I feel like I’m walking through a dark tunnel every time I pop the game into my PS3. After finally selecting my main characters (Guy, Ibuki, Elena, Juri, Lars) I decided to suck it up and start training. Problem is, after jumping into trails with Guy and the others, I cannot link to save my life. The combos are virtually impossible for me to do(Guy’s Trail 14 for example, I play on pad), I can’t block pressure well, I suck at footsies, etc.It just seems like there are so many hurdles for me to jump over and it’s impossible for me to do so.
Can anyone help me out with some general tips or even character specific ones. My morale is really wavering.
Don’t worry, this isn’t an only you problem. I find linking to be quiet difficult at times in this game with some certain normals. Just don’t mash the button you are linking to, just time it. Hit the first button then the next one and try to get a rythm going in your head. I am a musician so I like to get my links down as a song or a beat and I’ll link to that beat, it helps me and may help you and the fact that when I hit the pushbutton it makes a clicking noise adds to the beat. I would suggest you tryout a fightstick, a cheap one and see if you like it. Once I picked up stick I automatically fell in love with it. My execution is much better with it, but that is just me, don’t force yourself to use stick if you don’t like it. Pressure can be something even high level players have to deal with and aren’t perfect, your best way to deal with it is to utilize anti airs on jump ins and to watch your opponent’s movements, block high if they are jumping in, or if you see a delay and them starting up a move, chances are it may be an overhead so watch for an overhead, otherwise block low always, and if they walk up to you when you are blocking, chances are they are going to throw you, so make sure you tech throws by pressing the throw button when they are near you. When you are being pressured, the biggest mistake is that people press hit buttons while blocking and that negates your blocks so they get a free link or combo on you so when you are pressured, so don’t mash and panic when you are pressured, and remember to be calm. Pressure is…pressure, the opponent is pressuring you trying to break you down and get you frustrated so be cool. Just practice, practice, practice. Keep your head up.
After that, get accustomed to what your characters anti airs and idea footsie buttons are. Ibuki, Elena, Juri and Lar’s have exceptional anti airs, with Lar’s and Elena having traditional Dragon Punch anti airs. Elena also has normal button anti airs, but they’re situational. Juri’s Cr.Hp is one of THE best anti airs in the game, IF you get your spacing right. Ibuki’s B+MP (I believe) will beat all jump in attacks, IE, Ryu J.HK, if timed right. As for Guy, I’m unfamiliar with him.
Oh, and have a look at the frame data too.
Next, set up an endless battle and make certain aims for yourself. For example, when I play as Ryu on the P1 side (my weak side). I set an aim to anti air all jump ins with MP DP, without trading. That’s how you build confidence. After that, you can make your goals higher or lower, but that’s entirely up to you.
Most importantly, DON’T GIVE UP! You’re more than welcome to join us in the Street Fighter X Tekken forums.