The Variation System

[chemist4hire]

Instead of variations, which at times feels like you got a set of incomplete characters, I would have preferred the option of selecting a group of different sub mechanics akin to the groove system in CVS2. The subsystems would have differed in your movement, block and armor options with different juggle and cancel properties.

 

[supernumian]

Don't get me wrong, I love variations.
Some characters have very good variations.

 

[TopTierHarley]

Instead of variations, which at times feels like you got a set of incomplete characters, I would have preferred the option of selecting a group of different sub mechanics akin to the groove system in CVS2. The subsystems would have differed in your movement, block and armor options with different juggle and cancel properties.

Venomous Swarm Queen with Krawler would be broken lol.

 

[Lumpymoomilk]

I like the variations , but i would have preferred single character with all the moves of their variations.
.

Only problem I could really see with that is that MK series is kind of a pick up and play casual fighter for most people, the input sequences would likely have to become more complicated to add all the moves as they reuse the same inputs for a lot of them. In most variations certain moves are better in certain situations or generally improved, if we had them all it might make some characters a bit broken.

 

[RexxyC]

It's half-assed and they had a reason to leave entire characters out because they ran out of variation ideas and had to shove them on other characters. I would rather them flesh out the ideas at the characters core than have stupid shit like Spectral Ermac or Kenjutsu Kenshi. It's a waste of time you could have been using making an actual Jade or Shang characters.

 

[Heartwire]

I'm quite happy with the entire concept.
It's something innovative (for me at least).

However, certain variations seem utterly under powered (or others overpowered) compared to the other 1 or 2 a character has (Don't get me wrong, not saying something is OP in general)
In the end, this is the first time for NRS using this variation system, so I'll give them some slack cause of the issues certain variations have.
It is something they can learn from in their next installment at least, which they did from Injustice (the damage from interactables has been scales down a lot for example).

All in all, I'm happy with the concept, it's great, it's fresh and I hope it's here to stay for their future installments and I would like to see it implemented in Injustice 2 (if it will ever be) too.
Again; great concept, but the execution is a bit meh in some cases.

If I had to choose between like what, 4-6 more characters or every character having 3 variations, I'll go with variations all the way.

 

[Crayraven]

I think the concept is good. But in order for it to be truly successful, each variation will need to be a legit competitor to the other two. Currently that is not the case.

 

[John Grizzly]

The concept was very ambitious, but as I feared, in most cases people are only using one variation and other 2 seem somewhat useless.

Sub Zero - Grandmaster
Kung Jin - Bojutsu
Kotal Kahn - War God
Raiden - Thunder God
Takeda - Shirai Ryu
Quan Chi - Summoner
Ermac - Master of Souls
Erron Black - Outlaw
Kung Lao - Tempest
Mileena - Piercing

I know I must have missed several, and I'm sure some people play others, but these are the ones you see primarily. Although currently it may not seem balanced as far as variations go, I do think NRS could improve it over the life of the game. I think with this many characters/variations it would be absolutely impossible to make them all equal, but some variations can certainly become more viable. I'd definitely prefer to see them buff the weaker variations and not just nerf the good ones.

The game is still so young. NRS seems to be taking their time this time around and not jumping the nerf gun like they did with Kano in MK9 and Deathstroke in Injustice. They can obviously see what variations are not being used and I'm certain they'll try to do something to make them all at least somewhat worth using.

I really just don't want to see this game being shit on at EVO if the finals ends up being Bojutsu vs Bojutsu.

 

[Eldriken]

The concept was very ambitious, but as I feared, in most cases people are only using one variation and other 2 seem somewhat useless.

Sub Zero - Grandmaster
Kung Jin - Bojutsu
Kotal Kahn - War God
Raiden - Thunder God
Takeda - Shirai Ryu
Quan Chi - Summoner
Ermac - Master of Souls
Erron Black - Outlaw
Kung Lao - Tempest
Mileena - Piercing

I know I must have missed several, and I'm sure some people play others, but these are the ones you see primarily. Although currently it may not seem balanced as far as variations go, I do think NRS could improve it over the life of the game. I think with this many characters/variations it would be absolutely impossible to make them all equal, but some variations can certainly become more viable. I'd definitely prefer to see them buff the weaker variations and not just nerf the good ones.

The game is still so young. NRS seems to be taking their time this time around and not jumping the nerf gun like they did with Kano in MK9 and Deathstroke in Injustice. They can obviously see what variations are not being used and I'm certain they'll try to do something to make them all at least somewhat worth using.

I really just don't want to see this game being shit on at EVO if the finals ends up being Bojutsu vs Bojutsu.

