Category: Fighting Games

Posted on

Here is everything you need to know about Rivals of Aether’s Steam launch on March 28th

After a lengthy period on Steam Early Access, lightning-fast platform fighter Rivals of Aether is finally officially launching on March 28th. With a meaty update coming as part of the official release, lead designer Dan Fornace and the whole Rivals of Aether team have announced what exactly will be coming as part of next Tuesday’s launch.

The main bulk of the update is the game’s single player modes, with updates to Abyss Mode and the debut of the game’s Story Mode. The Story Mode gives players an introduction to all the Rivals through traditional Arcade Mode-esque fights, while also revealing more about the mysterious Aether. From there, Abyss Mode acts as a sort of fighting game Horde mode, where you and up to three friends can work together to defeat various enemies and complete special challenge waves.

There is a meta progression system in Abyss Mode, with players leveling up their individual Rivals and gaining special Runes to power up specific moves and special attacks. Once you’ve created the ultimate Rival, you can then compete against your pals in Abyss Versus with these super-powered fighters.

As for multiplayer, the full release of RoA increases the stage count from seven to eleven stages. To account for this larger stage list, competitive play will now introduce a Super Smash Bros.-esque neutral and counterpick system, complete with two stage bans. The Rivals team will be actively listening to the community and will change the stage list, based on player feedback.

With a brand new crop of players coming in with the Steam release, there will be a general rank reset for all players. The top players from the previous leaderboard will have their names enshrined in history, but everyone will go back to 1000 ELO for launch. There are also plans for seasons on ladder, in order to shake up the ranks every three months.

To celebrate the launch, there will be a special pre-release party stream this Sunday over on the Rivals of Aether Twitch channel. The stream will begin at 3pm PDT, with special guests and run-throughs of all the new content. Controller Chaos have also partnered up with Rivals of Aether, and are now offering an exclusive line of custom controllers based of the Rivals roster. You can see four of the designs in the gallery below, and they are now available to order via the Controller Chaos website.

RoA Kragg Controller
RoA Orcane Controller
RoA Wrastor Controller
RoA Zetterburn Controller

Rivals of Aether launches on Steam March 28th, with the Xbox One version set to exit Xbox Game Preview in about a month’s time.

Sources: Rivals of Aether; Controller Chaos

Posted on

Yamazaki gameplay shows off how he draws the life from his opponent in The King of Fighters XIV

After being gone for nearly 15 years, Yamazaki is making his first playable appearance in The King of Fighters series since The King of Fighters 2003. This of course has fans excited–along with the other two announced characters, Vanessa and Whip.

While we have a while to wait until these characters are actually released, here we get our first bit of gameplay featuring the violent Orochi gangster. We don’t get to see a whole lot yet, but we do get to see a few strings and a nice look at his Double Return and Climax moves.

You can also check out the first glimpse of Whip gameplay here.

Source: snkGame

Posted on

Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 interface, story, and price details revealed

Arc System Works and Aksys Games have supplied a fresh batch of interesting tidbits about the upcoming Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, the update to Xrd -REVELATOR-.

First up, we have confirmation of the pricepoint for the digital upgrade option. As we have reported, -REVELATOR- owners can opt to upgrade their console version to REV 2 by paying less; Aksys Games confirmed that $20 USD boosts the version by adding the two new characters–Baiken and Answer–rebalancing the cast, and providing a swath of new content.

The Japanese Arc System Works site now includes a nice outline that gives a detailed look at user interface changes and features.

rev2storyupdate

Story aficionados will be happy to hear that, other than new, individual episodes for characters like Baiken, Answer, Dizzy, Kum Kaehyun, and more, there will be additional story content coming in a later update to REV 2. For those who missed out on earlier story content, a new summary can get them back to speed.

rev2onlinemenu

Here’s a teaser of a revamped menu in the game. The online lobby is more green, too!

rev2green

There’s also welcome improvements to Player and Ranked match modes. Players will be able to do a “FT2” with Ranked players by challenging the opponent to a rematch, and it will be possible to watch a match that was already in progress in Player Mode lobbies.

rev2rematch
rev2lobby

Yet another option that fans will surely welcome: it will be possible to select the older version of REV 2 (-REVELATOR- in the menu options).

rev2compatibility

We also have a rundown of gameplay modes in REV 2.

It’s nice to see so much transparency from Arc System Works as to what exactly REV 2 will improve, as fans often question whether putting money into an upgrade is worth it. Stay tuned for more news as we get closer to REV 2’s May 25th release date.

Sources: Aksys Games; GGXrd Japan site

Posted on

The SRK Rollback: Best of March 17-23, 2017

Welcome to the Rollback: a frame-by-frame look back at our past week’s most notable news–and our favorite SRK articles–from March 10 to March 16, 2017!

