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Hello TYM! ...And a question.

UnbirthdayHatter

UnbirthdayHatter

Super Beginner
Hi, I'm new to fighting games-- not just new, but new new. I've played a few but never got past the doing silly things with friends, mashing button competitions that we had as teenagers in the desert with nothing better to do. Recently I've decided I would really like to get better at fighting games. I really enjoy watching people play (on twitch there's a few 24x7 streams), and I'm always delighted to watch good players and see the way the moves string together.

But that seems to be, ironically, my biggest problem.

When I try to string moves, or even do the normal combos, for some reason my flow seems to be off. I've tried pushing the buttons at an even pace, really fast, or even with visual cues but for some reason I can't seem to get it down. Even when I'm preforming moves I should be able to do, it doesn't feel like it's coming across right? I've been practicing both online and in practice mode, but I was wondering if there was any advice for someone who just doesn't feel comfortable? I know it sounds silly, but I've never really been a console gamer so the controller itself just feels wonky most of the time. lol.

That said I'm going to look around the forums more, I've been reading what I can and trying to process it, though I find some of it is just a loss to an absolute beginner like myself.

Still, if anyone plays on PSN you're welcome to add me for fun (I'm a pretty pleasant loser, at least!) on UnbirthdayHatter.

For the record (as I've seen listed/asked on a few posts) I play mostly with Nightwing and Green Arrow!
 
Saboteur-6

Saboteur-6

Filthy Casual
Welcome to TYM!

While I'm not trying to be rude, what you're describing is something akin to asking what it feels like to dribble a basketball. I'm not even speaking metaphorically here as I'm saying that it requires a basic level of motor-sensory coordination that really can't be taught, just practiced. Using a game controller and inputting buttons is such a basic fundamental of video game play that I doubt there's anything someone is going to be able to tell you other than to just practice more until you grow comfortable with how a video game controller works.

When you say you have difficulty "stringing moves and normal combos" are you talking about linking combos/ special attacks or actually inputting "natural combo" strings that play out a set animation sequence (like Nightwings 1,1,2)?

By the way, most people use the notation 1 = Light attack, 2 = Medium attack, and 3 = Heavy.
 
Alien Substance

Alien Substance

Evanesce
Greetings, UnbirthdayHatter.
Welcome to this site of knowledge, learning, bitch-fits, and darkness, named TestYourMight.com!

If the most basic part of a console, the controller, feels wonky because you are new to it, then you just need time. You can't expect something like that to come overnight. I know how it feels, we've all been there. Let me try to help you:

>"for some reason my flow seems to be off"
Different combos may require different pacing of the inputs. Take Deathstroke's 3,2,3 string: it is fairly lenient with the input window, while Deathstroke's F+2,3 string requires pretty fast button-pressing to come out.

>"Even when I'm performing moves I should be able to do, it doesn't feel like it's coming across right?"
Could you please elaborate a little further? Does it feel wrong, or is it something that you are not getting the hang of?

>"I've been practicing both online and in practice mode..."
I wouldn't recommend trying both at once. You should stick to practice mode and single player modes until you feel comfortable with your stuff, for online has input delays that could mess up your timing.

>"I've been reading what I can and trying to process it, though I find some of it is just a loss to an absolute beginner like myself."
You should try getting the basic stuff down before going up, it'll be easier that way.

Good luck on your journey to improving.
 
AeroGrunt

AeroGrunt

Stay Puft
Hey man, first off welcome to TYM.

I remember when I was just starting to play MK9 which was my first fighting game. I would recommend just taking it step by step, if you have a combo you want to learn, for example Green Arrow's 113, ice arrow, b3, ji3, 223 load arrow just practice 113 ice arrow first and when you get that locked down move on to the next section. It will take a lot of practice but you'll eventually start pulling off the combos you see pro players do on streams. One little tip I can give you is don't mash the combos, just input them. For example 113, ice arrow, just input 1134 all in one string, don't do 1111134, it won't work. I know a lot of new players have this problem. Think of it as playing a piano, if you do C,C,D it sounds fine, but if you start doing CCCCCD, it won't work. Now you can't input everything together but you'll eventually learn what you can or can not input in a row. Keep practicing and don't give up. :)
 
UnbirthdayHatter

UnbirthdayHatter

Super Beginner
Saboteur-6
I understand what you mean, and I'm just talking a bit about my issues. When I first started playing FPS there were exercises and things to do which made a person a better player and more comfortable. Now it comes pretty naturally. Which is mostly why I mentioned it. I didn't know if there was something specific to fg, outside of simply practicing, that would make it easier to adjust or get comfortable. I'm not entirely a failure or anything, but I do feel I could be far better than I am. I think I get too rushed, if that makes sense?

