I can't do it (King of Fighters-related)

[Cinder6]

So, I'm trying to get into the King of Fighters series of games. I'm just running into one problem: I can't pull off many of the combos when using an arcade joystick + controls, but can when using a gamepad on an emulator.

Anyone have any tips for landing combos more consistently? This is in KoF '98, by the way. Unfortunately, the arcade version does not have a practice mode, and I do not, as of yet, have a UniBIOS :|

Thanks in advance

[Cloud121]

It takes awhile to completely adjust to using a stick for fighters, but once you finally do, there's is absolutely no going back. Trust me, it could take as long as a couple weeks, but if you stick with it, you'll realize the greatness of an arcade stick.

But now, something I'm just adjusting to, is going from using my Hori forever, to using an NES Advantage. Wow....

[kaedesdisciple]

If you're using a real NG board, try to get ahold of some CD controllers. They are pad-like, but they use a thumbstick instead of the d-pad. You will have the comfort of using a pad but you will still feel the "clickiness" of a stick. Might be a good mid-way point to moving towards a full-size arcade stick.

[Cinder6]

If you're using a real NG board, try to get ahold of some CD controllers. They are pad-like, but they use a thumbstick instead of the d-pad. You will have the comfort of using a pad but you will still feel the "clickiness" of a stick. Might be a good mid-way point to moving towards a full-size arcade stick.

That's a good idea, but unfortunately I'm playing this on my MVS. Maybe I'll get a more arcade stick-like controller for my computer and play on practice mode until I get it.

[ubersaurus]

Really it's just experience with the sticks. KOF games are pretty easy to combo in to begin with.

It took me about a month to adjust to arcade sticks for 2d fighters, and I can't use pads anymore. It's just that much better!

[XYXZYZ]

Personally, I don't like gamepads for fighting game combos because you have to whip out all those different attacks quickly and accurately, and it's too hard for my one thumb to get all the way around those buttons with accuracy. With an arcade control panel, you have multiple fingers to take care of business- you can assign a function to each finger and train them to react accordingly; for example if I want to jump, land a deep HK and immediately hit him with a flurry of low LKs, my pinky hits that HK button it's perched on, and my index finger immediately starts jamming the LK button.

You also want to learn to compensate for an arcade snap-switch's relatively slower action than the small rubber buttons in a gamepad, the arcade joystick's throw is also considerably sider than a gamepad's. But, as you know all that comes with practice.

For practice, you can go out and get some PS1/2 arcade stick, and get one of those PS2>USB converters to use it on your PC.

[Policenaut]

Start practicing now. For fighting games the flat out best option for pulling great damaging combos, adjusting to the gameplay and everything else, the joystick is the best option. We all got used to the pad, thankfully I am fluent with both pad or stick.

[mailman187666]

well with my MVS I know that the joystick assembly is starting to get worn down. Maybe try seeing if your sticks are getting worn on the inside too and maybe you are losing out on a little bit of the accuracy you get when hitting the commands. If not, just keep up with practicing and make sure all the buttons are working properly as well, because those can also get worn out too. If it aint the machine, just keep on practicing bud, you'll get it in no time.

[Cinder6]

After some more playing/practice, it seems I'm getting better at pulling off combos. I guess practice does make perfect. Buffering combos also helps.