Help me improve! (With gameplay video examples)

[MajoraZ]

So, I know that explaining how one plays is difficult, at best, so I recorded a playthrough of story mode with my two characters in hopes that somebody can point out what I'm doing right and wrong.

Difficulty mode is hard, I have edited nothing out.

I already can recognize some of my issues:

- Firstly, I'm bad with blocking. By the time I realize I need to get my guard up, it's almost always too late.​

- I have issues inputting blockbusters. I either trigger them by accident, or it takes me a few wrong inputs to trigger them, or even worse, I do get them off, but I fuck it up somehow. For example, I often end up jumping when I intend to do valentine's scapel throw, due to the motions needed (I use a 360 controller, the analog stick), which often ends up me wasting it.​

- I'm not good at recognizing what the enemy is going to do. This is related to the first point of me being bad at blocking.​

- I don't know many combos. For Valentine, my playstyle is more or less "rush enemy, LP, LP, MP, MP, MP, MP, MK, MK, MK, HK, HK, HK, (occasionally followed by a blockbuster) rinse, repeat:, with a DOT syringe throw tossed in here and there (Granted, that works pretty well against the AI, but...)/ For Double, I'm literally either doing "LK, MK, MK, HK", using a blockbuster, throwing, or spamming buttons.​

 

[hickwarrior]

The best way these guys could help you is if you record online matches rather than story/arcade matches. Since the AI has certain routines, it'll be too easy to get the hang off.

First off, if you don't know many combos, go look for them in the character sections. People should have some combos posted there. As well as in guides that can help you at least get a few combos you need to know.

Second, go here: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=172072817. This link should give you a good few pointers on where to start. Instead of dropping in completely not knowing what you're doing, which I'll take from you by 'spamming buttons', start reading and take a deep breath and focus on what you need to learn beforehand. Most of the beginner stuff is in that guide, it should be very helpful in getting you off to a good start.

After that, once you got the hang of the basic gameplay, go look up not combos, but blockstrings. Combos are nice, but getting that hit in is another matter entirely. Practice those basics executions first so when you do do a combo, it'll be somewhat easier to hammer out the right special move and super move when you do get them in a combo.

Or, as that guide I linked to says: practice practice practice.

 

[MajoraZ]

The best way these guys could help you is if you record online matches rather than story/arcade matches. Since the AI has certain routines, it'll be too easy to get the hang off.

First off, if you don't know many combos, go look for them in the character sections. People should have some combos posted there. As well as in guides that can help you at least get a few combos you need to know.

Second, go here: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=172072817. This link should give you a good few pointers on where to start. Instead of dropping in completely not knowing what you're doing, which I'll take from you by 'spamming buttons', start reading and take a deep breath and focus on what you need to learn beforehand. Most of the beginner stuff is in that guide, it should be very helpful in getting you off to a good start.

After that, once you got the hang of the basic gameplay, go look up not combos, but blockstrings. Combos are nice, but getting that hit in is another matter entirely. Practice those basics executions first so when you do do a combo, it'll be somewhat easier to hammer out the right special move and super move when you do get them in a combo.

Or, as that guide I linked to says: practice practice practice.

Thanks. I thought about recording some online matches, but those just result in me getting absolutely destroyed so badly that I don't think you can glean anything useful from them, but I'll record some matches anyways.

 

[Kai]

Thanks. I thought about recording some online matches, but those just result in me getting absolutely destroyed so badly that I don't think you can glean anything useful from them, but I'll record some matches anyways.

You would have to literally stand still the entire time for there to be no useful information on a video.

 

[DanTheMeek]

It might be worth trying to execute any moves or combos you struggle with in training mode with inputs turned on and record that too, I did something similar in my own training journal and Dime_X was able to pick up on some bad habits I had by watching the inputs I was actually using and thus constructed a specific training routine tailored to break me of my bad habits. I'm obviously in the training process myself so I'm probably not the best person to give advice, but just for example in you're videos you already linked, it seems like you throw out a lot of random blockbusters causing them to get blocked for nothing and I don't know if that's intentional or if, like myself, you're not intending to execute them but some bad habits in inputting the move you're aiming for is causing the block buster to come out instead. If its the later its possible that analyzing you're inputs might help reveal the bad habits and give a more clear area to focus on correcting.

 

[Verstande]

As the first poster said, you can't really learn anything from playing the CPU and we can't help you with those types of matches.

