A.B.I.torial 14: Injustice 2's Animation ALSO SUCKS

[@larajamila005]

The fact that Phoenix Wright's non-attacks feel a lot more impactful and heavy compared to the attack animations in these

[@JOOSEBOXES]

A mf SNEEZING is more impactful A SNEEZE

[@BiriBiri925]

Man, Phoenix Wright would beat the crap out of all these assholes.

[@scavengerreviews5268]

I cant stand the characters getting back up to go into a oh no i lost pose

[@rayzorduality2396]

I never saw the point to that, they hit the ground and lay down in the first health bar. But then they have that bs pop back up just to fall again...

[@mrworsethanall0102]

Like id go from a prone, last stand kind of pose Examples like: Deashot trying to fire a last shot but having no bullets left before giving up Batman trying to get up and continue only to let his body collapse due to too much damage And we can go on and on

[@typhoonzebra]

I _think_ it was done for censorship purposes. If you end a fight with a super and they just lie there at the end, that looks a lot like a fatality. It's possible that rating boards pressured them to show that the defeated character was still alive. Weak theory, I know. Injustice has instances of murder in it and even Smash Bros doesn't fuck about with showing characters burst into colourful flames and they're fit for kids. I think it's possible that the reputation of Netherealm gave them less leeway than Nintendo gets and they can get away with the plot based murders because the player isn't actively doing it (whether the player performs or merely witnesses something can effect the age rating it gets). It's the only reason I can think of for them spending time and effort in making the god awful defeat animation.

[@monomaurie]

@@typhoonzebra sure but it could easily be made into a “oh I got knocked out/tuckerd out

[@Orrin_]

​@@mrworsethanall0102 the original creators of the original creators sorry for not getting any better the area are the original creators sorry I just like the original owner of the original creators

[@skyyswaggstudios2934]

I'm a fan of mk and injustice, but the points you make about their animation in your videos are absolutely correct

[@OwO377]

same

[@Harvey_Mod]

Likewise

[@robertlafrance9974]

Same here

[@minhkhoapham950]

The animation really does the game a huge injustice. I'll go die now.

[@FrogishBird]

Lol

[@miguelcastillo3723]

No don't, it was really good keep going

[@MisterRandomEncounter]

Its been 2 years if your still out there continue the pun-ishment, it's combo safe we need more humor.

[@rayzorduality2396]

Live on, my son, that puns would exist in the new era... continue your work...

[@jaredfellows621]

@@MisterRandomEncounter e

[@CherryPixelBun]

Before that segment on Cheetah I was actually thinking "I don't remember Injustice 2's animations being that bad" before remembering I was a Cheetah main lol

[@backlogbuddies]

Even then the speed of her animations are just visual nonsense. The frames where she slows down to hit looks good but they just VHS fast forwarded her animations to get to that hit.

[@TypetwoAbsolute]

I guess people don't care about animation, which is weird because of how obsessed those same people get about FPS and graphics.

[@mr.cuddlesworth3144]

Who gives a shit about animations? I care more about the enemy in front of me dying.

[@eliasklein2580]

@Harri Kirvesniemi But you will feel if animation is good or bad. It can make a punch feel strong or weak, fast, slow, etc. If the animation isn't good in a fighting game, the game feel will mostly suffer greatly.

[@hi-i-am-atan]

@ Gameplay first, eh. So, two very distinct moves having very similar animations in a game where reading and reacting to your opponent is vital doesn't impact gameplay? So, in a game where characters live and die by their framedata and a difference of three frames in a move's recovery can dramatically nerf the move, having snappy animation doesn't impact gameplay? So, in a game where _character hitboxes are literally tied to the location of their body parts,_ animation doesn't impact gameplay? I mean I could go on for hours about game feel is a vital part of a game's quality and how slacking on it can kill the attention given by even the people who are most tolerant of low quality stuff, but I get the feeling you're the "ha! I ritualistically blind and deafen myself so I can only enjoy the *true* gameplay experience, and I enjoyed this!" type, so that'll all just bounce off your head. But you don't even seem to have a firm grasp on what gameplay _is_ to begin with

[@hi-i-am-atan]

@ I can't read stuff you imagined yourself saying, only stuff you've actually written. Which was some nonsense about counterclaiming the fact that FPS affects gameplay as if animations didn't and reaffirming some guy's statement that "actual gameplay," like some video game enemy dying ( y'know the thing that ... is usually sold by stuff like _animation_ and sound design ) was what people actually care about. And also, if the average person's opinion is that animations don't matter when we live an era where games like Dark Souls are _very_ popular, then the dirt we stand on can think more critically than they can and, subsequently, said dirt is worth more than their opinions on anything.

[@hi-i-am-atan]

@ not remotely, no it just sounds like you're stating the obvious without backing anything up with it

[@WTFisTingispingis]

I think what NRS needs is some kind of fighting consultant so they can have someone to go "that isn't how legs work m8" and offer suggestions.

[@coryalpuente606]

SheanWalsh but he needs to throw a realistic punch like a man that street fights. Not a punch by a little girl or some clunky ass alien that only knows to bite. Do I need to remind you that supes grew up in a farm and raised in a human way so your comment about him do not need to throw a real punch is invalid.

[@iLoLatYu1]

Cory Alpuente Superman is a mannequin

[@tubbylumpkins4885]

Cory Alpuente Why would Superman know how to throw a punch when he was raised on non-violent ethics?

