Have you recently purchased Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix? Do you happen to fall into the " This game is cool but I'm getting raped by everyone " crowd? Is it getting to the point that you don't even feel like playing anybody on it because you lack sufficient skills, thus rendering your purchase of the game failure because you'll never play it? Well fear not, my fellow video game sophisticates. I have come down from the celestial mountain top of Street Fighter Gaming Legends to offer you, the unschooled, quick tips to get you acclimated to the ways of Street Fighter Kung fu.

This isn't about the etiquettes of the game or even a proper functional guide. You may want to look here for that. These are merely some bullet points that you should know that will yield a better understanding of the game itself. In the process of learning these ancient Street Fighter secrets, your game/skills may improve. To the point that at the least, you may actually make your opponent work for that victory and at the best, snag some victories yourself.

Let us begin Grasshopper.

TIP #1: BLOCK STUPID.

Blocking is good. Learn to do it. This sounds stupid but you will be surprised how people new to Street Fighter just don't block and wonder why they are getting raped. For these purposes know there are essentially two kinds of blocking. High and Low. Again, this may seem self explanatory but surprised again you will be to know that in an actual match, people think that if they press back, all incoming attacks are blocked. They wont be. Pressing back while standing will block, get this... high attacks and pressing back while crouched will net you a low block. So block accordingly stupid.

Oh also, here's another thing you need to learn about blocking because in SF2 you take damage regardless even if you block, albeit less than not blocking, and that is learning when to not block and simply evade the attack. There is no shame in jumping away from a fireball or an overhead attack to reposition yourself in a way where your attack will land over theirs.

TIP #2: MIND YOUR PERSONAL SPACE.

This tip is good in real life too but especially in Street Fighter. Be aware of your personal space, as in know where you are relating to your opponents' personal space. The reason why is simple.The way to anticipate your opponents next move is as simple as being a few game feet away from them. That way when they perform said move you can:

A] Block it.
B]Counter it.
C]Evade it.

Which leads to the next tip, which should be letter "D" but it needs expanding on..

TIP #3: THROW WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

Yer sir. Throw whenever possible. Seeing as that simple little move takes a bit of precious life from their bar it's the only logical course of action. Why risk doing something else when a throw is easy, quick and pisses people off. Example: Say Ken just finished executing a Dragon Punch which he missed, before he lands from it, just politely walk to him and throw away. Cakewalk.

TIP #4: YOUR SPURS.

The best move in the game is the sweep. Repeat after me , the best move in the game is the sweep. You may think it's another move. That other move you do with your character of choice but you would be wrong. The sweep is because like the throw, it is quick, easy and even more effortless to execute. Not only that but the sweep can be followed up by yet another sweep for added in your faceness and making your opponent feel even more stupid about themselves. This goes back full circle to the first tip: that of blocking. Like previously stated, it seems that people think you have to be a tournament fighter to pull off a low block because of the lack of usage when it comes to actually doing it in a fight.


TIP #4: CAMMY IS A TRAMP AND SUCKS AS A FIGHTER.



I think the title to the tip says it all.

TIP #5: NEVER... EVER, PLAY THIS GAME WITH THE 360 CONTROLLER.

If you must play this on the 360, please save yourself the frustration of the 360 Dpad. It is horrible. Go get you an arcade stick as quickly as possible. Actually the stick is the way to go always but I will admit, I love using a comfy Dpad when getting my fighting on. But that's just me.

Hopefully these few nuggets of simple information will be enlightening and get you started down the path of Street Fighter respectability. I hear that there are a few Dtoid tournaments going on right now should you want to test your newly acquired info. Haxan's got a great one where you can win Street Fighter IV the game as well as other cool swag like SF tournament Tees among other things, and let's not forget Squirrleyg has one as well. Lots of testing grounds. Go forth and partake.

Also, just for shits and giggles take a look at these advanced combos done in the game and marvel at what can be done. There's a lot more that can pulled off with practice, practice and more practice. See you online.


Capcombo Video from Derek Neal on Vimeo.