gaming Why am I so fail at fighting games?

[Lillia 69]

I have never met a shooter I did not headshot, a puzzle game I did not outthink, a platformer I did not successfully hurdle. There has never been an RPG that I did not see through to conclusion, or a stealth game I did not outsneak. I have conquered every genre of game I have laid eyes on, one way or another.

 

SAVE ONE.

 

One genre of games continually eludes me. One genre where my amazing powers utterly fail me every time.

 

Fighting games.

 

Yes my friends. I have tried to play fighting games for ages. And I frequently love the stories of games like the Soul series, or Darkstalkers.

 

But I am NEVER good at actually playing them. I am a beached fish, gasping for air, at fighting games. In a team setting, while my moral support for my team is absolute, I am far less than worthless when my ticket comes up.

 

But let's start with single player.

 

The purpose of single player modes in fighting games is generally to shape you up for head to head whilst giving you at least a moderately interesting story and additional goodies to unlock. These days? I just cheat to unlock shit.

 

Because this is how it [inevitably] goes:

 

I'll see some success in early story stages on an easier difficulty, of course. But eventually, as the story mode wears on, the difficulty setting and amount of training I've put in becomes irrelevant, as my brain's reflexes and ability to remember combos becomes on par with a bong loaded with salvia smoke. By the time I reach a match that requires more than 7 continues, my ability to continue MENTALLY is pretty much gone, and I wisely shut the game down before I put my controller through my TV, and then pop in some nice relaxing game like inFamous and go butcher some innocent civilians to let my steam off.

 

I can't hold up against other people as well, only managing to defeat either those who are somehow worse than me or by executing infinite combo loops I happen to trigger by accident and then press my advantage with.

 

I am TERRIBLE at fighting games.

 

I rock at ANY OTHER GENRE. But not fighting games. Why?

 

Also, this whole train of thought was brought on by this chain of events:

 

1) Friend notices I have very few multiplayer games (conscious decision on my part)

 

2) Friend complains.

 

3) I promise friend I'll have a new multiplayer game when he next visits.

 

4) I buy Skullgirls the following day.

 

5) I play Skullgirls for hours on Sleepwalk difficulty, trying to learn the controls.

 

6) Sleepwalk difficulty somehow DESTROYS ME.

 

7) I write this topic.

 

Now you know.

 

Why do I suck at this genre? I'd love to be into it, so I can join friends in their little revelry, but I seem physically and mentally unable to excel at it.

WHYYYYYY?!

[Champion RD92 8,658]

The only fighting game I am decent at is Soul Calibur IV and I'm only decent at it because I use Siegfried, arguably the cheapest character lol

 

I'm honestly not a huge fighting game fan though lol

 

Mostly cause I suck at most of them XD

[Lord Sprixx 261]

It's a whole different mindset for fighting games. I've played fighting games since I was a kid with my older brother (My brother is a GOD at fighting games, I mean tournament level play here) and I learned how to hold my own in that kind of setting. However I still lack in a lot of fighting games mainly because each one is different in controls, characters, and most importantly style. Try playing Tekken right after playing Street fighter, you cant! They're just too different. Frankly with fighting games it just takes practice getting used to each individual one. However I've never actually played Skullgirls so it might just be unforgivingly hard or something but either way it's all practice, get good with a small set of characters. My best example is that I play Marvel vs Capcom 3 with a few friends of mine once and a while and the only way I can keep up with them (They own and practice the game actively) is if I play Akuma, Chris, and Felecia/Wesker on my team. So just practice, and don't try to use high level game play as your learning tool, you're not pulling off 500 hit combo's on your first time through XD

Edited April 30, 2012 by Lord Sprixx

[Guest]

I adore Skullgirls...

I am no good at Skullgirls...

 

I will practice Skullgirls.

I will master Skullgirls.

I will dominate fighting games.

I. Will. Rule.

 

This is my resolve.

Think you can beat it?

 

Fighting games take time and practice to learn.

In addition to this, the AI in Skullgirls is incredibly harsh compared to other games... (Ms. Fortune mainly - I've noticed she's the only AI I have problems fighting... Other than the Skullgirl herself, but that's a different story...)

 

Just gotta keep at it! Fighting games are my favorite genre even though I'm generally not good at them.

I love challenges.

