Poll: Super Smash Bros. - button smashing

[joystickjunki3]

Okay, I've seen a lot of hate for fighting games because, to paraphrase Yahtzee, "you can practice for 15 years and memorize every little nuance, but you'll still lose to some who's button smashing." I get that. I really do.

What I don't get is the general feeling that button smashing is something that is very prevalent in the Smash Bros. series. I disagree wholeheartedly. The way Smash plays is fundamentally different from traditional fighting games. If anything, I think there is more strategy involved in the Smash games than, say, Tekken or the like. There's too much distance that can be put between you and your opponent for actual button smashing to be a viable option. Add to that the myriad of items to use and the very platformy style of play and you get something that plays more like a sidescroller than a fighting game.

There was no real profound point or revelation here, I just had to get that out of my system.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I'm not sure what to vote. I agree that button mashing in Super Smash Brothers doesn't get you very far, but it doesn't in Tekken either (at least, not against people who have skill). Then again, the only fighting game I've played where button-mashing is really a viable tactic overall is Melty Blood, and even that's questionable.

 

[Sevre]

SSB does require a lot more skill than the average button smasher, I hate fighting games were your opponent begins to kick you repeatedly on the floor preventing you from getting up.

 

[joystickjunki3]

I'm not sure what to vote. I agree that button mashing in Super Smash Brothers doesn't get you very far, but it doesn't in Tekken either (at least, not against people who have skill). Then again, the only fighting game I've played where button-mashing is really a viable tactic overall is Melty Blood, and even that's questionable.

I suppose what I mean is that button smashing is even less viable in Smash than in Soul Calibur or a traditional fighting game. Sorry for the confusion, I see your point very clearly and agree.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I'm not sure what to vote. I agree that button mashing in Super Smash Brothers doesn't get you very far, but it doesn't in Tekken either (at least, not against people who have skill). Then again, the only fighting game I've played where button-mashing is really a viable tactic overall is Melty Blood, and even that's questionable.

I suppose what I mean is that button smashing is even less viable in Smash than in Soul Calibur or a traditional fighting game. Sorry for the confusion, I see your point very clearly and agree.

In that case, yes, I agree.

 

[PureChaos]

there is more skill required in Smash Bros. i have fought many people and all those that button mash have lost. those who have skill...still usually loose but they put up more of a fight and make it difficult. in other fighting games i have lost and won due to button mashing.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

It'll be a dark day in hell before I am beaten by a button basher in Smash Bros.

It's about timing and skill more than anything in that game, so wildly bashing buttons will just make you look like a fool. A fool who gets killed off very quickly.

 

[Littaly]

I wouldn't say that Smash Bros is a button smasher. But then again I wouldn't say any fighting game is, because if they were I wouldn't suck so much at them.

What Super Smash Bros is though is "easy to learn hard to master" (especially since wave dashing was removed in Brawl), you learn all the moves in 10 minutes or so, then it's just an infinite journey of learning to use them effectively. Not that it's a bad thing, on the contrary that's one of the games strong points

 

[Nutcase]

Beating the dead horse. If you get beat by button mashing in *any* fighting game, the reason is you suck at the game. Period.

edit: If you want a particularly mash-proof game, play Virtua Fighter.

 

[Abedeus]

Of course I agree.

The only non-FPS, non-RTS, non-RPG game (okay, adventure game or platforming) where I couldn't buttonmash was Ninja Gaiden 2. You MUST know some combos, otherwise you die. Fast.

 

[r4ndom]

If anything, I think there is more strategy involved in the Smash games than, say, Tekken or the like.

I agree that button mashing in Super Smash Brothers doesn't get you very far, but it doesn't in Tekken either (at least, not against people who have skill).

100% agree with you Neutral. Tekken's only real button basher characters were Eddie/Tiger/ Christie, and like you said, all of these could be (easily) overcome by a skilled player.

I challenge anyone to beat me when i'm Brian Fury or Steve Fox

And to the OP, I understand where you're coming from, and yes, due to the distances, powerups and pitfalls in SSB, it does require some strategy. This is not to say that there isn't any strategy in any fighting games, though. All games require strategy, and fighting games, in my opinion, require more complex strategems, and are a more concentrated effort. When a fight lasts usually less than 30 seconds, you better have a damn good strategy, or be able to construct one on the fly

 

[skips]

While Brawl (at least the last time I've played it) is argubly button-mashable, there's no way anyone who played/followed competitive Melee would think that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNCy31huv7E&feature=related

 

[Lyri]

Okay, I've seen a lot of hate for fighting games because, to paraphrase Yahtzee, "you can practice for 15 years and memorize every little nuance, but you'll still lose to some who's button smashing." I get that. I really do.

What I don't get is the general feeling that button smashing is something that is very prevalent in the Smash Bros. series. I disagree wholeheartedly. The way Smash plays is fundamentally different from traditional fighting games. If anything, I think there is more strategy involved in the Smash games than, say, Tekken or the like. There's too much distance that can be put between you and your opponent for actual button smashing to be a viable option. Add to that the myriad of items to use and the very platformy style of play and you get something that plays more like a sidescroller than a fighting game.

