Author: Zavian "mushin_Z" Sildra

Just a slice of a year of hype.

To celebrate Street Fighter V’s first year in the competitive spotlight, YouTuber Jacked23 has compiled their picks for the game’s five biggest moments in 2016. Check ’em out in the video below:

• #5: Tokido defeats RZR|Infiltration at CEO 2016
• #4: Infiltration’s elimination from Capcom Cup 2016 by Mago
• #3: Tokido’s elimination from Capcom Cup 2016 by GAM|DR Ray
• #2: RB’s Urien at Red Bull Battle Grounds
• #1: Liquid|NuckleDu defeats EG|Ricki Ortiz and wins Capcom Cup 2016

Agree or disagree with Jack’s picks? Sound off in the comments below!

Source: Jacked23

Welcome to a special Rollback: usually a frame-by-frame look back at the past week’s most notable news and our favorite SRK articles, this time we look back over the entire year of 2016. Here’s our top 16 headlines and editorials on Shoryuken from 2016.

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Zavian “mushin_Z” Sildra, Editor-in-Chief:

Frame 1:
Does Street Fighter V Still Need an Arcade Mode?

A controversial question that I still fall into the less-vocal minority on; while I still want to see Street Fighter V improve its single-player, casual-targeted content, I would be much happier to see that take new, innovative forms. So far, though–we haven’t really seen either result.

Frame 2:
Both Handheld and Stationary: The Nintendo Switch is Finally Revealed

Slightly amazing Nintendo kept as much about this contraption under wraps as they have, for this long. This console looks to be pretty much what the Wii U concept was supposed to be; it has a robust list of developers on board, so I look forward to hearing about what fighting titles–and others–will make it onto those tiny cartridges.

Frame 3:
Fantasy Strike Is Coming to PlayStation 4, Playable at the PlayStation Experience

The concept of low-execution-threshold fighters is one I hold interest in; this unusual upcoming fighter is proving divisive on both its visual and gameplay design choices. Check out our hands-on impressions and our interview with creator David Sirlin as well.

Frame 4:
Street Fighter Doesn’t Need Saving, Because It Isn’t Dying

The title of Keegan “Interrobang?!” Spindler’s editorial says it all, in this appeal to sensibility–in the competitive sense at least, Street Fighter is bigger and better than ever. I look forward to new heights of hype in 2017.

Frame 5:
The First Street Fighter V Capcom Cup Champion is USA’s NuckleDu

After an unprecendented all-American Grand Finals against Evil Geniuses’ Ricki Ortiz, Liquid|NuckleDu became not only the first Street Fighter V Capcom Cup champion, but the first American to win Capcom Cup.

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Sam “Trilby” Foxall, Assistant Editor:

Frame 1:
Battle Defines Our Favorite Superheroes in the Injustice 2 Announcement Trailer

I thoroughly enjoyed the original Injustice, despite its character balance issues near the end of its life span. With NetherRealm doing a bang-up job with Mortal Kombat X, Injustice 2 should be the DC fighter we’ve always wanted.

Frame 2:
The First-Ever Evo Japan Has Been Scheduled for January 2018

Evo heads to the birthplace of fighting games, with the announcement of Evo Japan for nearly a year from now. With the games list still shrouded in mystery, we on the SRK team can’t wait to tell you more about it!

Frame 3:
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite Revealed at PlayStation Experience, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Coming to PlayStation 4

Marvel lives! After multiple leaks, rumors and scuttlebutt from all four corners of the Internet, seeing MvC:I officially announced on the PSX stage was fantastic to see. With UMvC3 also getting a re-release, it’s truly time for Marvel.

Frame 4:
2GGaming Announces the 2GG Championship Series for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Complete with $100,000 Prize Pool

2GGaming have been miracle workers for Smash 4 this year, putting on plenty of banner events with their Saga series. The fun will not stop in 2017, with the new Championship Series promising 12 new Sagas with a massive prize pot. Take notes, Nintendo.

Frame 5:
The Curse Remains Unbroken at 2GGT: ZeRo Saga

After a year of upsets, breakouts and steadily mounting excitement, ZeRo Saga was a fantastic end to an awesome year for Smash 4. The Curse held, MKLeo was crowned victor and I cannot wait for what 2017 has in store.

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Keegan “Interrobang!?” Spindler, Features Editor:

Frame 1:
Balancing Act: A Look at Street Fighter V and The King of Fighters XIV’s Opposing Balancing Philosophies

It’s always fascinating to look at the ways that a fighting game can be approached by both players and developers. d3v breaks down how much of a difference those design philosophies can make in one of my favorite articles of the year.

