How to get started with Fighting Games and have a Nice Time

[@polygon]

What would it take to get you into fighting games?

[@Michael_Lindell]

Why do we have to fight games in the first place? Why can't we get along with the games?

[@shadedway5277]

I want to be able to live out my Pokken Tournament dream and beat up all my opponents as a Pachirisu. Of course, because you can't play as Pachirisu in that game (only as a support character) I can never live out my dream of beating you up with a squirrel. That would definitely do it Also if you could just play as a squirrel yeah that'd also do it I just want to beat you up. As any kind of squirrel really.

[@dancinginfernal]

@@Michael_Lindell give me a fighting game where the combatants kiss at the end

[@rionsanura]

The ability to play any game without turning it into my life.... I don't think it's going to happen, but I am still excited to watch a video about it.

[@pinstripeowl]

I panic, and button mash, and the idea of reacting to something so unpredictable as another person, and remembering movesets are a bit over my head, alas

[@ArktikAlice]

"Whoever you think looks cool" Unironically the best advice in this entire video

[@Queuexdodge]

I spent my first three months of 3rd strike trying to learn Sean. I'm glad i did. learning bad characters really helped me understand why good characters are good. would still like my 3 months back though.

[@dididistuff3417]

"I love busting" is the best quote

[@MetalFacedGamer]

@@ArktikAlice for sure find the game you think looks cool and find a character you think looks cool. That's what I did when I got in the fighting games. I was kind of tired of playing first person shooters (except Doom) and so I just looked up fighting games found the 2 that I thought I would like purchase them and just hit up training. I suck so bad and I still have fun every f****** time.

[@sv32099]

I would say that advice is widely applicable except if you're trying to specifically learn the game mechanics of a game you're trying to learn. If your focus is more on learning and you haven't picked up a character yet then try a shotou character as that will give you the clearest display of the game mechanics and how to utilize them competently but if they don't appeal to you then pick whoever you like it's about you having fun most of all

[@MetalFacedGamer]

@@sv32099 The whole point of taking a game and a character you like will lead you to what you're talking about now. That is the well thought thought.

[@Brian_F]

Great video. There's always some concern when a larger entity/platform covers fighting games because you never know if they are going to accurately or genuinely represent the genre/community, but this whole video was spot on. Good job.

[@reeidly]

Hi brian

[@polygon]

ahhh thanks! that means a lot coming from you! - Pat

[@tpbvirusofficial6676]

yo its brine

[@Thristanity]

Oh hey, It's brain the content creator

[@sanctusbepis8544]

hey its brian_f, the most street fighter player of all time

[@Phychologik]

A good mindset tip i heard from a smash bros coach actually was when you get outplayed, instead of internalizing it and beating up yourself, recognize what they did and kinda get hyped for your opponent. Like if they get a whiff punish that you didn't know was possible or they find a gap in your pressure just think, "that was good!" and leave it at that. This would also help in being aware of what they're doing and copying their strategies for your own use.

[@haughtygarbage5848]

this has helped me sooooo much; I highly recommend it if you tend to get down on yourself playing these games

[@SoulBro12]

I only beat myself up if I misinput an attack (i.e Using Urien, a charge character and forgetting to charge while comboing) then I cool off, get off to practicing until I pull something off consistently Otherwise, I really jump out of my seat and say WHATT NO WAY DUDE?! in like a hyped way.

[@Phychologik]

@@SoulBro12 Yeah misinputs suck. I really need to work on getting reversal super consistent cuz I keep losing games because of it.

[@exyzt9877]

so basically, you know how in smash ulitmate, at the end of the match, the losing characters are off to the side cheering on the winner as they do their little victory animation? yeah, you want to basically act like that.

[@Jeyblox]

I don't know if fighting games also have competitive multiplayer teamwork, but it's a lot easier to have this positive mindset if there's no toxic teammate randos to harass you every second you make mistake or while you are learning

[@BenjaminJex]

“As long as your on that path, learning and having fun, you’re doing it right.” Keeping that in mind for life, thanks Pat!!

[@Pendji]

Except your average gamer these days like the idea of being a fighting game player more than playing fighting games.

[@AndrewGordonBellPerc]

I'm a classical musician, I've studied at the top schools and conservatories in my country. All the tips you're giving for this are not just how to get better at a fighting game, but how to get better at ANYTHING. Like seriously if you approach any skill with this mindset and commitment you will succeed, or you will realize that succeeding isn't something you want to do.

[@jheckie14]

Hard agree: step 7 of my journey to learn alto flute was indeed "fight (a human)"!

[@SoulBro12]

I learned anatomy because I was working out and I realized that it was also helping my art quite a bit. That mindset I have when it came to learning also came to me when I started to play fighting games.

[@CriticsConfession]

I feel like my classical music training prepared me for fighting games too in terms of memorizing long nutty combos the same way I’d memorize a weird complex modal melody.

[@zhaf]

@@jheckie14 dude I would love to watch a good flute battle!

[@Glandulf19]

As a music teacher, I cannot agree more ! Great comment to a great video

[@briarmoney6588]

The only thing I think this video misses is that newer/popular games can be a better 'first' fighting game to get into- You're more likely to run into other people around your skill level if you're playing something that's popular right now like Guilty Gear Strive versus an older game that's mostly going to be skilled players who've been playing it for ages.

[@owengilroy9256]

At the same time, fightcade has allowed the gates to be opened on so many older fighting games, you’d really be surprised just how easy it is to find people of all skill levels on there

[@briarmoney6588]

@@owengilroy9256 That's true, it's not impossible to find other beginners to play with in older games. It's just going to be easier with newer/mainstream ones

[@drftr6073]

you can still find players of similar skill level for old games but i found out that it requires community. that is to say really being part of a niche friend group or a larger discord community and matching with them over there.

