My Mortal Kombat-Related Pet Peeve

[Weekend_Warrior]

Ack, I see your point. And yep, I definitely agree that this could be the case for many other fighting games (Killer Instinct is another good example, as you mentioned).

But I have a feeling that it might occur more frequently with the MK series since MK's1 & 2 appeared on virtually every home console back then. Plus, it has been so controversial and popular over the years. Ya know what I'm sayin - it's a big franchise? And MK is actually my favorite video game series of all-time, so that's where my pet peeve for this unfair or wrongful judgment stems from. A lot of people don't have the arcade memories that I do, they only have memories playing MK on the very limited home systems back in the 90's.

[Ack]

Tekken did without it just fine. There's no excuse for it, the hate for block buttons is simply pure laziness and a lack of will to learn a new control scheme. That's all there is to it.

Perhaps, but I can understand the frustration about it too, as it changes something that many folks consider fundamental in 2D fighters. And it's also not that common outside of the Mortal Kombat series. Doomsday Warrior uses it, but I can't think of too many others that do. To each their own on control schemes though, there are some that folks like and some that folks won't be able to stand.

That said, I think Guilty Gear Isuka would probably have benefited from a block button, as it would have eliminated some of the confusion about blocking in that game.

[Ack]

Ack, I see your point. And yep, I definitely agree that this could be the case for many other fighting games (Killer Instinct is another good example, as you mentioned).

But I have a feeling that it might occur more frequently with the MK series since MK's1 & 2 appeared on virtually every home console back then. Plus, it has been so controversial and popular over the years. Ya know what I'm sayin - it's a big franchise? And MK is actually my favorite video game series of all-time, so that's where my pet peeve for this unfair or wrongful judgment stems from. A lot of people don't have the arcade memories that I do, they only have memories playing MK on the very limited home systems back in the 90's.

I can definitely see what you're getting at. You're right, it's quite a large series, so I expect some of the backlash you're seeing is because so many people were exposed to it (and considering the movies, cartoons, comics, show, toys, advertisements, etc., people were definitely exposed to it) but never took the time to play the game in arcades. Do you find that certain games in particular get a lot of flak? I know the SNES port of MK was horrendous, but I've seen MKII's get more praise when compared to the rest of the series.

[Weekend_Warrior]

The problem with Mortal Kombat is the block button. That's what makes it the lesser fighter.

*Shrug* It always felt very natural and made sense to me.

I really liked the "fighting stance" button on MK: Deadly Alliance, as well.

The "Run" button on the other hand... that was a horrible inclusion in MK3. And so was "side step" in MK4

[Weekend_Warrior]

Do you find that certain games in particular get a lot of flak?

Not really. I think it's just MK in general. But I'm guessing a lot of the hate mainly comes from the first 3 MK games on the Genesis. It's an old debate, but I'm sure that many could agree that the Genny ports don't hold up quite as well today as the SNES version do graphically and sound-wise. Visuals are all grainy. Sound is AWFUL. lol

I'd like to think that a lot has changed since those days with the rather impressive 3D MK's on PS2/GC/Xbox/Wii. But then a lot of these people who criticize MK unfairly may not be real big gamers or fighting fans either. Either way though, I just get tired of the old games in the series being wrongfully judged sometimes. Because honestly... MK1's arcade visuals still impress me. It's just a pity about the SNES port.. it could have been great had it included gore and tighter controls

[SplashChick]

Tekken did without it just fine. There's no excuse for it, the hate for block buttons is simply pure laziness and a lack of will to learn a new control scheme. That's all there is to it.

Perhaps, but I can understand the frustration about it too, as it changes something that many folks consider fundamental in 2D fighters. And it's also not that common outside of the Mortal Kombat series. Doomsday Warrior uses it, but I can't think of too many others that do. To each their own on control schemes though, there are some that folks like and some that folks won't be able to stand.

