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[Kadin]

Hey GAF, would really like some input here on how to stop being so bad at games like Dark Souls and Monster Hunter.

With games like these, I KNOW that I'm not supposed to mindlessly run into an enemy and just start hacking away like an idiot. I know that there are strategies you need to learn and formulate a proper method of attack. The thing is, when I'm in the heat of the moment and combat is quickly turning to mad shit, I freak out and just start button smashing. I hate that I do this. And yet it continues.

I've been able to make some progress in the DS games, never finished one though. But MH games I'm just so bad with. I really love the idea of them and yet when I'm sitting there in front of large Jaggi, I just hack away (dual blades) and usually eventually take them down but it's just a big terrible mess after all is said and done. I thought about changing weapons but I really like this play-style but maybe that's the problem??

So to those of you who kind of had the same problems in the beginning, did you make a conscious effort to adapt or did you simply stop playing this way after a certain amount of time?

 

[purseowner]

I have the same issue, OP.

Just play Musou.

 

[L Thammy]

Dual blades are kind of button mashy by nature. Try another weapon and intentionally try to find which combos are most efficient and in what situation. A friend of mine started with dual swords then moved completely to longsword; maybe try that?

The other thing is just to switch your mental focus from attacking to defending. While you're attacking, may close attention to what the monster's doing. It's better to dodge now and attack later than to keep attacking now and die.

 

[Mediking]

Dark Souls 2: Scholar on PS4 was my first real taste of Dark Souls and it pretty much taught me to wait and see at enemies. Exploit their weakness or die. I almost cried after I beat the first boss.

Monster Hunter? Another game where I admire people who play it but I just can't mesh with it. I've tried over and over but it doesn't click with me.

 

[DrArchon]

If you want to stop mashing in MH, try playing with a slower weapon like a Great Sword. You're basically forced to not mash the attack button, otherwise you die.

 

[Astral/H3X]

For Dark Souls, try integrating a bow and arrow into your arsenal -- the ability to pull enemies from far away so that you're fighting 1 on 1 instead of groups will help you start thinking about strategies (And don't forget to consider *where* you are pulling them to -- standing on top of a roof and drawing them over where you can do a drop attack works wonders!). This won't work on bosses and such, but kind of gets you to work out that part of your thinking.

For bosses/Monster Hunter, think of it sort of as a fighting game -- I find that helps a bit. Wait for the enemy to perform an attack, and defend against it or dodge. After that moment, sneak in a few hits, and then wait for the next attack. It'll slow your times down for sure, but you'll get better at when to back off and when to attack across both games. Eventually, you'll start baiting out attacks by moving in/out of range of their more powerful attacks so that they are forced to use attacks that leave them more vulnerable.

That's really what I would say are the basics, until you start trying enemy specific tactics.

 

[pretty done]

I thought about changing weapons but I really like this play-style but maybe that's the problem??

Yes.

Either change your playstyle or change your game. Dynasty Warriors 19 would fit pretty well. Or keep playing actual good games and think about your attacks and button presses rather than mashing furiously. Switch to a weapon like hammer or great sword and you will be forced to not mash.

 

[Opa-Pa]

This happened to me with Demon's Souls at first. It took me thousands of deaths but at some point I made a conscious effort to stop getting carried away in the heat of the moment and made certain rules for myself, like (only hit the enemy three times, then roll backwards and let the enemy attack. Repeat".

After a while I adjusted and then didn't have to consciously follow any self imposed rules, and now I play "the right way" naturally.

You can always try new weapons too, though.

And yes, all this works for MH as well. I play both.

 

[Camjo-Z]

I've been able to make some progress in the DS games, never finished one though. But MH games I'm just so bad with. I really love the idea of them and yet when I'm sitting there in front of large Jaggi, I just hack away (dual blades) and usually eventually take them down but it's just a big terrible mess after all is said and done. I thought about changing weapons but I really like this play-style but maybe that's the problem??

Try switching to Great Sword, the slow speed and weight behind the swings will force you to attack only when there's an opening whether you like it or not. Then once you understand the fundamentals, go back to your preferred weapon and apply what you learned.

 

[L Thammy]

Either change your playstyle or change your game. Dynasty Warriors 19 would fit pretty well.

God, they're just shitting those games out now, aren't they?

 

[Kadin]

Dual blades are kind of button mashy by nature. Try another weapon and intentionally try to find which combos are most efficient and why. A friend of mine started with dual swords then moved completely to longsword; maybe try that?

The other thing is just to switch your mental focus from attacking to defending. While you're attacking, may close attention to what the monster's doing. It's better to dodge now and attack later than to keep attacking now and die.

Yeah that latter part is very satisfying when I can make a conscious decision to do that. There have been times when instead of going in for a quick hit, I've taken a step back and let them lunge first, step to the side or whatever, and then hit with a counter. Incredibly fun when that clicks but my mindset isn't always in that defensive mode. Probably just need to slow it down and think more instead of always rushing in...

If you want to stop mashing in MH, try playing with a slower weapon like a Great Sword. You're basically forced to not mash the attack button, otherwise you die.

Try switching to Great Sword, the slow speed and weight behind the swings will force you to attack only when there's an opening whether you like it or not. Then once you understand the fundamentals, go back to your preferred weapon and apply what you learned.

