Social's VF5FS Blog

Hello all,
So i finally a dropped some dimes on VF5FS. I decided to provide you with what nobody ever asked for A social ruin blog as i slowly try and regain some semblance of Virtua strength. Really i just decided to do this and post it here in the general forum because i was disappointed in how little action i see on the forums and am hoping for more community posts.

First Impressions:
I miss being a kid and being excited from pillar to post over that new game i've been dying to play. Anymore i find there is a certain part of starting a new game, learning the menu, buttons (not applicable here), etc that is simply tedious to me. I feel like i have to overcome the first impression of games and play through a learning curve i don't desire to find the true value of a game. Naturally VF skipped a lot of this, simply because the formula is not that different from vanilla. Nonetheless when dorking around dojo and learning some goh combos and playing with the TE system i had this bizarre desire to turn the game off and do something fun lol. I didn't have that when i was, idk, 13-19 or so.


I was expecting to be blown away by the graphics. Remember when we first saw R and couldn't believe those sweet new animations and the way the fighters flowed like water? I realized when i played FS that somewhere between watching those vids and quitting VF5 that the R style (and now the FS) graphics are what i expected and there was no 'surprise' to my eye as to how good the game looked. This is not a problem at all, i was simply was not expecting it.

Gameplay:
Not sure yet what i think of the new TE system. I was pretty sure i was going to hate it, but i don't. I'm not sure i could ever see it being better, but i'm not quite ready to decide that yet. Who knows, maybe it will open up other avenues for strategy.
Next i was relatively sure that the new larger damage output was going to be the bane of my existence!!! I was routinely caught with launchers/etc in vanilla as i was somewhat reckless and leaned on a strong offensive mixup game to carry me. I just felt like i had worse spacing, whiffed more, and didn't whiff punish as well as others. I would try and overpower those weaknesses with speedy 'yomi'...or i should say good attacks with a chance to erase advantage. (i used lei...similarly you can't really call vanilla shun 2k yomi lol--ducks low and CH hehe).
Long story short i'm going to keep an open-mind, and give the game every chance i can. I can't say it is better yet, but i can say it is different from vanilla. For now that is enough. If it was just vanilla, i don't think i'd be taking another lap around the pool. There is enough here for novel stimulation i believe.

Ultimately i plan to rep Lei and try and do my damage with him, but for now...
I felt starting with Lei on vf5 vanilla really stunted my growth on the game. His stances locked him out of a lot of defensive and advanced defensive techniques. That is, if you played as i did and loved to leave yourself in stance waiting to pounce! Then when i finally realized that i was going to need to really attack the nuts and bolts, the skeleton of VF to hang with the big dogs...i had 3 years of bad habits to try to break. At that point i switched to goh to get out of my stances and force myself to try and rely on tactical defense. Man that was a long road that i never reached the end of before i dropped out of the game. Girlfriends, moving, work, all that sorta of stuff became the priority, and the remaining 10 players on vf didn't warrant turning it back on lol.

Therefore, i am starting with goh this time around, and trying to lockdown some defensive skills, timely mids, all those vf things before i move into lei. Well, i won't wait that long, but i definitely want to start with a stronger base before i move off the grid with Lei's stance-dance-spin-and-win antics.

I'll wrap it up here for now. I am finding the game difficult. I am stiff and slow. Special sparring normal difficulty is eating my lunch off and on. And still i am having fun. Look forward to getting some of the combos down a little better, and then ACTUALLY using them in games *shameface*. Maybe i'll take myself onto xbl tomorrow and see just how much ground i have to make up. Feel free to add me in game: social ruin --come my old friends hit me up, hammer me into steel. I'll blog some more tomorrow or the next day. I plan to use this shade of green for my blog posts so that if this thing does actually get any traffic, it will be easy to separate my posts from general discussions.

~social ruin

 

Yah boy! Keep 'em coming. The only difference I notice about the new TE system is that I can actually TE now.

IMO the best thing about VF5FS is that it's got people playing Virtua Fighter again. Glad to see you're back in the saddle. Add me (deathsushi) and let's bang.

