Score Attack for Noobs (BB:CS)

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Well, first off I should say a quick hello, since I'm brand spanking new here! Ignore my homemade avatar... The drawing of Noel I did for it is decent, but the quality when I cropped and sized it for an avatar is horrible. I'm none too good with those sorts of things, lol.

Now that that's out of the way, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for getting Unlimited characters in Continuum Shift (original)? I've spent about a month with the game, and I don't usually play 'hardcore' fighting games.

I'm personally just trying to get Unlimited Noel for now. I plan to practice and learn so that I can truly take on Score Attack later on down the line, but I want an unlimited character to mess around with in VS, and Noel is my main. I already know about the second controller trick, and that switching back to Version 1.00 dumbs down the A.I. a bit (though Tager seems to 'read my mind' better on 1.00). I tend to use 3C and 22B (repeated) Silencer for the most part, and nobody can really touch me until the Unlimited characters show up... other than Tager, and Litchi but I can deal with them eventually. I keep getting stuck on Hakumen, because he does a LOT of damage, and every time I 3C, he 'knows' I'm about to, and does some stomping attack, so my attack just misses. I know, that's cheap, but please spare me the ridicule. I just want an Unlimited to play around with, and I'm not about to pay for it, lol.

So, any easy/cheap techniques will be greatly appreciated.

Keep in mind, being a noob when referring to technical fighting games in general, I'm none too good with the blocking mechanics (and can never think to barrier guard or break burst), and can only really pull off combos when I'm in training or challenge mode. Will that make the other Unlimited characters hard enough that I shouldn't waste my time right now? I don't see how I could have any big problems with anyone else other than Hazama, as I've watched videos of how the rest of the Score Attack Unlimited characters play.

Oh, and my apologies if this doesn't belong here, or if it's kind of messy. I searched for other related threads in here, and the BB section, and couldn't find anything.

Thanks!!!

[mr.mortified]

Its fine

NPC's tend to have a good sense of reads, however you can easily predict what npc's will do in given situations.

If you get CS:EX, its a lot easier to get unlimited characters since its just a bb bucks transaction to buy the unlims + colors with in-game rewards money

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Well, I definitely would just buy EX... if I didn't just buy CS1, lol. It was so hard to find a copy of any BB around where I live, that I jumped on it. I didn't even realize that Extend was only days from release. Can't pay for it now, but I hope to eventually.

I found that if I'm a bit more careful, I can use 6C-2C and then my regular 3C-22B. And if I can get Hakumen into the corner (which is uber difficult sometimes without getting knocked into said corner myself... in which case I'm screwed), I can repeat it multiple times if I'm lucky. But still, even after an hour+ against him this last time I tried, I was only able to win two rounds total against him (out of probably twenty five full matches). So many of his attacks allow him to dodge 3C. It seems like he's more apt to get hit with it if I'm the maximum distance away for the attack to connect, but that leaves my 'big hitter' (22B) with only a maximum of two hits before he's too far away. At that rate, my inability to dodge or block well catches up to me right around when he hits 35% health, and he wastes me. If I could just find an attack that catches him off guard more often.

6C-2C does extremely well against Tager (the other main problem opponent I have to face), and turns his obsession with grabbing me (96321478B or C) into no problem at all. But the same can't be said for Hakumen. While it works better than simply doing 3C-22B alone, he has a tendency to use his standing D to counter about one out of every three attempts.

Edited March 8, 2012 by ZaXo Ken'Ichi

[Delrian]

I'd say take a trip to the Noel forums, try to figure out her neutral. Your game shouldn't revolve around landing 3C, since it's so easy to avoid.

But yeah, fighting CPU Hakumen sucks. Throws beat his counters though (except for his astral which is really dumb).

