With day 3 of the new ice queen in the books, Kolin is shaping up quite nicely. As with every character release, we’re seeing everyone hitting the lab–and some amazing tech and combos are emerging to help aspiring Kolin players level up fast to be on par with everyone else. So here’s some more great Kolin findings for you to make use of.
First, we have Nurselee showing off some amazing meaty options off of Frost Touch. As explained in the video, low and mid parries have interchangeable setups, and Frost Touch results in a hard knockdown, thus giving you plenty of time to set up your meaty.
Next up is a video showcasing some of Kolin’s bread and butter combos, as well as some more setups and conversions off of snowball stuns.
Next, we have a combo video sent in by Brain Kasugano. While it is short but sweet, it shows how strong Kolin’s combo potential and flexibility truly is, and is quite impressive given how early it is into the character’s life.
A lot of players have struggled with finding reliable anti-airs with Kolin. However, she does have an impeccable anti-air game, and VesperArcade goes into great detail on what moves deal with what air attacks in this video.
Finally, we have none other than TS|Poongko showing off his Kolin in this Ranked match compilation. Poongko has done well with Cammy since starting in Street Fighter V, but after seeing this video, one has to think that he may have found his Seth in this game.
The Injustice 2 online beta has come and gone, and there is still a lot to learn about the upcoming DC Comics fighter. New characters were playable, new mechanics were accessible, but new expectations were made. There is a lot of good to expect from the final release of Injustice 2, but some questions still need to be answered regarding game modes, gear balance, and–of course–character roster.
Put plainly, access codes weren’t the easiest to come by. While Ed Boon and company did their best to share the love through four waves of emails and random batches of codes given away on social media, it was still a very limited affair. Not to mention that the only available game mode was Online Battle with random opponents. Without local multiplayer or practice mode, it was difficult to learn how to play the new characters without prearranging a truce with another player. The user interface was a little sluggish. It took a while to make selections in menus which, on its base, isn’t a game breaker, but there is a slight lag between inputs which can lead players to exit post-combat menus instead of changing characters or beginning a rematch. A minor drawback, but something that should be improved nonetheless.
Keep in mind that this is the first beta test, and many of the negative aspects are tiny snags in an overall polished experience.
The game is absolutely beautiful. The character models are leagues ahead of the original Injustice: Gods Among Us designs, thanks to the boon granted by improved hardware. The environments are filled with tiny details that breath life into each stage and make them a part of the story. The dialogue between characters is unique to whomever is currently fighting, which is a feature that all AAA fighters should have at this point. Following suit with the original Injustice, Easter eggs are everywhere, proving that the folks at NetherRealm hope to utilize as much comic book history as possible. The combat is solid, fast–and most importantly–fun. Every fight feels like it came straight out of the comic books, thanks to stellar visuals, impressive voice acting, and booming sound design.
The prospective promise of the gear system
One of Injustice 2‘s primary mechanics is its new gear system. On the surface, the gear system grants players an incredible amount of customization for their favorite fighters, both aesthetically and functionally. These new armor pieces boost characters’ stats to make them more effective in combat, and have the potential of adding entirely new attacks and abilities. Every fighter has five loadouts available for customization–which, through countless stat boosts and additional abilities, could create a nearly infinite number of variations.
Gear is unlocked frequently–in terms of the beta–at the end of every online match. That being said, do not expect to unlock gear just for the character that is being used. When the pool of characters was only six, this wasn’t too much to worry about. If players chose to focus mainly with Supergirl, for example, most of the gear unlocks would be for the chosen character. But from time to time, gear would unlock for characters never chosen, making one wonder: how will this play out with a roster of 20 characters, or even 30? It is already hard enough completing matching sets of armor, whenever gear is unlocked randomly.
To alleviate worries that the gear system will break the overall balance of the game, NetherRealm included a competitive option accessible right before the start of a match. This will disable any buffs that are added via the gear system, and leave players to face off with their default characters–new appearances still intact, of course. Both players must agree to play in the competitive mode for it to activate, however, which may prove problematic for those hoping to play without boosted characters.