There was no real profound point or revelation here, I just had to get that out of my system.

I don't know why but i get the feeling you're talking about SSB on a competitive level.
In that regard then button smashing wouldn't get you very far but I don't really think SSB falls too far from the tree when played with friends.

If you plug in the console during a party then most of the time any fighting game becomes a button smashing fest, despite how much you've played you will lose at some point.
This is where i think "you can practice for 15 years and memorize every little nuance, but you'll still lose to some who's button smashing." fits into it all.

There's always going to be one sod who ends up picking law and rainbow kicking their way to victory, or various other cheap methods of "insta win".

 

[Goldbling]

If anything, I think there is more strategy involved in the Smash games than, say, Tekken or the like.

I agree that button mashing in Super Smash Brothers doesn't get you very far, but it doesn't in Tekken either (at least, not against people who have skill).

100% agree with you Neutral. Tekken's only real button basher characters were Eddie/Tiger/ Christie, and like you said, all of these could be (easily) overcome by a skilled player.

I challenge anyone to beat me when i'm Brian Fury or Steve Fox

And to the OP, I understand where you're coming from, and yes, due to the distances, powerups and pitfalls in SSB, it does require some strategy. This is not to say that there isn't any strategy in any fighting games, though. All games require strategy, and fighting games, in my opinion, require more complex strategems, and are a more concentrated effort. When a fight lasts usually less than 30 seconds, you better have a damn good strategy, or be able to construct one on the fly

I loved Eddie and I could beat anyone with him

 

[Fearzone]

You need to end this thread and reword the question, because there is two ways to interpret it.

Yes could mean "yes" to the title, in other words the game is just a button smasher
or
Yes could mean "yes" to your little rant, meaning there is more strategy to this one.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

It'll be a dark day in hell before I am beaten by a button basher in Smash Bros.

It's about timing and skill more than anything in that game, so wildly bashing buttons will just make you look like a fool. A fool who gets killed off very quickly.

Its about being next to the bloody hammer when it appears out of nowhere.

Well in that case it's about being someone with a counter (Marth for me) because then it's no trouble at all.

 

[skips]

Okay, I've seen a lot of hate for fighting games because, to paraphrase Yahtzee, "you can practice for 15 years and memorize every little nuance, but you'll still lose to some who's button smashing." I get that. I really do.

What I don't get is the general feeling that button smashing is something that is very prevalent in the Smash Bros. series. I disagree wholeheartedly. The way Smash plays is fundamentally different from traditional fighting games. If anything, I think there is more strategy involved in the Smash games than, say, Tekken or the like. There's too much distance that can be put between you and your opponent for actual button smashing to be a viable option. Add to that the myriad of items to use and the very platformy style of play and you get something that plays more like a sidescroller than a fighting game.

There was no real profound point or revelation here, I just had to get that out of my system.

I don't know why but i get the feeling you're talking about SSB on a competitive level.
In that regard then button smashing wouldn't get you very far but I don't really think SSB falls too far from the tree when played with friends.

If you plug in the console during a party then most of the time any fighting game becomes a button smashing fest, despite how much you've played you will lose at some point.
This is where i think "you can practice for 15 years and memorize every little nuance, but you'll still lose to some who's button smashing." fits into it all.

There's always going to be one sod who ends up picking law and rainbow kicking their way to victory, or various other cheap methods of "insta win".

Okay, but that's true about any game when you're just playing with friends. Obviously there would be a skill gap, so there would be a lot of button mashing. I don't remember the last time I played with friends without using "3 minutes time, items very high, random characters." It's more random and it gives new people a better chance to win.

 

[Jumplion]

I don't think SSB is much of a button masher compared to most fighting games, but I think at the cost of being rallied more towards the strategy thinkers, it gives up any real fun if you've just picked up the game.

I played SSBM and SSBB with my friends, but I could never ever ever EVER beat them. I wasn't as fanatical as them, and I wasn't really that good, and that sucked out any potential fun I had with the game. They always say "we'll go easy on you" but they can't and they won't. This has happened a few times with someone who was just coming over for the first time, they pick up SSBB, and they get their ass kicked without killing anyone.

SSB is so obviously catered to the fanatics of the series, but at the cost of not being able to button mash, it takes out any real enjoyment for anyone new to the series, at least anyone new coming up against a veteran. Though then again, if that's the case, it's usually like this anyway.

 

[Nova Tendril]

Brawl is not a game to be measured in skill. it's just a game in which you are supposed to have mindless fun.

To sooner people realize this to sooner they can start to enjoy the game.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

It'll be a dark day in hell before I am beaten by a button basher in Smash Bros.

It's about timing and skill more than anything in that game, so wildly bashing buttons will just make you look like a fool. A fool who gets killed off very quickly.

Its about being next to the bloody hammer when it appears out of nowhere.

Well in that case it's about being someone with a counter (Marth for me) because then it's no trouble at all.

Damn you and your knowledge about SSBB.

;¬)

Brawl is not a game to be measured in skill. it's just a game in which you are supposed to have mindless fun.

To sooner people realize this to sooner they can start to enjoy the game.

Incorrect.