[excelence]

Well... we're talking against CPU match, learning proper spacing on the real match would be too much of a hassle >_> ... and here we're talking about input reading Haku ... and iirc Unlimited Haku have shit ton of life more than normal tagger

Well what i'm gonna say probably sound stupid but it works for me... if you can't execute proper combos for the kill, takes your time aim for time up victory don't push button and react to what the cpu doing then punish accordingly, Noel have decent tool for punishing stuff. 3c for Haku Kishu/enma/4c and 2d for low (if u patched to CS2, i'll suggest you practice her 2d combos starter properly, since it gives ridiculous amount of damage and heat and not that hard to pull)... if he do iad, i'll suggest to block or run away, Noel have godlike aa, but not worth to risk against input reading AI that can punish her for at least 3k with aerial zanshin. And pause the game when you feel like loosing focus

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Thanks for all the help so far everyone. I would have replied sooner, but I didn't get e-mail notifications for the last two posts. So I didn't even know that anyone had replied since my last post.

Anyway, I'm definitely gonna try everything that's been said here. He doesn't use his D all that often, so I probably won't be using throws too much. But it's good to know that it works. And I'll also try to run down the time, though I don't know how well I'll be able to do so.

By the way, what do you mean by 'patched to CS2'? I thought CS2 was only a PSP game... is there an update for the console versions of CS1 that effectively 'fixes' things so that they're like CS2? Would that possibly be Version 1.04?

[Delrian]

The only way I knew how to check if it was CS2 or CS1 was seeing if I could do Ragna's 2C FC 5D -> Dash Cancel ->5D ->Dash Cancel ->5D they have you do in the tutorial.

I don't remember why but it didn't work in CS2 so whenever you're in the tutorial it would revert to CS1 (at least for that part).

[excelence]

1.04 is CS2 ... and Noel 2d starter combos is downright broken on it

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

So then, if I'm doing Score Attack on Version 1.0 (since the A.I. seems significantly dumbed down), then 2D starter combos should still work well? I knew that a lot of the combos changed in Challenge Mode when you change Versions (and most of Tager's combo previews actually work on 1.04), and that the A.I. changed quite a bit. But I didn't know that they also did a lot of overall character balancing.

[excelence]

I didn't play Noel much on CS1(ver 1.0), but i'm certain she has different combo route between CS1 and CS2. And afaik CS2 have the best damage.

Btw use 2d when you think Low is coming, don't use it as your poking tool ... you'll be Yukikaze'd

[Kyosuke Kagami]

Press Start on second controller when you're about to get owned by the CPU in Score Attack.

Repeat as necessary until you beat it.

There, problem solved.

[Rewenger]

Whenever I fought unlimited Haku, I mashed stuff and abused DP as Jin, that worked really well. In BBCS2, at least. As for Noel, it would be trying to stick in 5A > 6A > ... combos and 632146D frequently. Suddenly, AI does not try to DP regular punches as often as 5B or longer startup. And yeah, learning 5A > 6A > ... combos is essential. Haku may be real pain in the ass 'cause he can land 6k combos, this is not quite good for the second controller trick. 2D fatal combos also help.

As for next characters...

- Unlimited hazama falls for mid-ranged pokes. Especially if you can combo off them. 632146D and j.236236D also do wonders. 2D and 4D would be also useful.

- Unlimited ragna can deal large damage from hell's fang combos, burst whenever he hits you with hell's fang. Mashing 2A, 4D and 632146D would be essential in this battle.

- Unlimited rachel is real pain in the ass, try to shorten the distance instantly and put your life on a chance to press her until she dies. Whenever possible, aim for max damage corner combos, try to not let her do anything. When she widens the distance and calling george, it's very hard for a mediocre player to take advantage again. So, it would be a good decision to switch to 1.00 since Rachel is MUCH more dumb compared to BBCS2. Tager/Hakumen will be more troublesome, but it's nothing compared to Rachel that do 5.5k combos with tempest dahlila and repeatedly drains your barrier/crushes guard.

Edited March 12, 2012 by Rewenger

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Lol, sorry Kyosuke. As stated in the initial post, I've already been using the second controller trick. It's wonderful, because I personally don't have any problem getting to the start button on time (usually because I pause on controller 1 and prepare to press start on controller 2 the second I unpause). Unfortunately, that doesn't help me actually beat the opponent.

