Current Events > Article: Parrying is the Worst Thing in Video Games

(+) Yeah! (+)

Well implemented parrying is very satisfying to pull off imo.

s0nicfan posted...

Without reading the article, I will say at least that parrying feels a little bit like the modern day version of QTEs where a lot of games will throw it in as a mechanic and pretend that it adds depth to their systems.

This covers it pretty well.

Have not read it yet but my initial reaction: weird thing to focus on. At its core there is nothing unique to parrying. Its like complaining that timing is in games. Which accounts for maybe 90% of them? Though its one thing if you would rather not see timing gameplay (reaction speed) in games or genres that typically do not have it.

I don't play games that force me to adhere to parry mechanics. I hate them. E33 being the sole exception to this rule.

So I guess I agree with the article?

Dodge rolling/dashing when used as a temporary invulnerability button is worse

Shah138 posted...

Parrying isn't bad, it just needs to be clear what you can and can't parry. Sekiro does it well, but in Dark Souls I never bothered because I couldn't be sure if I was just mistiming or if an attack just can't be parried.

Yea, games that actually focus on implementing parry right makes the gameplay a lot better. It's like the game Nine Sols where it's a main thing and the last boss is like 60% parrying. That game is awesome.

The biggest problem with parrying is that my phone is utterly convinced that I actually mean partying.

And I am much better at partying than parrying.

Is parrying the same thing as quick time events? No? Then i'm sorry, it's not the worst thing ever.

Parrying in action games? Sure. Paryring shoe-horned into otherwise turn-based games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Nope, I hate that.

The Actual Worst Things in (Modern) Video Games: A Definitive List

1) Single player game who requires a constant internet connection
2) Games with only 1 save file
3) Lack of ingame help. One pop up tutorial I closed accidently and I'm never really able to see again? Hell to the no.

OniLink5000 posted...

Is parrying the same thing as quick time events? No? Then i'm sorry, it's not the worst thing ever.

In some games parrying is just a QTE that changed the flashing button prompt to be a flashing color directly on the enemy's attack, but functionally they are identical: either hit the timing and get a cool animation, or miss and take damage.

i think we've lost the plot if we're calling arkham/spider-man dodging a QTE, whether it technically constitutes one or not

Dungeater posted...

?

yes it is

Nope. Parrying is blocking. Passively holding up a shield is not blocking, no. You use it to deflect incoming attacks, which is know as parrying.

My problem is with the unneccessarily twirly attacks that those types of games of have. They substitute the overly dramatic movement for solid gameplay.

If someone is going to pirouette at me, with the 5th and 8th spins having a stabbing move that has to be parried then thats going to be a problem because I have no interest in that nonsense.

Ill happily learn the animations for every enemy type that wants to make an actual attack though.

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

Nope. Parrying is blocking. Passively holding up a shield is not blocking, no. You use it to deflect incoming attacks, which is know as parrying.

...parry the platypus?

Oh looks like that writer has an article complaining about double jumps as well, lol

Parrying can be done badly or overused but it just kind of sounds like this dude's entire thesis is that he's not good at it therefore it's bad.

Actually his entire thing looking at his other articles seems elaborate wordy complaints about basic mechanics.

So basically what you said in the OP.

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

Nope. Parrying is blocking. Passively holding up a shield is not blocking, no. You use it to deflect incoming attacks, which is know as parrying.

?

shielding oneself is blocking

Parrying in Metal Gear Rising was a little annoying. It wasn't hard but it made the combat system feel too repetitive by having to do it over and over again.

Pow_Pow_Punishment posted...

Parrying in Metal Gear Rising was a little annoying. It wasn't hard but it made the combat system feel too repetitive by having to do it over and over again.

The small problem with MGS Rising was Perfect Parries did like 20x the damage normal attacks did, and it does EVEN MORE damage in higher difficulties.

wanderingshade posted...

The small problem with MGS Rising was Perfect Parries did like 20x the damage normal attacks did, and it does EVEN MORE damage in higher difficulties.

High risk, high reward. As intended.

Thats the problem when it becomes a required mechanic. You eliminated the logic behind what made it a good gameplay mechanic.

BombermanGold posted...

Clickbait hell.
I typically disregard such articles since it's obvious they're just writing nonsense for a quick buck.

This. Opinion pieces to get clicks.

like anything, it depends on the window for the input. 1 frame parries can fuck off. 3-4 frames? yea that's okay.

I'm very much so not a fan of a parry being a mechanic demand of the game. See: parrying gives you extra _____ and you need it to gain an advantage. As I'm not a fan of single solution battle centric games. "You're not playing it right" is usually a sign of bad development.

Well implemented parrying can be interesting actually.

I am admittedly a bit bad at timing parrying or timed dodges. I usually find I'm responding too soon to an animation cue to gain the benefit. Though I find dodge mechanics more satisfying.

