SSFII character rankings (GamePro, 1994)

Current Fighting Games Fighting Game Discussion
1

Hi!

In early-to-mid 1994 (my guess would be in May or June), GamePro included a detailed feature on SSFII; among the elements of that feature, one could find a table that attempted to “tier” the 16 characters based on how they would fare against each other if played by experts. I remember that Guile finished 1st, Ruy 4th, Ken 9th and Blanka dead last… but would really love it if someone could scan it and put it in this thread!

I assume that most fighting game experts will disagree with these rankings, but we could then discuss them. :slight_smile:

I’ve never been the biggest fan of GamePro, but I really digged that feature since it was the first time that I had witnessed anything like it (i.e. tiering), and at the time I was waiting for the home version to be released during the summer…

Many thanks if someone can come up with that table!

2

nobody plays SSF2. and when I say nobody, that’s actually an understatement.

3

I still have the strategy guide for SSF2, which was produced by Gamepro and has the same tier listing IIRC. If I can find if when I get home, I’ll post the tiers here. I believe it had Super Turbo rankings as well, with Dhalsim and Old Sagat at the top.

4

Thanks in advance! :tup:

It’s mainly for nostalgia’s sake, but I’m really curious to get another look at these rankings.

5

Let’s not forget that this is from the same people that called Ryu a master of the “marital arts”.

6

No prob, dude. Here ya go:

SSF2

  1. Sagat
  2. Dhalsim
  3. Balrog (?!?)
  4. Vega
  5. Guile
  6. Ryu
  7. Chun Li
  8. M. Bison
  9. Ken
  10. Dee Jay
  11. (tie) Fei Long
  12. E. Honda
  13. Cammy
  14. T.Hawk
  15. Zangief
  16. Blanka

Super Turbo

  1. Balrog (again, ?!?)
  2. Dhalsim
  3. (old) Sagat
  4. (tie) Vega
  5. Akuma
  6. Ryu
  7. M.Bison
  8. E. Honda
  9. Guile
  10. Dee Jay
  11. Fei Long
  12. Chun Li
  13. Ken
  14. Cammy
  15. Blanka
  16. T.Hawk
  17. Zangief

Of course, there is no apparent rhyme or reason for these rankings, unless you count such highly analytical comments as “Balrog ascends to the top as he has no disadvantages against anyone.” My guess is that these charts were approximated using that time-tested method of determining tier ranking, the CPU vs. CPU match. =)

7

LOL @ Akuma being 5th in ST

8

Anyone know where I can get a copy of the SSF2/SSF2T strategy guide by Gamepro? I have the ones for hyper fighting and champion edition and they were instrumental in helping me along at an early age.

9

Balrog is considered top 3 in ST, no? Dunno why you think it’s so wierd.

lol @ Akuma tho.

10

Is he? I’m admittedly not a tournament player, but from all of my arcade experiences I’ve honestly never seen anyone use him. And apart from messing around with Guile a bit, I’ve never delved too deeply into charge-based characters. Do players actually win tournaments with Balrog?

11

Yes, they do. Balrog is very much top tier in Super Turbo, second only to Old Sagat.

12

I remember gamepro showing you how to do a 13+ hit deejay combo. I have never seen it anywhere else. does anybody remember seeing that as well?
I wanna give it a try.

13

lol at akuma being 5th. and zangief being 17th.

14

Here are the two largest Dee Jay combos in the guide:

SSF2 (Eight-Hit Hyper Fist Execution)

  1. Cross-up Forward while charging Down.
  2. Low Jab.
  3. Buffer another Jab while pressing Up.
  4. Button mash at the Up position for up to five more hits (Hyper Fist).

ST (Super 10-Hit Juggle Carnival)

  1. Cross-up Forward while charging Down.
  2. Four low Jabs.
  3. Two-in-one into Vertical Rasta Kick, charge Down-back.
  4. Juggle with the Super Carnival Hook Kick.
15

Deejay can do (vs crouching Gief at least) crossup MK, 4~5 c. LP, s. MP xx Sobat Carnival, juggle with Jack Knife Maximum. 12~13 hits total.

16

bill wood needs to buy some evo dvd’s and watch watson or daigo’s balrog!

17

Daigo’s Balrog is an entire Marvel team of Magneto/Strider/Doom rolled into one character.

18

Pretty cool to see what they thought back then and to see how things have changed in the decade since the games came out. I mean, Chun, Ken, Zangief, and DeeJay that low? And Akuma not in his own Kick-Ass Tier? Definitely interesting.

Balrog meaning the boxer, yeah? GamePro is American, so probably right? If so, I don’t understand the question marks. I don’t know about SSF2, never really spent the time to break it down, but he’s definitely a beast in Super Turbo.

19

Heh, won’t argue with you there, my ST knowledge is clearly lacking! :pleased:

Anyway, I actually have all of the old SF2 Gamepro guides, so if anyone has questions about them I’d be happy to answer.

20

That tier list is interesting, but the Gamepro issue I had with tiers went something like this:

#1(Tied) Bison, Vega, Dee Jay
#4 Balrog
#5 Ryu
#6 Dhalsim
#7 Honda
#8 Fei Long
#9 Sagat(No mention of Old Sagat)
#10 Guile
#11 Chun Li
#12 Ken
#13 Cammy
#14 Blanka
#15 T.Hawk(“T. Hawk is a token waster”)
#16 Zangief