As for what Rewenger said, I actually attempt to use her distortions whenever I get the chance (though I once in a while find it smarter to use my heat for a Rapid... particularly when I accidentally do a move that leaves me open, like a 6C that misses). I actually find that j.236236D (when done by itself) works better than 632146D, as it's much more likely to do full damage, and I don't have to worry about getting in close to actually DO that maximum damage.

D'you mean to say that (in CS2) 2D for Noel is a fatal counter? That might come in handy, because it isn't in CS1. The main reason why I like to try to form my combos around 3C > 22B--- is because 22B has... I believe the term is positive proration? Meaning that the more I do the attack in a combo, the more damage it does. I can almost take out a quarter of U. Hakumen's lifebar if I get him with a chain of 4 or more 22B's in succession. I can occasionally initiate basic combos with 5A, but it takes getting in a bit too close for comfort. Is there any good non-D attack to end on that has a very short animation? Because starting Chain Revolver almost always means that I'm completely vulnerable once she's done, because she has to do the animation where she drops Bulvurk's empty shells.

EDIT: Oh, and thanks again everyone. Though I'm still not really making any headway against Hakumen, I'm at least learning much from everyone that I'm forced to use in the heat of battle... against an opponent that totally owns me; and there's no better place for me to learn, as that's where I do my best. That's how I got good at Guitar Hero back in the day, lol. Expert from day one.

Edited March 13, 2012 by ZaXo Ken'Ichi

[Delrian]

Noel's 2D doesn't fatal counter.

[Rewenger]

2D for Noel is a fatal counter?

While it's not fatal, it's still useful.

Meaning that the more I do the attack in a combo, the more damage it does.

No, it's like 0.99, each decreases damage by 1%. Still you can end 22B with 22C and dash cancel it for a better combo. And I'd advise you to check Noel subforum for combo-guide and details. Faceroll combos with ridiculous damage are available to anyone in bbcs2.

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Well, for future reference, I'm not going to be using CS2 since the A.I. is so insanely more advanced. Seriously, I can get past most everyone on CS1 without any problems; often times even ending up with dual Perfects. But I couldn't even get past Tao on CS2 without a lot of trouble. Not to mention, I checked it out, and they changed 22B at some point between the two versions. It does indeed get more powerful with each use in a combo on CS1 (22C gets weaker), but it gets weaker on CS2. I checked out the Noel Subforum (where I first learned about the existence of Proration or whatever it's called, and that it did indeed effect 22B and C), and to make sure, I tested it out on Carl in training, since he has fairly low HP, and it's easy to tell the difference.

Would it possibly be worth it to get used to (what I believe to be a horribly wretched) Beginner Mode? That way I can use some decent combos without trying, and I can focus more on actually controlling my position VS the enemy?

[Rewenger]

You can't do any combos aside from programmed ones in Beginner Mode. Sometimes you can't even use all of characters' movelist. So it's not recommended.

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Well, I got past Hakumen (finally!!!) today. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of being so focused trying to beat Ragna, that I forgot he already had a win, and he beat me. Still, I think I can do it, and therefore have decided to write out a Beginners Score Attack Strategy for Noel.

Guide:

First thing's first. For anyone who doesn't know, and is completely new to the game, Score attack is largely considered the hardest single-player section of BlazBlue, and in many ways was made even more difficult in Continuum Shift, thanks to quicker and smarter A.I., as well as the addition of Tsubaki and Unlimited Hazama. The guide below is for Noel.

The most important tricks to remember if you're simply trying to get an Unlimited version of your favorite character, are how to make the A.I. less insane, and how to continue from the character you were last facing. To dumb down the A.I. make sure that you go into the Settings section and revert to Version 1.00 of the game. Don't worry, you can change back at any time. Now plug in a second controller (anything will work, including a Guitar Hero or Rockband instrument). Change the Versus setting to just a single round. If your opponent has already won a round against you, and is about to win another, press Start on the second controller. This will take you into the Versus character selection screen. Pick an opponent, and beat them (you can also use this time to get several Achievements/Trophies, but I prefer to do that against actual opponents). After said opponent is defeated, you will be brought back to the last enemy you faced in Score Attack, and the rounds will be reset. As a quick side note, it also seems that -at least on Version 1.00- this allows you to keep the score you had already.

