Everyone Eats Everything: A Spoiler Free Review of the Machaboo (SI) v. Nage (FA) FT7

[mikadolurker]

Machaboo (SI) v. Nage (FA) 05/14/2016

"Eat ham, go HAM!"

            This is a runback. A bloody, knock down, drag out fucking runback. Nage, God Faust Incarnate, versus Machaboo, the current king of Guilty Gear. With a fairly honest neutral between the two, it call comes down to fundamentals, baiting, and sheer balls to make a move.

               

            Everyone who knows Nage, knows that he must be the living representation of a Japanese God of Luck because this man’s RNG is stupid. It always seems like when he needs an item, he gets it but in truth I think it’s far closer to the fact that regardless of what he draws, it’s going to work out for him. In terms of pokes, which are a huge asset to Faust in this match-up against the similarly ranged Sin, what your looking for is 2P, 2H that slightly out ranges a lot of Sin’s options like 5S, and scalpel. All Machaboo needs is a clean hit to confirm into stupid damage. Sin’s previously stated 5S, his Beak Driver, and surprisingly his DP Hawk Breaker are all things that Machaboo uses beautifully in this set. The man’s play is so clean too that it’s stupid to even attempt damn near anything without losing over half your life bar from it. Also, fun fact, Sin actually does gain a small amount of calories for his gauge when he eats Faust’s food that he can randomly toss out. He cannot comfortably eat a hammer, mini-Faust, or meteors however, these are the things that Machaboo was clearly the most cautious about.

                                                                

            One thing I always compliment the Sin god on is his defense. Fucking impeccable every time I see him play. However I really don’t talk quite enough about his ability to download a person’s habits. Lucky for Nage though, Faust is random by nature. Well I mean most might be but Nage will draw four bombs and two meteors in a round, unfortunately though it seems like relying on his luck alone won’t win him the set. To beat a beast like Machaboo, he’ll have to seriously push it. One touch from both characters does not equal the same amount of damage so Faust really has to work hard, quickly, and carefully. Machaboo though? Man, the amount of shit that boy can convert off of is simply ludicrous. Mastery doesn’t even go far enough to describe his level of play. He’ll pop Nage up at some odd angle, I sit back in my chair thinking he’s dropped whatever he was going for, only to wind up on the edge of my seat because he just pulled some crap off that I’ve never even seen before. In the end though, it’s not even about characters, we’re talking about two transcendent players who regardless of who they might use, will always come out on top. Fighting the player more so than the character, this set is an absolute barnburner.

            So who’s left after the dust settles in this KSB Winner’s Finals runback? Why the hell would I say shit all?! You read the damn title, watch the set!

 

Link to the video:

https://www.twitch.tv/joniosan/v/66339381 (Starts around 01:26:38)

[This Man]

The neutral in this game was insane. Very entertaining match.