Blade

To anyone who got the JP version, would importing GameFaqs saves of 3rd Birthday and Birth By Sleep do the trick? lol

More stuff: Sephiroth's Hell's Gate (To the Promised Land) feels nerfed, but I can't tell for sure, seems you need a really good assist to use it properly, he has no upper hitbox on startup anymore, as an exchange for the nerf, it seems the "sudden stop" hitbox (the one that keeps you in the air) seems wider. Believe it or not Sephiroth isn't that good when trying to do EX Revenge combos, he has one maybe two moves he can do well. Also he doesn't seem to do HP attacks after an assist except maybe Octaslash. Godspeed and Compressed Earth are still great projectiles though. Setting up his assists will take some serious planning, since he's very BP oriented. Kefka is...well...he feels like an even longer-range Sephiroth, Havok Wing seems extremely buffed from what I remember as it can still hit you even if you dodge it slightly. Coupled with Ultimecia's HP Attack Assist he can pretty much go anywhere with his combos. I'm still no expert at proper use of his sneaky Ultima spell since it tends to go all over the place. Anyone who plays Nu might be more at home with Kefka. One more day till the JP version. D:

According to one of those andriasang articles, Gilgamesh is SO RANDOM that even his EX mode has three forms. Type 1: 8 Katanas Type 2: 4 Polearm-type weapons (or at least 4 weapons with Two-Handed grip). Type 3: 8 Random Weapons Playing the demo some more, just for dem Rare Candies. WoL's Wave of Light got revamped, it has way better tracking now and actually goes UP and DOWN along the terrain after an enemy. It's actually fun to spam now, lol. Especially if opponents like to get in your face and try to dodge over your head for a counterattack, since Wave of Light can actually go over your head. Plus in some situations it has multiple hitboxes. Kain's Jump is godly, I'm just saying. Jump is both a Brave AND HP attack, so it's actually capable of destroying Assists all in one swoop. --Level 1 Jump has "auto-dodge" that pretty much counters any attempt to get at Kain. Even if you miss, it's good bait for yet ANOTHER Level 1 Jump. The only characters that have a good chance of going after him are Tidus, Zidane, and Kuja due to their wide-movement attacks, otherwise he can counter most things by spamming Level 1 Jump almost constantly. Spear thrust HP Attack can throw them off. --Level 2 Jump has a hitbox on startup which is designed to stun them into a total lockdown for the jump to finish. Also it has more range and better tracking though you have a little direction control. Best time to do Level 2 is the minute his feet start to glow. And even if he misses, he can counter with Level 1 Jump in most situations. --Level 3 Jump has Level 2's Hit box, but it has a lot less tracking and you pretty much have to guide it in yourself. It's useful for uber long range, but he has some recovery if he misses, so it's a gamble compared to the others.

On a related note, does anyone know what all you get for the Accomplishments in Prologus? And what all the accomplishments are?

Where in God's name did you get that screenshot? :O

Well, I'm still not budging till I know all the DLC. Strider isn't in it, so I can't really say if I'll be getting it unless the price drops. I barely touched SSFIV enough as it is.

