We find out why Street Fighter 6 will knock your socks off, then check out Company of Heroes 3, Bleak Sword DX, the Audio-Technica AT2040USB microphone and more.
Those well-versed in the fighting game community would be able to tell you that Street Fighter V felt as though it pulled more than its fair share of punches at release. The fighter was underbaked, unpolished and just generally lacked content.
Street Fighter 6, on the other hand, couldn’t be further removed from these errors, as Capcom has valiantly worked to deliver one hell of a knockout package. The best thing about Street Fighter 6 is that it just feels so damn good to play. This is largely in part to the new drive system – introducing new abilities such as Drive Rush, Dive Parry and Drive Impact.
Drive Impact, for example, is perfect for competitors hiding in a corner, while Drive Rush is a quick dash that will help close the gap in a fight. Each of these moves use up part of your Drive Gauge, which when depleted, leaves you weaker and more vulnerable until it starts to recharge. This new system opens up a whole new level of mind games as you try to focus on which Drive moves to whip out and, perhaps more importantly, when.
World Tour meanwhile adds the single-player shenanigans fans have been looking for. This RPG-lite lets you create a character, develop them and encounter Street Fighter 6’s cast of characters, all while helping you learn the ropes of the game’s new fundamental systems. It’s all a bit silly and won’t be the main reason you play Street Fighter 6 but it was fun to create a create a super hybrid fighter of my own creation nonetheless.
Combine all this with a varied roster, strong online play and incredibly pretty visuals and Street Fighter 6 will have plenty of fight left in it for quite some time to come.
Street Fighter 6 is out now for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. You can buy it from Amazon here.
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Also out now…
Storyteller (Switch, PC)
If for nothing else, Storyteller needs to be commended for its sheer creativity. Here’s the elevator pitch for this peculiar puzzler: you are given a bunch of blank panels (kind of like a comic strip) and some variables to tell a particular short story. That story might be as simple as helping two characters fall in love, or helping your beloved break a deadly curse.
The fun of Storyteller comes not just in how to use your variables to achieve your intended story, but playing around with them to see how said story can change and adapt on the fly. Typically that includes characters, themes or events, but adjust any of these variables (or even the order in which they’re placed) and said story can change in a number of different ways. Storyteller’s biggest problem though is that once you master the mechanics, they never really evolve over the game’s brief 1-2 hour runtime.
It’s a wonderful video game palate cleanser but might not prove enough of a challenge for puzzle aficionados.
Bleak Sword DX (Switch, PC)
Part Soulslike, part hack-and-slash playing through Bleak Sword DX is like living through a fever dream you don’t really want to end. This pixelated beauty is wonderfully unique, offering tense battles within cramped dioramas.
As you progress through Bleak Sword DX’s many waves of enemies, said diorama chops and changes, providing some impressive creative range as you battle through waves of foes. Combat is equally enjoyable as you dance and slash your way to victory hoping to avoid the penalty of death which strips you of the experience you gained since your last level-up.
Adding the ability to regain your losses with one re-do creates the perfect hook that’ll see you sink hours until you power through the 4-5 hour adventure.
Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
We’ve come a long way when it comes to console RTS’ and Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition is a shining example of that. While there’s obviously a steep learning curve in capably handling the PC-centric game’s intense control scheme, the developers have done well to port everything to a controller and have to be commended.
It allows fans of the genre to sink their teeth into the game’s WW2 setting and battles, even though the campaign isn’t quite as exciting as you’d hope for. Skirmishes are a definite highlight though and allow you to focus more on the tactical warfare that Company of Heroes excels at.
It might not be the best way to play, but if you don’t have a gaming PC and are prepared to embrace the many controls, there’s still plenty to enjoy with Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition.
Hands-on with the Audio-Technica AT2040USB
While most gamers and audiophiles know Audio-Technica for their excellent headphones and record players, the audio extraordinaries have also steadily been releasing a slew of broadcast-quality mics for a more budget friendly price. The AT2040USB is one of the latest to hit the shelves and our hands-on time has proven it to be a perfect choice for budding content creators and streamers.
Unlike many plastic-dominant competitors, Audio-Technica has opted for a mostly steel build for the AT2040USB and as a result the unit is heavier and beefier straight out of the box. While that might not suit those looking for a more slimline, lightweight option, I personally liked the sturdier design which gave me comfort that that it could withstand a bit more ware and tear including the odd accidental tumble.
The choice isn’t at the expense of aesthetics either, with the AT2040USB easily matching much of Audio-Technica’s existing product line-up and its black finish helping it to blend into almost any recording setup or desktop.
And you’ll want to keep the AT2040USB handy because this microphone delivers an exceptional performance, especially for voice capture. Audio-Technica attributes much of this to the unit’s Hypercardioid polar pattern which during my time with the unit, helped deliver wonderfully clear audio. It might be overkill for your typical Discord call, but if you’re looking to branch into Twitch or YouTube, you can’t look past the quality for the price tag. The plug-and-play functionality and tap-to-mute button should only help sweeten the pot
If there’s one gripe it’s that there isn’t all that much included in the box outside of a mounting clamp and USB-C to USB-A cable, meaning additional extras will come at a cost. That said, it is worth noting that the AT2040USB does feature an integrated shock mount and internal pop filter, but more serious users will invest in the extra gear all the same.
Do that and the AT2040USB is a pretty easy recommendation. The microphone comes packed with the quality you’d expect from Audio-Technica and delivers a rich, clear sound you won’t be disappointed with.
You can pick up the AT2040USB for $299 from the Audio-Technica website.
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