 

Hi all.

The bad:
I'll get the negativity out of the way first. Well day 2 with the game was a bit disturbing. I got in some solid goh practice during the day. An hour or two in the dojo working on combos and playing special sparring and doing free training vs lvl 5 opponent to observe the moves that give guaranteed damage. With all this knowledge at my fingertips i ventured into the great wide world of online room matches!!!

Now is as good as time as any to mention that i live in Alaska. It's hard to say how much of the issue was latency and how much of the issue was simply me going from offline only training, and jumping into online play, but the connection has me very worried that i may not be able to play this game after all. Especially considering wasted_wish quit playing vf5 vanilla when he moved to Alaska because of connection issues. I'm gonna hang in there for the time being, and see if maybe i adjust, or if it's unadjustable. I was playing some experienced players, some of the better xbl players from vfdc, so truthfully i didn't expect to necessarily win much. However, the way the losses occurred were the disappointing part. It was very difficult to evade, and evading on rising seemed a lost cause. Also, i really couldn't get down to block lows. Although in fairness, lows have always given me some difficulty. I suppose i should check and see if a stronger internet is available from my cable provider, and what the difference in price would be if there is one.

My trend of having difficulty versus high pressure, fast, long string characters with goh continues. I get frustrated that most characters seem to be able to set up their offense by having their moves blocked, but goh can only secure a disadvantage by having a move blocked (minus his 66k throw).

I will mention that it is hard to know how much is the alaska internet and how much of it had to do with the fact that my brother talks during the evenings with a girl on skype. (he wasn't vidchatting, just type-chatting).

Interestingly, i can still switch to lei and play some competitive vf, by not focusing on well placed p/mids. Still don't win, but at least competitive. I'm nervous that i may only be able to play stringy characters on my connection, and that is not how i want to play vf. On the other hand, i may just need to relax a bit given i'm still pretty green to the game.

The Good:
It was great to get in the Room match and watch other people play and chat with 5-8 people. That was a new experience and really made for an enjoyable night of talking to old friends, and making some new friends. It was a ton of fun ranting about what we didn't like, talking about what we did. It was great to watch 'it's-a-me-Dr.Familio' and tainted gene go on some noteworthy streaks. Unfortunately, we all had to agree that tony is a cheater because brads low game is robust

Kamais showed up for a bit, and showed some solid play in what could only be described as a fishy-troll jeff...WTF, that costume! Makes me wish i didn't download the accessory packs!!! He had a nice run through the room with Jeff, but then surprisingly that's when tainted gene stepped up and put some stoppage to that and everyone else for a bit.

Got to see Phanatiks lei first hand after reading about him on here since i returned to the site. I actually find lei one of the easier match-ups with goh (still not really easy). In a sadistic sort of way. I find goh has no good anti lei stance move. But at the same time, i know lei better than i know anyone else. Usually this translates to me knowing how to defeat the move that i dumbly watch defeat me! Along the lines of lei, it was cool to see vfnumbers and he has regained some real strength while maintaing his 'thinking man's style". Lei can definitely be played in different ways. Vfnumbers and phanatik have dissimilar play styles. I grabbed lei a few matches and thought i was gonna mimic vfnumber then phanatik and both times found myself playing yet another different (weaker) style.

I don't suppose i'll mention everyone in the room, just because i don't want to turn this into a compliment the whole world thread, instead of a bloggy-type thread. I can't help myself talking lei though! haha.

A few other things of note:
I don't like the new throw system after all. It seems given a couple of hours of practice everyone on vf will have roughly the same strength throw break game, sorta lame. Also, i fell victim to one of my biggest concerns of the new throw break game. Wins and losses can be determined by luck of the guess. Yes, anticipation definitely factors in there, but you can simply lose when u guess wrong 2-3 times and ur opponent guesses right. There is a line somewhere between yomi and guessing. I don't know where it is for sure, and yet, inevitably every player on the game is gonna fall on the frustrating side of that line at some point. I hate to think a high level tourney match could be decided by something so random.

