So if we zoom out from all the details of this games mechanics and look at it from a general perspective. It's like a game of rock-paper-scissors right? Defending beats attacking. Attacking beats Guard-Breaking (Grabs/Throws) and Guard-Breaking beats....oh...

From my personal experience in the game I've found a hefty advantage in playing defensively. My general style of play is to put myself as close to my opponent as possible and let them try whatever they want. Using basic blocks, superior or regular and counter-guardbreaking since I'm not using any inputs to expose myself to being unable to counter-guardbreak, I can pick and choose my opportunities to strike back and win. I'm also generally unable to be baited with fainted heavies and such since I'm not committing to any major parries. Naturally at higher levels this becomes a pretty stupid risky strategy giving your opponent more opportunities to win, but the advantage in playing defensively is the same.

This of course applies to being Stamina Broken aswell. I can deflect moves and Counter-Guardbreak just like before with no real stress. So my main concern is that draining someones stamina doesn't necessarily open them up to be punished for playing defensively, and I feel like that's a problem. I have no solutions at this time, this is just general feedback. But I feel that playing offensively or using characters with offensive styles really lack something to open up a defensive characters. For me personally, fainting heavies or a characters special faints aren't really enough.

By this I don't mean playing defensively wins. Not at all. But in regards to general play, at all levels of skill. Doesn't it seems a little bit too much in favor of throwing paper than using rock more often than not? Maybe it's just me.

Cheers

MH