Single Player in Fighters

[UpgradeJ]

Not too long ago there was a game called Mortal Kombat on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 that offered an expansive single player aspect to players. The game was a hit and seemed almost like an attack on developers like Capcom and Sega with long running franchises that have almost no single player. Before the rise in Online play on consoles fighting games (though mostly licensed fighters like the x-men games or anime based fighters) had a trend where it was required to beat the campaign or story mode to unlock all the characters which wasn't a bad thing. For one reason or another the rise in online play has caused fighting games to focus more on that aspect and less on the single player which basically means that companies like capcom or sega could continue their pattern of only offering single player for mastering the game as opposed to playing through. I want to know what are your thoughts on the subject and your views on the state of fighting games.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Fighting games have always been and should always be about the player versus player combat.

I'm not against quality single player experiences, however, but when placed on the checklist of things that get priority in development, I would much rather see solid quality teaching tools put into the game. If at the end of the day there's enough time/money left to create a single player experience that's worth while, great, but it's not the first thing a serious fighting game developer should ever concentrate on.

 

[Mysterious Username]

I like story modes. The old DBZ games for the PS2 have some nice story modes(although they can be a bit frustrating at times). I don't think you should have to use it to unlock all the characters though, just maybe some extra characters.
Of note is Brawl's story mode which I quite enjoyed.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Come on, a fighting game with a story that isn't complete MALFESTED piss? Lol no. Well unless you count the ones that are based on something already like the DBZ/Naruto ones i've never played.

It's just not gonna happen. I even have my doubts about whether the Persona 4 Arena story is going to be any good and Persona 4 was freaking epic in the story department (and every other compartment but that's beside the point)


Though challenge modes are a different story, the MK9 stuff was brillant.

Oh and damn harder difficulties in fighting games end up being a matter of whether the AI is gonna stop looking at your button inputs long enough to win.

Seriously play UMVC3 on very hard and watch Akuma just flame uppercut you every time you press a button

Fighting games are always going to be about the online community though, when fucking sweet UMVC3 tourneys are happening nobody gives a fuck about the single player.

I think i'm gonna stop playing UMVC3 and just watch UMVC3 instead... Fuck most of the guys online can't decide whether they want to spam the taunt button after every single fucking win or just go for the good old fasioned teabag.

Weird how the worse my rank gets the more fun I have... I just ran out of fucks to give about my rank I suppose.

It's all fun and games until someone spams the taunt button DX

Just as a side note I can (and do) lose amazingly badly in Skullgirls and have literally no Salt rising at all. It's just fun watching my inept Parasoul just drop every half a combo then have to resort to grappling at every opportunity to get any damage in there.

Maybe it's epic writing and lack of a taunt button... Valentine is just full of awesome one-liners

"The head bone is connected to the arm bone... For now"

"Side effects may include: Headaches, Nausea and Death!"

 

[chadachada123]

I will say that Soul Caliber 2's Weapon Master mode is the greatest story mode in any fighting game, ever, and has never been equaled, even by other Soul Caliber games.

That is all.

 

[Mysterious Username]

I'm confused, what MK game had a great single player experience???

Latest one was pretty good. I mean it was just a bunch of cutscenes and fights (and cheap ass boss fights) but it was still fun. Better than what Armageddon did at least.

 

[kouriichi]

Two words.

The Bouncer. Remember how good of a fighting/beat em up game that was? How long and engrossing the single player was? I really wish they would make a sequel to it.

Story is one of the most important aspects to any game. Id rather have an ugly looking fighting game with a great story, then a pristine polished fighting game, with no single player story.

 

[tseroff]

I'm confused, what MK game had a great single player experience???

Latest one was pretty good. I mean it was just a bunch of cutscenes and fights (and cheap ass boss fights) but it was still fun. Better than what Armageddon did at least.

Saying 'latest one' means about as much as to me as 'Double Paradiddle' means to the layman...

I long for a game that gives story to it's characters... please enlighten me.

I'm a layman and I understood that one. Hmmm...

 

[Mysterious Username]

I'm confused, what MK game had a great single player experience???

Latest one was pretty good. I mean it was just a bunch of cutscenes and fights (and cheap ass boss fights) but it was still fun. Better than what Armageddon did at least.

Saying 'latest one' means about as much as to me as 'Double Paradiddle' means to the layman...

I long for a game that gives story to it's characters... please enlighten me.

Well it's awkward to explain because they just called it "Mortal Kombat". It basically retells the "story" of the first 3 games(by which I mean retcons there to be a story)with some new twists thanks to time travel. It's sort of like MK vs DC in that you go from character to character for fighting bits along with their part of the story but it's more streamlined thanks to the fact that there's not two factions to play as for the story. Also it has more bullshit boss fights but it's a fighting game so that's to be expected.

 

[tseroff]

Because I thought my insight was extremely... insightful. *shrugs*

There are many games with good character, but I'm assuming you mean fighting games. Skullgirls has quite a good backstory for it's characters; UMVC3 has characters that come with story, but they don't get any in-game. I'm hoping the new MLP fighter has a fun story, but let's be honest-- that's not why anyone will play it.

IF YOU KANT GET HELP, READ THE IMMANUEL!!

(couldn't resist)

 

[Gitty101]

The Mortal Kombat single-player story was a complete joke. A series of disjointed fight scene which needed little to no motivations from the characters involved. However, it was still more of a story than most fighting games have.

Fighting games are and always have been about pitting your skills against those of other players. Even the best AI can be consistently beaten once you have reached a certain skill level. Other players though can adapt and learn, making each fight more interesting than the last.

 

[Mysterious Username]

The Mortal Kombat single-player story was a complete joke. A series of disjointed fight scene which needed little to no motivations from the characters involved. However, it was still more of a story than most fighting games have.

Fighting games are and always have been about pitting your skills against those of other players. Even the best AI can be consistently beaten once you have reached a certain skill level. Other players though can adapt and learn, making each fight more interesting than the last.

I think it worked well if you assumed that almost every character is an insane sociopath,which isn't much of a stretch, if one at all.
Plus Cage and Striker, just the best. The ending sucked though in my opinion.

 

[TehCookie]

Fighting games really need a story. The combat is fun, but it can't support the game on it's own. I really like Blazblue for the fact it has a story and interesting characters along with the standard fighting game.

 

[Gitty101]

The Mortal Kombat single-player story was a complete joke. A series of disjointed fight scene which needed little to no motivations from the characters involved. However, it was still more of a story than most fighting games have.

Fighting games are and always have been about pitting your skills against those of other players. Even the best AI can be consistently beaten once you have reached a certain skill level. Other players though can adapt and learn, making each fight more interesting than the last.

I think it worked well if you assumed that almost every character is an insane sociopath,which isn't much of a stretch, if one at all.
Plus Cage and Striker, just the best. The ending sucked though in my opinion.

I'm sorry, but "even though we're on the same team I'm going to beat you to within an inch of death because you said something I didn't like, then you'll be fine in the next cutscene" ain't exactly oscar-winning material my friend. XD

 

[Pharsalus]

I think single player is very important to fighters. It influenced my not purchasing Soul Calibur 5. Decent stories can be told through a good single player mode, more importantly it gives a sense of progress and achievement to players who need get their chops up before tackling the rest of the world.