Track 2-2: "Crimson Champion" *Bang**Creeeaak* (A door bursts open). Zato 「Why...are you here?」 Slayer 「Why? It's just been a while since I've seen the face of my "junior".」 Zato 「There's nothing here for you to see at all...Founder...」 Slayer 「I'm gone for a little while and the Organization seems to have changed quite a bit...」 Zato 「So now I have to earn the title of being an Assassin? I'd like to know exactly what my "senior" is spouting about now...」 Slayer 「So then, you think you're running a business now?」 Zato 「It doesn't matter who it's for...the Organization functions for the Organization's own sake.」 Slayer 「What meaning is there to an organization that's created to fill its members with sorrow!?」 Zato 「Being hassled by whatever an old man has to say is too tedious.」 Slayer 「In that case, I have a few questions to ask you.」 Zato 「I'd love to hear one of your lectures, but...now there's no time.」 Slayer 「So I'm being a nuisance, you say...?」 Zato 「Indeed...senile old man...OUT OF MY WAY!」 (*Cue "Haven't you got Eyes in your Head?"*) *Screetch/Crash*(Zato summons Eddie as it blasts through the room) Zato 「(Even now that old man's going easy on me...as expected...)」 Slayer 「Your rushdown is weak. You should've prepared your Instant Kill technique, that shortcoming will cost you.」 Zato 「Ready my Instant Kill? The Leader of the Assassins needs only ask. Then I shall show you! PIERCE THROUGH!!」 (Zato launches his shadow forward as a giant hand trying to crush Slayer with "Fear of the Dark") Slayer 「Is this some kind of joke? Too slow!」 (Slayer dodges the attack and counters with his own punch) Zato 「Gwuugh--eughh!!...」 Slayer 「One: In a life and death struggle it is expedient to never exceed one's own limits when performing an Instant-kill technique. Two: A killing technique's intent must be refined to it's absolute potential within the craft to support one's boast of skill.」 Zato 「(That is...the Organization's Way...!)」 Slayer 「Correct! And for that 'way' to happen something must occur: Real conflict follows rules, a life and death struggle's outcome is not decided by prideful intent. A man must thrive in conflict, a man who can stand alone and inspire those below him is unstoppable. As you are now, you are insufficient!」 Zato 「(Is he forcing me on the defensive!?)」 Slayer 「THIS IS--DANDY-ZOOM!!」 *Zoom**Crash* (Zato gets sent through a wall) Zato 「Guuwaaaaa!」 Slayer 「Well then, care to talk with me for a little bit now, young Assassin?」 Zato 「Hehhh...ennhh...sorry but...there's no...TIME!!」 Slayer 「Hoh!」 Zato 「BEHOLD ITS COMING: EXPAND!! AMORPHOUS!!」 (The massive head of Amorphous appears and erupts from the shadows of the ground) Zato 「(Did I get him!?)」 Slayer 「Isn't that a taboo question, Mr. Rookie?」 Zato 「Nuo--!?」 (Slayer dashes in and quickly punches him again). Zato 「Uoof!」 Slayer 「Youngster...excessive killing intent, but a trembling fighting spirit. You have me worried.」 Zato 「Honorable elder...GET OUT OF MY--!」 Slayer 「Aaaaah, so it's that young girl you're worried about, Ms. Millia I think her name is...?」 Zato 「Na!!--don't touch her!」 Slayer 「Vulnerable!」 (Slayer distracted Zato and lands another punch) Zato 「Guuuaaaa...uhuhhhk...hahh...from the very beginning...why do you know Millia!?」 Slayer 「My eyes couldn't help but behold such a charming Mademoiselle. Is she your lover?」 Zato 「That's right...But that's why I have no time and need to hurry!」 Slayer 「Hm? And then what?」 Zato 「An important subordinate was caught and I can't disgracefully abandon her, because this is something a head leader must do! This time, please step aside, IMMORTAL MONSTER!」 Slayer 「Your resolution is good, but your soul's depth ISN'T QUITE THERE YET!!」 (Slayer punches him yet again. Brutal. ) Zato 「Oouugh...Khh...impossible...I cast aside the light for...the Forbidden Beast's power...yet I'm still this weak--!? Guhh!!」 *Collapse* Slayer 「Don't feel bad; you aren't weak, I am just too strong. But your soul's radiance is not bad, quite elegant in fact...With you as its Leader, your Organization's future has interesting potential to grow in this era. It was an honor to fight you, however brief.」 Zato 「Uughh...so you're satisfied just with that much is what you mean?...How disturbing...」 Slayer 「Au revoir! I've interfered enough, you don't need to worry about the girl.」 Zato 「Mill...ia...」 (Zato collapses unconscious)

Track 2-1: "Opening" Narrator 「The 22nd Century. Mankind succeeds in understanding the theory of magic, and thus unlocks limitless energy. Science becomes regarded as a technology of the "Old World" and is forbidden worldwide. But then, by the power of magic, the forbidden living weapons, Gears, were created. The Gears, created for the purposes of fighting, bared their fangs against their controllers, and thus began a battle between the two with the future at stake. This brutal war had lasted for 100 years finally ended with the sealing of the Gears' leader, Justice. *And now with the political strife having divided many nations, an Assassin's Organization quickly assembled. This group of assassins must now infiltrate Calroni Kingdom for the sake of a young girl...but the Organization's founder 'Slayer' now stands in their path...* (*Cue "Feedback"*) Guilty Gear XX Drama CD: Night of Knives Vol. 2: "Kiss of the Blood"」 (*Note* There is no actual text to go off of at this point in the audio, so I'm translating by ear, for any of you Romaji specialists, here's the passage I translated as best I could: "Soshite ayawareta heibun no jidai ni ayaku suru soshiki "Assassin". Calronia koko ni mayouri ta ansatsu tachi mai ni totsu joshite ayawareta no wa...soshiki no sousha de aru "Slayer" de ata..." Anyway, please excuse any mistakes and bullshit I did for this passage. D: )