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

Frame 1:
Bushido Blade, the no-life-bar PSone fighter, is celebrating its 20th anniversary

This little piece of fighting game history is twenty-years-old, and still stands out as innovative. Time to fire up an old PSone console–or pop the disc in a PS2 or PS3–and revisit this unusual title.

Frame 2:
SNK KOFXIV Vanessa reveal trailer thumbLatest incoming DLC fighter for The King of Fighters XIV–boxing mercenary Vanessa–confirmed

After being leaked a week before, Atlus and SNK verified that Vanessa–first playable back in The King of FIghters 2000–is inbound as DLC for The King of Fighters XIV. Will she be a pick for your team?

Frame 3:
SFVChun-LiRicki Ortiz talks to BBC about gender identity struggles & NorCal arcade fighting game scene memories

In this mini-documentary, EG|Ricki Ortiz opens up to BBC Three to discuss her history as a Street Fighter player, and what it’s like to be a trans woman in the FGC.

Sam “Trilby” Foxall, Assistant Editor:

Frame 1:
overdriveseriesNew Guilty Gear online circuit Overdrive Series offers Evolution 2017 trip to winner

Turning its eyes to anime fighters, Stream.me is now running an online Guilty Gear league, thanks to the recent release of -REVELATOR- (and soon REV 2) on PC. The number one player will win a trip to Evo 2017, so get signed up ASAP.

Frame 2:
king_of_fighters_destiny_750The King of Fighters: Destiny, a CG animated TV series, is coming this Summer

SNK are beginning their transmedia gambit for The King of Fighters with an upcoming 3D CGI series, which is set to premiere in China this summer. Expect a Japanese release soon after, and then hopefully, a Western version.

Frame 3:
injustice_2_black_adam_750He’s back–Black Adam challenges the House of El in Part 3 of Shattered Alliances for Injustice 2

He has returned. Along with showing off more of Injustice 2’s Story Mode, this latest trailer has confirmed that Captain Marvel’s nemesis Black Adam is back for the sequel. Shazam!

Keegan “Interrobang!?” Spindler, Features Editor:

Frame 1:
Phreakmods The Link feature bannerShoryuken review: Phreakmods’ The Link removable shaft for the Sanwa JLF joystick

As someone who loves traveling, the idea of taking my stick with me has always appealed. Anything to make it easier is great in my book–and this is a fantastic review of one of the FGC’s most popular traveling solutions!

Frame 2:
KINGTake a stance! Understanding King’s Jaguar Step, Crouch Dash, and more in Tekken 7: Fated Retribution

Tekken 7 is among my most anticipated titles of the year, so getting the opportunity to dive in and learn a little more about one of my all-time favorite characters is always a pleasure.

Frame 3:
tekken 7 gigasIf anything is delaying Tekken 7’s console release, it’s probably Gigas’s hitboxes

In my heart, I’ve always been something of a heavy boy–and Gigas is every heavy boy’s dream. When you make a character so ridiculously huge though, sometimes you need a bit of time to make sure you’ve got him quite right. And these examples are not only hilarious, but proof of just that.

Extra Frame:
sfv_street_fighter_v_logo_fancyIncoming CFN improvements detailed for Street Fighter V, along with a beta test for PC users

At long last–and on the heels of the details of SFV’s incoming balance patch–Capcom reveals what’s in store to fix up the SFV online experience, including a beta test for PC players to try the changes out. Will it be enough?

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.

Posted on

Evil Geniuses enters the world of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U by signing Julian “Zinoto” Carrington

Ahead of 2GGC: Civil War this weekend, Evil Geniuses have announced their first foray into the world of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. To herald their entry, they have signed PGR Rank 16 and one of the U.S.A.’s best Diddy Kong players, Julian “Zinoto” Carrington.

As one of the Midwest’s shining stars, Zinoto is known for his highly technical Diddy, which has earned him high placings at tournaments like Frostbite 2017, 2GGC: Midwest Mayhem Saga, CEO 2016, Smash ‘n Splash 2, and Combo Breaker 2016. He has won three of the seven Midwest Mayhem events held in his region, and works to raise up local players in his home state of Michigan.

His teaching is not limited to the local area however, as his Cram School series of videos hopes to teach players how to get around certain tricky character matchups. With content creation becoming an increasingly large reason for picking up players, Evil Geniuses have certainly picked a winner with Zinoto’s informative and well-researched tutorials.

In a statement announcing his addition to EG, CEO Peter “ppd” Dager said that the team are “thrilled that we have the opportunity to pick up Zinoto who I know will be an incredibly positive influence in the space.” You will be able to see Zinoto rocking the blue jersey this weekend as 2GGC: Civil War, so look out for this Diddy making waves in bracket.

