Block-Boxing Beats
Street Fighter has always had a close relationship with its own dulcet tones, with each iteration in the classic fight franchise sporting a host of great, (and very occasionally not-so-great), tunes — Street Fighter 6 is looking to truly embrace these themes, with a street-grown hip-hop atmosphere to match its alleyway visuals and nightclub fashion wardrobe.
Yesterday, Capcom released full versions of three SF6 character themes, sounding the siren for the arrival of three of the sequel’s currently confirmed characters. Sitting in the jukebox today are shoto master Ryu, crimestopper Chun-Li, and braggadocious military brat Luke. So crank up the volume, sonny, and let’s check ’em out.
Luke – “Taking Aim”
When you go looking for strength, it's not like a game. ????
Train up on your martial arts by listening to Luke's Theme in #StreetFighter6. pic.twitter.com/pNtedBBKyL
— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) June 10, 2022
Luke’s “Taking Aim” is a mish-mash of flavors, blending funk and hip-hop to lay a backbeat, while more traditional Capcom “arcade” sounds fill in the color. This is clearly intended to reflect Luke’s part-time hobby as a TrU3 G@m3r. As a theme, it’s “ok”, but as, essentially, the lead character for Street Fighter 6, Luke’s theme needs to capture the vibe of the whole game. And I’m not sure whether this theme quite achieves this, based on what we have seen so far.
Chun-Li – “Not a Little Girl”
Time for the finale! ????
Listen to Chun-Li's Theme in #StreetFighter6 that reflects her new philosophical approach to life. pic.twitter.com/LnEUKcDsgT
— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) June 10, 2022
Cringe-as-fuck title aside, Chun-Li’s theme is the best of the three, retaining the “street” nature of SF6 while featuring a delicacy befitting of the grace, tranquility, and poise of The Strongest Woman in the World. If you played this to someone and said “Which SF character is this?” There’s a solid chance they’d call Chun, which is the sign of an appropriate melody.
“Not a Little Girl” sounds like a track from a WWE album though. Seriously?
Ryu – “Viator”
This will be a good fight.
Listen to Ryu's new theme to feel the the journey he has been on and his enthusiasm for the new one awaiting for him in #StreetFighter6 ????. pic.twitter.com/8CKnm4VJmR
— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) June 16, 2022
Well, this is certainly something different for Street Fighter‘s poster boy. Already the owner of one of the finest themes in fighting game history, Ryu getting anything in the way of new music will be sure to raise controversy among the community. I’m fine with the Asian flavor and the heavy beats, but the horns are a little bit “game show”, I think. Once the strings kick in, it very much sounds like a Persona track. It’s going to take some time to grow, but I’m not kicking in walls like some of the fans on social media.
So, what do you think? Street Fighter 6‘s whole vibe has been met with trepidation by some, and I get it, it’s certainly a bold rubber stamp on the series. But I dig it, personally, and I’m glad Capcom has chosen an aesthetic and committed to it, rather than mish-mashing moods in an effort to please everybody. I’m looking forward to seeing — and hearing — more characters in the future.
Street Fighter 6 launches 2023 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.
