Author: Luke "Woocash" Siuty

Posted on

Exceed Assault: Jubei versus Nine, and Ragna versus everyone else — a BlazBlue community event

It’s time to gear up for a special BlazBlue: Central Fiction community event. Exceed Assault continues with a new set of teams, and it’s the match-up a lot of us have been dreaming about: Team Jubei is going to take on Team Nine! The brand new character has a steep wall to climb, so we’ll have to see how much the competitors have already mastered.

This streamed exhibition features commentary. Following the team battles, there’s a unique exhibition with Betadood. The famous Ragna player, in story mode-style, will inaugurate CF2 by playing against every other character in the game!

Let’s hear from the players to see what they have to say about the exhibition and the match-ups.

Team Jubei: Fame96, UnsafeOnHit, NickExtreme1

jubeicharacterselectUnsafeOnHit is representing Team Jubei in the responses below.

What kind of character is Jubei?

“Jubei is a very mobile character with a lot of decent pressure tools and mix-up options that are pretty safe. He’s pretty annoying to deal with once he gets a hit on you and his okizeme is very good. His normals aren’t exactly the best but they’re above average and get the job done. He’s a very solid character.”

How will you approach the match-up?

“In fighting Nine, there will be a lot of moving around the screen with his command dashes and short hop to get the Nine player to commit to something, so I can take advantage of her recently-nerfed recovery on her buttons to work my way in and gain the advantage. His fast run coupled with how low he goes to the ground during it will help dealing with her air buttons if she decides to take that approach.

“Once a knockdown is scored the advantage gets pretty skewed due to Nine’s lack of defensive options so from there, it’d be a rinse-and-repeat of trying to hit her again after knocking her down.”

Team Nine: MastaStef, Nemesis, NitroNoodles

ninecharacterselect

MastaStef speaks for Team Nine below.

On the match-up: “I honestly haven’t played it yet. The Exceed Assault event will actually be my first time playing it. But I have watched some Jubei footage and messed around with him, so I can play theory fighter. This is just my opinion, but I want to say it’s in Nine’s favor. His high mobility and small stature can definitely make him slippery to catch and even more so when he’s popped his install. However, I still don’t think he can easily approach Nine, which is where most characters have issues in the match-up. Nine can also play elusively making it hard for him to catch her as well. I’d say Nine would only really have issues on defense or if Jubei has the life lead since it would be very difficult for her to chase him down. But once again, I don’t have any hands on experience in the MU yet, so this should be taken with a grain of salt.”

On the CF2 Nine changes: “Honestly, the 2.0 patch didn’t really change Nine too much. At most, it made it to where you have to play more creatively and less simplistic. You can’t auto pilot as hard, I guess you could say. Double dashing is more risky now, so you have to decide the correct time to use it. A lot of her lesser used spells have been changed to add a bit more room for creative setups and situations. She received a fair amount of nerfs, sure, but she received enough small changes to balance them out. You’re rewarded more for playing smarter and finding new ways to use her spells. If you want to just dash around, throw out buttons and mash on Kunzite, however, you probably won’t enjoy Nine as much. You can still do that, but it’s definitely less effective.”

On individual style: “I’ve always viewed myself as a more defensive player in fighting games, so I think I do play differently from most Nines in that regard. I tend to sit back, block and watch my opponent more often than haphazardly going in, unless I know my opponent just isn’t ready for it or the match-up calls for it. But I think a lot of Nines play differently. A few examples: NitroNoodles seems to be more setup heavy, where as Lueshi and Havoc_Noah are pretty aggressive, Genosade is reset/mix-up heavy, and I tend to be more defensive and patient. I know to most people it looks like Nines all do the same stuff, but it’s actually really cool to see the subtle differences in everyone’s play.”

Ragna vs. the world

ragnacharacterselect

To usher in the CF2.0 era, Betadood will face every other character in the game in a kumite after the team exhibition!

Woocash: You’re sort of the flagship Ragna player in the US right now. How do you feel about that?

Betadood: It’s only been a year since I started traveling out of state to compete, so I’m not really used to having this kind of recognition yet! BlazBlue is a game that means a lot to me, and I’m really happy that so many people have enjoyed watching my play so far. I hope it inspires you to try out the character, or even the game itself.

Woocash: You’re facing a lot of characters in a row, how are you preparing for this?

Betadood: Keeping my goals in mind for each match-up and adapting to player specific playstyles are my main priorities. There’s a lot to keep in mind against 36 different match-ups, and with the recent version 2.0 patch, there are new changes I’m not used to dealing with yet. The FT1 format won’t give a lot of chances to correct errors or capitalize on a potential weakness either. Keeping my focus up during the entire set will be a challenge for sure.

