Why don't people use Akira's counters more in VF5?

It's just something that I've noticed while watching some Akira matches on YouTube, it seems that advanced players hardly ever use Akira's counters anymore. I remember back in VF2 and 3 Akira's counters were vital to his success. In fact they can be used not simply as defense but as offense when forcing opponents into certain fighting patterns. Almost as counter to an forced reaction. Maybe all the advanced footwork has eliminated the need for his counters but it's a shame that advanced players have dumped his counters all together in favor of fancy footwork. It's just odd that advanced Japanese players no longer even use his counters at all.

 

If by counters, you mean sabaki then it is used quite often. If by counters you mean reversal, then it is just something that is less and less used as you get higher and higher up in level of play. That is at least what I've noticed around me. But Akira is number 2 in reversals, so it should be key to his fighting. As for why I think it is used less and less in high level play??? it's very easy to predict rookies. as they tend to go to money moves more often, or tend to go to pppk often. when you start getting into high level play, people start delaying attacks, mixing levels, and throwing in half and full circular moves that can't be countered. And if you start standing there trying to reverse, you are as good as dead.

 

Part of the whole reversal trick is not to wait for single handed techniques to come to you but rather place your opponent into positions where they naturally use those moves. I remember the old ducking punch annoyance that forces opponents to wanna do a ducking punch back thats when you use the counter and slapem on the back of the head. I see so many opportunities with many advanced players to counter but they don't instead they dance around the ring with fancy box steps and evade attacks. Just the sheer amount of Akiras users that start combos with the elbow should justify more elbow counters. I don't know it's seems that ever since the footwork was advanced in VF Evo many have dumped the infamous Akira counters which was Akira's bread and butter since VF1-3. I watch Youtube and it seems no advanced Japanese AKI users ever uses the counter, even though people are throwing Knees, Elbows, Ducking Punches and flip kicks left and right.
I don't know if players are progressing with Akira or Digressing, back whe the counter was G+Motion+P it was used even more strange. I just think a great Akira player should always use Akira counters in both defense and forced offense.

 

Wooo, 30 something damage at a high risk! (still love Aoi)

 

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Thats what makes it kick ass. Plus Akira's new built in Taunt is worth the risk alone. Back in the old days Akira didn't even taunt you after the counter and we still used it.
Forced AKI counters were the bomb too, the old ducking punch lure was the oldest way to land an Akira low punch counter. Back in the days advanced players had a million and one tricks to lure each player into a reaction that lead to a counter what happened to that?

 

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Setting up reversals is just not worth it in the end imho. There are just better ways of punishing. I'm not saying that it's useless, in terms of mindgames it definitely has some effect on your opponent mentally but just like any other moves and techniques in VF, if abused you can be punished severely.

If you can add reversals to your game prominently, then kudos to you. I certainly encounter players who use reversals a lot with Akira. And that is part of their style. It could be your style too.

 

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Don't get me wrong. Reversals are the coolest things ever, and since they can't be chicken'd in VF: total fuck yeah! But still...

 

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And if someone is pretty good at tech rolling, that damage is dropped even further to 20. 20 is basically 2 low punches. Not worth it in the end if you consider guessing wrong and you get counter hit. i know, your not suppose to guess, your suppose to lure, but eventually your opponent, if they are good, begin to mix it up, either only doing 1 low punch instead of two straight, or skipping the low punch and going for a big knee that crumples you and you lose 80 points of life. Vanessa, someone who was built to be one of the best counterer at least gets 50 points worth of damage if your opponent is a bit slow to reverse it. 1/4 of your life is worth the risk. I just wish she didn't only have simple punch reveresals and also reversed elbows, knees as well. I don't even need half or full circles, or any more drastic things like sommersault reversal.

 

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Considering that he can only reverse linear moves (I think), wouldn't you be better served to just dodge and counter attack instead?

 

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Ding ding ding. I think that using reversals is more suited to pad play. There are much better options on the stick that are more fluid/reliable. Dodging for example. I notice pad players as a whole dodge less. Maybe because of the double press? It just seems much less fluid on the pad.

 

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It's useful but you can't base your play on it... And you need to know very well the playstyle of your opponent.

 

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Imo ppl should really consider using RTE more in VF5 with the clash systemchange.

 

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RTE = Reverse + throw escapes?

 

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Cuz anybody can do dodge counters, but only Akira has Akira counters. Any noob can dodge and counter an attack but it takes a true Akira expert to counter instead.
Plus Akira counters were more about the prestege rather than the practicality just like SPOD and knee, there's a million one ways to launch and deal massive damage but only Akira can do the AKI knee and SPOD. It's just sad that even expert players are dropping the Akira counter which was part of Akira's charm since day one. Akira without counters is just some normal guy. Thats my opinion.

 

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Yup.

 

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I don't see where reversals are any more difficult than dodging really... But that's just me /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

On the up side, I really hope you were refering to me when you said "expert players". Cuz really that might be the only time I'd ever get called that

 

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Reversals are extremely vulnerable and risky and in Akira's case, also not very rewarding. It's nice for style points I guess though.

 

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If you have good yomi then occasional reversals can be useful but trying to do them left, right and centre and you'll be eating plenty of counter hits.

If you're good at noticing when your opponent uses low jab or elbows after certain flow charts or whatever, sabakis are probably more rewarding.

 

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I remember guys that use to mix counters into there flow charts making counter attacking them very risky. I don't see that anymore.

 

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Ohsu Akira still uses them. And he's DEFINITELY an advanced Japanese player.

He may not spam the shit out of 'em, but he knows when to use them and uses them well.

But that could be cause he's got phenomenal yomi.