 

[Verstande]

Also, let me add that you're going to get your ass kicked a million times, you're not going to become good overnight. We've all gone through this some way or another and its a fact, its going to take a lot of practice.

 

[MajoraZ]

You would have to literally stand still the entire time for there to be no useful information on a video.

As the first poster said, you can't really learn anything from playing the CPU and we can't help you with those types of matches.

Uploading some matches of me online now.

It might be worth trying to execute any moves or combos you struggle with in training mode with inputs turned on and record that too, I did something similar in my own training journal and Dime_X was able to pick up on some bad habits I had by watching the inputs I was actually using and thus constructed a specific training routine tailored to break me of my bad habits. I'm obviously in the training process myself so I'm probably not the best person to give advice, but just for example in you're videos you already linked, it seems like you throw out a lot of random blockbusters causing them to get blocked for nothing and I don't know if that's intentional or if, like myself, you're not intending to execute them but some bad habits in inputting the move you're aiming for is causing the block buster to come out instead. If its the later its possible that analyzing you're inputs might help reveal the bad habits and give a more clear area to focus on correcting.

Well, it's a mix of two things: I accidentally trigger them from time to time, and I have a very hard time recognizing when my opponent is blocking/if they are going to block, or even worse, I know they are blocking, but I'm so caught up in the heat of the fight, that I use the blockbuster anyways without thinking "wait, it won't do much damage"!

Also, let me add that you're going to get your ass kicked a million times, you're not going to become good overnight. We've all gone through this some way or another and its a fact, its going to take a lot of practice.

I'm aware, but to be honest, I've picked up a lot in the short amount of time I have played. Granted, I still suck, but I at least feel like I know what I'm doing now, when just a few days ago I was just pushing random buttons.

 

[hickwarrior]

Just as an aside, what do you use for recording? I'd like to record myself, but I'm not sure how much of a hog on the system it could become and thereby killing my ability to actually play this game.

 

[Kai]

Just as an aside, what do you use for recording? I'd like to record myself, but I'm not sure how much of a hog on the system it could become and thereby killing my ability to actually play this game.

I've got a machine that can barely handle both small resolution and recording at the same time, but it can be done. If you think your machine sucks, switch to 2D backgrounds and reduce your windowed resolution before recording.

I go with OBS because it's free and awesome.

 

[MajoraZ]

Just as an aside, what do you use for recording? I'd like to record myself, but I'm not sure how much of a hog on the system it could become and thereby killing my ability to actually play this game.

I use a piece of hardware called the Roxio game capture HD PRO or something along those lines. It can record both console (360/ps3/xbone/ps4) footage, as well as PC stuff. Haven't tried it with the Wii or WiiU, but it MAY work for that.

The files it makes are less sizable than Fraps, but the software it runs on is... iffy at times. As far as strain on the computer, it's there, and noticable at times for me, but rarely so. I have a pretty outdated machine, 6870, AMD phenom II X4 965, don't know the motherboard off the top of my head. Anyways, I can't recommend getting it unless you can find it for under 70$, there are better alternatives out there for the same price (150$)

Anyways, here's 15 minutes of me playing online, video is still processing, so it's only viewable in 360p as of now, but...

 

[Verstande]

Yeah you're still at your button mashing stage, just try to stop doing that but I can see you've done work on your blockstrings and small combos, keep them small for now and keep playing online, your mashing habit is going to eventually wear off.

 

[Verstande]

Also, when you did an air throw with Valentine you simply...didn't know what do do after it? Just learn something to do off of it because you could of gotten damage from it

 

[MajoraZ]

Yeah you're still at your button mashing stage, just try to stop doing that but I can see you've done work on your blockstrings and small combos, keep them small for now and keep playing online, your mashing habit is going to eventually wear off.

Yeah, with double, I'm really button mashing most of the time. I do try to aim for a LK MK MK HK, but there's only so many times I can do that in a row before it becomes useless. With valentine, I at least have a goal in trying to get off LP.. MP.. MK.. HK.., with some other stuff mixed in.

Also, when you did an air throw with Valentine you simply...didn't know what do do after it? Just learn something to do off of it because you could of gotten damage from it

At what time in the video?

 

[MajoraZ]

And actually, I have a question: long, 20+ hit combos are more or less the metagame of skullgirls, right? Can I (eventually) expect success if it's not feasible for me to memorize them, and instead rely on shorter ones?

