Expression via Fighting Game Colors

8/11/2024

Player expression and individuality in regards to fighting games is an interesting topic to me, while yes, what the player does on screen to interact with their opponent, themselves, and the actual game are the most important aspect of what a player can do, another aspect I find just as important arguably, Is what Alternate Color they choose for the character they play.

Take for example.

These 3 colors are the choice pick of long time japanese Guity Gear player F.A.B, In my mind, and most others in the Guilty Gear scene, F.A.B is THE Potemkin player. It's to a point where you can't imagine any other player using this color without thinking "Oh that's F.A.B's color." He has defined this color as his own, and defined Potemkin with said color.

I find it really fascinating how what color you pick can also affect the notoriety and legacy of a character in a competitive setting. But even outside of a super high level environment, It still has meaning.

Take for example (again.)

This is my choice of color for Potemkin when I'm playing Strive, I don't pick any other color; this is color I like, and despite the fact that I am far from a top player or anything, people I play/played with often enough on say a discord server or even grinding on ranked will likely associate the color with me, whether I win or lose, or whether I know the opponent well or not.

I don't mean to sound pretentious, and for the above text to be construed as "This is my color and I'm the hot shit, and anyone else using this color is a pale imitation of me", I just meant to say that, the color I chose to signify myself with still has a meaning to people I play with.

It's funny cause, the color doesn't particularly speak to me otherwise, I only chose It cause Strive characters have a limited number of colors available unless your paying for a costume pack (which I'd rather not do.) My favorite color is Pink, but I tend not to lean into using Pink alts in fighting games, cause the color schemes tend to lead into pastel designs which I don't like much.

Being in a smaller fighting game scene is fun, cause In my mind I tend to just associate that person with that color subconsiously.

I've been playing alot of Persona 4 Arena as of late, and I alway loved how they give a few more options for the player in terms of customization, your character color, persona color, glasses, and even a navigator who talks to you during the match (befitting of a Persona game.)

This is something that can only work in the context of a Persona fighting game, As far as I'm aware theres not any other game that does stuff like this (though I think Granblue Fantasy Versus does Weapon skins? Which is pretty neat.)

This is a hot take probably, but I don't like alternate costumes in fighting games, when someone chooses an alternate costume, theres a bit of character and personality to it, when someone chooses an alternate costume, it just feels, Different? Like instead of piloting a different version of a character, they're just piloting that character in a different costume, I know, that makes 0 sense.

Anyhow, a color can express alot, whether you actually think about it or not, and I wonder what they mean to you, whether you actually play fighting games or not. and to end this entry; I think people who use default colors are weird, you should feel bad about yourself, and I hope you can only drink lukewarm water.

Just for funsies, here are the colors I tend to choose when playing various fighting games.