One of the best things about the Street Fighter series is being able to test out a wide variety of characters and deciding which one is best for your playstyle. Street Fighter V has over 16 playable characters at launch with six more being added during the first year.
Street Fighter V carries over the six-button gameplay that gamers have become accustomed to with three variations of their punch and kick attacks. It is really fun to test out the properties of the Light, Medium and Heavy attacks to test your character's range and speed.
One of the main strategies for Street Fighter V is to practice some simple combos and then improve on those throughout gameplay. You have to learn to not become too predictable in your matches while staying in control of the match. Street Fighter V is best played with friends and the wide array of characters really adds a new level of immersion to the series.
Some of the characters I preferred were Ryu because of his unique attacks like collarbone breaker and Axe kick; and Cammy because of her special moves like cannon strike and spiral arrow. Other playable characters include: Chun-li, Nash, Birdie, Ken, Necalli, Rashid, Karin, R. Mika (loved her personality), Laura, Zangief, M.Bison, Vegas, Dhalsim and F.A.N.G.
Street Fighter V offers a new way to fight with the Variable System. The system is designed to emphasize the distinctive abilities and characteristics of the 16 playable characters. Once you master the variable system then you can unlock the full potential of your character and the different effects of their V-Gauge, V-Trigger, V-Skills, and V-Reversal strengths.
Street Fighter V has a built in online infrastructure called the Capcom Fighters Network (CFN). The system will allow gamers to join in online battles with players around the world where they can earn League Points to move up in the worldwide rankings. The in-game currency called Fight Money can be used to purchase content and characters. You can generate Fight Money by completing character stories, survival mode, leveling up and winning online matches. You can also purchase content immediately with real money called Zenny.
In the end, Street Fighter V is a great new release that offers up a lot of replayability with its new gameplay mechanics and variable system. The only downside I found to the game was that so much content is locked, but despite that, it is a pretty fun game. If you are a diehard Street Fighter fan then you will want to check out Street Fighter V.
Reviewed for PS4