones en segundo plano que le dan vida al mundo. Me encanta cómo en el modo World Tour, los escenarios de combate reflejan exactamente el lugar donde te encuentras, incluso mostrando elementos específicos del entorno. Es un pequeño detalle que aumenta enormemente la inmersión.

Volviendo al World Tour, hay algunos extras también que me parecen buenisimos. Uno es que puedes hacer varios “trabajos”, que en realidad son mini juegos cuya recompensa viene en forma de la moneda del juego para comprar accesorios, mejoras, o diversos otros ítems. El otro es que encontrarás máquinas de Arcade dispersas por distintos sitios y en las cualespuedes jugar varios clásicos de Capcom, comoFinal Fightpor ejemplo, con créditos ilimitados.

Esto de los arcades no se acaba ahí sino que irás desbloqueando varios juegos distintos de Capcom a medida que avances y luego puedes jugarlos directamente desde una de las opciones en el menú principal. Como tener tu propio emulador oficial de Capcom con algunos de sus mejores juegos.

En resumen,Street Fighter 6 es un paquete completo que ofrece algo para todos. Ya sea que quieras sumergirte en una aventura RPG, competir online, o simplemente disfrutar de combates clásicos con amigos, el juego tiene todo lo que podrías desear. Es evidente el amor y cuidado que Capcom puso en cada aspecto del juego.

¿Lo jugaste ya? Si lo jugaste, dime en los comentarios qué te ha parecido a ti el juego.

PD: La experiencia de Street Fighter 6 no termina con el juego. ¿Ya visitaste el sitio oficial y has accedido al Buckler’s Boot Camp? ¿No? Pues te lo estás perdiendo,junto con lo divertido del «tamagotchi» PockeFi. Tienes toda la info necesariaaquí.