I Dont Want To Be A Robot

[Animal]

people say that my fox is like a robot because of my very fast playstyle and my really good tech skill. However, this is not how i want to play. I want to play more like a mango have better mindgames and be able to adapt. Any advice on how to break my robotic habits?

 

[_Rocky_]

youre a robotic animal

whats your problem

 

[Whirlwind Werewolf]

Uhhhh I'm not as good as you when it comes to this game, Animal, but like.....I have the same problem really. If you see an opening and you like know there's some kind of ridiculous technical thing that you could do to rack up insane damage, or like instantly kill someone then do it. And if it works time after time, you might be doing the same things, but that may be because you have gotten that stuff down to a science. If you feel like doing things that are different but are less efficient don't. The exception is when your opponent sees what's coming really. I guess adapting would call for you to study up on the different playstyles of your opponents, and the nature of different matchups as well as your options when it comes to different stages. In order for you to be better, I guess you should utilize such a number of strategies or techniques that your opponent can't predict you. I overheard something about Mango that was pretty interesting, someone said that he was so good with Falco because he did obvious things with him, when opponents expected something not so obvious which was a mindgame in itself. Are there any particular matches of you online where you felt you didn't do as well as you could have done?

 

[Animal]

ya i definitely agree, unfortunately i didn't get too much recorded of me at Apex. (none of my tourny matches) were i feel like i played my best because i concentrated on playing smart/thinking/adapting. But i did better than i ever could have hoped for, (still salty about losing to thorn to make bracket, i can take him.) But my problem is that i am a very fast and explosive fox, which sometimes not only makes it hard to think for the opponent but for me 2. maybe sometimes i just have to slow it down, also i find myself doing something and then thinking why did i do that? decision making is another thing i have to work on.

 

[Whirlwind Werewolf]

Yeah I think taking it slow sometimes is important. Faster isn't always better, especially when it means you're approaching the opponent. By alternating the speed you can make slower executions work, because if you feint a fast assault, your opponent will respond quickly, and hopefully it will be the wrong response to the slower technique that you're about to pull on him. For example, this isn't that good of an example, though, if your opponent 3-d dodges what he thinks will be a jab, and you instead had used a slower but more powerful move, it will connect when he comes back from the dodge hopefully and he will have gotten hit because you threw off his timing. Something like that. I'm guessing your playstyle is usually aggressive?

 

[Druggedfox]

Just a thought:

Mango has a very fast playstyle, and his tech skill is top notch...

If you're ever described (or think you are) robotic, perhaps it has to do more with falling into patterns, etc?

It may be an incorrect description; being fast does not necessarily nullify being smart. I mean, people described m2k as a robot for ages... he was certainly capable of adapting etc. Regardless, if you still feel that you need to work on other things, I recommend playing a different character while you train. Try playing a character that cant rely on tech skill etc to beat the opponent. Or perhaps pick a character who relies more on adapting to the opponent, etc. Any character other than fox or falco, really.

I personally thinking playing multiple characters is AMAZINGLY helpful, because each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, which you have to learn to work around when you play them. If you combine everything you learn from each character's individual strengths and weaknesses, it'll help you a lot when you use your main. You can still play fast and technical, but you'll have the added insight of knowing how to play with other characters. If you can pull that off, I think rather than feeling robotic, you'll simply seem like a technical player who can read his opponent etc. This also has the added bonus of, for example, if you learn to get around let's say falcos lasers as falcon/ganon, think about how less overwhelming they'll seem when you play fox again.

G'luck, vids would be kewl =P

 

[Charlesz]

Just a thought:

Mango has a very fast playstyle, and his tech skill is top notch...

If you're ever described (or think you are) robotic, perhaps it has to do more with falling into patterns, etc?

It may be an incorrect description; being fast does not necessarily nullify being smart. I mean, people described m2k as a robot for ages... he was certainly capable of adapting etc. Regardless, if you still feel that you need to work on other things, I recommend playing a different character while you train. Try playing a character that cant rely on tech skill etc to beat the opponent. Or perhaps pick a character who relies more on adapting to the opponent, etc. Any character other than fox or falco, really.

I personally thinking playing multiple characters is AMAZINGLY helpful, because character has their own strengths and weaknesses, which you have to learn to work around when you play them. If you combine everything you learn from each character's individual strengths and weaknesses, it'll help you a lot when you use your main. You can still play fast and technical, but you'll have the added insight of knowing how to play with other characters. If you can pull that off, I think rather than feeling robotic, you'll simply seem like a technical player who can read his opponent etc. This also has the added bonus of, for example, if you learn to get around let's say falcos lasers as falcon/ganon, think about how less overwhelming they'll seem when you play fox again.

