Street Fighter 6

Turn on Modern controls before you try Street Fighter 6 while exercising, because landing a special move with your thumb bouncing around is a lot to ask of anybody. I’d start in World Tour or against the computer, not in ranked matches where every missed input feels like it has a witness.

Gameplay

Street Fighter 6 is a very good fighting game, but it also has enough talking and wandering around that I wouldn’t treat every mode as equally good workout company. Fighting Ground gets to the point: you pick a fighter, learn what they can do, and get back into a match. World Tour is a much longer adventure, with your own avatar moving through Metro City and Nayshall, meeting familiar fighters and getting pulled into fights along the way. I like having both options, even if sometimes I’d rather skip ahead to the part where someone gets kicked.

The fighting has a lot going on, and the Drive system gives you extra ways to attack, defend and get yourself into trouble. That’s exciting when you’re focused, but it also means there’s a learning curve before a match feels simple. Modern controls make the basics more accessible, which is probably where I’d start, and you can move to Classic controls later if you want more precise command inputs. There’s no prize for making your workout harder than it needs to be.

World Tour gives you a reason to keep moving through the game instead of just queuing up match after match, and I think that works better when you’re on the bike or walking at an easy pace. There are conversations, travel and stretches where you’re figuring out where to go next, so it doesn’t keep you in combat the whole time. I don’t know that I’d want to stop jogging to read dialogue, but at least you can choose Fighting Ground when you want the action without the sightseeing.

The character variety is a big part of why the matches stay interesting. Chun Li and Luke feel very different to control, and finding a fighter whose moves make sense to you is more useful than trying to pick the one you think you’re supposed to like. The game also gives you training, tutorials and combo trials, which are useful, though I’d save the more demanding practice for when I’m not trying to keep a steady pace. My thumb has enough jobs already.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

A treadmill adds a small problem to a game built around quick reactions and careful inputs, and this one asks for both. A sudden Drive Impact or a move that needs a clean directional input can be easy to miss when your hands are moving, so I’d keep the speed comfortable and use Modern controls. Controller play suits the game well, but controller support doesn’t make every fight gentle.

Fighting Ground against the computer is where I’d spend most of a workout. You can choose a match, focus on the fight and avoid the pressure of someone online waiting for you to make a mistake. I’d leave ranked matches for when I’m sitting still, because I know myself well enough to say that I’d care more about the match than my pace. That is not a fitness plan.

World Tour seems like the better choice when you want a less intense session, since its conversations and exploring give you natural breaks between fights. I’d skip the harder combo practice while moving, and I wouldn’t expect Battle Hub matches to be forgiving just because I’m on a bike. Online opponents can move quickly, and you can’t make them slow down while you catch your breath. They have their own plans.

For a first try, I’d use Modern controls, pick a character whose basic attacks feel readable, and play against the computer on a difficulty that lets you keep moving without staring at the screen every second. If that still asks too much of your coordination, World Tour gives you more room to take things at your own speed. I like having that choice.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

This needs a dedicated graphics card around the GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580 level, so I wouldn’t expect an older laptop with integrated graphics to be enough. Check the graphics card first, and leave room for the game’s storage needs because updates need extra space too.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Street Fighter 6 is easy to recommend if you want lively fights and are willing to use Modern controls while exercising. Choose Fighting Ground against the computer for direct action, or World Tour for a slower session, and save serious online competition for when you’re sitting down.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3