That said, I think Guilty Gear Isuka would probably have benefited from a block button, as it would have eliminated some of the confusion about blocking in that game.

The Block button is an asset, not a disadvantage. Assigning block to a button allows you to keep your method of movement free, rather than having to dedicate it to blocking.

The problem with Mortal Kombat is the block button. That's what makes it the lesser fighter.

*Shrug* It always felt very natural and made sense to me.

I really liked the "fighting stance" button on MK: Deadly Alliance, as well.

The "Run" button on the other hand... that was a horrible inclusion in MK3. And so was "side step" in MK4

LOL no. The Run button was by far the best thing to happen to the series.

[zxqdms]

The problem with Mortal Kombat is the block button. That's what makes it the lesser fighter.

Why? The main thing I can think of is that a block button eliminates cross-ups (the obvious ones, the ambiguous ones, the fake ones, the special moves that cross-up from only certain ranges, and others?).

The "Run" button on the other hand... that was a horrible inclusion in MK3. And so was "side step" in MK4

Why do you think run and side step are horrible inclusions?

The Block button is an asset, not a disadvantage. Assigning block to a button allows you to keep your method of movement free, rather than having to dedicate it to blocking.

LOL no. The Run button was by far the best thing to happen to the series.

Here's a list of using run and block button in high level play (specifically UMK3) I found in a comment on shoryuken.com. (Do you have anything to add to it?):

1. Hidden blocking. This was achieved by holding the block button while mashing jabs. Less experienced players saw these random jabs as an opening but it's actually a defensive tech.


2. Fake running. You could cancel your run multiple times to make the opponent compromise or hesitate. This was also used in footsies and to intimidate.


3. Re-Block. This was cancelling your crouch block into another stand or crouch block. Sounds silly but the animations of standing, crouching and blocking used to fool a lot of people (they see you release block, so obviously they think you are vulnerable).


4. Spam block. A form of de-persuation. The idea was simply to spam the block button. Making the opponent realize you have the firm intention of turtling and that throwing random dashes isn't going to work very often.


5. Running jab. Multiple throw attempts to try and bait a reversal or crouch tech.

[brunoafh]

Tekken did without it just fine. There's no excuse for it, the hate for block buttons is simply pure laziness and a lack of will to learn a new control scheme. That's all there is to it.

Not really. Fixing block to any button other than back in a 2D fighter is a stupid idea. It's not that you have to get used to "a new control scheme", it's that you have to adjust to a dated unintuitive and unnecessary mechanic. That's probably why MK ditched it. Holding start (assuming you're playing on a console) to block is pretty fucking stupid.

Having a unique block button for 3D fighters is a completely different thing.

[AznKhmerBoi]

WOW thats crazy you think because they did a button for a block makes em lazy ....

im fan of both tekken and mk ...... i can transition fine...either type of blocking is fine.

[Ziggy]

Holding start (assuming you're playing on a console) to block is pretty fucking stupid.

Isn't this what Weekend_Warrior is talking about, judging MK games by their horrific console ports? Yes, holding start on a Genesis 3-button controller to block IS fucking stupid. I 100% agree there. That's also by far the worst way to play an MK game. I never liked a 6-button Genesis controller for MK games, a 3-button controller is just unusable.

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I'd like to add some info about MK's blocking that hasn't been said yet. It allowed you to input moves without moving. This wasn't just limited to fatalities and moves that forced you to use block (to avoid jumping). You could use block to input any special move. Block also doubled as an aerial attack sometimes. In MKII, pressing block in air next to your opponent would cause Scorpion to do an air throw or Jax to do a back breaker.

I'm kinda sick of hearing haters bashing MK for stupid reasons like having a block button. Get over it. So it isn't exactly like the fighting games you like, that's what's called diversity and innovation and whatnot. It's like saying the Donkey Kong Country series isn't any good because there's no power ups like in the Super Mario Bros series. You never hear MK fans bashing Street Fighter for NOT having a block button. It is what it is, let it be.