[@TheDarioushurt]

guy NRS have been making fighting games for decades fuck off with this stupid shit

[@alanzapreservationtheythem2861]

Hurtgamez so what if they made games for decades? They can still put some effort in regardless.

[@sonofedis]

I'm a solid injustice 2 fan, played 100 plus hours at level 66. But I can't help but agree with you in this particular topic. Doesn't mean it's a bad game though. Great video, man!

[@BananaSandwich3000]

I know, he thinks just because of the fighting animation issues that it doesn't deserve awards. Just because he likes to jerk off to Lucky Chloes ass animations doesn't mean Tekken 7 auto-wins.

[@Jimmeeehhh]

BananaSandwich3000 He never even mentioned Lucky Chloe.

[@BananaSandwich3000]

Akira Tano, Talk to me again once you get more life experience, son.

[@BananaSandwich3000]

Akira Tano, I said talk to me after you've gained more life experience, also, talk to me once you get better at grammar.

[@akiratano1226]

BananaSandwich3000 1. Ignoring the point entirely. 2. Going after my grammar because you have no real rebuttals. ‘Mk. Bye.

[@Aroga-xn9ft]

The animation in a fighting game is like the acting in a movie. Saying that having bad animation in a game with a budget like this one is okay is just wrong. Is NRS encouraged to improve their animation if they are winning game of the year awards? We really are rewarding mediocrity.

[@Inojin67]

What do you mean "we". You assign way too much importance to award shows

[@snatchr2451]

fence punching is the perfect term for this crap.

[@OwO377]

your absolutely right.

[@khristopher_2995]

@@OwO377 mk11 isnt much better either nrs really need to step up their animations

[@OwO377]

@@khristopher_2995 they should either update the animation or make a movie animation cuz look at the cutscenes fell like it came from the movie.

[@lordderp6914]

I like to call it Cactus punching avoid the cactus but fence punching makes more sense

[@HDBoy11]

I've been saying NetherRealm game animations are trash and look like a kid playing with action figures for years. Nobody usually talks about it, glad I'm not the only one.

[@zegtendo724]

Explain mk 11

[@TITANia69420]

@@zegtendo724 this uhh this was one year ago, dude

[@Yautah]

@@zegtendo724 slightly better, but still trash.

[@christopherr9983]

@@TITANia69420 So

[@thefgcsensei4482]

@@Yautah the unsexiest fighting game since Injustice 2

[@DontrelleRoosevelt]

I'm no animation major, but I've always wondered why a game like Killer Instinct plays and feels so much more fluid and real than MK. Netherrealm has NO excuse for this garbage!

[@OwO377]

Nutherealm should make a movie cuz the cutscene of mortal kombat and injustice feel like watch a cinematic movie.

[@bud389]

Lol, keep crying. Sugarpunch has no idea what he's talking about. Meanwhile NRS will continue to be the top selling fighting game developer.

[@RetroWrathX13B]

@@bud389 Dude in his 30s really sounding like MK's 13-year-old demographic

[@leestephenson1578]

@@bud389 mk will always be for people who can't play street fighter with a cheap gore gimmick that appeals to teenage boys

[@axelwust9376]

@@bud389 Considering how much they tried to focus on esports, awful online system and made one of the most baffling mk stories, that ended with nothing matterring anymore, they might have to start pulling their weight again. MK sold based on spectacle and content quantity, and it helped them. But, as has been stated again and again, they skip over substance a lot of the times, and it will hurt in the long run.

[@AnthanKrufix]

2B in Soul Calibur 6 animates flying really damn well. There's like wind produced by her thrusters, she surfs on her blade and looks like she's forcefully kicking it into them, and she hangs from her robot. Meanwhile the ragdoll/puppet animation where limbs lead the rest of the body is done well by Rosalina in Smash4/U, it suits the character and still has 'impact' to it all when the attacks do hit. So it *can* be done well in the right circumstances. Just not here in Injustice and Mortal Kombat, without reason.

[@joedatius]

For years i thought one of the main issue is because of the focus on "realistic" 3D graphics but now seeing SF6 I can now say its just NRS having no idea what they're doing. SF6 isn't even out and it's animations blow literally any modern NRS game out of the water. its almost like when making a fighting game you need to know how a punch feels good to hit with.

[@felipecouto1102]

1 year after your comment, MK1 almost launching and the game seems to have even worse animation than 11 did.

[@obiomaanokwuru3573]

​@@felipecouto1102you don need to lie, mk1 has shown the best animations so far

[@felipecouto1102]

@@obiomaanokwuru3573 It didn't tho. MK11 didn't have anything as goofy as Johnny Cage's normal strings nor any of the weird animations from blade users.

[@morganhelms80808]

SF6 isn't realistic at all moron, you can whine endlessly in comments sections of videos that agree with you, no one is impressed that you picked up any if these games and suck at them, you don't have to whine about it all the time

[@KingOfDarknessAndEvil]

​@@morganhelms80808The graphics of SF6 are, which is what he was talking about

[@stotab8700]

8:33 I like how you explained this. In Smash 4, Palutena's forward air was kind of like the top ball. It was very steady is its wind-up and its active frames. In Smash Ultimate, they made it more like the bottom ball. Doing this, however, made me think that they had nerfed her forward air to come out at a later frame. I did some experimenting and found out that wasn't the case at all. Her forward air still came out frame 9. I thought it was a dumb change to make it LOOK slower, but now I have much more respect for its new(ish) animation

[@BlueLightningSky]

I already know the problem. Netherealm does not like having characters move their positions during normals. They don't like extending a character's hurtbox forward during standing normals. I don't know why but they just don't. That's why you don't see forward steps. Maybe it's because they want things simple? Hurtboxes are the same throughout? That's the only reason I can think off why the animation is so terrible. I mean that Starfire "kick" won't hurt anyone. I could take that kick and be fine.