To rectify this issue entirely, it would be extraordinarily beneficial for NetherRealm to include ranked and social matches to suit players’ needs. Surely this is probably something that will be seen in the final build, but with the default battle mode focusing on the benefits of the gear system, it will be interesting to see where NetherRealm focuses their priorities as the lifespan of the game progresses.
It’s all about the characters
The beta includes a couple returning fighters, with Superman and Batman, but those characters feel very similar to their original Injustice versions, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Thanks to the gear system, old characters can feel new again. The new talent adds a lot of variety to the battlefield and there’s a lot to learn about the newcomers Atrocitus (and his feisty feline Dexx-Star) Black Canary, Blue Beetle, and Supergirl.
Atrocitus:
The Red Lantern is an interesting addition to the I2 roster because he has a lot more to offer than brute strength. Atrocitus’ bread and butter special move is his fittingly named Bloodnado. It whips up the opponent from anywhere on-screen and can be used twice in a row, given the appropriate meter burn, to perfectly set up an extended combo. The fighter’s elemental attacks can be used to stack burns and bleed damage, all during setting up additional combos. His feline companion Dexx-Star is tied to his character trait and grants a host of additional attacks. Players can continue their onslaught by taunting opponents with Dexx-Star’s energy blasts, or unleash a devastating combo of furry fury. His super move is an upward slash, which is excellent for opponents exiting a low guard. Atrocitus is certainly a character that houses a lot of variety. It will be exciting to see how he is utilized in competitive play.
Black Canary:
One of the founding members of the Birds of Prey, Black Canary uses her voice to knock back opponents with varying strength. Canary has three different levels of her classic “Canary Cry” that are determined by the number of bars saved up via the trait meter. At its strongest, the Canary Cry can blast the opponent back when under pressure. When in its weakest form, the cry barely stuns the target. The middle level, of course, lies somewhere in between. It’s up to the player to decide if its best to save up meter as a fallback or to utilize it often to set up combos. The Canary Cry makes another appearance via the character’s super which is activated when in air. This can be used as an excellent punishing opportunity. Canary has more than just a killer voice, her defensive parries and agile physical attacks make her a force not to be reckoned with.
Blue Beetle:
This Blue Beetle is the third iteration of the hero, and he packs a pretty strong punch with his shapeshifting bio-suit known as the Scarab. His character trait shifts the fighter between two separate modes. One focusing mainly on his blasters, and the other devoted to his blade attacks. Different versions of the character’s specials are available depending on which stance is active, so be sure to try them both out to find out what goes best together and what fits your play style. The Scarab can also be used to boost in mid-air to close distance made by zoning characters. His super activates via a short stab with the Scarab, so be sure there isn’t a lot of distance between the opponent before activating it. Based on personality alone, Blue Beetle seems like a lot of fun, especially when played against a variety of characters to hear all of the unique dialogue this quipster has to offer.
Supergirl:
Supergirl is an extraordinarily mobile character with a lot of zoning potential. While she maintains similar powers and abilities to her Kryptonian cousin, Kara Zor-El’s play style is all her own. Supergirl’s character trait is her signature heat vision which opens up a lot of opportunity for advanced spacing techniques. Players can utilize short bursts of heat vision to stop opponents from advancing, and create windows of offensive opportunity. A more powerful version of Supergirl’s heat vision can be used at the expense of the entire character trait meter and one segment of the super bar. This enhanced blast unleashes a more effective beam that does a pretty decent amount of damage to opponents while pushing them all the way to the edge of the screen. Her flight enables her to zoom to the opposite side of the screen, punishing those who leap unnecessarily. Supergirl has a lot to offer for those wanting a different take on traditional super powers.
In it for the long haul
The online beta was overall highly enjoyable, and a seemingly accurate glimpse of what is to come. With these six characters alone, there is potential for nearly limitless experiences thanks to the gear system and customization. The characters already announced are building a rather impressive roster before even considering the ten promised DLC characters (including the pre-order exclusive Darkseid) As is theNetherRealm tradition, Injustice 2 is bound to have an extraordinary wealth of content for both single player and multiplayer experiences. With the promise of an engaging continuation of the stellar story mode from the previous title, there is more than enough to look forward to.
