I mean, theres a lot to be argued about when it comes to SFV. It's SP content is unarguably tight, but its getting more for free in the coming months. They clearly could've used some testing in these betas for the features that seem to be causing them the most headaches in the few days post-launch (ranked matches, no ragequitting punishment, battle lounges). These are all fair criticisms to make, fine. But this all goes hand in hand with the gameplay they did craft.
I've been playing fighting games in all shapes & sizes since SF2. SFV is easily the pinnacle of fighting game design, bar none. The gameplay is infinitely more accessible than earlier entries in the series, while still maintaining the depth the genre is known for & that is required for competitive play. It's incredibly fun, reward, & engaging. On top of that, it features a cast where the entire roster is so close to one another in terms of power balance, that there aren't any weak links; you can, as of right now, rest assured that any character you pick on the roster has a tool kit that is strong enough to make that character competitive. And the v-system ensures that the individual tools your character is given allows them to stay competitive, even as meta 'tech' is discovered.
Capcom was in a really tough position, and Street Fighter V is a game that features a ton of firsts for the franchise. Its the first franchise entry to not feature an arcade release prior to its home release. It's the first entry where it was built with the idea of being extensively updated for years & years to come (Vanilla SF4 had to be dropped cause they didn't build the systems needed to support DLC, hence SSF4). It's the first entry where Capcom has implemented a moba-like currency system to allow players to be able to earn what would ordinarily be paid DLC. It's the first entry where an entire e-sports league was built with the sole purpose of being its competitive showcase.
Street FIghter games aren't games I put down after a month. I easily puts 100s of hours during the life time into each individual entry. Primarily that is all spent in local VS & online modes. I know there are a ton of casual players who don't get that into them, who want something they casually play with some buddies for a month or so after it launches, and they may never pick it up again. We can all go in circles over casual vs. competitive & whether or not SFV deserves to be shit on because its lacking in content. However, its not lacking in gameplay. In fact, its top of its class when it comes to that department. Thats all I really cared about, and thats what i'm enjoying at the moment. The internet can have its hyperbolic overreaction; i'm just gonna go play some SFV in the meantime.
