Another Ill Advised Foray Into the Fighting Game Genre

[Disclaimer: This blog does not represent the views or opinions of Enkido as he exists in a sane state and he cannot be held responsible for the content expressed in this article. For real, he doesn't know how to quit while he is woefully behind. Also, cocks.]

Back when Super Street Fighter IV was announced, it generated quite a substantial buzz here on Destructiod. So much so that I believed that I may be missing out on something entirely novel and enjoyable. Well, having none of that, I began my first foray into the fighting game genre. In retrospect, it would have probably been a good idea to have made my entrance quietly and with as little bravado as possible.


Such tact would have given myself time to learn the basic mechanics of a fighter (based on real life experience I would have to go with shouting loudly and grandstanding), learn my play style, pick a character fitting such a style, practice, and generally do what is required to make myself appear more competent than a stroke victim with no thumbs. As you may be able to imagine I would have none of that as well. Instead, I signed up for the PS3 Ranbat, picked a mustachioed English pugilist as my character and slogged through my first couple of arcade matches, failing to make it through the story. I was off to a great start.



Now I begin my second journey into the dark and seedy world of the fighting game constituency. Last Tuesday I picked up BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, which is the next game in the PS3 Ranbat I mentioned above. Now before you ask why I would spend $40 on another fighter when that creepy guy that hangs out behind the supermarket would be more than happy to shatter my kneecaps with a baseball bat for $10, I should say that I did enjoy my last attempt and I did end up learning a few things and in the Ranbat I actually did astronomically better than my crushing optimism and general ignorance would have let me believe; namely, not last (woot). For starters, I learned what a Ranbat was. After that however, I learned the basic mechanics of 2D fighter, when to block, Yojimbo is a jerk, how to press an attack, ect. I also learned how to cancel, a few combos, an perhaps most importantly committed some of the more common button sequences to muscle memory. I even learned that a counter won't stop Ryu from punching me in the mouth so hard that I find blood in my stool for the next week.



Now I'm starting to get into BlazBlue and I must say I am really enjoying it, more so than SSFIV if I'm honest. I recently finished my summer class, which means that I have time to play games after work again. Also, I finally finished my week long hell moonwalk across the broken glass strewn trail of tears that is the final ten levels of Valor in MAG and I'm back in Raven (play with us sometime), so I have time to devote to this drunken stumbling that is my entry into fighting games (and spewing vitriol on Destructoid, which I have neglected this past week and a half).


This brings me to the last part of this blog. I have yet to pick a character for this new fighter. I really enjoy the character designs in this game and I am having trouble picking one that I like. So I figured I'd let you guys decide. These are the characters I'm considering:

Taokaka

Hazama

Tsubaki

Noel

Lambda (a-11?)

Have at it.