Let us talk about USFIV Zangief here

Classic Fighting Games Ultra Street Fighter IV
121

Hmmm, those comments really got me thinking.

I for one, think that USF4 has closed the gap between Sagat and Gief. The extent of which, is yet to be seen or understood.

The attributes to closing that gap, I would say, is:

  • The 3 frames extra recovery on High Tiger Shot, which makes FA absorbs a tad safer, whether we can FA absorb into SPD or Ultra 1, still needs to be determined. Clearly, our ability to jump HP or MK tiger shoots from key spacing, will be better.
  • LPGH as a key positioning and whiff punishing tool (which hasn’t demonstrated itself yet), and poke option select tool
  • RFC combos.

Chief I really disagree. Zangief has to play reactionary more so. Tiger Shot Counters, Far HK counters - all that’s reactionary. In close, I would say, Zangief has better buttons than Sagat. He has chains, cancellable and option select pokes into LPGH or EXGH. It’s the range that is between Sagat’s cr.mk and far HK, where Sagat’s got the edge. But if you out footsie him with the correct option select pokes, your in. It’s the range where you can’t jump clear his High Tiger shots on reaction. But Zangief should be just as happy sitting there all day.

My point is, Sagat has to take risks to keep Zangief out. Well spaced Tiger Knees and EX Tiger Knees is his forte. But then, we go into the guessing game, right after. AND EVERYONE’S AT RISK, especially if Zangief has Ultra 2.

I can’t wait to go over this matchup, upon disc release.

122

i think i have had it with the ps3 version of this game…the controller d-pad isnt letting me do the stuff i want it to do…missing simple 360s grabs becuase of this…

123

You should get yourself a TE stick. It’s worth it. I initially played with the PS3 controller. I didn’t really have any issues in execution but the TE stick is so much better and gives me a lot more options with piano and plinking. There is an adjustment period though.

124

Hi All, I just recently went to a friend’s house to play a bit of USF4 on XBOX. We don’t have PC or the PSN update for Australia yet.

Here are my thoughts:

Red Focus:
Very character and move-set specific. You really need to know what your multi-focusing before you start to use it. Basically 2-1 cancels into the brain-dead multi-hit moves or pressure strings that are safe on block. Random Ultras or Supers that don’t break armour will also be effective, but you can punish those anyway - either by jumping them or blocking and punishing. Still you can build Ultra, if you don’t have it.

It absorbs an infinite number of hits and releases once it hits Level 3 or it could absorb FOREVER, not sure. The attack has armour to the point of contact, but it can trade. The way it releases is mostly automatic, once a set time reaches, you release the attack. However, if the armour is constantly being bombarded, the player stays in red focus stance continuously. Tested this by making them absorb 3+ Yoga Catastrophe (Dhalsim’s Ultra 1) all done close together. Compared to making the armour absorb multiple chained cr.jabs - in which the armour releases automatically when the focus is fully charged. Compare that to say, Zangief’s PPP Lariat, being just ONE, triggers the automatic Red Focus release. This leads me to believe, that Red Focus has a frame detection window, where if there are further hits, within a given window, it continues to absorb - If not, it releases.

Edit: If the FA hits mid section, where Zangief’s PPP Lariat has no hurtbox, that’s a factor. Will need to continue testing.

So, that can only mean, that the opponent, would have to manually time the release of their Red Focus, after ONE of Zangief’s rotations. To avoid the risk of trading and losing so much Grey Health. They will need to do this, well before the attack reaches Level 3.

So, that would answer the question on these forums, PPP Lariat, won’t be able to stop Red Focus, if its release is well timed.

Also tested whether, EX FADC cancel would evade Red Focus. And the answer is, Yes. But factors, such as the distance of the EX FADC back dash, and the range of the Red Focus Release, plays a huge factor. Tested Ryu performing Shoryuken EX FADC back dash against Ryu’s Red Focus. Similarly tested Zangief’s EXGH EX FADC back dash against Ryu’s Red Focus. Due to Zangief’s short back dash, he was hit. But the implications are huge, for counter Red Focus strategy, and denying the opponent maximum damage, if they read it correctly, if you have 2 EX bars to burn.

So, yes, you can EX FADC out of Red Focus absorbs.

Double Combo Ultra:

  • Not tested thoroughly.

Delayed Wake-up:

  • Not tested at all.
125

Like I said, I excluded things that are better punished with other things like command grabs, close mk into link, ex hand, st lk, etc. And this applies to all things that are well punished by lp hand, regardless of whether they were punishable by lp hand in AE2012.

Some of the pokes are safe at max range. The ones that jump out in my memory are Akuma cr hk, DeeJay st hk, Rolento st hp, and Yang st hk, but there were more as well. I didn’t bother listing that because you should know the range of your own lp hand and when you’re capable of hitting the opponent with it.

126

Yang st hk - thanks for that. That’s like really important for me lol.

127

I have a question has anyone of you guys had some issues with inputs? So far I might be going crazy but playing right to left a good chunk of the time my SPD’s and EX GH tend not to come out, I don’t hit this issue much when going left to right.

128

Did you stop playing the game for a while?

129

This is actually a pretty common thing among players. Most have a side that feels better to them. Personally, I’m a little more comfortable on the 2p side and I remember when I first learned stick ages ago I had a hard time with fireball motions on the 1p side for a long time.

130

I did but started up again before the update and everything felt fine, now idk it just feels like I put the motion and it doesn’t come out I chalk it up to playing online but it happens more often than what I expect.

I’ll keep at it though.

131

I feel it too.
I unno if they made some inputs wonky or if they just made the ps3 version worse or what, but something just feels off.

132

yea ps3 version i couldnt get 360s conistant…but i got the xbox version and i was doing fine…

133

Thing is I don’t have a 360 so I’m out of luck there. But yeah the PS3 version in some instances I end up jumping and I’m like :o no!

Has anyone made use of red focus? And delayed wake-up I’ll be honest I don’t even know how to do any of those :frowning:

134

On Chun if she gets a knockdown on you and does meaty fireball to hazanshu I believe you can red focus to get a crumple.

135

Strategy for all scrub online Chuns:

1.Spam hazanshu cause it’s damn near unblockable in lag
2.Always wake up mashing ex legs and then of course that leads into u2
3.Just be annoying as fuck

136

I’ve only used red focus after ex-hand in combos. I haven’t used it to absorb multi hits yet…I don’t know if I ever will. Red focus is just LP+MP+MK.

137

The only use for red focus in neutral that I have seen is to deal with EX Air Fireball from Akuma on reaction. Other than that, I don’t really know.

138

Lets all send our positive thoughts to Snake Eyez at CEO. He’s playing Justin tomorrow in the top 16 first so hopefully he’ll body him and go on to maybe win this thing.

139

does any one have a problems timing the safejump after suplex ??

140

Not here.