So this random new fighting game called Girl Fight hit PSN/XBLA for $10 recently. (there is a demo too) Before you hear the condescending comparisons to DOA4/5, let me step in and say that this game is most like DOA1, not anything DOA2-5.
Ok first off: The game is incredibly low budget/under developed. Lower your standards. Now. I mean like really low. This game is enjoyable, but you have to not come storming in expecting it to be better than the fighters are you playing now. There is no real complexity here. The game is super simple and the engine is barely fine-tuned enough to even support its own barebones gameplay. But the game does function correctly, and there is a system place that allows for technically competitive play.
You have strikes. You have grabs. And you have counters. With the same relationship we know from DOA. But it seems to be a 2-point counter system (High and Low), and it seems you cannot counter while stunned. And I'm not even sure that Mid attacks exist period. Or maybe technically, High attacks don't exist because I think all "High" attacks hit you if you are crouching. (key phrase: I think)
The controls are a little bit different. You have Defense, Punch, Kick, and Grab. Grab actually is its own button in this game. Defense + Punch does NOT grab in this game. You HAVE to use the Grab button. But here's where things will awkward: Counters are done with the Grab button, not Defense. Back + G and Down + G. It seems bad at first, but it allows you to hold Defense while opponent is performing a string and mash a counter command at the same time. If you are stuck in block stun, you will just continuing blocking and will only do a counter attempt if you come out of block stun in time in between string hits.
There is no string cancelling. Yes this will get very annoying.
There are no down attacks. But you can hit a downed opponent with a low attack.
Sidestepping exists, but it doesn't seem to be better than guarding.
There does not seem to be special Grab commands. Just neutral Grab, and forward+Grab, both of which seem to be escapable. (I'm not sure if you have to guess or if you can just press Grab to break either)
When you choose your char, you can pick 2 special abilities called Psi Amps. You build Psi meter as you fight, (up to 3 bars) and you spend Psi to use your Psi Amps. These are abilities that range from extra damage, extra defense, healing, or special attacks. There are 8 Psi Amps total, but only 3 are unlocked from the start. (yes, you have to unlock gameplay elements... yay... Not that it takes long though) And each Psi Amp has 3 vesions of itself that are stronger but cost more Psi to use.
Everything unlockable in the game is done so with CB points, which are earned from playing. Unlockable things are:
-Psi Amps
-One alternate color for each char
-Gallery pics
-"Bio Entries" which give background story for each char
All in all... it's an ok game I guess. But you have to really lower your standards and not constantly compare to other games. It's stupid fun and I don't feel too terribly cheated out of my $10. Yes, this game could've been a lot better. But hey, fighting games are hard to make, and this is why the indie market doesn't do it too often. Support the lesser fighters like Skullgirls, DiveKick, and Girl Fight so that people don't feel like they have to be a big company to make a fighter. We need more people making fighters.
Side note: If you want to play me, I have the PS3 version. Though I may end up getting the Xbox360 version anyway. To anyone who has the Xbox version: Is there framerate issues like on the PS3 version?
Ok first off: The game is incredibly low budget/under developed. Lower your standards. Now. I mean like really low. This game is enjoyable, but you have to not come storming in expecting it to be better than the fighters are you playing now. There is no real complexity here. The game is super simple and the engine is barely fine-tuned enough to even support its own barebones gameplay. But the game does function correctly, and there is a system place that allows for technically competitive play.
You have strikes. You have grabs. And you have counters. With the same relationship we know from DOA. But it seems to be a 2-point counter system (High and Low), and it seems you cannot counter while stunned. And I'm not even sure that Mid attacks exist period. Or maybe technically, High attacks don't exist because I think all "High" attacks hit you if you are crouching. (key phrase: I think)
The controls are a little bit different. You have Defense, Punch, Kick, and Grab. Grab actually is its own button in this game. Defense + Punch does NOT grab in this game. You HAVE to use the Grab button. But here's where things will awkward: Counters are done with the Grab button, not Defense. Back + G and Down + G. It seems bad at first, but it allows you to hold Defense while opponent is performing a string and mash a counter command at the same time. If you are stuck in block stun, you will just continuing blocking and will only do a counter attempt if you come out of block stun in time in between string hits.
There is no string cancelling. Yes this will get very annoying.
There are no down attacks. But you can hit a downed opponent with a low attack.
Sidestepping exists, but it doesn't seem to be better than guarding.
There does not seem to be special Grab commands. Just neutral Grab, and forward+Grab, both of which seem to be escapable. (I'm not sure if you have to guess or if you can just press Grab to break either)
When you choose your char, you can pick 2 special abilities called Psi Amps. You build Psi meter as you fight, (up to 3 bars) and you spend Psi to use your Psi Amps. These are abilities that range from extra damage, extra defense, healing, or special attacks. There are 8 Psi Amps total, but only 3 are unlocked from the start. (yes, you have to unlock gameplay elements... yay... Not that it takes long though) And each Psi Amp has 3 vesions of itself that are stronger but cost more Psi to use.
Everything unlockable in the game is done so with CB points, which are earned from playing. Unlockable things are:
-Psi Amps
-One alternate color for each char
-Gallery pics
-"Bio Entries" which give background story for each char
All in all... it's an ok game I guess. But you have to really lower your standards and not constantly compare to other games. It's stupid fun and I don't feel too terribly cheated out of my $10. Yes, this game could've been a lot better. But hey, fighting games are hard to make, and this is why the indie market doesn't do it too often. Support the lesser fighters like Skullgirls, DiveKick, and Girl Fight so that people don't feel like they have to be a big company to make a fighter. We need more people making fighters.
Side note: If you want to play me, I have the PS3 version. Though I may end up getting the Xbox360 version anyway. To anyone who has the Xbox version: Is there framerate issues like on the PS3 version?