Goh's 6k major counter into 3kp super combo...sometimes is simply broken. It's maddening to watch online play turn a 107 (or so) dmg combo into a 27 dmg move with a -6 or -10 disadvantage (depending on if u stop after 3k, or do 3kp). I'm worried this may render goh unplayable. My hope is on an internet unencumbered by my brothers love life (haha, take that wasted) this won't be an issue.

Otherwise i'm really liking goh. It's sorta neat how so many of his moves are very similar with similar properties and effects, and you get to choose which level of risk/reward you are comfortable with for the situation. I'll expand upon this later though. I'm trying to keep these things into digestible lengths.

I had a good player behind me all night to mop me up!! Anyone else have trouble getting into a rhythm in room matches? I feel like if a got a few early wins in i would play better all night. Instead i feel like i'm coming off ice every time my turn comes up.


P.S. Thanks Deathsushi for getting me into the nice Room Match scene. I'm not sure if we even got to play each other lol. Maybe once.

~social ruin

 

I'm teetering on FUCK GOH.
I might just fall back on being the best damn LEI online.

 

it's acememic if i do!!!

 

Great posts, cool to hear you reconnecting with people.
I've basically come into FS from 4evo, and as much as the new simpler throw system rustled my feathers at first it's definitely grown on me. (Maybe it's just because my best friend plays Wolf and it's easier to break his throws now ha ha). Just give it time I suppose.

 

Losing in 2-3 guesses has been a VF staple for awhile. Throws in this game you have to mix up quite a but. Work more neutral in the game as Forward and Back, generally have their reasons.

If your having trouble against just pay attention to the first two hits and see where the opponent is going after that. 1-2 hits is the general pace of the game. Remembering this has always helped me see things clearer, even when messing around with new characters.

 

@eastbaykaye, thank you buddy. The simpler TE has it's strengths and weaknesses. I just don't like that it is a shortcut to comprehensive skill. Also the luck factor of it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

@ femto i don't suppose i'll repeat the above post. It was a great point you made about 2-3 guesses being the deciding factor outside of throws. On the contrary i really like how on vanilla the throw game/escapes became a point of strength and a way to break that cycle. I don't know if you ever played Lucky GT's got, but he was a perfect example of how defense could become a trump card. His ability to break throws and ETEG made him a different beast from everyone else. To me it was almost like a badge of honor. And on Lucky GT his defense was so sublime that it it single-handedly outpaced every american vf player by miles. It was truly incredible and inspiring. If you never played him then you simply can't understand the thing of beauty it was. What denkai and flash were to offense, he was to defense. He remains my favorite player ever on the strength of his defensive game.

 

So day 3/4. I don't think i'll be in line to post on my blog tonight compliments of drinky drinky.


The ugly:
After much player matches i think jacky might just be irreparably broken. Point blank, you have to be 25% better than a jacky to split matches with him. His frames are broken to the point of fail. It's really disappointing given the track record of VF. He is on a tier by himself. Everyone else is simply "not jacky". I know he is not unbeatable, but i have no motivation vs jacky. I know that i can outplay a jacky and lose. I suppose i'll end rant here.

Favorite players:
I mentioned this in the discussion above and realized it would make a good blog post. My favorite players: (again i'm going to skip most players because i don't want this thread to be a circle jerk)

Lucky GT: his defensive swag on vanilla was simply godly. I wish i could play like him.
Chief Flash: rags to riches.
Cozby: don't like him as a person, i love how he took jab/mid p/2p to the next level.
Airagin: new player, rapid improvement.
Wasted wish": i love the guy, he's my brother and cussing at me for bloggin lol.
Tfam: i think we started and improved at almost the exact same pace.
None Other: the guys reaction is sublime. If you've never played Fu Unji Oneal (u changed the last name in ur posts?) His ability to dissect offense is insane. The first, 2nd, 10th time he strings 2 evades together u know u are playing a master.


~social ruin

 

A week into the game...... You came up with all this.. You just got the game.. Come back in 2 or 3 months then ill take this seriously.

