I was initially hyped as hell for this game. I thought it would be the tournament fighter that Nintendo needed. The thought of it going to arcades first and then potentially hitting either 3DS or Wii U or both had me extremely hopeful for the future of the title. Maybe it could have been the next Tatsunoko vs. Capcom or Naruto: Clash of Ninja (in terms of market and impact for Nintendo) but with a larger appeal due to the Pokemon franchise being attached.

However, after all the news that has come out in the last week (especially that ugly controller), I am starting to get a bit depressed at what I am seeing. As I mentioned, that controller is hideous (please make it optional... although it does lend to the 3DS layout) but that controller is just one of many problems I have thus far. The new information about the controls of the game also bug me a bit. A 3D fighter using Smash style controls (Controls that are suited for a 2D game) seems a bit chaotic (Kid Icarus tried it but used the touch screen to keep things from being a total disaster) and actually counterproductive. The two modes of fighting also seems a bit hurtful. In my opinion, this takes away from the tournament fighter stance I was thinking this game was taking. Thee idea seems grand, but I do not see it performing to any high level or even meaningful expectation. And I think it will drive tournament fighting fans away from the game... which is a damn shame because that will leave its hardcore community as dimished if not completely depleted in a short amount of time.

I am not saying the game will be total and complete ass to everyone, but I am most definitely thinking the game is not going to live up to any level of exectation. I hope I am wrong and I want to readfrom anyone that is interested in this game what is holding their interest. Does this game look like it is going to live up to the hype or expectation? Is there something about the game play that has you interested? Is it purely based on the fact that there are Pokemon in the game that keeps you interested? Is it a combination of all of these things? Is there something I do not know that I should know that may sway me back in the favor of this title?

I have been a fan of the game since its announcement but now, I am starting to lose hope. I was hoping it would be a game to compliment the Smash community and that hopefully it would be at next year's APEX tournament. As of right now, I am seeing it as dead in the water if released on a home console. Hopefully it gets the changes necessary to become the game I was hoping it was going to be.

I wish people stopped worrying about it being a competitive fighter. I want a fun game, not a game that only 1% of the gaming community will like.

You're too worried. 

Why would you care about the controller? Do you live in Japan and plan on playing this in arcades? It's going to be ported to Wii U and then you'll be able to play it on a Pro Controller or the GamePad.

Don't see a problem with the controls or the controller...As for the multilayered gameplay, I think that does some interesting things, most notably changing the range game. I think if done right, this could be really fun and interesting without losing its competitiveness. As I said in another thread, this movement style won't hurt the games ability to be competitive...the decision on how competitive the game will be will rest solely on the developers and how they balance the game and the meta.

I was more worried before last week actually. At first i tougth it would be a soulcalibur 3(the one free to play that came out last year) with pokemon skin, but no, is actually a arena figther that reminds me a lot of the display from the pokemon stadium games. I agree that seem a rather simplistc kist of comands and combos, but i will keep a eye on it.

Two things.

First, stop looking at it as a fighting game. Not even the developers are calling it a fighting game. It's a "competitive action game." The sooner you do that, the easier it is to like the game. It's like when people get made that the new Smash games don't incorporate competitive fighting game mechanics.

Second, even with the above in mind, it still has far more hope of gaining a competitive scene than most games, just like Smash did. Pokemon is a powerful franchise, and this game has talented devs working on it who understand competitive fighting like the back of their hands.

If you're hoping it's going to be a traditional fighting game, stop. It's not. That's clear and that's not changing. What it'll most likely end up being is an action-oriented sister to the turn-based Pokemon tournaments. And that's fucking awesome.

@justiceiro: It never looked like a Soul Calibur title. I think people assume because Namco is making the game, that it will be like their games but it has never looked like a Namco title.

@sundin13: All good for you. The lack of a second stick is kind of a problem for me in a 3D fighter that is using Smash like controls. Plus, that controller is hideous. I will say this, the multilayered game play could be amazing. But from what I have gathered, it is looking to be a serious crutch. I will have to play it to understand but as of right now, I remain pessimistic. At least you gave me your thoughts and I respect and appreciate that very much.

@the_dengle: The controller is hideous. If it were a masterpiece, I would say that and then I doubt you would be commenting at all. I am allowed to have an opinion, even if I never touch the controller. Besides, that is not my main complaint, the game play is where I spend the majority of my post ranting. Still, that controller is hideous. Setting all of that aside, I do plan to go to Japan again this year and if the game is out when I get there, of course I would want to play it. But that controller is a major turn off. I will still play it, but that does not take away from me not liking it from where I sit.

@Samus Aran: Street Fighter and Smash Bros. are both series that casual and tournament fighting game fans can enjoy. Same with Soul Calibur, Tekken, and many others. I wanted this game to be both, but in order for it to stay in the tournament community, it must have viability and right now, I am not seeing that. There is nothing wrong with wanting the game to have a healthy afterlife. The tournament community provides me with other people to play with and against in games I enjoy playing. That aspect adds longevity to a games and in turn, more value to the title for me.

I'm not super keen on it either. I'll wait till it's released though.

A second stick? Forgive my ignorance, but what fighters use two sticks? To my knowledge fight sticks pretty much exclusively have one. Smash doesn't use the second stick unless you want to use it for smash attacks, which you can also do manually.

Also, the controller is obviously just for the arcade cabinets, so they don't exactly matter assuming the game will come to Wii U.