Street Fighter VI has announced its roster of new characters for the game’s second season, and fans are already buzzing with excitement. The season will kick off with the return of series villain M. Bison, followed by the introduction of Terry and Mai from Fatal Fury, marking the first time guest characters have appeared in the main Street Fighter series. Additionally, Elena from Street Fighter III will be making her debut in the spring.
In an interview with Street Fighter VI director Takayuki Nakayama, he expressed his excitement about the positive reaction to the new characters. He mentioned that there was no hesitation in bringing back Bison, as he is an iconic and beloved character among fans. The decision to include him was made early on in the planning stages of Street Fighter VI.
One interesting aspect of Bison’s character reveal is his entrance on a horse. Nakayama explained that the idea for this presentation came from the context and reasoning behind Bison’s story, which players can discover more about in the World Tour mode. The team wanted to depict how a character like Bison, known for his strength, would ride a horse. They decided on a visual where Bison folds his arms when getting on top of the horse.
When it comes to Bison’s gameplay in Street Fighter VI, Nakayama revealed that he has some new moves, such as the backfist combo, which allows him to land a Psycho Mine on his opponent. This move introduces a mind game element, forcing opponents to play differently. However, Bison also retains some of his classic moves, like the Psycho Crusher and double knee press, albeit with some changes to their execution. The team wanted to keep and enhance Bison’s legacy moves while making them more suitable for the Street Fighter VI system.
The inclusion of Terry and Mai from Fatal Fury as guest characters in Street Fighter VI was a result of collaboration with SNK. Two years ago, Capcom and SNK worked together on collaborative posters to celebrate an event, which sparked conversations about including these characters in Street Fighter VI. Nakayama also mentioned that the original creators of Fatal Fury and Street Fighter have a connected history, making the inclusion of these characters feel natural.
As for the possibility of a new Capcom vs. SNK game or returning the favor to Fatal Fury with guest characters, Nakayama expressed excitement about the upcoming Fatal Fury game and stated that it would be amazing if something like that happened, but it remains to be seen.
Nakayama clarified that the inclusion of guest characters in Street Fighter VI is different from making a completely new Capcom vs. SNK game. The goal of including SNK characters is to invigorate fighting game fans and generate excitement for Street Fighter VI. Making a new CvS game would require a different approach and have different goals.
Regarding the decision to include Elena from Street Fighter III, Nakayama explained that they don’t focus on specific titles when choosing characters to include. Instead, they consider each character’s fighting style and origin. Elena’s unique capoeira style and African background made her a fitting addition to the roster.
Nakayama acknowledged that there is pressure from fans to include certain characters, but the team doesn’t tune out those voices. They encourage fans to vocalize their desires and take their feedback into account. However, the team’s ultimate goal is to get as many people excited about fighting games as possible. They strive to include characters that will reach a broad audience and attract newcomers to the series.
In conclusion, the announcement of new characters for Street Fighter VI’s second season has generated excitement among fans. The inclusion of iconic characters like M. Bison, as well as guest characters from Fatal Fury and Street Fighter III, showcases the developers’ commitment to keeping the game fresh and appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers. The team behind Street Fighter VI is actively listening to fan feedback and working to create a balanced and engaging roster of characters.