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FIFA Street review

Let’s just get this out of the way right now. Having not even bothered with the Street franchise after the first FIFA Street game hit in 2005 – and passing altogether on FIFA Street 3 — I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of a fourth effort bringing the series out of retirement and back onto the streets. So you can imagine my surprise after popping in the disc and finding a game that was actually — well, you know, pretty damn good.

Now, I don’t know exactly what FIFA Street has being doing during its hiatus. I personally like to think that it underwent four years of relentless montage-filled training sessions with makeshift weights, excessive grunting, and daily runs up an imposing mountain’s summit, a la Rocky IV. But random eighties reference aside, FIFA Street is definitely the reboot the series needed, but more importantly, the one fans wanted.

Messi magic

As any gamer will tell you, the real nexus of a great video game lies within how well it controls, and that counts for double with sports titles. It doesn’t really matter how pretty a game’s graphics are, or how many features it packs in. If the controls are off, the entire experience suffers. Thankfully, FIFA Street ditches the over-the-top, feathery control scheme of its predecessors and delivers a solid romp similar in many ways to the core gameplay found in FIFA 12, which just so happens to be a really good thing. Players handle well. Tricks are performed with a combination of the right analog stick, and it takes a good degree of timing and practice to channel your inner Lionel Messi and know what move will leave that oncoming defender in your wake.

FIFA-Street-Messi-Magic
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Speaking of Messi, as you can see, the diminutive Argentine graces the game’s cover. You probably already know that the Barcelona forward has long been the poster boy for rival Konami franchise, Pro Evolution Soccer, so EA snapping up the best player in world and its rival’s mascot is somewhat of a double coup.

While FIFA Street shares similar gameplay mechanics with FIFA 12, that doesn’t mean you can play the game like its older brother. With FIFA Street, a real emphasis has been placed on taking your opponent on –offensive or otherwise – and making that deft tackle, slick move, or penetrating pass. After some time on the ball, it’s clear that FIFA Street’s movements are both subtle and deliberate. Think of FC Barcelona’s signature tiki-taka style, characterized by short passing and an emphasis on possession play, and you’ll be right at home. Longballs and througballs are simply not very effective. That all makes sense considering the game is played on a much smaller pitch.

On top of a complete gameplay overhaul, FIFA Street goes under the knife and receives a much appreciated facelift. Gone are the cartoony graphics and unstoppable super-goals of yesteryear. Players look and feel like true representations of their real-life selves. Everything is here, from Cristiano Ronaldo’s boyish good looks to Wayne Rooney’s chiseled mug that only a mother could love. To shamelessly borrow from Men’s Wearhouse CEO George Zimmer, “you’re gonna like the way this game looks. I guarantee it.”

Keeping it real

With the series focus shifting to a much more realistic tone, it might seem like the core of what makes street soccer so exciting and fun has been lost in the process. Not so. While realism is indeed the recipe of the day, the shift actually invites an experience that is much more awe-inspiring. All the tricks you pull off in FIFA Street are all real – making them all the more impressive. No exaggerations, no embellishments, no samba-colored haze flying out of your backside. There is just something intrinsically more satisfying in nutmegging the ball through your opponent’s legs and blasting past the keeper than vaulting 20 feet in the air and performing an impossible bicycle kick

World Tour is where you’ll embark on your single-player experience. Here you have the option of creating a new Virtual Pro — or importing a saved one from FIFA 12 — as you build your team and compete across the globe. Each successive win sees you earning more skill points for your team and enabling your player to ‘purchase’ new tricks.

FIFA-Street-World Tour
Image used with permission by copyright holder

World Tour serves as a nice mixer of sorts, and consists of all of the game’s various modes. You’ll start out small, playing your matches locally, then move on to other competition that spans the globe. The locales are refreshingly varied, too. You’ll play inside smelly gyms, on the rooftops of Shanghai, and even in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. What’s more, the different locales demand different approaches to your strategy. For example, the goalmouth featured down in Brazil is different in size to the one found in Shanghai. The same goes for pitch size. A bigger pitch gives you more space to work the pass, while a smaller pitch will require you to be more mercurial with your on-field endeavors. And while the locales are varied and fun, they never really quite offer that heightened sense of drama a packed Santiago Bernabéu or Old Trafford give off.