 

[Kai]

Anyways, here's 15 minutes of me playing online, video is still processing, so it's only viewable in 360p as of now, but...

And actually, I have a question: long, 20+ hit combos are more or less the metagame of skullgirls, right? Can I (eventually) expect success if it's not feasible for me to memorize them, and instead rely on shorter ones?

You need this and this. Badly.

You're not going to win if you don't work on your fundamentals. Learning your bnb's is like practicing 3-pointers by yourself. You NEED to do it. 20+ input combos aren't that hard to remember, you just need to learn in segments.

 

[hickwarrior]

You need this and this. Badly.

You're not going to win if you don't work on your fundamentals. Learning your bnb's is like practicing 3-pointers by yourself. You NEED to do it. 20+ input combos aren't that hard to remember, you just need to learn in segments.

This is why fighting games are niche btw. People want to play, they don't want to work for this.

Think of a site like this kind of like a dojo where you practice your martial arts. That's what playing FGs are like.

 

[MajoraZ]

This is why fighting games are niche btw. People want to play, they don't want to work for this.

Think of a site like this kind of like a dojo where you practice your martial arts. That's what playing FGs are like.

You need this and this. Badly.

You're not going to win if you don't work on your fundamentals. Learning your bnb's is like practicing 3-pointers by yourself. You NEED to do it. 20+ input combos aren't that hard to remember, you just need to learn in segments.

That's the response I expected.

Anyways, would it be possible for you guys to give specific examples of spots in the video where I should have done something differently? I learn best when I know what I've done wrong.

 

[Baiko]

same issue, impatient to fight so i just rush in.for valentine you can reset after that grab with a low kick or low punch.and for double you could use the slide as a combo starter for cat heads or peacock's truck.

also, you can combo after a character has been called/switched.

 

[Zidiane]

Anyways, would it be possible for you guys to give specific examples of spots in the video where I should have done something differently? I learn best when I know what I've done wrong.

It's kind of hard to point to one thing wrong when it's all wrong. (I hope that didn't sound too mean)

Step one: Get familiar with the game. Know what to be scared of and what not to be scared of. I noticed in the first match after Double car, you continuously backed away, not knowing there was nothing she could do and you could have hit her. It's important to know the basics of what every character can do. It's not that hard, there's not really that much, but remember that one trial that teaches you to punish Filia's c.hk? You gotta learn about that with the rest of the cast, and with all of their moves. What can you attack them for doing, and what can't you attack them for doing. There should be no point where you say to yourself "I have no clue what they can do right now".

Step two: after you are confident that you know the difference between a punishable action and a non-punishable action (you don't need an encyclopedic knowledge, just a fairly basic grasp of every character), get more experience with the character you use. If you didn't achieve this during step one, keep at it. The character is an extension of yourself, it is yourself. You aren't holding a controller and hitting buttons that move your character, you are your character. During this step you will naturally learn basic combo bits that will greatly aid in step three.

Step three: Get a combo. It doesn't have to be fancy, or necessarily damaging, as long as it's something you can do at the drop of a dime. And once that happens, you will naturally be able to graft new sections into your combo.

Step four: Perfect your defense. I mean, not literally perfect, but get really, really confident in the fact that you are doing everything in your ability to not get hit. Learn how to not get hit, learn about the defense mechanics, be able to apply them, and then do them so much that you accidentally try to do them in other games (not really, I'm being dramatic).

Step five: Learn how to reset. This part is easier than step four, but you need to block first. Well, each character is different, but learn exactly how your character can reset. There's threads on here and videos people upload and all sorts of junk people will be willing to tell you about.

Step six: enjoy a glass of Ginger Ale cause you're a bajillion times better at the game. Of course you'll slowly lose yourself to madness as you browse our forum, getting into arguments with Dime or Isa about imaginary changes, and you'll upset Brookenloose somehow or have Severin hate you forever. This site will haunt you. Run. Now.

 

[MajoraZ]

(I hope that didn't sound too mean)

Nah, it's cool. [insert smiley here]

Thanks. In regards to the moment after the peacock and co car, it wasn't so much as I didn't know they couldn't do anything, so much as I didn't know what to do.

I'll continue to read up on some guides here on the fourm and play online, I'll pop back in here with any new observations I make or if I feel like I've improved some. In the meantime, if you guys see anything else you could point out to me, please do so.