[@sanctusbepis8544]

@@owengilroy9256 new players usually dont know what a fightcade is until they had delve in further into the world of fg

[@polygon]

Really good point!

[@TFGRhinehart]

I wasn't expecting a video like this from Polygon, but as a long-time fighting game veteran, I can confirm everything in this video is true, and very well said! Kudos to this guy, and if it brings anyone else into the FGC, we welcome you! One thing I do wanna add, though, is that the offline FGC and the online FGC are very different beasts. If you commit fully to gettin' good, and feel you're making a lot of progress, find your nearest local FGC! There are fewer people in the world that are more passionate about their hobby than fighting game players. It's one of the easiest ways to make new friends and rivalries, and there's no feeling in the world like it.

[@Scantronacon]

💯💯💯

[@MrGamelover23]

Sounds like that would make a great anime series.

[@PR-BEASTJAM91]

@@MrGamelover23dude you are actually right and I never though of this! Haha I’d love to see this happen and get games a new spotlight.

[@ningamer7172]

@@PR-BEASTJAM91 It common in the FGC to have these kind of stories. Just as an example, Smash Bros has lots of stories like that, and it keeps going, it's like a never-ending series. There's the 1st king, Ken, the 5 gods, the godslayer, Leffen, and I skip on some. There tons of videos on about any game, just because it's so funny to follow long-time rivalries like that. I suggest you to watch : "There will never ever be another player like Hungrybox". If you want a good story.

[@doubleeeeeee]

@@MrGamelover23 its called Hi Score Girl and its on netflix its about a kid thats good at street fighter but he can't beat one girl at the arcade

[@AssOnAPlate187]

I CANNOT stress how important those 20+ unranked match beat down sessions against expert players are for starting players who have grasped the fundamentals, no matter what the game. They really expose what you still may not understand about the game, what you need to focus getting better at, and give deep insights in how other characters work at high levels. If you realize that you don't have the skills to beat the person and they're wiling to give you the time, there usage as fast-paced training courses can be invaluable to your growth as a player.

[@ashtar3876]

Yup, matches against good players are sometimes even more fun because every win is massive

[@jamescolvin8429]

Unironically, I do want to know how to get into fighting games, so this video is definitely for me! Thanks Polygon and Pat!

[@nadMoZzzg]

I clicked because i never understand where is "fun" in fighting games. Just casual button mashing, few moves, no gameplay deepness, no story

[@TheJakeJackson]

:EDIT: Nevermind I'm now at the bit of the video where Pat recommends that. 🧡 :ORIGINAL: Welcome to the FGC! The next great resource you'll love is Core A Gaming's video "Why Button Mashing Doesn't Work". It's a sneaky intro to all the core concepts that make these games so rewarding.

[@bonestza955]

Get fightcade, play 3s. Ignore every other trash game.

[@TheJakeJackson]

@@bonestza955 Okay boomer

[@michaelmcgee8189]

@@TheJakeJackson i had the same inclination and the same "oh okay nvm" experience

[@saya-rbt]

I literally bought Guilty Gear Strive two days ago and saw this in my feed. The timing could not be more perfect and I'm even more motivated to learn and become better. Thank you!!

[@polygon]

Hurrah! Good luck!

[@GenericSoda]

Best of luck!

[@Phychologik]

@Saya who do you play

[@GohersWay]

Latest Dnf duel is the most visualy appealing and newbie friendly game on the market right now which i will happily recommend to anyone but still i will suggest if you like tekken then go for tekken or if you like street fighter or someother 2D fighter then simply go for that specific game as its upto each individual on what they prefer.

[@redotopia]

@@GohersWay Sad that it's already become hard to find matches online in that game

[@DoublemintDave]

WOW 21:00 I was NOT expecting my old tournament match to show up from wayy long ago lmao

[@hallowgram8863]

As someone who has been "new" to fighting games for almost 10 years in the sense that i play for a month until I experience ego death and take a 6 month break, I've seen this same video premise probably 20 times and i think this is the most in touch with new player experience out of any of them, amazing work Pat.

[@feferis]

Bridget in the thumbnail,, polygon literally knows I wanna play guilty gear just for her😭😭

[@dancinginfernal]

@@adriahrin3284 no, i chose the thumbnail. we did it for korben

[@rpemulis]

@@adriahrin3284 popular because the people love her, including korben. great explanation though!!!

[@leftovernoise]

I don't even like fighting games, but Bridget is mighty convincing

[@dwtnugget5256]

I'm just waiting for the day dizzy gets announced

[@emerz3530]

Bridget pog

[@Michael_Lindell]

Alternate title: Dr. Gill or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Fighting Games

[@MarquisLeary34]

I guess some people like pain and humiliation. Can't explain it.

[@NoahBility]

Man, as a kid I was naturally gifted at fighting games Mostly Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, Tekken, DBZ Budokai, Def Jam: Fight For NY, etc I think back then, I had less stressors in my life and had all the time in the world to sink into casually practicing I was essentially counting frames before I even knew what that was Then I got older, fell off, and they stopped being fun because I wasn't as good as I was when I was younger, but I miss them a lot. I remember playing fighting games with my pops who would always use a fight stick, remap buttons, and proceed to whoop my ass. I miss those days, and him, very much Maybe reconnecting with fighting games is something I need to do for some healing... All that to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thank you!