[@NireFuster]

After directly comparing other fighting games' animations with Injustice's it's so apparent that Injustice's animations are SO much weaker and boring in comparison, it's crazy even, how did they think these were good fighting animations in the first place?

[@insertnamehere7228]

They didn’t, they didn’t even think about the animations in the first place. They and most others don’t care about that sort of thing

[@AirLancer]

Back when the trailer for Black Canary came out... Me: Holy shit this looks awful. Friend: What? You're crazy. *Injustass 2 gets released.* Friend: See? She looks fine. Me: Do that kick, the one you just did. Friend: This one? Me: Yeah. Now look at her leg. Friend: *notices that Black Canary is hyperextending her knee with every kick* Oh...well, I can't ever not see that again.

[@hussain6469]

You actually have no life

[@mookiedt]

I could give a fuck less because I had fun playing the damn game.

[@James-oj6ru]

Saids the people commenting in a 3 year old comment (not you Shoned)... also, don’t give a fuck about animation in a FIGHTING GAMES is like... ignoring 1/3 of the important principles of fighting games and BELIEVE ME, it’s important

[@nkopanelesedilebona9227]

I swear these characters look like puppets on strings most of the time, especially the flying ones

[@SilverDog237]

Hellboy was the most hype character in the 2nd fighter pack, and he ended up being my least favourite simply because I hated that his stone arm kept switching arms whenever he switched stances.

[@RealGhost49]

Almost every 2D fighting game does that. The new Guilty Gear does it with baiken.

[@Jirujan]

@@RealGhost49 unlike 2D fighting game that changed their stance when the characters are on different side of the opponent (left or right), but in Injustice, the characters change their stance when they're on same side/position

[@cristhianramirez6939]

Why he has the legs so small? compared with his huge chest and rock hand it looks goofy

[@unknown-iy2we]

@@cristhianramirez6939 Because hellboy was always drawn disproportionately. Having a large body, with his right arm(stone arm) being larger then his left arm and his legs and demon feet being smaller then the rest of his body.

[@backlogbuddies]

wow I just went back to the stance switch part and looked at his arm. That's just awful. He's facing right but his big arm switches between left and right. I couldn't believe my eyes.

[@RiotEXE]

Holy shit you nailed Netherrealm's animation problems since FOREVER. I remember tellin' people on a forum that the difference between say, Street Fighter animations and Mortal Kombat animations were that Street Fighter was a well choreographed dance while Mortal Kombat's animations are a photo shoot. They just kinda pose, but they don't MOVE! It always looks weird, and considering how graphically great MKX and Injustice 2 look, it's a shame that they don't MOVE well to this day.

[@Gyork_]

I bet the explanation is something along the lines of "it needs to feel like a MK game, we don't want to look like a japanese game." I can see new new animators working at neatherrealm studios getting really frustrated at the beginning, I mean this are the most basic principles of animation, you can't get at that level in the industry without knowing them.

[@RiotEXE]

Maybe...I mean, you can only get so much out of ACTUAL PEOPLE digitized as sprites, so that's the feel they wanted to stick to all these years or something. It's a bad time.

[@ReeceHoward06]

I wholeheartedly agree!

[@alexchan1896]

I like the choppy stiff animations of MK. I think it makes the series unique and it has that same stilited fighting style that I really enjoyed in the Watchmen movie. However, the same deficient animation looks absolutely trash in Injustice and makes NRS look amateur.

[@bud389]

First off, I don't think you know what the word "choppy" means kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJPLknV_bLWIeZI kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaOUqKSglJJ5o68 I mean, if you want to talk about "choppy" animation, just look at fucking Street Fighter 5 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWWbqIKXaZagfKM Where the choppiness of the game is embedded into the gameplay. There is literally no argument here, you can see the characters seamlessly transition from attack to attack during combos and links in MKX, where-as with Street Fighter 5, the combat is constantly stunted from jerky hit confirms, where the characters morph into their different attacks as a carry-over from the days of sprite-based gameplay. I think you're a false-flagging because you're desperately insecure about NRS as a whole, or you're just an idiot.

[@moraculousdewd7396]

I've always thought NRS animation looks weird and stiff but i thought i was just nitpicking, glad someone finally brought it up...good work sir.

[@Written_in_the_Starss]

They didnt fix the "SWITCH STANCE" in the new MK11. Its still there.

[@OwO377]

Netherealm: Always has been.

[@lordwacko958]

What’s the problem with it

[@coralinereeves9629]

@@lordwacko958 in a fighting game every button has an important use, and with every console having the same amount of buttons for a controller, the stance button just takes a part of the button when in actuality, stance switching literally does nothing integral at all

[@lordwacko958]

@@coralinereeves9629 I mean what does the R stick do

[@coralinereeves9629]

@@lordwacko958 obviously nothing? Have you seen any fighting game use the R Stick ever? If you think the R Stick is a good argument, it really isn't

[@crimsoneye575]

Video game animation contributes to a little known thing called game feel; it's the concept of tactile feedback between a player's action and said action registering within the game.