Strategies for Noel:

Overall Strategy - The key attacks you will need to know how to do are as follows: A, 2A, 6C, 2C, 3C, 22B, 22C, 632146D, j236236D, and BC (Throw). Other things you should be adept at using are... Break Bursts (though they aren't entirely required, they don't hurt), Basic Guard and Crouch Guard, Barrier Guard, Rapid Cancel, and all of your evasive techniques, such as backstepping, the different forms of jumping, and of course air dashing.

Get used to starting your combos with either A, 2A, 6C, 2C, or 3C. Against most of the more difficult opponents, avoid D attacks/combos like the plague unless you're adept at using Noel (and at the basic game mechanics as well). They usually tend to have very slow animations, and anytime you begin Chain Revolver (using a D attack), it will eventually have to end in an excruciatingly long animation where you're left completely open (Noel will reload Bulverk), unless you're fairly skilled with her preferred combos. The only time you might use one is if the enemy is nearly dead, and you have at least 50% Heat to use on a Rapid Cancel.

Most of your combos will end with either 22B or 22C. Once you get used to this, you can even use it to 'endlessly' repeat/spam the combo over and over, as long as you end with a 22C, as it launches your enemy helplessly into the air. But in order to keep your combo numbers Red, you'll have to be quick and on point the entire time. Otherwise, you can almost guarantee that your enemy will Wake-Up and you'll likely be left open while you finish your animation. Depending on the enemy your ideal combos will be either 6C>2C>3C>22BBBB>22C (from the start of the first 22B, you can simply hold Down on the D-Pad and continue pressing B, ending with a simple C) -lather, rinse, repeat-, or you can use A>A>A>2C>3C>22BBBB>22C. Initially, you might want to forgo the ending 22C, and just continue tapping B until you no longer can hit the enemy, as 22C will leave you open if you don't hit your opponent with it.

The last overall note you need to keep in mind is the size of the character you're against, and their range. Obviously, with characters like Hakumen, you want to be more careful, as his range is huge (and since he's Unlimited in Score Attack, he's also extremely powerful and extremely fast). Stay away, and use your jumps and dashes to your advantage. When you feel safe, sprint up and begin a combo. But be ready to revert to a block if thing don't go your way.

If your opponent isn't Tager or Ragna, be careful when you get them into the corner. The accuracy of 22B becomes significantly lower if you're right next to your opponent, as they can't be shoved back any further by your preceding 3C. The best choice in this situation if you're decent at combo-ing, is to use a 22C>6C (don't cancel the second half of 6C!), and then jump into an air combo. Or if you aren't that skilled yet, you can rush your opponent and Throw (BC) them the second they get up. If it works, you have a chance to backstep, ready to begin another combo once they get up. And if it doesn't, then it automatically shoves you backward, and you can go straight into a 3C>22BBBB, without worrying about the 22B's missing.

It might also be wise to either get extremely comfortable with inputting complicated commands on the D-Pad -like Distortion Drives-, or switch between the D-Pad and Left Stick depending on what you're trying to do, and what you're most comfortable with when inputting certain commands. The only other thing you need to know is... DON'T waste your time on Astral Heats, no matter how comfortable your current lead may be!!!

Edited March 19, 2012 by ZaXo Ken'Ichi

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

Enemy Strategies:

Core Combo 1 (CC1) - 6C>2C>3C>22BBBB>22C

Core Combo 2 (CC2) - A>A>A>2C>3C>22BBBB>22C

1. Bang – Bang is usually extremely easy, and doesn't put up much of a fight. Simply focus on using your basic combos outlined above, and try to stay a bit more than a full 'Bangs-length' away from him until you're ready to attack. It's fairly easy to get your Distortion attacks off on him, and he doesn't often use any of his.

2. Taokaka – Tao does so little damage, that she's not much of a threat. Just be ready to block at a moments notice, and focus on getting her into a corner. She usually spends most of her time in the air, so try to intercept her with a longer ranged attack, so that she has less of a chance of clawing at you.

