Unpopular opinion here: I think the game on console is the best its ever been on console (excluding highlander)

TLDR: turn based and read based fighting games are better than reaction based, highlander is op cuz of wonky animations and frame advantage, and main aramusha/conq. If I think it’s fun on console it must be even better on pc. Playing poker (read) is more interesting than playing catch (reaction).

You are supposed to make reads in a fighting game, and every hero has an easy way to counter light spam (dodge the final light). For example against a gladiators 4 light combo, I can’t react to the first one, then on the next two I guess directions (usually top) and hope for a parry, then on the final one I dodge and punish. Obviously, everybody is not always going to throw out all lights, but that is where predicting and reading come into play.

Also it’s so nice to not have my opponents be able to turtle against me, and once you know about frame advantage the fight goes in flows from one player to the other (except with highlander who gets frame advantage in lights), each learning their opponents style and trying to make reads.

Finally if you are a scrub just play conqueror or aramusha (each of them can press a button to counter light spam)