[@naejimba]

So I felt the same way... was really into various versions of SF2, and once I found out that Super Turbo was still being played in tournaments I would watch them all the time. I even bought a fight stick... and man is it BRUTAL to know what I used to be able to do compared to struggling to get a consistent DP now. Wanting to learn stick was also a goal, so even things like jumping forward and back took a while to learn (seriously I played Link to the past for SNES on my fight stick to get used to moving in all directions XD). It has been a long struggle and I'm still at the point of trying to do very basic things. Kind of embarrassing to actually admit how long and how much of a struggle. I'm just trying to stay positive and do a little bit at a time as often as I can. Eventually I'll get there. And apparently I'm insane since my end goal is to learn difficult and lower tier characters like O Hawk, Fei Long, and Zangief. So maybe when I'm 80 lol.

[@TJBlack3.5]

Yea I know that feeling it's like everyone else ran ahead of you while you slowly lose your old skills and muscle memory and you can't be bothered relearning a game that you were once good at

[@brian9829]

sf6 is perfect with the new modern control setup easing you into relearning combos. I played tekken 6 on psp like 10 years ago, never touched another fighting game. Played sf6 and had some fun.

[@SwiftShotCrtcl]

Enjoyed reading, awesome

[@GenericSoda]

A day late, but this video rules. Getting into fighting games with a community happened during a time I was coping with severe depression, and the gradual improvement I saw in my play helped me deal with my own issues. I don't know if I'm out of the hole, even years later, but having a community of like-minded, good-natured friends who all have a mutual respect for each other's ability to learn and help one another with no expectations helps make each day a little better.

[@dancinginfernal]

This motivated me to stop procrastinating out of fear of being rusty, and get back to playing Strive like I really want to. Thank you Pat. Seriously.

[@ckorp666]

you gotta get in on all the disgusting fast RC nonsense this patch, its awesome

[@plufim]

This is an origin story of you and pat fighting each other at evo

[@TeddySaxbang659]

Truly! I'm just a few minutes into this video and I'm already like "Aww, thanks Patrick"

[@TheJakeJackson]

I am so thrilled to see how many people are excited about getting into fighting games these days! Welcome one and all! Big ups to Pat's point number 2, pick the game that speaks to your heart. I've been fighting for well over a decade now, I compete hard, and I unashamedly pick my games and fighters because they look cool or remind me of martial artists I loved to watch. We're playing these games because they make us feel good, so start with that feeling!

[@meowthra6515]

I can't get over the fact that this video is just a really good guide for learning things in general. Sure the specifics are different if you are trying to get into fighting games VS if you are learning to program for example, but Pat did such a good job at covering what they have in common (getting the right mindset, finding your community, embracing competition, etc etc). I suffer from a plethora of mental illnesses that are bad for learning things, which sucks because I actually love to learn. This might be the most valuable video I watched this year. Thank you Pat.

[@TheNobleShade]

This is incredibly well-produced and I hope everyone sees it. Special shout-out to the fighting game glossary. I wish there was something like that when I first got into fighting games, since what I had to do was google and crawl through forums to find definitions.

[@Crescent-Adam]

This is a brilliant distillation of all the FGC tips to newcomers. It's so good and comprehensive that FGC streamers should start linking players to it as much as they do for Infil's glossary or CoreA's videos. 10/10 work Pat!

[@ScionOfFlame]

Solid advice on this one, Pat! As a long time fighting game player, fully agree: You just gotta pick a game, pick a character, and give it a go. Never know until you hop in the ring.

[@joshuajohnson2532]

This could not have come at a better time. My friends just convinced me to download guilty gear strive and as someone who has not played fighting games since I was a literal child playing street fighter and tekken in arcades, this is perfect. I need a whole series from Pat on fighting games.

[@mikey6453375]

I'm 40 years old, and I thought about these things but never vocalized them, or heard them vocalized. I appreciate this!

[@chacha4343]

Step 5 is so essential, oh my god. I bought Guilty Gear and just kinda stopped playing, since I chose the easiest character and didn't try anyone else, even though he isn't the type of character I'd play in other fighting games. You've convinced me to dip my toes back into that scene, amazing video!!

[@ellagage1256]

Curious to know what Guilty Gear character caught your eye. Don't tell Pat since he plays Potemkin but for me it was Axl

[@chacha4343]

@@ellagage1256 Chipp Zanuff is my absolute favorite; I started playing fighting games seriously with smash ultimate, and I love high-speed combo characters like Roy, Fox, and Pichu, so he was the obvious choice

[@ellagage1256]

@@chacha4343 Chipp players kick my ass tbh, but best of luck with him still 😅

[@seven2180]

It's crazy how applicable all this is to like, any hobby? Do what looks cool to you, find others, test your skill, take breaks. It's all solid advice no matter what you're doing, and it's stuff I think I needed to hear

[@LastMemory015]

This video is literally the thing I've been looking for. I've been interested in FGs for months now, but feel like the water is too deep. I've read reddit posts, watched matches, watched other beginnner guides, but none of them have had as useful information as you've given me within the first 4 minutes. The Fighting Game terminology website is a literal godsend and has been mentioned nowhere else and I've looked at a lot of information. Also wanted to say I thoroughly enjoy your writing and presentation style. You're incredibly comfortable presenting and being on camera and you're writing is very fluid and connected. I love your work!

[@rogersnick17]

This is the greatest fighting game video I've ever seen published for those looking from outside of the FGC. Thank you so much for this. Please use this to buy a beer for Pat. It was amazing hearing his FGC journey.

