So did you stop reading because you play AH3 and knew I was on the right track, thereby saving yourself time since you already know I’m right? Or did you stop reading about a game you don’t play because you like to flaunt your ignorance about fighting games on a fighting game message board?
If the former, congratulations on being one of (too) few to appreciate one of the best fighting games ever (yes, I said it).
If the latter, consider why you come here and also consider that AH3 has grappler, zoner, rekka, trap, doll, counter, charge, “shoto”, armor characters and more. Unless you only play drunken boxing, stance switching, dark phoenix character, I don’t know how there isn’t a character archetype for you (whether you like them or not is another question).
I’m actually pretty surprised to see this too. I always thought that AH has had some neat design ideas behind it, so let me explain.
While I definitely did get the impression that AH3 reached a wider audience of (non-Japan) players than the previous versions, I also got the distinct impression that AH3 failed to retain the majority of (non-Japan) competitive AH1/AH2 players. Am I correct about this?
In particular, I recall some really avid AH2 players saying that AH3 had all-but-abandoned what was a nuanced and meaningful neutral game, which generally sucked the emphasis away from everything that made AH2 so good.
Iduno, obscura, Peteylicious, Mad Mistress:
Were any of you competent AH1 and/or AH2 players? Genuine question, not trying to attack or de-value your opinions! I have virtually no experience with AH.
Would you say that…
a) the complaint against AH3 is in some way inaccurate?
b) AH3 has merits unique to it that either did not exist in AH1/AH2 or were much less prominent there?
c) AH2 was such a fantastic game that even a watered-down version is still in contention for being the best fighting game of this generation??
I know this all sounds a little antagonistic. Mainly I’m curious to hear someone back up their stance in this context. Please elaborate!
I had never played any prior AH games to AH3. I’m pretty sure that homing used to cost meter but in 3 it’s free (except homing cancels) so I guess that would have had an effect on the neutral game. I don’t know how it used to play but I like that homing is free, it leads to fast paced matches and even the grappler has insane mobility.
Either play them anyway because they are badass to play or play one of the many non-underage girls. It’s like people see Maori and think the whole game is like that.
AH3 came out post SF4, in an era where everything that doesn’t automatically bring in a huge player base like the main Capcom stuff ends up being overshadowed and ignored. In that regard AH3 never got a proper chance to shine outside of Japan. They also didn’t remove the nuance from the neutral, but replaced it with a system that’s more unique and differentiated from other games on the market. In other words if you make a game in a market full of ASW etc. might as well go all the way with your unique mechanics. Did AH3 nail everything right on the 1st try? Of course not, but that’s what the revisions are for.
I know I’ll get flagged for this, but it’s true. It is pretty obvious Arcana Heart (series) was made for people with a strong lolicon fetish. It is loaded with fan service of children. So despite how solid the fighting engine behind it may or may not be, a lot of people are going to be disgusted by it.
AH characters aren’t even sexualized, then again last time I played an AH was 1, so I’m thinking off what I saw last. Yall niggas just mindlessly bashing, just like dudes who won’t play a DOA because they think it will make them a pervert. C’mon now. But I can understand why most would not want to play AH3 upon first glance, due to the cast, but its whatever.
Missed out on AH1 and 2 unfortunately so I couldn’t really answer the questions about holding up to their legacy, but I haven’t really noticed anything I strongly disliked about the neutral game.
(Bear in mind that this is coming from someone who mains Nazuna with her massive stick and killer rabbits so I wouldn’t notice problems that might pop up more amongst the characters with shorter ranged moves so much.)