I was wondering if anyone knew the official 2002 UM arcade tier listings? Etheir japan or china tier listings would be fine.
They’d have the following as top:
Kasumi, K’, Nameless, King, in their top tier.
EDIT: US Tier List I’d say-
Geese, Jhun, Bao, Nameless, King, K’, Kasumi, EX Takuma
Why Kasumi?
-MAX2 is Ultimate Juggle (Juggles off like almost anything in other words) and does very good damage in comboes (70% plus if done correctly).
-Very good priority on her normals
-Builds meter very fast (Can build 1-2 meters per round with ease)
-Does good easy damage off simple bnbs
-Easy mixups and good damage off command grab, which links into MAX2.
-So shes a stronger, faster buffed up version of 99 Kasumi. 99 Kasumi was good as it is, but with the stuff she has in addition good BC combos shes very very strong in this game.
–Also everything she has EX Takuma has, except Kasumi’s comboes are far easier to do, EX Takuma’s not so much, but he gains a full screen fb, something she doesnt have. Also EX Takuma lacks a command grab like Kasumis.
Also after finding some new sick shit with Choi, I’d say Choi’s not quite top tier, but he’s A or High no questions asked along with Billy and Yuri.
So A as of now:
Choi, Billy, Yuri, Athena, Leona, O. Yashiro, Ramon, May Lee, Kim
Takuma has a command throw (Shoran Kyaku), but it’s nowhere near as good as Kasumi’s though.
There are a lot of good characters in the game. Definitely the most balanced KOF ever–at least 95% of the cast is viable.
I am curious about May Lee and Ramon being A, but only because I haven’t seen that much of them.
Are they better than Terry, Benimaru, Kula, Kyo, Heidern, Vice, Xiangfei, Yamazaki?
Ok I found this list.
Aracadia, September 2009 Tier list (arcade version) :
A : K’, Yuri, King, Kasumi
B : Chris, Iori, Mature, Kula, Nameless
C : Kyo, Benimaru, Andy, Bao, Kim, Choi, Ura Chris, Whip, Xiangfei, Jhun
D + : Daimon, Ryo, Clark, Seth, Lin, Kusanagi, Ura Robert, Ura Takuma
D : the rest
i told you Yuri was top tier in this game
Arcadia tier list is pretty terrible. Don’t think anyone is taking it too seriously.
I wonder why King is considered top tier cause I just don’t see her being top tier
Not too sure about that Tier List. I also know different countries have different Tiers but that tier list wouldnt reflect what I am hearing from others and seeing in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese match vids. Now of course there are some differences between their tier list and ours, but thats due to styles of play.
May Lee is still viable in this game, Ramon still keeps his nasty lockdown and May Lee gets a slight damage reduce, but not nearly as bad as Angel. I’d put Terry and the rest you have in B Class. Angel is like C Class in this game…
I want an explanation for that particular list. And also I still remember the NGBC Arcadia Tier List and how off it was on certain spots and the Japanese told me themselves it was a pretty old tier list even when we posted it up. So I don’t think this reflects the way it currently is right now. I’m scouring sites right now like Dunes Blog and translating things/talking to people to find otherwise though in case I’m wrong.
**X20- **Yes I see why King is top tier. She’s basically a buffed up version of KOF 1999 King (Which is top tier). This same style King was top tier in KOF 2000 and NeoWave.
game is hella balanced but i would agree with dg’s list. about king, yea she has hella priority in this game
They should’ve gave Vanessa her old f + A from KOF 2K :bluu:
Chris over O.Chris? I wonder what makes them think that. Also, what makes K’ that much better in this game again? I haven’t spend much time with him.
So I found this tier listing on BBS
?S?------- K’
?A???6?)
Benimaru,Yuri,King,Kasumi,Nameless
?B?(?16?)
Kula,Jhun,Andy,Ryo,Lin,Kyo,Leona
Chris,Ex.Robert,Ex.Takuma,KUSANAGI,Bao,Daimon
?C?(?27?)
