2XKOis currently scheduled for release next year, and it has garnered more anticipation than ever thanks to the recent conclusion of yet another playtesting period. AdaptingLeague of Legendscharacters into a fighting game is no small task, but developers are faced with an even greater challenge. Holding the attention of casual players in a competitive environment is as hard as it gets, but2XKOmay be carving a sound path forward.
If2XKOwants to achieve any kind of longevity, it needs to appeal to competitive players while still being accessible for fighting game newcomers. This is a difficult balancing act to pull off, and2XKOhas proposed the Fuse System as its answer. While many facets of the feature have sparked interest, there is one Fuse in particular that seems like a real game-changer.
2XKO’s Fuse System is a Game Changer for Competition and Accessibility
2XKO’s Fuses Come in All Shapes and Sizes
As of now, there are a total offive Fuses to choose from in2XKO. While this number could feasibly change in the future, it seems unlikely. After all, the existing Fuses already cover a lot of ground. From both a casual and competitive standpoint, the Fuse System has something for everyone.
These Fuses certainly aren’t created equal. Each one comes with its own distinct benefits, and their drawbacks are decided more by the ability and preference of the player. For example, the Fuse which seems most powerful on its face is “Freestyle.” Freestyle allows forcomplex comboswhere the player may switch multiple times within a single string.
2XKOis, of course, a tag fighter. Team-based fighting games are a subgenrepioneered by titles likeMarvel vs. Capcom, which features gameplay that is equal parts flashy and difficult. Freestyle takes this to its natural conclusion, by allowing players to max out their combo strings to the limits of their imagination. It’s best utilized by anyone willing to sit in the lab for hours on end, and its drawback is simply difficult execution. On the flipside,2XKOcame armed with a tool for more casual players to stay in the game.
2XKO’s Pulse Fuse May Be a Double-Edged Sword
While Freestyle provides a lot of fun for competitive players,2XKOneeds to keep casual players on the line more than anything. After all,League of Legendsis a far cry from any given fighting game. The “Pulse” Fuse seems geared towards solving this issue, but it may have some far-reaching consequences.
Pulse essentially allows players to mash a button over and over in order to perform an auto-combo. Auto-combos have only become more and more prevalent in modern fighting games, and are usually meant to help players ease into more complex mechanics down the road. However, there’s nothing more infamous in the genre thanbutton mashing, and Pulse may just be playing with fire.
Auto-combos performed with Pulse may not be as damaging as those done with Freestyle, but they’re certainly easier to pull off. Essentially, anyone can mash their way to success with the Pulse Fuse. Developers have certainly accounted for the most problematic implications of this mechanic. In truth, nothing a player can do with Pulse far exceeds what they would accomplish with any other Pulse.
Pulse represents the next step in a pretty cleartrend within recent fighting games. Fighting games are often seen as impenetrable to anyone who hasn’t been playing for years, and many new games try to account for this.2XKOclearly holds this design philosophy in high regard. The simplification of inputs was one thing, but the introduction of the Fuse System is a different beast entirely.2XKO’s Fuse System provides excellent options for casual and competitive players alike and may set the pace for future titles to come.
