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[Benzychenz]

Hey look Sakurai endorsed combos.

 

[Tomohawk]

Damn son. That witch craft.

 

[Shun]

So does that mean no more Thunderwalling?
Assuming that Thunder has a lower ceiling than before.

 

[I'M FINISHED!]

Mario Kart lightning bolt.

 

[Mariolee]

I hate Pikachu's down-b so much. So. Freaking. Much.

 

[ffdgh]

Damn it sakurai. That rat didn't need a thunder buff. D:

... Will abuse.

 

[Blizzard]

I can't even remember seeing anyone playing remotely competitively using pikachu's thunder, sadly, even when enemies were flying high in the air. I would like to see it used more to annoy opponents.

 

[oreomunsta]

A storm is coming.

It'll hit like a bolt from the blue

 

[foxuzamaki]

Can smashboards handle this buff

 

[Tomohawk]

So does that mean no more Thunderwalling?
Assuming that Thunder has a lower ceiling than before.

Maybe, but it spikes so thats cool.

 

[Kriken]

I knew I should've predicted character buff, been too long since one of those

 

[MrSaturn99]

Bowser's making quite the pose there in the first shot.

 

[Boss Doggie]

Thunder now pushes down?

 

[Fidelis Hodie]

I can't even remember seeing anyone playing remotely competitively using pikachu's thunder, sadly, even when enemies were flying high in the air. I would like to see it used more to annoy opponents.

Really? I could've sworn I've seen ESAM use it wonderfully in brawl tourny vids for sure.

 

[OminousShadow]

So now it looks like the lightning pushes the victim down so Pikachu can continue the smackdown.

Dat combo potential

 

[botty]

That is going to be a very abused spike. The rat can already spam it off stage as it is.

 

[Blizzard]

Really? I could've sworn I've seen ESAM use it wonderfully in brawl tourny vids for sure.

I may just be watching the wrong ones. I just got the impression it was like Falcon Punch, and never used because it was too slow and left him too vulnerable.

 

[SkullHydra]

Bowser's making quite the pose there in the first shot.

That's because it's actually

Spoiler

Wonder Red

in a Bowser costume!!! =O

 

[Fandangox]

So looking at the picture it seems if you are directly between Pikachu and his thunder attack, you will be brought down to where Pikachu is, and since it is attacking on the last picture, its frame pause for attacking again is probably shorter.

 

[PadWarrior]

"Pic of the day. Pikachu's Thunder now starts off with a thundercloud that deals a Meteor Smash! From left to right, you can see this combo starting with Pikachu throwing the opponent upward, Meteor Smashing with the lightning strike, and then directly attacking. Foes can dodge, of course, so the attack won't hit consistently, but when it does, it sure feels good!"

 

[KHlover]

Woohoo, that looks awesome. Seems like I will put some time into Pikachu in SSB4

 

[Azerare]

It seems we will be getting more of a combo focus this time around! It seems like it's trying to go back to melee's pros!

 

[I'M FINISHED!]

Besides the character reveal drought, we have gotten a steady stream of new tidbits for awhile now.

 

[Anth0ny]

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT THAT'S GODLIKE

THUNDER TO UP SMASH? DAMN

 

[Boss Doggie]

Sakurai's quote implies the thundercloud can damage too.

 

[ALM5252]

From the way Sakurai words the buff, I get the feeling it will be frame specific, or like when the opponent is at a certain height to the thundercloud after it just appeared. If the person is below the thundercloud it might just be like before, or if the person came into contact with it (in the air) after it started it wouldn't be a meteor smash.

That's my theory / interpretation at least.

 

[foxuzamaki]

"Pic of the day. Pikachu's Thunder now starts off with a thundercloud that deals a Meteor Smash! From left to right, you can see this combo starting with Pikachu throwing the opponent upward, Meteor Smashing with the lightning strike, and then directly attacking. Foes can dodge, of course, so the attack won't hit consistently, but when it does, it sure feels good!"

Dem feel good combos

 

[I'M FINISHED!]

You get a meteor smash!
And you get a meteor smash!
And you get a meteor smash!
Everyone gets a meteor smash!

 

[GAMERG0D]

Pikachu high tier confirmed.

 

[Spinluck]

THIS. CHANGES. EVERYTHING.

Pikachu was already an annoying fuck in Brawl, this is gonna be a hard pill to swallow for those that struggle against the rat. Pretty cool though, and Sakurai is saying it can be dodged. But is he implying that it can only be dodged at lower damage percentiles?

..is.. some form.. of.. Melee hit stun back? Brawl had very little hit stun, and even when you landed some hits they'd fly in directions that made chaining moves a bitch.