[@SunnyTacos]

8:20 I love when you explain the technicalities of the animations and stuff, it makes me appreciate fluid and well done animations way more.

[@andresgv10]

Perfect video dude. I couldn't have said it any better than you. NRS games look gorgeous with their textures and graphics but the animations are really dog shit. Hopefully NRS fans don't take this video as an offense to their games, this is just pointing out the direction on where these games need to improve, not to hate on them.

[@JohnDoe-xd1wx]

As a NRS fan, I am grateful for these kinds of videos. Videos like theese often lead to better products if enough people call them out

[@xxSKAGhosTxx]

I for one, will be using this vid as a reference to 1 reason I hate mk. The other is that it is an American game trying so hard to be asian except for where it matters most. I think it might actually have more asian characters than street fighter...

[@xxSKAGhosTxx]

@@IkeOkerekeNews haha yeah I'll definitely crack you, be it death beams or kikosho bombs..

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

@@xxSKAGhosTxx Nah. You would vaporized with only 0.0% of my power.

[@xxSKAGhosTxx]

@@IkeOkerekeNews oh I wish I had a way to play rn, I would convert your team into vapor; destructive finishes for everyone

[@botero01]

Christ, it really does look like total garbage.

[@OwO377]

somtetime truth bring bitter taste.

[@burgerkingJ]

The comprehension levels from these comment section is just...a headache. Like you literally explained that you're not calling it terrible as a whole but they still need to improve in certain areas. Which is the animation that's the main topic of this video. People can "love the game" or "not noticed" all they want but the flaws are still there and needed to improve. Yes despite MvCi not being a "good game" apparently, just because either people don't like the story or not have certain characters in it, but you have to admit that the animations and gameplay still have that certain effort that MKX and Injustice 2 lack. Again, for those who can't comprehend, I will make spaces so you can understand. Injustice 2 isn't a bad game . It does well in most other areas but the animations during gameplay needs work.

[@BananaSandwich3000]

It's because he made it sound like it doesn't deserve awards just because of the fighting animation issues and Tekken 7 deserved them all because their animation was better. The video came off too shallow at points.

[@SUPERSMASHJONY]

People complain because he keeps going on and on about how Injustice 2 Shouldn't be considered a winner of awards!

[@Lee-fw5bd]

I don't see many people saying that at all... The closest is people saying that "[Nether Realm fighting games] are the best made games that I don't want to play" or sympathizing with that general sentiment of ''this is why i'm so put off by Injustice 2" or "this is why i don't like Injustice 2". I understand your frustration (I haven't found the source of it and I don't agree with you), but presentation is key to fighting games and if your game has bad presentation, it is understandable that people won't like it. Hell, that's one of the reasons i've never gotten into Nether Realm games. You may not consider presentation to be all that important, and that's fine, but you shouldn't bash others for prioritizing it more. Also, I feel like those people have other reasons for thinking that Injustice 2 is a bad game but given as i haven't found someone saying that it is a bad overall game, i can't really provide evidence. Also also, I highly doubt this has to do with game awards. That was a very small point in the video and it was more of a justification to make the video than a point against the game. Hell, OP didn't even make a big deal about it winning awards and i've yet to find people who did. Game awards don't matter all that much in the FGC (generally speaking), but seeing as Nether Realm appeals to a greater audience than the FGC, I can maybe see this being a point of bigger contention.

[@pa-ikollo1851]

You need to consider the possibility that most of the comments may be from really young people, really young.

[@TyRiders2]

@@BananaSandwich3000 You stopped at that part and didn't listen to anything he said.

[@MrPopoHiiiii]

Interesting how the quote states "animation is about creating the illusion of life", as that's pretty much the etymology of the word. "Animation" basically means "the act of [giving] spirit/life".

[@maloydonedidit2903]

Ya know..... You are on point. I could never put my finger on what bugged me about injustice and MK until your vids.

[@PS-th9jc]

No capes!

[@hehhehehohohoe8807]

No capes without key-frames!

[@PS-th9jc]

Hehhehe hohohoe I see what you did there.

[@scalpel6096]

* - do you remember thunder head, tall,stronger power. nice man, good with the kids.. - hey listen, ah.. -NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH, 58! all was well, another day saved, when his cape snagged on a missile pin! -yeah, thunder head was not the brightest...* neither are NRS apparently :D

[@reboomer8369]

MK9 Raiden's cape gave me Vietnam flashbacks

[@alanzapreservationtheythem2861]

Ultimate Hedgehog no. It was his default outfit. And it sucks.

[@XenK64]

To follow up on the "knockdown and get back up" KOs, they could've made them more unique and show more character. Margaret from Persona 4 Arena and Slayer from Guilty Gear do this. These two characters are beyond being "defeated" and it shows without having to know their backstory and read up on the lore.

[@Sleepgarden]

my favorite is Rachel from Blazblue. I think one of her minions stretches into a chair and she just sits down. I think HIlda from Uniel is similar?

[@Grinch21X]

Beerus from DBFZ is a good example of this too. He's a literal God, beyond the levels of anyone in the games. When he is beaten, he just lays down and takes a nap, saying he's bored of fighting.

[@dracocrusher]

+The Enygma I love how Rachel doesn't even really fight you herself, she just gets close and lets her minions do the work. You don't even beat her, you just beat her dumb couch cat thing.

