One of the most important questions you see asked at tournaments is, “When’s Marvel?” That’s because Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is one of the most exciting games to play and watch. That is one of the key reasons the game made it through the Evo Players’ Choice Vote to become the final game on the roster for Evo 2017.
With that and the rereleases of the game coming on modern consoles and PC, a lot of people may be interested in picking up the fighter. However, being seven years removed from the initial release of the game makes for a steep learning curve if you are just learning. That’s why this four minute tutorial may be able to help you out, as it covers everything from team synergy to mechanics in such a short time.
MASTERCUP (known for its 5v5 Tekken tournament series) has given us something to think about while we wait on June 2nd! Thanks to their organizational efforts, 20 top Japanese players have partnered together to form an official tier list for Version H of Tekken 7: Fated Retribution.
This list averages the character placings from these pros into the list below. Some previous top tiers (Steve, Hworang) have dropped slightly, whereas some shiny new faces have appeared at the top (Leo, Xiaoyu). Xiaoyu, in particular, is likely benefiting from the new engine, since she’s been gifted with arguably the best Rage Drive in the game. It’s amazing what an unseeable, safe, low combo starter can do for you on a 3D game’s tier list!
Ryu had some adjustments to his play in Street Fighter V Season 2. As a result, some of his meaty setups, as well as his Shoryuken setups stopped working properly. But with change, comes adjustment.
NurseLee has been hard at work, readjusting everything in Ryu’s playbook so that he could continue to be strong in this season. While naturally these meaty setups will not work against EX dragon punches, it does beat wake up jabs and three frame moves if timed properly.
After taking a look at Kuruoshiki Oni on the day after Christmas, the Shadaloo Combat Research Institute has returned, with the first set of CFN Profiles for 2017. This time, the bosses of Final Fight 2, as well as another secret character from Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter take the spotlight. As always, they are faithfully reported by the loyal Private Nakagawa.
Released in 1993 for the SNES, this console-exclusive sequel tells the story of a second version of the Mad Gear Gang, revived by a Japanese villain named Retsu, who sought revenge for their previous defeat, by kidnapping the sister and father of Maki Genryusai, Guy’s fiancee. Haggar agrees to meet with Maki in Hong Kong to search for the Mad Gear’s new hideout in Eurasia. With Cody and Jessica on vacation and Guy currently on a training mission, the two are joined by a swordsman named Carlos Miyamoto, in order to save Maki’s family and finally put an end to the Mad Gear’s tyranny once and for all.
We’ll begin the profiles with the man-child from the Netherlands, Bratken.
Private Nakagawa: “His torn sleeves give him a wild appearance. He comes at you with hard, frightful, attacks, exactly as you would suppose at first glance. He has a gentle heart, actually … they say.
Basic Info:
Name: Bratken
Height: 205 cm
Weight: 197 kg
Blood type: A
Birthday: October 12th
Home Country: Netherlands
Likes: Mom, Toys
Dislikes: Those who disturb him while he’s playing
Private Nakagawa: “A simple-minded thug who causes damage because he doesn’t know his excessive strength. He lives in an old Dutch castle in the Netherlands, expressly arranged for him with a room full of toys. He attacks any intruder with his Bratken Punch and Bratken Kick. His best friend is a stuffed teddy bear.
Next up is the former Marine, Freddie.
Private Nakagawa: “The absence of sleeves gives him a wild appearance. He comes at you with wild attacks, exactly as you would suppose at first glance. His Hip Attack is particularly violent and scary! He’s an upright person with a strong sense of justice, actually … they say.”
Basic Info:
Name: Freddie
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 185 kg
Blood type: 0
Birthday: January 3rd
Home Country: USA
Likes: The Smell of the Battlefield, Meat
Dislikes: Tedious Jobs
Private Nakagawa: “A former member of the Marine Corps, now living in France. When he was a Marine, he opposed a corrupt commanding officer, who wanted to use the troops as if they were his own personal force. During military operations, her murdered his commander with a gun, while making it look like an accident. A brawl ensued and he was discharged. Afterwards, he took along with him some of his team members, and founded a group 0f wandering mercenaries, who enlisted with several different separated armies and took part in various conflicts and wars throughout the world. It seems he’s tied to a certain criminal gang, nowadays, I’ve heard…”
This brings us to the mad clown, Phillippe!
Private Nakagawa: “A face painted white, and a red nose. He’s a well-known and very popular circus ringmaster. But his true face is…”
Basic Info:
Name: Philippe
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Blood type: Unknown
Birthday: November 1st
Home Country: UK
Likes: Money-making, Acrobatics
Dislikes: Paying attention to others
Private Nakagawa: “The leader of a circus that travels throughout the world. He excels with animal acts, and is an entertainer who can amuse any crowd with his juggling abilities. But his true job is being the leader of a criminal group who transports and smuggles weapons, drugs and other illegal goods across borders. He rarely actually fights, but when he does, he makes good use of his trained body and his attacks with his cane and whip are particularly ferocious.”
