Fighting games are hard. I don’t have the patience to learn an endless list of combos, nor dedicate all of my time to a single character. I like to jump around and have fun, mashing buttons and hoping I somehow emerge victorious. See - there is a reason I suck at them.
But I really wish I didn’t. Not because I want to break into the competitive scene or stand a chance against other players online: it’s all down to the aesthetic. Granblue Fantasy Versus, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Street Fighter 5, and Guilty Gear Strive are all obscenely gorgeous games with colourful visuals and beautiful character designs that almost rise above the impenetrable genre they come to inhabit.
Unfortunately, each and every time a luscious trailer bursts onto the scene at events like EVO 2022, all I can do is watch in misunderstood awe. I imagine hardcore fans of fighting games aren’t just ogling the fighters and environments, but are thrilled at the returning move sets and unexpected combos being executed as part of the gameplay showcase. I’m none the wiser, and can’t tell the difference between a simple input or an expertly executed finishing move that can turn the tide of a match. Nope. To me, it just looks cool as hell.
Guilty Gear Strive might be the worst offender in recent memory. That game is absolutely stunning to look at, each character moving with the grace of hand-drawn animation as they jump across the screen in a magnetic mixture of different perspectives that never fails to impress. Merely watching it is entertaining enough, but taking control and coming to realise that none of these movements are scripted, but completely dependent on the player makes it seem like some form of witchcraft. It occupies the same ballpark as games like Odin Sphere and Sable, so breathtaking in their graphical prowess that actually being able to control them for ourselves is something we almost have to come to terms with. I’m still bad at it though.
Bridget’s reveal this past weekend was the final nail in the fabulous coffin for me. I own Guilty Gear Strive but haven’t put much time into it beyond the usual single-player modes because I’m proper rubbish. The second I pick up the controller I’m smashing that difficulty right down and picking the cutest character from looks alone instead of caring about how well they might play. You can mine a decent amount of fun from this approach, but to fall in love with a game like this you need to respect its mechanical depth and find joy in learning the deeper aspects of its design. It isn’t made for less patient people like me, and that’s totally okay. I love the communities and competition that spawns around fighting games.
The genre is capable of bringing people together like few others, with thousands finding mutual joy in the thrill of victory and supporting those working towards the same goals. I’m content with watching from afar, admiring character designs I end up simping for alongside unparalleled visual ideas that hardly anything else in the medium is able to match. Yes, I could set aside some serious time to a single game and actually hone my skills, but who has time for that kind of shit? Well, fighting game fans obviously, so more power to them.