RM_NINfan101
Nine Inch Nails fan from Metro Detroit, Michigan
Honestly I really think the variation system in this game is not implemented well at all and I would not like to see it come back in future games.
A good chunk of characters really only have one variation that just outshines the others, there's no reason to play them. I.E: Bojutsu Kung Jin, GM Sub-Zero, Summoner Quan Chi (though Sorceror seems to be getting more usage) Goro in Kuatan, War God Kotal, Swarm Queen D'Vorah, Nimble Reptile, Lackey F/T and that's all I can think of right now. Raiden obviously has Thunder God and it's really all he needs.
Those that actually have two useful variants are higher up on the tier list currently than those I mentioned with the exception of Quan, Raiden and D'Vorah. Kung Lao? Two useful variants. EB? Two useful variants. Shinnok? Two useful variants. Cassie? Two useful variants. Sonya? Two useful variants. You see a trend here?
Now there are some characters that are kinda in that gray area like Ermac (MoS is better than Mystic but Mystic still gets played.) and Kitana (Royal Storm and Mournful seem to be neck and neck at times, though it is very clear Royal Storm is more preferred.) but I would just rather have characters be themselves with a set movelist.
Another point I don't like about the variation system, is how characters in this game really aren't all that diverse. For every experimental variation (Dualist Liu, Blood/Sun God Kotal, Gunslinger EB, Hat Trick Lao, Ethereal Mileena, Spectral Ermac) are not as good as the variants with a straightforward game plan. Does the character have some sort of cancel? How do I incorporate that into my neutral and setup game? Is this character really setup heavy? Is this character really rushdown or setplay heavy? How good are their footsies and AA abilities? There's little variety.
Lastly, I feel like with DLC such as Tremor, they make character variants like Unbreakable Sub obsolete with Crystalline. So many characters in this game have similar stuff, I swear sometimes I'm picking a character either based on looks or how their normals are and if they compete well with the rest of the roster.
It's just my opinion, but this is exactly what I feared with the variation system. NRS needed to make them more dynamic and since so many share similar traits, they really start to all feel the same one way or another.
A good chunk of characters really only have one variation that just outshines the others, there's no reason to play them. I.E: Bojutsu Kung Jin, GM Sub-Zero, Summoner Quan Chi (though Sorceror seems to be getting more usage) Goro in Kuatan, War God Kotal, Swarm Queen D'Vorah, Nimble Reptile, Lackey F/T and that's all I can think of right now. Raiden obviously has Thunder God and it's really all he needs.
Those that actually have two useful variants are higher up on the tier list currently than those I mentioned with the exception of Quan, Raiden and D'Vorah. Kung Lao? Two useful variants. EB? Two useful variants. Shinnok? Two useful variants. Cassie? Two useful variants. Sonya? Two useful variants. You see a trend here?
Now there are some characters that are kinda in that gray area like Ermac (MoS is better than Mystic but Mystic still gets played.) and Kitana (Royal Storm and Mournful seem to be neck and neck at times, though it is very clear Royal Storm is more preferred.) but I would just rather have characters be themselves with a set movelist.
Another point I don't like about the variation system, is how characters in this game really aren't all that diverse. For every experimental variation (Dualist Liu, Blood/Sun God Kotal, Gunslinger EB, Hat Trick Lao, Ethereal Mileena, Spectral Ermac) are not as good as the variants with a straightforward game plan. Does the character have some sort of cancel? How do I incorporate that into my neutral and setup game? Is this character really setup heavy? Is this character really rushdown or setplay heavy? How good are their footsies and AA abilities? There's little variety.
Lastly, I feel like with DLC such as Tremor, they make character variants like Unbreakable Sub obsolete with Crystalline. So many characters in this game have similar stuff, I swear sometimes I'm picking a character either based on looks or how their normals are and if they compete well with the rest of the roster.
It's just my opinion, but this is exactly what I feared with the variation system. NRS needed to make them more dynamic and since so many share similar traits, they really start to all feel the same one way or another.