Recommendations for games to get started with Fighters

[the7k]

I agree with the7k that Darkstalkers is a good series to introduce faster games like Blazblue or Guilty Gear but I wonder if it's a good idea to introduce people to a game that won't have people playing it. Blazblue is not much harder to grasp than Darkstalkers, IMHO.

Well sure, you could go straight to BlazBlue, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about if you are used to SF, you could then go to DS, and then BB, and it would be a smoother transition. SF and DS at least use a similar control scheme.

Going straight from Street Fighter to BlazBlue might be like going from DOA straight to Virtua Fighter without using Tekken to get your middle-ground in. I'm talking more about transitions, not where to start off from. I mean, we all pretty much know that SF2 is the starting point.

[benf]

Beginner:

street fighter 2. The version doesn't matter. Just describe how this game contains the basics of most fighters (reversals, links, qcf, dp, charge chars, etc)

Soul Calibur. Mention how the moves work, A, A, B, or a, B, b, etc. This game is very masher friendly and illustrates some of the finer points of pokes to the uninitiated.

Intermediate

SFA3. Definitely. Fairly easy movelist, but the system has more depth. Talk about the ISM's and what they add to the game. Mention some of the differences in the engine itself compared to SF2.

Another game with a more complicated movelist. Any KOF 95-98, Guilty Gear 1 or X, etc. Somethat that showcases a different style of 2d combined with more complex moves.


Advanced

Any Tekken 2-6. Illustrate how the moves work with some basic examples. Talk about how the low-mid-high system works together with the lengthy movelist. Tekken is masher friendly, but the game itself is rather technical and takes some effort to get into.

The last suggestion would probably be something combo heavy or with deep strategy. Vs. series classic, samsho 5, etc. Something that takes a lot of dedication to understand or get into.


Look forward to your article

[the7k]

Oh yeah - for anyone that wants to get into Virtua Fighter, start out with Fighters Megamix. It won't completely break your balls.

[Bradtemple87]

Oh yeah - for anyone that wants to get into Virtua Fighter, start out with Fighters Megamix. It won't completely break your balls.

The best competition players only play that game.

[benf]

I didn't want to make my list too capcom heavy, but Capcom vs Snk 1 is very easily obtained (PS1, DC ports) and the game itself is pretty good introduction-level stuff.

[AmishSamurai]

If we're including 3D fighters Power Stone should be a definite add-in. I also agree with Tatsunoko vs Capcom and the Smash Bros series being included for beginner.

Also, a Fighter 101 guide should have a breakdown of which ports of Street Fighter II are worth looking at, etc. There's so fucking many it makes my head spin. I know Third Strike is considered the best for SFIII, and for IV there's SSFIV.

[the7k]

Also, a Fighter 101 guide should have a breakdown of which ports of Street Fighter II are worth looking at, etc. There's so fucking many it makes my head spin. I know Third Strike is considered the best for SFIII, and for IV there's SSFIV.

Typically, SF2Turbo is considered the best.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Also, a Fighter 101 guide should have a breakdown of which ports of Street Fighter II are worth looking at, etc. There's so fucking many it makes my head spin. I know Third Strike is considered the best for SFIII, and for IV there's SSFIV.

Typically, SF2Turbo is considered the best.

I'm sorry - I'll forever argue that Champion Edition was the most balanced of all SFII versions.. Mainly in favor of the slower speed.. Turbo is too fast and sacrifices calculated strategy and pacing in favor of more impulsive actions and button-mashing.. (Which is a credit to the Marvel VS. series..)

[kopanabare]

I don't think the whole notion of this thread makes a lot of sense to be honest, the only thing I'd recommend is to give SF2 a try instead of going straight to KoF/GG/3S/w/e, but even that's not mandatory, as many of these games really only have the absolute basics in common. Any (good) fighter can be explored almost endlessly and to play any of them on a high level you'll need lots and lots of experience, knowledge, quick reactions, etc.; i.e. skill. In order to even get halfway decent you'll need lots of time and dedication, no matter which category some of you chose to put those games into. It all seems pretty arbitrary to me. (And let's not start putting 3D games into the same list as 2D ones now, those two genres couldn't be any more different.)


As for SF2, from my experience HF, CE and ST all are preferred by some, though ST seems to be the version that gets the most play. I personally don't like any of them but that doesn't really matter here.

[Croooow!]

I'm sorry - I'll forever argue that Champion Edition was the most balanced of all SFII versions.. Mainly in favor of the slower speed.. Turbo is too fast and sacrifices calculated strategy and pacing in favor of more impulsive actions and button-mashing.. (Which is a credit to the Marvel VS. series..)

Even though I'm a newbie to SFII I have to agree with this. It's smoother than World Warrior, has the 12 characters, and I can actually think about what I'm doing.