Author: Sam "Trilby" Foxall

Platforms open up a whole new layer of possible tech in Super Smash Bros., whether it’s platform cancelling the recovery on certain moves, shield dropping through a platform to surprise an opponent or now, using the flat surface of a platform to increase the height on an Up-B move. Experimenting with Meta Knight’s Shuttle Loop, Glacey has discovered that you can extend the height of the second hit of Shuttle Loop by exploiting Meta Knight’s inability to go through platforms when in the loop.

This can make for a surprising option to cover someone’s return to stage, as the added height may catch them off guard and deliver that killing blow. It may also set up for kill confirms when Meta Knight is in Rage, as players can account for the additional knockback by performing an Extended Shuttle Loop to finish off their opponent. Check out the video below, and you may now reconsider taking Meta Knight players to stages like Battlefield.

Source: Glacey

Underrated by many and placed in low tier on many lists, Samus is a character with untapped potential in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Players like Johnny Westside and Afro Smash show that this character can put in serious work at a high level, and fellow Samuses are actively researching for ways to add more tricks to Samus’ Power Suit.

Muramishi is one of these researchers, finding a footstool combo for Samus which sees her using a bomb to bounce opponents back into her range in order to continue to pile on damage. What results is a stylish combo, where Samus essentially plays pinball with her victim, knocking them back and forth between bomb and beam cannon. Muramishi outlines how the attacking Samus can deal with certain DI, different character weights and sizes, along with what to do if someone tech rolls or getup attacks during the combo.

Source: Muramishi

Underrated by many and placed in low tier on many lists, Samus is a character with untapped potential in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Players like Johnny Westside and Afro Smash show that this character can put in serious work at a high level, and fellow Samuses are actively researching for ways to add more tricks to Samus’ Power Suit.

Muramishi is one of these researchers, finding a footstool combo for Samus which sees her using a bomb to bounce opponents back into her range in order to continue to pile on damage. What results is a stylish combo, where Samus essentially plays pinball with her victim, knocking them back and forth between bomb and beam cannon. Muramishi outlines how the attacking Samus can deal with certain DI, different character weights and sizes, along with what to do if someone tech rolls or getup attacks during the combo.

Source: Muramishi

With the sheer amount of interactions and scenarios possible in a fighting game, you’re bound to get some wacky stuff happening during the course of a match. Some of these moments have been compiled by desk and placed in a single mix-clip, showing off some of these odd interactions–and how you can capitalize off of them.

This includes comboing into Ryu’s Critical Art off of a trade, using Necalli’s EX Disc’s Guidance to go through an entire barrage of Sonic Booms and even armor cancelling to land a tricky Critical Art. All this and more can be found in the video below.

Source: desk

After his landmark win with Rashid at First Attack over the weekend, everyone wants to know more about the 18-year-old prodigy from Japan, John Takeuchi. Being the master of the CFN replay compilation, XusesGB has been busy in the editing suite, gathering together a collection of Takeuchi’s online replays with Rashid.

Takuechi makes Rashid look insufferable to play against, rolling and spinning opponents into the corner before locking them in place with a barrage of tornadoes and whirlwinds. I imagine we’ll see a surge of Rashid players after seeing Takeuchi’s play over the weekend, as people try to master the ways of the Turbulent Wind.

Source: XusesGB

Better get the snow-boots and the winter jacket ready as Chicago’s premier winter fighting game event is returning January 2017. Frosty Faustings IX is being held at the Waterford Conference Center and Clarion Inn in Elmhurst, Illinois between January 27th and 28th, with over 30+ tournaments for players to enter. These range from your modern juggernauts like Street Fighter V and Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, to high stakes old school tournaments for Soul Calibur II and Marvel vs Capcom 2, to even Rocket League and the famous Chicago Mystery Tournament.

All of these games will be housed in one massive ballroom, with four stages so everyone gets some time in the spotlight during the course of this jam-packed event. If you are looking to head to Chicago this January and are ready to brace the cold, registration is now available over on the Frosty Faustings website. You’ll also find all the details about where to book hotels, the rules for each game and any pot bonuses that are being provided.

Source: Frosty Faustings

As modding for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is further refined, more detailed and impressive mods are starting to grace Wii Us everywhere. Ranging from the ridiculous like the recently featured Mr Krabs reskin for Wario, to the professional like these Hyrule Warriors reskins, made by Demonslayerx8.

Sheik and Ganondorf gain their costumes from the Nintendo and Omega Force crossover game, while Cloud and Palutena are reskinned as Impa and Cia. Ganondorf’s skin is a personal favourite, complete with his flowing red mane and regal armour. If only they could mod his dual swords in and make Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf a brand new character. You can download all of these skins over on Gamebanana and check out the video below to see the skins in action.

Sources: Demonslayerx8, Gamebanana

While Zangief may have got the short end of the stick in the latest version of Street Fighter, it hasn’t stopped devoted fans of the Spinning Piledriver from training hard to make the master of Muscle Power work. So, when two Zangief specialists collide, prepare for big damage and grapples galore.

In this hour long set captured by Flying High, Japanese Zangief devotees DNG|Itazan and KBTIT810 clash to determine who is the stronger bear wrestler. What results is almost 60 minutes of beefy hits, aerial slams and giant men flexing on each other. It’s quite the sight to behold and one to watch for any Zangief main looking to up their game.

Source: Flying High

As part of a bigger series about introducing fans to their players, Tempo Storm has created a short video all about Pikachu prodigy Jeffrey ‘Axe’ Williamson, discussing his history with Melee, why he chose Pikachu as his main and much more.

Following him during his time as this year’s Super Smash Con, the video has clips of Axe playing and interacting with fans, alongside him talking to camera about his experiences playing Melee at a tournament level and how he came to join Tempo Storm as one of their first Smash players. With Johnny ‘S2J’ Kim being a recent addition to the Tempo Storm family, expect a similar video covering the SoCal Falcon in the near future.

Source: Tempo Storm