Published , by Ozzie Mejia
Published , by Ozzie Mejia
Times are tough and the world appears irreparably divided. But there's one man who wishes to unite all of the people of Earth. And he wishes to unite them under his rule. He's a mysterious, gold-skinned man called G, one of the latest members of the Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition roster. His goal is to be President of the Earth and his campaign includes blazing a trail of freedom over any fighter that gets in his way.
Shacknews hits the campaign trail and enters the lab for a closer look at this new third season addition. We know his basic moves, but what else can people look forward to from G?
While more recent additions to the Street Fighter V roster have been casual-friendly, G looks to be strictly for advanced users. Sure, he has the long reach and a nice overhead kick that casuals will die for. But the key to using G effectively is in keeping his Presidentiality meter high. Doing so involves utilizing his G Charge by hitting down twice and hitting two punch buttons. The problem is that G's Presidentiality meter gets depleted whenever he gets knocked down. After all, a President of Earth can't show weakness, right?
Fortunately, G can be a defensive force. Strong President (Back + HP) is a killer anti-air uppercut. It not only gets great range, but also leaves the opponent vulnerable to juggle combos or other special moves. His V-Skill, G Barrier, is one of the better defensive options in the game. It can not only absorb projectiles, but it can also prevent opponents from getting in close. Even teleports can be directly countered by the G Barrier, especially with V-Trigger I active. For offensive-minded players, getting opponents into the corner will often allow them to juggle with the G Barrier.
G's specials are effective pieces of work, but Level 3 Presidentiality will spoil you. They not only cause more damage, but they create additional mixup possibilities. G Smash Over, in particular, becomes insanely powerful, bouncing opponents off the opposite end of the screen for juggling potential. Performing moves like the G Spin Kick without that extra pop feels like something's missing. Worse yet, those underpowered specials leave G more vulnerable.
For casual players looking to get an edge, they won't find it with G. Hardcore players who have practiced their blocking and anti-airs, as well as their aggressive play, will find G to be one of the best characters in the game. But the average Joe who's just looking to plug in a controller and play won't find anything special here.
The reception to G over the past week has been largely positive. One common consensus regarding the President is that he's amazingly powerful, especially after mastering his Presidentiality meter mechanic.
Naoki "Nemo" Nemoto has been on fire on the Capcom Pro Tour as one of the best Uriens in the world. But what happens when he gets his hands on the President? He wreaks total havoc.
Time will tell whether Nemo opts to put Urien to the side in favor of G. There are a few kinks to work out, as evidenced in the Vega matchup. But Nemo's G already looks frightening, especially with the comeback potential of V-Trigger I.
Gustavo "801 Strider" Romero also demonstrates G's ability to come back from the brink. Again, it's mostly behind V-Trigger I, which gives the character the highest comeback probability this side of Abigail.
Still need more convincing? Here's Bryant "Smug" Huggins just downright abusing opponents with the G Smash Over and G Spin Kick juggles. Smug has been known for maining Dudley in Street Fighter IV and going to town with Balrog in SFV, but G looks to offer the kind of rushdown offense that's become his signature style.
How's your G experience been so far, ShackFighters? Join the conversation and let us know in the comments.