[@Grabagool]

As really big fan of the FGC, I really appreciate a bigger/mainstream gaming outlet taking a crack at dispelling the myths of getting into fighting games. I wish everyone, returning or brand new, a wonderful time playing the single most satisfying genre of video game.

[@beingfilipinoiscool]

Bravo Pat, I just started getting back into fighting games after a decade of not playing but watching Evo every year. this is so well written.

[@CutieMcBooty-lg5yh]

One of the biggest things I've learned about being competitive is to be....less competitive. Or rather, don't take losses so hard. Cheer for your opponents when they do cool stuff and win out over you too. Losing races for a while nearly brought me out of swimming, but learning to accept that I'm not the fastest and giving my winning opponent a celebratory hug for their achievements really helped me to learn to not take it so personally, and motivated myself to keep pushing. You build comradery even amongst your rivals, and you quickly gain a reputation as someone that is fun to compete against. People celebrate you too when you win. It's really helped me to find a place and create longevity within competitive spheres, and fighting games are no exception.

[@capncrackfiend]

I love the bit of scrolling through King’s movelist. As somebody who has played tons of King since Tekken 3, I totally get how that could be intimidating as hell.

[@benjamindonaldson8047]

the timing of this video is insane. bought guilty gear, my first fighting game, 2 days ago. so stoked on this

[@azu1394]

game can be rough, if you play on ps4 or have questions over discord i can help with both! these games are a billion times easier with someone to ask the questions youd like to

[@benjamindonaldson8047]

@@azu1394 hell yeah, not sure if you want to post your discord on youtube for all to see but feel free to send it

[@WrenchfarmVideo]

hope you have a good time with it!

[@azu1394]

@@benjamindonaldson8047 itll be fine azu#7866

[@drewbrew444]

i love patrick's positivity. and the end of the day, we're all just here to have fun, and too many people lose sight of that.

[@Amiatti]

I pretty much got SF6 because of this video, knowing that i was bad but wanted to try to get better. I started off in silver and I just recently hit diamond on Cammy and had a lot of fun along the way, and this video was a big influence on that! Thank you for making this ❤

[@Doktor_Jones]

Wow, brainwashed from day 1. Pity. Don't forget to shower pls.

[@Ipopcool]

I love the differentiation between ranked and unranked, also the science of taking a break. It's a real art to get off and relax for a bit- but there's so much research that indicate quite well that taken time away gives your brain some significant processing time. Also, I played 100 sets or so a couple nights ago in Strive in the Park- won maybe 20. But I learned so much about how to pilot my character and how to work against numerous characters. Once I started to tilt I stopped....only to come on this week and be much better at the matches.

[@NexZu-]

Honestly didn't expect much from this, thank you on a good introduction to the genre. Usually I hear many people ask about the right character to play and my usual response is " Just pick someone". Its much better for people to discover what they like then me telling them to play someone easy, you can learn the game with anyone after all. Its how I started so it would be strange if I told people otherwise.

[@ThatBlastedSalami]

Thank you for this video. Does an exellent job at breaking down what's an intimidating genre for many people with practical, actionable advice. Also, so glad you found our videos helpful! Please drop us a line if you ever have any questions :)

[@pendent23]

Just wanted to leave a note that this video is what pushed me into actually giving Guilty Gear Strive a go and I am having an absolutely wonderful time in large part of the attitude that this video has encouraged me to keep. Great work 😄

[@FebruaryGhost]

God, Pat always explains things in such an accessible, easy way. It’s so wonderful

[@TheJakeJackson]

Look at how dirty those fightsticks are! They look well used and appreciated, that's a really great thing to see.

[@johnnyferaud8538]

I was recommended this video today. I stopped playing Street Fighter in May/June because mental health. This just reminded me how much joy I get out of fighting games. Thanks. I think I'm gonna pick up the stick tomorrow. Or Sunday.

[@legacy7ds]

What I tell all newer players or those thinking about fighting games, learn the fundamentals of whatever fighting game. And I promise you, those same fundamentals will apply to every fighting game ever. Spacing, punishing, footies, baiting, frame traps, are universal fundamentals. No matter the fighting game.

[@kcrad1527]

JJBA Heritage For The Future is pretty good for trying your hand at making advanced combos work in an advanced combo friendly environment. Definitely would recommend. It has explicit built in support for the “99 hit touch of death” that each character is capable of with their own advanced combo chains.

[@owengilroy9256]

Not every character has a tod - please don’t spread misinformation!

[@ellagage1256]

Heritage For The Future is so fun to play. Feels really unique to other old school arcade fighters and tons of people don't even know it exists. Highly recommend people try it out! Only character I'd stay away from is Horus the funni ice birb since he is broken af and almost always banned in pro scenes

[@kcrad1527]

@@owengilroy9256 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5rEaIB3h5x1gac

[@jimdavis8054]

Word of warning though that the main Heritage For The Future Discord is infamously racist/generally fully of shitty people. There unfortunately isn’t really an alternative and the platform that allows you to play old arcade games online has a similar problem. Last time I went on the Discord, people were discussing getting Jews and gypsies out of Europe, the time before that it was memeing the suicide statistics of trans people. Someone did an analysis of slurs used in fighting game discords and they came out on top. Still a great game but something to keep in mind.

[@Shodan130]

@@ellagage1256 kak is banned too

[@ambermiller3751]

Ooh excited to watch this! Fighting games have always felt inaccessible to me but Pat's explanations are always excellent 😊

[@noahwilliams446]

“Pick the fighter that you think looks cool” is the realest shit I’ve ever heard, this video is great!! I like fighting games, but I’m not very good at them, so this vid was a huge help! Thanks Patrick!