Frame 2:
The Myth of Character ‘Honesty’

Here’s one for those of us who love using a good character, despite the haters. Trilby, SRK’s Assistant Editor himself, lets us know just why there is no such thing as a dishonest character.

Frame 3:
Street Fighter V’s September Update: What If This Had Been Street Fighter V at Launch?

This is one of my favorite articles this year not just because it highlights how improved an experience Street Fighter V has already become, but also how unacceptable a state it launched in. mushin pulls no punches, holding SFV accountable for all its problems, while still showing that there is definitely hope for continued improvement.

Frame 4:
Is the ArcSys Cycle Hurting Its Community?

If you didn’t know about the ArcSys Cycle before, you do now. Woocash explains the problems with the current cycle of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue games from ArcSys, and does so with the sort of passion that is quite contagious. Here’s hoping that ArcSys are paying attention.

Frame 5:
Top Player Privilege and Tournament Logistics – Is Floating the Solution?

It may have died down quickly for now, but it’s tough to escape the feeling that the issue of floating top players though pools is one that may return again soon. This year, we saw plenty of upsets in titles across the map–who would have foreseen RZR|Infiltration and Tokido both going winless during the Capcom Cup, for example? Will they be enough to silence the crowd?

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Final Frame:
Our Evo 2016 Street Fighter V Winner is Infiltration

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Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article and the selected posts are solely those of the writers, and do not reflect Shoryuken.com as a whole.

We continue exploring the power of the Demon’s Path.

Even as 2016 draws to a close, there’s no slowing down the stream of new Street Fighter V Akuma gameplay, discoveries, and tech. Here’s another helping!

Firstly, here’s some meaty setups for Akuma from TSB|mynus (with some help from Javitz, Alioune, and others):

Burnout Fighter provides this video detailing use of Akuma’s Demon Flip as a pressure tool:

Akuma only needs one good reset to stun; Ultimacloud demonstrates in this combo/reset video.

Vandylizer found something interesting: Akuma can V-Trigger-cancel into his taunt, but if it’s not performed at the right time, the taunt will auto-cancel. Glitch?

VesperArcade has been working on his Akuma too, of course; here’s his video guide to Akuma’s 50/50 mixups:

And he’s also uploaded Ranked match footage of him taking his Demon online:

Maximilian also has been taking Akuma out for a spin (and loving the Cyber Akuma PC costume mod, obviously! (Reminder that Maximilian’s “boisterous” commentary can be NSFW at times!)

Xuses decided to throw a spotlight on Yuhi-Hikali, a promising Akuma player, in this match compilation:

For a battle between better-known players, how about RB|Snake Eyez’s Akuma going up against TS|Sabin’s renowned Dhalsim?

With all the great Akuma fights out there, Xuses has thus started a YouTube playlist of his Akuma match compilations.

That’s all the Akuma we’ve got for today–as usual, thanks to everyone that sent us tips!

Sources: mynusdono; Burnout Fighter; Ultimacloud; Van Deisel Productions; VesperArcade; Maximilian Dood; XusesGB

Welcome to the Rollback: a frame-by-frame look back at our past week’s most notable news–and our favorite SRK articles–from December 23 to December 29, 2016!

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Zavian “mushin_Z” Sildra, Editor-in-Chief:

Frame 1:
Street Fighter Doesn’t Need Saving, Because It Isn’t Dying

The title of Keegan “Interrobang?!” Spindler’s editorial says it all, in this appeal to sensibility–in the competitive sense at least, Street Fighter is bigger and better than ever. I look forward to new heights of hype in 2017.

Frame 2:
Shin Ryu Battles Oni in the Conclusion of Street Fighter Unlimited’s First Arc, from UDON

The first storyline in UDON Entertainment’s Street Fighter Unlimited comic series comes to a climactic conclusion with Ryu and Akuma facing off in the UDON-continuity versions of their ultimate forms.

Frame 3:
Rising Up: Akuma Bread and Butter Combo Guide — Punishes, Confirm Combos, Juggles, & More

Give in to the power of the Satsui no Hado with our own video guide from Bafael, and learn what you need to show your opponents how weak they truly are!

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Sam “Trilby” Foxall, Assistant Editor:

Frame 1:
The Community Shows Its Love for a Newlywed Player via Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- Combo Videos

What a way to commemorate someone’s nuptials. To celebrate the wedding of Japanese Venom player 310, the Guilty Gear community created an assortment of special 310-damage combos for the occasion.