G'luck, vids would be kewl =P

This is the key.

 

[Whirlwind Werewolf]

Yeah I have a much easier time with my friend's Falco as Fox, after I've worked hard at playing them as Bowser lol.

 

[Animal]

its frustrating that none of my serious tourny matches got recorded. Im alot better since this but its the best i got atm haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlkcUtKwojM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0t3e5J6dkM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTlpFeXj5QQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQLM2HMgCA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REzH0W7BwmE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMaZ1vO3xpQ obviously a friendly haha

 

[Strong Badam]

think about everything you do.
if you don't think about every movement you do, every decision you make, you're doomed to failure.

 

[Animal]

solid advice. to quote mango, practice tech skill so you dont have to worry about it during matches nd can focus on picking up habits

 

[RaynEX]

think about everything you do.
if you don't think about every movement you do, every decision you make, you're doomed to failure.

I disagree.

Not every top player thinks about absolutely everything they do. Sometimes you just have to feel it out, and go with what you sense will work in that situation. To truly be great in smash you can't be so uptight and regimented when you play OR think. Its about letting strategies, spacing and techskill flow. Having plans for different scenarios, but learning to vary them to cover glitches - all the while adding personality and style to your character to make you stand out from the crowd of high tier players.

Every single top player in Melee's past and present has added their own distinct flare to their character. Much of that comes from not treating it like a science, and using your head at the right times.

Animal: being technical does not = being a robot. People will say ****. People are not always right. It's possible to play fast and technical and still think. I've always thought that a player as technical and accurate as M2k mixed with someone as creative and consistent as Mango will be the next generation of smash pro. What if that's you? Don't change, improve.


(Side example: Too much thinking can be a bad thing. Watch M2k (Fox) vs. Hungrybox from Apex. He's so focused on camping that even when Box whiffs things in front of him, he runs away. His strat is so cemented in his mind, that he doesn't deviate from it once - even when that single step off the path would lead to greater success.)

 

[Animal]

wow, thanks raynex. I feel like im very close to breaking through. i'll play you at ROM3 and you can tell me what i need to improve on =)

 

[Pr0jecT]

Robotic fox's are dangerous if they can outsmart people too. BE A MOTHER****ING SUPER COMPUTER EVAN

 

[FluxWolf]

i think playing other characters helps u not be so robotic

like even if u dont actually play the char just try being safe and win the match anyways LOL then u will switch to fox again and be like ahh this is ez and u will pick up tactics that u can use as fox from only playing the other chars, or things that would take a lot more trial/error to figure out wheras when ur playing as ness ur options are very limited.. so thats how they can help u =)

dash dance camp more i bet thats what ppl are talking about its prolly cuz u just dont play smart not that i know u but im just guessing based off my own experiences LOL (slow learner)

edit: im pretty sure i finally got good at this game when i learned to dash dance camp... after 4 years. rofl.

 

[G.L.]

yeah id say try to play some other characters and just dont use alot of repetative things ( unless there working then by all means keep using them) but eventually they will fail and youll have to think of something else to do quickly, thats how you adapt

 

[Bets]

you could just chill and punish

 

[PK Webb]

animal we just need more experience honestly.......ur rilly gud....u just need to space better and think a lil more (experience)

 

[omgwtfToph]

edit: im pretty sure i finally got good at this game when i learned to dash dance camp... after 4 years. rofl.

yeah dude it's hella important

the thing Fox lacks compared to the other top tiers (Falco, Marth, Sheik, Jigglypuff, when you play him too aggressively/fast, ) is a reliable way to "lock" your opponent down via zoning (Falco can put his opponent in their shield with his lasers, Marth and Sheik have their fairs and tilts and stuff, Jigglypuff can bair outside your face) but fox doesn't have anything that reliably makes the opponent think twice about moving ... except his superior dashdance and myriad of options out of it. That's the way I see it anyway. so instead of playing hella fast and always feeling the need to chase your opponent down, just dashdance more and put the ball in their court... then go in when you know you have an opening

edit: vs. falco, sometimes you have to replace "dashdance" with "full hop"

 

[PB&J]

just keep playing different people /go to tournies and u will be beast in no time.. i played u and seen u play. keep playing and you will be a great fox..go to more smashfest son..u got this