Parrying Is The Worst Thing In Video Games

I JUST SAW AN ARTICLE 2 MINS AGO DAYING ITS THE BEST THING IN VIDYA GAMES

shield bash author

Depends on the game. Parrying in the opening moments of Witcher 2 is a fucking pain, because it consumes 1 bar of stamina, as does rolling dodge, and you only have 2 stamina at that point, which also takes forever to regenerate. If the enemy isn't dead after 2 parries, you're fucked for 20 or so seconds because you have no way to actively avoid damage other than running away

On the other hand, the parries in the Batman Arkham games and Shadow of Mordor feel great.

2 articles with opposite opinions on the same site, posted at the same time. Ok, interesting

both are from different authors, so, i guess that is something intern

At least he knows his opinions are bad lmao

Skill issue

I dont understand why some people think every video game should be catered to their playstyle preferences. It's ok to not like every single video game. It's ok if some people like video games that you dont like. Just play what you like and ignore the rest. It's so easy.

It gets frustrating when the thing you don't like is a very common feature though, and it's valid to complain.
I think with parrying specifically, it's frustrating to see it become a crutch for games to add combat depth, or pop up as the central mechanic everywhere at the expense of exploring new combat ideas.
Dishonored is obviously not a bad example of parrying, so I'll give a bad one I just encountered recently: Slitterhead. The game has plenty of cool combat mechanics, but it repeatedly puts you in scenarios where parrying becomes either your only option or your quickest road to victory, which trivializes the rest of its cool combat ideas.
I think games like Ninja Gaiden II or Bayonetta perfectly handled parrying: it's a tool that unlocks combat depth, but not the only one, and combat is still fun without it. Not to say anything is wrong with a game like Sekiro, but to see games blindly copy this design philosophy is disappointing.

Sekiro did it pretty well (almost as a rhythm action game), but in everything else it’s a bit shit. Usually you have to press a button within a particular timing window, except the actual timing can either be incredibly obscure (necessitating trial-and-error) or insultingly transparent and generous (i.e. the Assassin’s Creed model).

Obviously this is hyperbole, because water is the worst thing in video games, but I do agree that parrying really is a pain in the ass.

Claire Obscur had an amazing water level where the entire point is that it wasn't a water level -- you could run around on land freely, everything just looked underwater.
- And Maelle encourages me by aggressively shouting "Parry it!" at me.

I really prefer dodging to parrying or blocking, so I don't like it when a game is set up so that parrying is necessary or overly rewarded in a way that makes the fights much longer or more difficult if you choose to not play that way.

Nah gamers are

I hate parrying so much. I can never get the hang of it in any game. I can play twitch shooters at a decent level, I can play the most challenging platformers without any issue, my reaction time is OK for someone of my age, but give me a parry mechanic and it all falls apart. For some reason, my brain cannot handle video game parrying.

I ended up downloading a mod that extends the parry window by 500% in Claire obscure. I still fucking fail at it at times. It completely ruins the game for me :(

A lot of attacks will make a "shoonk" sound, and you'll want to parry at the end of the sound. You can almost see it as counting to a metronome.
Also see the Lusters in Flying Waters. Their attack where they dash three times has them crossing their arms, during which you'll see a flash. Press exactly at that moment.
The Abbests have a magic attack, where you'll hear two rumbling sounds before the strike. Again, put it on a metronome, using the first two sounds as a guide.
Try playing without music for just a bit, or keep it down a little if you struggle to hear through it. Going by sound, and paying closer attention to the attacks (and not getting frustrated) eventually made some fights go from being a struggle to even get a single move in, to being completed extremely quickly with almost no damage. Headphones also seemingly got my success rate up. Just study the attacks, and start out with basic dodging.
I'm near the very end of the game, and combat feels like impulses in my brain--physical. It's worked super well for me in most games.
- Yeah, I know about the sound. I've watched multiple videos with guides how to parry. Somehow my brain refuses to get it
  It's a me thing, I couldn't get the hang of parrying in elden ring, and not even in botw can I do it. But put me on e.g. Interrupt duty in wow, and I won't miss a single interrupt. I could time the bonus jumping attacks in Mario rpg games without any issue.
  I'm not a bad gamer by any means, but for some reason I can never ever get the hang of fucking parryibg.
What platform and controls are you using

Breaking: video game journalist who's bad at video games offers objectively incorrect insight

People (especially fucking game journalists) need to figure out that not liking something doesn't mean it's objectively bad

I remember when people thought quick time events were cool.
There's a lot to be said about the aging of game mechanics and the efficacy of their continued use.
- Yeah, and it's right now. Reread the second line of my comment

It’s the QTE debate all over again. If it’s a forced mechanic, meaning there’s no alternative than to learn the pattern and parry effectively, I agree with this guy that it sucks. But I haven’t seen many games where that’s the case.

Modern accessibility standards seem to be doing a better job of making games enjoyable by a wider range of players, giving options to disable QTEs entirely on one end, or offering alternative solutions to fights besides mastery of timing dependent actions on the other.

I can absolutely understand it, not everyone has the time to invest hours into learning attack patterns or parry rhythms.

It is very normal that people only have a few hours a month for gaming, a hour here a hour there, with maybe days in-between.

this made me realize I don't give a fuck about video games anymore

Depression happens. I hope you get better!

I thought that said "paying" and I agreed.

Now that I see it says parrying, I do not.

Perhaps the author just sucks and should stop playing the kind of games that tend to have parrying. What guy in Clair Obscur are you stuck on, bruh?

***** attacks at light speed.
I love (and plat) both sekiro and nine sols, so I'm all for parrying. But some enemies really have bad telegraphs in clair obscur.

"Parry" in monster hunter wilds: too slow to be a reactive option, user must be psychic or memorize monster movements in order to anticipate next potential movement.... I hate it.

I do love parrying as a general concept though.

huh? perfect block and counterattacks are extremely powerful in wilds and most of them have essentially no windup. if you're relying on something like the insect glaive offset you're gonna have a hard time but most weapons are extremely reactive to the point where it's dumbed down combat in a bad way imo.
compare that to something like 4u charge blade guard points which were also extremely powerful but required you to plan ahead.
user must be psychic or memorize monster movements in order to anticipate next potential movement
if you hate this, monster hunter might not be for you. that's been the meat and potatoes of the game since ps2 and leads to its most impressive gameplay imo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX0OF2Zzd0k
memorize monster movements in order to anticipate next potential movement.... I hate it.
this is literally the cornerstone of monster hunter combat

Third Strike parry is peak gaming. I also enjoy Street Fighter 6 parry. However, my brain feels real good landing them in Third Strike

Sounds like someone is a bit salty they can't immediately get the timing right in Expedition 33 and it's reminding them of all the other times they've sucked. Get good, loser.

give me parry or give me death. If I can't run around in my loincloth and boots with a parry tool and a stick and beat the game with timing alone I'd rather die.

LOL, get good.