VF4 Evolution Sarah Thread

I'm terribly sorry, Adio, it's actually not "Nose Bleeder" (d+3). I posted the wrong move name there unintentionally. I don't see Sarah has such a move yet. It's actually like Hwoarang's Low Uplift Kick (d+4,4).

 

To Adio:

Quick Knee: No follow-up option is provided; I've seen once or twice of QK from Sarah plays yesterday nite; But it's so quick that it's still a great counter hit trigger.

Somersault Kick: I think it's all about the command change only.

Video Demos: Remember the VF4 EVO promo video demos, I think the Sarah combo sequence is ~ (Flamingo) + +

Now the defense weakness as I notice from field plays is mainly during Flamingo stance.

One more point, there is a close-up shot for Sarah throw move which I forget the name, but it's so wonderful and powerful now in EVO. It looks more cinematic. The move is like this, she drag's the opponent by hand then has her heel on his neck, ending up by rolling him to the side.

 

No worries LeoT. I think I know the Hwoarang move you're talking about and that sounds good too. The Quick Knee sounds better and better, like Lion's knee. Changing the command of the Somersault Kick to + isn't so bad, like the Raising Knee (+ it will soon be adapted to.

Though, in general AM2 seems to have made a conscious decision to make Sarah's moves harder to execute as a whole (getting rid of long/short range variants of the same move etc). I just wish they'd fill with a command...

I haven't seen the Evo promo video you speak of but the fact that <font color="pink">FL:</font color> + is possible is good news. Hmmm, you could say that the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> has poor defence but, that's because it's purely an offensive stance designed to overpower the opponent with speed and priority rather then counter any attack. Depending on your skill, in my opinion you'll either love it or not bother to do anything more then <font color="pink">FL:</font color> when your in it.

Because you're knocked out of it when you are hit and because it's very linear despite it's dodge moves it can seem daunting to use but, it possesses a wealth of attacks and damaging throws if you can implement them well. I've always thought they should have put Sarah as Intermediate on the character select screen. But I'm bias.

One more thing, Sarah's new hair style (like my avatar picture). Does she now have it as her 2P costume, or do you have to earn/buy it? Have you seen her stage, do you know if there are any changes in it from Ver C?

 

Hi Adio:

I'll have a job next week. So probably the update will be less frequent but I'll keep on. Since Sarah is my most beloved character yet.

The vid I mentioned is here:
http://www.tbzone.co.kr/vf4e_pm_movie.wmv or
http://www.tbzone.co.kr/vf4e_pm_movie.mpeg

There're some good Sarah players here and i'll keep updating you their feedback from our local and BBS as well.

Now the general comment is, EVO Sarah is now in lack of mid-range/mid-to-close range attacks, Flamingo activation becomes the main tactics. That may be the intention of AM2. A EVO Sarah player without sophisticated Flamingo tactics will be a joke!

[Sarah's Stage]
Sarah stage has no big difference: all-wall enclosed, a lightning scene, a deep blue-gray tune, 12mx12m., same object setting in near background. However, there is a greater depth in the far background. You could spot the ruins up in the hill in far distance.

Since HK has not VF.Net connection, we couldn't acquire and equip items. The only bonus is to have the costume color changes. To my understanding, there are at least two short hair items (both are very good looking) obtained during the battle or trading. But it only happens in Japan.

 

Initial Feedback of Sarah EVO changes:

There are tremendous changes of command move characteristics (e.g. motion changes, attack level, special effect, range of attack, activation time, recovery time):

- + Deleted: Disappointed
- +: Slower than VF4
- +: Slower than VF4
- +: Now Up, very upset
- All Turn-away Attacks: Slower
- (Up, Mid): Very Useful
- to Flamingo: Good

Conclusion: (Since regular moves are weakened), Flamingo should be the key tactics

 

Thanks for the video link LeoT. But with regard to the changes you mentioned:

hitting high and mid is great news, it sounds like it will be used in a lot of float combos. Her regular stance moves have all been slowed down and + is gone?! isn't this the new command for the Somersault Kick? since + is now the Spin Heel Sword.

Are you saying that she no longer has the Somersault Kick from her regular stance?! You said that it was changed from to +. I see what you mean with her mid level attacks lacking now, so the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> has become vital to her, it's going to be tough but I like the sound of it.

