Month: June 2015

By now, it’s no secret that iconic Street Fighter protagonist Ryu will eventually be playable in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. An early release of data to servers in Japan have allowed diligent fans to mine information from the code, from the wandering warrior’s victory screen in single-player mode to the classic moves he will have at his disposal. That being said, the latest gameplay details to emerge from the industrious Smash community are sure to interest even the most diehard fans of traditional fighters.

First, the basic stuff. Ryu’s specials can either be performed with a single button press or by holding down the input, giving them added benefits like higher damage. However, if one were to perform the attack’s original Street Fighter motions, some truly glorious things can happen. For instance, using a quarter-circle to unleash a Hadoken will result in a stronger fireball, and Ryu will also float a bit longer if it’s used in mid-air as an homage to the Marvel vs. Capcom series. The developers even went as far as to include the Shakunetsu variant should players utilize a half-circle.

Shoryukens, on the other hand, gain invincibility with their original input, as well as a bit more damage and the removal of their landing recovery. Ryu players pulling off the traditional Tatsumaki motion will see the move’s strength, speed, and distance increased. And finally, fully-charged Focus Attacks cause the opponent to crumple, allowing for follow-up hits, and can be canceled with dashes just like in Street Fighter IV.

But the specials aren’t the only attacks to draw inspiration from the entirely different subset of fighters this guest character calls home. Ryu’s vast repertoire also includes a classic Donkey Kick by way of his side smash as well as a shield-shattering Collarbone Breaker.

Although their game is quite different from those they are emulating, the Smash developers have apparently done a fantastic job of giving Ryu just enough variety as to entice fans who have been playing him since Street Fighter debuted in 1987. Only time will tell if mastering these techniques leads to a more viable, competitive character, but for right now, it’s cool to see these traditional methods appear in another style of fighter.

Source: NeoGAF