Category: Fighting Games

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Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 demo is available now for Playstation Plus subscribers on the Playstation Store

Chomping at the bit to try out the latest Guilty Gear Xrd? Wait no longer–assuming, of course, you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber!

PS+ members can now download the latest demo for Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 for free from the Playstation Store’s website. Currently the demo appears to be available for the US and Canada regions, but only through Sony’s website. More than likely, the demo will be made available on the PS4 console storefront later today. As Aksys mention in their previous tweet, this is exclusive to PS+ users, and getting a pre-order will not give you access to the demo, this time.

Source: Playstation Store

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Second Street Fighter V CFN beta test will be open to PlayStation 4 and PC users on May 11-14, 2017

The next test is coming soon, and this time both platforms can try out the upcoming features.

CFN banner

While the next Street Fighter V balance patch and Capcom Fighters Network improvements were initially expected to go live before the end of April, it was later stated by Capcom that they intended to conduct a second beta test first, pushing the update back further. While no specific timeline was previously indicated, Capcom announced this morning that the second beta test will now be running May 11-14, 2017–and unlike the first, both PlayStation 4 and PC players will now be able to try it out.

All PS4/PC users will be able to play the beta test, even without a copy of Street Fighter V. Fight Money/statistics accumulated in the test will not be shared with your main game.

Here’s a breakdown (once again) of the incoming Capcom Fighters Network features/changes in the beta test (in addition to the character balance changes, and some alterations/additions to stage backgrounds):

  • Rage Quit Penalty System
    The special Player Profile Icons will work correctly, and matchmaking logic will take into account your online behavior and frequent disconnectors will be matched with similar opponents.
  • Ranked and Casual Match Loading Times
    There will be a shorter transition when going into a Ranked or Casual Match.
  • Battle Lounge Country Flags
    Country flags will now properly load in Battle Lounges, allowing players to locate competition in their region.
  • Training Mode: User Settings Saved
    Training Mode settings will now save and carry over to the next time the mode is accessed.
  • Matchmaking Improvements
    It should now take less time to find an opponent in online matches, and logic will be added to avoid frequently being matched with the same opponent repeatedly.
  • Fighter Profile Stats
    More detailed stats will be tracked and presented on your Fighter Profile.
  • Country/League Based Rankings
    Players will be able to filter leaderboards based on Country or League.
  • Friend Management System
    In addition to adding a player to your Favorites, you will be able to add Friends and follow them on CFN. You will also be able to Blacklist players.
  • Interactive Timeline
    On the CFN home menu, a live feed of your Friends’ activities will be presented on an interactive Timeline. Using the Timeline, you will be able to immediately add a recent match to your Replay List, view a Fighter Profile, manage your Friends, and adjust Timeline display settings.
  • In-Game Announcer Voice
    The in-game announcer will give you stats on both you and your opponent using data pulled from the server.

No date has been yet revealed for when these changes will become officially part of the main title.

Source: Capcom-Unity

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Ketchup and Mustard aren’t monkeying around with this Gorilla Grodd guide for Injustice 2

Following up on their recent Injustice 2 “Getting Started” episodes for Dr. Fate and Scarecrow, PND|Ketchup and PND|Mustard are back with a beginner guide for the Society’s primate premier, Gorilla Grodd. While not a traditional grappler, Grodd’s telepathic powers, brute strength and great mobility make him a force of nature on the battlefield. Do note that the footage in this video was taken from a pre-release build, so some combos may change on the full release.

Many of Grodd’s strings can be meter-burned to launch your opponent, allowing for extended combos. Grodd’s back 2 is an essential part of his kit, as it restands the opponent and opens up for damaging resets. As for his mobility, Grodd can quickly close the distance via his Primal Lunge or Stampede. Stampede gives Grodd a quick burst of ground speed, while Primal Lunge has the ape leaping across the stage at three different distances. He can use any of his aerial normals as he soars towards his opponents, along with a command grab for quick damage. This command grab can also be meter-burned to give Grodd access to even more damage.

If you’re struggling to deal with projectiles, Grodd’s Savage Strength allows him to be projectile invulnerable for a few seconds. In this form, Grodd is much slower but it will give him just enough time to close the gap on long range zoners.

Source: PNDK&M

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Mikado Arcade runs tournament for Data East’s weapon-based fighter “Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty”

The Data East fighter Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty (also known as Suiko Enbu in Japan and Dark Legend on the North American Sega Saturn) is a combo heavy gem romp from 1995. This weapons-based fighter has ground bounces, self-disarming weapon-throwing instant stuns, surprisingly good footsie wars, and fast paced action.