EVO Grand Finals will probably consist of either of the following: Kung Jin, Cassie, Raiden, Erron Black or D'Vorah. It's gonna be a mix of those five and hopefully it's not a fuckin' mirror. However, Sonya MIGHT sneak her way in there.

 

[Death]

Definitely has potential. Just wished all characters had 3 viable variations.

 

[GLoRToR]

I'd be happy with the variation system if NRS were famous for their great design choices.
Unfortunately as they are now, and as IT is now, I feel it's just a greater room for error.

 

[Afk Skinny]

I would feel better if they just had 2 variations for each character. It seems like some of the cast just have a last second thought variation, and lazy homages. (Seriously, fuck Mournful)

 

[Demon_0]

Variations is the best feature of MKX I'd say and makes the game even more competitive, so I respectfully disagree. The game is still new, out for over a month and there is still a lot to be discovered. I just wish each variation came with specific chain combos, even if only a few. I also hope to see a mode later down the line that allows you to use all variation moves at the same time.

 

[Linkuei82]

I like the idea and I feel MKX is a better game than MK9 and has more depth. However, I do agree that some character variation could be much better. I'm sure they can fix that with the next patch.

I honestly feel the idea is great and it just came down to time. I think with the next big patch, this game will be how it's supposed to be.

Regardless, I really do love the game and I enjoy it more than MK9 and Injustice. I believe NRS will fix all the bugs and glitches and balances with variations.

 

[Eldriken]

I like the idea and I feel MKX is a better game than MK9 and has more depth. However, I do agree that some character variation could be much better. I'm sure they can fix that with the next patch.

I honestly feel the idea is great and it just came down to time. I think with the next big patch, this game will be how it's supposed to be.

Regardless, I really do love the game and I enjoy it more than MK9 and Injustice. I believe NRS will fix all the bugs and glitches and balances with variations.

I sure as hell hope they fix all the bugs/glitches. :| My character suffers from some pretty fucking stupid ones that seem to just get worse and worse as time goes on. It's like the bugs/glitches for Full Auto are EVOLVING into something worse as the game gets updated. >_>

 

[Vagrant]

I love it. It adds a tremendous amount of depth and variety to what is already a masterpiece of a fighting game. I don't care that it isn't perfectly balanced. Did anyone really expect a balanced game with essentially 70 something characters?

I think the variation idea is one of NRS's best. No amount of salt from the FGC is going to change that for me.

 

[Take$$$]

Love the variations. Most characters seem to have around 2 amazing or good variations, with a few having 1 or 3.

 

[DownfouralitY]

I like variations, I just wish they were executed a little better. I wonder what this game would be like without variations and how different it would be. It's hard to tell whether it would be better or worse honestly

 

[Dizzy]

Sure theres some actual bad variations, but implying the game is fleshed out 1 month in is pretty nuts.

There could easily be many chars where you say "this is the only good variation" while true is 90% of matches, there is is a few char/variations it has an advantage over.

Id say its more common for a character to have at least 2 useful variations, personally.

Also people who say erron black or quan chi has only one useful variation...wut

 

[NRF CharlieMurphy]

I love the variations

I hate how we are using them in tournaments.

We were given a special opportunity to actually use these in an awesome manner and passed.

 

[John Grizzly]

EVO Grand Finals will probably consist of either of the following: Kung Jin, Cassie, Raiden, Erron Black or D'Vorah. It's gonna be a mix of those five and hopefully it's not a fuckin' mirror. However, Sonya MIGHT sneak her way in there.

As long as there's some diversity I don't care who it is. I just know that all the Capcom/Anime elitists will be dying to shit on MKX so I just want it to be good. I never want another Superman light show EVO top 8 to happen again. The multiple Bobs in top 8 of Tekken 6 was another debacle, as well....so this isn't limited to just NRS games, mind you.

 

[DownfouralitY]

Sure theres some actual bad variations, but implying the game is fleshed out 1 month in is pretty nuts.

There could easily be many chars where you say "this is the only good variation" while true is 90% of matches, there is is a few char/variations it has an advantage over.

Id say its more common for a character to have at least 2 useful variations, personally.

Also people who say erron black or quan chi has only one useful variation...wut

Exactly. Many Erron Black players would actually argue that Marksman is the better variation overall, but people assume Outlaw is the best because of sonicfox.

 

[Afumba]

Generally i like the variation system.
If they treat them like individual characters in terms of balancing i would gladly have them back. Should they not care too much as long as each character has a good-ish variation... i´ll propably have a change of heart.

 

[Deleted member 9158]

I like it, but I am having trouble finding a back up main. A lot of variations feel like incomplete characters to me sometimes. I do like quan chi' variations, as I play summoner and warlock.

 

[Sulfur]

i like it because while not every variation is strong, every character has at least one strong variation.