COUNTER HITS WILL BREAK STREET FIGHTER IV

Well, probably not but they do allow you to do combos in this game that you are not able to execute on normal hit. I found this Akuma vs Abel video in the SRK SFIV Video Thread earlier today and seemed like a pretty good video to break down when it comes to counter hits in SFIV.

The way counter hits work in this game is certain attacks will give you more frame advantage if they land as counter hit which allows you to link into moves that you normally wouldn't not be able to link into. (According to the Master Guide, light attacks add 1 frame of hit advantage and medium and hard attacks add 3.) For instance, one night at the arcade here I was able to combo c.mp into c.mk with Sagat because the c.mp was counter hit and added 3 frames of hit advantage. You normally are +4 on normal hit with a c.mp and c.mk with Sagat has a 7 frame start up, so if you do the math, you do not have enough of a window to link the two moves together. But since in this situation with the c.mp being +7 ([4 frames of hit advantage for normal hit] + [3 frame advantage for the counter hit] = +7  total frames of hit advantage) because of counter hit, I was able to link into the c.mk with its 7 frame start up.

So if you watch in the video below, Akuma is able to perform a pretty lengthy combo because the initial MP attack is counter hit. The thing to understand about this video is the combo could have been a lot more damaging under the right circumstances. At the end, he goes for c.mk into fireball but he is too far away for it to connect. If he was closer and had more meter, he could have finished that combo with c.mk xx fireball xx FADC -> c.mk xx fireball FADC -> c.lp -> Hurricane Kick combo. The combo would have been somewhere around 15 hits and would have most likely stunned or killed his opponent. This just goes to show how little we have seen of Street Fighter IV and it's combo system.

NEWCOMERS BATTLE

I don't see this match up all that often, with all the Sagat, Ken, Ryu, Bison...well you get the idea. I found this video on SRK a little earlier today, and the El Fuerte is worth checking out, especially considering he is up against a top tier character.

He goes for the infinite at around 35 seconds in, missing the second hit, he mixes it up with the slide instead of going for another blocked fierce punch. Check it out:

FOCUS ATTACK VS DEVIL REVERSE

One thing I see in this video (end of round 3) is how the Sagat player uses his focus attack to absorb the hit of Bison's Devil Reverse and lead right into a combo after the counter hit.  I have been wondering for a while how to punish the Devil Reverse since that move tends to give me problems when I play Bison players at the arcade. Also you should notice the Sagat player charges the focus attack each time Bison leaves the ground, and if Bison's move does not hit, he will just cancel the focus attack charge with a dash.

Take a look:

C.VIPER: STREET FIGHTER IV'S IBUKI?

So I was checking out the new GameChariot videos on HardEdgeOfficial's youtube channel and there were a bunch of a C.Viper matches. After watching a couple and reading some threads, it occurred to me that she is somewhat similar to Ibuki in Third Strike. She has the tools to get the job done, but doesn't do a ton of a damage, has low vitality, but she can stun the opponent relatively quickly with a couple openings. Also, as I understand it more of her high damage combos and set ups are highly situational.  Over all she has to work a lot harder for a win compared to some other characters like Bison, 'Gief and Sagat.

To get an idea of what I'm talking about check the video below. In round 3 she stuns Bison after 1 throw and two short combos. The follow up corner combo is really nice too: Level 3 Focus Attack, c.mp (?), EX Seimso Hammer, Super jump cancel, Burning Kick, HP Thunder Knuckle.

STREET FIGHTER IV DAIGO VIDEOS

A good find by nohoho on SRK, a couple new Daigo videos. Since Third Strike is pretty much dead now he looks happy to finally be able to play Ryu full time again! No one should ever have to settle with Ken! Err.. anyway.. nothing too new gameplay wise so no need for a video analysis but check them out anyway! A lot of solid play all around.

CLOSER LOOK AT GOUKEN

Alright, so this is me just playing some Theory Fighter, but after watching a couple videos of Gouken I have had some ideas on how he may play if he ever becomes selectable like Akuma.

Really the main thing I have been looking at is how he will utilize his Focus Attack Dash Cancel into his Ultra.

A couple thoughts:

• After the rush punch in the corner, FADC into ShinShoRyuken. Since the opponent flies through the air I don't believe you will be able to do this mid screen.
• First hit of his hurricane kick. I am not sure if the first hit launches, but if it does you should be able to FADC and then juggle into ultra.
• After the anti-air fireball. This probably depends on the recovery of the move and also the angle in which the opponent is hit.
• Air-Counter -> Air hurricane kick -> FADC -> land -> Ultra. Serious Theory fighter here in that I'm not sure what you can follow up with after the air counter or if you can FADC the air hurricane kick.

HOWL'S GOH COMBO EXHIBITION VIDEO

Alright so this is Virtua Fighter 5 Version C, not  R, but most of these combos are sick! My favorite has to be at around 50 seconds in.