Larger swords I will try next.

Thanks all for the recommendations.

 

[King Gilga]

I mean the souls games only have 2 attack buttons so you'll be mashing no matter what you do?

I mean I always feel like I'm mashing R1 in them 99% of the time and never had a probably in any of them.

 

[antitrop]

Try a Stylish Action Game (Bayonetta, Devil May Cry) and shoot for high ranks from the scoring system.

I think it will help if you're trying to learn a game that actually gives you feedback in the way of end-of-scenario rankings.

 

[Transistor]

Play with a greatsword in the Souls games. The slow speed prevents you from mindlessly hacking away.

 

[Bronetta]

Learn how to Dodge Offset in Bayonetta

 

[Boney]

Monster hunter needs to be played as a real time turn based game. Don't force the extra hit that'll get you punished and go for the attack after the enemy throws out an attack that has a lot of cool down.

 

[DpadD]

Keep on playing Souls.

Eventually it will click and you will become a better person for it.

 

[serversurfer]

Try the lances in MH. They helped me slow down and control the battle a little more. Goad the enemy in to charging you and poke it in the face as it arrives. Lances are nice for blocking too.

 

[Ferr986]

IMO, Force yourself to use slower weapons, and don't level stamina too much at first. This will force you to take it slowly because otherwise you can't really do anything.

Once you think you get your habit to mindlessly hack controlled (you will, it happened to me too) you can resume on leveling stamina.

 

[Nintendoga]

Sounds like Bloodborne would be right up your alley. It's much more offensive combat wise than the other Souls games.

DS is about learning the enemy pattern and getting hits in when they're left vulnerable. Once you do that, you probably could steamroll through some of the enemy mooks quickly.

 

[TheSpoiler]

Play fighting games. That'll teach you to slow down real quick.

 

[bronkonagurski]

I have the same problem. I start to panic when things get heated. I started Dark Souls on the 360 and managed to get a bit further than I expected. Not really, really deep into the game but I was still proud of myself.

 

[ChouGoku]

patience young padawan

its all about patience, for me with souls games sometimes you have to really wait before you attack. I learned souls games like fighting games, which is why I don't play them anymore. I already play fighting games and dont feel like putting that kind of time into learning another game. Best thing to do is learn your characters moves, how much space those moves take up, and learn about how long it takes for your move to hit, and really watch your enemies movements, or you can play a musou or DMC game

 

[Robiin]

Play Street Fighter for a few weeks. Understand the concept of plus and minus frames.

I'm dead serious.

 

[K.Jack]

Switch to heavy greatswords.

 

[TheDanimal]

Play Street Fighter for a few weeks. Understand the concept of plus and minus frames.

I'm dead serious.

Or any fighting game right? Against a competent opponent. Know when to approach and when to back away, etc.

 

[kagamin]

That's used to be me in games (sometimes I still get like that anyways ), thankfully I learned how to stop doing that for the most part during my first Dark Souls playthrough (though sometimes I get impatient and kill myself on an enemy attack).

 

[Hibiki Kurosawa]

I have a similar issue, but not with Souls. I'm careful in Souls games to watch the enemy movements and find an opening. But I got lazier and lazier with games like Tales as time has gone on to the point where I just randomly assign attacks and then mash buttons. I need to stop.

 

[Regiruler]

You seem to have a patience issue, going from the OP. How about trying something faster? Devil May Cry is faster than both those games, but it is more punishing than Bayonetta, so it's better for practice I would say.

 

[mstevens]

I tried Monster Hunter on Wii U a couple years back and completely didn't get it.

Since then, I've played and beaten all the Souls games, and reaped the benefits of the growing pains that come with those games. It would be interesting to try to go back and see if what I learned from the Souls games would apply to my understanding of the Monster Hunter games.

I'm hoping that there is a good looking NX version soon after launch.

 

[redcrayon]

Try the lances in MH. They helped me slow down and control the battle a little more. Goad the enemy in to charging you and poke it in the face as it arrives. Lances are nice for blocking too.

This. Block/evade then counter with pokey-poke-pokepokepoke. It's got everything you need, the first part will teach you to wait for an opening, the second will give that multiple hit feeling that you crave

In all seriousness everyone suggesting to try a new weapon if the current one isn't working is spot on. Changing weapon in MH is more like trying a whole new action game considering how different most of them are, and it's not just the move sets, it's relearning to fight each creature too, as the moments you can exploit and how you choose to do so will change too. I primarily use lance, but dabble with the greatsword and bows to keep things fresh and to give me options if my primary weapon is struggling vs a new mark.

 

[Permanently A]

play Furi

you will get shit on

it will force you out of your bad habits

 

[redcrayon]

I tried Monster Hunter on Wii U a couple years back and completely didn't get it.

Since then, I've played and beaten all the Souls games, and reaped the benefits of the growing pains that come with those games. It would be interesting to try to go back and see if what I learned from the Souls games would apply to my understanding of the Monster Hunter games.

I'm hoping that there is a good looking NX version soon after launch.

I'm completely the opposite- Demon's Souls put me off years ago, but after hundreds of hours of loving the MH games breaking my bad habits I wonder if I would be more patient and successful now.

Souls and MH often seem to appeal to the same kind of player.