It’s really not a surprise at all that world famous Mikado Arcade would throw a tournament for it.

If the tournament itself whets your appetite, Mikado also recorded nearly an hours worth of casuals for you to enjoy, as well!

This game was re-released for the PS3 digitally, but not yet for the PS4. Hopefully, someday we’ll see a port it as well, with the extra two characters from the Sega Saturn version. And if they do release it, I hope it recieves promotional material as exceptional as this arcade flyer :

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Please click to enlarge. Please.

Source: Mikado Arcade

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Trap your enemies in Rashid’s deadly vortex, with this mixup guide from Dr. Fatbody

Continuing their “Know Your Mixup” series, Dr. Fatbody and Cross Counter TV have released a new episode, focused around everyone’s favorite wind master Rashid. Starting with setups off of Rashid’s Spinning Mixer, the guide then details some of the side-switch shenanigans Rashid can pull off using his V-Trigger.

If Rashid lands a light punch into level 2 Spinning Mixer, he is left +1 on hit. From there, Rashid’s light kick will stuff throw attempts and three-frame jabs, allowing him to go into another combo. If you don’t time it right, Rashid’s light kick is also +2 on block, giving you the chance to set up for a frame trap.

Following that, the good doctor details two V-Trigger mixups Rashid has at his disposal. Both involve jumping through Rashid’s tornado and forcing opponents to block hits from both sides. What makes these mixups extra tricky is how the Rashid player can use the momentum of jumping through the tornado to make himself even more unpredictable. Talk about turbulent wind.

Source: Cross Counter TV

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Injustice 2 Mobile launches for free on May 11th

Following up on the success of both Mortal Kombat X and the original Injustice on mobile, NetherRealm Studios have announced that Injustice 2 Mobile will be launching on May 11th. As a mix of fighting game, gacha game and RPG, this mobile fighter should tie you over until Injustice 2’s console release on May 16th.

Featuring all the playable characters from Injustice 2, the mobile version has players gathering together teams of three super-powered characters to complete missions and collect Gear. Much like the console version of Injustice 2, Gear both improves character stats and grant them access to new moves to use in battle. If you pre-register for Injustice 2 Mobile, players will gain exclusive access to Catwoman on launch.

As an Agility class fighter, Catwoman excels at overwhelming her opponent with quick strikes and her superior mobility. She also has a unique passive ability which guarantees better rewards whenever you complete an Operation Mission. It’s the perfect skill for a seasoned cat burglar.

Injustice 2 Mobile launches on iOS and Android on May 11th.

Source: Injustice

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Knee hosts massive 2v2 “Tekken Stars” team tournament for Tekken 7: Fated Retribution

Jae Min Bae, known better within the FGC as “Knee”, is one of  the most celebrated and successful Tekken players of all time. Turns out, the Korean pro is also a dedicated commentator and organizer.

In conjunction with the famous Tekken hub Green Arcade, Knee hosted and commentated nearly 4 hours of an excellent Korean 2v2 team tournament, named “Tekken Stars”. If you’re looking for the very best play to take notes on before June 2nd, this is a great place to start.

Source: Knee

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Shoryuken interviews: IMT|ANTi talks about what he’d change about Smash 4 and how players can build a brand

Following CEO Dreamland, we got the chance to catch up with IMT|ANTi for a brief discussion about his thoughts on Smash 4, how to build a brand in this new world of esports and what he really thinks of Mario in this current meta. Don’t worry, we did ask him whether he is Team Milk First or Team Cereal First.

Sam “Trilby” Foxall: Do you feel playing Street Fighter has improved your Smash play and vice versa?

Jason “ANTi” Bates: I feel that the ideas that I took from Street Fighter definitely helped me get better in Smash. The biggest thing that I took from Street Fighter that I’ve implemented into my Smash gameplay is corner pressure/corner control. When I have my opponent locked down in a disadvantageous position I can keep them there for a longer period of time now.

SF: How hard is it transitioning between the two games? Do you have to massively change your mindset and playstyle when switching?

JB: I feel switching between games is quite easy, mainly because of how the controllers used to play each game aren’t remotely similar. For Smash I use a Teal GameCube controller, for Street Fighter I play on a Mad Catz TE2+ Arcade stick.

SF: I know you’ve said you feel like you’re in a bit of a slump with Smash 4 at the moment, what do you think has brought that on?

