“I was on a mission to find my brother…” *Calls brother in to help beat up her friend* “I wonder where he could be…”

"Those studs and spikes you wear make you look suspicious." Says the girl with a bunch of knives strapped to her leg.

They will never fix Ken's face to remind us of the sins of the past

Akira and Ken don't even look like they're in the same game...

Bengus definitely has a favorite, because all the expressions he draws for Sakura are precious!

As silly as this sounds, it did in fact progress the SF canon, to a certain extent at least. Akiras story-mode established not only that the events of Rival schools happened, but also "when" they happened due to Sakuras increased age in SV5. Don't know how old Akira was in Rival schools, but this could mean she either just recently finished Highscool, or is about to finish highscool. This in turn means Batsu and the others are now adults who have a fulltime job, just like Sakura. So, if other RS characters are going to appear in SF6 they will propably have design changes to show their new age. (Akira is still young enough apparently, so they didn't need to change much, if anything at all about her appearance,yet)

Akira: I... thought we were here for tea and snacks... Karin: Oh sweetie, you must be new here.

When akira mentions being taught how to swim, it was actually in reference to her good ending route in the Japanese Nikki 2's school life Sim mode, not in reference to Nagare. There's a specific day where you can invite another character to the pool, and if you choose Akira, she confesses that she doesn't know how to swim very well, and your character offers to teach her. A scene plays out where she tries to paddle while you hold onto her, and your character has a "let go of the kids bike" moment with her...though instead of peddling off on her training wheels, she immediately notices you let go of her and your character comes back to grab her and keep her from flailing about in panic. She says at the end of the day that she's happy she's gotten a little better, though. Later on, she and the other Gedo members skip out on the seaside training camp where they swim from a beach to a nearby island, and instead sneak off to split and eat a watermelon. (She doesn't like watermelon with salt- she prefers it plain)

Love how Daigo straight up crashes the party in the fights

It absolutely progressed the story, Max. Akira is definitely going to return with more rival schools characters in SF6. Since SF5 was the final fight game, obviously it makes sense that SF6 be the rival schools game. I can see the deep plot threads sinking in the more I rewatch the story.

I really hope this leads to a new rival schools game. Bring that cast back

love how she said before the flashback that she was looking for her brother, only to summon her brother in her fight against sakura

If anyone’s wondering why Ibuki sounds different in the story mode, that’s because she’s voiced by Cristina Vee Valenzuela whose also known for Shantae, Killua from Hunter x Hunter, and Darkness from Konosuba.

The art style for these cutscenes is too adorable looking sometimes 😅

she is training with sakura to be stronger and find her brother, "akira special with her brother" , sakura: im a joke to you?

Rival and Final Fight characters should always show up in some way from here on

I love how Edge and Gan stand up when the fight is about to begin. It's like their way of showing respect to the fighters.

Akira just drags Daigo with her to the beach and tea parties now, not gonna lose him again

Max is right Akira's story is a direct follow-up to the plot from rose's story of the future calamity that will change the world with her sending a message to her past self. The tea party and beach was definitely important to the plot.

More Rival Schools characters for Street Fighter in the future I hope.

14:03 I need a VaatiVidya video explaining all the deep lore of SFV.

Honestly, at this point, I hope they make the Capcom Fighting All-Stars. It's kinda sad that it got cancelled. I hope to see Darkstalkers, Final Fight, Hiryu, Mega Man, Rival Schools, honestly just make it wacky as shit.

If Street Fighter and Tekken collabs again, pretty sure Akira and Daigo will be a distant relatives to THE Kazama

Akira: I don’t wanna fight you. Karin: I wouldn’t wanna fight me either.

I hope for SF VI they give us an arcade mode and just incorporate these fun story elements into it. Capcom refusing to give us cinematic and character specific intros like their competition is annoying.

Because why _wouldn't_ Akira be wearing a two-piece camo bathing suit with heart patterns?

Okay. Having the original Rival Shcools theme as the low health theme for Akira's stage is a seriously amazing touch.

