Street Fighter fans have been eagerly waiting for an update on the sixth instalment of Capcom’s legendary title since its reveal earlier this year.
Since then, Capcom has been slowly teasing fans with new characters and gaming mechanics, which is why the announcement of the closed beta test was met with such adulation. Gamers around the world knew they could finally get their hands on Capcom’s upcoming fighter.
The Closed Beta test was only available for players lucky enough to have their application selected by Capcom. Mirror was invited to take part in the Closed Beta, which ran from October 7 - 10, 2022. Street Fighter 6’s Closed Beta allowed fight fans to play as one of the eight characters who will be included in the final roster.
Favourites such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Guile were playable, displaying new moves and updated skills. Street Fighter IV’s Juri Han was also playable with an updated appearance and move-set. But, what completed the experience was being able to try out newcomers Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly.
Fans have already seen what Luke is capable of in Street Fighter V, but this new iteration was worth the wait as he showcased an updated skill set. Street Fighter 6’s art direction is completely different from its predecessor, with each past character sporting a completely new design that’s a far cry from what we are used to -, especially Ken and Ryu, who have aged dramatically.
From what I experienced, each of the veteran characters is faithful to the fighting styles they have used over the years, with a few tweaks here and there to fit in with the game’s new mechanics. The three new characters were a breath of fresh air as they infused modern influences into their fight style.
For instance, Jamie has incorporated breakdancing into his Zui Quan fighting style, while Kimberly adds flamboyance through Hip-hop and graffiti to Guy’s Bushinryu style. It was really exciting to play the first set of Street Fighter’s new generation of characters, and I can’t wait to see who else makes the cut - hoping for Sean’s return!
Street Fighter 6 introduces some new gaming mechanics - the main being the Drive system which allows players to parry moves and extend their combos. There are five new Drive mechanics in total which will consume the Drive meter, resulting in a Burnout state that comes with several disadvantages to punish the player for unwise use.
The Drive mechanic certainly adds a lot of strategic options that haven’t been seen in the series, while also creating a risk-and-reward scenario for players. Street Fighter 6 also sees the return of Street Fighter III EX skills which are now called Overdrives.
Overdrives are stronger versions of each character’s skills that can be activated by pressing two buttons at the end of an input command. It is great to see them return and how other characters will make use of it.
The most notable addition was the inclusion of the modern controls scheme which allows players to execute skills with single-directional inputs as opposed to the traditional multidirectional method. I’ve seen this used more and more in fighters to help make the game more accessible to a wider audience.
A great addition, but I felt the game became a little too easy and made matches one-sided when used. Luckily, Street Fighter 6 gives the option to switch between the Classic and Modern styles, giving players the opportunity to try both out.
For the Beta, Capcom introduced players to the Battle Hub which has been seen in a lot of modern fighting games, but not on this level. Here players will be able to engage in different types of online matches, take part in weekly challenges, Extreme Battles, and even play retro titles in the game centre.
There is a lot going on and it's all been beautifully presented in an arcade-esque setting that even includes cabinets. Players will be able to explore the battle hub with their custom-made avatar, and Capcom has pulled out all the stops granting players a fantastically precise character creator.
The Beta also introduced five new stages and the training room that showcased new BGMs and character tunes. The amount of detail within each of the stages was astounding, featuring so many intricate details.
My favourite new feature was the introduction of the in-game commentary which added an extra competitive feeling to the overall experience. Street Fighter 6’s release date is still to be announced, but what Capcom showcased in the Closed Beta was fantastic and a step in the right direction as to where the series should go next.
Are you looking forward to the release of Street Fighter 6? Let us know in the comments below!
