The Street Fighter 6 closed beta test was a great first step in revivifying the long-running 2D franchise. Hands-on impressions reveal a stylish return to the series' satisfying gameplay, and an online hub that captures the excitement of an esports event. Fans of the long-running 2D fighting franchise were somewhat divided regarding 2016's segmented release of Street Fighter 5. However, from what Capcom has revealed for the 2023 sequel, the veteran game developers have learned some lessons before Street Fighter 6's release date.
The launch of Street Fighter 5 was met with several criticisms, including a lack of single-player content, no arcade mode, and a disappointing roster of 16 playable fighters at launch. Capcom had decided to release most of what Street Fighter 5 had to offer with seasonal DLC. Over time, the game filled out with additional modes and more than 40 playable characters. However, server issues and clunky gameplay dissuaded many SF fans from the series they had enjoyed for so many years. Capcom is looking to bring those fans back and attract new ones with Street Fighter 6, and after some hands-on time with its closed beta, chances are it will do just that.
The Street Fighter 6 closed beta test let players choose from eight playable fighters to participate in online matches against one another. While Capcom didn't allow access to the game's open-world story mode, arcade, or training modes, players got a taste of Street Fighter 6's detailed character creator and online hub. Players could take control of their custom character to wander the server's space, filled with arcade cabinets occupied by other players waiting to battle. Cabinets in the hub allow players to spectate other matches and try out some of the game's unique modes, like playing retro matches from previous Street Fighter games and the extreme mode providing unique multiplayer challenges. However, this weekend's main attraction was traditional 1v1 Street Fighter matches.
Street Fighter 6 Will Launch With 18 Playable Characters
The PlayStation 5 version of the Street Fighter 6 beta felt incredibly responsive and smooth for a game not set to launch until sometime next year. Controls were completely customizable, allowing players to rearrange the buttons and even assign certain button combinations to one designated button. This should help certain Street Fighter 6 players do damage with combos they once could not. Players are given the option during their character selection to select either Classic or Modern controls. The Classic controls option will instantly feel familiar for any fan who has attempted to throw a hadouken. The Modern controls are adjusted for each of the game's characters so that even a new player can pull off some of the game's most popular techniques.
Both newbie and veteran players should be able to pick up SF6 and have a good time with its newest mechanics. Techniques like the Drive Impact act as a powerful attack that engulfs players in vibrant colors to deliver a blow that can throw off an opponent's combo and even trigger a stunning clash if two Drive Impacts collide. Throws and parrying have also been upgraded to help fix a common fighting game problem making Street Fighter's battles feel more fun and less frustrating, even after being defeated in a close online match.
Matches connected with no lag, and the only time the beta test crashed was while the game attempted to load Street Fighter 6's busy online hub. Returning classic fighters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Juri feel great to play with the new mechanics. Brand-new fighters to the franchise, like Jamie and Kimberly, bring a lot of charm to the game's roster and quickly feel at home in the game's battles. With only a tiny glimpse into what Capcom has in store for fans with Street Fighter 6, things look good for a return to form for the veteran brawler.
Screen Rant was provided with a PlayStation 5 code to participate in the Street Fighter 6 Closed Beta Test.
