Capcom games are STUCK doing it because it's what they've done since the arcade days and people expect it, but for a series to suddenly ADOPT the practice of having 6 attack buttons when arcades are dead, Playstation and Xbox controllers only have four face buttons, and the vast majority of general audiences who only play fighting games casually don't buy expensive-ass custom joystick pads, seems a foolish and unnecessary design choice.

I feel like MK definitely belongs with the 4 button layout. It feels the most natural. Having 6 buttons would be strange to adapt to for MK. I honestly couldn't imagine what the other buttons would do.

The only time I used a six-button layout was back with a six-button controller with a Turbo function back with the Sega Genesis.

Other than that, I'm comfortable using the lay-out that they have now. It would definitely cause a lot of issues to suddenly change because some other fighting games do the six-button combat.

Well here is my take on it, I personally still like the 4+block layout for MK, I couldn't adjust to the awkward layout that Injustice actually used without the dedicated block button. I can use it on the traditional 6 button SF and KI style layout for some reason though.

I feel if MK is really going to go this route. Seeing as how the last MK game tried to cater to the competitive scene and Injustice went even farther, I wouldn't really be all that surprised if the next MK game actually did try to to this layout style. The last MK game had it's share of SF influence IMO, and the developers of the new KI had stated they did notice Boon checking out and playing KI at last years E3.

I really wouldn't be surprised to see the next MK game to have some influences from KI. Not really a bad thing IMO, but it's just a wait and see exactly how it all plays out.

For some reason I just can't picture someone like Scorpion have 3 versions of his spear or teleport along with an EX version. It would be really redundant IMO.

I never really had too much appreciation for the 6-button fighting games when I was growing up. For me, it was mainly the MK and Tekken games that I enjoyed playing. However, in more recent times, the 6-button fighting games have grown on me a lot. When I play those games, I notice a contrast between them and MK 2011, especially in terms of fluidity and responsiveness. That is still an issue for the MK games.

Granted, I think the 4-button layout used for MK 2011 works quite nicely, and it's something that should have been done since the beginning of the series. There are definitely some SF influences, especially with how the crouching normal attacks are set. MK could do the 6-button layout and still be distinct enough from other fighting games that use the same control scheme.

One good thing about that control scheme is how the attacks are mapped out and the purpose they serve. Light attacks are generally shorter-reaching and less damaging. Heavy attacks are generally longer-reaching and are more damaging while Medium attacks are somewhere in the middle. Generally, it gives the need to use that variety of attacks.

So yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing the 6-button layout for an MK game though keeping the 4-button layout of MK 2011 is fine by me as well.

Yeah I can't see MK doing the whole Light, Medium, and Heavy attacks either.

There don't need to be 3 versions of all special moves. I can understand using the light/medium/heavy stuff for something like Shang Tsung's fireballs but not for something like Scorpion's spear or teleport punch.

This is one of those cases of "if it ain't broke don't fix it." The four button layout works great with each button corresponding to a limb. If something else is added like a "run button" for instance, that's one thing. To change entire structure of the control scheme is a whole other animal and not a welcome one IMO.

4 button is perfect.

My only question is whether or not we will see back=black or not.

I kind of hope NRS tries to avoid FF# and BB# moves, though. Actually, I hope they re-approach cancelling into specials entirely.

Ever try to D1 into spear with scorpion? Lol maybe once every 10 times and im pretty damn fast. D1 into command grab with Harley Quinn? Even with negative edge turned off.... its ridiculous.

I would be very confused and very dissapointed.
I dislike 6 button fighting games because they usually have alot more complicated combos.
But I don't see NRS doing that with MK.

In a way there are more than just 4 face-buttons.

MKD/MKA: 4 attacks, block, stance change, throw, grab stage weapon.

MK9: 4 attacks, block/EX, stance, throw, tag.

Any more than this would be overkill.