3. Tager – Tager is extremely annoying at first, but can become fairly easy after a few tries. The very first thing you should do when the round starts is a backstep or two. His range is always longer than yours, and you stand no chance if he hits you (even if you block it can get risky). Try not to get magnetized, or it could spell trouble. Simply rush Tager whenever he's open, and use either CC1 or CC2. The good thing about facing him is that you can use 22B virtually forever, especially if he's in the corner. The bad thing about him is that he's extremely good at using his 96321478B and C throw attacks, which can take almost a half a life bar from you instantly. Don't try to start your combos with 3C, as he's programed to punish you with said attacks almost every time. It's also fair to note that using your Distortion Drives is really easy on Tager (especially 236236D), as he doesn't have enough mobility to get at you, and instead has to rely almost entirely on using his magnetism.

4. Carl – Carl isn't hard per-se, but he can be difficult to hit. Just try to fake him out by air dashing around, and beginning combos with 2C more often than you would while facing anyone else. Try to force him away from Nirvana, so that he's all alone, and can't really do much damage. If she starts to beat up on you, take a step back and let Carl come to you, away from her.

5. Noel – Noel is by far the second easiest opponent in the entirety of Score Attack. Most of the time, you can just start right in with a 3C>22BBBB..., and then just repeat without worrying too much. If she does start a combo on you, she can to a fair amount of damage, but a Break Burst should take care of that. Not much else to her.

6. Arakune – As soon as the match starts, Arakune is most likely going to 'teleport' behind you. Simply repeat 2C and you're likely to hit him. The second you do, follow it up with a 3C>22BBBB, etc. Try not to let him get his 'lock on' meter all the way up, or you'll get the crap beat out of you, by his little bug friends. You should spent most of your time on the ground, trying to head him off when he teleports. He shouldn't be too difficult, but expect to be running around a lot, and the match to last a while.

7. Litchi – Like Tager, Litchi is pretty annoying (though slightly less so). Unlike Tager, she doesn't become cakewalk once you get used to her. She's a quick, and formidable opponent. Try to spend a bit more time on defense and evasion when she's got her rod with her. But the second she lets it go, you can sprint up, and try pretty much anything to begin a combo on her. I find that CC2 tends to work a bit better, as Noel's standing A attack is really quick. But make sure you're extremely close to Litchi when you use it, or you'll miss.

Edited March 19, 2012 by ZaXo Ken'Ichi

[ZaXo Ken'Ichi]

8. Jin – Jin is usually extremely easy if you use the same tactic as you used on Noel. He doesn't combo all that often, but his freezing attacks can get a bit annoying. Just rush him and you shouldn't have much trouble at all.

9. Lambda – Welcome to what is by far the easiest enemy when doing Score Attack with Noel. Lambda rarely combos and can't do much damage as long as you stay close to her, and don't let up. The same tactics that work for Jin and Noel also work here, though Lambda does end up in the corner pretty quickly, so keep in mind the strategies for the corners outlined above.

10. Tsubaki – Tsubaki is pretty difficult, as she likes to suddenly 'uppercut' you whenever you're getting to your 3C attack, and she'll always win that battle. She usually then turns said attack into a damaging combo. Keep in mind your Break Burst and Rapid Cancel for emergencies, and focus on finding openings. Take your time, or you're going to be spending a lot of time cursing at your TV screen.

11. U. Hakumen – Now comes the difficult part, and it starts you off with the toughest enemy in the whole lot. Hakumen does tons of damage, and is capable of ending a round in mere seconds. Since he's Unlimited, you will have a hard time damaging him, and his Heat Markers will collect fast. This allows him to spend a lot of time using special attacks in succession. His range is massive, and his A.I. is extremely smart. Also, being Unlimited makes him pretty quick too.

