As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, let me tell you, the world of fighting games has been a rollercoaster ride for me. From the early days of Street Fighter II to the latest crossover spectacles like Mortal Kombat 1 and Guilty Gear, I’ve seen it all.
If you’ve overheard enthusiasts reminiscing about the bustling arcade era filled with players eager to try the newest Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, or Virtua Fighter releases, it might seem that the fighting game genre’s golden age has faded into history. However, you could be unaware of a significant revival currently taking place within this genre.
To be quite honest, I’d argue that today’s fighting game scene is just as thrilling as it was during the 90s. The major players are really delivering on all fronts, releasing sequels for classic franchises that have surpassed expectations, there are countless crossovers happening left and right, and a robust online platform that fosters vibrant communities in ways we couldn’t before.
If you’re still uncertain, let me share the main points that make a strong case for diving into fighting games immediately instead of continuing with your excuses.
There’s a Fighting Game for All Styles of Play
Fighting games are not just two players controlling a single character in a 2D environment. You have chaotic tag fighters, nuanced 3D fighters, and even platform fighters that want a piece of that Smash Bros money.
Glance through the trailers or gameplay videos of recently released fighting games (or even classic ones, disregard their release dates), and find what appeals to you.
If you prefer games with realistic gameplay and simple, quick combos, consider Street Fighter 6.
If you’re looking to get started, I suggest diving into modern fighting games as they tend to have more vibrant communities. However, companies like Capcom are committed to preserving classic titles. For example, they recently released the Marvel vs Capcom Collection and have already announced the upcoming Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for 2025.
Yes, while you could still play these retro games online via Fightcade, nothing will beat having an official release that will spark interest in newcomers. If you do decide to go the MvC route, just beware of The Wazzler.
Accesibility Is at the Forefront
It’s not surprising that making fighting games more inclusive sparks debate among some gaming enthusiasts, but ultimately, it can only benefit the genre as a whole. This idea isn’t entirely novel, but it has gained momentum lately, especially with the launch of Street Fighter 6.
In the newest installment of Capcom’s classic series, they’ve included contemporary controls that enable players to execute special moves and supers using straightforward directional commands and button presses, thereby eradicating a perceived obstacle for many potential users at the expense of reduced damage and excluding certain moves that required motion inputs.
In Tekken 8, a new control scheme known as Special Style has been introduced, allowing players to perform unique moves during gameplay. Similarly, when Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is released, it will feature Smart Style, a fresh approach to controls developed by SNK.
Beyond merely eliminating motion input requirements, accessibility encompasses a broader scope. remarkably, SF6 demonstrated its excellence in this area by offering numerous alternatives for visually impaired individuals, such as a blind player who managed to win a set during Evo 2023 live stream using these features.
If you find current fighting games focusing too much on inclusivity bothersome, remember that this isn’t a recent development. For instance, 2018’s Dragon Ball FighterZ incorporates auto-combos, enabling beginners to mash buttons and enjoy flashy actions displayed on the screen without needing advanced skills.
Autocombo techniques have been around since the launch of Marvel vs Capcom 3 in 2011, and they function as a beginner-friendly approach for new gamers to grasp the intricacies of these games. However, it’s important to note that using autocombo sequences or contemporary controls is entirely acceptable. Nevertheless, many players might be motivated to learn advanced combos or gameplay mechanics once they become more comfortable with the basics.
You Already Have Everything You Need To Play Fighting Games
Are you equipped with either a gaming console, a personal computer, or both, capable of running video games? Do you possess a controller for these devices? Are you enthusiastic about engaging in a fight-based game? If so, you have everything needed to get started and begin honing your skills!
Although it might seem that having a fightstick is essential for enjoying fighting games or excelling at them due to misinformation (gaslighting), many current versions of these games have designed their control systems to work effectively with standard gamepads instead.
Additionally, there’s an upsurge in the use of controller types without levers. These share a design resemblance to arcade or fightsticks, but they utilize directional buttons instead of levers, offering improved accuracy in user inputs.
While you may find some of these controllers unique just know you don’t actually need them to play any fighting game. Some of the best players in the world use regular controllers (commonly referred to as pads by the fighting game community), including the most recent Street Fighter 6 Evo winner, PunkDaGod, who uses a regular PS5 pad.