EDIT: Jesus, I just realized what this means for Pikachu's edge game. I wonder how much Thunder will affect his horizontal movement when used in mid-air. I hope most of the vets get cool tweaks like this, anyone keeping track of the buff and nerfs so far?

 

[GamerSoul]

damn that is a nice upgrade. Pika-combos

 

[Beaniedude]

I always used it to shoot enemies just that little bit more but I can dig this.
I'm digging this.

 

[voltronbadA]

So I have to assume there is no way that Sakurai tested Link's meteor smash that was added to his down b attack and decided to remove it considering all the buffs other characters have gotten. Also, with all the emphasis on zelda items I really hope Link and Toon Link receive a lot of buffs because they need love too

 

[kirblar]

Looks like Pikachu recovers immediately if the move hits an opponent above him. Smart buff.

 

[PadWarrior]

Good gravy MK8 looks gorgeous!!!!

 

[Azerare]

Pikachu high tier confirmed.

Pikachu shall be to smash 4, what meta knight was to brawl.

 

[Anth0ny]

up smash down b up smash

 

[Fidelis Hodie]

Good gravy MK8 looks gorgeous!!!!

Yes it does. Yes it does.

That and I love more confirmation that Smash 4 may reclaim Melee's competitive throne. I highly doubt it, but good God I am looking forward to it.

 

[SuperSah]

Good gravy MK8 looks gorgeous!!!!

I agree with this. It looks stunning.

 

[MisterLuffy]

Good gravy MK8 looks gorgeous!!!!

Yeah, it's amazing, especially that Rainbow Road track

 

[ant1532]

AHAHAHA YESSS

 

[solomon]

"Pic of the day. Pikachu's Thunder now starts off with a thundercloud that deals a Meteor Smash! From left to right, you can see this combo starting with Pikachu throwing the opponent upward, Meteor Smashing with the lightning strike, and then directly attacking. Foes can dodge, of course, so the attack won't hit consistently, but when it does, it sure feels good!"

When he says "Foes can dodge, so the attack won't hit consistently" I pray smash 4 doesn't have Brawl's I can dodge out of every hit (I know its a glitch with the hit stun).

THIS. CHANGES. EVERYTHING.

Pikachu was already an annoying fuck in Brawl, this is gonna be a hard pill to swallow for those that struggle against the rat. Pretty cool though, and Sakurai is saying it can be dodged. But is he implying that it can only be dodged at lower damage percentiles?

..is.. some form.. of.. Melee hit stun back? Brawl had very little hit stun, and even when you landed some hits they'd fly in directions that made chaining moves a bitch.

EDIT: Jesus, I just realized what this means for Pikachu's edge game. I wonder how much Thunder will affect his horizontal movement when used in mid-air. I hope most of the vets get cool tweaks like this, anyone keeping track of the buff and nerfs so far?

Edit: Yeah this is what I'm scared of, is he saying you can dodge at any time?

 

[Tomohawk]

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT THAT'S GODLIKE

THUNDER TO UP SMASH? DAMN

i think its up smash to thunder to up smash

 

[SenorArdilla]

Pic of the day. Pikachu's Thunder now starts off with a thundercloud that deals a Meteor Smash! From left to right, you can see this combo starting with Pikachu throwing the opponent upward, Meteor Smashing with the lightning strike, and then directly attacking. Foes can dodge, of course, so the attack won't hit consistently, but when it does, it sure feels good!

Cloud looks a touch lower than before. Though it did get buffed quite a bit. What will happen to the top screen kills with Thunder?

 

[Fidelis Hodie]

Cloud looks a touch lower than before. Though it did get buffed quite a bit. What will happen to the top screen kills with Thunder?

They'll get replaced with a multitude of thunder-wall spikes off stage. -__-

 

[SkyOdin]

Cloud looks a touch lower than before. Though it did get buffed quite a bit. What will happen to the top screen kills with Thunder?

Well, Pikachu is standing on the top platform of Battlefield. So the action might be closer to the top of the screen than it appears at first glance.

 

[fredrancour]

Damn, that's a pretty cool daily update. This and the MK8 trailer take the edge off the late night of work.

 

[SmithnCo]

Pic of the day. Pikachu's Thunder now starts off with a thundercloud that deals a Meteor Smash! From left to right, you can see this combo starting with Pikachu throwing the opponent upward, Meteor Smashing with the lightning strike, and then directly attacking. Foes can dodge, of course, so the attack won't hit consistently, but when it does, it sure feels good!

lol wow. The lightning might be lower (I think) but it's an interesting buff too.

 

[foxuzamaki]

that nintendo 64 rainbow road updated gives me good feels

 

[theprodigy]

I may just be watching the wrong ones. I just got the impression it was like Falcon Punch, and never used because it was too slow and left him too vulnerable.

in both games, Thunder is used quite frequently to kill
in Brawl, the move is often completely safe