I started to play fighting games, like SSF2T, Tekken 2, CvsSNK, SF Alpha1/2/3, UMK3/MK4, KOF 98/99/2000 at early 2000. though we didnt know shit about frame data, no internet, some people, devoted hell a lot of time to play, and be good at it. Post 2003 I quit, moved on with my life. Had no drive to play anymore. Thern MK9 came out - yes it was a reboot of series. Yes, the game had characters broken (it had every right to have). However, taking a serious look at the amount of time required to play the game at decent level, there is a significant gap, between MK9, and MK11. I am not even going to mention MKX, which was in some way simpler, because even the dumbest player at certain time fame of the game had the 50% chance of landing his shit, there more depth within the characters, mechanics then MK11 will ever have.
Yes, MK11 is well balanced, If you really wanna hear it, yes - we got the neutral. But what was castrated? Lets see - phacking stupid jump kicks, thats you are scared to AA, even if you have the reed/or execution. The meter management, so that you dont have to give a damn phuck about it. The breaker system, which is hilarious by the way. Those anti-breakers moves, in which some cases they dont make sense. The push back on d2 - and the phucking 30% dmg some retard get from hitting you. The list goes on.... not to mention, that the base combo system, feels like a castrated dude.... even with the customization allowed.
There are several fighting games known for the past 15 years, that are well known to those who care about competitive game play. However, the number that are respected has fallen down.
Currently, as best to my knowledge, there very, very few selective tittles that still maintain respect - one of them is Tekken. There is a very solid reason, why the game has so strong base of players, and is considered competitive.
Till the world saw SF5, SF was along the ranks with Tekken....
Even though MK was never meant to be competitive, when MK9 was brought to the world, competitive play naturally was born among the players. Therefore, we cannot look back and hold to the original idea. The game was way also sified, w, that it is not only via characters multi-style / combos, but in terms of mechanisms - which is sad, because the tittle had the chance to be really close, to the best games that are respected in FG community.
Back in the days, games were imbalanced, not well patched, but in order to stand out, you had to really play well. To be good, took hell of a time, even though those games were uglier.
The problem is not balance, nor simplicity in MK11. The problem is, that the game has been strip down from so many elements, that at certain point while playing it, you do come to realize that the game is like a Doll -looks good, does the job, but its far from the real thing.
To me, I feel, that characters depth, outside of very few, feels like MKII characters. The game is pretty, phocken awesome, but once the “cosmetics effect wares off" its like waking up after a long party, with ugly chick, that last night did you huge favor.
Guys, we all love the franchise - thats a fact. We waste a pretty good chunk of time in our lifetime, to play this game. We really could do something else. Yet we do.
But also, lets not pretend the game dose feel like we are taken back some years back..... there is so much obvious $hit, that it cant really be hidden behind, whatever you may say. almost 10 years ago, we were given something, then years later it was extended, and now part of it was taken away. Thats phacking fact, regardless of the explanation.
Long live MK Brothers!