By the way, congrats with the new job!

 

Y ou could input Somersault Kick in EVO by: or + now from her regular stance.

Spin Heel Sword (GameWeekly translation) + is a new move rather than a command change. But my interpreation is, the name should be Spin Heel Lead. If that's the case, it's nothing related to Spin Heel Sword in VF4. But I need to check it out later.



Thank you.

 

There's just so much that has changed. I'm sure it must be hard for you to express it all. I'd give anything to play Evo so I could gauge Sarah for myself. These changes are making my head hurt. I just wonder if anything I know from previous versions will still have some merit in Evo.

Using the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> much more is great news but relying on it is scary. What you said about many of her moves being slower is daunting as her speed is her greatest asset. I wonder if her has been affected? it's one of the fastest in the game and I use it constantly, (Punch Sidekick) for example is my close range move of choice. But, sounds like so much fun!

 

Well, I may post the EVO full command list once the official statistics is released.

By the way, if you remember my previous post, & is the key start-up strategy because of its speed advantage. It's also true when judging from the field plays even against agile Jacky. However, I don't see much use of even though it is here. Probably, the players are busy with trying Flamingo activators (altogether 10 now).

 

OK, I see what you mean. Players can look sloppy if they spend their time experimenting with the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> so I accept that could be the case. Yes indeed, TEN <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> activators:

(High)
+ (High)
+ (High)
(High Super fast)
+ (High Technically Low)
(Mid)
(Mid)
(Mid)
+ (Mid Sabaki)
+ (Mid)

Getting into the stance will no longer be a problem /versus/images/icons/grin.gif I'm a little disappointed that she didn't get any new moves for the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> but, in reality I know that she has all the possible avenues covered within it. I wonder what they've done to <font color="pink">FL:</font color> /+ though?

It's good to hear that , are intact. It bodes well for and by the sounds of your description will be joining them.

Thanks for the clip! Sarah's Mirage Kick () looks so slick! I swear it looks like she does an extra third kick when she performs as the two side kicks (love the animation) go straight into a high kick that I don't recognise as <font color="pink">FL:</font color> before she does the <font color="pink">FL:</font color> + Hit Throw. It sort of makes sense to me as the Mirage Kick was always the third kick in previous versions.

Besides, if I'm wrong then <font color="pink">FL:</font color> has become MUCH faster. Either way I really like the new animation to Sarah's . It makes her VF4 version look pathetic. I can imagine <font color="pink">FL:</font color> looking so stylish! Five (maybe six if I'm right) quick kicks in a row over all three attack heights, it would make an excellent looking replay!

It's amazing how a little in game footage can make you forget about any weaknesses Sarah might have, regardless, as usual she'll look good throughout.

Hey LeoT, you've done more then enough already, the command list sounds like a lot of work and time (which you'd be too busy to do because of your new job). To be honest I'm just content to watch the video promo over and over...

 

EDIT: With regard to the Mirage Kick, the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> IS that fast! On closer inspection the actual combo in the clip was the second of followed by <font color="pink">FL:</font color> (I recognise the "one two animation" where she hooks her leg to make the second kick), <font color="pink">FL:</font color>+.

No new moves for the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> but It definitely looks faster to me, which means high priority. My theoretical combo would still work too (so that's five kicks).

 

What a detective eye! Since it's god damn fast, it is difficult to trace it unless repeatedly playback. In other words, the combo is FL:.+, right?

 

Correct. I can see why the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> has been perceived as her prime method of attack now. It's much faster then before, or at least the <font color="pink">FL:</font color> variants are.

The part in the clip where she goes into <font color="pink">FL:</font color> + (Hand Hold Neck Cut) was near seamless like one smooth combo. If your timing is good and you can execute her Hit Throw regularly then that's a lot of damage in a short space of time.

I was thinking about what you said regarding Sarah's + kicks being slower to execute/recover. With Dragon Smash Cannon (), , (Elbow) and her X combos intact I still think her strengths will remain in float combos. I now sort of see her regular stance moves as gap fillers between a float combo and the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color>.

Since not enough paths were available before to enter the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color>, I can understand how it was necessary for Sarah to use all the standing + kicks at her disposal for attacking but now that's no longer the case hence they've mostly given way to <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> activators. If her moves have been slowed then there must be some factor that balances this.