To defeat Hakumen takes a world of patience, and a lot of luck. The instant the battle starts he'll do one of three things: Start with a high attack, followed by a low attack... start with a dash, followed by said high attack and low attack... or he'll start with a dash, and begin with the low attack. Quick reflexes and focus are needed to counter with a block, since he can begin high OR low, and there isn't much time. DON'T try and backstep to avoid any of these, as two of the attacks begin with a dash, which makes them unavoidable if you don't block. The second this is over with, you have one of two choices. You can either take your chances and sprint up to attempt a combo, or you can backstep, and hope that he makes a stupid mistake. Both of them have their risks, but I'd say the former is slightly riskier.

The rest of the battle will largely be a game of cat and mouse, with you being the mouse. Use your jumps and air dashes as much as possible to confuse him, but realize that -unless you're good with Barrier Guards- you're left in the open when you're in the air. Hakumen by far is the most dangerous when he's got you in the corner, and his range makes it nearly impossible to escape without using a Break Burst. Even then, you still aren't guaranteed to be safe. Likewise, he's his most vulnerable when he's cornered. Just remember to use Throws to your advantage, and be ready for his attempted escape which can turn a match around in an instant.

The biggest thing to be aware of while the battle progresses is Hakumen's ability to dodge 3C. There are several things he can do to avoid said attack, even when you're in the middle of a combo. The only surefire way to get the attack to connect is by waiting until he uses his D. Another good tactic is to quickly leap and air dash to his other side immediately starting with a 3C. Keep in mind however, that he will rarely fall for this multiple times in a row, and that he can hit you or jump at you easily while you're in the air. Keep yourself ready for a Barrier Guard at any moment.

One last note is dealing with when to use your Heat. Trying a 632146D can be dangerous if you don't have it down, and the fast paced nature of the match can even make using 236236D difficult. Hakumen will often dodge both, and can even use his D to counter. Don't try and get 632146D off when you're right next to him. It may do more damage, but it rarely works out the way you want it to, instead causing you great deals of punishment damage. I usually save my Heat for the end of the match, or use it in a Rapid Cancel to nullify a mistake I made, or continue a combo. Other than that, it's mostly about luck.

12. U. Hazama – Unlimited Hazama is pretty easy after Hakumen, but he's great at dodging your attacks. Rush him as you normally would any other character, but be extra cautious, as he can dodge almost anything you throw at him pretty easily. Try not to stay in his Leeching Ring for too long, as it can often undo much of the damage you've done (and essentially put it on you). This battle is mostly about taking him out quickly, so that he can't whittle you down. Watch out for his Distortion attacks, as they're kind of hard to avoid at a moments notice, and they do a fair amount of damage.

13. U. Ragna – Ragna is much quicker in Unlimited form, and his Blood Kain is always active. He heals a lot of damage with his attacks, but doesn't have a lot of HP to begin with. It's okay to occasionally start combos right at 3C, but be wary of Carnage Scissors, which will totally own you, and leave you open to more damage afterward. The good thing is that most of the time he can become useless when in the corner, until his Heat Gauge is up to at least 50%. He's great at combo-ing you if he gets you, and Instant Guards quite a bit. But if you take your time, and choose your battles wisely, he shouldn't be a huge problem.

14. U. Rachel – Rachel is scary in Unlimited form, mostly thanks to George, her little frog. It's extremely difficult to kill him, and he stays in the match until you do. Avoid him as much as possible if he is unleashed, but your primary focus should be on preventing her from using him in the first place. Keep on her, and don't give her a chance to breathe. As long as you do this, and are careful, you only really need to worry about her Distortion attacks, which will come up quickly, and do a lot of damage.

15. Once you beat her, you can enjoy a victory dance and a cup of tea or something, as you've beaten Score Attack! You might have to wait until you get back to the main menu in order to get your Achievement/Trophy, so don't rage quit if you don't get it right away. Now that you have Unlimited Noel, have some fun with her. Then maybe you should focus more on Challenge Mode, Training, or Online Play, so maybe one day you can actually try Score Attack the way it was meant to be played... and while fighting the absolutely ruthless A.I. on Version 1.04. Good luck!

So, tell me what you think about the strategy, and if there's anywhere else you think it would be smart to post (whether it's on Dustloop or not).

Edited March 19, 2012 by ZaXo Ken'Ichi