 

hey SDS. I find it a real problem how strong jacky has been buffed in FS. Do you not see it. I really wonder if jacky's see it. Don't get me wrong buddy, i'd take offense if someone said that about my character. It just seems jacky is really safe and really strong. I sorta knew you'd respond to this but i don't want to just bitch, i want to discuss!!

Do you feel jacky has gained super strength? has he got any knew disadvantage? I feel like jacky is a super fighter on this vf. My experience bolsters this theory, Every average jacky i faced on vanilla that i played on FS is now a monster. Same thing for brad, and akira.

I can't say for sure as i've only played 1 wk, but the risk/reward on jacky seems sorta broken. I definitely understand this might offend u as a jack user, but it seems to be very tangible. He has full circulars with less risk than others mids? I used jack on vanilla but don't use him on vf because i think his design is fail.

To be honest i think that eventually, i will play ranked jacky (can't beat them join them) and play player matches with lei/goh for skill and fun.

I'm really interested to see if any jacky players feel he is overpowered?

Do you think he is SSS tier over fiend?

BTW if they made lei SSS overpowered i wouldn't complain. Errr, well i would, but less so. Fuck you phanatik, lol. <3 you vfnumbers the consumate gentelman.

 

plz SDS reply. i want a discussion. I don't want hyperbole. I'm very interested hoe jacky's feel. Buffs and nerds are organic. I know you didn't make the new adv. Honesty if they buffed lei's holes i would be sad. I feel like jacky isn't a real vf character.

 

Jacky is a REAL VF character... Lei Fei is a real VF character.. in since you brought up Phanatik.. have you ever seen this guys flowchart? On average he uses about 5 moves to get in... Once's he in its a strong flow chart thats hard to defend on a 2 bar connect. i still have to be patient to fight him.. if he gets you at disadvantage you have to literally wait until he's done flowing to stop him... Problem was Lei was mindless in Vanilla.. now that you have to work for your damage he's been nerfed.. AS a jacky player what you see me doing is nothing short of 5 years of Vanilla practice carrying over to the simpler terms. In the hands of a somewhat experience player he may seem uber friendly but the problem is He is easy to use but hard to master. You should not be losing to a low level jacky player in the first place. Do i think he is overpowered.. no and ill tell you why.. No Noob can do any of his high risk of dropping/high damage combos without practice. In FS using his Iageri kick is a must. He is the most honest of all the characters because to use him effectively you must understand the basics to a tee. You cannot sit there and just wait for the big hit on jacky to fall in your lap.. you have to go it.. whether its interupting his strings or punishing him for attacking out of order. I think the real problem is your connection makes him feel impossible to stop when he is coming down on you... FS is a great game after playing it for the last 4 months.. i went back to VF5 Vanilla is it feels bland as shit. This game has stucture now so you have to find yours.. you will only understand the game better through time spent and experience. Lei Fei is still dangerous along with Goh and Shun. You just have to relearn your character just as i did. you never know some things might work a bit better now that before.

 

thanks for responding SDS. i stilll feel like jacky i super strong. Part of that is certainly connection related. I get frustrated when i can't 46p the uppercut kick (-15). I really wonder what jacky players think while playing. He is super frustrating to play.

 

tities.

i agree.

titties r nice.

 

With all due respect... You are not qualified to speak on this subject matter

 

Social I've played GT a few times in ranked GA, not VF5. It still holds true that his defense-offensive is awesome in FS. That is the point of contention in why people who liked the execution advantage from VF4-VF 5 don't like FS as it removed the option for execution heavy players to give themselves an advantage against mid level opponents.. The FS system takes it back to OG VF, specifically VF3, but it's still VF, which means forcing hard guesses on each other while cutting down each others options.

 

I know a few other Goh players who've already quit playing FS, and I can totally understand why with the system being the way it is now, but never forget you're only ever two knees
(CH ) away from winning the round, on that basis anything is possible, never give up man.

 

Agree with femto.
Agree with Prime.

SDS, feel free to message me. I don't ever rule out that i'm wrong. I feel like jacky is solidly OP. But i'm just 3 days in. I know it is offensive when that is your character. I don't mean to be insultive, I really do want a discussion about this.