Alien Substance
Like I said above, I understand practice, I don't know, I guess I expected there might be something silly like in FPS where we did drills? I'm getting better each day, I think I need to focus more on patience. But I'm better than I used to be, so it's a start. Good to know about playing offline, mostly, first. Since I was told to only play online as I began because it was different with the lag and what not. Though I found playing online a challenge, because unless someone was a beginner like I am I just got stomped; and while I could see, and learn from, my failures I always had the feeling I needed to get more comfortable and improve before I could begin to correct my mistakes.

If I do it repetitively, I can get the feel for the moves, however when attempting to put those moves into action it doesn't seem to work as well. Often I can see the input looks proper (when I'm in practice mode) but the move itself isn't right. So my timing has to be off. But I suppose only practice can tell me what the right timing for each move is. I didn't realize (till it was stated above) that each had it's own pace! Learn something new every day, huh! :)

187x
Thank you kindly. :)

AeroGrunt
Piano is a great example, since I do that. And that makes a lot of sense, thank you. I think I have that problem, I get antsy and try to just shove the combo out rather than inputting it with some kind of pace and doing it the right way. I think I'll sit down and try and find some combos to practice. I did it before but I couldn't seem to get the pacing down, but like the others said above it's just practice, practice practice. Just a different kind of learning curve that requires patience. I've got time, I suppose, till I get better I can also just admire those who know more than me and try to learn from examples. :)


Thank you all, however, for words and sense and advice. I think I was rambling a bit because I got frustrated with myself. But--! I will give it another go, and have a bit more patience for myself AND the game! Haha :D
 
AeroGrunt

AeroGrunt

Stay Puft
Oh and another thing to see if you're inputting the combos correctly. Go to practice mode and start doing your combos. Stop when you drop your combo and look at the input list where it shows what you pressed on the left side of the screen and see if you did extra inputs or pressed the wrong direction.
 
Saboteur-6

Saboteur-6

Filthy Casual
Absolutely do not learn to play online when trying to develop something as basic as input timing. Online has input delay which can be further compounded by lag. If you're wanting drills/exercises:

-Go into practice mode and go through a character you enjoy's combo list until you're comfortable with the natural string.
-Next, look up some of the longer combos for that character that will combine linking a natural string into another move from this website. Practice that.


TIPS:
- Use the d-pad to control movement not the left analog stick. You want precise control.
- When in practice mode while looking at your combo strings you can pin around 6-8 of the list so they're visible on the game screen even once you exit out of the options menu. This provides a customizable quick reference that's visible while you practice.
- You're basically practicing input muscle memory so that input execution is precise and fluid through rote repetition.
- Understand that combos are basically broken into 3 parts: Starter, ---, Ender.

If you want further help then you might have to be more specific in what you're struggling with as far as inputs (specific string/specials).
 
P

PrinceCola

Mortal
Welcome, i'm new as well. Just practice a lot in practice mode, it's great. Don't go online, you might get crushed like me.
 
Alien Substance

Alien Substance

Evanesce
UnbirthdayHatter said:
*snip*
Click to expand...
What I tried as a beginner in I:GAU, is to practice my strings and combos until I got comfortable with them. Afterwards, I would go into the Classic Battle single player mode and try to be able to perform them in a real match situation. If I had some issues at times, I would either go back to practice mode or keep trying. What also assisted me with my mental preparation was to take a break from I:GAU for a few or more days, and when I returned, my mind was more able to think clearly.

Patience is quite important in fighting games. It helps to know how to be calm at all times; I've had people fall at my hand in clutch situations (very low health for both players) because they tried something risky in their panic, while I remained collected and countered accordingly.

As a tip on timing, I would recommend you learn to time by muscle and mental memory, rather than through visual cues; the input delay will screw you up when you switch to online.

You're welcome!
 
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