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How Much Has SFV Changed the Player Dynamic?
Capcom’s newest fighter has affected more than the meta; it's changed the base set of skills important to success in competition.
This past weekend we saw Team Grapht's Dogura take first place in Street Fighter V at the final major Capcom Pro Tour event: Canada Cup. However, this wasn’t his only victory that day. Dogura also took first place in Guilty Gear and second place in BlazBlue, plumping up an already impressive resume after his previous win at another premier event: South East Asia Majors in Singapore.
Dogura’s success in Street Fighter V isn’t a surprise to anyone who remembers his strength in Street Fighter IV, but his background in anime fighters has many raising an eyebrow and asking, “Is anime taking over Street Fighter now?”
Anime ascension
This isn’t the only upset to breach Capcom tradition. Since the release of Street Fighter V in February of last year, many top players have fallen through the cracks as newer and younger fighters collect regular Top 8 placements. Street Fighter legend Daigo Umehara just recently broke Master Rank — an achievement that many in the community view as long overdue. Although still in the running for Capcom Cup, he sits at 17th place — likely due to his decision to stay out of major tournaments to avoid gatekeeping. Daigo has only won one premier tournament this season, Esports Festival in Hong Kong.
Daigo’s rank at 17th is a stark contrast from his competition, who sits comfortably in first place. Panda Gaming’s Punk has been creating quite a storm, consistently placing high at major events throughout the United States. At just nineteen years old, this pro gamer has several massive wins under his belt, which include first at Northwest Majors, East Coast Throwdown, and NorCal Regionals, as well as the television program ELeague, which aired on TBS this summer.
And he's not the only youngster to make a name for himself. Liquid|NuckleDu has similarly caused a stir, winning Capcom Cup at only 21 years of age. NuckleDu now sits in third place for the Capcom Pro Tour, and is a likely candidate to retake his throne with a staggering 3,473 career points. Du has taken 1st place at Combo Breaker, Summer Jam, and Dreamhack Montreal, and took 5th at Evolution 2017.
With this information in mind, a pivotal question must be asked: Are times changing, or is the game itself to blame?
Street Fighter V presented major changes that transformed the meta from previous titles. Footsies in the traditional sense are less pronounced than in past titles, and execution strictness has been relaxed. While there are other elements of the game that make it challenging, such as its focus on mixups and punishes, this shift is likely a contributor to the influx of newer competitors' success, and the success of those who were previously lagging behind. Players who relied on the tools of older games are forced to adapt to the rules of the newest title — some more easily than others.
Many have said that given this, SFV is America's game to dominate — but a quick look at the Capcom Pro Tour, shows that Japan is dominating the competition as usual. This proved especially true during Canada Cup, as spectators saw Japan take Top 3 with ease. Itabashi’s Zangief plowed through his opponents, checked only by Grapht’s Fuudo and GO1—also Japanese players. Tokido’s win at EVO 2017 from the loser’s bracket with Akuma further puts Japan’s strength into perspective. This, at least, is a pattern that hasn’t changed — for the most part.
The recent influx of players from different backgrounds, as well as younger players, is maybe the most interesting new trend visible in Capcom’s fighting titles. Echo Fox|SonicFox has proven that age is no factor when it comes to mastering fighting games. The NRS-centric player began his esports career at just 13 years old, and has since built up an impressive resume, including three consecutive victories at EVO and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records with four esports titles. He has recently branched out and shown an interest in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, leaving the community anticipating an arrival in competitive Street Fighter.
It is important to note that younger players aren’t just surfacing in fighting games alone. Suma1L, DotA 2 champion, went down in history as the youngest gamer to earn over $1,000,000 in tournament winnings at sixteen years old. Lee Young Ho, known as Flash in the Starcraft community, joined KT Rolster at the tender age of fourteen. Young players are popping up more and more often as time goes on, and while the reason isn’t clear, gradual societal acceptance of competitive gaming may be a factor.
So, then, what is responsible for the downfall of the old gods? Who are these new powers taking their place? Street Fighter is a game of skill and reactions, where players must always be one step ahead of their competition and prepared for anything. In a world where change is the only constant, can Street Fighter veterans still find glory, or will they be swallowed by the new wave of fighters? Only time will tell — and Capcom Cup may have the answer.
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