Reversals: Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix

Last updated on Jan. 16, 2009

Overview

A Reversal is executing a move on the first possible frame you're allowed to do so.

For example, if you're knocked down and playing Ken, if you execute a Dragon Punch at the exact moment you stand the text "Reversal" will come out on screen and you'll score 1,000 points, but there's more to this than just getting a message.

There are certain tactics and strategies in HD Remix that can only be countered by Reversal moves. That is, certain moves you execute within 1/60th of a frame after getting up off the ground, blocking a move, recovering from being hit, landing from being knocked out of the air or getting out of a dizzy.

In HD Remix all characters have ways of pulling off Reversals, but some are much more effective than others.

Reversal Throws

Only Special and Super moves will actually make the Reversal message appear on screen, but it's possible to pull off a Reversal with a throw as well.

All characters can do this, but they must be within their throw range to pull it off. If you've played the game a lot, you've probably already done this without realizing exactly what it is.

When executed correctly, you'll immediately throw your opponent, but unlike Reversal Moves, throws usually have more limits. Mainly, there are some Meaty attacks and Special Moves you cannot throw an opponent out of, plus if your opponent is jumping you obviously can't throw them.

So while a Reversal Throw can be a pretty good tool, some characters have much better moves which are capable of knocking their opponent out of almost anything.

Reversal Moves

The following is a list of special moves you should be using to pull of a Reverse. While there are more attacks you can use than the ones listed here — these are your most effective options.

Note: In HD Remix all characters can Reverse with their Supers too. And keep in mind — not all Special or Super moves are created equal in regard to Reversals.

Akuma: Dragon Punch. Hurricane Kick some times works alright against projectiles.
Balrog (Boxer): Buffalo Headbutt.
Blanka: Beast Roll or Upwards Beast Roll.
Cammy: Cannon Spike or Spinning Knuckle.
Chun Li: Up Kicks.
Dee Jay: Up Kicks, Light Kick Dread Kicks against low attacks.
Dhalsim: Yoga Teleport.
E. Honda: Headbutt or Ooichou Throw. You can also use his Sumo Splash, but his Ooichou and Headbutt are much better options.
Fei Long: Flame Kick or Flying Kicks.
Guile: Flash Kick.
Ken: Dragon Punch.
M. Bison (Dictator): Devil's Reverse.
Ryu: Dragon Punch. Hurricane Kick some times works alright against projectiles.
Sagat: Tiger Uppercut.
T. Hawk: Hawk Slam or Tomahawk Buster.
Vega (Claw): Flip Kick or either Punch or Kick Back Flips.
Zangief: Screw Piledriver.

For the most part — Light attacks tend to offer the most invincible frames and are usually the best ways to attempt a Reversal, but this isn't always the case.

For example, Zangief, T. Hawk and E. Honda's command throws work just as well with Hard Punch as they do Light when used as Reversals.

Posted by supersize56 on January 22, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. #1

WHEN do you do reversals. i did read the guide, but i still get my a$$ kicked trying to do one. i just keep getting tripped or crouching lk while trying to do it. People seem to do the reversal to me almost all the time. I've played sf2 since it came out in '91 and this is the first time ever that i've had a hard time doing reversals. Is it lag?

Posted by avid444 on January 23, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. #2

No doubt, man! I've had a hard time gettin' those off in Remix, and I still don't know what I'm doing wrong. I probably played too much Alpha for my own good, but the timing on these reversals is ridiculous now, especially online when an inconvenient (for me) moment of lag leaves me whiffing the move and my opponent just tears me up.

Posted by ShinRyuHoshi on January 25, 2009 at 6:23 p.m. #3

It helps a lot if you use the 'piano method' to pull off a reversal. It's in the HD Remix help guide. Basically, input the movement of the reversal as you get up and when you are ready to press the button, instead of pressing one button, quickly press the low, medium, and hard punch/kick in a rapid sequence to increase to chance of pulling off the reversal. The game reads the button when you press AND release the button so using the 'piano method' improves your chances a bit more. Good luck.
-SRH-

Posted by myxednuttz on January 26, 2009 at 3:18 p.m. #4

man im finally able to reverse the raging demon..hard as freak..but looks nice when u finish with that reverse...everyone is like WTF?!!? lol...

Posted by mrhumble1 on January 28, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. #5

The tiny reversal window is the main reason I stopped playing HR Remix. The piano method isn't guaranteed, and if you miss a reversal when someone is rushing you down you are going to eat a ton of damage.

Hopefully SF IV won't have this problem.

Posted by duelle on February 4, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. #6

The main problem is the inherent lag of online play. It may seem perfectly smooth with 3+ frame windows, but when you get down to 1 or 2 frame windows, the lag really shows. When playing my friend in person reversals are just as simple as always.

Posted by DannyC on March 1, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. #7

if you find yourself gettin a lot of damage cuz your tryin to pull off a reversal, it so much easier to just block and play some Defense, you would be surprised of the outcome, people will have a harder time playing and defeating you

Posted by Percy on March 9, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. #8

M.Bison's best reversal is his super. If you use it you won't deal much damage (unless they've tried to tick you from the floor), but it is far superior at escaping than Devils Reverse.

Clearly, the downside is that if you don't have a super, you don't have this option.

Posted by sir jibbajabba on March 16, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. #9

i agree with duelle. reversal's being pulled off on-line in a -3 frame window is harder than a bag of angry badgers.
playing arcade mode, no problemo.
lady lag is the nemesis

Posted by Zkk on March 20, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. #10

You can't really blame the lag since there is no input lag in HD remix's netplay. None at all.

Posted by Fatty McFatass on March 20, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. #11

"...that is, certain moves you execute within 1/60th of a frame after getting up off the ground..."

Do you mean 1/60th of a second (one frame)? 1/60th of a frame doesn't make much sense.

Posted by Duelle on March 20, 2009 at 4:38 p.m. #12

@Zkk

Actually, if you look under the options in the game there is an option for "Network Smoothing" which, to my knowledge, is the same as GGPO's frame/input delay option. I have changed it from medium to low and noticed inputs are slightly more responsive and reversals are a bit easier to pull off.

Even if there were no input lag in the netcode, there is always going to be a small amount of latency. The trick is getting that latency below 1/60th of second so that it's basically unnoticeable. 1/60th of a second is 16.6667ms, so if everyone had a nice FiOS connection we'd be in business. The Japanese are lucky in that the country is small enough to allow affordable fiber-optic networking pretty much everywhere but they don't even need it since they still have arcades.

Posted by Panda on March 21, 2009 at 5:21 p.m. #13

You say all characters can reversal with super, but you're wrong. Vega's super cannot be used as a reversal.

Also, I'm fairly certain that Zangeif's lariat can be used as a reversal, and due to missing hitboxes, akuma's red fireball can be used as a reversal (No joke).

Posted by Ryu on July 6, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. #14

Yeah - Reversals being inconsistent and obnoxiously
difficult to pull off online are sort of a turn-off
for me, granted the game is still fun but it's a shame
I have to give up even attempting them in favor of just playing more defensively due to latency issues

Posted by Valter on September 3, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. #15

#10

"You can't really blame the lag since there is no input lag in HD remix's netplay. None at all."

Zkk, you are an idiot.

Posted by Talver on October 26, 2009 at 8:46 a.m. #16

#10

"You can't really blame the lag since there is no input lag in HD remix's netplay. None at all."

Zkk, you sir are and idiot :)