As you noticed with our cowl reveal yesterday, one of the crucial iconic characters is a centerpiece of Road Fighter 6’s story. Ken Masters, one of many two authentic playable Road Fighter characters, steps again into the highlight with an all-new backstory. As quickly as his new look was unveiled, the Road Fighter group had a area 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 Road 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 Road Fighter 6.
Returning World Warriors like Ryu, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, and Blanka all sport new seems, however Ken is maybe the most important departure from his traditional look. Longtime Road 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. Road Fighter 6 introduces the character to a brand new period with new motivations.
“All through the collection, it looks as if his life has develop into an increasing number of secure, and the group felt like he was dropping a purpose to battle,” Nakayama says. “However it is a method to create that purpose for him to step up. We wish to create that type of plotline that explains why Ken is necessary and offers him that objective. The story can be tied to these different characters near him.”
Usually sporting a purple gi and a clean-shaven face, Ken now rocks a jacket, boots, new purple pants, and in some depictions, a bit stubble. Capcom’s principal aim, other than depicting an iconic character in a distinct part of his life, was to carry 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 Road Fighter II collection and the way I see Ken within the Road Fighter II collection 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 collection, there’s been completely different sorts of Kens as effectively. Within the Alpha collection, he was a bit extra playful and lighthearted in a method. For six, we wished to carry that fiery explosiveness again into it. Compared, Luke in Road Fighter 6 may be extra cheery and a type of playful character. We wished to distinguish from that, so we wished to go together with this extra fiery sort of character. And there being the story behind Ken and there being a extra critical tone to him, we wished to specific that by the character designs as effectively.”
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 Road Fighter 6, they’ll anticipate that Ken is now on the run from one thing, and he isn’t in a position to see his son Mel for causes unknown,” Nakayama says. “He is in a tricky scenario that you will be taught extra about sooner or later.”
The curtain can be pulled again on Ken’s backstory by a particular four-issue comedian collection 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 Road Fighter 6’s story. Luke will even characteristic prominently on this collection of comics, as will Ken’s son, Mel.
“That is the primary time that we’re doing this sort of comedian e-book collection that is intently tied to the story of the principle recreation,” 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 Road Fighter 6. They’ll be serving to us to create the storylines. Past that, they’re even working into doable spin-offs as effectively, and collaborating with the scriptwriters on the group, so there could also be extra stuff past simply the preliminary comedian e-book collection.”
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 collection, I be taught that Ken has misplaced each his standing and repute and is shipped 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 beneath which he is residing throughout the time of Road Fighter 6.
We can’t know for positive what is going on on with Ken till this comedian prequel collection and Road Fighter 6 arrive, however for now, shade me intrigued. As a Ken principal, I really like seeing him put into completely different conditions, whilst disturbing as this one seems to be. Within the walkout animation for Ken, it appears as if he’s further emotional on this title. Fujioka tells me he desires to carry again Ken’s fiery character, and primarily based on my time with the sport, it seems they’ve completed that mission. I am excited to see what else the story has in retailer when Road Fighter 6 launches in 2023.
