The "Spark"

[ThatGuy]

Sorry for the cheesy title, but it's the best metaphor I could come up with.

We all know there are tons of matches of Smash on Youtube. We know there are hundreds of thousands of players behind those vids. But how are some of them the best?

I am a Falcon player, because that is my favorite character. I watch videos of Falcon's matchups and how to handle some of them. If I'm stumped behind something (SHL for Falco, not getting grabbed/tilted by Shiek, edgeguarded by Fox) I turn to match videos to see how others have done it. And I have learned to ovecome such obstacles.

What I notice, however, is that 2 Falcon players stand out to me: Isai and Darkrain. Go ahead everyone, and yell "DUH!", but let me explain. I have watched countless Falcon matches. Sometimes I learn something, sometimes I don't. I have seen many really good Falcons; G-reg, Jiano, Mach Dash, and so many others (I said those 3 because they were the latest on my mind, doesn't mean there's any priority here). But when I watch Darkrain or Isai play, it's just...intense. It's like they're on a whole other level.

This is not an insult to any of the previous Falcons I mentioned. I know they are skilled, very skilled, skilled enough to beat amazing players. But for some reason, watching Darkrain or Isai play, it's like...wow. I can't believe Falcon is played like that. The fact that they have very good tournament records and high reputations shows that they have something about them that makes them...special. G-reg has a big reputation too, but IMO it's more of a running joke about how G-reg is a god at life and knees more than a testament to his Smash skill.

I've watched so many Falcon videos out there. And you know what? Every time I see one nowadays, I feel like it's almost the same thing as the previous player. The community has evolved to a point where people have learned to deal with certain strategies and overcome them. It's starting to look like we have all begun to emulate and copy ourselves. The only thing seperating us is the subtle difference in our playstyles trying to adapt to our opponents' habits. I have compared videos of myself to videos on Youtube, of good and bad players. I look exactly like them. I'm not saying that I'm more, less, or as skilled as all those other Falcons, but we all look the same! We're starting to lose originality for effectiveness, sorry to say.

Ironically, I guess it's the best thing to happen. How would we be able to defeat out opponents if we didn't pick up strategies on how to beat people? Problem is now we all have the same strategy. And it's going to remain that way, as far as I can tell.

Why is it that when I watch Darkrain and Isai play, I'm just stunned? They play each opponent so uniquely, so well, and even if they lose, they look **** good doing it. I wanted to learn how to handle IC's with Falcon. I watched many matches where smart Falcons would play the spacing game, choose attacks wisely, and soundly defeat the Ice Climbers. Then I watched a match of Darkrain versus ChuDat. Darkrain RIPPED NANA TO SHREDS! It was like ChuDat wasn't even playing until he had a single climber left. I don't know how he did it, it just seemed like every choice he made was the best one. But wait, every choice all those other Falcons made were the best ones too...why was Darkrain's more effective? Or why did it appear to be more effective? Darkrain won that match with 1 stock left (considering it was ChuDat that's pretty good). It was an old match FYI, but Darkrain still continues to impress me. The matches between Ken and Isai at...was it TG6? I don't know...also gave me the same effect.

Still don't know what I'm talking about? Remember when you were a super noob? Not knowing how to wavedash, l-cancel or any of that fancy stuff? Then you watch Shined Blind. OMFG. That's the feeling. I know that now, the combo vid is looked down upon due to many things, but admit it that when you first saw it, it was astonishing.

I used Falcon in my entire post because i play Falcon, and that's who I can relate to. Other characters and other people have their own idols as well. PC Chris and Bombsoldier? Vidjogamer and Mike G? Ken and Azen?

The fact is, there are players that just have something special about them that makes them so unique. I like to define it as the "Spark". Is it their mindgames? Is it their combo ability? Their movement? Their flashiness? What is it? Can you work to achieve it or is it simply inherent? Like Ken's theory about natural talent?

I personally think that knowing how to basically unlock this potential is the key to achieving the next level. It's one of the biggest steps to take.

Please, if you have some feedback to leave, keep it insightful or logical, I don't want crap spam in the thread. This is going to turn into a philosophical argument more than anything else.

 

[flaco]

Well for me the only two good captain falcons I like are Isai and Gregulate there like whoa but out of these world.

 

[Ignatius]

Please, if you have some feedback to leave, keep it insightful or logical, I don't want crap spam in the thread. This is going to turn into a philosophical argument more than anything else.

Well for me the only two good captain falcons I like are Isai and Gregulate there like whoa but out of these world.

Woops.