[@h0e4p0e]

My boyfriend’s blood is fighting games and they make him so happy. I know absolutely nothing and haven’t really had an interest before. I went with him to CEO this weekend and after watching so many matches, seeing the community, and just the general energy I really want to get into them. I guess I’m binging these how to videos until I get a way to play

[@chancechhet3956]

This is a sick video. Its nice to see a more mainstream outlet echoing what we in the FGC have tried telling newer players.

[@BruceWayneBrady]

As a long time member of the FGC, this is one of the best videos on the topic I've seen. Well done, Pat!

[@themuffindragon]

As someone that picked up fighting games (starting with Tekken then moving onto other games) at the beginning of the pandemic, this video really spoke to so many of my experiences. Awesome breakdown and I really hope this gives others the courage to break into the hobby because I absolutely agree that it is worth it.

[@PR-BEASTJAM91]

This has to be one of the greatest videos for new comers and even those who have attempted before. I used to play a ton and I do suffer from anxiety when I’m playing ranked matches online. It causes me to avoid it and play with friends mostly. There are fighting games I want to play so bad and I don’t have friends playing them so I never start for that reason. This video kept it honest and made me feel better about it. I need to get my ass back to it and play that damn game I want try so bad. For me it’s Guilty Gear personally. Wish me luck guys and best to you all!

[@JenQuinn94]

This is such an incredibly sweet video, full of generally good life advice and has specifically made me properly interested in trying out more fighting games lol

[@fl0wey57]

Seriously, this video has everything in it. Including a huge pump in motivation for me to play STRIVE (that I'm probably doing rn). One of the best guides for beginners and just a great video in general, coming from someone who watched literally 10 with the same premise. Thank you so much for your contribution!!!

[@bradido]

This is a great video. I would add "take notes". Keeping notebook about your character, match-ups, etc. is incredibly helpful. It makes you slow down and think instead of mindlessly rematching and making the same mistakes.

[@polygon]

Love this idea! I'm a big fan of keeping gaming journals. - Simone

[@GloriousRavine]

Hey there. This video actually helped me a lot. I am just getting back into Strive after never really immersing myself fully into fighting games and I completely suck. I can't even beat the CPU and I had to give up in the end. (I....decided to record this and put it on KZbin because I seem to enjoy people roasting me, I guess). I unfortunately cannot play online at the moment as the only connection I have is Wifi and I live with 4 others. I was about to give up but this gave me a bit more confidence. As soon as i get my connection sorted I will be playing online and get beaten enough until i win. Thank you

[@writer747]

Can confirm that having people you know to fight against makes a major difference in the beginning. When I went from just fighting randos and the CPU to fighting against my friends in strive that are WAY better than me, I very quickly found out what I was doing wrong and what I needed to do to improve. They still won most of the time, but I still got some wins after some time reflecting and learning, even against the 'best guy in our group'.

[@justincox225]

I love how much Pat hits on idea of "just pick a game and a character that you think seems cool." No matter who you pick, as you learn you are probably going to lose a bunch of matches and go through hard times. In those periods, having the most meta-OP character will not matter. You have to pick a character that you enjoy being and playing and watching, because that is what is gonna motivate you to continue playing and get better. And when you do fully come into your fighting game knowledge and develop the skills to walk all over your opponent, doing it as a character whose personality clicks with you is so so sweet. This video makes me want to go play Soul Calibur again...

[@highwind81]

Awesome video. This is just a tutorial on how to get good at any hobby not just fighting games. Here's the summary: 1. Decide you want to do it (by motivating yourself through observation) 2. Pick a game (based on your interest) 3. Gearing up (but do not gear gate yourself) 4. Pipe check (be in a distraction free environment) 5. Choose your fighter (based on your enthusiasm) 6. Learn how to play 7. Fight a human (practice!) 8. Struggle (so take a break to be reflective) 9. (Be part of) Community & competition 10. There is no end Text in () are my addition based on the video.

[@ardidsonriente2223]

This is, seriously, one of the best life advice I've ever seen. I know it is about fighting video games, but, come on. Seen from outside, every thing worthy looks intimidating and overwhelming. Anything that is good takes work and time. And learning anything exposes you to failure, pain and shame. So the steps are pure gold: - Decide you want to do it. - Pick your game, following your heart. - Gear up, but do not gear gate yourself. - Pipe check (Reduce as much friction as possible). - Pick your style, also following what motivates you the most. - Learn. Analise, ask questions, practice, take notes, watch yourself as you learn. - Do it with a human partner, and learn from them. - Struggle. Fail enough times to get better. Separate your self-worth from your performance. Take breaks. - Join a community to share it. - Keep at it. The argument is just so solid and clear, you can really apply it to life itself.

[@austinluther5825]

I really only played fighting games as a kid/teen with friends. I was well known among my friends as the puzzle gamer, so no one expected me to be any good and that took off a lot of pressure. I agree 100% to just go with whoever looks cool. Street Fighter II - Vega. Mortal Kombat - Baraka. Soul Calibur II - Voldo. If there is a dude with knives for hands, that's my guy.

[@PolarBair8]

Awesome video, I've always tried to be this guy within my friend circles. I got into fighting games about 3 years ago after playing Smash for a while. I thought real fighting games were scary but playing them has helped me meet so many cool people.

[@BLKCLVR]

This video sparked my interest in fighting games. I recently grabbed Strive and am having more fun gaming than probably ever before.

[@stuart5824]

That has to be Clayton's voice that you've digitized for the section titles. I don't know how, but it has to be him.

