Reno: Why Taka?

Hi Reno,

Thanks for all the 1st person perspective you bring us on vf5r and now fs.
I was wondering, how did you decide to use taka?

His moveset looks very limited and in truth, he looks kinda weak compared to the other fighters. Well, perhaps more than weak, he looks difficult to use compared to the other choices. He reminds me a lot of Goh in vf5 vanilla (my only point of reference for competitive vf) in that everything you do seems like it must be very deliberate and then you have to react accordingly or you are in trouble. I.e. looks like very little hit tracking, or special property shortcuts to covering up your mistakes. I mean, it doesn't look like you have the luxury of just mashing out some wins vs good players.

Also, do you think you would be stronger had you chose a more user friendly character? And if so, did that make the decision to use Taka harder?-- given presumably you are having to pay to play over there.

And lastly, does that weird jump sideways move of taka's have any uses? I never see anyone do anything off that which would make it look worthwhile.

 

You sure about him being weak? A Sumo wrestler main goal is to create ring outs. I think this guy is a powerhouse But ill let reno tell it.

 

Styles/main goal doesn't necessarily determine whether the character is weak or strong, per sé. Jeffry is supposed to inflict pain according to his style, especially with his throws (takedowns, chokes, and joint locks) but they all got nerfed in FS...

I think personally he Taka great in VF3 (in comparison to R and FS). Obviously I can't play the latter 2 to really decide, so Reno, do you think VF3 Taka was the best iteration???

 

I think Taka was A tier in VF5R or something. On another note if I'm correct I think Reno is a big guy character player in most of the games he plays. I may be wrong, but big guy character players are used to this kind of play.

 

I have no idea whether he's weak or not. But i think he looks weak in the videos i watch. I mean you watch el blaze and that bastard seems to be getting a shitload of easy damage.

I guess to reference Fu unji; Taka does not appear to have a masturbate style available to him.

And at least in my mind, there is a huge difference b/n someone being strong/weak and easy/hard to use. For example in vf5 vanilla, goh isn't per se weak, but he is difficult to use at a high level. On the other hand, someone like lei or lau or blaze can be used very effectively with much less effort.

so perhaps taka looks difficult to play strong

 

So the question is why don't you use an easier character. Answer: is likely "because I like Takas character" or "because I like the challenge" or the famous "I wanted to play a character that wasn't as popular."

Lets see what the man has to say for himself. To expound on this thread, why do a lot of players play who they play? Frankly I think most just gravitate to a style they are familiar with. The most competitive gravitate to characters they can win with.

"Switch nation under god"

 

I know me personally, I found myself naturally picking Chinese characters... Iunno why, as I don't think I have Chinese in me (or do I??) but in most fighting games, there's always at least a rushdown/mixup character who is Chinese (Lau, Fei Long, Shen Long, Lee[Last Blade], Feng Wei, Jann Lee, Gato)...

I noticed I also play "stoic" characters (Kouma[Melty Blood], Saki[Arcana Hearts], Face[Battle Fantasia], Dragunov)... On the flipside to that, I also found myself playing "explosive" characters (Warakia[Melty Blood], Jeffry, Tung Fu Rue, Marco Rodriguez[Garou], Zazie[Fighters Hystory Dynamite], EX Geese)...

I don't know much personalities or ethnicities play into why people play who they play... It's not always female players picking girl characters or African-American picking dark-toned characters just because of appearance all of the time. I know for me, I naturally am somewhat able to play defensively/keep-away with primarily offensive character and control spacing... Maybe subconsiously its a challenge I give myself. Not sure, but things like this should definitely be studied...

I'm not high, my brain just works even when I don't... Should change the thread title, to avoid the "Off-topic plague"...

 

I like to play as wrestlers for the most part. Hell, the only female characters I enjoy using in any fighting game are Tina and Lisa from DOA

 

I never thought Goh was all that hard to use he has too many tools. At high level I don't think hes any harder then say Blaze or lei

 

^^^This. Goh is only hard to laymen who don't realise how many sabakis and hit throws he has. From playing Goh since VF4 Evo, I would play Taka similar to how I play Goh: give myself enough room based on his relatively slower speed. Taka being so much less vulnerable to juggles is definitely a be a factor in my choice to use him.

I would like to know how many command throws Taka lost due to VF5 FS' throw input revision?

 

Heavy characters don't take that advantage of high damage in FS. Let's pray for Jeffry

Goh has a lot insane moves in vanilla, best sabaki, crazy knee combo, perfect range, and huge throw. He is pretty easy for beginners but take time to master into high level. Once you reach it, he is fucking damn strong!!

Yes, I agree with you that Lau is much easier to be used effectively, but don't trust 100% on what you experience online

 

I don't think Goh is strong. I think he is pants.
He does have a few good match ups. Can't really comment on him on R and FS. Though he seems much safer in FS.

 

I agree. And in some match ups he be looking godlike.

 

Because he's cool.

And I mained him in VF3.

 

And That just about wraps it up..
Not to mention the Same El Blaze who seems to hand out shitloads of easy damage got launched beginning of the round and carried out into a ring out. Lightweight against Taka = Easy ring out or wall damage.


Hey Social... Defense helps alot to.

 

Goh's knee combo is really worth to try, and the CH damage is pretty much the same as Jeffry's. However, -8 and -15 on block is huge different

His regular K is also a good move, safe. Plus sabaki makes him soooooo unpreditable even though he has no stance at all. No to need to mention have to do forward TE against Goh, and also need to conside down direction.(46P and shoulder,etc.)

He might be slower compare with other characters(not a problem for decent/skilled players) but his strong mental games really kills me, such as his BT is one good example. For me, to crah him needs a lot courage, and I already lose at the first moment if I had this tought

 

thanks reno

 

I'm kind of Goh desensitized at my current level, I had seen so much of what Goh has to offer and experienced it second hand. And had to always battle him uphill.

It's more a comparison thing, than anything else. Goh is powerful as hell, but in comparison to majority of the cast he isn't really that strong and will struggle at random.

The knee needs to counter hit, and I've got CH with it a thousand times, but it was on my own disadvantages and me trying to attack it(because sometimes, you just need to attack when you get hit by Goh to score some serious shit). It doesn't have the same range as Jeffry's knee, and it also doesn't net a fraction of Jeffry's knee damage on normal hit standing either, so it's absolutely useless in delay for evade.

 

Goh seems to be more accessible (there's that word again) than the other characters, especially for people who play other fighting games... I personally know 2 people, and have read about 1 person coming from one game to VF, and the 1st character they picked up was Goh... He's more accessible than Akira, and is more badass (which were 2 of the reasons my buddies picked up Goh)... I don't know, do any of you guys know anyone who picked up Goh coming from another fighting game???

 

From my experience with new players they pick Goh, Kage and Eileen way more than the other characters.