input feedback

[OldManSkills]

its clear this game is not towards pad players and more towards sticks players.
The KOF motions in special moves and very strict buffering system.

it doesnt mean the game is bad or anything but might be a very big issue for players like me to not pick up this game. maybe alternating input motion choice for pad players could be nice. anyway thats my 2 cent

[FightzoneITA]

The game does have a shortcut system.
If you check on your controller setting they literally use any bumper/trigger as a "Special Shortcut" including supers. However, performing it like that has a short cooldown rappresented by the little arrow near the meter. Assuming cooldown is not much, you can use those.
As for the base strucutre of combos, which are links, welp, you can't do much bout that, it's up to the devs how tight they want said links.

I WILL however say this though, maybe it's just my impression but there's some delay to actions. If u just focus for 2 seconds, you can notice there's a big delay between the moment you press and the moment the attack actually comes out

[Menowapi]

I would suggest avoiding shortcuts unless you're a beginner in the fighting game community. The shortcuts have a cool down and you cannot cancel off of them only can cancel the supers but they won't be allowed in ranked mode if im correct. I too had difficulties with the dpad. I ended up trying the left stick on my ps4 controller and it works amazing, the only problem i noticed was dashing wasn't as fluid as on dpad. I'm not sure how Xbox stick would hold up because I didnt try it once I got used to the PS4 stick.