We’ll now take a look at the territorial ex-sailor from Hong Kong, Won Won!
Private Nakagawa: “It’s written 王王 and pronounced Won Won. [Actually 王王 Wong⁶ Wong⁶ (“King King”) in Cantonese. “Won Won” is the Japanese spelling.] He’s a renowned gourmet, and enjoys cooking himself. It seems he likes recipes made with mǐxiàn. But you shouldn’t use a kitchen knife as a weapon, you know!”
Basic Info:
Name: Won Won
Height: 225 cm
Weight: 205 kg
Blood type: B
Birthday: February 12th
Home Country: Hong Kong
Likes: Alcohol, Eating Snacks with Tea in general [An activity known as 饮茶 yǐnchá in Mandarin, jam²caa⁴ in Cantonese. But perhaps many of us already know it with its japanised spelling… Yamcha.]
Dislikes: Food with a low degree of Freshness
Private Nakagawa: “A former sailor, hearty and strong. He considers Hong Kong’s harbor as his turf. Even the local mafia, The 800 Dragons, [a reference to “The 108 Dragons”, the main enemy in the manga and movie Crying Freeman. The original name is 百八竜 and they simply swapped the first two kanjis.] acknowledges that. He attacks brandishing his meat cleaver! That’s dangerous! Beware of his violent Elbow Drops, too. It seems he supports an infamous crime syndicate nowadays.”
Now we arrive at the leader of this incarnation of the Mad Gear, Retsu!
Private Nakagawa: “A huge man constantly wearing his Kabuki makeup. It seems no one has ever seen his face without it… This Retsu has no relation with that other Retsu, also. [Written Retsu as the other one. The transliteration “Retu” came from the use of Kunrei style romanization instead of the Hepburn one. The name is actually the same, with the same kanji (“violent, furious”) to boot.]
Basic Info:
Name: Retsu
Height: 225 cm
Weight: 205 kg
Blood type: B
Birthday: May 10th
Home Country: Japan
Likes: Power
Dislikes: Bushinryū
Private Nakagawa: “He always sports his Kabuki makeup. A man of many mysteries. It seems he’s a Mad Gear member, and is using Japan as his base to run every criminal activity in all of Asia. His specialties are kidnapping, intimidation and sabotage. It would appear that in his past something happened between him and a Bushinryū-related person… His special move is a violent Kaiten Senpūkyaku!” [回転旋風脚 kaitensenpūkyaku, “rotating whirlwind kick”. He did the move on the ground, instead of being airborne as all the shotos.]
Finally, we have another Secret Character from 1997’s Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter making their official debut into SF lore, P. Mecha Zangi-F!
Private Nakagawa: “The P. stands for “prototype.” A refurbished Monitor Cyborg specifically developed to contrast Zangief. It’s an experimental model made by Shadaloo. It has a steel body, and it’s studying various throw techniques and grappling moves!”
Basic Info:
Name: P. Mechazangi-F
Height: 214,1 cm
Weight: 1810 kg
Blood type: Vodka
Date of manufacture: June 1st
Home Country: Made in Shadaloo
Likes: Rotating
Dislikes: Projectile attacks, anyway
Private Nakagawa: “It’s translucent, shining, grey body was covered in Light Certanium, [A Megaman reference. Already encountered in Shadow Lady‘s profile. Love it when they keep it coherent.] and was thought able to repel any attack. Its special technique was Vodka Fire, in which it spewed a super-heated blue flame, making use of the vodka that ran into his body as fuel. Because the info was obsolete, its distinctive trait was that it still lacked the nozzles in the palms of its hands, whence subsequent models emitted Vanishing energy. [Yup, it’s Vanishing, not Banishing.] Several upgrades were added to the next released model “Mechazangi F”. Lord F.A.N.G, who has inherited these studies, is currently guiding us in the development of “Mechazangi F Mark 3”! (This is a Parallel Setting)
Though the artwork depicts his most recent appearance as one of Zangief’s alternate costumes in Street Fighter IV, this profile describes the character’s original appearance as a secret character in Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter. This mechanized version of the “Red Cyclone” gave up the ability to block, as well as his signature Banishing Flat special. These were replaced with a new technique, the Vodka Fire–also known as the Siberian Breath–which functioned similarly to Dhalsim’s Yoga Flame. He could also not be put into hitstun whatsoever, on top of having permanent Hyper Armor, making him the ultimate tank. Gief would retain these traits as a transformation called Iron Body in Marvel Vs. Capcom 1 and 2.
For those who may not remember him, here’s a quick look at how he played in MSHVSF!
That puts the first set of CFN Profiles for 2017 in the books! Could our next set be a look at the Andores or Retsu’s underlings from Final Fight 2, or something else entirely? Only time will tell, so stay tuned to Shoryuken, where we’ll bring you more CFN Profiles as soon as they’re released! Do you have any fond-or unpleasant-memories of these characters? Let us know in the comments below!
Special Thanks to Midgardsorn for Translations and Footnotes.