She has more High hitting moves and I suspect that she'll have more crescents too. Her past technique speed made up for the linear direction of her kicks. Moves like + and + were quite easy to dodge by skilled players if they had a feeling they were coming. If her new regular stance kicks are going to be more visible then, for balance sake they should be harder to dodge or have better qualities like range and overall style /versus/images/icons/grin.gif. That's my logic.

Of the top of my head I can think of techniques that I believe will be or still be used a lot besides her <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color>:

: Still one of the fastest in the game (I think only Lion and Pai are as fast?)

: Sarah has been taking lessons from Jacky! Now that it hits High, Mid I feel this will be a serious problem for opponents. Of course I haven't seen the animation but even if it's not practical on the ground I'm sure something like will work wonders.

: The Double Joint Butt () or the Chop () are still available so nothing should change here.

: Thankfully it does still hit Mid. A great round opener and general poke, if a little easy to dodge. Hopefully after an MC + still does a good deal of damage.

: This new Quick Knee sounds really useful. I keep thinking of how a good Lion uses their knee to intercept so many attacks at close range then follows through with an attack of their own. With very little recovery and the priority a knee should have this move sounds like fun.

: Largely forgotten after VF2 this move (Dash Knee) is arguably my favourite (I feel it epitomises her style). An amazing surprise attack that covers distance in a flash and if successful leaves Sarah relatively safe (Only throw counterable). It's great to use when your opponent thinks they're out of range of anything you could throw at them (The old + in this scenario would be too slow).

So you guard to buffer in the motion in order to conceal your intentions then Bam, from two spaces away you knee them in the face and the opponent is none the wiser. It's also a good follow up after her /++ dodge attack (Right/Left Side Kick) hits.

: Though I always preferred the close range version I guess this version is better for the distance it travels. Using it to hit low rising attacks, you could have used either one if your timing was good so I'm glad this version was kept. I hope it still has it's float properties too.

: Finally, a sidekick that doesn't condemn you as soon as you use it from any distance other then the very edge of it's range. From the promo clip it looked very fast and very cool (It seems that she shares the animation with Jacky too). The kicking fiend of VF should rightly have a Middle Kick worthy of her.

+: It will no doubt still be used to crush all sorts of low sweeps and follow up crafty mind games after and . The old variant (+) was useful for covering a vast distance and still retaining the original's properties but, it was more of a wake up call against skilled opponents in my experience. I mainly used it to hit Shun from a distance when he was in his stances. This is the better version, faster to execute but slower to recover. If use it wisely it shouldn't be blocked.

+: Only the command has changed. The Raising Knee is still the best low attack punishing move she has. When a delayed is added the Raising Knee Combo altogether does an impressive 58pts and that's without any sort of counter bonuses that it usually gets if used wisely.

+: Where would Sarah be without her Low Spin Kick sweep? I don't want to think about it. Needless to say it should still be a good move in Evo.

These moves alone leave her in good stead. So when you think about her floaters (, , and +) with all those possibilities and the vast amount of <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> activators she looks fine to me.

Then you have her throws. + is replaced with a new technique that guarantees a Soccer Kick () like her Fallen Angel Throw (+) so the damage it can reap is at least 45pts to around 50pts. And, her new + (Sweet Spin) which is bound to do a ton of damage. She still has only three throw escape directions (,,) but she's not a character to be played with throwing in mind (Unless in the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color>). But, she has the power if the need arises which is excellent.

 

With the + kicks slowed down in terms of execution, I wonder if Sarah will still be able to throw them into float combos. One of my favourites is , , +, pounce. There's a few other combos that involve +, I wonder if she'll still be able to do those?

 

I know what you mean. I use , , +, but that's gone now in Evo. I hope + (Round kick) is intact too. In Ver C it leads to good damage on a counter so that you could follow through with (Jackknife Middle Kick) or, add it on as an extra bit of damage in , , +.

I don't see why AM2 would have reason to change it, they've already got rid of the variant (+) so they must know of it's uses. Whether or not her regular stance + kicks have any float combo potential depends on how AM2 think they should be used.

