Revolutionizing Street Fighter: Modern Controls Level Up Gameplay

Street Fighter 6's new characters and features have garnered positive feedback from players, both old and new. The game's roster is praised for its blend of fresh and familiar gameplay and abilities, with characters like the drunken master Jamie and model judoka master Manon standing out. Additionally, the drive rush and perfect parry mechanics provide players with a range of options for attacking and punishing opponents. However, the most significant addition to the game is the Modern Controls feature, which simplifies the classic control scheme and requires fewer inputs to perform powerful moves. While aimed at beginners and intermediates, even some pros have taken notice of this new mechanic.

Street Fighter 6's Modern Controls Make it Easier for Beginners to Learn the Game

The controls in modern games have been streamlined, with only three buttons for heavy, medium, and light attacks. Players can still add variation to their attacks by using directional buttons. However, the game mechanics will determine whether a character will perform a punch or kick. Additionally, there is an assist button that players can hold down while pressing an attack button to perform a standard combo that includes special and super moves. Alternatively, players can opt for a shorter and simpler combo by repeatedly pressing an attack button without holding assist.

What's more, executing special moves is now as easy as pushing a single button, eliminating the need for complicated joystick movements. Similar to standard attacks, players can also modify their special moves through directional inputs. And as for super moves, players can execute them by simply pressing a direction button and then simultaneously pushing the heavy attack and special attack buttons. This means that new players no longer have to struggle with executing complex button combinations just to perform a move like Luke's Pale Rider.

Even Street Fighter 6's Pro Players are Considering a Switch to Modern Controls

The game's simplified controls offer a user-friendly experience for new players. They can compete with seasoned players and execute the same moves without the need for complex inputs. However, the downside is that these modern controls have limited moves and cause less damage to the characters.

Even seasoned players are embracing the modern control scheme of the Street Fighter 6 open beta. Justin Wong (JWong), a well-known fighting game professional for over a decade, has recently showcased his gameplay using this control scheme in his latest videos. He commended the ease of use and how it allows him to execute near-instant supers and specials, which are essential for high-level gameplay.

Aru, a prominent Japanese fighting game commentator and pro player, shares the sentiment that modern controls may be more advantageous than classic controls due to their ability to execute supers and specials instantly. In contrast, on classic controls, even the best players require at least half a second to execute complex moves. Aru plans to use modern controls as an option to inflict more damage when punishing whiffs and hitting airborne opponents. Additionally, modern controls automatically select the best combos based on the situation. The benefits of modern controls, however, come at a cost of a 20 percent decrease in damage and a narrower range of character moves and specials. The true value of these advantages will be determined when Street Fighter 6 is played in fighting game events like Evo and Capcom Pro Tour.