I'm having a great time playing this but I just can't get my brain to process the fact that you have to press a button to block instead of holding back. I know that this has always been the MK tradition but virtually no other fighting game series in the last 10-15 years has ever used a button dedicated to blocking. What do you think?

Yeah, it'd be about 100x better actually.

Nah, it's always been a staple to the play mechanic to have it in. I think it's what makes it unique having it in there.

It used to bother me in the early 90s, when pretty much no other fighting games used a button to block.  Since then, though, every Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur, Tekken, and Virtua Fighter that I can think of has had a block button.  Years of 3D fighters have made this a non-issue for me.  I'm just used to it now.

I've never liked holding back to block in fighting games. It's always felt weird because back also moves you backward, and I don't want to move backwards, I want to block. It's counter intuitive to what my brain has been conditioned to think after years of playing other kinds of games. Having a dedicated block button in MK is fantastic.

No

but virtually no other fighting game series in the last 10-15 years has ever used a button dedicated to blocking

Nope. After a while it becomes natural. You'll need it to in order block teleports or Raiden's ex lighting ball.

I personally like holding back better, but good arguments about teleporters, so there you go lol

Since then, though, every Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur, Tekken, and Virtua Fighter that I can think of has had a block button.

I've never liked holding back to block in fighting games. It's always felt weird because back also moves you backward, and I don't want to move backwards, I want to block. It's counter intuitive to what my brain has been conditioned to think after years of playing other kinds of games. Having a dedicated block button in MK is fantastic.

As someone who doesn't play other fighting games, holding back to block has always seemed super weird to me. I'm sure there is a good reason for it, but it's one I've never understood. So yeah, I like having a proper block button.

They would have to get rid of teleports to make it fun for the casual MK fan so no.

I don't think so. It makes it a little more tactical then having everyone holding back all the time. I like it how it is.

VF series has used a button to block since beginning and most people will agree that it is the deepest fighting game series, 2d or 3d.
 
Teleports are a far bigger issue in MK for "noobs" than anything else, that is all people do online and if you are new to the game and dont know how to handle it, then those people will just eject the disc and put back Black Ops or Halo, because while those games also have their own imbalances (especially MW2) they still get to play and win team objective games. Whereas in a fighting game, when you lose, it is your fault, cant blame it on teammates or what not.

It's seems easy for me to swap between things like Street Fighter and MK9 now, but I used to lose my mind learning to hold back...

VF series has used a button to block since beginning and most people will agree that it is the deepest fighting game series, 2d or 3d. Teleports are a far bigger issue in MK for "noobs" than anything else, that is all people do online and if you are new to the game and dont know how to handle it, then those people will just eject the disc and put back Black Ops or Halo, because while those games also have their own imbalances (especially MW2) they still get to play and win team objective games. Whereas in a fighting game, when you lose, it is your fault, cant blame it on teammates or what not.

No probably not

I've always preferred holding back. Having a block button completely changes the wake up and mix up game since ambiguous jump ins aren't very effective. It's not really that I don't like holding block, I just don't like how it removes the "should I block left or right?" mixup game.

@MattyFTM said:

I've never liked holding back to block in fighting games. It's always felt weird because back also moves you backward, and I don't want to move backwards, I want to block. It's counter intuitive to what my brain has been conditioned to think after years of playing other kinds of games. Having a dedicated block button in MK is fantastic.

This

@MattyFTM said:

I've never liked holding back to block in fighting games. It's always felt weird because back also moves you backward, and I don't want to move backwards, I want to block. It's counter intuitive to what my brain has been conditioned to think after years of playing other kinds of games. Having a dedicated block button in MK is fantastic.

This

Game is built around having a block button, so no.

No, I like the block button.  I just wish the AI wasn't so supernaturally talented at using it.

I'm perfectly OK with a block button. Kinda like it better now actually. It was a little hard to get used to after coming from Super Street Fighter IV, but now it's weird going back to Street Fighter and having to hold back.

Hmm, having a hard time seeing the connection between topic title and the first post. Nothing you said had anything to do with making the game better or worse =o
 
But ye, as others have said, there's a bunch of attacks in the game that's designed based on the fact that you don't need to know where the attack comes from to block it, so changing it to a traditional block would necessarily lead to a major overhaul of the game.

being used to other fighting games (tekken, street fighter, mvc, blazblue), im used to just holding back to block attacks. though mk is a different game with different mechanics and strats, having the block button is ok. it's just a matter of getting used to it.

I never block in any fighting game.

@MideonNViscera said:

Yeah, it'd be about 100x better actually.

100x better? Really? A change to this tiny little thing would make the game 100x better for you? That has to be sarcasm, right? /shrug

@MattyFTM said:

I've never liked holding back to block in fighting games. It's always felt weird because back also moves you backward, and I don't want to move backwards, I want to block. It's counter intuitive to what my brain has been conditioned to think after years of playing other kinds of games. Having a dedicated block button in MK is fantastic.

Pretty much exactly this. I couldn't have said it any better.

No.

Having a dedicated block button allows you to block while you queue up the directional buttons for a special move or fatality without moving. 

Without a block button, blocking attacks traditionally like in Street Fighter would make blocking teleport attacks like Scorpion's, Smoke's, or Sektor's controller-throwingly FRUSTRATING.

Removing the block button would make the game better IMO! It has been in MK games for it's whole series of games, which is why i play it for a day or two with a buddy and never buy it. I feel like having a dedicated block button makes the game too easy to play. Other fighting games, such as ultimate marvel vs capcom, have teleports that are just as fast as a raiden or kung lao and nobody seems to have trouble blocking it holding back. Having to hold back or back/down to block makes the game much more challenging. It enables cross overs and high/low mix ups. You can also move while holding back until someone inputs a move. Unlike holding block you can't jump, move, input a move. Remove the block button and this game instantly gets better. Why don't more games allow blocking in the air as well while holding back? THAT'S SICK!! I also understand MK is a pretty popular game and has always had a dedicated block button. But is it just me or has anyone else noticed i don't see mortal kombat played OFTEN after a year of release? maybe not because of the block scheme, but could be :) while other games....street fighter and ultimate marvel vs capcom, to name 2, are still being played and streamed ALL THE TIME on twitch. both games require holding back to block

No.

Hell naw. Finishers are so much more manageable with a block button.

Block button is good for MK's style; Injustice may have been well served by a block button for example (though it worked fine without it). Of course there's plenty of games that are interesting to play without block buttons so who knows. Also necro.

No.

It's the reason I'm awful at MK, so I guess I'd be happy, but I know that I'm the minority.

Not at all. It wouldn't feel like a Mortal Kombat game. I get why people who are used to the other style thinking it's better but this is what most MK players know. No reason to change it for a different audience. Plus I don't think adding another button adds anything particularly interesting.

I like Street Fighter so I'd like the option to hold back to block.

And nobody wants that!

I honestly do not care either way.

Likewise.