Eh, people seem to like it, so it's good that games are there for them. The problem is when every game feels the need to include it and does so poorly as a result.

Idk, it was pretty fun in wind waker

....the next Mario game should have parrying!
I like what they did with the new Doom.

I found a good video of what parrying in Expedition 33 is like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj6JbgMdrZo&ab_channel=Cilvanis

Squall28 posted...

I found a good video of what parrying in Expedition 33 is like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj6JbgMdrZo&ab_channel=Cilvanis

oh so they and morgott went to the same college

As a fighting game enthusiast, the most common complaint seen in the community from people not in the community is some variant of "the controls are hard so it's bad", and that's what I smell in this article.

I wont hide the fact that my stance is informed by the fact that I am terrible at parrying

the reason fighting games are bad is not because of parrying; the reason they are bad is because they require rote memorization

if i must take a test, gamify it. not test-ify a game instead

Dungeater posted...

the reason fighting games are bad is not because of parrying; the reason they are bad is because they require rote memorization

if i must take a test, gamify it. not test-ify a game instead

Kiiinda? They involve more memorization, but it's fundamentally the same as learning attack patterns and complex inputs, and there's a level of complexity that humans plainly can't reach without some level of rote memorization.

Dungeater posted...

the reason fighting games are bad is not because of parrying; the reason they are bad is because they require rote memorization

if i must take a test, gamify it. not test-ify a game instead

Kinda but no. Yes there's a degree of memorization, but the main thing of fighting games period is knowing what to use and how to use it in a given situation against whatever the heck the other person is doing.

Something @Evening_Dragon is trying to convey, it's based on fundamentals.
Like, trying to randomly throw out hands and feet and none of it hitting the opponent's gonna get you creamed.

Just like in a boxing game.

...And heck, just like in an FPS, either. Going around the same corner where a camper is and getting shot by said camper isn't the camper's fault!

BombermanGold posted...

but the main thing of fighting games period is knowing what to use and how to use it in a given situation against whatever the heck the other person is doing

yea that's what i said

It's more of a case of feel, not simply memorization.

It's hard to say, but I think you're overthinking it too much, which is why I see some people get frustrated with fighting games if they're just starting out.

And it kinda sucks as in the heyday when arcades were a thing, you got the most experience from there as you literally were (if anyone did join in against you) playing with your right to stay on the machine (and keeping your quarters) on the line.

You don't need to memorize all the big combos, as if the other person isn't letting you START said combos, you're going to be just as on the losing end and frustrated.

So in short, don't poo-poo on a genre you don't like. There's genres of games I don't care for, but if well made enough people will play the heck out of it, so I'm not gonna rain on that parade just from my not understanding of it. :)

i didnt say "rote memorization of combos"; i said "rote memorization"

I am more or less on the same side as this article's title (it's not the worst thing obviously but the recent proliferation of parrying kinda sucks)

but then I actually read the article itself and what is this nonsense lol

Dungeater posted...

i didnt say "rote memorization of combos"; i said "rote memorization"

Their point is that rote memorization is more for full on "if/then" situations.

If Ken comes at me with X attack, then I do Y response and await Z counter.

It's less like that and more building the familiarity to react with a proper strategy in a changing moment.

Y'know you take the good with the bad when it comes to worker-owned publications that aren't beholden to corporate masters.

Aftermath is a great site with a lot of good people involved and I'm willing to accept garbage takes like this to keep it alive. :)

Honestly it's just the desire to copy souls style combat. Stamina, parries, and stagger are getting about to the point of being as aggravating as QTEs.

I don't have an opinion other than I wish I could do it on a consistent basis in Elden Ring. I still can't get the hang of it enough to really use it.

parrying doesn't have to be a die-if-you-miss-timing mechanic and there are definitely ways to make it easier like arkham/spider-man games etc... devs just don't choose to not to mention people who fear the sight and touch of grass would feel like it diminishes the game's integrity.

Dungeater posted...

the reason fighting games are bad is not because of parrying; the reason they are bad is because they require rote memorization

if i must take a test, gamify it. not test-ify a game instead

The reason fighting games are bad is the same reason every multiplayer game is bad: awful matchmaking.

Or it could be that I just suck at all of them, but I'm blaming matchmaking, lol.

I wont hide the fact that my stance is informed by the fact that I am terrible at parrying.

There it is. Dude literally just admits he is terrible at it. Just because you personally do not like or are not good with a mechanic doesn't make it bad or that it should go away.

I am bad with RTS that doesn't let you pause. I get overwhelmed and play poorly. It doesn't mean the mechanic is bad. There are probably examples of games that use the RTS mechanics poorly, but it being something I'm not good at doesn't make it bad.

ReturnOfDevsman posted...

The reason fighting games are bad is the same reason every multiplayer game is bad: awful matchmaking.

Or it could be that I just suck at all of them, but I'm blaming matchmaking, lol.

Fighting games aren't bad. People just don't like not having anyone else to blame when they lose.