Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Akuma - Got!

Also: Legoman "fucking pissed" re: "bitch shit".

So yeah, got Akuma. Turns out it's easy as hell to combo into the Instant Hell Murder, which acts as his Super and Ultra, though the latter version does an even more ridonkuluous amount of damage. It's really a lot.

Lego abhors the Ultra/Revenge system. It's understandable. Why reward a player with their most damaging attack for taking damage? We've both come to the realization that this is going to come down to being a much more defensively oriented game than Third Strike or Alpha 3. I just hope he can adapt before he settles into a hatred for SFIV.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Good One, Sir

My peerless leader really zinged me good yesterday.

Boss: Hey that's a nice sweater, [Killa].
KIL: I fucking know. This Izod, bitch.
Boss: Yeah, I think I have that same sweater at home, only in a men's size.

Damn...

Sunday, February 22, 2009

KB Huge on West Coast

This just in: Killa Blog very popurar in Long Beach!!!

Going Back to Cali
Previously thought to have been a Mid-Atlantic phenomenon, recent Analytics data indicate a Pacific following. We will keep you appraised of further developments.

Ohm My God [Resistance 2 Coop]

So, before I had said I liked Resistance 2's cooperative multiplayer. This was true. This was also before Keif got the Special Ops class past level 10. Somewhere around this point the branching mission objective tree broadened significantly, and the difficulty got turned up to 11. This mode is so much fucking cooler now.

The variety of tasks involved in these levels now is at least quintupled, and we're seeing parts of levels we've never seen before. The Play function on the Coop menu puts you into a level with people near your level and appropriately ramps up the difficulty, and, like, whoa. The missions are much more intense now, and Mission Failed is a constant threat. Luckily we're starting to get into some of the really handy class upgrades to compensate. By the time I write this, Keif has probably obtained the Shock Suppressor, increasing the Marksman's rate of fire.

We were playing in an area I had never seen before wherein a three star Titan was blasting away accompanied by a gang of one star Grims running amok, meanwhile a pack of invisible Chameleons would flank around and murderize my poor Medic. This, of course, on top of the de rigueur platoons of Hybrids firing at us from cover.

But, I do love a challenge. Heaven or Hell, Let's Rock.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Let Me Clear My Throat [SFIV Impressions]

I like it. Lego hates it. No air recover. Let's break this bitch down.

Ultra Combo/Revenge Meter

In addition to the defacto Super meter that charges up as you perform attacks and allows EX Attacks and Super Combos, there is now a Revenge Meter. A green, two-tiered guage that increases as you take damage. I would say roughly 45% of your health bar will fill it to half, allowing the Ultra to be used. This attack is Super Motion (qcf,qcf or charge db,df,db,uf, e.g.) and three punches (or kicks). The more your Revenge is filled, the more damage this combo will do. Most of these have similar priority to Supers, and the guage will not carry over between rounds, unlike the Super Meter.

It's kind of fucking cheap. It's a lot of damage if it connects. If it whiffs, then, yeah, you'll probably eat a reversal of some kind, but these Ultras do far more damage than they should, especially in contrast to Supers that, in my experience, take longer to prime. Perhaps at a higher level of play, more strategic defense is employed, increasing the frequency of Supers. Regardless, you can throw out an Ultra pretty regularly. It alone is not enough with which to win, but it usually is the nail in the coffin. I would like to see an option to disable Revenge Meters.

Air Block/Air Recovery

They're not in. Sorry. As I've mentioned, Lego and I have been playing a significant amount of Alpha 3 on the cabinet, and we have grown very accustomed to using both of these techniques. They are very notably absent. Alpha 3 and Third Strike both had Air Blocking, though no flipping out in the latter. This is quite sorely missed, but I do understand the desire to return to the Super Turbo formula, or something resembling it. Without Air Blocking, you lose the paper-rock-scissors system of Anti-Air attacks, Air Throws (which seem to be pretty scarce in IV), and Air Blocking. This makes jump ins much less viable, also making your only real chance leaping over projectiles. Not impossible, but pretty predictable. I very much would have liked to see both of these abilities in the game, and to see every character get an air throw.

Focus Attacks/Saving (JPN)

The new component to the system. Saving in Japan, or Focus Attacks here in the US. I don't completely have a handle on it yet, in regards to when it can be broken, how long the different potencies must be charged, and which attacks have the Armor Breaker characteristic. Let me just say it's like Parrying mixed with Alpha Counters. More on this when I can make more sense of it. Right now, it seems really strong. Nothing like countering a wakeup Shoryuken with a Save.

Load Times

Pretty bad. Hey, check it out, there's an Install choice on the Options menu. Do it. Huge difference.

Conclusion (for now)

More info to come. Just thought I'd give you guys the early impressions. Will have to check out some high level play and see of what I'm not taking advantage. In the meantime, if you get bullied into a match of SFIV, pick Sagat... And spam the Tiger Knee until further notice.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I Don't Want to Work --

-- I Just Want to Hit Ultra Combos All Day!

With work and social engagements, the past few days have flown by. And now SFIV is out!!! Zomg!

I reckon I may call a Gamestop when I get out of work. I can imagine the conversation with the Gamestop employee now...

GSE: Hello, Gamestop.
KIL: Hey, do you have any copies of Street Fighter IV available?
GSE: Did you pre-order?
KIL: Would I have motherfucking asked that question if I had pre-ordered,
KIL: you worthless fuck?! Don't you know WHO THE FUCK I AM?!

But who knows, maybe I'll get a copy today. Wish me luck.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Get Ready for the Next Jammin'

Caught this one on the Wikipedia Tekken 6 article.

