State of the Fighting Game

[MechDeus]

Originally posted by negitoro
Certainly, but when SF4 comes out with the parry mechanics intact, what else will they bring to the table ?

My point was that it could be something I would never have thought of. Parrying fits that rather well.

How many years has the parry mechanic been introduced ? It's been a long time and we've yet to see another similarly innovative gameplay element.

Yes, but how many in-depth fighting games has Capcom released since then? Almost every time they begin a new fighting game "chapter" in one of their main series they add something. Super bars, counters (did that begin in Vampire or Alpha?), combos, parrying, etc. The main problem is that Capcom only takes that route with the "main" fighting games, and they're pretty much the main innovators for 2D fighting (Guilty Gear has added quite a bit as well, but they're currently entangled in fine-tuning instead of adding more). Neo-Geo fighting games seem perfectly content to wait for Capcom to create something and then rip it off, and sometimes they'll even add their own slant to it.

To that, I doubt Capcom will release an SFIV unless it brings something new to the table. I could be wrong, and they could go for either a pure cash-cow route or simply better tuning (which I wouldn't complain about, get rid of those tiers), but it's what they seem to hold to.

[negitoro]

Originally posted by MechDeus
My point was that it could be something I would never have thought of. Parrying fits that rather well.

To be fair, parrying was done in a lesser form all the way back in World Heroes. But yes, Capcom did introduce us parrying as we know it now and it's one of the leading reasons why SF3 is still a big fighter.

Yes, but how many in-depth fighting games has Capcom released since then? Almost every time they begin a new fighting game "chapter" in one of their main series they add something. Super bars, counters (did that begin in Vampire or Alpha?), combos, parrying, etc.

But you have to admit, the features introduced back then, changed the game... and it did so far more rapidly and with greater innovation. Combos, chains, super bars... together with SNK, they pretty much defined what the modern fighting game is about.

But since then, Capcom seems perfectly content to rehash endlessly. There haven't been innovations. From SFIII to SFIII:3S, did we really get any innovation ? SFA to SFA3 ? XmenvSF to MvC2 ? Really, the innovations haven't been exactly gushing out.

The main problem is that Capcom only takes that route with the "main" fighting games, and they're pretty much the main innovators for 2D fighting (Guilty Gear has added quite a bit as well, but they're currently entangled in fine-tuning instead of adding more). Neo-Geo fighting games seem perfectly content to wait for Capcom to create something and then rip it off, and sometimes they'll even add their own slant to it.

Well, you can't just blame SNK. Certainly, they've added their own touches thru the years. I mean didn't supers appear in Fatal Fury before Street Fighter ? And they added the defensive evasion, rolls and controllable jumps.

Regardless, the last few years have been relatively dry of innovations.

[soundwave]

Originally posted by Yamcha
Play VF4 Evolution.

VF4E is amazing--I played it the other day. Technically engaging and not noob friendly but the rewards are endless.

there is a pretty good review of it here:

http://www.ntsc-uk.com/MainContent/P...ighter4Evo.htm

[arjue]

Great thread.

Pretty much everything I can think of has been said though...


Personally, I'd like to seea completely new 2d fighter from Capcom, completely free from the SF franchise and its mechanics (within reason).


I don't like the idea of an all stars game. For me, They'd need to release atleast 2 of them, one as hyperactive and flashy as the VS series and one as technical and deep as SFA3 or SFIII.

[AaronChance]

Originally posted by arjue

Personally, I'd like to seea completely new 2d fighter from Capcom, completely free from the SF franchise and its mechanics (within reason).

I'd love this to happen too, but you know it doesn't even have the possiblity of having a prayer of chance of happening.

I seriously doubt we'll even see a single new sprite from them. If SF4 does get made, it'll be in 3D, though the gameplay may remain in 2D.

PS - I just ordered GGX2 and pre-ordered KOF2k2 so I'll be all caught up soon, though I still need a good PS2 fighting stick.

[Eight One]

Originally posted by bahn
I concur with the VF comment, but Soul Calibur 2 is only the "third" incarnation. Soul Blade, Soul Calibur, Soul Calibur 2...

Hm, is there a game I missed?

If you count Soul Edge (Ver. II)...



Let's not forget GGX 1.5.

[cka]

I blame DDR for the decline in popularity of fighting games. Seriously.

[RoleTroll]

I think casual gamers today want to play a game where they can have a movie-like immersion experience (often with a strong storyline), not need to read the instructions or learn intricate commands, and just sit back and breeze through the game (GTA3, Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid, Crazy Taxi, etc.) It seems like most everything that's "just a video game" (puzzle games, shmups, fighting games, racing games, etc.) struggles.

[bahn]

Originally posted by cka
I blame DDR for the decline in popularity of fighting games. Seriously.

Heh. Ya it had a certain profound effect on players in Chinatown Fair. Unfortunately that footage remains closely guarded.

....To be Continued.

[AaronChance]

Originally posted by RoleTroll
I think casual gamers today want to play a game where they can have a movie-like immersion experience (often with a strong storyline), not need to read the instructions or learn intricate commands, and just sit back and breeze through the game (GTA3, Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid, etc.) It seems like most everything that's "just a video game" (puzzle games, shmups, fighting games, etc.) struggles.

But GTA3 is really 'just a videogame.' The story is like 1% of the game and I'm being generous there. What it has going for it was a lot of publicity and strong gameplay to back that up. So people were made aware of the game and once they actually played it, it managed to hook most of them.

A fighter can do the same thing. The latest Mortal Kombat proves that and it's gameplay is merely good enough. Nothing special, but enough to keep most people from returning it.