Determining a characters best -ISM

Classic Fighting Games Street Fighter Alpha Anthology
1

I realize that we there hasn’t been any sort of competition for this game to determine what is good and what is bad, but there are some -ISMs that are obviously useless for certain characters, or the other -ISMs make a specific -ISM obsolete. The goal of this topic is to figure out what -ISM can a character play their best at (similar to CvS2 with grooves, and 3s with Supers).

Adon
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Akuma
-A1
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Balrog
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Birdie
-A1
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Blanka
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Cammy
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Charlie
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Chun-Li
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Cody
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Dan
-A1
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Dee-Jay
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Dhalsim
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)
-Red-ISM (Marvel-ISM)

E. Honda
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Evil Ryu
-A2G/Z2A
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Red-ISM (Marvel-ISM)

Fei-Long
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Gen
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Guile
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Guy
-A1
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Red-ISM (Marvel-ISM)

Juli
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Juni
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Karin
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Ken
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

M. Bison
-A1
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)
-Red-ISM (Marvel-ISM)

R. Mika
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Rolento
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Rose
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Ryu
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Sagat
-A1
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Sakura
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Red-ISM (Marvel-ISM)

Sodom
-A2
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

T. Hawk
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)

Vega
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

Zangief
-A2
-A2G/Z2A
-Blue-ISM (Street Fighter 3-ISM)
-Green-ISM (Darkstalkers-ISM)
-Pink-ISM (SF2: Champion Edition-ISM)

2

Nice thread.

I found out that playing DS-ism with Fei-long is tight, same with rolento.

3

id assume mazi mode isnt allowed, since you can like instantly kill people with some throws or something like that wasnt there?

4

That was a glitch that can be disabled by the dipswitches.

5

yea but whats the point in turning it off? You should play the game how it was ment to be played. If that means banning it then so be it. If that was the case then you may as well turn off stupid shit like sodoms unblockable roundhouse etc. And if you turend it off that’d be even stupider.

6

There will be:

http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116192

7

lol how about you get rid of the “[s]” shit and just list what ism thats worth playing?

8

^Agreed, it looks like a load of BS to me…

9

The was supposed to create a slash through the -ISM, but I guess the board code didn’t comprehend.

Is there any use for A-ism? I mean A2-ISM has it beat in almost everyway. A2-ISM gains meter faster, the alpha counters are more effective, Valle CC’s, able to do supers (just like in A-ISM). The characters that had their best -ISM in Alpha 3 as A-ISM (not including anyone that didn’t appear in A2) were Chun-li, Guy, M. Bison, some others, and I feel that their A2 counter parts are better. Anyone disagree?

10

Hm, for some I would say it’s obvious A2 is the way to go. For example, Ken. A-ISM Ken is basically a much crappier version of that. At the same time though I would argue that A1 Ken is even better than A2 Ken due to; increased damage output; ability to chain; retarded properties on normal/special/super moves. Oh, also A1 Ken is able to sweep xx roll just like his A2 counterpart.

Forgot to add that A1 characters dizzy really damn fast.

11

If your gonna play as Ken it should be something like this.

  1. A1 Ken
  2. CE Ken
  3. A2 Ken
  4. Blue S Ken
  5. Green S Ken
12

What do you all think of Marvel mode? That is definitely going to be one of Bison’s best ISMs, but what about the other characters?

13

i didnt know that you can play all those ism with street fighter in this game so you can actually play ryu with a darkstalkers ism and play just liek he was in darkstalkers if thats true then i can wait to play and mix all those characters up with different isms sweet peace.

14

Sagat benefits greatly from parry. It helps solve a lot of his problems including closing gaps. Also, easy confirmations into Tiger Genocide never hurt anybody.

15

I’m just going to go down the list of characters and ask questions… (For now, I’m not going to have any input in CE-ISM, even though I don’t think it should be banned, until it has been competitively tested).

Adon: I don’t know much about him, but I imagine his A2 version is better than A3 A-ISM and V-ISM? And what about A1, how is he effective in that version?

Akuma: A1 seems to be dominant in terms of the Alphas, I know A2 was toned down, but V-ISM might give A1 a run for its money. Does Akuma gain anything significant from Marvel at all?

Balrog: With DS-ISMs free alpha counters (is this true?), does Balrog even need A-ISM anymore?

Birdie: People say he gets worse with every Alpha version out (even though he is already terrible enough), so does that mean A1 > A2?

Cammy: I don’t know much about Alpha 2 Gold, does it hold up to her A3 A/V-ISM? Is Marvel-ISM any good? How do these compare to Parry-ISM and DS-ISM?

Charlie: All he gains from Marvel-ISM I believe is his “Drop Down Flash Kick”, which I don’t think is that good. Which is better between A1 and A2?

Chun-Li: I think A2 make any -ISM in A3 obsolete, A2 -ISM is just too dominant with Chun-Li. But how does A1 stack up?

