How commentators can actually take your mind-games to the next level!

Hey guys,

I'm actually more of sm4sh player but I think this info can be applied to any fighting game really. The other day I was watching some smash vods on youtube, and I happened to stumble across the idea of how it has gone sort of unnoticed how incredibly helpful listening to commentating can be. I used to just watch the pros and try to mimic all their movement without actually knowing the logic behind it, before I had any idea of how the neutral phase, or basically any phase played a part in the game. But as I started watching more and more, learning about baits and reads more in depth I started to realize that commentators can actually play a big role in helping up your game. It might be surprising that even a commentator that has no knowledge of the game or any smash experience whatsoever can actually change the way you think about the game. Everyone has a different way of thinking, and can contribute to your knowledge of the game in the most subtle ways.

Let me show you what I'm talking about. Take a look at this portion of a match between ZeRo and Mew2King, and pay close attention to what the commentator says after Mew2King nets the kill:

https://youtu.be/l8a-M-OHENA?t=524

So what do you guys think? Was it a bait or was it not? Personally, I think yes Mew2King is that good. But even if it was or it wasn't, it doesn't really matter! What we get out of the statement is KNOWLEDGE. It basically changes our way of thinking of the game, and brings it to a whole new level. Let's face it none of us could have ever thought of the idea of intentionally falling on a banana as bait into cross slash kill, c'mon that's crazy! But that came to light through the mind of a commentator.

Just thought I should share this with all you smashers out there, since I thought it was an interesting idea to point out the level into which mind-games can go. I know it's not really much of a guide or none of the usual stuff we see, but more of a pointer towards good vod watching. It's great to see what the pros are doing in the meta with their characters, but to truly succeed we must know the reasons behind those actions, and that's how listening closely to commentators can actually change you're whole mindset. You'd be surprised how pretty much any commentator could help your game. Feel free to share clips of cool mind-games you guys see. Hope this was entertaining!