I love Phoenix as a character... just not her gimmick.
In related news I went to a tournament after a long time, sort of like the last MVC3 tournament here until UMVC3. Was a bit rusty but once my eyes/hands adjusted to the set ups I was doing great. I used what I had learned over the course of the time and applied it in the match fairly effectively. Did really solid until I got to a Hulk player who was actually really good and baited me into numerous st.M super armor hits. He also had a very nice OS dealing with the Berserker Slash where after an advance guard into BS he would just do Gamma Wave and if I crossed up I ate a Gamma Crush. Felt like I was playing the computer or something (who would on reaction counter B Slash). Anyway I lost to him but did well in losers brackets made it into grand finals thanks to great overall air throw game and difficult to read mix ups in the corner (thank you tournament streams).
Played against Wesker/Haggar/Doom and boy did that shit leave me SSSSSSAAAALLLTTTTTTYYYY. I got put into the blender and couldn't get out. I also think that Wesker + Haggar has a guard break like Viper + Ammy or Magneto + Doom because there were times I could've sworn I was grabbed out of block stun. Even my mix ups/rushdown was getting blown up by Haggar. When I was at range, I would get sniped by Doom lasers or stray gun shots. His Doom was average, good but not godlike. The only round I won was when I snapped in Haggar and XFactor killed him. I should've played Iron Man in grand finals but I wasn't confident in him after an extended break from play.
2nd time in a row I have been eliminated by Haggar in a tournament. I am tired of that asshole, GOOD on Capcom to nerf that mustache jackass to shit. But anyway I took care of my salt by spending almost 6-8 hours in the lab straight. Worked on my Akuma combos after air throw, still dodgy but I can get it sometimes if the height is low enough. Props to Noel Brown for getting it almost all the time, it definitely isn't easy. I am now very confident in performing the "Justin Wong" with Akuma. Made up a few gimmicks with Wesker and his Jaguar Dash in preparation for Vergil. I am definitely going to miss Akuma's soft knockdown on Tatsu, that thing made continuing combos much easier although I will gladly take it for the air command flips because I am sure now I can do air throw follow ups MUCH easier with Akuma.