New Challengers and Familiar Faces Await
Recently, game developers have been pulling out all the stops, either resurrecting classic series or giving fresh life to their most recognized creations in order to attract a wider range of players.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been absolutely thrilled to see some incredible fighting game releases! Capcom dropped Street Fighter 6, Bandai Namco introduced Tekken 8 into the Fighting Game Community (FGC), Arc System Works resurrected Granblue with Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising, and NetherRealm Studios served up the gore with Mortal Kombat 1. What a time to be a fighting game enthusiast!
Moreover, enthusiasts of combat games are eagerly looking forward to Riot Games’ upcoming title, 2XKO, a collaborative 2v2 tag fighter, which is free to play and scheduled for release in the year 2025. This game will include characters from League of Legends as its playable roster.
In addition, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is set to arrive next year, marking the return of an old franchise by SNK, which has been inactive for over two decades. For those who love retro gaming, Capcom intends to launch Capcom Fighting Collection 2 around 2025, featuring timeless games like Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, Capcom vs SNK 2, and classics such as Power Stone 1 and 2.
2021’s Guilty Gear Strive, an older title, continues to receive updates, including DLC planned for its fourth season, demonstrating that it remains popular and relevant.
For fans of platform fighting games, MultiVersus had a bumpy debut but continues to provide consistent updates to keep gamers hooked since its official release in May. Meanwhile, the sequel to Rivals of Aether is set to arrive in October as well.
The Era of Dreams Coming True
Enthusiasts of fighting games are recognized for their fondness for crossovers, and if you’re a fan of several series, now is an excellent moment to dive in. Games specifically designed with the concept of two realms merging, like Marvel vs Capcom, aren’t the only ones that excel at this; titles such as Soulcalibur and Smash Bros (more recently, Mortal Kombat would be a significant component) have been uncontested champions when it comes to featuring guest characters.
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Currently, several unexpected games are welcoming or have welcomed visitors from other towns. The most significant of these is Street Fighter, which for the first time ever introduced a third-party guest character this past September 23 – Terry Bogard, followed by Mai Shiranui, another iconic character from SNK, who is planned to join in early 2025.
In a show of camaraderie, SNK and Capcom have announced that Ken Masters and Chun-Li will be joining Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves as its inaugural downloadable content characters, making this announcement on September 2026.
A variety of downloadable content (DLC) for Mortal Kombat 1 is being released, which will delight fans who love gory TV shows and movies. Characters like Homelander from The Boys, Omni-Man from Invencible, Peacemaker from DC, Ghostface from Scream, and the T-1000 from Terminator 2 will soon be added to the game’s roster. Additionally, Conan The Barbarian is expected to join as well.
In contrast to its usual style, the game Guilty Gear will break convention by inviting an outside character, Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, as the last addition to Season 4, which is expected to release in 2025.
Have you heard that 2B has been added to Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising? With so many guest appearances, it can be challenging to stay updated. Who knows which characters might join in the future!
“Fighting Game is Something So Great”
To quote legendary competitor, Tokido, there’s nothing like fighting games out there.
Choosing a fighting game to master offers a tangible feeling of progress that surpasses any immediate rush of dopamine you might experience while playing different types of video games.
Despite the challenges being demanding and causing self-doubt, not feeling quite good enough, don’t let these feelings discourage you from celebrating the minor triumphs throughout your journey. For example, mastering your first combo in training mode, conquering your initial fears by playing online for the first time and coping with the accompanying nervousness, climbing up the ranks, and eventually gaining the self-assurance to explore learning new characters.
Before you notice you’ll start using fighting game-lingo, learning how to set up good oki situations, dealing with nasty mixups, or coming up with your own.
If you’re still on the fence about how a newcomer can approach the genre, check out the recent Sajam Slam events that have taken place this year for both Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6.
The dedication shown by certain content creators, even though they hadn’t played either game before, and their determination to enhance their performance is truly awe-inspiring.
Fighting games are truly something special and you don’t want to miss out on where the genre will be going in the coming months and years. So stop making excuses and start playing some fighting games.
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2024-09-27 08:42