Source: Evil Geniuses

[Feature image c/o Evil Geniuses]

Posted on

Glitch reveals CPU Kuma in the arcade version of Tekken 7: Fated Retribution

Love him or hate him, Kuma is something of a mascot for the Tekken series, dating all the way back to Tekken 1. His announcement as a console-exclusive character wasn’t much of a surprise, but his recent appearance as a CPU opponent in a Japanese arcade is.

It’s easy to assume that this version of Kuma is likely not console-ready: he has Paul’s portrait, for starters, and his in-game model is very different from what was put in the trailer. Still, it’s an early look into what the developers were working on, and there’s something amusing about the jokester bear defying his own release date.

Harada himself responded to the video, and Tekken player Flying Wonkey translated the tweet for English audiences:

Looks like this was going to be a surprise that got let out of the bag too soon for the Japanese audience.

Source: @_PeintreCelebre

Posted on

The Civil War goes online as 2GGaming opens up its special Civil War Ladder for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

For those who cannot attend 2GGC: Civil War this weekend, you can still help sway the battle for the team of your choice. In collaboration with smash.gg, 2GGaming are hosting an online ladder for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where players can face off to raise points for their chosen side. If you pick Team ZeRo, you will be matched up against enemy Team Ally players, with each victory netting your team one point.

The ladder opened on Wednesday, with it running until Sunday at 2pm PDT–to coincide with the actual Civil War crew battle at Esports Arena. The online ladder is open at the following times:

  • Friday (3/24) 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM PDT
  • Saturday (3/25) 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM PDT
  • Sunday (3/26) 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM PDT

At time of writing, Team Ally is on top, holding onto a slim lead ahead of Team ZeRo. Expect the lead to fluctuate going into the actual Civil War, so get signed up if you want to support your chosen side. You can check the leaderboard and the overall ladder standings over the official Civil War smash.gg page.

Sources: r/smashbros; smash.gg

Posted on

Charges: Skullgirls 2nd Encore CMV features cool applications of charge moves

Skullgirls is an interesting game, in terms of both its mechanics and its community. A game that was once non-existent in the tournament scene is now in the middle of a vibrant revival, which is an impressive feat for any game. The title itself boasts some of the most free-form combos of the genre, which leads players to constantly find new applications for certain setups and combos. Here, we see one aspect become the focal point for an entire combo video.

YouTuber Morahan put together this video, and credits several community members with helping out along the way. We see a lot of use out of Cerebella’s Excellebella assist, which allows both Squigly and Valentine to charge Stances and Vials respectively, something they can’t usually do on their own. The video is a delight, so please enjoy!

Source: Morahan; via tip from Mizaki the Red Shinobi

Posted on

If anything is delaying Tekken 7’s console release, it’s probably Gigas’s hitboxes

Big body type characters typically get the short end of the stick in fighting games. They are big targets, almost always slower then the main cast, and typically end up getting hit by higher damage combos because of their frame. Additionally, hitbox problems are common in fighting games–and 3D fighters are no exception to this.

But if you go searching for strange interactions in Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, there’s one character that seems to show up on the losing end more often then others. For whatever reason, the new cybernetic golem Gigas can’t seem to catch a break, no matter what the situation is.

Here’s some examples of Gigas’s massive hurtbox liability…

It doesn’t just happen when he’s on defense, either. Those big limbs of his will find ways to pass through his opponents, even when the attacks themselves are true mids.

 

It would also seem that his tall height is a problem too. The beast can occasionally find himself too tall for his jab to hit properly, even in punish situations.

Given the humorous nature of many of the videos, it appears that Gigas’s problems are something of a meme at this point in the Japanese arcade scene. This is exactly the sort of thing that gets scrutinized and polished as games near their console release, so hopefully the new guy can get some love before June.

Sources: @norunnokakurega; @tatsushis; @wotemotow; @katatumuri0604

 

Posted on

Examu is looking to bring Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! to PC with the help of its fans

Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars!!!!!!, the latest version of Examu’s Arcana Heart 3, has been playable in arcades since December of 2014. However, the game has yet to receive a home port of any kind, even with Arcana Heart 4 in the works. Now, it seems that Examu is finally looking to bring the game to PC, but there’s a catch.

Examu recently announced that they are planning to bring Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! to PC, complete with english localization. However, they don’t currently have the funds to do so, and as such will be crowdfunding the port via Kickstarter. Additional details, such as when the campaign itself will begin, have yet to be revealed. That said, Examu has stated that if they get enough funding, they’ll consider creating of new characters, as well as bringing together stories from past Arcana Heart games to create a “collected edition follow up.”

Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! is the latest update to Arcana Heart 3. It builds on the previous update, Love Max!!!! with the addition of new character Minori Amanohara, new arcana Ichor–the arcana of blood–as well as balance updates for the existing cast.

For those looking to try out this previous version of the game, Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!! is currently available on PC via Steam.

Source: Prefundia, via Gematsu