Overview
Is this your first fighting game? Great, let me help you help yourself.
Introductions
Hey! If you’re already familiar with fighting games there’s not much to see here but you’re more than welcome to correct me where I’m wrong~
If you’re a newbie like me, welcome to the game. Hopefully this will help set you in the right direction. Best of wishes and see ya in Fœnum.
The Controls/Terminology
While intimidating at first, the controls quickly become a little more natural. Here’s a quick intro on what you’ll be seeing.
A = Light
B = Medium
C = Heavy
D = Magic
QC = Quarter Circle
F = Forward
B = Back
Hold = Hold
2x = Double
Here are some examples of attacks:
- QCF + A
- QCB + C
- Hold B, F + A
That last one is known as a ‘Charge attack’.
‘Chaining’ is when you immediately attack out of another attack (canceling the frames) which creates a combo. You can also combo while ‘linking’ but the difference is that linking uses hitstun to combo instead.
‘Hitstun’ is when your opponent was stunned from an attack and they are unable to do anything temporarily.
In order to block an attack you must be holding backwards. Air blocking will block any normally blockable attack. Standing while blocking will defend from aerial and standing attacks. Crouching and blocking keeps you safe from standing and low attacks.
If you want to get away from your opponent hit any 2 attack keys after blocking an attack to push them away. This technique is known as a ‘Push Block’.
Command grabs are unblockable attacks. Regular grabs however can be countered by inputting grab before they throw you.
Here is an image that I grabbed from google that explains numeric/keypad notation:
Your controller
First things first, the controls should feel good and natural as you’re playing. There is no right or wrong so long as you like it. Just keep a few things in mind~
- Utility 1 and 2 are quick and voice chat respectively (in the Pixel Lobby).
- Macros can be any combination of A, B, C, D.
- There’s something called “ABC combos” which flow very nicely. While there are some exceptions here and there almost every traditional fighting game has them. To do an “ABC combo” chain A into B into C.
I very much recommend setting one of your macros to B + C as it is useful for any character. (This macro can grab/counter grab, activate your special, and pushblock.)
Most players recommend using a controller and seeing as most players are better than me I’ll pass this information along.
If you only have a keyboard to use don’t feel bad about it! Here’s a tip from someone who (is way better than me and also) uses keyboard. “Hammering down, then forwards as fast as possible works for a quarter circle forward, and forward, down, forward for the “weird” zig-zag (also known as a dragon punch, or shoryuken) input.” ~ Petralicious
For me I press down, still hold it while I press forward, let go of down, let go of forward, and then press my attack. For the dragon punch that looks something like a → ↓ ↘ + (atk). I press and release forward, press down, continue holding while I press forward, let go of down, and then press my attack while I’m still holding forward.
Hopefully one of these two methods (probably the first one) will work for you!
Using the Training Room
It’s scary… I know. I won’t tell you the super advanced secrets because I don’t know them. BUT I do have something to show you. When you pause the game you will see a menu. Select ‘Training Options’. From there select ‘Combo Training…’. There’s something called ‘Combo Trials…’, this will teach you mechanics about your character as well as some simple combos. It also has some nifty information to tell you where you’re struggling. From here it’s up to you to practice; being able to beat a combo trial once is great but it isn’t good enough. After you’ve beaten the trial try to beat it again and again until you can do it fairly consistently.
If you’re wondering what the numbers all mean, here’s a little explantion on the ones important to Combo Trial.
Misc. Tips
Some characters (Arizona comes to mind) require 2 consecutive QC’s for some of their combos. To help make it easier you can input one QC.
Ex. QCF + A, QCF + C —-> QCF + A , C
If anyone has some extra info about how this works I’d love to hear it ^^ Playing Paprika I don’t learn these things so much.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Petralicious, Moonmadness, Hiddelgreyk, Flare, and YourCrazyDolphin for adding to/correcting the guide!