Cody: Seeing those Parry-ISM and DS-ISM videos with Cody make me want to jump off the V-ISM bandwagon, but can V-ISM stack up?

Dan: A1 is too strong, but can Parry-ISM and DS-ISM hold their own?

Dee Jay: Because he was on the console release of A3, he hasn’t really been tested; but which is better between A-ISM and V-ISM and how does that compare to Parry-ISM and DS-ISM?

Dhalsim: Which are the best of the Alphas between A2, A2G, and A3 X/A/V? He gaines an air fireball in Marvel-ISM, but is it any good?

E. Honda: Which is the better -ISM for A3 between A and V? Can they compete with Parry-ISM or DS-ISM?

Evil Ryu: Will he be banned? I don’t think it is necessary. How are his A2G, V-ISM, and Marvel-ISM?

Fei-Long: People are already speaking praises for his Parry-ISM, is it that solid?

Gen: I think he might be a beast in DS-ISM.

Guile: He’s not very good in any of the -ISMs in Alpha.

Guy: A1 seems like a runaway, but can A2/G and A3 hold up? Does his teleportation in Marvel-ISM benefit him?

Juli: DS or Parry-ISM, does V-ISM have a chance?.

Juni: Ditto.

Karin: She could potentially benefit from the super cancels of Parry-ISM, but can DS and V-ISM compete.

Ken: He was a beast in A2, but I’m hearing A1 is even better.

M. Bison: Should Marvel-ISM be banned? It will be tough to face him… all he has to do is get in at least 20-30% of damage, then turtle the whole match by throwing fireballs at a distance and then wait for you to jump. How are A1, A2 or Parry and DS-ISM effective?

R. Mika: She could benefit a lot with parry into 360s. Parry their attack up close and free 360, or if they don’t attack, then a free walk up 360.

Rolento: The damaging CC of A2 is too good to pass up, but I’m sure the other -ISMS (except maybe Marvel) can compete.

Rose: Was a beast in A2, the Parry and DS-ISM can compete.

Ryu: A2 is great, I’m sure A1 is damaging, with Parry-ISM and DS-ISM as well.

Sagat: He’s a beast in A1, and again with the Parry and DS-ISM.

Sakura: How good is Marvel-ISM with her?

Sodom: Parry-ISM with the parry into 360s are too good.

T. Hawk: Parry into 360.

Vega: Watch out for DS-ISM.

Zangief: Parry into 360.

16

Hmmm. you got alot of good thoughts out there. BUT… my general impression of the game is this:

A2 Customs don’t do nearly the amount of damage they used to, while A3 Visms are in general weakened against characters w/ no guard bar and don’t use A3 flip outs. (certain CC infinites leave very small windows to tech). I’m really not sure if OTG’s work, either.

A1 seems pretty dominant, with buff damage and a ton of invincibilty on even Level 1 supers. But… I think most characters only Have 1 Alpha counter, and it’s not always their “best” one.

Green/Blue isms only have one super bar, and in Blue’s case, only one super. Bar’s take forever to charge.

17

Green/Blue -ism meter doesn’t take as long to charge as an A3 A-ism meter.

It takes 24 whiff jab DPs to build a full A-ism meter with Ken.
It takes 16 whiff jab DPs to build a full Blue/Green meter with Ken.
(16 is the amount needed to build a lvl2 A-ism meter)

I don’t see qualm about only having one meter. Lvl1 supers suck (with a very few select exceptions). Lvl2 supers are ok but Green-ism has a lvl3 for the same amount of meter. The only other use for meter would be AC’s (but they don’t use meter in Green-ism).

The AC motion is a bitch, but I guess that’s the trade-off for having free ACs. Chaining also helps build meter. …and pushblock gets them away so you can whiff your throws. meh.

Blue, on the other hand, is restricted to X-ism super. So it’s basically X-ism with Parry+Supercancel.

18

For Sakura her best modes would definatly be V-Ism and most probably A2, but she seems equally dangerous in both GS-Ism and RS-Ism. Having the ability to teleport and SGS in RS-Ism gives her more deffensive options and potential to do reasonable damage. Also the chains in GS-Ism give her a noticable advantage. As for her fireballs I don’t think her big ones make much of a difference as the hit boxes seem to be roughly the same size. Her AA should come in handy…

19

In general id say the alpha 1 characters versions have to be pretty powerfull. Probably at least there always the second best choice for that character if its avalible. Espeicaly considering there tech rolls are pretty ridiculous… Alot of combos they can just roll through, they punish you after you get hit by a super. A lot of shit just becomes unsafe when you fight them. Plus there throw ranges are noticably larger then the rest of the cast… Only thing the earlier versions suffer is they did add that whole techining SPDs/super throws what have you to them, which is pretty darn easy to do it seems. And well A3 characters versions you cant tech there throw specials etc shrug…

20

I think A1 is gonna beast in general, but characters that excel in A2, A3, S-isms will still be able to compete. Custom is always good… and who knows about parry. The parry window seems smaller than 3S, but it’s really lax in other ways…