Category: Fighting Games

Fantasy Strike has been garnering attention as it is gearing up toward eventual release from Steam Early Access. While that’s well on its way, the developers are busy working on the game as well as bringing it to events — such as SoCal Regionals, which took place near the end of September this year.

Sirlin Games ran two tournaments over that weekend, and also took the time to ask players what they thought about the game.

Circa|Nicky, who used DeGrey, said: “The game overall is perfect. Fantasy Strike is the epitome of what a balanced, competitive, FUN fighting game should be. You are rewarded when you play well. You are punished when you play bad. Making good decisions will allow you to win. Making bad decisions will kill you. It’s simple, but once the mind games come into play, it IS the most layered meta I’ve ever experienced in a fighting game.”

Talking about the game’s cast, Zipstar BXXDYZ said: “You can’t just throw things out without a purpose because the consequences are large. Yomi counters are so cool in the risk-reward area. Stand still and get a huge reward or get popped in the mouth, lol. Character diversity in this game is beautiful. Not one character remotely resembles another and you can tell there was plenty of time put into the balance of the game.”

Circa|Aphex offered an analytical take: “The game is simplistic but can be competitive at the same time. It’s great in a sense that anyone, whether they be new or are FGC veterans, can pick up and play. The mechanics themselves are easy to get a grasp onto and it makes for some interesting matchups; some matches end quickly and some take a bit based on how the players make use of them.”

PG|Hayatei commented: “Yomi counters are really satisfying to hit on someone; it feels almost disrespectful because of how risky it is. The gameplay is really fluid and it feels good to hit someone. People from any fighting game can pick it up easily and start enjoying it really fast. The offense is kinda really broke but it’s fun to fight around it.”

Those are just some fragments of impressions from that day, so if you want more takes, be sure to visit the Fantasy Strike website.

Read up on SRK’s own impressions on Fantasy Strike from Evolution 2017.

Source: Fantasy Strike

Last weekend’s New York Comic Con saw the “1st Impact” of Arc System Work’s new crossover tag-team fighting title, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. We’ve already shared some player impressions, including some thoughts from Panda Global’s SKD, but now we return with SKD’s wrap-up — along with some impressions from another top ASW player, D-Link’s Lord Knight.

To summarize the massive TwitLonger post, SKD highlighted the following bullet points.

• No 6X normals, with the only Crouching normals for each character being 4A. 4B and 4C attacks do not exist.
• Cross Combo input is to tap or hold the button while an Assist is out, with a bar at the bottom of the screen filling as your prepare the Assist character to attack. Your full Cross Gauge will drain if the character is hit, and they will leave the battlefield.
• Game seems setplay oriented, but with the strength of Reflect Guard and Cross Bursts in the current iteration, SKD doesn’t how much it would be used.
• Cross Burst Safe combos exist and cost your entire Cross Gauge. You can only Burst when it’s full.
• All Specials are either QCF or QCB, all Distortion Skills cost two bars, with EX Specials only costing one. Crash Assaults only cost one bar, and are done by pressing the Tag button during the initial Distortion animation.
• All Crash Assault Supers are pre-determined. (Yu’s will always be Cross Slash, Ragna’s will always be Devoured By Darkness, Hyde and Linne will use their Infinite Worths, etc.)
• Switching characters is very strong and can lead to long combos.
• Resonance Levels are obtained by filling the four squares next to the Distortion Meter, which is accomplished by utilizing aspects of the Cross System that fully deplete the Cross Gauge, and cannot be filled by simply calling Assists. Levels increase Resonance Blaze duration when it becomes available.
• Resonance Blaze provides health regeneration, increased damage on Distortion Drives (that can now lead to Resonance Finishes), passive meter gain and allows you to Distortion Cancel Specials. The meter limit is also broken, similar to Persona 4 Arena‘s Awakening mechanic.
• Incoming attacks are character-specific, invulnerable, cannot be Counter hit or punished, but are possibly negative on block.
• Anti-Airs use BlazBlue‘s Attribute System.
• Feels it’s to easy to Time Out solo characters, even when they have Resonance.

As for Lord Knight, he preferred to spend his time with BBTAG’s sole New Challenger: Ruby Rose. You can check out his thoughts in this Evernote.

SKD was also able to snap a few photos of the title’s control layout and mechanic explanations from the show floor.

Be sure to check out both full posts to find out the player’s overall thoughts on the game. BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle will be playable at this weekend’s South East Asia Majors 2017 in Singapore, as well as RTX London. You can find more gameplay footage here and here.

Sources: SuperKawaiiDesu (TwitLonger); D-Link|Lord Knight (Evernote)

After several years of pain-staking research and writing, Infilament’s Killer Instinct guide is 100% complete. The one-stop shop for anyone wanting to learn KI, this guide now has entries for latest characters Kilgore, Shin Hisako, and Eagle, meaning all 29 fighters are now covered.

From starter combo paths, breaker timing for every Shadow move and counter-strategies for each character: Infilament’s guide is probably the most comprehensive guide for any fighting game to date. If you have just picked up Killer Instinct on Steam and are looking to learn more about the game, I wholeheartedly recommend Infil’s guide. It was essential reading when I started with KI and it will give you a decent grounding for learning the intricacies of the game.

The guide even comes with a comprehensive history of Killer Instinct patch notes, so new players can see how it has evolved to become the game it is today. Now if only there was a way to play old patches, like USFIV’s edition select…

Source: Infilament

The waiting is almost over people, as Capcom are finally set to reveal the final DLC character coming in Season 2 of Street Fighter V. This character — who is more than likely Guy’s sensei and ninja grandmaster Zeku — will be shown off during Street Fighter V Top 8 at South East Asia Major this weekend.

The last character of #SFV Season 2 will be infiltrating South East Asia Major 2017 Top 8 this weekend! https://t.co/Wy2eNl7gRN #SEAM2017 pic.twitter.com/H5e3cH7nxT

— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) October 13, 2017

The word “infiltrate” and the use of the Kanzuki Estate stage are big hints towards a ninja character. Plus, the character silhouette on the Street Fighter Facebook page sports a visible ponytail, much like Zeku in his official Street Fighter V artwork.

But the real question remains — what will Zeku play like and when will he join the roster? Based on the Menat reveal, I wouldn’t be surprised if Zeku launches next Tuesday, the same day as Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite‘s first batch of DLC.

Source: Street Fighter

Ahead of a new balance patch on October 16th, Capcom have instituted a “soft ban” on those who would use Spider-Man’s infinite in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. This ruling states that “a player must end the loop after a third cycle” or else they will forfeit their current match to the opponent.

According to Capcom, the Web Ball/Reality Stone loop is “an unintended effect that circumvents the gameplay mechanics,” so they have made the executive decision to issue a soft ban. The legality of any future infinites will be decided “on a case by case basis.”

Spider-Man's infinite in #MVCI has been soft-banned in Battle for the Stones tournaments. Read updated rules here: https://t.co/83mF6ipfKZ

— MVC: Infinite (@marvelvscapcom) October 13, 2017

It has to be said though: it’s perplexing that a game with Infinite in the title does not allow infinites to be used in a tournament…

In reality, this ban will only really affect South East Asia Major this weekend, which acts as the Time Stone tournament on the Battle for the Stones circuit. Next Monday’s patch, immediately ahead of the addition of Monster Hunter, Black Panther and Sigma, will remove this infinite from the game.

Source: Capcom