RUSHDOWN SAGAT

Okay, so I really enjoyed this video. First thing I notice is how this Sagat player is using the focus attack dash cancel to rushdown and basically negate all of Dhalsims punches. Just a month ago you were only seeing this done against fireball type moves, but now people are using the focus attack much more liberally. I am not sure if he was using the focus attack only because of Dhalsims long reach and he could see it coming or if he uses it against everyone in this same manner.

First round a lot of tricky cross ups by the Dhalsim player. Dhalsim appears to be a real technical character who doesn't have any one thing that does a ridiculous amount of damage like some of the other characters, but it's really too early to say at this point.

Now, at the end of this match... well.. haha, just watch.

NEW OFFENSIVE MOVEMENT IN VF5: R

This isn't an actual match video, but this shows how OM works from mid and far ranges and also close up. From far away you do not get the same amount of movement as you did in VF5 or as you do close up. Close up the OM is the same as previous games, enabling you to get an angle on your opponents side, just keep in mind the canned attacks from VF5 are not longer present.

Thanks to Reno for the video.

BRUTAL 144 PT AKIRA WALL COMBO

Another video pulled form the VFDC VF5:R video thread, this time showcasing some Akira shenanigans. The second round, the first two hits alone do 99pts of damage!

Check it out:

NEXT LEVEL RYU PLAY.. FROM KOREA?

Looks like those rushdown KOF and Tekken strats are carrying over to SF4 in Korea... Probably the most interesting combo in this video is after the fwd. Fierce, he does a c. jab into a number of other moves, ending with either hurricane kick or fireballs. I usually just see players doing a dragon punch after the fwd. Fierce..

Check it out:

TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: CLEANER MOVE LIST AND LOCATION TEST VIDEOS

Ok pulled a clean copy of the move list from NeoGAF earlier today.. I'm also posting some of the more interesting videos from the location test that is going on in Japan.

Looks like my theory of the Vital Suit being a one-man team was right!

Wow check out these combos..

Alex taking the Vital Suit to the cleaners!

AM2 NO JUTSU!

Before we get into it... I love the beginning intro with Kage where he is bustin' out the Naruto seals! Okay, i'm sure its old but its new to me..!

Anyway, the real news here is an awesome back throw into wall combo by Taka-Arashi at the end of the video. Check it out..

GOH TRICKERY

A couple new Goh vids today pulled from the VFDC VF5:R video thread...

First one we have here, he's not doing anything you cant do in VF5 but interesting none the less. Round two, P,K into back turn, back turn throw into shoulder, then 2k+g as Lion quick rises for the trip. He lands a final down attack, so the whole sequence is well over 100pts of damage.

Next, we have Goh vs Jean. You'll see in round 3 something possible in VF5: R. Jean breaks one of Goh's throws, Goh then wiffs P,K and lands the new catch throw after the P,K... Makes you wonder what kind of mix ups are possible with a wiffed P,K in VF5: r now..  Also makes you wonder if it was intentional!

JEAN KUJO 159 pt COMBO

So whats with this trend of pulling off ridiculous combos just to end up losing the round? Nice combo none the less. I cant really comment on what's going on here since I havent played VF5:R yet but I am looking forward to some intense matches on these narrow wall stages if this game ever comes state side.

12-HIT BALROG COMBO

Nice combo in the first round. Starts off with what looks like a jump in fierce, linking his c. jab after his ex moves, finishing things off with the ultra. Too bad it doesn't win him the match!

NASTY ABEL COMBOS

Good video over all with some great combos. Round starts off with some great zoning from Sagat, a kara-Tiger Knee really sets things off. Apparently short Tiger Knee is safe on block so it looks like he pins Abel into the corner, using the short Tiger Knee to get some range and apply block stun at the same time.

The real highlight of the video is the Abel combos. Canceling the first part of his three hit special, into elbow,  into roll into air throw.  Looks like the second time around its the same set up but ends it with a reset into mix up.

HIGH LEVEL STREET FIGHTER 4 SAGAT GAME PLAY

My favorite Sagat video thus far. A lot going on in even the first round. Most notably it appears after a connected Tiger Uppercut at the apex of Zangief's jump, he was able to follow up with a Tiger Knee. I have not been able to do this myself yet, so not sure if it is character specific or what.

Also, Zangief is hit with a high Tiger Shot in the corner as he tries to jump, and is hit with a second Tiger Shot on the way down.

EL FUERTE INFINITE IN SFIV

Here we have a video of the El Fuerte infinite that has been discussed all over the place at this point. Game breaking? Who knows. Will it be patched? Who cares, just dont get caught in it!

Apparently the way to do it it cancel your fierce into the run, and cancel the run into another fierce. So the actual break down is..

Standing close fierce punch, qcf+p (initiates run), lp (stops the run), standing close fierce punch.

Repeat until dizzy! Have fun!