On top of the main single-player experience in World Tour, the game offers both 5-a-side and 6-a-side tournaments. Care for an even more realistic experience? Check out Futsal mode where referees and fouls are added to the mix. Panna mode encourages gratuitous use of the trick stick to rack up points and school your opponents, which are then added to your team’s score once you bag a goal. Panna is particularly exhilarating because, once you’re opponent manages to score before you, they take away any points earned from your total. Scoring — but, more importantly, scoring with style — is key here. Lastly, and perhaps appropriately so, is Last Man Standing. As its name suggests, the winner here is the team with players left in the game. Each time you score your opponent loses a team member and vice versa.

Street style

Apart from the solid visual, excellent gameplay, and a wealth of modes, part of what made FIFA 12 one of the most successful sports games of all time is the ability to create and nurture your Virtual Pro from a relative nobody to a world class phenom. One of my favorite aspects of past FIFA titles is the level of customization I had with my player. Everything from Nike boots, Adidas kits, and Puma gear is here for you to ramp up your Virtual Pro’s style and wardrobe. And, while it’s purely cosmetic in nature, your inner fashionista will dig it.

Taking FIFA Street to the, ahem, online streets is where the game really shines. Playing against the computer is all well and good, but it’s way more fun joining up with your friends and taking on the best the online world has to offer. EA has always done a great job with FIFA when it comes to online play. Virtually every game I played online handled well, with no real latency problems. And while I would really like to be able to blame erratic servers and lag for my numerous defeats at the hands of players half my age, I can’t in all good consciousness bring myself to do so.

FIFA-Street-Nutmeg
Image used with permission by copyright holder

FIFA Street is not without its issues, though. While the controls have been thoroughly retooled, they’re still nowhere as deep as FIFA 12’s. While it’s great that both FIFA 12 and FIFA Street share similar engines, the latter doesn’t always translate well into the compact nature of the street game. Players collide and clip together on occasion, and goalkeepers often behave erratically, leaving you scratching your head and plotting some virtual reprisal back in the locker room.

In addition, team selection isn’t as inclusive as FIFA 12’s. All the big teams from the major European leagues, the MLS and a selection of international teams are present, but fans of clubs from Eastern Europe, Central and South America, and Asia will be disappointed. Although you can unlock all-star teams from these regions as you play the game.

Conclusion

If you’ve played past entries in the franchise you’ll know that realism has more often than not taken a backseat to exaggeration , but with FIFA Street, EA has taken a different (read: better) approach. The game looks fantastic and the control aspires to levels of greatness never seen in past Street titles. While you won’t find the level of depth that EA’s marquee FIFA franchise includes, you will find an overwhelmingly fun experience with a varied amount of games modes that provide a welcome break to the typical FIFA experience. It’s far from perfect, but it’s a great sign of where EA is looking to take the resurrected franchise. If you’re looking for a fun and accessible sports game to play, look no further than FIFA Street.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

(This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360 on a copy provided by EA)

Amir Iliaifar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Street Fighter 6: how to enroll with every master
The player confronts Ryu in Street Fighter 6 World Tour.

If you want to be the best, you need to learn from the best. Street Fighter 6 lets you put yourself into the action by creating your own custom character who learns the art of fighting from both the iconic world warriors and a host of newcomers while advancing through the World Tour mode. Each master you pledge yourself to will unlock their own unique moves to add to your list of possibilities when customizing your moveset. You might think meeting all the characters would happen naturally through the story, yet you can easily complete the entire mode without encountering most of the masters. Let us give you your first lesson by showing you how to enroll with every master in Street Fighter 6.
How to enroll with every master

