So there we have it, Ken Masters – Ryu’s brother from another mother – has finally been announced for next year’s Street Fighter V and boy, does he look fun as hell to play as. Before all of the nitty gritty details on his move set though, the first thing anyone’s going to notice is how drastically Capcom have overhauled his visual design.
For starters, Ken seems to have gotten more in touch with his Japanese influences, and now wears his hair in a top knot as opposed to letting it all hang down or tied back in a ponytail. Additionally, his red gi has been let down to the waist, revealing a skin-tight black shirt underneath. It’s great to see that Capcom are willing to take such big risks as to fundamentally change the appearance of one of its most iconic characters, but the changes don’t end there.
Capcom have stated since the fighter’s announcement that Ken “brings an array of new abilities to Street Fighter V, where his tricky mix-ups and flashy combos have the ability to bewilder opponents and deal huge damage.” What does this mean exactly? Well, for the first time since, well, ever, it looks like Ken is going to play wildly differently to partner Ryu, this time being a rush down type character as opposed to the ‘zoner’ type that Ryu, Ken and Akuma are usually known for.
Tell us, what are your thoughts on the new look Ken for Street Fighter V? Let us know in the comments below!