Woocash: Which match-ups do you fear the most and which are you most confident about?

Betadood:  It’s cliché, but characters that can keep Ragna out of his optimal ranges during neutral are definitely the hardest for me. Against characters like this, it’s difficult to get a chance to run your offensive pressure. Luckily Ragna has some great tools for his neutral game. So even if it’s an uphill battle, it’s never hopeless. As for the match-ups that I do enjoy playing against… Characters that are also neutral based/balanced types are always fun. My favorite of all would be Jin though. Not only is the match-ups dynamic fun to play, the rivalry between the two is just so cool!

This special exhibition takes place later today, September 14th, at 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM PT over on Twitch.tv/logichole. Tune around then for the Team Jubei vs. Team Nine exhibition, followed by the Betadood kumite.

If you’d like to catch up on Exceed Assault, refer to the previous episode, which has Hazama fighting Susano’o and Naoto against Bullet.

Source: interviews

Posted on

Put enemies to sleep with this Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 Bedman tutorial

Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 is full of zany characters, but Bedman probably trumps a lot of them in that regard. Attached to a nightmarish bed, the sleeping character unnerving to look at. What’s scarier, though, are his mix-ups and pressure.

This new tutorial from Sharizord is a great way to either pick up the character, or to learn more about him in detail. As Sharizord explains, Bedman excels in neutral and in okizeme. By using the PC version’s hitbox viewer, you can see the exact hurtboxes for all the normal attacks. Sharizord also gives tips on the strengths of each normal attack. The case is similar with special moves and Overdrive attacks.

Next, the video covers movement and throwing, extremely important aspects in good Bedman play. Lastly, the tutorial explains the Deja Vu mechanic and shows some oki examples. Tune in below.

Source: Sharizord

Posted on

BlazBlue: Central Fiction’s 2.0 update is coming to Steam on September 14th

The time for the “PC Master Race” players has come sooner than most expected. BlazBlue: Central Fiction fans who use the Steam version have been behind their console brethren, but not for much longer. The update is coming on September 14th, Thursday, for free.

Per console 2.0 version, the DLC character, Jubei, costs $7.99 (800 yen).

Shini, a developer who works on the PC versions of Arc System Works games, tweeted that there might be a small delay for the Jubei DLC.

Stay tuned to SRK’s continued coverage of BlazBlue: Central Fiction 2.0.

Source: BLAZBLUE OFFICIAL

Posted on

Tension Pulse: Mynus battles HarlockSwag, and MechaMacGyver faces Omi in Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2

The next episode of Tension Pulse is nearly upon us, and with it, a fresh set of competing Daredevils willing to show off their best. In this next instalment of the streamed Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 exhibition series, you can expect to see some exciting first-to-seven sets from players ready to showcase characters of choice.

We have one player returning from past events, and that’s Mynus with his impressive I-no. He’ll face FNM|HarlockSwag’s Potemkin, so after the REV 2 changes, which have turned the matchup on its head, it will be interesting to see how it plays out! We’ll also see Omi’s Elphelt face off against MechaMacGyver’s Haehyun. Your guess is as good as mine!

FNM|HarlockSwag

ggxrd-revelator-potemkin-portrait

On the match: “I think the exhibition will be a good opportunity to showcase what I can do as a Guilty Gear and Potemkin player. I hope that it will also bring some more light to the Toronto anime scene as a whole.”

On his opponent: “I think Mynus is a strong I-no player and probably one of the best in North America. Before REV 2, the matchup of I-no vs Potemkin was pretty bad I felt, due to “Chemical Love” hitting Potemkin even on crouching. However, with the recent changes, I feel he has as much of a chance as any other character. Looking forward to the match!”

On his own playstyle: “I feel that my playstyle is similar to that of any other grappler players in any fighting game. Due to limited mobility, being able to make the right reads as well as finding openings to the opposing players’ blockstrings and approaches in neutral can turn the game around in an instant. Instant Blocking is one of my favorite mechanics, and I do the most of it because it gives me a feel of how my opponent likes to pressure as well giving me Tension resources to work with throughout each round.”

TSB|Mynus

ggxrd-revelator-ino-portrait

On the match: “In REV 2, this matchup became a little bit more nuanced, and in turn harder for I-no due to functional changes that Potemkin received. His new crouching animation affects poking him from 3/4ths screen with HCL, and some crouching confirms from max range as well. His ability to hold Flick is also a huge boon when dealing with HCL; as a countermeasure you’ll see more approach from the neutral position from me, using I-no’s new vertical dash movement to attack Potemkin from angles I couldn’t do before in REV 1.

All in all, I believe this MU is almost even now, with I-no having a slight advantage because of movement and 663 VCL YRC. Something like 5.5 in I-no’s favor.”