Mary,Terry,O.Chris,Joe
Mai,Xiangfei,Iori,Mature,Heidern,Choi
?D?(?37?)
Whip,Clark,Kim,Seth
Yamazaki,Billy,Vice,Takuma
?E?(?46?)
O.Yashiro,Ralf,Shingo,O.Shermie,KYO-2
Foxy,Angle,Chin,Ex.Kensou
?F?(???12??)
Athena,Kensou,Yashiro,Shermie,Ramon,Hinako
?G?(???6??)
Maxima,Robert,May lee,Vanessa,Chang,KYO-1
K’ has been improved in every way imaginable almost. He has all his stuff from NeoWave plus he’s been beefed up in priority, normals, easy damage, easy BC comboes with manual activation and more. All you gotta do is check Asian match vids with 2002UM Cough game3talk and you’ll see enough K’ to where you won’t wanna see anymore K’. 
-I could see this being a Japanese/Chinese Tier List, esp with how much I see Benimaru being used in Asian match vids as of recently. But is it our tier list? Nope. K’ could be the best character in the game because he’s quite frankly got it all…and very few bad things at all about him.
-Yuri’s new Special is very good plus she’s not too much toned down from 2002 overall so she’s still very good, so I could see her POSSIBLY being top tier…
-Vanessa I can completely see being Bottom Tier…sorry guys but she has been stripped of all her value…so she practically has NOTHING OF VALUE. May Lee, nope I can’t see that, Kyo-1 can’t see him being one of the worst, sure he doesnt have many options but when he does hit you it hurts.
Some differences between their Tier List and ours without a doubt.
-Regular Chris has more options than Orochi according to what I have gathered frmo EXTENSIVE match vid studying so accordingly I can see where regular Chris is better than Orochi.
-EX Takuma I feel is higher than what they have him, his normals are VERY VERY GOOD…and he does good damage, good MAX2, fireball zoning is very good…good damage on BC comboes.
-Kula being that high maybe…she’s still annoying…and does less damage, but still annoying and can be played typical Kula style.
-Angel being that low yes, that’s about right, EX Kensou that low, thats about right. (No infinite, poor damage, is she worth it?)
-Japanese Mary from what I’ve heard talking to people is about mid Tier or High Mid so according to their style of play I can see Mary being right there. I heard she’s an absolute monster with 5 bars. (Of course who isn’t but Japanese style Mary from what I have gathered still researching).
-Choi needs to be higher. I’ve found a BC combo with him that does 55% for 2 bars. Now sure his MAX2 sucks now and he has less priority, but he’s more annoying than KULA!!!
-Jhun needs to be higher. Though he’s gotten toned down because of his counterhit in stances, he is still VERY FORMIDABLE. Maybe in Asia they are very familiar fighting Jhuns so maybe he’s not as effective, that’s about the only explanation I can see for him being there. He still retains his Step Infinite and he has an answer for everything and anybody in this game.
-Leona, Lin, Andy, Kyo, about right.
F-tier Athena? my god what happend?
I’m not too sure about that in regards to Athena…Thats one where I cast doubts…same with Hinako, Ramon and a few others.
Ramon, Kensou, and Hinako are pretty vicious imo but I guess I’ll wait for some facts…
Hmmm I’m finding King is a bit overrated in this game. Yes she is good and easy to use, but I really don’t think she should be hanging in the tier with characters like K’, Nameless, Kasumi etc. Definitely above average but not top.
A lot of these lists have some really whack shit in them. May Lee as bottom tier? wut. I think this game is balanced enough that it doesn’t need 8 different tiers to place people in.
Seriously, how the hell is Seth is ranked higher than Ralf? I mean brotha got some game but he ain’t bumpin’ heads with Ralf Jones :lol:
A or B tier King sounds bout right, she got mad spacing skills…