You have to understand Devs have to sell something, whether it's good or bad. And in the arcade scene, they just want you to put the quarter in, they don't care if things are unfair (or at least they don't if it's going to be profitable either way, and in some cases unbalanced characters lead to more sales, this is also why the original Guilty Gear is considered a cult classic, BECAUSE it was so broken). When a game is balanced, especially for console, it's usually done based on feedback from the players, this is mostly an appeal to the fanbase and the demographics they know for sure will buy the game. You also have to consider the size of the userbase, the more players playing the game, the less likely they need to worry about sales. Street Fighter's userbase is huge. In BlazBlue's case, every sale counts, so rebalancing is critical to that kind of game's development and how it goes over with the consumers.

Fixed for continuity purposes.

Gilgamesh's Brave Attacks are pretty awesome now. Still I have no clue about the Missile though.

Next person to say "I'm taking my copy back." Just give it to me...I'm a broke person. I'll give you my mailing address...

See, this is why I wait till games are on their way out in terms of popularity. Let all the professional combo freaks have their fun first, pwn or whatever, then I get to have fun with what's left.

About the world Map: Seems you can pick up allies along the way and swap control over them. Slashing some sort of Crystal on the map either nets you items, KP (Kupo Points for the Mog Shop), Gil, Exp, AP, or whatever else (HP/EX Restoration too I would assume). Pressing Circle talks to allies. Entering dungeons gives you the option of reducing your current level, and if you do so you get KP and bonus items (like completing a challenge, probably more useful when your Lvl 100). Dungeons have the Gameboard Layout like the first Dissidia, I'm not sure if Destiny Points are involved yet though. Moogles are in various places and you can buy stuff at their shops for KP. Destroying Volcanic Chaos Rocks opens up extra island areas or secret places where Treasure can be found (Triangle/Quickmove works on the map in spots where there are light bridge trails). When Manikins or other enemies are nearby, if you hold guard ® down you can bounce them away...also if they launch an HP attack on the map, pressing Dodge (R+X) dodges the attack...if it hits you it affects your HP before battle, if you get hit with a Brave Attack, it just initiates the fight like any ordinary Random Encounter.

Broken = Sales Pitch Balance = Fanbase Makes sense to me.

It's too bad Aerith doesn't get a render drawing...oh well.

You're just jealous of her breast size. D:

From a technical standpoint, Tifa is basically Makoto/Slayer (feints, dodges, and rushdown) and Prische is basically Tsubaki/Noel/Jam (extended combos and mixup).

So basically Hulk and Iron Man are the go-to anchors. :O

I REFUSE to tilt my head sideways. :( Edit: So FRIGGAN called it...Gilgamesh gets 8 weapon slots (well maybe)!!! 2nd Edit: I am so much a Gilgamesh fanboy.

Well, next time, my vote goes to Sieg Warheit. I know that much.

It's pretty sad when I go to an anime convention and I'm the only guy there who can play decent BlazBlue, I didn't lose a single match. D:

This makes me sad. Especially with Final Fantasy IV Collection coming out this year...and you like Vivi over anyone else? Somethin' wrong with you!

Sentinel is my jump-in combo training dummy in MVC2, so yeah...pretty much.

RET'S PAAALLLTYY TANOSHIMO ZE!! --Date Masamune Nakai's done Wakka (FFX), Najimu (Ehrgeiz), Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes), Fefnir (Megaman Zero), Shinjiro Aragaki (Persona 3), Moses Sandor (Tales of Legendia), Zaka (Valkyria Chronicles), Assistant Scott (Xenosaga III), Rai (Kingdom Hearts II), and Soma (God Eater).