New player that needs a little help. Who to look at in game?

[Lindsay Easton]

Hello my name is Lindsay. I just got Smash Bros for Wii U and am trying to get my husband into it. He has a seemingly basic question but I was not sure how to answer it so I turned to the internet for help. His question is during a match should he be looking at and be focused on what his character is doing or be looking at and focused on what the character he is fighting is doing? I looked for this information and searched for it through the forums but couldn't find anything. I am sorry if this is the dumbest question in the world but I didn't know what to tell him. We live in Colorado and are really enjoying the new game! I haven't played since 64 and he has never played before.

 

[Abyssal Lagiacrus]

Good to hear that you're getting back in the series.

In my playstyle, I usually try to keep my focus more towards the middle-ground of myself and my opponent, just enough to where I can put focus into what I'm doing, what they're doing, and what I should plan ahead for.

I've found that if I concentrate on only myself or my opponent, I don't play as well or get as many reads than when I put my view between the two of us. It might not seem like it'd make a huge difference since you can have a peripheral view on the other person, but it's just enough in a game like smash.

Now, this will vary from person to person, but it's something to consider and try to see if it'll work for you two. Have fun with Smash Wii U!

 

[Munomario777]

Welcome back to Smash, as well as to Smashboards! I think it's about focusing on yourself, but still keeping a close eye on your opponent (focusing on one's self is definitely important when using my mains Shulk and Sonic, due to the Art switching and speed respectively). It can change depending on the character and situation, however. For example, the time it takes to charge Samus's Charge Shot is a great time to look at your opponent's position, but when recovering, you want to focus on your character getting back on the stage.

 

[Raijinken]

As has been mentioned, focusing exclusively on one or the other is asking for trouble. However, of the two, I find it more necessary to focus on my opponent. With time and experience, you can generally keep a subconscious awareness of your own character's position and range, but you have no way to know what all the opponent is doing aside from watching them.

Early on, depending on how quickly a player learns, I'd suggest a 70-30 split of focus, with the 70 being on the character you're playing as. As you develop your awareness, start shifting that towards the opposite end, about 30-70. This is far easier if you play a smaller number of characters.

 

[Metarai]

Hey, welcome to Smashboards and the Smash community! Since your husband has never played a smash game, I would recommend him to mostly pay attention to his own character until he grasps how the character moves. When he is used to his character, it should be a lot a switching from focusing on your character and your opponents. Usually, it won't be so hard, since the majority of characters will play in close combat. The best is when you are focusing on your opponent's moves, but being aware of your character's positioning and what options they have. Also, make sure he doesn't get discouraged! I can't tell how many times I have tried to teach people how to play smash, only for them to quit when they self destruct. Its perfectly natural to die a lot when learning the game. I hope you are successful in learning this game and have fun!

 

[Lindsay Easton]

Thank you all for the advice! We will keep practicing!

 

[KoRLumen]

Personally, a lot of my attention is focused on the opponent (assuming 1v1). Once you're comfortable enough with a given character, I find that they're almost an extension of yourself. Kinda like a racket in badminton, you don't have to look at your racket to know where you're swinging it, etc. So once you've developed that spatial awareness and comfortability with your character's moves and nuances, your attention should be on the opponent and thinking of your next move.

However, if you're just starting out, a 70-30 division is certainly the way to go. Just remember that it's not a static division. As you get better, and depending on the situation, that ratio is bound to change.

 

[Pale Tuna]

I think you should keep a close eye to your opponent. I don't have to legit watch my character to know what I am doing, I really just need to know where I am located and where I am facing. <.< It should be auto-play for most characters, assuming you are a decently seasoned Smash player.