Amigdala85 also mentions a reset video for Sakura, which you can find on the jump. Although this is for vanilla, everything should still work in SSF4.
Someone has to do something for Hakan...urgently. :( good vid though
they didnt show her ambiguous cross up shenanigans from a grab, sweep, or if yer opponent is in the corner.
Interesting video, but his advice seems to suggest you should rely heavily on mix-ups. I don't claim to play at a high level, but I would assume anyone confident enough to say they do will not be fooled by a mix-up heavy Sakura player. Also, the lack of the cr. mk xx hp srk, fadc, cl hp to whatever missing his suggestions for her kind of makes me sad. I consider this her second most important link, behind cl/cr. hp after lk shunpu. ;(
It's a good video guide overall, much better than what I could crank out since I can't narrate for crap lol.
He does make a couple good points though, some of her normals are good footsie tactics to get in and get some damage on the opponent.
He also has most of the reset options out there, but like Mune said, although she has a great variety of mix-up options and resets, don't take them too lightly. On a dummy you can practice them. In a real match you can get mashed out of it :/.
Regardless, good stuff though.
I main Sakura heavily, and these videos aren't meant to be a "Go-to Guide" for people thinking of picking her up. I saw it more as a refresher course. Something to add onto your existing game. The title said "Sakura Improvement". Granted, there are many mix-up possibilities left out, but her FADC combos aren't too practical imo.
yea using pad isnt bad, all trials completed with one. Just the main problem i have with it is the damned triggers on either systems and the dpad wearing down in responsiveness over time on the ps3, 360 pad is godawful and opt to use the analog if playing on that over a friends.
@#21 with juri you could do a custom button config to get rid the 3p and 3k and replace both with a different kick button each for for holding purposes so you can still have your fingers to hit the punches no prob.
@amigdala
do u use 4 button or 6 button face pad..either way please make tutorial for plinking on pad..
The funny thing about mixups is that they only really work against players who understand and respect that they are in a nasty 50/50 situation. Mixups don't really work against a player who doesn't really understand the risks behind performing a reversal at every opportune chance.
The solution? Use good fundamentals until you teach this kind of player to block on wakeup... THEN mixups will start to actually work.
@amigdala Thanks for the video, man. I switch back and forth between pad and stick, so that really isn't the issue. At least, not for me.
@melflomil I didn't say it was bad, just not as practical as some of her other tools. But it's definitely good to use against someone who's wised up to your EX Tatsu shenanigans.
Wow a video about resets and the worst shenanigans ever. And he calls it improving your Sakura... At least people will look at this and not want to play her or still think she's weak. Watch Uryo or Skatan or any of the high ranking Japanese players and most of this guys video is just unrelated dribble... Ultra 2 is much better against most characters do to the ability to OS it, combo off any shouoken in the corner (which means you can carry them to the wall with a combo and end with a shouoken, so you don't need the extra meter for EX tatsu, which you can't combo from c.mk most of the time), it's a great anti air and even on wake up you can stuff almost any cross up tatsu or burn kick without autocorrecting.
There are quite a few things people misunderstand about sakura. Her FADC is not at all useful<- Not true, Sakura is a gauge dependent character, gauge=damage to her. If you want to be good at sakura and play at high level, try not to do EX hurricane every time you hit a cr. fierce and do her link combos instead, save up your meter for super or EX shoouken. EX tatsu shenanigans are great and safe but it you burn all your meter on it you won't beat anyone with solid defence, fake jump and mixups after shououken and 2nd hit of otoshi is your damage source. People will fear to risk to take 40% or more when you have 3 bars. You can take away 50%~60% on a low health character easily using 4 bars and ultra with EX shououken FADC.(which burns all your resources but it'll be one of those WTF moments for your opponent.) Watch Uryo's sakura and see if you think I'm just bsing.
Also U2 will be the choice against Akuma, Viper, Cammy, or Chun, especially Akuma. It's not like you are gonna land a big combo every time on a decent Akuma player, but he sure demon flip and jumps a lot during the fight, aim for it. Anti air U2 has really weird hit box on the first hit it can hit people behind you even if they are crossing you up, works in the corner as well.
Nice tutorial there. I have also a video of sakura spending gauge and ultra. You might want to checki it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYO6Ye...
It's funny due to a few bad macth ups and a low position on the tier list she was deemed "underpowered" which is far from the truth....