[@anonymoususer8818]

Hell, to add on, if they really wanted the characters to get up after getting downed, just do something similar to under night in birth where when characters get knocked down, they get back up in different crouching position.

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

dracocrusher Hell, she DOESN’T EVEN GET SHOCKED! XD The only other character who has this is Celica, where her hurt animations give the impression that Minerva is protecting her from imminent damage (including shock)

[@abxgajebrvst]

Wow. You are the channel that I’ve been missing in my life. It’s so frustrating talking to people about this because they have no idea what the hell I mean. The thing is, people nowadays only look at the graphics, so if the game looks good enough then their excuse is “oh it already looks good so it doesn’t matter” but honestly this is one of the reasons as to why I couldn’t get into this game. Every punch, every kick, every attack just doesn’t have any force behind it. Performing a combo is so hard because I keep laughing at how the characters look like 2 action figures just smacking each other. Everything in this game just feels floaty, yet stiff at the same time. I want to thank you so much for this, please keep making amazing content!

[@nixuniverse5240]

This game looks like 2 wet sand bags fighting each other in 10x gravity. That’s what’s keeping me from playing it. The fighting doesn’t play feel fluent at all to me.

[@Used__Napkin]

Just as a quick aside, I ran into the fence punch problem myself once. I wanted to have an animation of a character doing a quick jab. Instead I decided to have her lean into a quick elbow jab at was a lot more visually interesting.

[@KingKalil]

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch another NRS game again after seeing this video. Never thought about stuff like this until now. On a side note, I’m glad I’m not the only one who cringes at those knock down, get back up and fall again animations when a character gets defeated

[@degisndinga8853]

King Kalil good for you, your not even playing it so you might as well not watch it

[@KingKalil]

Degis Johnson It’s still a great and fun game (especially getting cool gear) What I meant was now that he pointed out the whole bad animations issues, I’ll be looking at that instead of watching the matches for entertainment like I normally do lol. Kinda a shame too since I’ve been watching a lot of TMNT gameplay lately

[@degisndinga8853]

King Kalil come on you can't tell me that the tmnt aren't well animated? That means nrs are getting better just wait they'll get there

[@KingKalil]

Degis Johnson I love the Turtles animations! Especially Leo's since he's my favorite of the group lol. Hopefully with MK11, NRS will continue to improve on their animations

[@joshbennett7439]

So you didn’t notice it? So it doesn’t really matter that much. He is being picky

[@YoshioKST]

Damn, I suspected Flash was going to get his own video as soon as I saw the title....

[@llTRaGiik]

I wish you'd do more of nrs critiques. I still really like their games but ever since the mk x video you made it opened my eyes and I've been wanting more

[@shakieltaylor9995]

talk about two faced

[@eraticfx]

So I wasn't the only who thought something was wrong with there animation. I could never put MY FOOT on it... My major problem was also the jumping part, but seeing this will make me hate the game more lol... I guess that's one major reason why I just don't like looking at it. All though their art direction is great and cinematics are good.

[@doommaker4000]

So THAT'S why despite all the advertised violence I felt like MKX and Injustice attacks felt so... Weak

[@Barbarianbrotha]

MK 1's animations also suck. I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be Injustice 2 in early development. It reminds me of claymation that's how bad it is. They really need to totally rebuild everything. Never been a fan of feeling like I'm entering a code to do combos. The lag between when you press buttons to when its translated on screen is garbage. Japanese fighters like Tekken 8 are so far ahead of MK it's not even funny.

[@Team_Orchid]

Okay, I don't know who the hell you are, but you're using Danganronpa music and going in depth about shit I think I'mma stick around a bit.

[@SESauvie]

Still garbage in MK1 from what we have seen so it's clear they don't care or don't have a clue. It's such a bummer too.

[@EclipseHedgehog]

i had to come back here after picking it up for almost 3 years and damn, trying to punch over a fence is the best way to describe this.

[@ryszakowy]

the game: she is so powerful she can send you flying with a kick the animation: she misstepped and almost fell on her face but her foot almost connected with your face so you fly away. i mean hell man even wrestling has real flips and stunts done live when you take away all the fake drama and fake over the top hits.

[@palindinX]

The amount of DC fanboys and Netherrealm Fanboys in the comments is *STAGGERING.*

[@thechugg4372]

True. Most people don't realize how animation affects them unconsciously and don't bother to understand how it works.

[@OwO377]

@Brisson kevin ironic there are some game has great way in function and design but overlook by some stereotype game.

[@IlokanoWarrior]

The talk of NRS gettIng the chance to handle a Marvel fighting game really is upsetting. Considering how Disney owns Marvel and Disneys fame for high quality animation, I think its just the wrong way to go.

[@cjbell36]

Just found your channel because a fgc discord shared your video. I look forward to more fgc videos. This was presented well.

[@marioparty17]

Dan Sora link my dude

[@jojo-xz3yj]

i absolutely love your channel to death, it helps me immensely with animation and art tips im not sure if thats what you were going for, but it really does help so much! its educational while still being very interesting and entertaining thank you!

[@njabyss]

I never liked NRS games solely because of janky animations. You can make a game look as pretty as you want, but bad animation is just bad animation.