[Jimmy Bronymian 140]

You have two choices here:

 

1. Keep practicing, after you've learned all the moves for a character you enjoy and have practiced a lot face your friend and hopefully you will be on par with him/her

 

2. Try to find a character that requires no skill, mash buttons wildly in no pattern at all and beat your friends, then listen to them complain about your lack of skill and pure button mashing. Afterwards, go do choice 1 so that they stop complaining.

Edited April 30, 2012 by Jimmy Brohemian

[Radiance64 7,053]

Yeah, I'm not great at them either(except Smash Bros., but everyone thinks they're good at Smash Bros. ), but I do really like playing them.

Edited April 30, 2012 by Super Brony Bolt 64

[Lillia 69]

In addition to this, the AI in Skullgirls is incredibly harsh compared to other games... (Ms. Fortune mainly - I've noticed she's the only AI I have problems fighting... Other than the Skullgirl herself, but that's a different story...)

 

Ms. Fortune is just plain hard, and is otherwise a satisfying opponent.

 

The Skullgirl is CHEAP. Whenever she changes form, your attack range is such that you MUST be caught in the blast, ensuring arbitrary damage that should not have to be suffered (say goodbye to at least a sixth of your health bar. Given that this happens twice, you lose at least a third of your health arbitrarily when you fight her. In other words, take a few hits from her in her first form, and you may as well hit "reset" right then).

[Coco Pommel 669]

Maybe it isn't your thing?

[SrFrog 927]

The thing about fighting games is that they are quite easy to pick up and play. Yet, they might actually one of the most difficult to master, why? because of the dedication needed to learn the tactics,moves and skills of not only yourself but of your opponent.

[Discordian 6,015]

Fighting games definitely take a different mindset. Unlike most other genres it's extremely in the moment while being reflexively demanding and requiring lots of memorization.

 

Shooters are close to this but they aren't as much about memorization or reflexes as fighting games. Fighting games require instantaneous tactics while other genres will use tactics you can plan out a bit more.

 

I don't wanna make you feel slow in the head or anything but to be good at fighting games it takes a lot of fast reflex, and learning how to learn things through muscle memory helps too.

[StingeMuffin 244]

I'm pretty much in the button masher category when it comes to fighting games. The only one I feel I've ever had a decent grasp of was Super Smash Bros., though the AI still kicks my butt on very hard. I did pick up a guilty gear game on the psp, but that game.... it's just not meant for me.

[Crispy 5,563]

You just don't have the Primal Rage required. It takes a certain Killer Instinct to lock yourself in Mortal Kombat with someone. But don't feel Guilty (Gear). Just look deep within your Soul (Caliber) and one day, you'll be King of Fighters.

 

Bad puns aside, maybe it's just not your genre. I myself suck terribly at any racing game that doesn't have a way to kill your opponent.

[Swit Swat 536]

Fighting games are a totally different thing. They are quite difficult to master. My suggestion: Have a friend that's good at it help you out and/or practice.

[Jon the VGNerd 885]

You're not alone. I'm also terrible at fighting games too. I usually mash the buttons to defeat an opponent so I don't get defeated myself, at the cost of having sprained thumbs, and yet whenever I try to make a combo move at an opponent, he attacks me vefore I even had the chance and I get beaten half to death before I lose. I basically like old-school fighting games, but with new ones, it's pure torture, especially if opponents would just beat the crap out of me before I even have the chance to defend myself.

[Strafe 594]

Fighting games are not for the faint of heart. It requires patience and a hell of a lot of training. Fighting games test you like a real fighter gets tested, it takes months and months to get past the learning curve and you could still find yourself getting beat. These types of games not only test your quick fingers but also test your mind and focus. You can't just buy these types of games and expect to be good right away, you have to lose and lose and lose and lose until you start winning, for some, it takes longer than others but it's not about how naturally talented you are but how much you are willing to focus and train.

[CUINJALE 120]

Just find a character with a broken hitbox. Like Meta Knight.

[~Chaos~ 3,967]

I suck at them too, but that's because i never play them, one day i may get into them, I'll see i guess

[RarityTime 25]

The only fighting game I am decent at is Soul Calibur IV and I'm only decent at it because I use Siegfried, arguably the cheapest character lol

 

I'm honestly not a huge fighting game fan though lol

 

Mostly cause I suck at most of them XD

 

I use Raphael. I just spam his grab because I hit people off the edge. You basically need to play and memorize the combos or be asian.