The beta was a clear indication of what is to come: gear up, it’s going to be a wild ride.
Injustice 2 launches with three separate editions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on May 16, 2017. Stick around for more coverage and announcements right here at Shoryuken!
Those with an active Xbox Live Gold membership will be able to access Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on Xbox One free of charge this weekend starting Friday, March 3, at 9:00 AM PST–so, right now–and ending Sunday, March 5, 11:59 PM PST.
Prospective Time Patrollers will be happy to know that the title will also be on sale for a limited time at the Xbox Store. The base game will receive a 40% discount with the Deluxe Edition getting a 25% markdown. Even if players decide not to pick up Xenoverse 2 during the promotion, they can find their achievements and save data waiting patiently for their return to Conton City whenever they boot up the game next.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 recently received its second major content update and DLC pack on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. These updates added new characters, costumes, missions, and an abundance of other content. Dragon Ball Super’s Future Trunks saga is next in line to be brought to the ever-expanding title.
Bandai Namco recently released a trailer highlighting the additional story missions found within DB Super Pack 2. Check it out below!
Besides the obvious addition of new characters like Swamp Thing and Doctor Fate, as well as extensions to the ongoing Injustice storyline, one of the major new features in Injustice 2 is the new Gear system. Similar to collecting loot in an RPG like Destiny or Borderlands, players can outfit characters with specific gear to boost stats, gain special abilities and change their appearance. In a special interview with Injustice 2 designer Derek Kirtzic, PlayStation Access have found out some new bits of information about the Gear system.
The interview goes over things like the ability to see your opponent’s Gear loadout after a fight, the ability to change outfit colors as part of Gear customization, as well the in-game currency system which allows players to sell old pieces of Gear to gain Coins. While most competitive players won’t be interested in Gear, Kirtzic did say that Ranked Matches will allow players to keep all the cool cosmetic customizations, but the stats will be at their base level. He did not make it explicitly clear that Abilities won’t be locked out when playing in Ranked mode, so you may be able to use different character Abilities in Ranked.
One of the most important ways to gain insight in Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- is to watch footage of your own matches, and study the decisions made versus certain characters. However, there’s also a steady supply of top tier players to watch and analyze. This time, some American players offer a deep look into matches between Haaken’s Sol Badguy and CO|Dogura’s Raven.
TheArm and DLink|LordKnight provide quasi-commentary and an analytical conversation that breaks down a lot of the match specifics that arise in the Raven and Sol matchup. The two agree that this pairing is somewhat of an uphill battle for Raven, especially since Sol’s confirms are much more damaging. It’s a long set that’s definitely worth the time to watch, and witness the evolution of the decision-making and adaptation process between two-highly skilled players. The commentators make sure to point out those nuances and share their knowledge.
The match was captured by Svampen, and later restreamed by Mdesilva with the commentary.
Chill opponents to the bone with this tech for Kolin in Street Fighter V.
The Phantasm of Snow and Ice is (conversely) heating up Street Fighter V with her arrival; her unusual techniques and abilities have certainly captured the attention of players everywhere. Here’s a gathering of what has crossed our path for Kolin so far–much of this is based on or has contributed to the mass gathering of Kolin tech on Twitter under #KolinLab.
Street Fighter V’s second Season Two DLC character, Kolin, was released Tuesday night; but she wasn’t the only part of the version 2.010 update, as /r/StreetFighter has discovered a few hidden balance changes for Alex, Balrog, Dhalsim, Birdie and Chun-Li.
