Random Why do so many people have difficulty with fighting games?

[SorenFireEmblem]

I come from a decently poor background. I'll skip all the sad stuff, but basically, when I got a game, it was pure fucking heaven.
After begging my mother to buy me BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle due to my enjoyment of RWBY, I ran into the problem of having to learn to play it.

(sorry if this next part comes off as condescending, i don't mean to punch down)
So I did! It only took me a month or two to consistently win against higher-ranked players with lower-tier teams. Sure, I can't take on nationals champs or top-ranks or anything, but I quickly became decent enough to compete. So I just wonder why everyone has such struggle. Is it finding the right opponents? Combo-training? Finding the right character?

 

[ObscureJigglypuff]

I consider trying Guilty gear especially, because i like the aesthetics and because a friend here in RGT that is kicking me in the ovaries for this.

My reactions are shit in fighting games, life didn't want me being the next Daigo Umejuarez.

 

[TheDuke_11037]

So I just wonder why everyone has such struggle. Is it finding the right opponents? Combo-training? Finding the right character?

Personally I don't struggle much with it, but this is me coming from a similar background as you. I believe it's the commitment for people. Not everyone wants to sink 40 hours in a fg to get decent.

 

[MasterEn]

most people don't put in the effort, mostly because they just play a little bit of the game. you don't need to know all of the technical stuff to beat the final boss of arcade mode or story mode. and the main reason most people get fighting games is the same reason for getting racing games, sports games and party games. to hang out with others. if you put more effort into playing the game than your friends do, you'll always beat them. you'll get bored because your friends aren't a challenge, and your friends won't want to play because they can't beat you. i've seen this a lot on the party crashers.
another reason is related to physical skills. you need fast reactions and reflexes to play a fighting game. not everyone has those.

 

[Asian girls lover]

The only two I learned to play are Tekken and Soul Calibur (especially Tag 2 and SC5), 2D fighting games are too hard for me, a different kind of combo style, where you need to be quick.

most people don't put in the effort, mostly because they just play a little bit of the game. you don't need to know all of the technical stuff to beat the final boss of arcade mode or story mode. and the main reason most people get fighting games is the same reason for getting racing games, sports games and party games. to hang out with others. if you put more effort into playing the game than your friends do, you'll always beat them. you'll get bored because your friends aren't a challenge, and your friends won't want to play because they can't beat you. i've seen this a lot on the party crashers.
another reason is related to physical skills. you need fast reactions and reflexes to play a fighting game. not everyone has those.

I like racing games, but playing them alone, not with others. It's different with fighing games, without online mode I have no reason to play them.

 

[Grumpy_Old_Man]

I do like fighting games, though I tend to favor the ones with simpler special moves commands, like Asuka 120%, Advanced VG 2, etc. When I see something like three quarter circles PG it make my head spin.
From the options above I have played most, but only the Street Fighter Alpha(series) and Melty Blood in great detail.

 

[Blamhammer]

The latest Street Fighter and Guilty Gear feel a lot more newcomer friendly, although it can still be challenging.
I stick with the beginner characters and try to remember a couple of their moves, then mix and match them depending on the situation.

Just wanted to mention Fighters Destiny on the N64. That game rewarded points depending on how you defeat someone. Even if you can't score a knockout, you can win points with a single judo/throw move.

 

[Prism_Red]

News flash, EVERYONE is having difficulty playing fighting games at first, even someone like Daigo.

I don't know if you notice, people who become good at fighting games usually started playing just for fun and never thought they're going pro down the line.

 

[MasterEn]

I like racing games, but playing them alone, not with others. It's different with fighing games, without online mode I have no reason to play them.

racing games do seem to be able to do better with the single player content. i've only really played mario kart, so after a while, it gets boring to play without someone else.
as for the fighting games, multiplayer is half of the game. you need others to get the full enjoyment, otherwise, what's to keep you coming back to the game? usually not much. same for party games. no friends, little enjoyment. lots of friends, lots of fun to be had.

 

[Asian girls lover]

racing games do seem to be able to do better with the single player content. i've only really played mario kart, so after a while, it gets boring to play without someone else.
as for the fighting games, multiplayer is half of the game. you need others to get the full enjoyment, otherwise, what's to keep you coming back to the game? usually not much. same for party games. no friends, little enjoyment. lots of friends, lots of fun to be had.

That's one of many reasons why I don't play fighting games anymore, because I can't play online.
As for Mario Kart, I played Double Dash and the one for the Wii the last year and I really enjoyed them. More DD than MK Wii.
Party games are called that way because you have to play them with other people.

 

[GardeniaSky]

I can't do stuff that requires both studying my opponent, and reflexes in quick action at the same time.

It's the same reason that I don't drive. I'm not programmed for that kind of quick multi-tasking.

