Street Fighter 4

[buhwhyen]

So, if you want to learn links in this game. Just think of them like ST links and everything is pretty easy (spacing out your inputs evenly). Funny enough, this game really rewards people who've played ST or previous games and learned how to link/chain light moves.

Chun-Li's cr.jab x2, st.jab, st.fierce is really easy if you think of it like jabbing 4 times. Similarly, Ryu's cr.mp, cr.fierce is actually even easier if you use the same timing as cr.mp x2, or cr.mp, cr.mk. Actually doing really wonky shit like cr.mp x2, cr.rh is pretty easy too, though the mp into sweep is a 1 frame link. The cr.jab x3?, st.jab, sweep is also really easy if you can link a lot of jabs in ST, same idea really.

Sagat's links are actually very cvs2-esq. Particularly his cr.shorts and cr.jabs (cr.jabs link like st.jabs in CVS2). And cr.mp, cr.jab is almost like doing (CVS2) Ryu or Guile's cr.mp, cr.jab.

Btw, Ryu's overhead doesn't combo like the frame data suggests. Supposedly you should be able to link a cr.jab after it, or any dp (all have 3 frame start up, like cr.jab), but I couldn't link it at all, even if I tried to hit it meaty, no homo.

EDIT:
Oh yeah...at first I thought Guile's links were really difficult comparatively, which is really odd. His normals usually link pretty easily, minus some random ones like cr.jab, st.mp in CVS2. Then I learned cr.jab, cr.mp is a 1 frame link. WTF. It seems harder than linking cr.jab x2, st.jab, st.fierce. Even though they're both 1 frame links.

Boxer's links are really easy...like they practically require no thought while mashing. His play style still feels odd, probably because he's not pure aggro with dash punches and TAP. Though his combos are really really easy if you've ever played a charge character before. Though, I did have some issues getting ultra to come out after a buffalo headbutt, I kept getting super instead of ultra? I know Josh had problems with this too, pretty weird. Oh, and his cr.jab is too good. It's practically Rolento's walking st.jab bullshit.

[buhwhyen]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8Bx8X-tB-M

Lol @ stupid Mago links. I've only seen anyone ATTEMPT the f.lk -> cr.jab link twice.

[buhwhyen]

Wow. Ken's strong -> fierce chain is terrible in SF4. In a lot of situations on block (particularly against crouching opponents), fierce whiffs completely. And even if both land and are blocked, st.fierce leaves you at really shitty not-advantage.

I think it's just me, but he seems slower overall than Ryu? His movement and normals seem a lot laggier overall. So I looked at the frame data, Ken's cr.mp is awful - no wonder I never see it getting used. His st.jab is at +7 on hit (wtf not CVS2), both close and far versions - this is why you constantly see Japanese Ken players go cr.short, st.jab, cr.mk, EX tatsu.

I haven't tested it too thoroughly, but it seems like he can only combo into his ultra off of FADC when you do a fierce shoryuken (2nd hit), not jab/strong versions. It's actually really awkward landing his ultra overall, most of the time I see it being used as anti air, though there's a decent amount of start up so you really have to throw it out pretty early. Though, a ghetto way of landing it off of a Focus attack is to FADC a blocked fierce srk (2nd hit) and charge a FA to lvl2, super ghetto and works more than it should.

Oh...and his EX shoryuken does insane chip damage. I literally Lol'd when I saw EX shoryuken chip damage for the first time. There's one Ken vs Boxer video on Lordaboriginesf4 where some Ken player chips a huge chunk of life with EX srk to win. Actually regular fierce shoryuken does a lot of chip too damage .

[buhwhyen]

Watch the ending to this match.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9SqRSy-8lkhh