I've played matches against Isai, Darkrain, Greg, and Jiano. I somewhat understand what you mean in that the way they play is different, but I'd also say that Greg and Jiano also have distinct styles too. It just depends on the match you watch. Isai and Darkrain almost always space everything perfectly, and they're able to adapt to new situations fast as well. I think the biggest thing is that they use less "set" combos that they try to setup, and make combos off of what they do.

I think it's just that their mindgames and analyzations mid-match are better, and it shows in the video. Plus its always fun to wtach Falcon casue he's a fast character that can combo well if you react fast enough.

 

[Mic_128]

Someone want to say what this is actually about? All I'm getting is a lot of drool from watching falcon vids.

 

[Ignatius]

He's basically attempting to find what describes a palyer from the highest level, from those slightly below them.

 

[DRGN]

Isai and Darkrain almost always space everything perfectly, and they're able to adapt to new situations fast as well. I think the biggest thing is that they use less "set" combos that they try to setup, and make combos off of what they do.

I think it's just that their mindgames and analyzations mid-match are better, and it shows in the video.

Personally I very much believe in the above as very key points.

As for tech skill: Basically those first two sentences I quoted from Ignatius. And with no doubt the first part that I put in bold; I think almost all, if not all, high level players focus on that as a priority over "set" combos.

And as for strategy: Specifically, I believe, they're very good at analyzing and finding weakpoints(both patterns and low resistence to specific tactics) in their opponent's defense and exploiting them (all very quickly. or at least, quicker than their opponent.). They find these weaknesses(openings) probably by knowing both their opponent & their opponent's character well, watching for pattens, and knowing what the opponent's capabilities are for each attack and technique(at all times).

We all think of these things as common practice, but if you think about it, we may still not be doing it enough in mid-game.

 

[Aiko]

ah the theory of unpredictablity.

Has anyone watched "initial D" (its an anime)? In particular the 4th series of it (project D) is about Ryusuke (the team leader) trying to formulate a theory where he takes an orthodox circuit racer (his brother) and a racer who has been brought up on the streets (the main character) and analyze their differences.

This is very similar to what Thatguy is saying. Theres an element of unpredictability that Isai and G-reg have acquired and it what sets them out from the rest. This only applies to CF btw, but many other people have also acquired this mindset with other characters. Tbh, I can't think of any better way to describe it than telling you to watch Initial D: 4th stage (4th series).

 

[invertigo]

iono. sounds like mindgames to me.

 

[ThatGuy]

@Mic: I used Falcon as an example because he's what I use as a reference. I also get the same feeling when I watch videos of PC Chris's or Forward's Falco, or Taj's Mewtwo, or Ken's Marth, or King's Jigglypuff, etc. etc. Iggy has the right idea.

They do have great mindgames, that's why they do so well in tournaments. The question I'm looking for is...why? Why them? Is it because of their tournament experience? Their play time? Their personality? Their practice styles (or their choice of not practicing)? Their preference in playstyle? Or do they just...have great mindgames, and that's just the way it is? (Experience obvously comes in as a factor, but there are so many others that have as much, if not more, experience, so why do certain people impress me?)

This isn't a theory about unpredictability, it's the theory of...just being (or looking?) so **** good. Is it because unpredictability plays a role here?

I did a bit of further reflection. I used the example of "Shined Blind", when we were scrubs. That got me wondering...why did I feel that "spark" then, and not now (when I watch it)? I'm starting to wonder if there actually is no "spark" at all, or if this feeling of awe diminishes as our experience grows in the game.

There you have it, 2 sides of the argument, and I don't know which one to support. It's starting to sound a bit like Ken's theory about Natural Talent...

 

[Razed]

iono. sounds like mindgames to me.

2 things:

One- I agree with everything you said about the community losing originality ect.

Two: Duuude.. I think your 1k post was in this thread. Just a heads up=P

 

[Endless Nightmares]

If you look into the sky at night, it's not the stars you see, just all the characters g-reg's Falcon knee'd into space.

 

[choknater]

ThatGuy, that "Spark" is nothing more than a sh*tload of experience and knowing HOW to use the amount of skill that they have to the fullest.

You're absolutely right. The thing that makes the best players good is that they invent their own moves on a whim. To newcomers, Falcon is just grabs, aerials, and speed. They devise a "strategy" when in actuality decisions made in combat should be impromptu. That "spark" you sense in these players is a result of their elevated play style coming from nothing but tournament experience.

(and for isai, mindblowing tech skill. i watched his hands one time lol... it's like they're trembling with isai-ness, i didn't see a single c-stick O_oooooooo)