Still typing my main response. but.,. just that bolded part about Tekken shows you dont really understand Tekken at all. I'm not saying that hatefully, because the predictability and react-ability statement doesnt make any sense. You also talk about making one or two mistakes and dying.. have you watched Tekken rounds? they can end off one combo into a wall and one mistake after. Tekken game's are typically so fast the standard format is best of 3 rounds, not 2, because the damage and speed at which you lose is SO FAST, it warrants it. Yes, top players can sometimes run a clock out, but that's the same with almost any game occasionally and when it happens in Tekken (as with many games) it has nothing to do with a slow pace, but happens because things can go tits up SO FAST neither party wants to over commit and plays back.
I dont know what you mean saying Tekken is more forgiving if you dont know the strings because of the predictability and reactability though.. Strings in Tekken for instance, often have numerous enders or extensions, so you have to make a hard read on just when the other player stops, or what ender he does. Strings in MKX rarely behave like this at all, and if you know what string is being done, you know how to block it. Since most characters have a small handful of these, its a lot easier to know and understand an MKX character's strings than someone like Hwo in tekken. Hwo - as an example - has well over 100 moves and what he does, how he does it, the frame data, continuation, combos, options, and movements depend on which leg he has facing forward at the time, and he can switch forward facing legs after some moves, or not, depending on his preference. You cant memorize the string and say "Ok he's negative whatever after this, or this, and I block this with this pattern". Throws in Tekken are EXTREMELY powerful as well and require incredible reactions and knowledge to deal with. I know, we watch a tournament and you see JDCR break every attempt, but try it yourself vs some of the cast, where you not only have to react with the break in time, but use the correct break, which is based on what arm(s) and such are used.. giving some characters 1,2 and 1+2 breaks, and some characters have 3+4 breaks, and others on top. Normally throws have very little range, but many in Tekken have range approaching that of a jab or the like, massive oki off some, wall splats into 35-40% combos from some, and so on.
You mention reading your opponent on a deep level.. and Tekken - to continue the example - is absolutely FAMOUS for the necessity of reads. Absolutely everything in Tekken is a read. Every normal, string, hit,block, side step, everything and one wrong read or mistake and you are almost certainly at a wall now, and usually one more hit and you're dead.
Frame data is far more "fluid" in Tekken as well. Movement options and sidesteps/walks as well as in some cases stance transitions and such can seriously change what you can and cant do. In MKX you know a moves frame data, and you know when you get to take your turn - in Tekken you often have to make a read in these situations, just to take a turn when you opponent is negative (unless he's very very negative). AND EVEN THEN, since many moves have various crush/evasive properties you have to deal with all that as well.
So in MKX you CAN be crystal clear on frame data, in Tekken knowing it is every bit as important, but there are layers of mindgames laid on top of something as simple as trying to take your turn when your opponent is negative enough that you SHOULD be able to.
