SoWL

That's actually what I'm thinking after today's meet-up: you can't really pressure them without the risc of eating the explosion, and they don't really want to come at you for about the same reasons. My gut tells me that the best option is to run in and throw them, avoiding the explosion, but they might get the same idea, and that opens a whole different can of worms.

Yes, you have to use the Invisible Air to use Strike Air.

The console chars are to be added to the arcade version next week. http://www.famitsu.com/news/201512/17095651.html Maybe that will make them fix the playable Sonico page on the JP wiki.

Tried scrolling up?

Well, at the very least, Aoi seems obligatory for her free gauge. The fifth one can probably be gained over the course of the combo, especially if you use Infinite Blast. So I suppose it's something like Variable Rush > Aoi > IB > filler > Lethal Blaze.

I literally just translated it, but Dustloop crashed and didn't save my post. Oh well, here we go again. Note that I don't have the game yet and took all the menus from this tweet: https://twitter.com/PinchoUeji/status/670838007906172929 Page 1: - Training mode display - Training mode display position - Character position on reset - Key config - Command list - Default settings - Character select - Main menu Page 2: - Enemy stance - CPU level - Guard - Guard switch - Vanishing Guard - Counter-hit - Ground recovery - Air recovery - Throw tech - Reversal - Record inputs - Replay inputs Page 3: - Health regeneration - Health: Player - Health: COM - Power gauge - Partner gauge - Infinite Blast Page 4: - Player character / partner A / partner B - COM character / partner A / partner B - Stage

Well, it's not exactly random, it's just that she tracks you first and shoots later. So yeah, using it in the corner is best. My copy has now been shipped, it's a waiting game from now on. Until then, should we get a spreadsheet with the player info going? The Skype group doesn't have enough people for matchmaking, and I'm going to be very thirsty for some matches (especially in EU region).

The Tsunemori assist gets a power-up when the opponent is in the red health. At least that's what we were told when she came out, I have no way to confirm that yet. As for the Vanishing Guard mechanics, I assume you are right in your deductions, but it only makes sense for the mechanic to be so strong when you guess correctly, because if you don't, you get whopped. For example, it's good when you block a jump-in, but if they went for an empty jump instead, you are bound to feel the pain.

The thing that caught my eye in that video is that stacking H2 follow-ups doesn't give you the explosive damage it used to. I suppose it makes sense, since the overall changes to her kit give her more options in neutral at the cost of her damage potential. Which does make her a better character in the long run.

I actually think that having Nightmare Fiction be a Terumi vs Ragna theme would make more sense than having it be Hazama vs Ragna. Let's face it, the conflict is mainly about Terumi's deeds, not about his NOL vessel. It's just that we had no choice back when the theme was introduced. While I'm at it, I still think Imperial Code should play whenever any NOL members fight each other. Again, it's a Jin vs Noel theme simply because they were the only NOL members in CT.

Like I said, I contacted the Mizuumi admin to let us have a wiki over there, but I assume he's busy with NEC right now. Note that Althea's weapon is an axe, not a hammer. And yes, I think her name is written as Althea, though I'm not sure, having never read the novel she comes from.

I'm no Nage, but this is what I do for my pressure. Obviously, 2K is the best normal to establish pressure after a knockdown. 2K link 2P 2S 2HS is both a fine combo that you can use if they're mashing (scoring another knockdown with GMW ender) and a safe blockstring that puts you at a good distance to give you a safe item throw (which you use to re-apply the pressure in the best case). I don't think it's optimal, but the fact that you can use a combo as a blockstring is invaluable for a new player, especially since it's long enough for you to react to your opponent's behavior. It just allows you to think about the things that are more important at that level. Oh, and you can use 2D instead of 2HS: it's less rewarding on hit, but leaves you closer to your opponent on block. Re-applying the pressure is one of Faust's notable weaknesses, but then again, not that many characters can pressure you freely for days: the gaps are always going to be there. Faust can cover those with items, but if you get a bad one, you can at least feel confident back in the neutral game - you're playing as the king of neutral, after all. Or hey, you can just dash back in if they already respect you. As for the mix-ups, FDC and Mettagiri are your main tools, both being perfectly usable after a blocked 2K. You can 2K dash Metta, you can 2K j.2K Metta, you can 2K FDC 2P - there are loads of stuff you can do at that point. 6HS is still an option, but like any mix-up tool, it shouldn't be used predictably. It might be slow, but it can be used from a safe distance - or catch them off-guard when they only expect an overhead after FDC. 5P 6HS is a hilariously effective string, but, again, don't overdo it. Now, there is also 5D, but I don't have a lot of experience with it, so I'll leave it for someone else to elaborate on.

You mean the one after her [4]6 special? It's back+button.

Not really, no: there are enough games out there with balanced rosters. A character can be worse than the rest of the roster, but that doesn't make them terrible.

Is it normal that I can't even see the game on HK PSN? Guess they don't have the PS3 version yet? Guess I should just split my December order on AmiAmi so they send me the game right away, other stuff can wait. I hope reading all the impressions and theory-crafting will last me through this week. Oh, and I just wrote Bellreisa about a Mizuumi wiki, let's see how that turns out.

The last edit has been done about a week ago, so I assume it's mostly up to date.

There are quite a few BnBs on the official wiki, though it might be difficult to read, as all combos list specials by their names. Except that, you know, it's in Japanese. I would be down for something like a Mizuumi wiki; it won't be too difficult to translate all the relevant info.

I'm pretty sure that's not what she says in her LB. Also, boss Al confirmed, I guess? https://twitter.com/nitbla/status/674605221302042626

Some more combos, now in swimsuits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQU1V7IWofs

I'm not sure how auto-combos and Instinct make rash a scrub-friendly character. In my experience, scrubs are attracted to simple, efficient tactics that can bring them wins without any extensive research, like spamming fireballs or getting the opponent in the Tager blender. Rash, however, is not efficient at all, especially when you consider that auto-combos are kinda the game's schtick, and that it will take a grand total of 1 round for the opponent to start breaking it on every occasion. Sabrewulf had brainless one-button mash combos, too, and even then, he's not as popular as, say, Jago or Hisako.

Isn't that normal? The game releases slightly earlier than the release date says, but they don't ship it to you before then, just let you pay for your order so it ships ASAP. Unless I misunderstand something in your post.

Because having just two SAO characters clearly wasn't enough: http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/001/163/1163784/

The more footage I see, the more I feel like they just shouldn't have gone for the close-ups with the in-game models. At least you won't be seeing them for too long in the matches themselves? The game looks fine in motion, that's honestly the only thing that matters. Not too surprised about having Kula back, and having Angel return is certainly interesting. My wishlist isn't that long, and half of it got confirmed already. Too bad that the chances of Vice or Shen coming back aren't so good.

It's apparently taken from Famitsu: http://www.famitsu.com/matome/nitroplus_blasterz/diary03.html I suppose we can expect some Heart footage soon. I really like how simple and strong Homura seems to be: I wasn't sure she would be the best Senran girl to pick, but her niche is still relatively free, while someone like Asuka would have to compete with Ruili as the other short-ranged fast heavy-hitter. And of course, the jiggle is still there.

We might get something this week, but for now, all we have are the camrips on the last page.