Free Step Dodge

Compared to DOA, only really KOF, and that's mostly getting used to the short hops. Tekken is not harder, though VF can be a bit challenging to play early on to an extent, but becomes like clockwork once you understand the mechanics. Depending on how you view difficulty, all of the 4 main 3D fighters are complex, but easy to pick up once you understand the mechanics & the meta.

I agree, as it is with any skill, time, effort, focus, patience and dedication lead to a higher skill level...thus the game's mechanics feel second nature...going to have to train myself off of hunting for CBs in 6, for example xD.

I'm showing my inexperience here, but what exactly is meta? And while we're at it, tech? I see these terms thrown around a lot and don't want to misuse them like a 'tard.

Street Fighter and Virtua Fighter are the hardest fighting games I've played to be honest. I still don't understand Virtua Fighter's mechanics and Street Fighter IV has just frame links which makes the game timing heavy. Inputs are kinda lenient though- you can make shortcuts with certain moves that there's no need to follow what the command says.

Btw, forced techs and recovery are similar, are they not? Both result in the fighter being in a negative state.

@Shirataki Tsume That's a relief (for when I finally pick up SF). DOA has similar leniency with regard to inputs too. I can't count how many times I'll input (for example) Honoka's 33T and end up with an additional 2 input in-between and still end up pulling the move off. xD

SFIV is a challenging game to play due to the 1-frame links, though SFV is easy now due to the straightforward gameplay, small movesets & easier execution. It's a toss up between KOF & VF for hardest current FG, IMO.

Ah, smaller movesets. Lighter workload at least. I'm not too worried about the 1-frame inputs...just gotta buckle down like always. Not saying it'll be easy, but I'm undaunted.

Meta pertains to the interplay of tactics available with an optimal meta making use of the best tactics and abilities available. Tech is short for Technology/Techniques and pertains to setups and ingenious use of techniques and abilities within a match.

When I take a look at SFIV matches, I can tell who's the talented one and who isn't, it just makes me go like "Wow, he can do that?" and SFV matches make top players look like average ones because of the simplified game play.

Yeah a lot of top players hate SFV. Tekken 7 is a much better overall game than it.

Oh, and forced techs are hard ground hits that generally give you solid advantage on hit (such as +13 I think?). A "recovery" is a tech roll/ukemi where the opponent recovers off the ground immediately while being left at around -18 or so. My frames may be off though.