[@THEKINGBETWEEN]

I’ve always hate the damn death animation they are allowed to be knocked out

[@gelly4434]

the only youtuber that made us care about animation

[@jerry3115]

maybe one day netherrealm will have some half decent animators

[@volauvent1505]

I find it pretty sad you're getting so much backlash even though you're thoroughly explaining what is right/wrong about certain animations. This video is really well put and as a few people in the comments have already stated, it really is eye opening. I do also find NRS's animations rather unacceptable, considering fighting games do live and die by their animations. Story mode and extra content can only get you so far. At some point, when you've spent hundreds of hours playing a fighting game, having clean animations can and will certainly affect your enjoyment out of the game in the long run. On a second note, have you ever considered reviewing Under Night in Birth's animations? I'd be curious to hear your opinions on it, the good and the bad haha.

[@mikejonesnoreally]

It's all been pretty revealing about the NRS "community" to be honest. I don't expect much from people who buy a game based on boobs to blood ratio but I didn't expect them to get *worse.* Heh. Silly me. :)

[@sunwukong5475]

I just find it funny that nrs fanboys only argument is "it don't matter I don't even notice it and all that matters is gameplay"

[@James-oj6ru]

I’m very late but... fighting game has 3 principles: Style Functionality Animation These are all identity of a fighting game, without one of it, the other will fall F A S T without style, we won’t get games like: Marvel VS Capcom, Guilty Gear or Skullgirls Without functionality, we won’t get: Street fighter, KOF (still age like God’s of alcohol’s finest wine in terms of style) or Fatal Fury Without animation, we won’t get.... any of the above actually Animation is so integral to the games, swapping KOF animation with Street fighter animation will be EXTREMELY jarring, from strong keyposes with personality and some realism to... strong keyposes... ok, I’m sorry for being bias Mortal Kombat, has a realistic art style with a high speed footsie and aiming for grounded juggler style fighting game, the animation should be like KOF but _nope,_ we get this shit

[@opgroundzero2.0]

@@James-oj6ru ngl, you should post this as a seperate comment.

[@kongobongo6538]

What is wrong with this comment section!? How can anyone defend Injustice 2's animation given everything that A.B.I says are all valid points!? He has a masters in animation, he obviously knows what he's talking about. I love Mortal Kombat and I'm fine with the animation looking a little funky since Mortal Kombat has always been kinda corny, but I still understand and see where he's coming from. But injustice is so dark and gloomy that you don't expect the animation when they fight to look funny, you want it to look seroius and good since the game is taking itself so seriously.

[@burgerkingJ]

Most of them are a bit upset about the award thing that ABI said even though he said Injustice 2 hit's the mark on other area's. That, and most people who love the game have their feelings hurt by criticism and use the "I never noticed and don't care anyway" excuse.

[@ams9449]

most of them are young fanboying kids, they can't distinguish shit from chocolate. What do you expect.

[@MechNominal]

I mean his bouncing ball animation was laughably bad.

[@sunwukong5475]

@@MechNominal its still better than injustices "animation"

[@sunwukong5475]

@@alejandromomota6934 nice argument you've got there buddy

[@TeamBaconUK]

Make stance switch something that "sidesteps" projectiles, solves two issues in one. Makes projectiles far less prominent an issue as Everyone has an easy option to dodge it, and also gives stance switching a use

[@jordyrain9057]

Even the animations of tekken 3 which was released well over 20 years ago are better than the animations of injustice. And I’m not even exaggerating.

[@Sperium3000]

So what do you think of the Ninja Turtles? Cuz I think they're the best animated character in the game. Low bar, I know.

[@Fooacta]

Sperium3000 I'd actually like to hear his opinion on that, I've only seen some Donatello and Raphael footage but they seem to move pretty decently. They seem to have weight and momentum and everything. Even saw one of them rotate into and snap out a kick.

[@1000aaronaaronaaron]

Sperium3000 not readout a low bar at all. Most all of the dlc charavyers are beautifully animated improving on what was already a beautifully animated game. But idk if turtles are the best. I just love captain atom so much

[@Thanato15]

Aaron Rainbolt The Atom and Captain Atom are two different characters btw. One shrinks/grows the other is like Superman + Dr.Manhattan but not as strong as either

[@1000aaronaaronaaron]

Error thanks, man lmao

[@IronicSonics]

Dat stance switch that changes the location of hellboys bigger arm lol

[@mat_max]

why can't they just pay attention at how flying characters attack like in dbfz?????

[@BiriBiri925]

I understand that gaming awards are a clow show, but Injustice 2, rated better than Tekken 7 and Guilty Gear... it's just beyond my comprehension. This is just...absurd. Who made this decision, who this person is, just show him. Does he even play video games? Does he know what fighting games are?

[@Kekkersboy]

As always. The Nether realm fighting games. Are the best made games that I don't want to play. The amount of extras, polish into the character designs. Features, Effort in storymode ect. are amazing in these games. It really feels like the studio listens to the fans on things.... the games just don't draw me in with the actual fighting.

[@micaelasalgado8336]

Kekkersboy Yeah it just does not make you feel very super like. Mkvsdc made me feel more like a superhero with freefall and the heroic brutality . That game is still one of my favorites.

[@User.665]

Micaela Salgado the animations in that game were arguably even worse.

[@MrBlackboy21ful]

Trust me they don't listen to the fans

[@bradhawley1]

Of course they sucked, he was comparing standing normals to other fighting games' special moves! If you look at the actual special animations, such as starfire's for example, the attack animations are exactly what he wanted.

