One of the main problems with SF4, as I see it, is that only half (or so) of the cast has a real use for their ultra. Everyone else can only use it to punish a huge whiffed attack (which will never come up in a real match, really). The viability of some characters’ ultras almost reads like the tier list right now.
Personally I think this is a design flaw; if you’re going to give the ultra as a tool, you should make sure everyone has setups for using it (even if you have to also use EX maybe). Some characters don’t even need to use EX to get a beefy ultra in. I think this is unlikely to change in the console version, though I imagine all the console characters will have setups into ultra. It just seems like it’s smart design, and these characters have a bit more material to work with (Guile really only has flash kick and sonic boom, for instance).
Anyway, I suppose proper dissection of this issue should take place in another topic, and probably only after we have the console version to make a more accurate assessment. These issues always bugged me about the character design in SF4, though. Why institute a huge, round-changing super meter, and then not give everyone in cast reliable ways to use it? Seems like you’ll be building in disadvantages that characters won’t be able to overcome as the game evolves.
Again OT, but from what I’ve seen (since I can’t play), the only really stupid (retardedly good) moves that need tweaking (nerfing) are Zangief’s Clothesline and Akuma’s teleport. They’re like an impenetrable fortress with these moves. Actually, scratch the clothesline. If they give it less priority, he’ll trade all the time and get guaranteed ex backhand.
Well, every character has a decent way to connect their super. Most people can link a jumping attack, then a crouching normal into some special, then into super (or some subset thereof). This is just a byproduct of having super links.
Ultras aren’t made to be linkable, so people have to set them up. Some people can set them up without any EX (Boxer, some characters like Rufus in corner) very easily, and many characters have multiple different setups for ultra off trade special or using EX. Zangief not having a way to “combo” into ultra is fine, since a 720 super shouldn’t be comboable. But characters like Honda, to my knowledge, have an almost useless ultra. Guile’s is also basically just “throw it out there” status. Claw as well. Blanka’s doesn’t combo, but his has other purposes (tons of chip, some crossup setups, etc). Huh, all these characters are chargies, too. This might be considered a flaw of the FADC system, since this ruins your charge for the ultra. It may also be a flaw of some of these more “simple” characters like Guile and Honda. I don’t know.
I had this debate in the Ken forum, and as far as we know Ken can’t FADC fierce dragon into ultra without the dragon being a counter hit. It’s debatable if it’s even possible to do it on a normal fierce dragon, and if it is the timing hasn’t been found.
Blanka’s ultra does combo with c. mk link. maybe u have to hit the c. mk at point blank range but none the less, it does work. i’ve seen it & gotten hit by it. it fucking hurts!!!
Maybe meaty c.mk or counter-hit c.mk? I’ve seen a stunned opponent get hit by rog’s ultra off a normal cancel which I was surprised about. Should ask our rog pro how he did it.
Honda’s Ultra is a decent AA and good for blowing past fireballs. But too bad that nobody who isn’t shitty would ever jump in on Honda with ultra/super meter or throw close range fireballs that aren’t combo’d.
Hey, who needs videos on the main SF4 video thread when you got lots of comments on things that should go into character specific threads or general threads about future game balances.
I don’t have a video link, just this usless comment.
3rd Place match. A woman takes it, pretty neat. Then finals the worst match ever. Masatsugu (Wozman Sagat) not satisfied with his wretched opponent calls out Oruru ken king of the beginner circuit…
Fair enough. I did mention that further discussion should go in another thread.
Are there any videos that show, say, Guile’s or Honda’s ultra being used effectively? Even like, say, good anti-air (where the whole ultra lands) or off some counter-hit focus attack or something? I still have not even seen Honda’s full ultra animation, heh.
Man, Ryu was just asking to be punished by Chun’s ultra for the last 30 seconds of the match (around 10:00 mark). Chun had done it earlier in the match already, too.