Street Fighter 6 is the latest Capcom brawler in a series that got its start back in 1987. Combining the urban aesthetics of Street Fighter III with a more realistic version of the art styles seen in the 4th and 5th entries in the series, Street Fighter 6 is sure to take the fight farther than ever. Helping to make this happen is a control scheme that makes fighting easier for everyone.
The new game will feature an optional control style that's radically different from that for which the series has become known. In simplifying controls, Street Fighter 6 will be accessible even to fighting game newcomers, perhaps correcting the controversial development of the fighting game scene in the past decade. Here's how Capcom is going to modernize how gamers play Street Fighter.
What Is Street Fighter 6's New Control Scheme?
The Modern Control mode of Street Fighter 6 is a simplified version of the franchise's iconic 6-button layout. The goal is for newcomers and those who haven't played a fighting game in years (or ever) to be able to pick the game up and play it without memorizing confusing, obtuse button combinations for combos and special moves. It instead maps out specific buttons to easily perform more complex maneuvers, such as the triangle button on the PlayStation controller being designated for special moves. Thus, players can easily shoot out Hadokens with the press of a button instead of having to perform the classic "quarter circle and punch" motion.
Of course, the drawback is that there's much less control over a character's moveset, especially when it comes to a fighter's most powerful attacks. For this reason, Classic Control mode is still available from the onset, allowing hardcore gamers and those into the competitive fighting game scene to still perform their hurricane kicks the hard way. It's smart that Capcom still prioritizes these gamers, as they're the lifeblood of all fighting games. At the same time, by including the Modern Control mode, it opens the door for Street Fighter 6 to have a much bigger player base than previous entries.
Street Fighter 6 Could Have a Wider Appeal With Casual Gamers
Complicated control schemes are the glue that keeps competitive fighting games together, with many loving how they make these games feel like exclusive clubs where membership is decided solely by skill. At the same time, this also keeps the fighting game scene from being ventured into by those who aren't quite so skilled, making casual players feel left out. Difficult attacks can make these games feel cumbersome, causing casual gamers to cast fighting titles aside. Given that this is common even in mainstream fighting games like Tekken, it's a good thing that Street Fighter is finally bucking the trend.
Street Fighter 6 will obviously have what fans of the series want, but by making things more inclusive and fun for those who don't already know Ryu's moveset by heart, the game can be a much less niche experience. The Modern Control mode could be a sort of extended tutorial mode that allows casual players to practice using a specific fighter before they're comfortable with more complex moves. Online play will likely be packed to the gills more than ever, with a Street Fighter game potentially having the same casual appeal as Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. due to its ease of access. Even if those newbies still get stomped when spamming special moves nets them losses against more dedicated players, they'll have a lot more fun when it happens.