 

[Antihero]

It's a mere child's play for me! Just concentrate on your opponents every move/attack pattern and counter when there is an opening, I don't find fighting games difficult at all!

 

[Graw]

I don't mind fighting games. I'm not super great at them but I'm not terrible at them either. I've never liked inputting combos in fighting games. I can get them with enough practice but I just don't really like doing them. I don't really like street fighter style six button games. I find the extra two buttons are just too much for my brain to keep track of and you really need a proper 6 button pad to play them. Using shoulder buttons for attacks in fighting games sucks. I also don't really like the anime style 3 attack and a gimmick button setups very much either.

My favourite 2d fighters are the King of Fighters, games, Samurai Shodown, Last Blade and Mortal Kombat IX after they switched to a more Tekken style input system. I haven't tried X or XI. For 3d fighters it's Soul Caliber 2 and 3 and Tekken 5.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Fighting games have a different rythm than almost any other genre out there: you are always reacting to what the opponent does, never actually taking the initiative unless when up against a really new player or a laughably low difficulty setting. That messes with a lot of people, because they are used to being the ones in total control... Hell, most other games are BUILT around you setting the tone, so the shift is jarring.

I have played a ton of Under Night In-Birth, Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter and they weren't easy transitions at first.

Just my two cents.

 

[SpcDaicon]

From what I see people tend to get frustrated quickly with fighting games.

They either get frustrated with their execution (can't do motion inputs, can't combo), lack of character knowledge ("How would I know that character could do that?!") or the fact that winning and losing are 100% on them.

It's like learing a instrument. You will be bad at first and will have to keep practicing till you reach a level of play you will be satisfied.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's iconRanmyakuIchi]

Just want to add as a long time Fighting Game player that sometimes it's easy to forget how hard Fighting Games can be for a complete amateur when you're 20+ years in and doing frame perfect tech in your sleep. I've made this mistake trying to coach people before.

 

[antii]

Fighting Games can have the best aesthetic music and than I start playing and get completely fucked

 

[brighter]

ppl here have the general idea. however, many forget that not every fighting game is for every person. eg. as a relative tourist with what I'll call "sensory processing limitations," I really struggle trying to play most games mentioned ITT because of their sonic+visual business. i can do the inputs, i can grok the systems, i can build strategies, but the moment-to-moment info of play just doesn't make it to my brain. i have to play street fighter on the grid. i have to play fps games (my thousands-of-hours "home genre") with minimal graphics quality and forced bright enemy models, etc. it's a cognitive limit i can't overcome. kinda wonder how many people also have this problem, don't know other types of game (vf, samsho, etc) exist, and decide to blame it on the genre

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Because they require you to sit your fat ass down and learn by yourself

 

[ATenderLad]

I come from a decently poor background. I'll skip all the sad stuff, but basically, when I got a game, it was pure fucking heaven.
After begging my mother to buy me BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle due to my enjoyment of RWBY, I ran into the problem of having to learn to play it.

(sorry if this next part comes off as condescending, i don't mean to punch down)
So I did! It only took me a month or two to consistently win against higher-ranked players with lower-tier teams. Sure, I can't take on nationals champs or top-ranks or anything, but I quickly became decent enough to compete. So I just wonder why everyone has such struggle. Is it finding the right opponents? Combo-training? Finding the right character?

I'm not sure everyone has the same goal, here. I think plenty of people enjoy fighting games fine without reaching a competitive level, but that's the same as most any activity. I like playing basketball, but I'm not carrying any all-star hoop dreams.

(Alternatively, some of it's just finding a community, I imagine. Online matchmaking has been a big change, but I still think the majority of people need other folks to bounce off of and interact with to get better and maintain the enthusiasm, and plenty of people struggle with finding and maintaining adult friendships as is).

 

[Lee__Kanker]

The fact most people play on led tvs with game mode off with a wireless controller doesn't help, a bar I went to had tekken 7 and it was friggin unplayable

I imagine that if you don't know what inpt lag is you'd think the combos are really unresponsive

 

[Asian girls lover]

The point of fighting games should be having fun while playing them, not trying to become competitive. I don't get why people like to play in competitive tournaments to compete with others. It's just a game, nothing that important in life.

 

[MasterEn]

The point of fighting games should be having fun while playing them, not trying to become competitive. I don't get why people like to play in competitive tournaments to compete with others. It's just a game, nothing that important in life.

it's in the dna of humans to compete. everything has a competitive side, even if it shouldn't have one.

 

[Antilocal123]

Cuz not everyone wants to learn that shit, next question gimme a solution Mods.

Mod edit: Ain't that kinda thread, bruv. Here's all we got:

 

[brighter]

The point of fighting games should be having fun while playing them, not trying to become competitive. I don't get why people like to play in competitive tournaments to compete with others. It's just a game, nothing that important in life.

competition is fun :)