On his opponent: “ I haven’t heard of, nor seen HarlockSwag play before the announcement of the exhibition, but according to our resident NYC Potemkin beast Shine (TSB Shine, not OG|Shine who likes to break stuff) he is incredibly skilled and strong. Of course, I will be training a bit with Shine, and going over some training regimens to deal with a long set in this MU. Not trying to lose fam, really not. If I can control his movements and score an early knockdown without using meter, that round can end real quick in my favor. Obviously though, if you play Potemkin, you’re either really dumb, or incredibly too smart for your own good. I hope HarlockSwag is the latter.”

On his growth since the last exhibition: “Since the last exhibition vs. my brother Doren2K in March, I’ve been training in Japan at Mikado arcade for a month and a half during April-May, playing all of the best Japan had to offer. During KSB in Osaka, I was really close to beating Omito in pools, which was a huge confidence boost, and later came back to Tokyo to one-character-victory some teams (including GF) at Mikado when I teamed up with one of my favorite I-no players and friend, Turio.

Coming back to the US, alongside the NY homies Sway, Makotofox, and Blaze, we have taken over the TSB tournament circuit. In addition to running TSB weekly now (three Fridays and one Saturday each month), we’ve brought the brand to multiple tournaments on the EC so far this summer. This new view as staff, a tournament organizer, and Japanese translator has given me a new focus in the FGC which has helped me become more disciplined as a player.

I hope this focus will translate to me putting on a good show for everyone!”

MechaMacGyver

kumportrait

On the match: “As someone that doesn’t get a ton of chances to travel I’m excited to have the chance to show a style of Haehyun that’s a bit different from what’s en vogue :^).”

On his opponent: “I’ve watched footage of Omi play in Norcal and do well which speaks to his strength as a player given the killers that area has given us. My experience vs. Elphelt I would say is pretty fleshed out thanks to having NerdJosh as a training partner as well as regularly running sets vs. Vevion and Munsu. I don’t want to come off as overconfident since every Elphelt is dangerous in their own unique ways, and I’m well aware I could run into a wall of shotguns and rifles.”

On his own playstyle: “I think my own playstyle is very centered around reading my opponent and trying to overwhelm them before they can react. I believe Jam is a very linear character, so to make up for that, I like to incorporate hard reads and gimmicks into my gameplay to keep my opponents guessing.”

Omi

ggxrd-revelator-elphelt-portrait

On the match: “First, I am very glad that Tension Pulse invited me. I didn’t expect that. I’ve been getting ready for the coming matches. I think the exhibition is a good chance for many players to dig more about certain match-ups. I’m excited to play on Sunday.”
On his opponent: MechaMacGyver, I know he’s Socal (correct me if I’m wrong), I think EL v KU match-up is in Kum’s favor. I also talked to Foo about this MU as I lost to him in the United Norcal Dogfight. I am ready and look forward to playing him.”
On his own playstyle: “My Elphelt is, many said, aggressive. I consider myself a rushdown type of player. Once I got the knockdown I have many ways to do okizeme. That is usually the pattern. Once I get the oki-knockdown loop, match-up doesn’t matter anymore.”

 

tensionpulse7omimecha

Catch the next episode of Tension Pulse live on Silva_hime’s Twitch channel. The first set, between Omi and MechaMacGyver, starts at 9:00 PM ET/8:00 PM CT/7:00 PM PT. Following that, Mynus will fight HarlockSwag. As for the commentator stations, nobodyexe and TheArm will grace the matches with their insight.

Looking to catch up on the last episode of Tension Pulse? The last episode included hectic matches between four players:

Source: interviews; Silva

Posted on

Pick up Yuuki Terumi with this complete combo primer for BlazBlue: Central Fiction 2.0

Yuuki Terumi has been a rather popular character in BlazBlue: Chronophantasma and Central Fiction despite not being that powerful. In Central Fiction, he has pretty incredible Overdrive combos that can decimate an entire lifebar. In the 2.0 version, he has received some considerable improvements that push him to become a more competitive character. Whether you’re coming back to Terumi or looking to pick him up from zero, the below combo video is an excellent starting point.

Despite being mostly in Japanese, the video does provide English versions of the moves and some terms included. The presentation makes it really easy to learn the combos. Starting from Basic and Intermediate Combos, the video goes through general midscreen routes until it reaches throw combos. The latter part shows off the impressive Overdrive combos.

Source: Hentaitop 仙境使者

Posted on

Magnets, how do they work? A tutorial video explains Kokonoe’s new functions in BlazBlue: Central Fiction

Our coverage of changes in the 2.0 version of BlazBlue: Central Fiction continues with a look at Kokonoe. How did the cat scientist-magician change in the update? She doesn’t have too many changes, if you check out the BlazBlue patch notes, but there’s one that definitely stands out. Kokonoe’s Drive has her placing Gravitrons — magnets, so to speak. She can also activate them for an opposite effect: a powerful pushback on the opponent.