Ibuki's VA in this story mode has been changed in both languages. Went from Kat Steel & Ayumi Fujimura to Cristina Vee & Kana Ueda. Though in the case of Fujimura, it's more clear why she was replaced, since she's been on an indefinite hiatus since 2019.

Without realizing it themselves, Karin is slowly building her own harem. You ain't slick, Karin...

Remember when Max was going to have a swear jar… hilarious.

I love how Akira is so confused with SF logic.

Man, I can't believe how much their teasing us with Street Fighter 6, seems like it'll have an epic plot.

"You're as beautiful as the day I lost you"

I expected Akira to be a little serious but I'm just glad she's in Street Fighter.

You guys all missed how this introduces a major twist in the SF lore. From now on the Kanzuki conglomerate is a major stakeholder in SF world's tea pastry industry. That's important because it means that

Akira's incredibly noticable outfit (anywhere that isn't a place where you'd expect it) now worked to conseal her identity *again,* meanwhile the "ninja".... Also Daigo jumps in during the flashback to that time she was looking for her brother. Also just one of Ryu's gloves should be enough for both of Sakuras hands and if she gets a boyfriend he can put at least one in, too. Also Daigo crashed the girls' tea party.

If max gets his way I'm excited for the future of Street "Beating Ass"er

I love how the Street Fighter series keeps returning to the theme of "communicating with my fists". They never seem to mention what anyone is communicating other than the need for healthcare reform.

Was so much fun watching Max discover and play Akira and Oro.

14:25 hopefully it's a sign street fighter 6 will include more characters from rival schools and Capcom franchises overall. I'm hoping it's the era of connected universe. Seems to be the implications with this ,the stages the shadoloo cri profiles. It's all there

I’m somewhat new to Rival Schools in the last year or so but I love playing as Akira, and I’m sooooo glad she’s here and getting lots of love in SFV!! Launching them in the air with the second V skill is fun, and her fighting style is so elegant. Welcome back Akira!!!

Mad watching Max nail the trials right out of the gate, I've been playing Juri for ages I still really struggle with the timing.

Her visual design is so good. It's almost like something fundamental changed in Capcom's direction. Hope it continues on with the next game.

0:14 Akira looks so cool🤩🤩🤩🌹 I’m glad they mentioned that Sakura’s appearance in Rival Schools canon!

Rival schools remaster PLEASE CAPCOM

The swimmer is Nagare Namikawa.

I bet Max felt so bad beating up Ibuki😂😂😂

Birdie is gonna be pissed when he finds out there was a tea party with food on his day off.

...There's even a flashback to the Rival Schools timeline. With 3D models for the two other guys from Akira's school. So either they're gonna be in SFV as well, or we might just get a new Rival Schools. I hope to God it's the latter.

Thanks to the editor that added funny retro sounds when Max swears.

Akira's air combo stuff is the best player expression outlet I've seen in SFV

Kazama? I mean, tbh Daigo really reminds me of Jin, appearance and even his Mishima punch in Akira's super.

I'm so glad capcoms Acknowledging rival schools existence hopefully they'll make a new game and bring back darkstalkers

The plot was exciting, deep and thought provoking! I kinda miss that when Akira has her helmet she does not purposely try tomake a deeper more boyish voice like in the original Rival Schools but yeah I am not complaining. Seeing Edge and Gan and the underpass background... it just kills me.

Funny air combos go nrryyyooommm

Ibuki: Sorry I thought you were a suspicious guy. My meme-ridden brain: sorry I thought you were a sussy baka!!!

WASSUP DOOD LOVE YOU MAX

Omg, Akira and Sakura reuniting was so cute

(in yes man voice) you hear that we have options

Akira Kazama is voiced in English by Kayli Mills. Ibuki is now voiced by Cristina Vee Valenzuela, replacing Kat Steel. Her Japanese VA was also recast.

Holy shit he did number 10 trial no prob. I've been stuck on that for ages! The timing is so tight

Whoever edits these videos has an unhealthy obsession with Persona 4 like me... and I love it.

For the combo at 1:59 and for VS2 combos in general, holding up + forward works just as well and doesn't trigger the forward HK move.

Editor adding timestamps? Lets goooo

I hope that Akira gets costumes that change how Daigo looks. I think that'd be awesome.

As someone who never played rival schools she seems really fun, can't wait to get enough fm to get her.

all joking aside it really is super cool how not only all these series are coming back (not just fighting games mind you) but we can now have them crossover so casually. having it start with Ryo being a Ryu knockoff and Dan being a weak joke character to now everyone being treated seriously (more or less) it is a good feeling seeing all these favorites come back and be an actual part of the old "Middle School What-ifs" Like What-if Terry and Ryu fought each other.

8:40 looking for Daigo? There he is!

You thought you were getting plot. Instead, you got the beach episode~

nothing like a nice wholesome story mode

I applaud your skills at combos, as much as I love fighting games and I deeply love playing Guilty Gear Strive, I suck at making big combos and seeing you during training mode makes me realise how truly bad I am at them lol, doesnt mean I still dont 'enjoy' playing the games, I just need to practice more and get better.

With my first fighting game being Soul Calibur 2, I don't know much about this character. But she seems like a lot of fun to play.

her animations are so good bruhhh

Max becoming so hyped he starts speaking sound effect language.

Akira has been making me like sf5 again

this is super adorable tbh

Ahhh akira is so adorable i love her so much!!😍

Oh, I get it! Street Fighter 6 is one long beach episode! I think this story was cute. And it had some really... unique music, haha.

Ibuki actively acknowledging fight night tea parties lol

God damn when you saw that the guy was buried in the sand. The most hilarious shit ever.

9:21 this panel is the cutest

Ibuki goes to the same school as Hinata from the same series. Sakura recommending cakes? Is that a nod towards the Street Fighter Cookbook (which is framed by Sakura going around and trying out various foods in the Street Fighter world)

Y’know what they say… “shatter all expectations”

Seems like there is still hope for this timeline.

lmao the ending was a beach episode nice

She has a lot of combo potential

Playing as Akira is just tons of fun in this game. From her combos, to her special attacks to her ultimate attack, the folks who worked on her nailed her completely. Definitely was worth the long wait to play as her in my personal opinion.

Man it’s actually insane how much SF5 has improved since it first launched. Launched with only 16 characters, no arcade or vs mode and now look at it. We got over 40 characters and every character of the last 2 seasons have been very fun to learn and play. That being said as much as I love this game I am so beyond ready to see what SF6 will Be like cus if history has taught us anything it’s that each new street fighter is so drastically different from the last. I’m hoping we get mechanics similar to SF4 where there was enough variety in the combo structure that people could play the same characters multiple different ways. In SF5 combo potential was very limited

Still can't believe they added Akria to Street Fighter 5! Now we need Capcom to acknowledge Power Stone!

They were litterally smacking around a Blanka ball...

I love that Akira is extremely soft spoken in cutscenes. She's so sweet 🥰 such a contrast to her fighting style and outfit lmao

10:10 that's the face of pure hype right there

I love just the fact Rival Schools and Street Fighter exist in the same universe. Not even for the fact it could mean more crossover shit. Just they fit so well in the same universe

I love that Akira does Xingyi quan. 🤘🏾

Once i had a dream where Capcom would announce that they were making a secuel of rival schools,this time with Sakura,Karin,Elena,Makoto and Ibuki. Being a 3 on 3 ahhh that would be great. But like i said,that was just a dream. Knowing Capcom that'll never happen.

I love her story just her the other girls vibing love her English va to 👍🏾

'i was looking for my brother..... oh there he is'

if marvel ever comes back akira needs to be in that game seriously she has so much air combo potential!

Fucking Rival School Nostalgia! Lezz Go!!!

13:14 That is an irresponsible place to put wind gusts, Bengus