“Haaadouken!!” Probably one of the most popular fighting game references known in pop culture today. (Known as shooting a fireball in the game Street Fighter) In 1987 Street Fighter was the first ever fighting game to have hidden abilities in its characters. “Like hadouken?” Yes, exactly like hadouken. The second adaptation in 1991 would explode the genre in popularity and influence the creation of many other  games from then on.  These games are known for the competition aspect, the many hours needed to improve your skills and winnability. “I suck!” – 3 hours played.  “Ugh that guy got lucky!” – 15 hours played. “Screw this game!” – 50+ hours played.  What makes these games fun? Are these games only for a certain kind of player? Why play fighting games?

First off a disclaimer, I am no expert in this genre. (I wish) but I believe I know the core fundamentals required to play, who these games are for and what it takes to play them competitively.  With that said I’m sure true long-time players will have different opinions on what makes these games fun and worthwhile.

• Ohhh That Sweet Nectar

Getting absorbed into a fight, you notice the adrenalin, the dopamine, the excitement! You feel tremendous self improvement when you play these games, there is no character progression, no stats or rpg aspects to consider. You’re the one who improves, not the character you select. Your skill is what determines the outcome of each match. It’s probably the best AND worst part about playing a fighting game. They can be very frustrating but when you literally see yourself get better, you get that surge of dopamine. “Ohhh that sweet nectar”. Self-progression isn’t the only thing that keeps people playing. If the game has diverse characters, great visual graphics and of course, satisfying gameplay, you’ll be blowing hours before you know it!

• Which To Choose?

There are a few different styles of fighting games. You have your basic 2-D fighters like Street Fighter, “Hadouken!”. 3-D fighters like Tekken. Anime fighters like Guilty Gear. And Smash Bros, which is like its own category. Many different styles and types of gameplay, how do you choose? My opinion? I recommend either Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros (fun for the entire family), or Dragon Ball FighterZ (easy combos and anime lovers), or Mortal Kombat (if you like a bit of gore).  Simply just pick something that looks cool to you. Screw the naysayers! If you don’t like the way that specific game feels, try a different one, and so on.  It took me a while to finally find one that I really enjoyed. (Not “Hadouken!”)

• How You Should Play

I believe these games are mostly for players who want a very intensive, competitive aspect to the gameplay. Sure most people can just pick up the game and have fun with a friend or two. Casual play like this is when I have the most stress-free enjoyment out of these games. However, going online and competing with people around the world can be very daunting and frustrating. Also with such a steep learning curve, it can be awhile before you see much or any improvement. I’ve spent around 30 hours on Tekken 7. I’ve seen some improvement in me, but I’m always ranked around the lowest. Sure I can win a few games here and there, but depending on the day I can have a straight losing streak and fall right back down to the bottom rank where I started. At times I question if it’s worth my effort to even attempt at ranking up. With that said, if you’re interested in fighting games, be patient, play it casually with a couple of friends. Maybe load it up at a party and let there be a casual tournament. Either way I believe these games are best with a community of people, not just to be played alone. 

So, are you ready to step into the ring and face off against a few baddies? Ready to explore your talents and strive for fame and glory? Sike, that last part is unlikely, but hey we can all dream right? Have fun with these games, even I sometimes need to remember that we play games to have fun, not to be the very best, like no one ever was. 😉 

Don’t be afraid to fail, just like Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) said “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” So keep moving forward my friends and may we all be winners in our own eyes. Haaadouken!!!!