Street Fighter 6’s take on simpler controls isn’t new, but it may finally be the right time

For non-initiates, fighting games can seem impenetrable. The innate complexity of a series like Street Fighter is part of what makes it so beloved by fighting game fans. But it also makes it tough for casual players who might want to pick up and play the game without spending dozens of hours memorizing complex combos and counters. Street Fighter 6’s answer to this conundrum is a new “Modern” control scheme that Capcom hopes will lower the game’s barrier to entry and let players of all skill levels jump right in and feel competitive.


Street Fighter 6’s Modern controls basically halve the number of buttons the player needs to worry about for basic inputs, while assigning certain essential functions to their own dedicated buttons. Rather than having six separate buttons for light, heavy, and medium kicks and punches, the simplified control scheme puts light, medium, and heavy attacks on the controller’s face buttons. That means players using the Modern controls have less precise management over exactly which attacks their fighter uses with each input — you can’t choose between a heavy punch or a heavy kick, for example. Instead, when you press the heavy attack button, the game chooses for you based on what character you’re using.


The fourth face button is dedicated to each character’s special attacks, which will vary depending on which direction you’re pushing the control stick, not unlike in the Super Smash Bros. series. That makes it easier to execute flashy specials without needing to memorize complex combos or land exact timing. Super attacks are performed by pressing the heavy and special buttons together.





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