[@totaldestruction152]

He looks at one of Ivy's special attack animations at 7:24 and it's by far the worst one.

[@themocaw]

Your rework of the Poison Ivy whip animation makes me happy.

[@rainando3034]

i was blinded by gimmick. thanks lord ive been awakened. cant be unseen now. lol

[@cjh0050]

I can't even look at Netherrealm games the same way anymore. And I just got killer instinct for pc and omg....just no more words

[@thezantgeneral677]

Topher Hawkes Killer Instinct’s animations are top notch! It’s kinda sad that it doesn’t get more recognition.

[@Ddubble21]

@@thezantgeneral677 I wish KI came out for ps4. id definitely get it!

[@thezantgeneral677]

Ddubble21 Well it’s on Steam and the Microsoft Store. So if You’ve got be good enough PC I’d go for it!

[@YakovDub]

Exactly! I didn't know i hate injustice 2 animations, but now i do.

[@mikvance]

The animations feel like tweens. Like they programmed keyframes and told the computer to animate the in between frames and called it a day. Pure laziness.

[@Furuchooo]

you know you f***ed up when MVCI is used as an example of how to do something better

[@skurinski]

MVCI in game animations are FAR superior. That was never the issue with the game.

[@iiirdvii840]

MvCI has pretty good core gameplay elements... its really the rest that looks like a toilet.

[@Schizomi7467]

Animation is vital to a lot of fighting games. Like the Skull Girls GDC video goes into detail on how programming for a fighting game works. They emphasize how animation enhances gameplay. I finally can see why Injustice just doesn't appeal to me when I glance at it vs any other fighting game.

[@pagananarchist4723]

Having played both MK and Injustice, I would like to say that your points about the awful animation are completely correct. I don't even know much about animation and I can tell that the animations in both franchises are lacking incredibly. In my opinion, I do not think they care about improving on the animation problems that have been apparent since Injustice 1 and MKX.

[@woof9408]

Its wild that Injustice 2 won 2017 fighting game of the year while people still play Tekken 7 online to this very day in 2023.

[@sableyesundaygaming2016]

So do they injustice 2

[@gbdeck200]

NR basically is terrible at animation so they put all their eggs into visuals and people praise it for good storytelling cause it's cinematic than actual depth, shame

[@quekZo95]

LOL not even that. Its just the gore. Fatalities and Brutalities. Moron Kombat hahahaha

[@lambda494]

I can never unsee the Invisible Fence now.

[@mayursoowamber7549]

I feel so much smarter and informed as a consumer and gamer when I watch your content, thanks :)

[@ZooberWezeeKenzan]

Wait wait wait wait wait, hold the phone, did she just attack with two knees at the same time at 2:45?

[@joedatius]

Another thing that i think really hurts all modern NRS games is their weird focus on bland lifeless UI design. why is all the UI in Injustice 2 so minimalistic and boring? you guys do know this is a game about super heroes, gods, intergalactic villains and all kinds of crazy shit yet the UI designed seems to be doped out on horse tranquillizers, ffs the announcer for Injustice 2 is a robotic AI voice who sounds bored out of their mind. wow really getting me excited to fight guys

[@nesaaliyah4821]

A channel that’s 1. About fighting games 2. About animation 3. Is a little gay 4. Acknowledges the existence (and sometimes greatness) of Dead or Alive. I’m in HEAVEN.

[@mayursoowamber7549]

I hope to live long enough to see MK’s potential with a well-animated game.

[@Alexcobra861]

It's not going to happen anytime soon. Mortal Kombat 1 also has bad animations.

[@PaVer-II]

Gotta admit even though I’m not a professional in this kind of subject, when I watch fights in this game the first thing I noticed is that the way characters move looked really awkward

[@crimson4177]

If I may mention something about the magic casting characters, I think a good comparison could be made between Enchantress and Robin from Smash 4. Robin’s magic casting animations sell the attack very well, particularly his side special, Arcfire. Seeing the Enchantress’s animations here just looks...lazy. Amazingly so. Good video!

[@M3g4UBERn00b]

Hellboy's stone fist changing sides is infuriating. It's literally called the "right hand of doom"

[@chocobros1]

Bruh, you just earned yourself a subscriber (god knows you deserve way more than you currently have) I've spent years telling my friends how I won't play Netherrealms games and their clunky, stiff, awkward combat (or kombat, if you prefer) and now I finally have an expert breaking down exactly why that is in detail. My only regret is not having found you sooner.

[@DWN-024ShadowMan]

This just made me cherish my copy of MvC:I a bit more lol.

[@Whatahorriblenighttohaveacurse]

You know I always knew I had a hidden problem with injustice 2, and honestly this really sells me. You just got a sub

[@PressK]

Oh God, thanks! I really, really, really wanted to like this game. Played the shit out of it. But there were a bunch of things about it that bothered me. I could never put my finger on the animations issue. But now I see it. This video evoked all of my frustration with the game and explained it to me clearly :D Especially the damn uppercut animations!

[@answeris746]

Valserp oh does a 2 second animation make you not like a game

[@akiradevilmanfudo]

I always tough MK and this game looked like puppets moving with strings, character move and feel like manequin and get the correct timing for the combos is insanelly hard, unlike....any other fight game where the fundamentals of each game helps you to learn another, MK and Injustice seems to exist in theyr own universe where gravity dosnt exist at all. I alsways tough no one cared it besides me until now

[@alanmetea9865]

Absolutely spot on. I’ve always insisted the way characters move in MK look choppy as hell. Now I finally see why. Thanks for the educational video.

