Let us talk about USFIV Zangief here

Classic Fighting Games Ultra Street Fighter IV
241

This really is a BIG nerf.

This. He feels even slower than he’s supposed to be, and people have no reason to be scared anymore.
All these nerfs… I was able to live with Lariat not hitting crouchers anymore. Who wasn’t? I was able to live with cr.short being a 2-frame link. I accepted ex.gh having no more knockdown.
But THIS?

242

Man got to love people saying “but it makes it easier against FBs…” Sigh I haven’t played since I got a PS4 but man this just take any enthusiasm to even bother playing. Guess grapplers can’t be popular it was already bad enough that they reduced the range on l.SPD since we thought KD was coming back, but this is beyond stupid.

Who the hell is in charge of these changes can’t play Gief for shit

243

For the first time ever I have no desire to play this game any longer. Tried to play a few more tonight and I can’t even deal with it anymore. Thx Capcom.

244

I wonder what Snake Eyez thoughts are on this.

245

Yea, i dont even want to play him anymore. Have to basically re learn his entire game. It changed it so much. Let’s nerf gief and keep Akuma, Cammy, and fei long the same… These balance changes are a joke. They listen to scrubs who can’t figure out how to deal with characters. I like ppl saying, Yea but now ex gh into red focus will always hit. Who fucking cares? The meter it cost and the damage scaling isn’t worth it.

246

If the game had unlimited EX bar, I would agree with these people. But RFC is a gimmick fade. And Full Ultra, to make the RFC worth while is only possible, when your nearly dead.

In the meantime, what’s your game plan? You can’t counter poke as effectively with light xx LPGH. You can’t counter poke or use EXGH, without spending EX meter that you are forced to save for RFC. Some stupid design.

Against the footsie heavy characters in the game, you are reduced to effectively counter poking with Far MP, far MK, far HK without ever being able to close the gap, and use your grappler tools.

Whereas in order to play Zangief effectively, and thus, in order to get in, you have to ignore all the Bull Shit Fancy USF4 Red Focus garbage, and go to your solid light poke xx EXGH. There by rendering all buffs utterly useless. The changes are pathetic.

They should not call this game Ultra Street Fighter IV, they should call it, Red Focus Cancel Fighter IV - because they essentially want to whore out the new mechanism. :slight_smile:
Let’s face it, which characters aren’t RFC-ing like its the next fashion craze? I say fuck that, equal opportunity. Make it so, RF, RFC, Super, EX are all viable uses and strategies for meter management - weighted equally in terms of benefit, risk and reward per bar.

End Rant:

Thoughts on the new LPGH:

Negative:

  • Compared to USF4, its a very harsh nerf.
  • You completely lose all cr.lp o/s to catch back dash, because your motor won’t start.
  • Counter poke o/s ranges will definitely not be forgiving, and you WILL whiff at decently spaced ranges.
  • Raw whiff punishing no longer possible.
  • Punishing on block no longer possible. Haven’t tested it yet, but El Fuerte’s Q-Bomb is a free damage opportunity for him. Can’t focus it, can’t punish it.
  • Post hit, leaves you at a range for a max ranged LP SPD, and nothing else. So your options are very limited.

Positive:

  • Compared to AE, its a buff, because the use of “offensive” LPGH was non existent.
  • Post SPD travel is not an issue, because SPD-MPGH can put you at +2 at best. And in prime position for cl.MK. far MP. st.lk xx LPGH
  • Most combos, except for the very far range confirms are fine.
  • Compared to USF4, post hit, leaves you at a range, where they can’t really counter you. Plus, you move them to the corner a tad bit.
  • Possibly superior at banishing projectiles. Yes, that is very wonderful against Fei Long’s hadouken, cammy’s sonic boom, T.Hawke’s tiger shots etc

LPGH Combos that are no longer possible:

  • Any hit confirms involving 5 normals, such as cr.lp xx cr.lp xx cr.lp. st.lk st.lk xx LPGH - won’t connect. (Thankfully, cl.MK. far MP. st.lk xx LPGH still works)
  • Against limbs of projector throwers: Far Superman HP. LPGH - won’t connect, but did in USF4

Suggested Changes in the next update:

  • Increase LP SPD range, as that was tied in with the faster LPGH. But now that the LPGH is technically slower (speed=distance/time), Zangief needs to be compensated.
  • Make LPGH more positive on hit or EVEN on hit, while retaining that post spacing, so to allow a meter less hit confirm against fellow grapplers Alumni.
  • Make MPGH have a similar post spacing, but about -3 or -4 on hit. This ensures that it won’t be “too good” to catch Akuma’s sweep etc, and can be used in o/s footsies
  • Make EXGH NOT force stand, instead make FA hit crouching opponents!!! That would be much more beautiful and useful.
  • Make cr.MP special cancellable, so we can do Lariat combos and anti-air cross under GH’s.
247

its tough now…went fro 3600 to 3200 in an hour…got to work it out in endless and training mode…

248

Similar situation here, fought a friend who plays E.Ryu and he just killed me lol. I mean it was difficult playing him before but now it’s just… nah. Sucks. Of course this is no objective view on the character and only my personal opinion and experience, but damn is it weird. Doesn’t really feel like Gief.

249

It feels weird playing Gief now. It’s like I gotta be even more patient. Feels kinda T. Hawk-ish…

250

is it just me…or now that lpgh dosnt go as far its a little safer on block because you knock the guy further out range for throw and sometimes light punches…but its only if the block at max distance…

251

It actually is -7 on block but we don’t get punished that hard. Still, making it get blocked is less a gamble that didn’t pay off and more dropping a link by now, which sucks.

252

Another potential positive: against grapplers hit confirming into LPGH me out of range of most 2 frame reversal grabs. I’m not sure if it’s possible against lp spd in a mirror match, though. had to add an extra jab in the corner and after cross up, too.

253

They completely destroyed our “rhythm” with the character and threw it out the window. Even things like instant jump back overheads are free now cause we can’t do shit about them, especially with no meter. What the fuck were they thinking with this?

254

Max range jumping fierce to cr.lk, cr.lk, st.lk into jab gh now whiffs on Chun lol. It still hits at normal ranges but whiffs at certain ranges as well. I’m sure it whiffs on other characters too but I don’t even care at this point.

Also whiff punishing Chuns cr.rh with st.lk-jab gh now completely whiffs.

255

What are you guys doing post-SPD to close the distance on wakeup? Using LP gh, you end up too far to mount an offense. MP and HP gh gets you close enough but he recovers too slow and I end up eating a reversal.

256

MP GH done properly leaves you safe.

257

MPGH after SPD seems to have +1 advantage before opponent completely wake up
It means that 3F jabs from opponent will trade with you :’(

258

Is there anything positive about this character now? I’m really trying to keep going but he just feels completely neutered to me. I find myself struggling way more now in fights where before I would win with ease.

259

lol, Fuck. I was liking the pushback. Then all of my whiff punishes started…whiffing… :expressionless:

I think all they need to do is revert that range BS. We shouldn’t lose the ability to punish so many things. The pushback is an even trade-off.

260

I’d be okay with the pushback…but this range is awful.