From: larsen@hellgate.utah.edu (Steve Larsen)
Subject: SF2CE Thunder Edition
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 04:56:25 GMT



Well, at last, the Thunder Edition appeared at a local 7-11.  Being the
diehard SF2 fan that I am, I had to go check it out.  Well, I have one 
resounding comment about it.  CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, GIVE ME FU*&ING STRENGTH.
(OK, two comments, one repeated a few times, just don't flame me please)

Now, am I correct in hearing that this is Capcom's release.  I can't believe
it.  This is without a doubt the cheapest SF2 attempt I have ever seen.
Let me tell you my story.

I walk in to 7-11, and proceed immediately to the TE (Thunder Edition) not
really being convinced it is there (you know how word of mouth is).  Well,
it was, and there were about 3 quarters on it, so I added mine to the
queue.  Well, I finally got up to play, and picked Guile (of course, he is
THE best).  So the guy I am playing says, "Ever played this before?"  "No,"
I reply.  Now, he gets this shitty look on his face which seems to imply,
"watch this."  So the first round starts(he is Ken), and he proceeds to do
nothing but jab dragon punches (which travel laterally about 1/2 the
distance of the screen if it doesn't hit you first).  The game is about
twice as fast, so this is incredibly difficult to get out of.  Every thing
I did, I got dragon punched.  Well, after getting a perfect on the first
round, I guess he figured he was up against a real loser, so he changed to
Blanka.  Well, guess what I did to him the second round.  Yep, I switched
over to Ken and gave him some of his own.  "Ha Ha you cheap piece of shit,"
I bellow at the conclusion of the round.  So the last round starts, and I
don't even give him a change to change characters, I just start DPing him
to death.  After another perfect, he looks at me like I took away his
birthday (well, I did take his last quarter).  Not to be daunted, I say,
"Just remember Grasshopper, the day you beat me with many cheap move, is
the day you finally crest puberty.  Oh, and by the way, NANNY, NANNY,
NANNY, you silly Brazillian lizard.  Now, go away, or I will crush you a
second time."  (sorry, Monty Python tangent) Well, this young kid steps up
with Guile (I changed to Zangief) and proceeds to launch a volley of sonic
booms the likes of which I couldn't even have imagined possible.  He threw
them high.  He threw them low.  He throw a lot of them.  Well, I didn't
even get a chance to get close to him before I was done.  After a venomous
look, and at least 2 comments about the questionability of the relationship
between his parents (or whether he had human parents), the second round
started.  I quickly switched to Guile, and the fun began.  Nothing better
than a whole round of just seeing who could crank that joystick back and
forth fastest.  Well, I lost.  I contribute this loss to 2 things.  First,
I had to change characters at the beginning of the round, giving him a head
start.  Second, he seemed to be very comfortable with this repetitious
oscillatory motion of the hand at approximately waist level, though I am
not sure why.  Well, my turn finally came around again, and this time I was
ready.  I had done some LaMaz exercises in the interim, as well as some
meditation and the induction of a few steroids, so I felt pretty confident.
I began as Guile, and beat the little (bleep)er.  Well, I didn't lose again
for at least 15-20 quarters.  This is GUILE fighter.  I can't believe the
things you can do.  I have already managed a 7 hit combo with Guile.  When
the opponent is dizzy, throw 2 slow sonics, jump in just the right time and
do Guile's 5 hit combo.  While you are executing this combo, the two sonic
you pitched also hit him.  It is easy to imagine more sonic booms, and
hence more hits in this combo.  Very easy, and usually a re-dizzy.  I have
found as Guile, that if the opponent is dizzy, i can stand about 2 inches
away from him a pitch strong sonic booms, and this itself it a combo of any
length desired by the player.  Once you get them dizzy once, the game is
over.  I can't believe it.  This game takes away all the allowance put into
the CE (superior priority when countering ticking type throws, less damage
per attack, etc) and magnifies the original cheapness.  I can nearly
guarantee you that the first time you play a Ken who does nothing but jab
dragon punches, you will be convinced that it is impossible to counter with
most players (with human timing).

Now, I will give a summary of the changes:

The game is a lot faster.

No charging is required for any move that did require it.

All projectile attacks travel in sinusoidal pattern.

Characters can (through various special moves) travel off the top of the
screen and wrap around to the bottom.

Any move can be executed at any time, except during the delay following an
already executed move (ie: you can do the moves in the air).


Ryu:
 
-  Fierce fireball VERY fast.
-  Jab fireball VERY slow.
-  Hurricane Kick travels length of the screen very fast
-  Dragon punches travel laterally a big distance.

Ken:

-  Same as Ryu, except,
  
    Hurricane Kick travels real fast.  If you don't blow the first blow,
    you will usually be caught in the egg-beater until dizzyness.  Even if
    blocked, it will do approximately 1/3 damage.

E. Honda:

-  Fierce bullet is VERY fast.  More like teleportation.  You can't see him
    move
-  Walks very fast.  Faster than Chun Li.

Chun Li:

-  Bird Kick is executed with head actually touching the ground.  Must
   low against it.  Moves very fast laterally.  Even blocked it will
   relieve you of approximately 1/2 of your health.

-  She can move with wind kick (a.k.a Honda's hand slap)

Blanka:

-  Can throw sonic booms (he's in electricity for short time after)

-  Ball goes up and over the opponent and strikes from behind.

Zangief:

-  Moves VERY fast.

-  Jumps VERY far (like Bison).

Guile:

-  Can pitch infinite amount of sonic booms.

-  Lack of charging time make Guile WAY TOO strong.  I can already
   crush anyone with him.  Even the master non-Guile players

Dhalsim:

-  Walks ridiculously fast.  Faster than Blanka's ball.  He can a lot
   of times just walk up to you and throw/noggie you before you can
   react.  Very dangerous.

Sagat:

-  Same applicable modifications as Ken/Ryu.

Bison:

-  jab cheesepedo is real fast.  others still hit multiple times.


I couldn't detect any noticeable difference in the Vega or Balrog other
than the ones listed for all players.  These are just the ones I could
think of, so I may have missed some.  Also, I didn't play some characters
as much as others, so I may not know some of the things that can be done.

Overall, this game is kinda fun now, but will wear out soon.  It is way
to cheap, and seams way to biased.  I only hope that the same thing will
happen as did happen when CE came out, and everyone thought that Bison was
too strong.  However, I think that Guile will always be way too strong here.



Well, I guess that is enough rambling for now.  I will leave you to your
own thoughts.  Just let me say in closing, 


GUILE RULES.  ALWAYS HAS.  ALWAYS WILL.  

Steve