[@orcuswells649]

I’ve been playing fighting games for a little while now, but for some reason videos like this still make me emotional. There’s so much pathos in the fgc, whether that’s personal stories, community efforts, or videos like this with people gushing about a genre I love. Good stuff One note I want to add is how good playing on keyboard can be. Imo you get all of the same benefits as a hitbox controller other than the ergonomics, and if you’re playing on PC you’ve got one by default

[@nickai88]

This was onne of the most thought through and complete videos for anyone who has interest in joining the FGC and learning how to start playing fighting games. Very well done!

[@polygon]

Thank you!

[@AndrewRKenny]

Awesome awesome video. Great to see FGs presented in such an earnest light. :3 Timestamps! 00:00 Intro 01:25 Step 1: Decide You Want To Do It 03:47 Step 2: Pick a Game 05:40 Step 3: Gearing Up 07:58 Step 4: Pipe Check 08:54 Step 5: Choose Your Fighter 10:31 Step 6: Learn How To Play 12:53 Step 7: Fight a Human 17:08 Step 8: Struggle 19:22 Step 9: Community & Competition 22:09 Step 10: The(re is no) End

[@gamestarr4048]

I saw max comment on this video and just wanted to come by and give y’all some love, great job!

[@Kvalln]

Getting to hear Jerri scream in a Polygon video is a delight. You’ve made it, Jerri.

[@LanceHeart]

I'm so glad Elderly Victim got to make a cameo in this vid. Great job with this explainer.

[@MajoraZ]

The game that got me into fighting games is Pokken, which is actually currently free on NSO & on sale till the end of the month. Many don't realize it's competitively designed, thanks to the brand it's tied to and the esoteric Phase Shift system making it seem more like licensed anime arena fighters, but in reality it's got unique per character movelists, an attack height system, cancels, just-frames, and all the other systems and mechanics traditional fighters have. But it's also extremely approachable at the same time, with the phase shift mechanic and the unique way it handles a few other things really putting an emphasis on the neutral and fundamentals, with relatively shorter combos and simpler inputs then many FG's. Of course, as this video says, you should REALLY start with whatever fighting game looks cool to you, but if you DO love Pokemon and wanna try fighting games, it's an option, same for if you're a FGC veteran looking for something that really emphasizes neutral and mindgames. For those unclear, "neutral" refers to the state of a match when niether player is currently in a postion of particular advantage or under pressure, and both players are trying to get a hit in or make the other player trip up to then take advantage of it, while "fundamentals" refers to your skill and knowledge not at executing combos or hard to preform techniques or your reaction time, but your ability to use tactics, know what the right options are, and your knowledge of the "fundamental" game mechanics and systems. In Pokken, the phase shift system means that the game regularly forces the match back to a neutral state after long combos, and the game uses it's height system not as a way for an offensive player to open up a blocking one, but as a way for any player, at any moment, to use a move that will bypass and beat out other moves based on their height state (enabling, say, a player who is blocking to see or make a read/guess of the offensive player using a that they can beat out and punish using one of their own moves that is invulnerable to that height, allowing them to then go on the offensive or to revert o neutral) Both of these things mean that in Pokken, there is way more time and a chance for a player on the backfoot to turn things around and to be put in a position of agency, vs in another game the player in the lead can potentially keep the other character in the corner and under pressure the whole match, or have longer combos that keep you juggled for 90% of your healthbar (obviously, there's usually still ways for a player at a disadvantage to turn things around no matter the game, but my point is that in Pokken, that a return to neutral is *guaranteed* to happen a few times per round, and reversals are more likely to happen) I also think a big boon Pokken has to newcomers is the relative centrality of our community resources: A lot of titles have like 12 different fourms and chat servers stuff is kept on and people hang out in, but with Pokken, pretty much everything is on the main discord (should be the first google result) and our supercombo page. There's some specific servers for indivual characters and regions, and a few weekly/monthly online brackets that people run on their own servers, but everything really orbits around those two places and is easy to locate or ask about once you're in them. Lastly, as a pitch to people reading this already into fighting games, I wanna be clear that while the game is more approachable to newcomers in many ways, it doesn't come at a cost of depth: I said combos are shorter and inputs are simpler, but at a high level you still have advanced tech that requires high executional skill and timing/spacing, with optimals for say Garchomp requiring juggling a lot of inputs to boot. The phase shift system may also seem like something aimed at helping players have a fighting chance, but it's also raising the skill ceiling for YOU, because it means that at top levels of play, players are constantly changing up their combo composition and move choices to optimize them around shifting and to weigh to cause shifts earlier or later, since different moves will add more or less points to the phase shift point guage (other moves can reset or lower the gauge, as well): If you get a few stray hits in before landing a combo, you'll wanna change your combo accordingly vs if you landed it right away so you end it right when the shift happens, vs you doing your full 0 psp optimal and the shift interrupting it. Likewise, maybe at some times it's better to NOT do a full combo that causes a shift to keep the enemy in the corner and under pressure as a reset, while other times maybe you wanna go with a combo that does less damage but causes a shift sooner, since you causing that shift gives you meter and some health back, etc. It's essentially an anti-infinite system that forces a return to neutral, but also adds a ton of adaptationnal depth and is made to discourage flowcharting.

[@SoloKrypton]

My guy, noone is going to read past the first paragraph 😂 You need to learn to 'social media' more

[@boonsaplenty3924]

​@@SoloKrypton I read it, was really informational even if I doubt I'll go in on PT (I don't have a switch lol)

[@Stathio]

And yet the comment has 21+ likes at this time of writing, so that many people have read it (because it's full of great information and people are interested) so... maybe you're the one who needs to learn to "social media" more...?

