There are many good reasons to pick up Street Fighter 6 while it is still relatively new. The game's player base is the highest it has ever been or possibly ever will be. It also looks sleeker than its predecessors thanks to the implementation of Capcom's RE Engine. But arguably the best addition for newcomers is Street Fighter 6's Modern control scheme.
Capcom's answer to the fighting game genre's high entry barriers, the Modern control scheme allows players to get familiar with classic characters like Chun-Li while still being able to perform their combos and Special Moves with ease. In a genre where getting beat up is often the best teacher, the Modern control scheme helps make learning less painful. Those starting Street Fighter 6 will appreciate the new controls but to hone their skills, they must eventually swap over or at least give the Classic control scheme a shot.
Street Fighter 6's Modern Control Scheme Is Very Accessible
Unlike the six-button, kick-punch controls of old, Street Fighter 6's Modern control scheme centers primarily around three attack buttons: light, medium, and heavy. When pressing one of these buttons in conjunction with a directional input, the player-controlled character will perform a set move. For instance, Luke will perform a light punch when the light attack button is pressed.
Pressing different attack and directional buttons will result in different moves but if players want to pull off a combo without much trouble, all they have to do is hold the Auto button along with their attack inputs. This locks their characters in several set combos that use players' Drive and Super Gauges provided they have the resources to execute them.
Where the Modern control scheme truly shines is in how it allows players to execute Special Moves and Super Arts. By mixing the Special, Auto, and directional input buttons, players can unleash their characters' iconic moves with ease. Whereas Classic players have to input the famed quarter circle forward and punch to execute Ryu and Ken's Hadoken, all Modern players have to do is press the Special button from a neutral position.
Not only is the Hadoken much easier to do using the second method, but the speed at which it comes out makes it a better zoning tool. In this respect, the quickness and ease of executing combos, Special Moves and Super Arts make the Modern control scheme ideal for beginners.
Classis Controls Allow For More Expression And Command
As players begin to grasp the basics, they will realize the limitations of the Modern control scheme. Most of the Auto combos are predictable and can be countered by those who have played against other Modern players. Special moves executed using the Special button have a set distance and time to execute as compared to the traditional input method which allows players to vary their moveset. Most important of all, some Street Fighter 6 characters don't have access to all of their moves. Since the Modern control scheme cuts the number of attack buttons down by half, there is less room for experimentation.
This is the same for Special Moves, which use a 4-direction method of execution on Modern controls. If players want to unleash their full potential, they will have to eventually give the Classic control scheme a shot. Not only does it provide more control over what moves their character does, but it also allows them to adjust their Special Moves.
While it is possible to use certain Classic commands using the Modern control scheme, it can become confusing if players constantly swap between the two. There is a big debate on whether beginners should start with Modern or Classic controls or not, but the versatility of the Classic control scheme makes it important to learn later down the line.
Street Fighter 6 is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