In his latest video about the discovery, VesperArcade reports that Alex’s Power Drop has had its startup increased from 6 to 5 Frames. This change reverts the move to its original Season 1 status, thus removing the “Secret Setup” that had been discovered, which gave him a 1-frame Cancel window to tick grab off of a blocked heavy Flash Chop. Perhaps the setup was unintentional, but Capcom specifically mentioned it in their blog about patch note corrections. Also, he and Balrog’s forward standing hurtboxes have been extended by .015 and .01, respectively. This makes them bigger targets, but also slightly more difficult to crossup now. Chun-Li’s crouching hurtbox was increased vertically by 10%, from 1.01 to 1.12, which should make it more difficult for her to crouch under certain attacks, such as Alex’s St.HK follow-up to Power Bomb, especially after her initial crouching hurtbox increase in the Season 2 patch notes.
However, it’s not all gloom, doom and despair: as the flame god Agni has rewarded Dhalsim’s devotion by increasing his throw range, and Birdie received minor hurtbox adjustments to the end of EX Bullhead. Zangief and R. Mika also had a variable labeled “unknown7” changed on their V-Trigger attacks, but it’s unclear if this means anything significant, or if they were just small bug fixes before the March balance patch, like most of these changes seem to be.
You can see VesperArcade’s full video on the subject below.
Kolin, the personal assistant of Street Fighter III’s Gill, has just made her playable debut in Street Fighter V. Her toolset is fully original and extremely unique, and players from all over the globe are working together to figure out her strategies and compete with her. I’ve done my best to compile the optimal combos for every common scenario, so you can stop worrying about damage optimization and focus on strategy. This video features anti-airs, punishes, confirms, counter-hit combos, crush counter combos, juggles, and more.
Consider this video a precursor to my upcoming full Kolin character tutorial. The combos are all my own labwork, alongside a few things I’ve observed from other players. I’m fairly confident that most of these combos are fully ideal, but Kolin has an extremely large number of contexts for her attacks when factoring her backstep cancels, and I wouldn’t be surprised if missed some optimizations somewhere. For both me and the other players, I ask that those viewers somewhat acquainted with Kolin point out anything I might have missed in the comments, so that I can amend it into the final video when it comes out.
I’m currently waiting on the March rebalance, but soon after it drops, I’ll return to uploading full character tutorials every week on ShoryukenTube, the Shoryuken.com YouTube channel. If the rebalance is significant, I might do more videos demonstrating season 2 changes. All guides from here on out will reflect season 2 changes, and I’ll soon amend all the guides that are already out. There’s a lot of content on the horizon, so you’ll want to subscribe to the channel!
Leaping straight out of the Golden Age of DC Comics, NetherRealm Studios have announced that Doctor Fate is coming to Injustice 2. Wearing the magical Helmet of Fate, alongside the cloak and amulet of Nabu the Wise, the sorcerer uses ancient magicks to defeat his opponents.
With his magic manifesting in the shape of giant ankhs, Doctor Fate acts as a zoning character, firing off bolts of magic to keep his opponent away or juggle them in the air. Ermac seems to be his great inspiration, as well as a bit of Shinnok thrown in for good measure. From the trailer, it seems his trait is the ability to summon three ankhs which orbit around Doctor Fate’s body, which can then be fired off all at once to lengthen a juggle or cause the opponent to stand and block these projectiles.
His super is especially cool, drawing the opposing player into the amulet on his chest, where three other armored magicians proceed to conjure up a storm of projectiles to damage the opponent. Expect more magical mayhem when Injustice 2 launches on May 16th.
The button masher’s favorite is back, as Capoeira master Eddy Gordo returns to fight in Tekken 7. Gone are the infamous green and yellow sweatpants, as Eddy’s new look involves wearing some leather trousers and a leopard-print jacket while kicking foes in the face.
Eddy is now part of the Tekken Force in Tekken 7, having pledged his allegiance to the Mishima Zaibatsu to help cure his ailing Capoeira master. The medical technology of the Zaibatsu couldn’t save Eddy’s master, and learning that Kazuya is now the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu, he is now dead set on destroying Kazuya and finally avenging his father.
Eddy was actually leaked ahead of this announcement at a games convention in Brazil, but only blurry photos of the Brazilian fighter were available from the event. You can now see Eddy in all his glory, via the trailer below. Expect plenty of day 1 Eddy mains spinning up a storm when Tekken 7 launches on June 2nd.
