It is overall a worse game than Ultra Street Fighter IV. Not terrible, but rather meh.

When Street Fighter V launched in 2016, it was a paradox—a brilliant core fighting engine wrapped in a surprisingly barebones package. Nearly a decade later, with multiple updates, character passes, and the Champion Edition and Season 5 content, it has evolved into a deep, competitive, and feature-rich fighter worthy of the Street Fighter legacy.

At its heart, Street Fighter V is a more aggressive, offense-oriented fighter than its predecessor. Gone are the Focus Attacks of SFIV—replaced by the V-System, which brings V-Skills, V-Triggers, and V-Reversals into play. These mechanics inject personality into each character and allow for unique strategies, comebacks, and playstyle variation.

The combat is fast and snappy, with a focus on reads and pressure. That said, SFV initially received criticism for simplified inputs and reduced execution barriers, which some veterans saw as a step back. But as the meta matured, the depth and nuance emerged—especially with later balance patches and character additions.

What began as a trimmed-down roster has since ballooned into a rich cast of over 45 fighters, ranging from series staples like Ryu and Chun-Li to inventive newcomers like Menat, G, and Luke. The character design is one of SFV's strongest aspects—everyone has a unique flavor and gameplay identity, and there’s truly something for every playstyle.

Each fighter’s V-Triggers can drastically change their capabilities, encouraging experimentation and giving matches a dramatic flair, especially in high-stakes rounds.

Powered by Unreal Engine 4, Street Fighter V is vibrant, stylized, and expressive. The character animations are fluid and cinematic, and the stages are full of energy and life. While the early UI and menu design felt undercooked, later updates polished the overall look and feel of the game.

The soundtrack is a mixed bag—some remixed character themes hit the right nostalgic notes, while others fade into the background. Still, the audio design in fights—impacts, announcer cues, and special move effects—feels crisp and satisfying.

Here’s where the road gets bumpy—especially at launch. Street Fighter V was heavily criticized for launching with minimal single-player content, unreliable online matchmaking, and a shaky netcode. Over time, Capcom addressed many of these issues, adding:

-Story Mode and Character Stories
-Arcade Mode (a fan-demanded feature)
-Challenges and Trials
-Training Mode with excellent tools
-A robust Ranked and Casual Matchmaking system

The CFN (Capcom Fighters Network) improved over time, though online play remains hit-or-miss depending on region and connection quality.

Street Fighter V is the ultimate redemption arc in the fighting game genre. From a shaky, incomplete launch to a full-featured and mechanically rewarding fighter, it stands today as a competitive juggernaut with a global community and a legacy of high-level play.

Its aggressive pace, colorful roster, and unique mechanics offer a different flavor from IV or VI, and for those willing to put in the time, it rewards both newcomers and tournament veterans alike.

Not perfect—but powerful, passionate, and pure Street Fighter at its core.

Rating: 8/10

Still plays great and even better that its on sale. Character design is good, and the only rainbow is Mika!