[@naejimba]

@@SoloKrypton , I personally don't get the whole "people don't read text anymore lul" comments. You know we used to have these things back in the day called books, and it was all words with no pictures or anything? lol. Pokken is underrated btw; it should have blown up if Nintendo wasn't so insistent on 1) not advertising it properly, 2) insisting nothing is multi platform, 3) require people to play using a specific controller at tournaments, 4) not really supporting competitive gaming or at least not making life a living hell for the players who want to. Nintendo is leaving money on the table, and at this point the money is in their franchises/games and NOT the consoles they lose money on.

[@merrymello9856]

I don’t know if y’all are still reading these comments, but I wanted to let you know that this video sparked an absolute frenzy of a new obsession for me, and I can’t thank you enough for it 💜 Everything you said about the joys of gaming being encapsulated in one genre was a perfect description of what’s it’s felt like to get good at games like Guilty Gear Strive. So, have all of my love and appreciation!

[@warioware3odst]

awesome video pat! huge ups to the RTVS Fightzone that was thanked at the end of the video. its a very cool and fun place for beginner/intermediate players who ive been hanging out with for over a year now. im incredibly thankful for that community existing because they helped me get extremely better at guilty gear

[@thomasduffner4601]

What got me into fighting games was the story mode for Injustice (1 and 2) Story progression was the reward for learning how to play.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

Thank you for reminding me about Injustice and the fun I had getting through the story. I need to pick that back up sometime and go through it again, and then play the second one. That’s also how I got into BlazBlue, and then later Guilty Gear. I randomly found BB: Chronophantasma at a GameStop, thought it looked interesting, and picked it up. I played a little bit before going back to the beginning with Calamity Trigger and 100%ed the story mode, then moved on to Continuum Shift and the rest of the series, and then did something similar with Guilty Gear. I’d argue a fun story is about as important to getting into a game as picking a character you like (for fighting games that have decent stories, at least).

[@dauxgaming577]

As a former fighting game player this video personally got me back in fighting game

[@Roboticwhale19]

I found this very similar to my experiences in marching band. Going to the competitions and peer feedback. It’s a fantastic thing. The one major thing I feel people need to hear is doing competitions is awesome. It is truly and amazing experience. It might be nerve racking at first but it’s so worth it. Seize the moment. Trust me. You will grow so much as a person.

[@DanteDSol]

This was a perfect encapsulation of what it's like trying to get into games with a competitive scene; for me this was my experience with League of Legends. It was super intimidating, and I didn't have the best group to play and learn with. But my interest in the game as a whole (lore, characters, art, etc.) fueled me to get better at the game alone. It's been about 6 years since and I'm still playing at least 2-3 times a week, so I'm hoping to dive back into Guilty Gear Strive. Thanks for being the small push to go and break my rusty old thumbs in the tutorial again!

[@ToeManJon11]

awesome video. As someone who's been playing fighting games for years its always interesting to see peoples new experiences with them, I would def recommend this guide to people

[@yourethelobsterwrong]

Honestly this video, along with a manga entitled Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games, gave me the push I needed to start playing seriously playing fighting games. I played a bunch when I was growing up (especially Soul Calibur 2), but was never particularly good or dedicated to getting better. I'm still not particularly good, but I'm working on it. And despite my inexperience as a "serious" fighting game player, I just started a Fighting Game Club at my university. Thank you Pat and everyone who worked on this video 💜💜💜💜

[@Diavolo989]

IT Tech here; First of all , excellent video , I hope it brings many more newcomers into FGs. Secondly, for those that struggle with Ethernet placements or simply do not have the possibility to run cable through corridors: Use power-lines. It's a nifty inexpensive piece of tech that makes the internet signal run through your electrical wiring so if you do not live in a '20s house you should be good to go, they pair with themselves in an intuitive manner and you hook one end to the router and the other end to your platform of choice through ethernet, all you need are 2 free power sockets 1 near the router 1 near your platform. Cheers to y'all.

[@mmking9999]

The FGC needed a video like this from someone who's new to fighting games, to help other people take the plunge. Thanks for this!

[@tomacas]

As someone who loves fighting game content, but hasn't really played the games in many years, this was a wonderful video and inspires me to get back into playing

[@micahonline_]

one of the best guides to get into fighting games, covers many barriers that fgc creators tend to forget when making guides, like the terminology, great stuff!

[@Eaguru]

This is such a great primer. I know many videos have been done on the subject, but this is by far the most well-written and presented one I've seen to date. I've been into fighting games for years, but getting people into it is always a struggle because of those hurdles every FGC vets has already managed to get past. I hope, in its own small way, this helps people get into the genre and fill out communities for their games of choice.

[@2x433]

Nice seeing all these new people finally taking the plunge to learn a fighting game! Hope you all enjoy yourselves and heres to the grind🍷

[@twostepghouls]

This video combined with the Street Fighter 6 hype train has genuinely got me back into fighting games for the first time since I was a kid. So excited.

[@frogery]

it takes a lot of time and effort. i'm glad i got into fighting games before i had real life responsibilities because i was able to dedicate a lot of free time to learning. it paid off in the long run.

[@kupo_777]

My main? No, my "little guy"

[@utoherozv]

This was an amazingly encouraging video! My first more serious fighting game experience was Absolver. It's population is almost dead, but just finding that one person who would play for a while was game changing. I once played 4-6 hours straight with a random friend. IMO nothing is more satisfying that sticking through the hard matches and learning something while you get you trash kicked in.