If, like I said before, they're only fillers to get into the <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> or get a float then they'll probably not have much combo potential outside of creating activator opportunities. On the other hand, there could be loads of uses for the kicks, personally I hope it's the latter as for me, the flashier the combo the better.

My combo of choice in Ver C is: +, , . The timing is tight and it requires an MC for the first hit but it's meaty and makes a good finisher in my opinion. Oh, what do you think of Sarah's new regular stance animation? Personally I love it, it looks just like Jacky's and is very Jeet Kune Do looking. They seem to share more aesthetic techniques; their regular stance posture, Middle Kick and Somersault Kick for example. I like that, unlike the Chans it shows that they train together I guess.

I like these little details.

 

My mistake, +, , (with regard to my favourite Ver C. combo) doesn't require an MC but both players must share the same stance (open/open or closed/closed).

 

Hey thanks Adio,thanks a lot!

 

Reference: http://www1.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~texas/movie.html

By watching the vid, I've noticed some of the new tactics played by the Sarah Player:

21th secs - (Counter hit)~+
47th secs - ~+~
1min 5th secs - ~+~+~
1min 27th secs - + (very fast, finish off hit at point blank)
1 min 31st secs - (Float) +
1 min 44th secs - (Staggering) FL:

 

Cheers LeoT. Thanks to the goodwill of CreeD I can actually comment too (Hurrah!).

21th secs: This is amazing. if the Quick Knee can allow one throw to be executed then it can work with any other. Fast moves like or should have a good chance to.

47th secs: The first part looked like + (Leg Slicer) to me as it's the only move I know of that can give the crumble animation on an MC. Followed by +, <font color="pink">FL:</font color> . I wonder if this will work on anyone else other then Aoi, as the lightest character she's fodder for Sarah's combos. Looked really good though.

1min 5th secs: The throw was actually + (Fallen Angel Throw) which the player followed up with (Soccer Kick). It was the KO animation that allowed +, <font color="pink">FL:</font color> and again this is Aoi we're talking about.

1 min 31st secs: I've seen her in another clip and that wasn't it in my opinion. The kick hit mid then turned into a kick that resembled the Dragon Smash Cannon and floated Aoi. It's a guess of course but I'd say it was the Serpent Smash Cannon (+).

1 min 44th secs: That was definitely followed by <font color="pink">FL:</font color> , good to see it still works.

I'm interested in knowing what command produces the kick seen at 1 min 13 secs then again at 1 min 14 secs. It seems like it could be one of her new/remodelled + kicks.

+ (Valkyrie Sword) seems like it could be a replacement for any float combo that required . Even as an extra hit after say +, you could tag on + (Valkyrie Low) instead of . It depends how much damage + does though, The full combo is bound to do more then (15pts) but individually I don't know.

Check out the latest Daioh clip with Sarah against Wolf:

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~daioh/movie/daioh_02810evo1.wmv

It shows her spectacular new +, and a jumping kick move (looks like one of Hwoarang's moves). It could actually be while landing from a jump, I don't know. It's very Tae Kwon Do looking.

 

Update: This clip:

lhttp://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~daioh/movie/daioh_02810evo2.wmv

Shows that + (MC), + doesn't work on heavy weights. So it may be effective as far as Shun or Sarah herself. A lightweight combo only.

1 min 45 secs: Shows a Mid kick followed by two High kicks that was in the Wolf vs Sarah clip I mentioned in my previous post. It's a <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> activator but I'm at a lose to think of a command that could produce three kicks separately, could it be + (Storm Combination)?

That can't be right as it has a punch command in the string (+ Wind Knuckle) so I just don't know. I'm thinking that does an extra kick (Mirage Kick was always three hits while Illusion Kick was two).

1 min 55 secs: Feather Scare Crow () Looks just like Hwoarang's move (AM2 have really been studying his moves). It was beaten by a rising kick but it must have good priority as it isn't very fast. I wonder what properties it possess by being a <font color="pink">Flamingo</font color> activator.

2 min 3 secs: Finally we see the in action. Looks great in my opinion. Not only aesthetically but gameplay wise the High, Mid nature of the kick means that it will work well in floats.

You know LeoT. After seeing the above clips, I think the combo in that Evo promo video was in fact , <font color="pink">FL:</font color> +. If I'm right then I've mistaken <font color="pink">FL:</font color> for the second part of . (It's a gut feeling).