Let's face it: "Street Fighter 6" is one of the strongest entries in the popular franchise. Unlike "Street Fighter V," which focused on the fighting game community, this title has something for both casual and hardcore fighting fans. In addition to the deep gameplay and variety of characters as expected, there are plenty of new modes and mechanics to liven things up.

I've been a huge fan of the franchise since "Street Fighter II" and it has gone through many incarnations. After the lackluster "Street Fighter V," I was initially skeptical about "Street Fighter 6," but after spending a considerable amount of time playing it, I can say that my fears were unfounded. If you're anything like me, "Street Fighter 6" will rekindle your love for fighting games.

Street Fighter 6 is a huge step forward for the franchise. To see how it has evolved, check out my review.

Street Fighter 6 has a variety of modes: world tour mode, battle hub, training ground. Let's start with Fighting Grounds, a comprehensive mode that includes the core modes the franchise is known for: arcade/story mode, Versus, extreme battles, training, and online mode.

In the arcade mode, every character has his or her own storyline. As in previous titles, the stories are told in still images between fights. While these stories won't win any awards, it is nice to see what motivates each fighter. I also appreciate the great art that can be found in this mode--including all of the unlockable art that can be obtained after finishing a character's story.

Extreme mode is the wildest mode in the game. Before the match, you can set modifiers such as no jumping and no special moves. You can also choose quirky elements such as bombs randomly falling from the sky or cows charging across the stage during a match.

It is both frustrating and amusing to be knocked down by a charging bull in cold blood.

Versus, training, and online are self-explanatory. Versus features one-on-one and team battles. Both modes are great for when friends come over, but you can also play against computer-controlled opponents. The team battle mode is especially fun and reminiscent of the tournament mode in Street Fighter II. Training is essential for practicing moves and learning new combos. The latter mode is especially useful for mastering the mechanics of the updated gameplay.

Online, you will be playing against players from all over the world and on all platforms. Cross-play is significant because you are no longer locked into playing with other players on your platform of choice; PC players can play against PlayStation and Xbox players.

World Tour mode is the most interesting new feature in Street Fighter 6. It is a completely single-player story mode in which you will travel to different locations around the world with a character of your own creation. This mode is reminiscent of the Yakuza series as you explore 3D environments and fight random citizens, nefarious bosses, and of course the cast of Street Fighter 6.

The character creator is powerful and can spend countless hours creating the perfect avatar. Also, exploring places like Metro City will make you lose track of time. Metro City is full of food stalls, where you can buy health-enhancing items or buy clothes at department stores.

You gain experience points and level up by winning battles and completing missions. Some enemies are tougher than others, so try to make sure that your current level is the same as or higher than the enemy's level (indicated by the respective health bar). As you level up, you can unlock perks such as increased attack power, extended health bars, additional super technique slots, etc.

The story is not very deep, but I found it engaging. Meeting fighters like Chun-Li and Ryu and learning their respective super special moves is a lot of fun. I also enjoyed exploring the environment to find hidden treasure chests and new enemies to fight. The nighttime city is especially fun, as fighting enemies is almost nonstop; it's the closest game to the 3D version of Final Fight, which is appropriate considering we're in that game's Metro City.

While the World Tour mode is best suited for beginners, the Battle Hub is where veterans can test their skills against players from around the world. The hub itself is a 3D environment reminiscent of a real-world fighting game tournament, complete with arcade cabinets and stores.

You approach the arcade cabinet as an avatar and either wait to be paired with another player or watch a match in progress. This nicely replicates the feeling of going to a real arcade, but without the chance to actually fight the opponent you lost to. There are also arcade cabinets for classic Capcom games such as the original "Street Fighter II", "Final Fight", and "Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo".

When I tried out "Street Fighter 6," not many people were available to play against in the Battle Hub, but the few matches I did participate in went flawlessly, as did the online mode of Fighting Grounds, where you can play against other fighters in the same way that you can play against other players in the same way. A stable connection is essential to playing fighting games, so it's nice to see Capcom making this a reality once again.

Street Fighter 6 follows the basic gameplay found in Street Fighter V and Street Fighter IV. The characters clearly have more weight than in the older 2D games, and the attacks are more intuitive and impactful. I've been playing these games for 30 years and it was easy to get used to the controls in seconds. Capcom did not tamper with what worked well.

The drive gauge is new to this franchise, but some features have been seen in past titles. For example, players can use the Drive Gauge to parry attacks, as in Street Fighter III, or to perform powerful special moves by pressing two attack buttons, as in Street Fighter IV. Using these techniques consumes the Drive Gauge, which is only replenished when an attack is hit. When the drive runs out, the player enters burnout mode and cannot use drive. The game therefore encourages aggressive play, which I personally like.

The game has three control types: classic, modern, and dynamic. Classic, as you might expect, follows the original "Street Fighter" six-button layout (three punch buttons and three kick buttons). Modern uses a simplified four-button system similar to that found in recent "Marvel vs Capcom" titles. This control scheme is best suited for beginners, as only one button is used to perform special moves and there are only three attack buttons.

Dynamic is even simpler, as attacks and combos can be performed automatically by simply pressing a button.

In standard battles, I stuck to the familiar classic control scheme. In the World Tour mode, I preferred the Modern because the character I created could only perform basic moves in the beginning. Of course, you can switch control types at any time. These various control schemes allow a wider range of players to enjoy the game.

Street Fighter 6 uses the same stylized art style as the previous two games. The characters are not realistic, but the muscles and clothing are highly detailed. The various backdrops are phenomenal, almost like characters in their own right. Streetlights light up the cobblestones in Cammy's London stage, and Alex's Metro City stage features many Final Fight characters.

The hip-hop style soundtrack is reminiscent of Street Fighter III. While I prefer the rock-inspired tunes of older "Street Fighter" games like "Street Fighter Alpha," the music in "Street Fighter 6" fits the visuals well and adds tension during battles.

Speaking of sound, you can enable real-time commentary during a match. It can be a little strange to hear voices commenting on your game, especially if you are new to Esports. But if you like that sort of thing, you'll appreciate Capcom's use of commentary from people like Steve "TastySteve" Scott and Jeremy "Vicious" Lopez. I don't know who these people are, but they do a good job with their commentary.

Street Fighter 6 is a fighting game for everyone. The engaging World Tour mode is great for those who want to progress through the story and learn the basic mechanics of the game, while the Battle Hub and online modes are for more seasoned players. With plenty of content to keep players engaged and more to come, this is a game that can be played for months or even years.

As a longtime fan, "Street Fighter 6" is exactly what I wanted in a modern version. It looks great, plays perfectly, and has tons of modes. If you're a veteran SF player like me, this is a must buy. But even if you've never played a fighting game before, you'll have a great time. Street Fighter 6 is one of the definitive fighting game experiences of this console generation.