Topic: ARMS difficulty

So after several hours over several days of ARMS (and £40+ spent on the title) I think the cartridge is now going to gather dust. This is frankly a final appeal after scouring the internet for tips for someone to tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong.

I'm finding the difficulty just too off putting and my persistence isn't paying off in any real progress against AI and in party mode. Admittedly I've made it to fight 3 of level 4 (with several angry words said and fights lost repeatedly along the way) in Grand Prix but I'm finding the difficulty too obstructive. After taking advice to attempt party mode as a reprieve, I've found myself repeatedly beaten and even more flummoxed as to where the breakthrough is going to come from. I've taken advice on pro controller over motion (and went back again to no real improvement) as well as continuously dodging and jumping to avoid attacks while attempting to find openings to attack. Simply, I'm still being hit while my own fists are not connecting and going wide or being repelled. I really feel like a grandparent who's just had a controller thrust in their hand so the family can have a giggle to themselves on Christmas Day.

Any help would be appreciated cos my frustrations have already been taken out on my innocent live in partner who simply enquired how I was a couple of times over the past few days and promptly received a curt and impolite reply each time. Thanks in advance.

Yours,

n00b

Yeah mate. This might not be for you. If you're as close to the edge as it sounds, I would just jump off and not touch the game anymore.

I can't beat level 4 in GP either, but I do alright in Party Mode. But I kind of see where you're coming from. I would say this is a soft "buyer's remorse" purchase for me. I like it, but between Ever Oasis, Steam/ Upcoming Xbox One sale, and Splatoon 2 just weeks away, I think I'm only going to put in about 15-20 hours total before I stop playing this game.

It's been enjoyable for me, but luckily something "clicked" for me. But the advice that really helped me was to actually be patient during fights. Instead of trying to jump/move around all the time and be on the offensive, keeping distance and waiting for opportunity really helped ME. I actually played Grand Prix using Spring Man on level 1 - 3 all the way through so that I could practice my new tactics with slowly evolving AI.

Best of luck and don't forget that games are to have fun. Don't waste time on a game that you're not having fun playing.

This might be your problem. Jumping is a no-no, in my experience. Who are you playing as?

@concra Mr Yabuki suggests making sure you throw one punch at a time. Let your punch return then throw another. If you flail with both fists out, then you are very vulnerable.

@concra If you keep darting around and wait for the opponent to throw and miss, then just throw a straight punch when facing them, you can't miss.

I'm only Level 3 at the moment, but I've only played it for about an hour and a half, and only lost one or two fights against AI (Skillshot is where I'm poor) and I only use basic techniques. Move and wait for openings. Didn't even know charging punches was a thing until today.

Different opponents require different approaches. I've found for example, getting up close in Min Min's face works on her.

@concra

Just like Unsolutedsalt said about starting at level 1 and playing through. I have played with 2 characters so far ( kid cobra and mystery mummy...in process of playing with min min). I finished the grand prix 1-4 with both cobra and mummy. I only use motion controls ( just plays better to me once you learn how to use your hands). Plus , as was mentioned to much jumping can hurt you alot. Leaves you very exposed. If you really pay attention to the AI it will counter you all day long if your jumping around and rush in all the time.

I'm not a very skillful person in fighting games, but I gave ARMS a try.

I'm having a great time, the game is hard, intense, every punch counts. I'm struggling to win level 4, but not at the level to feel completely frustrated, as you sound.

When I'm stuck, I try to calm down, analyse, wait. I'm starting to understand when to be passive, or agressive on my opponent. The AI is not perfect, it cheats all the time, but have teach me some lessons, anyway.

Stay on you ground, observe your rival, cancel their punches, block often, use dash when you feel it's right to left your center. Know and exploit your character special advantages!

I hope you could improve.

Funny enough I'm in the same boat, but for level 6 AI and level 7 ranked players. I'm guessing there are many people like this, who aren't really used to the concept of fighting games, where you need to be able to counter your opponent and know when to strike instead of just brute forcing it like many other multiplayer games, and as such we're experiencing the learning curve that comes with fighting games.

