Street Fighter 6 features Street Fighter 1 character Retsu in the World Tour mode. Street Fighter 6 is currently one of the most anticipated fighting games, scheduled to launch for many major platforms later this June. The publisher has been doing a lot to promote the game, with several new trailers, move set showcases, and both an open beta and free demo for fans to try out. One of the most ambitious things that Capcom is bringing to the series with this entry is the game's World Tour single-player mode.
For the uninitiated, Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode takes the player on a globetrotting adventure where they aim to become the greatest fighter in the world. Several characters like Chun-Li, Dee Jay, and Cammy can be met in this game's mode, teaching players their signature moves like Cammy's Spiral Arrow or Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick. There are also certain characters throughout the franchise that will make their appearance in the World Tour mode in a small way, such as a character who hasn't been acknowledged all that much since the first game, Retsu.
In a recent Street Fighter 6 gameplay session posted to Capcom TV, the presenter finds an older bald man in a gi, where he can be fought in the streets (timestamp for the VOD is 5:00). The presenter recognized him to be Retsu from Street Fighter 1, expressing his surprise at such a deep-cut reference. After speaking to him, a fight then breaks out, with the presenter losing, much to the amusement of the other staff watching.
Retsu is one of the more obscure characters of the Street Fighter universe, where his first and only appearance before this game was the original Street Fighter, and he wasn't even a playable character. Instead, he was one of the 10 non-playable opponents that Ryu would challenge. His encounter with the younger Ryu changed his outlook, and now he is a better martial artist for it.
His backstory would be expanded in supplemental materials provided by Capcom, as he is connected to certain key characters in the franchise, such as being friends with Ken and Ryu's master Gouken, Dhalsim, and even Oro from Street Fighter 3. In Street Fighter 6, he isn't a fully fledged character, sharing Ryu's move set in this game, but this deep cut was appreciated by many. Some are hoping other obscure characters, like Captain Sawada from the live-action Street Fighter movie, can be found in the full game.
Street Fighter 6 releases June 2 on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.