As you noticed with our cowl reveal yesterday, probably the most iconic characters is a centerpiece of Avenue Fighter 6’s story. Ken Masters, one of many two unique playable Avenue Fighter characters, steps again into the highlight with an all-new backstory. As quickly as his new look was unveiled, the Avenue Fighter neighborhood had a subject day pondering what occurred to place Ken within the tough state he appeared, with memes popping up deeming him “Hobo Ken.” Whereas at Capcom’s headquarters in Osaka, Japan, we spoke with Avenue Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama and artwork director Kaname Fujioka to get extra particulars about what’s going on in Ken’s life across the time of Avenue Fighter 6.
Returning World Warriors like Ryu, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, and Blanka all sport new seems, however Ken is probably the most important departure from his traditional look. Longtime Avenue Fighter followers have seen his evolution from Ryu’s rival to husband of Eliza, father of Mel, and ex-vice president of the Masters Basis. Avenue Fighter 6 introduces the character to a brand new period with new motivations.
“All through the sequence, it looks as if his life has change into increasingly more steady, and the staff felt like he was shedding a cause to struggle,” Nakayama says. “However this can be a method to create that cause for him to step up. We need to create that form of plotline that explains why Ken is vital and offers him that goal. The story will probably be tied to these different characters near him.”
Usually sporting a crimson gi and a clean-shaven face, Ken now rocks a jacket, boots, new crimson pants, and in some depictions, a little bit stubble. Capcom’s predominant objective, except for depicting an iconic character in a distinct part of his life, was to deliver again the passionate nature that set Ken aside from Ryu within the franchise’s early days.
“The title that left me with the most important impression was the Avenue Fighter II sequence and the way I see Ken within the Avenue Fighter II sequence is, compared to Ryu, who’s extra stern and critical, I see Ken as a fiery and explosive character,” Fujioka says. “All through the evolution of the sequence, there’s been totally different sorts of Kens as nicely. Within the Alpha sequence, he was a little bit extra playful and lighthearted in a method. For six, we wished to deliver that fiery explosiveness again into it. As compared, Luke in Avenue Fighter 6 could be extra cheery and a form of playful character. We wished to distinguish from that, so we wished to go together with this extra fiery kind of character. And there being the story behind Ken and there being a extra critical tone to him, we wished to specific that by means of the character designs as nicely.”
Regardless of the assorted hints dropped throughout my time at Capcom, the studio stays tight-lipped on the particular narrative causes Ken is on this perilous state. “For gamers who begin up Avenue Fighter 6, they’ll count on that Ken is now on the run from one thing, and he isn’t capable of see his son Mel for causes unknown,” Nakayama says. “He is in a tricky scenario that you’re going to study extra about sooner or later.”
The curtain will probably be pulled again on Ken’s backstory by means of a particular four-issue comedian sequence from longtime Capcom collaborator UDON Leisure. The storyline will give us loads of perception into what is going on on with Ken whereas setting the stage for Avenue Fighter 6’s story. Luke will even function prominently on this sequence of comics, as will Ken’s son, Mel.
“That is the primary time that we’re doing this type of comedian e-book sequence that is intently tied to the story of the principle sport,” Nakayama says. “We’re working very intently with our companions at UDON. We’re offering the script and the storyline of what to anticipate earlier than the occasions of Avenue Fighter 6. They’ll be serving to us to create the storylines. Past that, they’re even working into doable spin-offs as nicely, and collaborating with the scriptwriters on the staff, so there could also be extra stuff past simply the preliminary comedian e-book sequence.”
Piecing collectively clues, it appears as if Ken is on the run in relation to a terrorist bombing. In a synopsis of the UDON comedian sequence, I study that Ken has misplaced each his standing and status and is distributed on the run for a criminal offense he did not commit. Within the above nonetheless from the intro to Ken’s Arcade story, the authorities have seemingly apprehended him for interrogation, with questions being raised about “the champ.” Ken apparently will get away from the furry scenario depicted within the first shot above and enters a transient way of life to maintain a low profile and stay off the radars of the police. That results in the extraordinary circumstances below which he is dwelling through the time of Avenue Fighter 6.
We cannot know for certain what is going on on with Ken till this comedian prequel sequence and Avenue Fighter 6 arrive, however for now, colour me intrigued. As a Ken predominant, I really like seeing him put into totally different conditions, at the same time as traumatic as this one seems to be. Within the walkout animation for Ken, it appears as if he’s additional emotional on this title. Fujioka tells me he desires to deliver again Ken’s fiery character, and primarily based on my time with the sport, it seems they’ve achieved that mission. I am excited to see what else the story has in retailer when Avenue Fighter 6 launches in 2023.
