How should I learn classic controls as a new player?

[Biggs]

I'm completely new to fighting games, so I feel a lot more comfortable playing on modern. I want to eventually switch to classic, but I'm not sure how to go about it.

Should I stick with modern for now since it at least lets me play somewhat comfortably, and try switching to classic once I understand the actual game a lot better? Or should I just bite the bullet and struggle with classic now until it feels natural?

With the first option, my biggest concern is that I might end up developing some bad habits or muscle memory from playing on modern. Like, in the sense I become so used to modern that it's hard to try anything else. As for the second option, I'm still finding my footing with the actual game, so I worry trying to learn a foreign control scheme at the same time might be trying to do too much.

[Samvega]

Learning classic isn't that impossibly hard, just give it a go in the practice area.

[==\ A L1L SUMFIN 5UMFIN /==]

try playing an older street fighter game like "super street fighter 2 turbo" for the snes.

[Silver]

If you plan to switch you should do it now.

The longer you play with Modern the more you'll need to play to undo that muscle memory.
Making a switch like that it's unavoidable you're going to lose a lot at first and I think that's easier to handle when you're newer since you're expected to lose a lot.

Relearning controls at the same time as the basics will be difficult but if your goal is to be as good with classic as you are now with modern this is the fastest path there.

[Lysamus]

You may never need to switch to Classic.

Some modern fighting games are coming out with control schemes similar to Modern SF6. Granblue Fantasy VS, Power Rangers and DNF Duel spring to mind as quasi-recent releases, and the upcoming Project L from Riot will also feature specials with no motion inputs. Several Arcsys fighters also have alternate control schemes that de-emphasize motion inputs.

Its possible, especially given SF6's success, classic motion inputs might be on their way out.

If you are still apprehensive about being left behind in future fighting games, I still think you're better off sticking to what you like now and using that control scheme to work on the myriad other skills you need to be good at fighting games.

If ever you reach a point where Modern is the only thing holding you back from growth, you will be so adept at fighting games that making the transition will be relatively simple. I suspect many people who deride Modern as a "simple mode" will never touch the Modern skill ceiling.

[[deleted]]

just go to training mode with classic controls and try practicing some of the moves, it's not that daunting or scary, just give it a try

[[deleted]]

Originally posted by Lysamus:

Its possible, especially given SF6's success, classic motion inputs might be on their way out.

Keep dreaming. The majority of the playerbase is against modern controls and wants separation of playerbase based on control schemes.

Fighting games have existed far longer than SF6's one-shot cute little modern controls experiment.

[Asuterisuku]

Originally posted by ya:

Originally posted by Lysamus:

Its possible, especially given SF6's success, classic motion inputs might be on their way out.

Keep dreaming. The majority of the playerbase is against modern controls and wants separation of playerbase based on control schemes.

Fighting games have existed far longer than SF6's one-shot cute little modern controls experiment.

So you're just declaring yourself as the majority?

[[deleted]]

It's all over the forums buddy. Open your eyes lol.

[Asuterisuku]

Originally posted by ya:

It's all over the forums buddy. Open your eyes lol.

My eyes are open and in all of those threads are a bunch of people who are either ambivalent and just want to play, or people shouting down against the gatekeepers.

[Ratch]

Combo trials and the training room. This game has no joke the best training tools in a game. Really dig in to the training mode and all its options. I started on Modern and switched to Classic pretty easily. You can do most classic inputs using modern controls, that way you can familiarize with classic inputs while still having ol reliable at the ready. I practiced Classic in training mode, then in Arcade.

Discussing control schemes is not the topic here. There's no way to predict trends, nor is it relevant. If modern controls were truly the apex, then Smash Bros would be the innovator, not Modern controls. Smash has had Modern controls since its inception and they've NEVER been influential outside of Smash.

[Lysamus]

I was more speaking to the OPs concern that learning Modern will lock them out of future control schemes, either in SF6 or other games. Several games are exploring input-free specials these days, either as alt control schemes or even primary control schemes such as the specific examples I called out.

I won't tell you which control scheme you should play, as I feel both Classic and Modern have a place in SF6. My advice is to use whichever one you find most engaging, for whatever reason, and be not concerned about any long term consequences.

[Mocaff]

I'd say Classic because it lets you build up as you progress. You can do something simple like hitting a hit into a special move that knocks down until you get a feel for the game

[Shilly Clive]

Originally posted by ya:

Originally posted by Lysamus:

Its possible, especially given SF6's success, classic motion inputs might be on their way out.

Keep dreaming. The majority of the playerbase is against modern controls and wants separation of playerbase based on control schemes.

I don't think classic controls are going anywhere but I'm calling BS on the majority of players being against modern controls or wanting them separated. The terrible posting on steam does not reflect the FGC. You know what does reflect the FGC? CEO, one of the largest FGC tournaments in the US, which is going on right now. Pretty much every CEO commentator (and these are long time members of the FGC) thinks modern controls are a good addition to the game. Not one has said they should be separated.

You know who these forums represent? Whiny scrubs who need excuses for their losses.

[Cumbusted]

1. Go to training mode, the biggest difference is motion inputs, so grab your main and sit in training. Use every special your main has at least 10 times, if you fail it once start over, that'll get your brain in gear with those.
2. Once you're confident there try simple links, target combos into specials/supers, etc. do those 10 times. Then do the combo trials once you feel confident enough you don't drop inputs. The goal isn't to be perfect, it's to be consistent.

Once you're confident in your own inputs the learning will come from feeling out opponents and knowing which of your tools work against other tools, and what habits opponents have. I barely have time to play so I still suck ass but that's usually solid advice :L

Originally posted by Shilly Clive:

Originally posted by ya:

-snip-

Modern controls give you single frame DPs and command throws, removing the execution requirement that self-balances those moves.. this means despite the 20% damage decrease you can still dominate a fight especially with a grappler whose attacks do 25% of your health on their own, let alone combo'd. It's objectively unfair for someone to press a single button and bust out a single frame DP in Modern when someone else on Classic at the very minimum would have to wait 3 frames for it (the game polls inputs per frame, so Forward > Down > Down Forward + Punch, one frame per input).

The idea is to be training wheels for new players yet what it's actually doing is making new players using Classic not want to play and building bad habits. Accessibility is good, but not at the cost of someone else's enjoyment in my opinion. Enjoyment is what a lot of people using Modern claim as the biggest draw to it, which is ironic.

Both sides of this argument seem to be actively avoiding engagement with reality, though. One end being in part an elitist old guard that thinks the entire input option should be segregated and the other end being honestly pretty petty salt goblins, which turns any real complaints about balancing into "haha just git gud scrub" and is entirely unproductive.
Reminds me of how Elden Ring had glitchy dogs that would do 20k damage in an instant because they'd proc bleed per frame and whenever the bug was reported people would just go "git gud" without even considering the other side's intention so it took 6+ months for it to be fixed.

This whole thing just kinda poisons how the community looks to an outsider. I've always been a casual fighting game player and this looks like childish, petty bickering when there might actually be an issue everyone refuses to acknowledge. It feels like pointless twitter arguments with people virtue signalling whilst having no intention of actually fixing or doing anything about the problem they so claim to be suffering from.