Footsies > Combos

[FGC-Oni]

Why am I just barely figuring this out.

The neutral game is vastly more critical than your ability to pull off long combos. After watching recorded matches that were uploaded by Sp00ky in SSFIV I noticed how characters space themselves out and move back a forth in one spot repeatedly. I also noticed in Injustice that the competitors towards the end of WB would wait for the other person to move and capitalize on their mistakes. I mean you shouldn't turtle, nor should you blindly rush-down your opponent. I spent SOOO much time in the Lab mastering my combo execution I forgot to train my footsie game against the AI. Thats not to say I don't have any because I know about tick throws and frame-traps. But I really need to start using them in matches that count.

Thoughts?

 

[Cossner]

When will people stop thinking footsies = whiff punishing.

But yeah, pretty sure "doing combos" is basic fighting games 101, while capitalizing on spacing (I refuse to stay there are footsies in Injustice) is a bit more advanced.

 

[ryublaze]

yes

 

[187x]

footsies in injustice? naw mane

 

[FGC-Oni]

I realize how Injustice is and perhaps footsies isn't the term I'm looking for. Whiff punishing? IDK all I'm saying is fundamentals > combo execution of course when you get an opportunity you need to capitalize on it. Thats where all that time practicing combos counts I suppose.

 

[NurzBenny]

If we're quantifying footsies as "getting the hit" than I agree. Combos are useless if you can't hit anyone. I think the most important ability in any FG is knowing how to get the hit, and avoid the hit, as basic as that sounds. This is a game whilst not quite Marvel or Tekken in one hit KO's, is certainly a game where you can see ALOT of your life bar disappear once it starts. Knowing how to get the hit, and putting yourself in advantageous situations, versus disadvantageous ones where your only option for escape is legit a guess, should be paramount. If your character can play "traditional" footsies, play em. If you've got to teleport, call a bat, fly/mace charge, armor double punch your way into good positions, then do that.

 

[ProudDisciple]

I see "Footsies" as "positional control" through the use of pokes, movement and/or special moves. It ultimately doesn't matter what combos you know if you can't land the hit in the first place.

 

[SZSR]

http://sonichurricane.com/?page_id=1702

Yep, footsies are hella important in any fighting game, if you're talking about space control. I believe doubly so if you're playing grappling characters. I've linked a Footsies handbook that although has examples set in Street Fighter and Capcom titles, is wholly relevant to gaining a good fighting mindset.

 

[FGC-Oni]

I think for the next week or so I'm gonna play online but work on my space control and footsie skills with Lobo and my other characters. I'll perform a combo when the opputuntiy presents itself but I'm not gonna go out of my way to get them since I most likely have poor fundamentals.

 

[Matix218]

Knowing how to do your combos is just basic "how to play the game" stuff. Everyone should know how to do the optimal combo off of each of their characters starter moves. Footsies ans spacing is how, in higher level play that you are able to open up your opponent for that initial hit so you can utilize the combos and get some damage. Anyone can learn how to do combos. Space control is much more advanced and important in high level play

 

[SonicBoomBrad]

Injustice doesn't really have footsies. It's just the illusion of footsies with whack ass anti-airs and dash punishing since walk speed is so garbage. Injustice does have space control, however. And good space control is what separates good players from great players.

Unfortunately characters like Batman/Superman allow you to body good people even without that so it doesn't matter.

 

[Eric The Scruffy]

When will people stop thinking footsies = whiff punishing.

But yeah, pretty sure "doing combos" is basic fighting games 101, while capitalizing on spacing (I refuse to stay there are footsies in Injustice) is a bit more advanced.

Injustice doesn't really have footsies. It's just the illusion of footsies with whack ass anti-airs and dash punishing since walk speed is so garbage. Injustice does have space control, however. And good space control is what separates good players from great players.
Unfortunately characters like Batman/Superman allow you to body good people even without that so it doesn't matter.

Sincere question: what is the line that distinguishes space control from footsies in this regard? I think its probably fair to say injustice's "footsies" are extremely simplified due to the walkspeed and the existence of strings like Superman's F23. Certainly the game is nowhere near as footsie based as Street Fighter......but are they really so non existent, or are they just simplified and/or different?

My layman's understanding of footsies is that its based around understanding the options and/or range of yours and the opposing players normals and specials and understanding what your opponent wants to do before they do it.
Saltface on the Kombat Tomb podcast a while back talked about how as Harley he's noticed a lot of players have an overwhelming urge to jump in on him once they've dashed into a certain spot and how he's worked really hard to recognize it and capitilize. Maybe I'm mistaken....but that kinda sounds like footsies to me.

 

[AsiansinaGroceryStore]

Personally, I think every fighting game has footsies, they just look different. For example, footsies in SF can mean spacing and poking to catch opponents when they're not blocking and capitalizing on pokes (since any normal attack can be followed up with another to create combos), whereas in Injustice, footsies can mean playing a guessing game with mixups (Ex. Batgirl vortex or low/overhead chains).

I think footsies in general means controlling your opponent in such a way that you get the advantage.

 

[SonicBoomBrad]

snip

Technically there's no right or wrong when it comes to that. But space control to me is more about capitalizing on anti airs and keeping your opponent at a certain range where you can do more with the space provided than they can. Either one works, but you're not really going to anti air in this game, and you're not really going to counter poke in this game. It's more about whiff punishing strings and punishing dashes.

 

[trustinme]

Forget all that shit,just tap d1 trident rush on ur game pad and win quantum leap.oh yeah and enjoy yourself.

 

[Gesture Required Ahead]

MK9 neutral game: "Ok, I'll be at my sweet spot where Elbow Dash whiffs to initiate fear and be prepared to anti-air or whiff punish"

Injustice Neutral game: "k, I'll hold down 'till I can Sword Flip or QuickFire because I can't move for shit and can't shoot Low Gun Shots anymore...FML"