[@JapanForSale]

It really is a shame. The presentation does look good, the production value is through the roof, the IP is money, but when it comes time to rumble, you find out your character has cerebral palsy. Whoops.

[@1shoryuken]

Just wanna say that your videos on NRS games are on point. The fighting animation in these games looks so unappealing to me.

[@danielmaster8776]

1shoryuken Well you aren't being forced to play or buy them then. Save the money for your some flawless art displays or something, because that's what games apparently amount to.

[@daymi7300]

Daniel Goforth lol

[@rikterterran3833]

So people can't complain about shitty animations, huh. He's not talking about the gameplay, you know (which is great). This whole "you aren't being forced to play or buy them" argument doesn't really apply to critiquing animation quality, which is always in full display.

[@ReeceHoward06]

This is what turns me off of NRS fighters. They have no fluidity to combat. Nothing flows together. Even the most complex chains in fighters from other studios still carry fluid animations that just fucking sell the entire combo. Mortal Kombat and Injustice fails miserably in that aspect, which is sad because that's usually the most appealing aspect in any mainstream fighter.

[@MattFNC]

Its a real dissapointment because they are some great games if you can get past the jank.

[@KhamStronk]

Could also talk about the sound effects. Get hit by an Electric Wind God Fist, or Phoenix Smasher in Tekken. Shit feels like you just got hit by a truck, in big part because of the excellent sound design. It's also hard to miss the follow-up to a counter hit in Tekken because it plays a loud, crushing sound. Now pop in Injustice 2 and every hit sounds like a bitch slap. It's terrible. Not even the sound design sells you on these guys being godlike entities that throw punches which could stop a freight train. Blocking a hit and getting hit sounds almost if not exactly the same.

[@SugarPunch]

I've noticed this too and I agree that it's a huge problem. However, I'm not a sound engineer and I don't know the first thing about the specifics behind how sounds work except for when they do and when they don't, so I'm afraid I can't elaborate on that. -A.B.I.

[@SGR403]

I agree with that, I don´t like how almost all of the punches sound the same, even when some characters don´t even use their clenched fist, yet it still "sounds" like one, although I must say some characters like Hellboy who have some god hit gunshots sounds, but his stone fist hit sounds sound the same, and they don´t even sound good. This makes me a bit sad about the flaws of Injustice, but I still see it as a great game.

[@Gyork_]

I have an issue specially with blast attacks, Black adam lightning effects are the worst.

[@lefthandrule638]

Tekken always had the best hit sounds. A simple 1-2 sounds like the most devastating punches ever thrown out.

[@gc3k]

NRS must have seen Man of Steel judging by Superman's.. super. But none of the fights have the impact of those DCEU movies (I know they're riddled with problems, but those movies made you believe that they're super-powered gods). A wasted opportunity.

[@jasonsmith530]

If Netherrealm keeps making gradual improvements as they have been doing then eventually, maybe even on their next game, they will finally hit the nail on the head!

[@AttorneyK]

These improvements shouldn't be needed in the first place. This isn't some fucking indie developer that doens't know wtf they are doing.

[@Fooacta]

Unlikely, if they did that they'd probably have to overhaul all of their combat animations as well as their animation process. As it stands they've been given no incentive to do so.

[@HoodWeegee]

MK 11 is looking a lot better so far. Still a few jank animations, but that’s to be expected with a game that takes itself nowhere near as seriously as Injustice. Also those jank animations are few and far in between

[@0rderSol]

@@AttorneyK You're right, It's a AAA Developer that never knew wtf they are doing.

[@saevus2686]

YES ! I HAVE ALWAYS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS! Especially the supers.

[@sirruffalot]

Can confirm.. Still punching over fences in MK1.

[@HMNNO]

Your video is awesome. Your explanation makes so much sense as to why the animation looks so bad every time I played it

[@edwardramos4591]

0:43 Alright Firestorm, which half of you thought it was a good idea to make you look like you're trying to do that Russian squat dance?

[@mateogonzalez5678]

Exaggeration in movement and emotion is a very important part of animation. If a character barely emotes, although it may be seen as "realistic", it does not fully express to the audience what that character is feeling or doing. Long story short, Injustice 2 could've used this and a bit more polish among other things...

[@angelbride000]

The background has danganronpa trial music so all i can imagine is that hes putting out proof for how netherrealm got murdered

[@AThingAmajig]

fp- mechanic THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING OMG

[@dudescrawny5859]

14:59 I just noticed Green Arrow's(slide tackle?) animation is copied from Sub-Zero in MKX.

[@LegendXRonin]

Wow. I’ve never even considered any of this and now it can’t be unseen. Wonder if these things will ever be fixed now

[@HighMaxDesmo]

Interesting video, I've never actually stopped to take a good look at the animations, but you are absolutely correct on all of these. My theory is that most of the developers don't "actually" know how fighting works, and through the untrained eye, think that fights consist of swinging limbs until they connect with the opponent.

[@shawnboahene5231]

Even the 2000s X-men next dimension had better animation and that game was a glitch factory

[@RaimonTarou]

nether realm will never learn

[@Jojo-oi5vi]

That explains street fighter 1 frame rate slide show animation copy paste.

[@MataNui.]

I honestly don't know what the flip stance button is even for. They should have had an actual block button lik mk x did.