It is no secret that I am a fighting game enthusiast. Whenever I hear of a new fighting game, I am intensely scouring the internet for any news, reading gaming magazines, listening carefully for tidbits of information that may come my way. I look into the types of characters it will have, if it will be 2D or 3D, Weapons based, what the mechanics are, and when it will come out. There are quite a lot of reasons fighting games hold a lot of replay value to me. Reasons that EVERYONE should look into fighting games more often.



Just about anyone can get into a fighting game, really. There is literally a character for everyone. The veteran wandering warrior who lives only for the fight, never backing down from any challenge. The big and burly wrestler who laugh at your feeble attempts at attack while he tosses you like the trash you are. The quick and nimble fighter who has already hit you 4 times while you're still swinging at where he/she was 2 seconds ago. The oddball freak with attacks that defy logic, making you wonder what the hell just happened while you are on the ground. No matter who you are, you will gravitate to your type. There is always a choice. There is always someone who doesn't let you down. Someone who is stronger than the rest. Someone who you can take the to the top.



That someone doesn't come without a learning curve, however. Randomly swinging your fist around is good and all, but wouldn't it feel better to actually connect with a sweet combo? That is where the sweat and tears come in. Truly, it takes dedication to learn all of your characters normal moves, specials, combos, cancel techniques, throws, and taunts. NEVER forget the taunt. It is an important tool that will let your opponent know they just got rocked. Once all is said and done, you should be standing tall with a large arsenal of moves to use and strike out with at any given moment. You are at the top of your game. You will crush anything that tries to oppose you. And you know what? You feel good for your hard work. So what is next but to try to knock the next guy off of his high horse? That's where we get into competitive play.



There is nothing quite like fighting your friends one on one in a game of Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros., Mortal Kombat, King of Fighters, Tekken, Dead or Alive, or any of the other well known titles that pit you and another person against each other. The reason that there generally HAS to be a fighting game of some sort at or near launch of consoles is there needs to be something there for you invite friends over and beat the hell out of each other. Nothing quite compares to passing around the controller after an incredibly close shave with victory/defeat, and just waiting to get your turn to see how the next match turns out. You can keep coming back to it match after match. It never really gets old.



Well, maybe it does, just a little. Ever feel you might be a little TOO good? Finding yourself having to handicap your character just to give others a chance at beating you? This is where we step into the elite crowd of fighting gamers. Here you will find those that have stepped their game up to unimaginable levels of total domination. Once you have a look here, you will think twice about taking what skills you have and placing it in front of these guys. If you are lucky, they will shred it quietly with and hand it back to you with quiet dignity. Here is where it is key. Do you give up, and run away with your tail in between your legs? Or do you step up your own game to compete? If you think you are good enough, this will keep you coming back time after time. In order to be the best. That no one ever was. To catch them is my real test... AHEM. Excuse that. Anyway, fighting games are just a combination of these elements that will keep me (and quite a few other people) coming back, no matter the game. Forever re-playable, fighters will keep on into the future as a necessary gaming element. I would dearly hate the world that does not allow me to Hadoken the next guy into oblivion. Thanks for reading.