Let Rivals 2 be Rivals 2

Rivals of Aether 2 isn't Melee, Rivals 1, or Smash Ultimate. We need to let the devs cook and stop trying to shoehorn Rivals 2 into YOUR most played platform fighter. I think the amount of floor hugging, CC, and any other mechanical complaints to be pretty absurd when the meta has barely developed and we still don't have a clear picture of optimal gameplay. Think about how much Melee has changed in the years its been out with zero patches. While I'm not advocating for the devs to never step in with well thought out balance patches or changes I would like to see more patience from the players of this game.

Rivals 2 is blazing its own path and attempting to push the genre of platform fighters forward in a unique but fun and balanced game. I played Melee, Rivals 1, and Ultimate. I DO not want a carbon copy of those games. It makes much more sense to take the best mechanics from each and put a unique spin on a different game that tries to advance the genre and improve upon old concepts. I truly believe this is what Dan and the team are trying to do.

All the opinions I'm seeing about what's ruining the game for them are conflicting and proving the point that people are just trying to turn Rivals 2 into the platform fighter they came from because adapting and changing old habits is frustrating or hard.

Most of the design choices made were to keep the skill ceiling high but the floor low and welcoming for newcomers. No mashing, no crazy SDI wiggling, basically all tech or mechanics are easy to execute but hard to master. I think this is brilliant. Taking the pinnacle of exciting gameplay like Melee but making it accessible for everyone without devoting hours of time to L canceling or wavedashing.

We need to all keep an open mind and try to adapt and get good at Rivals of Aether 2, not complain it doesn't have X or Y mechanics from your beloved platform fighter. The devs have a great track history of good game balance and have earned our patience and respect. Let them cook, they have a vision for the game they discussed and worked out over time not just some random shower thoughts that we post on reddit. Once I started trying to get good at this game, I actually became a better overall platform fighter player. High level players read and react to your every move, and you have to do the same. Every action has a form of counterplay and that's the balance changes they've pushed.

The most encouraging thing about these devs is they're not afraid to admit they're wrong or change course if the data and gameplay support it. They've made balance changes and scaled them back or given compensating buffs to make sure characters aren't nerfed into the ground. If whatever you've been complaining about on Reddit is truly impacting the game in a negative way over time they will make adjustments. In the meantime, let's all stop complaining nonstop and give good constructive criticism or feedback instead of saying "I don't like this" "I hate this" "Get rid of it now!!!' We have a passionate grassroots dev team that cares about us and a great core game. Don't take it for granted this is an awesome opportunity for the growth of platform fighters as a whole.