TempestTim presents a video, embedded below, that explains a new function in the 2.0 update. Now, while using special moves, if a Gravitron is out, the Kokonoe player can simply press D to activate it (no need to press 236D). The timing varies a little bit. She can use this in the middle of a combo or while the opponent is blocking, so it can make pressure safer.

This doesn’t work with her Astral Heat, Distortion Drives, Exceed Accel, throw, or Crush Trigger.

The video show a couple of great combo extensions and ways to bait out defensive maneuvers from the opponent.

Source: Tempest Tim

Posted on

Add damage to your Mai combos in BlazBlue: Central Fiction with this new route

Mai Natsume is one of the newest BlazBlue: Central Fiction characters. A “quick bruiser” of sorts, she can get in the opponent’s face very fast and assault them with spear attacks that chain in a unique way. If you’re sticking with Mai in the 2.0 version, you might want to check out the video below to learn how to beef up your midscreen confirms.

Yoshi SF demonstrates a new route that’s possible in this version of the game. The execution involves some microdashing, so it might take some practice to learn, but the payoff seems good. Like most of her combos, they carry to the corner very well. One important thing to recognize, however, is which characters this works on. It seems to fit the majority of the cast overall, so it’s not that niche of a confirm, however, pay attention to the video, since it does list which hurtboxes are problematic.

If you want to have a text of this route and whom it works on, check out this pastebin link. But if you’re hungry for more videos, make sure to take a look at Yoshi SF’s YouTube channel, which frequently uploads a lot of BlazBlue footage.

Source: Yoshi SF

Posted on

How much better is Bullet in BlazBlue: Central Fiction 2.0? This tutorial video explains

Bullet is one of those characters in BlazBlue: Central Fiction that hardly ever saw much play. Considered one of the worst in the game by the competitive community, only a few are faithful to using her. The 2.0 update, however, restructures the game — giving a lot of new tools to certain characters.

The video below goes over the major changes that Bullet received to her toolset. As one might expect, there are many new combo paths for her, now. The grappler can easily manipulate the opponent’s position while comboing them. More importantly though, the video points out how her pressure and attack strings became much more oppressive. A new gatling from 6A into 6B introduces a safer way to begin the offensive. Then, her D moves allow a follow-up once they are blocked, and some of them are also much better at frame-trapping the opponent.

Check it out below, and if you were hesitant to try Bullet before, maybe give her a shot, now!

Source: Apollo Loussalier

Posted on

Get into Lotus Formation with this Jubei combo video in BlazBlue: Central Fiction

It seems like the internet and the BlazBlue: Central Fiction community just can’t get enough of the samurai cat. Being the only new character in the 2.0 version, there’s a lot of focus on discovering his full potential.

If you’ve been on the lookout for Jubei combos, Monarch has you covered with a new video titled Lotus Formation, which is particularly nice to watch if you’re a fan of artistic combo videos. For the most part, everything in the video is practical, though there are some combos that are more for show. You’ll see lots of combos that end in “ball oki,” meaning a corner knockdown where Jubei sends his projectile for the opponent to block. Toward the end, there are a few Fatal Counter combos that not only look stylish but also hit for a lot of damage.

For an alternate look, see Hima’s Jubei combo video.

Source: Monarch

Posted on

“Disable the download”: Fight of Gods offends Malaysian ministers

Fight of Gods recently updated with brand new characters — none other than Jesus and Buddha themselves. The divine brawler has been attracting some attention, whether it’s through a Jesus infinite combo or its controversial character depictions. Whether you approve of this gospel or brush it off as a quirky fighting game, the game has picked up some negative attention in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is going after the divine brawler, citing a violation of the Communications and Multimedia Act of 1998, Section 233, which penalizes knowingly “making, creating, or soliciting any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.”

“Malaysians respect all cultural and religious sensitivities, and the sale and distribution of the religiously insensitive and blasphemous games must be stopped immediately,” according to Salleh Said Keruak, Communications and Multimedia Minister.

In less complex lingo, they find Fight of Gods to be offensive, degrading to religious harmony, and threatening to racial unity, Malaysia Kini reports.

“It is in the public interest to ensure that immediate steps are taken so that such contents do not continue to harm others,” Keruak went on to say, stating that further action will be taken should the Taiwanese creators of Fight of Gods, Digital Crafter, not comply with the demand.

“Censorship!” you might cry? The very same act also states that “nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet.” The law gives Ministers power in determining what kind of content they deem offensive.

Sources: Malaysia Kini; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime