Road Fighter 6 was one among my favourite video games of final 12 months, and I’m so satisfied I’ll get again to its elegant, best-in-its-class preventing that I nonetheless haven’t uninstalled it from my PS5 regardless of months away. Each time I a lot as see a clip of Road Fighter 6, I’m reminded that Capcom’s hallmark preventing collection is so again, and I want I had the time to remain on that journey for the long term. However I lately acquired an opportunity to play Akuma, the basic antagonist who mirrors collection mainstays Ryu and Ken’s Shoto archetype, and he made me admire how properly this entry managed to fill out previous characters’ arsenals to create probably the most strong preventing video games within the house.
As a Shoto character, Akuma has plenty of staple Road Fighter skills just like the Hadoken fireball and Tatsumaki spinning kick (albeit with a useful, anti-air variation) that’s the bread and butter of the archetype. However as a Ryu most important, taking part in a unique Shoto at all times appears like getting behind the wheel of a automobile I’m not used to driving. The basics are the identical, however it’s simply totally different sufficient to throw me off. Akuma’s entire deal is that he will get extra choices on the expense of well being. He’s a glass cannon, however in alternate he will get much more versatility in an already versatile preventing fashion.
Whereas taking part in Akuma, I initially fell into the muscle reminiscence of my a whole lot of hours taking part in Ryu, however these slight variations would ship my thoughts racing to new methods. His air-based fireball and upward Tatsumaki saved me going excessive the place I might usually have gone low, although I used to be swiftly punished for this in the suitable matchups. Dealing with Cammy was a selected ache level, as she may simply counter my air-based performs.
Watching Capcom’s character breakdown for Akuma demonstrates all of the little nuances of his moveset I couldn’t decide up in simply an hour of play, and that’s the form of sicko shit that makes preventing video games, and Road Fighter 6 particularly, so rewarding to dive into. Button-mashing via a personality you’ve by no means performed may be enjoyable, however mastering a personality makes the sport so gratifying. SF6’s power was in the way it stuffed out its roster’s movesets and gave them common instruments just like the Drive skills that dealt with primary utilities like parrying. This freed up growth house for every character’s distinctive skills and gimmicks to shine via. Akuma is flourishing beneath that design philosophy, and even when I don’t find yourself dropping my most important for him, I wish to study his each transfer to greatest him on-line.
What number of instances can I inform myself “it’s time to return to Road Fighter 6” earlier than I lastly do it? Perhaps not too many extra, as Akuma is launching as DLC on Might 22.
