Category: Videos

With the alliterations in the title aside, Street Fighter EX2 is known for some pretty creative combos with its loose cancel mechanics and the Excel system — which acts similarly to the custom combo modes in Street Fighter Alpha 2, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Capcom vs. SNK 2.

With ARIKA’s current-generation fighter coming next year — and currently lacking an alternative to Excel, there are less mechanics to use for extending combos. However, is that really necessary? With this combo video that leaves out Excel in Street Fighter EX2, and focuses on the three characters that were available for play at Evo 2017, it shows that the combo system is still very deep even taking away one of the most vital parts of the mechanics.

Source: Shin Tanimoto

Let’s face it, we all need some chill out time after our sets. Fortunately, The Consouls haven’t forgotten about the fighting game scene with a couple of releases in the last month, this being one of them.

Straight out of Nintendo’s title ARMS, they have now released a jazz cover of Spring Man’s theme — Spring Stadium. With some smooth bass and sax added into some amazing improvisation, and you have a beautiful arrangement for an awesome theme.

Source: The Consouls

Dragon Ball FighterZ has been slowly expanding its cast to add some more varied characters and playstyles. The latest build of the game at Gamescom debuted a number of these new characters for show attendees to try out.

Three of these characters are Android 16, Android 18, and Piccolo. These three are the focus of these gameplay breakdowns from Maximilian who got to try them out and record some footage (in beautiful 4K Ultra HD) at Bandai Namco’s headquarters before the show. Here he takes a look at the characters moves, specials and their combo potential, speculating on how their likely gameplan and playstyle.

As most of you already know, Android 16 is the game’s grappler. However, what Max points out is just how well rounded he seems to be with decent mobility, and ability to convert into good damage anywhere on the screen.

Compared to the rest of the game’s cast, Piccolo is arguably the least “traditional”. He pins him as a character where players have to be a bit more nuanced and creative to get in and do damage.

Another character who requires a bit more nuance is Android 18. Players using her will have to make the most use of her brother, Android 17, while focusing on trying to create set ups out of her combos to continue her pressure.

Dragon Ball FighterZ launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in February 2018.

Source: Maximilian Dood

If you are an avid Do-It-Yourself nut and looking for an arcade stick, you are at no loss for option on the market to build your own. FightStickAsia has been known for their replica MadCatz TE bodies originating from Hong Kong for quite a while, but are now entering the market with their own original stick casing, known as the EXC Samurai Metallic.

This is a hefty all-metal fightstick casing with a hinge and latch to hold down the top panel, as well as not one, but two exit points for your USB cable. Jonyfraze was sent a body to review from the folks at the company, and found the case sturdy and well weighed, but commented that the slick bottom of the case needs some anti-slip surfacing in order to keep it from sliding on your lap.

Source: Jon Bonilla

The BlazBlue series has always been known for its high level of technicality and BlazBlue: Central Fiction is no exception. Though the game’s mechanics have certainly solidified over the years, there are still elements in it’s latest iteration that can make even the basics seem challenging compared to simpler fighting games.

In his latest video, YouTuber Raidhyn has created a useful guide aimed at teaching BlazBlue beginners the best way to approach their opponents to begin their offense. There are many unique ways to move in BlazBlue and learning to move strategical through the air and on the ground is important to controlling the pace of a game that can can so easily get out of hand.

Check out Raidhyn’s How to Approach guide for Blazblue: Central Fiction below, and if you get the chance, be sure to read up on more of Shoryuken’s BlazBlue coverage.

Source: Raidhyn 

As the first Mortal Kombat guest character in Injustice 2, Sub Zero has big shoes to fill — for a time, Scorpion was consider top tier in the original Injustice. He hasn’t lived up to that potential, and has yet to see any real usage in majors.

While this guide notes that he is weak against long-range combat — Sub Zero is still capable of being strong in the right hands. He has very useful combos which deal a lot of damage. He does however need more work than most of the cast due to his very limited range of combo starters.

Source: MadDoggGames

Naoki “Nemo” Nemoto is one of Japan’s FGC greats, with tournament results going back to Capcom vs SNK 2, Guilty Gear XX #Reload, and Street Fighter IV. His aggressive, dynamic style of play can be seen in all of these games, and it has served him well in SFV with his character of choice: Urien.

Victory “Punk” Woodley represents a very different breed of player in the FGC. He’s young. Street Fighter V is where he’s made his name. He’s carved his path with Street Fighter V‘s Karin, employing smart and patient footsies in the offense heavy world of SFV. It was smart of Team Spooky and East Coast Throwdown, then, to get these two in a high stakes exhibition at ECT 2017.

The clashing of these giants is among the very best first-to-10s of Street Fighter V  that you can find. Regardless of who you’re rooting for — Old School or New School — you’re not going to be sure who’s downloaded who until the end.

Source: Team Spooky

People are still jumping in the lab with Menat, and we’re increasingly seeing some amazing stuff with this character. As such, the amount of material coming out is rather large, so we’re doing a weekend roundup just in case you can’t get enough of her.

Firstly, we have TrueUnderDawgGaming who has compiled a great video chronicling her normals and specials into an amazing tutorial. He also chronicles a few of her best bread and butter combos.

rooflemonger has put together this great okizeme guide for dealing with your opponents’ wakeup safely. Menat has some great buttons and frame data to make it easier to deal damage on knockdowns.

Next up, we have desk with yet another Menat combo video. How does a 60-hit combo that shows obvious loops sound to you?

After seeing a very situational combo from Sako earlier in the week, Nick Polmolea decided to do something to try to optimize it. The results are pretty awesome.

Finally, we have Go1, who has been showing major promise recently with Menat. Now he’s going up against two of the best Master ranks in the business. How does he fare? Really well, showing some insane potential with her mixups and footsies.

Sources: TrueUnderDawgGaming; RektScrub; desk; Nick Polmolea; rooflemonger

Samurai Shodown 2 (known in Japan as Shin Samurai Spirits) is arguably one of the most beloved fighters in the SNK catalog, both within and outside the FGC. While the series itself has had it’s ups and downs from a tournament viability standpoint, Samurai Shodown 2 has remained a consistent, popular entry in the series.

Not that “tournament viability” would stop the masters at world famous Mikado Arcade from running a tournament for any game. The Japanese arcade is known for the skill of its fighting game players across a broad range of (sometimes classic, sometimes obscure) titles, so it’s no surprise to see the strength of the players here. With its refined POW meter, new movement options and methodical footsies, this is the perfect Samurai Showdown game for Mikado’s patrons to throw down in.

Source: Mikado Arcade