JB: I’m not quite sure what triggered this slump, but I feel as if I’ve been slumping for a very long time. But it also may be that since I am a perfectionist with my gameplay that it’s a mental thing. In recent times, I’ve shown that I am capable of placing top-16 consistently at large events, but that isn’t enough for me. I want to be in the grand finals of super majors such as Evo or CEO.

SF: What would you personally change about Smash 4 if you had the power?

JB: I would take away the rage mechanic entirely and just give characters more killing power across the board. That’s a personal preference and a big reason why I enjoyed Brawl so much. I’d also make it if you are near the ledge and someone attacks your shield, you will fall onto the ledge. That’s how it was in other Smash games but they made it so that doesn’t happen in Smash 4

SF: What is your honest opinion on Mario in the current meta?

JB: I currently do not believe he is a top-10 character but that doesn’t mean he isn’t top-tier. This game is very diverse and there are about 14 top-tier characters in my opinion. He’s around 11-12 on my personal list.

SF: What are your thoughts about mid-set coaching?

JB: I believe every player is entitled to at least one timeout per set to gain some insight from a friend. That is what makes Smash feel more like a sport.

SF: Are there any aspects of tournament production and organizing you’d like to see improved?

JB: I envy how games with developer support get such pristine production for their events/tournaments. I like to watch LoL tournaments because the stage at Riot Studios is something that I wish we had for Smash.

SF: I know your Civil War beef with Zinoto got people fired up, do you think Smash 4 needs more rivalries like that?

JB: I personally didn’t care for the “beef” after the first week, but I felt as if it was something I should do for the community since the buildup for Civil War seemed pretty stagnant and didn’t have any additional flavor to it. But I believe that entertainment should be found within the game.

SF: For other players looking to do well in this new world of esports, what do you think is the best way to build a brand?

JB: A great way to build your brand is to make sure you are constantly active on your social platform of choice. If you have an outgoing personality and like to have people watch you play video games, then you should be very active on Twitch. If you have a witty personality but you are always on the go, you should be active on Twitter since it allows you to showcase who you are at any given moment to your fanbase.

SF: With it having a tournament at CEO Dreamland, what do you miss about Brawl? Are there any players you particularly miss?

JB: I miss a lot of Brawl players since that game was my first true love. I miss Otori’s Meta Knight, Mikeneko’s Marth, and a lot of other players who didn’t move onto Smash 4 since they didn’t really prefer the game.

SF: Finally, milk first or cereal first?

JB: Milk…second.

Feature image c/o Immortals

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Fight like a son of Geese with this Rock Howard combo guide for King of Fighters XIV

Even if you’re familiar with Rock Howard’s Capcom VS. SNK 2 and Garou: Mark of the Wolves appearances, the son of Geese Howard brings a lot more to the table in King of Fighters XIV. With a decent range of new and improved tricks up his sleeves, it can be difficult to pick up a fighter like Rock and know just where to start.

Thankfully this combo guide from Coliflowerz lays out a few paths one can take that can lead your opponents to a true South Town beatdown. The video shows the advantages that several different combo-starting moves have and proceeds to demonstrate some of the combos stemming from them. With off-the-ground attacks, wall bounces, and different levels of counters available, you can expect to utilize the whole stage while learning these.

More of these The King of Fighters XIV combo guides from Colifowerz can be found right here.

Source: Coliflowerz

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See who is coming to Umebura Japan Major with this new hype trailer from SHI-G

Acting as Japan’s most stacked Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournament, SHI-G and MVG League have released a special hype trailer for Umebura Japan Major. Along with all Japanese PGR players, many local legends are attending this landmark event, as well as top players from overseas. If you are a fan of Smash 4, this tournament is a must watch.

Western players like Echo Fox|MVG|Mew2King and MKLeo are scheduled to attend, as well as CLG|VoiD and Nakat. As for the new heroes of Japan who made a name for themselves at recent events like Frostbite and Civil War, Hikaru, Shuton, T, tsu and some are all scheduled to attend. Umebura Japan Major has actually broken the record for the most well-attended Smash event in Japan, gathering talent from all around the country to compete and acting as the first non-US A-Tier tournament, according to Panda Global’s TTS. You can check out a list of all attendees, thanks to this spreadsheet from PG Stats team member, PG|Juddy.

An English stream will be provided by MVG, with veteran commentator D1 on the mic for the weekend. Umebura Japan Major runs from May 6th-7th.

Sources: SHI-G; PG|Juddy