[@bislarke95]

Yo same with Absolver!! Getting to test out new combat decks vs humans, getting the weaknesses exploited, and then seeing what you can tweak to improve your decks afterward is suuuuuper satisfying,😁

[@NicolaeCarpathia420]

This video had alot of references to Elden Ring and Dark Souls, but there is actually a huge amount of crossover between the FGs and Souls pvp. It's just less regulated by design and the netcode physically can't be as robust, but alot of the fundamentals in positioning and spacing and timing and mental attitude remain the same. And there's always room to climb and self improve.

[@esmooth919]

0:07 This was me back in the 90's when Street Fighter 2 came out. I was in awe. I loved seeing the fights. I wanted to try the game, but there were NO instructions! I didn't know what to do! And when I played against my cousin, he always whooped my ass! So I got a copy of the game for myself just so I could train. I will never forget how *_hard_* of a time I had Just trying to learn how to throw a damn *_Hadouken!!!_* One time, I did it by accident, and I just couldn't retrace my steps! Then, they actually started putting comprehensive instructions in the manuals, which is more than I can say for the fuckin' arcade. And then, when I got a copy of Street Fighter Alpha for the Sega Saturn, it actually had a training mode! Needless to say, I brought my Saturn to my cousin's house, we played some Street Fighter Alpha 2, and I finally beat his ass! That victory felt so sweet, it's not even funny! I say all of this to say, *_Don't give up._* If I can get good at the game, I know you can. Any fighting game. It just takes practice.

[@thegothaunt]

This video grabbed my attention immediately. I have definitely felt inclined to try fighting games but thought I was too outside the genre for them. I used to LOVE Tekken 4 as a kid! I'll watch this video and take some notes...maybe I'll pick one to try out!

[@alexanderw7926]

I love how he called Potemkin a 'little guy' lmao

[@sleepinbelle9627]

He's the biggest little guy they have, but he's still a little guy

[@MRNIIK]

This was brilliant! I don't have anything interesting to add, I just want to share my appreciation for the encouragement and positivity in this video. I am so glad to see that some of the philosophies I've wanted to believe in despite being surrounded by opposite messaging (following your heart about games and characters) are things you encourage! I gotta eat my vegetables and watch my replays though! I'm keen to get back to it now.

[@oscarlove4394]

One thing i would like to add to the "Pick a Game" section is if you're planning on immediately jumping into online, i suggest getting at least a relatively newer game with a larger community. The more players there are the more likely it is you can find people at your own level. If you go play an older game with a smaller community then chances are you're not going to meet another newbie, you're going to run into a 'veteran of a thousand hours' over and over. Now you're going to meet vets who will kick your ass anyway, and thats fine, thats fun even because thats one of the best ways to learn. But it can get pretty frustrating if its constant, especially when you start out and just wanna have fun and not feel like barrier to entry is 100 hours in the lab minimum. (which it isnt) but for new players, and i mean never-touched-a-fighting-game new, i actually dont suggest going online. Get a game that has a good story/single player mode (blazblue calamity trigger comes to mind) and play through that. the FGC (fighting game community) will tell you 'never practice against bots' and thats sound advice, bots are completely different from people and not as fun, plus you might learn bad 'exploit bot AI' strategies that dont work on people. BUT Fighting bots is a great way to have some easy entry-level fun while you're still figuring out controlls, inputs and stuff.

[@ChillyMakesMusic]

This was fantastic! Perfectly articulated the things that make fighting games so great; the personal growth, the healthy competition, the sense of community. You love to see it

[@Feyraligatr]

Twenty-plus minutes of that good good Polygon is all that will get me through this Thursday

[@polygon]

We stream on Thursdays, too! Polygon Overload.

[@jays1ay574]

I love this video! All of the topics pertain to everything I am going through trying to become a better player so I can feel confident enough to enter online tournaments and lose without feeling any self loathing. I am going to have to watch this at least once a week to keep myself grounded.

[@zazenbo]

The best thing to come out of Polygon in years. Or any major gaming publication. Good job.

[@edmaldonado8207]

Everything you said held so true for my experience when I got into fighting games last year, starting with Tekken 7. When I first started playing Tekken, I went through the Story Mode, then the Arcade mode to try every single character. Eventually I found one that I liked the most. (Kunimitsu) I then went to Training mode and tried out just about every single move she can do. Then I went online. I don't care for Ranked personally, in any multiplayer game, so I went on Quick Match. I would get bodied over and over and over and over again. Constantly. For hours. But I wouldn't give up. I'd keep pressing Rematch until the opponent left or until I won at least once. Once I'd win that one match after a string of constant losses, it was like having my own shonen character arc. I felt myself getting better. So I'd win that one match and take a break. I'd then go back to Training mode to work on bad habits. Then back online, rinse and repeat. It's a year later and now I tend to be the one who goes on winning streaks against people I play online. I just didn't give up and I naturally got better. Fighting games are great because YOU the player gets to level up. There's no arbitrary number or XP gauge that tells you you're getting stronger, YOU'RE getting stronger. Now I'm just addicted! I've been playing Tekken, Darkstalkers, MK11, and Skullgirls. I'm still getting destroyed in MK11 online but I'm getting better. Fighting games are my favorite multiplayer game bar none. Thanks for making this video to get other casual players like myself to finally take that plunge!

[@jinchuriki7022]

Kunimitsu is a better Noctis. I always get mixed up and poked. Wish they kept her fire breath move. It takes discipline to get constantly bodied and still want to play another match.