Crossovers in video games keep popping up, and fighting games are a space where old rivalries turn into unexpected alliances. Capcom and SNK, once direct competitors, are now consolidating a collaboration that leaves years of rivalry behind. As part of Street Fighter 6’s Year 2, two special guests arrived from South Town: the iconic Terry Bogard and the waifu of an entire generation, Mai Shiranui.
Now, with the recent release of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, it seems that Capcom is looking to return the favor. The second downloadable character for the game, Ken Masters, is set to join the cast as part of Season 1. Thanks to early access, we already had the opportunity to try him out.
From Metro City to South Town
For any fan of fighting games, Street Fighter is a staple, and playing as Ken is almost a tradition, so it was interesting to see how this classic character adapts to the Fatal Fury environment. The demo we had access to was limited: you could only use the character in training and versus modes. Even so, it was enough to give us a clear idea of its gameplay.
Controlling Ken in City of the Wolves feels natural. The inputs for his classic moves—from Hadoken to Shoryuken—respond just as they have for over 30 years. Whether using a traditional controller or a leverless controller, the experience is solid and familiar. The special attacks and combos are very similar to the current move set in Street Fighter 6, though of course with some changes and adjustments to the gameplay brought by SNK. And let’s not forget the special moves, which are also easy to execute and blend well with the game’s REV System.
Full screen
Purist Street Fighter 6 players may notice that some animations don’t translate exactly to SNK’s game, which could spark debate. However, Ken is still Ken.
Visually, the character fits well with the graphic style of Fatal Fury. His current Street Fighter 6 design remains recognizable, even with a more pronounced beard and less detail due to cell shading, but it is faithful. Combined with his classic red suit, the experience feels almost like a retro version.
Full screen
After playing with Ken, the only thing left to do is wait and see how SNK will bring Chun-Li to life when she arrives later this year. For now, the “Crimson Fist” does not have an exact release date, but it is expected to be available in the Summer of 2025.
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