Any ideas on how I can play better?

Tel · Post by **Tel** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 14:09

After playing a few rounds of XI and NGBC against the CPU today, I realized I'm not really any better at fighting games in general then when I first started playing frequently in the arcades about 8 years ago. I practice GGXX#R and KOF at home, but while I get a little better at pulling moves and combos, I don't get better at actually playing. That's even in VS matches.

Recently, I had several hours' matches with a friend at GGXX#R, and he basically told me I was playing scrubbily (I was winning though) when using Ky. But I got praised by him when I was using Axl and playing what I thought to be scrubby, like repeated poking with his A attacks, then countering him when he gets in close, then keeping my distance and poking again. To be honest, I think I'm kind of at a blur at how I should play.

To get to the point, I'd just like to ask anyone this, suppose I want to drop old habits and re-learn from scratch, what should I learn? From basics to intermediate level and so on. Anyone care to post up some strats?

This is a sincere request for help. I'm not trolling or looking for an excuse to shoot someone.

AcidicEnema · Post by **AcidicEnema** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 20:26

In general the rule of thumb is: The higher level of competition you play/train against, the better you get. So the most intuitive way to do this is to find an arcade where the strongest players in your area hang out and start playing against them regularly. If you can't beat them, then try to figure out why you can't, and either to decide to learn to be as good as them, or... don't.

Don't get too affected by what your friend said. I tend to go with the maxim "Victory is truth" when it comes to measuring skill in games.

Post by **SonicTempest** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 20:32

That's true, but my wallet (and my ego) can only take so much before I have to stop XD

I have learned a lot by playing against better people though (the SCORN gang, PenPen, Vishema, et al). I don't really think I've gotten that much better, though. Largely because I started rather late when it comes to fighting games, and I was a happy, ignorant scrub for the better part of 2 years before getting my arse kicked at 2K2 and realising how bad I was...

.

Tel · Post by **Tel** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 02:33

That's the thing. I do go out to challenge players better than me. I suppose I do get a little better over time, but it's only a LITTLE. I don't exactly have the fastest hands around, so I don't get overly ambitious with combos, but I think it's more of my playing style I need to improve, not exactly my skills at using a particular character.

Blastrezz · Post by **Blastrezz** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 17:37

I've a talent for babbeling around sometimes and this kind of topic are my specialties

But I TRY to make it short and to the point:

I thought about that, too, Tel. I consider myself untalented in most videogames but I play them since I am 5 years old or so. I began fighters with the legendary SF2 on SNES and played Fighters until 1996 roughly. That means I've missed a lot in the years '96-2002. I returned at the beginning of 2002 and of course formerly when you were a kid your play style was nothing compared to the competition play most play today. So in 2002 I went for that competition play in BemUs.
I came to the conclusion (please don't be disappointed) that it's as usual a matter of talent how good you can get in fighting games. Of course you can practice strings and combos but how well you do in versus matches depends on
a) the competition you have around as already said. Which, in my case, is zero at the moment. I have NOBODY to play with at the moment

b) your reflexes and synapses in your brain. I oftenly find myself repeat making mistakes over and over again because I tend to play my style and if it doesn't kill the opponent then I get beaten.

If you're ambitious I'd say play play play and play. That might get you better skills but I've seen so far that people once having adopted fighting techniques they never change, unfortunately

It's hard to improve if you are stuck in your style and repeat the same mistakes over and over. Most people never improve from that. But you've to take into account that I'm talking as a German in a DEAD German fighting scene where there are no arcades at all and the next fighting game playing person might live 100km or more away....

--Blast

Tel · Post by **Tel** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 17:46

Sadly, where I play, there isn't much of a scene either. As of 2002, I didn't have problems finding anyone to play against. But for NGBC and XI, I honestly haven't met an opponent whom I felt I totally couldn't beat. No doubt, I've lost matches, but the outcome could've swung my way. And right now, there's only so far I can learn from playing like this. I thought I was pretty good in GGXX#Reload playing against most of my other friends who just picked up the game, until a FG regular and close friend came over and we had a few sessions. In that one hour of gaming with him, I learnt a lot more about my own weaknesses than all those months playing with my usual circle of friends.

Empyrian · Post by **Empyrian** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 05:22

Yeah, I don't consider myself talented in playing FGs too. I also have crappy gameplay too.

Don't take everything that your friend{s} said. I got recommendations of rubbish characters which I absolutely hated. XD

KoFFreaK · Post by **KoFFreaK** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 06:53

Despite the years that I've been playing kof 2k2, Im not that good either. The only times where I have gained significant amount of skill is when, like others said here, is when you play against REALLY good players. Only then is when I really enjoy playing it, I get beaten over and over again, but I like the competition, and sometimes I get my win in the end.

BUT, just today...I was coming back from my six flags trip and on my way home, it was around 11 am and there was an arcade close by, and like the usual, I said what the hell. I started playing(it was kof 2002 PLUS, the only one around) and was beating everyone pretty easily, but then this guy started playing and beating me, I dont mind really, but this guy was playing so dirty I got so pissed off. The way he played: he used rugal, yashiro, and a random char. All he did was was run away and use(abuse much?) CD counter EVERY time I attacked him, and launched a DM move whenever I was a little open, and with rugal, well you know>=(. I know it was a "PLUS" but man, did I get mad.

*little offtopic, so what :-( *

AcidicEnema · Post by **AcidicEnema** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 07:00

On a side note, I notice that a lot of good players in Singapore play 2k2 Plus. I always figured that it was a game for scrubs, but they play it mainly to train BC combos, since you get infinite levels.

Tel · Post by **Tel** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 11:23

The 'plus' editions of KOF2k2 are annoying, so I don't bother playing it. The really good players train their MAX mode players, and I'll get whupped without learning anything. While the crappy players just pick Rugal and K'9999 and spam their SDMs.

The 'KOF2004 Winter Editions' are even worse. I accidentally slotted a coin in the game thinking it was KOF because I was in a hurry and didn't pay attention. Worse use of my money on a fighting game ever.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:35

Watch combo vids ^_^

Greed Sever · Post by **Greed Sever** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 16:12

I'm in your boat too, I've been huge into fighting games since I was little little, but have blown at them for most of that time. Other than the practicing against better players, i wold suggest working on slower paced games first as you reform your strategys, it's hard to get into the groove of what pokes to use when, etc. on faster games, at least imo, and since all 2-d fighters pretty much adhere to the same general principals it'll work you up. Playing CvS2 and my old copy of SF Alpha 2 has helped me out imensely.

Bear · Post by **Bear** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 23:50

Tel wrote:After playing a few rounds of XI and NGBC against the CPU today, I realized I'm not really any better at fighting games in general then when I first started playing frequently in the arcades about 8 years ago. I practice GGXX#R and KOF at home, but while I get a little better at pulling moves and combos, I don't get better at actually playing. That's even in VS matches.

Recently, I had several hours' matches with a friend at GGXX#R, and he basically told me I was playing scrubbily (I was winning though) when using Ky. But I got praised by him when I was using Axl and playing what I thought to be scrubby, like repeated poking with his A attacks, then countering him when he gets in close, then keeping my distance and poking again. To be honest, I think I'm kind of at a blur at how I should play.

To get to the point, I'd just like to ask anyone this, suppose I want to drop old habits and re-learn from scratch, what should I learn? From basics to intermediate level and so on. Anyone care to post up some strats?

This is a sincere request for help. I'm not trolling or looking for an excuse to shoot someone.

...?

..this looks familar! Are you...from SRK?

:: orochinagi

Any ideas on how I can play better?

Re: Any ideas on how I can play better?