Fighting Systems in Action Games

[Knighto]

Combos-based attack system VS. Free flow-based attack system.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum there's no need to press any buttons combinations to perform the amazing never-ending combos. One attack button, a countering button and a decent sense of timing is all that's needed. A simple combination, yet it works so fine that most of the times I wished there were more enemies to fight (of course the wish is fulfilled in the Challenges mode.)

Also, In Assassin's Creed series there's a very similar system and it works just fine.

Combos are much older in gaming realm and proved to be very reliable in most cases, but sometimes it feels they're too demanding to have fun (of course some will argue they're part of the fun)

When I want to use my fingers skills I can always play Tekken or Street Fighter. I shied away from great games like Devil May Cry because of its not-simple combos system.

Just imagine the hits of Kratos in God of War being delivered in the accuracy of a system like that of Batman: AA instead of the frustrating hitting-the-air moments.

What do you all think? Should developers use free-flow like combos system more? Which do you personally prefer: combos, free flow or simple, old button mashing? Which games fighting system do you like the most?

[MyNameDidntFit]

I, personally, despise that sort of system. It bored the hell out of me in AC and it bored the hell out of me in The Witcher (so much so that it overrode my desire to watch the plot unfold and made me uninstall the game).

God of War is perfect as it is, it isn't meant to be something where you tap a key every three seconds to do four-hundred moves. It's meant to be frantic, it's meant to be intense and, to me, I can't find the *click-wait-click-wait-click* style of combat to be intense, no matter how nice all the moves the game is doing for me look.

My two cents.

[Jason]

I kind of agree - I think both systems suit different games - in Batman, since combat wasn't the main selling point of the game, and at times you were heavily outnumbered by superior enemies, I think the 'single button' method worked nicely in that. It wasn't excessively complicated and allowed you to focus on the game.

However, for an example of a game where the 'single button method' should never be used, look no further than the Dynasty Warriors games. The concept is awesome - you and hundreds of your men vs the enemy and thousands of his. You all have weapons of varying ability to maim, and there's even horses in there for a good laugh.
The ONLY reason this game hasn't been a massive success is that it boils down to running round a field for an hour hammering the square button, because the control system is too basic, and there's no joy in it.
Think of the joy you get when you nail your first ten-hit combo in Tekken - it wouldn't be the same if the control system consisted of two buttons.

I think both systems have their place, definitely, it's just down to the developers to make the right decisions.