Everything in this world starts with a basic form. Even fighting games starts from 2D to 3D or even a Mix. Each is well respected with it’s own generation of players. However, a new direction taken from each title of the same genre is differentiating itself with the other. Thus forming a barrier between the subs.
While 2D fighting games maintain it’s pure “memorised based” movesets. A 3D fighting game tends to be more customisable and flexible. This has caused numerous theories on which one is the better twin. Fans among the genre/spesific title kept on teasing/mocking each other due to the limitations of variability seen by each side of the faction towards the other.
However, this is not true. Not 2D nor 3D is better than the other. Because both actually comes from the same fighting root. Today, i will show you how these 2 sub-genres are actually identical to the other. It’s like doing the same job with a different method. The objective however, remains the same.
2D fighting game fans tend to tease it’s younger counterpart by saying that the 3D genre is too simple to be executed due to it’s less rotational direction execution in order to execute a move or even a combo. This is because 2D fighting fans are used to memorise several types of long rotational direction for each move/super/hyper/ultra/finisher. Upon mastering several or every skill programmed for a spesific character. They can easily combine several rotational commands without hesitation or viewing.
3D fighting game however, uses a simpler.. more straightforward direction in executing it’s various flexible combo. Which ends up making most of these straightforward directioners unable to understand why it’s 2D counterpart uses complex rotation that doesn’t look related to the action of the character’s move.
2D fighting game fans memorise their favourite character’s command. You could say the ones that play the old genre has very good memorising capability as an individual. Thus enabling them adapt to 3D easier than the opposite individuals adapt to 2D. Why is this? It’s because the rotations in 2D fighting genre seemed less logical to them to execute by nature. It might take some time before a fully-obsessed 3D fighter to be able to adapt to 2D fighter.
However, it can’t be argued that both parties has excellent reaction and memorising capability. Once the logic/unlogical barrier is penetrated, both sides can actually play the other genre quite skillfully. The only difference are some minor pro’s and con’s of each genre where for example a 2D usually can’t shift to another dimension of the field whilst 3D can do it flexibly. But although like that, a 3D cannot give a limitless visual imagination like the 2D could. To be frank, both sides are equally great and has it’s own weaknesses. If you understand what i mean, you’ll realize how worthless it is to argue which side is the better.
If 3D fighter fans think 2D fighter movelist can be mashed out easily, then you’re in for a BIG WRONG. Mashing habit only ables the player to execute very much normal moves. Some special ones might come out, but that’s limited to certain characters that has a super move that doesn’t involve changing rotation directions. For example: Ryu’s Shinkuu Hadouken is Down, Forward, Down, Forward + Punch or Kick. A player who simply mashes to rotate 360 non-stop in 1 direction may have done it accidently. But for a lot other character that has a changing rotation direction movelist. The chances for it to happen when mashing is a lot thinner. For example: Forward, Down, Back, Forward, Down, Back + Punch or Kick. This kind of move won’t happen a lot if you’re mashing. Why? Because the rotation direction isn’t simply that of 1 clock-wise or non clock-wise direction. The rotation direction needs to be changed instantly during the 2nd half part of rotating. So don’t loosely say a 3D fighter fan can easily adapt to 2D fighting. Coz it’s actually backwards.
But that doesn’t mean a 3D fighter’s gameplay is non-challenging. A 3D fighter’s directional command during moves may seem a lot simpler than 2D. The challenge instead is at it’s active-timing concentration. Where you must be very weary of the opponent’s level of bounce during a combo juggle session. If your reaction is slow, the extra punch or kick won’t turn in as a combo. Because it failed to bounce the opponent more in order to not let it fall to the ground. If the opponent falls, there goes your chance to hit them even further. Unlike it’s 2D counterpart where, an opponent can also be juggled. But it’s limited only to opponent’s that are still flown in the air. Meaning, there are no character/opponent bouncing in 2D. So less chance for you to combo if you’re slow.
