42 ways to get a bit better (but not necessarily win) at VF5

My win / loss record isn't great. I have lost many more than I have won. However, I realised a while ago that just winning isn't all that Virtua Fighter 5 is about. For me, the online game is much more about playing well. I've stopped worrying too much about winning, and focused on trying to actually improve. This can be fun. There's lots of more technical info on the forum from people much more experienced than me; this is more basic, general (perhaps a bit obvious) stuff, but hopefully something in here will be useful to people just getting into the game!

• 1. Spend the first round watching your opponent. Block a bit more, move around a bit more. Throw a few punches and kicks and see how they react. Lose the first round if you like. You'll know a lot more about your opponent this way, and be able to use this knowledge in the next couple of rounds.

• 2. Forget about winning. Wanting to win causes tense hands and stress!

• 3. Block better. Learn which moves hit at what height which blocks defend them. If you're not doing anything else (attacking or moving) then block! Don't hold down the block button for too long though - you'll get thrown by half-decent players.

• 4. Start moves while you're blocking - release block before the last bit of the move and you'll pop out of the block launching into the move.

• 5. Move more. Double-tap forward and back to move in and out. tap up and down to move in and out. Keep moving. Don't hang about on the edge of the stage, its always a shock when you fall off. Don't use the 'free' movement (holding up / down) unless you're away from your opponent as it just ends in tears.

• 6. Fight people that are better than you, most of the time. You'll learn more. You'll also spoil your win/loss record but it doesn't matter because we're trying to improve, not win every time.

• 7. Don't thrash people that aren't as good as you. Its bad manners, and neither of you learn anything from the match. Help the other player learn. Teaching is a great way of improving. Let them win a round even if you take the match.

• 8. Play a variety of characters. Learning even the easier combos of other fighters will give you the knowledge to block / evade them.

• 9. Don't quit games. It's annoying and nobody will want to play you.

• 10. If you've had a close game, send a message to the other player and compliment them. Building a 'relationship' with other players (particularly those that use the same character as you) who are around the same skill level as you is a great way to learn.

• 11. Focus on learning one new move at a time. Build it into your game and see where it fits. Trying to learn lots of moves at once will leave you in a muddle.

• 12. Develop a 'style' of play. The way you move, block, the moves you chose to attack with. Are you a defensive or offensive player? You may lose more fighting as 'you', but when you do win you'll enjoy it more.

• 13. There are players who love to thrash players. Don't be like this (see no.7). Strangely, these players love to keep thrashing the same players. I have tried to make a player get board of beating me by continually accepting his match requests. This just seems to encourage them further. However, each time you play, you'll get better, and they will stay at the same level. The point will come when you win a round, and then often they'll move on. Value this time however - lots of experience to be gained from learning someone's style and improving against it.

• 14. Remember people tend to repeat the same combos and moves. Use the first round to watch and learn. Be prepared for the same stuff in future rounds, and punish the player when they repeat themselves.

• 15. Don't leave yourself too open. Big moves leave you open, particularly when blocked. You take more damage when hit mid-way through a move, or after your move is blocked. It's like how running into the rain makes you wetter.

• 16. Fight the opposite of your opponent. If the player plays aggressively, be defensive. . If they are defensive, be really aggressive. People don't like to fight out of their comfort zone.

• 17 Dictate the pace of the match. If your opponent plays fast, slow things down by moving and blocking. If they are defensive and slow, bother them with losts of movement and fast punches and kicks. People play the way they do because they do better playing that way. Because they're focused on winning. You don't have this problem so make them fight against their natural style, they will be like clumsy penguins out of the water.

• 18. Attack low more. punch them in the knee. Kick them in the shin. Then hit high, then low. Then high. Then low. Then high.

• 19. Practice parts of your game during matches. Spend a round just moving, not throwing a punch. Spend a round only using kicks. Maybe a round without blocking. This will help improve these aspects of your game.

• 20. Get to know with the 'normal' moves of your character really well. Special moves leave you wide open, and good players expect them. There are a handful of normal moves which do big damage for all characters.

• 21. learn the moves that can get you away from the edge of the ring, or wall. You're vulnerable here so need to move.

• 22. Use the jump. Lots of players don't jump. I think this comes from the days of Virtua Fighter 1 and 2 where jumping was a strange, floaty affair and looked a little daft. Virtua Fighter 5 jumping is quicker and lots of moves can be launched during the jump, or on landing. Players don't expect it. It looks good jumping over a low kick.

• 23. If something doesn't work, don't keep doing it. If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got!

• 24. Fight one round completely differently to others. It confuses players and throws them off their game and will help you focus on being aware throughout the match.

• 25. Learn which moves flip people over low walls.

• 26. Learn which moves push people over. Use these when your opponent is near the edge of the ring.

• 27. Repeat what works. If something works well, use it again.

• 28. Use the shoulder buttons if you don't have an arcade stick. Pressing multiple buttons with your little finger is hard.

• 29. Remember you're improving. Even when you don't win, you're getting better. You're in this for the long term. Lose the battles, win the war!

• 30. Watch the people that are great at Virtua Fighter on YouTube. See how they string moves together. Copy them.

• 31. Message other players and ask them for advice. Lots to be learnt this way.

• 32. Know when to throw. A good time for this is after a few quick high punches which will lead to your opponent blocking. Throw the opponent while they're blocking. Missing a throw will be punished by good players, it leaves you wide open and grabbing thin air.

• 33. Keep your attention. Don't lose concentration half way through!

• 34. Be ruthless when you need to be. Don't let-up on people when you can get the win. Don't let your opponent back into the fight.

• 35. Hit from the side when you can. Lots of damage and looks good.

• 36. Don't evade when you don't need to. Evading a move too early leaves you wide open.

• 37. Learn reversals. This allows you to keep pressure on your opponent. Getting hit by a counter is always a shock and confuses people. It also looks great.

• 38. Lose graciously Thank players for the game. Be nice. You've learnt from the game.

• 39. Be nice when you win. Complement people on their game.

• 40. Change your first move of the round. Blocking, or moving out is usually a safe enough bet, especially if your character doesn't have fast, long-range move that can reach the opponent before they do whatever they'e going to do at the start of the round.

• 41. When you've been knocked down, vary the way you get up. Roll out of the way sometimes. Stand up while attacking sometimes. Don't just stand up, you will be put back down again super-quick!

• 42. Do less. Remember the 80/20 principle - 80% of the results come from 20% of actions. So make the moves count. Unless there's a good chance of the move landing, then don't throw it. attacking and missing leaves you open for a counter-attack.

Hope these help someone

 

Nicely put together. Most of it is true and now for step 43 is win, lose or draw if you come into the fight with your will and bring it in a good way then you will be a winner either way because you will learn and become better.