Frame 2:
Killer Instinct World Cup Now Has a $30,000 Pot Bonus, Courtesy of the KI Ultra Tour

With the release of patch 3.6 for Killer Instinct, the stage is set for the KI World Cup in San Antonio, Texas next March. With $30,000 up for grabs, the finals will be a “killer.”

Frame 3:
Enterprising Fans Play Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 at the Rockefeller Center in New York

Just like life, Marvel always finds a way. Taking a setup all the way to the Rockfeller Center in central Manhattan, some dedicated Marvel players spread the joy of UMvC3 for passing shoppers. Let’s hope MvC:I can do the same a year from now!

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Keegan “Interrobang!?” Spindler, Features Editor:

Frame 1:
Bandai Namco Shows off First Gameplay Footage of Gundam Versus

Giant robots fighting. With swords. And cannons. Need I say more?

Frame 2:
NetherRealm Studios Finally Shows Off More Footage of Injustice 2, via IGN First

2017 is shaping up to be a terrific year for fighters, and one we are expecting to lead the charge is Injustice 2. I loved the first installment despite its flaws, so I’m eating up every bit of info I can. The fact that this video is focused on newcomer Supergirl is icing on the cake.

Frame 3:
AceKingOffsuit Throws Down the Gauntlet for All Urien Mains Appearing on the Capcom Pro Tour in 2017

The FGC is no stranger to bounties, with a price being put on the bracket lives of players dominating their scenes. We seldom see a bounty being put out on a combo however, which makes this all a little more fun! The question is: do they need to taunt to get the bounty?

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Extra Frame:
Yasuyuki Oda Confirms That SNK Is Working on Several Other Titles for 2017

SNK has been on fire this year, and now we get hints that there’s even more to come next year… we don’t know what we’re going to get yet, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for a new Samurai Shodown…

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Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article and the selected posts are solely those of the writers, and do not reflect Shoryuken.com as a whole.

There’s never been a better time to try out Street Fighter V’s Poison Spider.

In the wake of Street Fighter V’s changes, Juri is certainly getting a lot of new attention! She’s always had her supporters, but it seems as if the game’s new build worked out quite beneficially to this sadistic assassin, as general opinion of her viability is on the rise.

If you’re considering trying her out, longtime Juri fan Red Gambit (and a clear fan of her classic costume mod) has readied this detailed beginner’s guide to ease you into this unusual but deadly fighter.

Source: TheRedGambit

It’s not easy beating green.

In Pokkén Tournament, the grass-type Sceptile is a force to be reckoned with, possessing the tools for lengthy and damaging combos. Swillo & BimmyTasty present a selection of such in the video below, featuring seemingly near-endless juggles, brutal wall combos (regularly topping 20 hits), and even a few calling in an assist from Reshiram for good measure, showing just how scary Sceptile can be.

Source: Swillo & BimmyQuestion

More new goodies revealed in Street Fighter V’s season two build!

There’s still lots of new tech appearing on the internet for the Street Fighter V roster, now that the Season 2 changes are in place. Here’s the latest selection:

After delving into Ryu, desk now turns their attention to the updated Chun-Li with this new combo video:

Here’s another fun 43-hit combo (including stun) for the Interpol agent:

Back to Ryu–here’s some season two meaty setups from NurseLee, focusing on his sweep:

Here’s a high/low V-Trigger mixup for Ibuki:

Victory is still beautiful; Vega mains will want to check out these new tricks:

Have a look at this demonstration of Laura’s new EX Sunset Wheel’s invincibility properties:

Rashid Resurrection: here’s a look at some of the stylish combos Rashid can now pull off.

Juri certainly is getting a lot of season two love. JusticeSoulTuna explores some crush counter punishes, and a 560+ damage combo:

marlonlonmilk has uploaded a new okizeme video for the Spider:

NurseLee also has put together another video of meaty setups for her.

We finish today with this look at combos off dragon punch trades–applicable to Ryu, Necalli, Akuma, and Cammy:

And as usual, many thanks to all that sent us tips!

Sources: desk; Ludthinks; NurseLee; datHazy; Apolo Loussalier; THEBURNINGPUNCHX; Versus Fighting Morocco; JusticeSoulTuna; marlonlonmilk; Rikk

See PR Balrog and PIE|Smug duke it out over that Fight Money.

Alright, it might not be that kind of boxing day, but this online best-of-three between these Balrog-dedicated prize fighters is still worth a watch! It looks like they may have experienced some unfortunate lag in the first round, but they still dig in and fight it out. A good display of what Balrog is capable in this–or any–matchup.

You can see even more Balrog mirror-match action in this prior compilation of Smug going up against Brian_F.

Source: RektScrub