I'll be try to be brief.
The reason I think we're better is because when I watch Japanese play, I see elements of gameplay that we're already aware of. My eyes are some of the best for viewing smash at ALL levels of play (not just a high or top level) and I understand almost always why players make the decisions that they do. I think the top players in America are just better than the Japanese ones.
However, I also think the average player in America is absolutely terrible compared to what I think the average player should look like. I am really interested in getting more connected with the Japanese.
Oh, also, in regards to the beginning of the thread. I train with R00kie, the Fox main, as he's in my crew. He utilizes many of the tactics you spoke of (though I always do tell him to use more Nair) and I think you underestimate some of our better Foxes. Remember that there are still good players that don't get as much hype, just because they don't WIN tourneys with their characters. How many people have heard of Pink Fresh before he beat Ally and Boss in low tiers at Battle Royale II? Not me? Was he still a ground-breaking Lucas player before that fated time? Of course. How many people STILL don't know about Pink Fresh?
I do not mean to brag about my personal skill, but I have a very, very trained eye in this game to the point where I could make it a profession if there was a market for it. I can simply tell that our top players are better than theirs.
However, I'm interested on how good their AVERAGE player is. To 95%+ of the community, this is what should concern you. Most of you aren't going to beat 9B just because you're American, because the fact is, even though we say Brawl is simple, and on paper we have astounding mastery of MK and Brawl, the average player is just extremely lacking in terms of pattern recognition, reading, technical skill, spacing and zoning concepts and ability, game physics knowledge, and almost every core skill needed to play. In fact, the only skill that seems to be common is basic follow up recognition, and that's why everyone STILL airdodges nearly two years in.
Before anyone tries to say that I'm being too harsh, I'll give some evidence to back this up.
Deliberate Powershielding non-projectile attacks is extremely uncommon for most people.
Traps evolve very slowly
I don't play ICs, and I bet most of you don't either. I bet you I can still get the first hit on most of you. The average person's spacing and zoning is terrible. I can cripple most players with my Mario still.
Most people still fail to successfully execute juggles. Most people can't even juggle my Ganondorf.
Most people, including myself, still average a minimum of two technical errors a STOCK. I know, because I can READ when people make a technical error.
Most people fail to set up optimal walls with the character they MAIN. Most people don't even realize that walls need mix-ups. Most people still don't seem to understand how to create a wall that also protects against dash into shield/powershield.
Most people still don't understand how to use full jump or crouch.
Most people know about pivot grabbing, but don't properly use it unless they have a tether character.
Most people, INCLUDING MANY PROS STILL RECOVER INCORRECTLY.
Honestly, I don't even think I'm that good at the game. I just have a solid mastery of the basics, and outstanding amounts of memorized knowledge, and an impressive understanding of mechanics. In short, I'm good because I study and understand. Many of you who understand are too scared to even attempt to imply what you understand. I watch so many players pass up edge-guard opportunities because they are too scared to leave the stage, unable to realize how to safely edgeguard. Vertical spacing is a foreign concept to almost everyone (and no, it does not simply mean learning how to beat Dairs with Uairs.)
Honestly, the average player is just so disappointing. I expect every single person here to be able to do ALL of the things I just listed, but I have to applaud if you have mastery in just two of them, and those are just the basics. I don't expect people to understand how to set up perfect edge traps. I don't expect people to understand how to set up level 3, and level 4 traps. I don't expect people to have the reflexes of a spartan. I don't even expect the average player to have a good set or understanding of mindgames. But after playing the game for a YEAR, I do expect people to incorporate certain stuff into their game, and I'm just so generally disappointed when looking at the progress of people. The number of subpar options chosen, versus optimal ones that can be learned just from watching the right videos is pathetic, especially when watching so many top level pattern replication poorly used, because of the lack of understanding.
I'm an extremely interested to know how good the average player in Japan is. Everyone says America is so good. Good compared to other people? I guess. I think there are very few people who are good at this game. I expect the average player to be good. Not great. Not extraordinary, but at least good. Unfortunately, it's not the case. There's always your new guy, or that guy who just doesn't get it. You all know them. The R1 easy win that might as well be a bye for whatever top player he gets paired up against. Still, by R2 in winners bracket, things should get interested. Half the players just got knocked into losers. It's time to cut the crap. Still, R2 is pretty easy for some reason, and smash tourneys don't even get interesting until R3.
My MK is okay. It can beat most people, and I'm decent at the ditto. Still, I shouldn't be able to utterly wreck 90% of the country with it, but I can. Failure to respond to the BASIC patterns and options of the MOST POPULAR CHARACTER, over an entire YEAR since the game came out is pretty bad. I'm not talking about when I properly set up traps, using dtilt, or other such tools. But, simple stuff like getting hit by frame 3 Ftilt still on 3, 2, 1, Go! instead of shielding the obvious swings is ridiculous.
Am I wrong for having such 'high' expectations of people, in what everyone seems to consider an "easy and simple" game?
EDIT: Failed at being brief. TL;DR: You're bad and you should feel bad, so stop pointing fingers at the Japanese, and saying that players much better than you could beat other players much better than you.
