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One of the biggest innovations Street Fighter 6 has brought to the table is the wonder of accessibility. Modern Controls are here, and the verdict is in – they are pretty darn good. But you know what else is pretty darn good? Classic Controls. This leaves us with quite the conundrum.
If both control methods are good, then which do you pick? What are the pros and cons of each? Well, that’s where this guide comes in. We are going to break down the core of each control method and then give you a definitive conclusion on what you should use. Let’s sumo headbutt right into it, shall we?
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What Are Classic Controls?
Classic Controls are exactly what the name implies – the classic way to play. In Street Fighter 6 this means you have 6 basic attack buttons that break down into Light, Medium, and Heavy punches and kicks. You also have access to multiple command normals, aerials, and of course, input-based Special Moves and Supers.
Basically, Classic gives you complete control over your character. Does this make Street Fighter more difficult to play? Yes, but Street Fighter 6 is also arguably the easiest Street Fighter to pick up and play and learn with Classic. A lot has been done under the hood to make the game feel very snappy.
Heck, some inputs have been changed to easier-to-execute variants. Most notable is E. Honda whose Hundred Hands Slap has seen a drastic rework that is far easier to use than ever before.
Classic Controls have a moderate skill floor and a gargantuan skill ceiling. It will take you longer to fully grasp a character with Classic, but the benefits when it comes to player expression and satisfaction are very high.
What Are Modern Controls?
Modern Controls are a reinvention of what it means to play a fighting game. Modern Controls simplify everything, making it far easier for new players to pick up and play. The idea that has been circulating the internet is that it’s a gateway towards Classic, however, this isn’t really true.
Whilst players can move from Modern to Classic at any time, we believe that Modern is a fully functional alternative that players can happily stick with for their entire Street Fighter career. Not only that but Modern Controls can absolutely be used at high levels of play.
But what do Modern Controls do? Well, they map many of your Special Attacks (and all of your Supers) to a directional input and a single button press. For example, instead of doing a 360 swivel on Zangief (one of the harder inputs in the game), you just press your ‘Special Button’.
This alone makes Modern incredibly enticing for new players as learning complex inputs – and the potential failure to execute them reliably – is a major barrier. Modern completely removes that and replaces it with a super simple alternative.
Modern also introduces Auto Combos, which allows you to spam buttons to get out a pre-baked combo. These combos include Special Attacks and Supers allowing you to press buttons and see cool stuff happen on screen.
There are some downsides to Modern, however. The most obvious is the damage reduction. All of your Specials and Supers take a 20% damage reduction. Not only that, but you lose out on a lot of your normal attacks making it easier for opponents to predict what you are going to do since your options are limited. Finally, to make use of Modern Controls, you need to learn how to not rely on Auto Combo and learn links and frame data – exactly like Classic.
Should You Use Classic Or Modern Controls In Street Fighter 6?
All in all, both control methods are excellent, and both can be picked up by new players and veterans of the genre. Modern is pushed as a newbie gateway, but in reality, it’s a valid alternative to playing the game. You could pick up Modern and never swap to Classic, and you will be fine provided you are willing to learn the game beyond the basics of Auto Combo (which are often very unsafe if not downright bad).
So which should you pick? Which control method is better? The answer to this is simple – whichever you feel is right for you. The strengths and weaknesses of both are plain to see and since both are comparable in game and in the lab, it’s a matter of preference. We personally prefer Classic since we enjoy having a wide array of options to pick from in battle, but we also know hodds of people who love the immediacy of one-button Supers in Modern.
Pick your poison and have a blast.
That’s all we have on Street Fighter 6 for now. Be sure to check out our other lists and guides for more Street Fighter content.