I find with any online games, as you improve and come up against better players more regularly, the pressure to maintain your ranking does take some of the fun out of the game, but then again, the wins feel even better as a result. But the losing sucks, especially if you go on a streak of losses.

I haven't played much Splatoon, but the last time I did I was on the winning team in Turf War for about my first nine matches in a row, and I kept topping the score board. By that point, the pressure I felt to keep winning and keep topping the leader board really put a downer on when I did eventually lose, when really I should have been revelling in my newfound (if short-lived) magnificence.

@unsolutedsalt already gave the best advice. Lower the difficulty until you get enough practice to keep going up levels. There are no special prizes on higher difficulty settings and the level 4 here is way harder than level 4 in any other fighting game. Thing is this one looks so easy and welcoming but it has quite a learning curve.

Also, there is a training mode with tutorials if you go to Versus for 1P. They give you scenarios for you to practice/avoid common tactics, and maybe your partner can help you practice. You can also play against AI with infinite health if you like.

@gcunit Yup, Min-Min's default arms don't lend themselves particularly well to close combat (especially the dragons), and keeping the pressure on will keep her from powering up her left arm.

I won't deny I've felt that rank pressure before. But it was in Pokken, where it was exacerbated by several issues, such as brutal momentum, and very bad matchmaking likely due to very few people playing it. In ARMs, I've never felt punished too severely for losing, even when it happens quite a bit. It also helps that the somewhat slower pace of the game makes it easier to analyze things going wrong.

@gcunit very well said! I feel the exact same way. It becomes more stressful than anything playing multiplayer games for a while haha. It sucks though, cuz so many people can have much more fun than me by not stressing about it!

@meleebrawler

You could use min min's dragon as a jab up close because it acts like a punch. At the same time trying to create distance to use the dragon's full potential . Plus, it helps to have a good opposite "arm" too.

@WoBistDu The "dragon bite" is a risky move, though. If it misses, it fires off the beam anyway, leaving you open to a flank attack up close.

Obviously you can equip different arms to cover the dragon's weakness up close. I'm just saying her defaults don't do that too well. Megavolt, while covering a large area is the second slowest arm in the game, again leaving you open should you miss. Ramram is a bit better, but it's long, looping path still leaves something to be desired in response time.

Hey guys just want to preface by saying I'm very impressed with the response to my post and support and tips given. In honesty, I was expecting someone to just say "git gud" and the thread to die out quickly. Appreciate all the tips so far...
I guess my main issue is reaction time to my opponents - the punch has already landed before I've reacted effectively. Is the best technique to spam strafe? i also feel I've not got the curving punches thing nailed down and wonder if I'm sending my arms flailing in an unintended direction? I'm struggling with both motion and standard as I've already said - with motion I think I'm just flailing my arms a la Wii sports and with the controls I find the block is difficult to pull off and I'm probably unintentionally curving punches.
Maybe my brain just isn't wired for this game - a shame as I've enjoyed tekken, pokken, soul calibur, smash bros etc in the past. I think my reaction times are too slow? Anyway thanks guys seems to have started a decent conversation about play styles and nice to hear nobody is finding it a total breeze through.

@concra Well, keeping your distance with your opponent gives you more reaction time. You should try to do that while playing with long-reach arms and see if it suits your playstyle better. Don't be afraid to experiment with character + arms combinations until you find one you're comfortable with.

Am I meant to be pointing my analogue stick straight ahead and standing still when I deploy one of my arms. I feel like I'm getting movement and arms punches mixed up? @MarcelRguez

@concra I've only played with motion controls (although I've been thinking about changing that), so I'm afraid I can't help you with that.

Game is insanely difficult. Stuck on Level 3 Grand Prix. Takes me 10-15 attempts per round before finally winning. At Round 7 now. But been stuck in this Grand Prix for a week. Just wanna beat it so I can never play on Lv 3 again.

@JaxonH
Who are you playing with?