 

[Zidiane]

it wasn't so much as I didn't know they couldn't do anything, so much as I didn't know what to do.

I forgot that bit. You should never not know what they can do, and you should never not know what you can do.

 

[CaioLugon]

Zid, he was the other guy. He was the double.

 

[Zidiane]

Zid, he was the other guy. He was the double.

...

He was?

Wow.

I feel like a dumbo.

 

[MajoraZ]

Zid, he was the other guy. He was the double.

...

He was?

Wow.

I feel like a dumbo.

Ha!

No, john, YOU are the double.

 

[Verstande]

Actually, at first I also played Valentine and I just dropped her, don't know if that's a good character to start out with.

Also since you're starting, why don't you just play 1 character so you can grasp the ins and outs of that character? i think it would be better in the long run, and when your fundamentals are solid you can mess with any other characters that you like.

 

[MajoraZ]

Actually, at first I also played Valentine and I just dropped her, don't know if that's a good character to start out with.

Also since you're starting, why don't you just play 1 character so you can grasp the ins and outs of that character? i think it would be better in the long run, and when your fundamentals are solid you can mess with any other characters that you like.

I'll stick with val and drop the eldritch abomination then, for the time being, since I seem to suck the least with val.

 

[Kai]

I'll stick with val and drop the eldritch abomination then, for the time being, since I seem to suck the least with val.

JUMP IN j.HP > c.mk > c.HP > j.HP > j.HK > qcf.HK > qcf.K+K

There's your first bnb. Ends with a super, drains a little over a third of their life bar, and is SUPER EASY.

 

[MajoraZ]

JUMP IN j.HP > c.mk > c.HP > j.HP > j.HK > qcf.HK > qcf.K+K

There's your first bnb. Ends with a super, drains a little over a third of their life bar, and is SUPER EASY.

Alright thanks.

I've also been playing with ms fortune a bit, I seem to do better with her than I did with double. I suspect it's because I suck at blocking so I gravitate towards the faster and more aggressive fighters.

 

[Xephry14]

What drop Double, but she's so awesome. I mean the longest combo I got with her or it was 89hits with supers. I got a TOD comeback combo that varies from team size of the opponent. I'm sticking with solo Double until Venus comes out, which is going to take a long time.

 

[Fedora_Ninja]

I noticed that after a grab you just back up and wait for them to get back on their feet. With most of the cast, you can combo off of throws in this game. Especially with Val's ground throw. It leads to a crumple state that gives you all the time in the world to follow up with a combo. Or if you're not going to do a combo after Val's grab you could use the time to load up a vial and you get free wake up offense since they can't ground tech from that state.

 

[MajoraZ]

What drop Double, but she's so awesome. I mean the longest combo I got with her or it was 89hits with supers. I got a TOD comeback combo that varies from team size of the opponent. I'm sticking with solo Double until Venus comes out, which is going to take a long time.

I LOVE double as a character (Huge fan of eldritch stuff) but in terms of play, I do much better with val and ms fortune.

I noticed that after a grab you just back up and wait for them to get back on their feet. With most of the cast, you can combo off of throws in this game. Especially with Val's ground throw. It leads to a crumple state that gives you all the time in the world to follow up with a combo. Or if you're not going to do a combo after Val's grab you could use the time to load up a vial and you get free wake up offense since they can't ground tech from that state.

Thanks.

 

[MajoraZ]

Well, I've been working on blocking a lot, and I'm happy to report I got not one, but two victories online. For me, that's pretty impressive, I think.

Sadly no gameplay because it was on my laptop, which has no HDMI out.

 

[hickwarrior]

Well, I've been working on blocking a lot, and I'm happy to report I got not one, but two victories online. For me, that's pretty impressive, I think.

Sadly no gameplay because it was on my laptop, which has no HDMI out.

I use OBS for that now. Open Broadcaster software. It's probably not as good as the hardware you're using, but it's nice to have substitutes just in case.

 

[MajoraZ]

I use OBS for that now. Open Broadcaster software. It's probably not as good as the hardware you're using, but it's nice to have substitutes just in case.

I'd tried (and failed) to use OBS for streaming before. I don't know if my laptop can handle it and the game at the same time, but I'll find out.

Thans for the tip.

 

[Number 13]

Cleared up some trash posts.

Edit: off-topic reminder to use the report function when trash posts appear so the purge can happen that much quicker.