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there is nothing wrong with rewarding defense
I don't think that rewarding offense and defense are necessarily contradictory, although the game will inevitably be slanted more towards one than the other. You can reward offense with hitstun, shieldstun, ect., while one would reward defense with capitalizable ending lag on attacks, quick, useful defensive options, etc. What many people don't want though, is a game being campy and boring, good fighting games are a matter of prediction, action, and reaction, not keep-away and stalling until someone gives an obvious opening, camping out in a position, etc.