I Juggled the Sheriff...
"The sixth character will be Bob Marly, who fighting skills are known throughout the musical world.His fighting skills include using drum and singing to the opponent, which then lulls them to sleep.He will then uses this opportunity to hit them over the head with his drum.This will cause them to have amnesia and knocks them out."

I would say this is ludicrous, but if there's one thing I know from video games, amnesia is very, very common.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Habanero Dash, et al

Very excited for SFIV, as one could expect. I've been following lots of tidbits of released info, and came across this movelist over on Capcom Unity. Disappointed not to see Gouki's arsenal, as I'd really like to see if the Hyakki Shū (aka Hundred Demons Attack) was retained, and with what options.

Anyways, was looking at the newcomers' lists, and was shocked, shocked! I say, to see the names given to luchador El Fuerte's techniques: Habanero Dash, Fajita Buster, Gordita Sabat, Quesdilla Bomb, Chile Mexicano. I mean, wow. I'm racist, but this is some blatant shit. (Yes, admittedly, Habenero Dash is a really cool name for a move. Then again, I already referenced Hundred Demons Attack, so it's a sliding scale.)

Perhaps the Japanese don't really have a firm grasp on the Mexican culture beyond its cuisine, and this would formulaically lead to a charcter described as a Mexican gourmand/wrestler travelling the world in search of recipes/fights. It's just a bit cliché. Couldn't they have taken lucha libre seriously and named the attacks after famous luchadors, per chance? Or, better yet, call him El Coyote and have him fighting to defend his human trafficking operation! That would have been cool.

I suppose it could be worse. Zangief is, after all, a rabidly Communist, vodka-swilling bear.

Propeller Tortilla, FTW
Fwd: Ur not being orlndoa u [] rlvore and ims kickign the shiit out o fu

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Retraction

Disregard that bullshit HC13 was spitting. She did not indicate to me in her correspondence that there were CPU controlled characters in her matches with Lego. This, of course, completely invalidates her kill count.

Should've known.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Them Six Eyed Freaks

Beat Resistance 2 single player campaign last night. For the nth time, it really is a crying shame that there was no split screen coop for this mode. I really do like the eight person split screen online coop; I really do. But the single player would have a lot more replayability for me and my household if we could cooperate.

On the plus side, though, it's great. Much better than the first game's campaign, which I thoroughly enjoyed. More varied environments (Louisiana), new weapons (Magnum), better enemies (Chameleon) and AI, and extremely cool boss battles (Chicago), that the first joint mostly lacked. Also of note, they included the sprint which was only available in multiplayer last time around.

Not sure if I'm going to muster a hard playthrough at the moment, what with the backlog growing and everything, but I really am trying to encourage Keif or Lego to give it a shot. It really is kind of a waste not to be able to share it. If Insomniac had their heads on straight, they would definitely release a DLC patch adding the two player possibility.

Oh, and the ending was kind of crazy. Wonder how they'll set up the next one.

The Guy Everybody Loves to Beat

From: Hardcore13
Sent: Tue 2/10/09 12:45 PM
To: Killa

Saturday night, Lego and I did 4 brawl matches. I used my usual Kirby everytime..He alternated between Olimar, Lucas, Bowser and Luigi.
I don't remember the actual wins, probably because I didn't win, but I did win in KILLS, which is all that matters.
16-14.

I rule.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Freakin' Chainsaw Guy

From: gg
Sent: Fri 2/06/09 3:26 PM
To: Killa

I finally beat shanty town. Freakin chainsaw guy.


From: Killa
Sent: Fri 2/06/09 4:47 PM
To: gg

Do you have to actually beat him? Or can you just wait it out?


From: gg
Sent: Fri 2/06/09 5:00 PM
To: Killa

Yeah, he has a key for the gate to get out of that area. It's all about keeping on the move.

Victoly!

From: Big Sis Prinny
Sent: 9:12 PM Thu, Feb 05
To: Killa

Rosie took that bitch out with her machine gun.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Demolicious

So, OMG, the RE5 demo is motherfucking tizzight.

Played a little solo and then with Keif to get the hang of it, and then attacked in earnest with Lego later on. He and I managed to beat the Public Assembly portion (once we realized that we didn't have the capacity of defeating Astaroth). Yeah, FYI you can't kill the gianormous hooded executioner, AFAIK, so just clear out a lot of guys and then run around in the area opened up after the fence gets smashed. Eventually your air support will trigger a cutscene ending the segment.

We then fell prey to the chainsaw-toting sack-headed enemy in the Shanty Town level, just as I had when playing alone. Boo-urns.

As I have been most recently playing Resistance 2, the stop-and-pop gameplay (as opposed to run-and-gun) was a bit of a system shock. I also need to get the hang of the realtime inventory system, but so far I really like the feel of RE5. The battles are appropriately stressful and risky, and you really have to rely on your partner to get out of bad situations. The graphics are great; pay special attention to the relative lighting effects when you cause an explosion.

Cannot wait for the full version... And, strangely, Capcom's stock (9697.T) keeps trickling downward; ¥1,598 at the moment. Hmmm... I know software sales are only a portion of their business, but this is going to be a megahit.

Unrelated Capcom Note: Won a best three out of five with Lego in SFA3 last night. Won with Blanka A-ism over Sakura (or was it Legs?), lost to Ryu, won then lost with Charlie V-ism vs. Ryu, and won the final with Birdie A-ism over Ryu in the last match. W00t.

Monday, February 2, 2009

The Spice of Life, Yo

Managed Saturday to get in a few rounds each of MvC2, SFA3, Rival Schools, KOF2K, and SSBB. Of note, the Ryu vs. Charlie match is getting pretty heated; I'm having more luck with V-ism, mostly by using the activation invincibility frame.

Now Tell Me...

...Is that
Why all these people here?!?