Each of the main characters included at the launch of Street Fighter 6 is considered a master, which results in a total of 18 to find. Some you will come across naturally as you play World Tour mode, but most are either hidden or require you to complete certain optional objectives to find. Here's each master and how you can find them to learn their special moves.
Luke
You will automatically be enrolled with Luke when you begin World Tour mode in Street Fighter 6. You can find and train with him at any time in Metro City at the warehouse marked on your map.
Chin-Li
Chun-Lu is also impossible to miss as you go through the story. Once you get to Chapter 2-1, your objective will be to fund Chun-Li in the Chinatown area of the map. Once you find her there, you can go back to that spot to train with her at any time.
Marisa
Further on in the story, when you get to Chapter 3-3, your objective will now be able to travel using the World Map to get to Colosseo. Once you arrive, Marisa will be introduced automatically. Just speak with her again afterward to become her student.
Blanka
The big green beast Blanka can be missed, but only if you don't bother exploring. After you get to Chapter 6-1, Luke will unlock the Ranger's Hut location on the World Map. Not only will you be able to become Blanka's student, but you will also get the Blanka Chan outfit.
Dee Jay
Also available in Chapter 6-1, Dee Jay is found in Bather's Beach. After a battle (regardless of if you win or lose), you will be able to enroll with this master.
Lily
Lily is the first tricky master to enroll with. During Chapter 4-1, you need to complete a side mission called "The Spirit Guide" that you can pick up from an NPC in Chinatown named Ana. After completing the quest, Thunderfoot Settlement will be unlocked on the World Map. Go there, speak to a few NPCs, and Lily will arrive in a cutscene. Once it ends, speak to her to enroll as a student.
Cammy
Cammy also is locked behind a side mission that you can go on during Chapter 7-1. The one in question is called "Special Unit Del-?" in Metro City. Head down to the subway to grab the quest, complete it by clearing out the subway, and unlock access to the stadium area on the west side of the map. Once you take care of all the enemies downtown, you can go back to King Street via the World Map to find and battle Cammy.
Jamie
Jamie is slightly tricky to find. You need to be in Metro City during the night and go into the Chinatown alley. He will be in the middle of a fight, leading to his intro, after which you can climb up the nearby ladder and onto the roof to speak and train with him.
Ken
After a long break, Ken will be the next unmissable master. Once you get to Chapter 8-3, you will get the mission "The Elusive Former National Champ" that sends you to go find Ken at a construction site. After getting the appropriate headgear, you can head to the site and  be introduced to him.
E. Honda
Not long after you encounter Ken, E. Honda will show up in Chapter 8-4 during the "Big in Japan" mission. Simply head to the restaurant to meet up with the famous sumo star.
Ryu
Ryu can be found next by traveling to Genbu Temple. Just walk up and speak to him to begin training.
Kimberly
Also unmissable, Kimberly will be introduced during Chapter 8-7 during the "High Flying Man" mission. Once the mission is complete, she will be posted up on the roof above your hideout.
Guile
Once you've finished Chapter 8-7, you can go learn from Guile by putting on the SiRN lab coat and talking to an NPC at the construction site to get a mission to go to the Carrier Byron Taylor. Go there, fight a bit, and he will jump in to help you out.
Manon
Following Chapter 7-3, when the "Extra" sidequest unlocks in Metro City's Beat Square, you will be taken to Fete Foraine automatically. After Manon introduces herself, you can speak to her again to become a student.
Dhalsim
The yoga master himself can be found by doing the "Yoga Statue" quest available starting on Chapter 9. Talk to Anik in Bayside Park in Metro City. Complete the quest to unlock Dhalsimer Temple on the World Map, where you can enroll with Dhalsim.
Zangief
The sidequest for Zangief also spawns when you hit Chapter 9. This time, you need to go to the stadium to find the "Hither and Thither" mission from some wrestlers. Finish up the quest and the Barmaley Steelworks will be added to your map. Zip on over and meet the master grappler.
Juri
Not available until much later in Chapter 11-4, you're looking for the "A Hardboiled Adventure" sidequest in Nayshall from Govind in the Bazaar. You will need to wait until Chapter 12 before you can fully finish this quest, but once done, you can ask to study under Juri.
JP
The last master you will find can only be encountered once you've fully finished World Tour mode. Once everything is wrapped up, go to Old Nayshall at night and go to the Suval'hal Arena Entrance. JP will be there waiting by the stairs around back for someone to come asking to train.

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How to change profile Titles in Street Fighter 6

Diving into the world of Street Fighter 6 opens up a whole new arena of customization. Instead of just playing as the iconic world warriors and other designed fighters, you are finally able to create your own custom avatar to face off against these legendary brawlers. The character creator is extensive enough already, but that's only part of the suite of ways you can customize your experience. Titles are back and give you a way to add some flair and personality to your profile when playing against opponents online. Unfortunately, the way to actually change your Title is a bit obscure. Here's how you can change your profile Title in Street Fighter 6.
How to change your Title

After  you've gotten started in the game, head into the Main Menu and go to the Profile section. This is where people will get tripped up. You need to press Square to enter the Battle Settings, then press Triangle to access Update Character Settings, then select Title Settings from the available tabs. This is finally where you are able to go in and pick from any of the Titles you've unlocked so far. The Title will be applied to whichever character you have selected, so you can have different titles set for each character.

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Chun-Li and Ryu fight in Street Fighter 6.

Street Fighter is officially returning with Street Fighter 6. Ryu, Chun-Li, and new and old friends will take center stage, along with a whole new look for the classic fighting game’s graphics. It’s good timing, too, as the Street Fighter franchise just turned 35 last year, and is ready for a big comeback (Street Fighter 5 launched more than six years ago in 2016).

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Release date

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