Just watched a few minutes of the chat these guys are having. Haven’t checked out everything yet as they talk more than just KI after a while. Anyway, very loosely translated..
//SUMMARY//
The three of them are discussing at some point what they are playing these days. Tokido talks about him trying out KI. Apparently, he also introduced KI to Mago at some point and is showing him some stuff as well. Even though Mago is less fond of KI than Tokido at this moment, but calls it an interesting game.
Tokido starts off the conversation saying that to play KI there are some hurdles for Japanese players to overcome. He cannot 100% recommend KI from an availability/accessibility point of view as he has to mention that it is currently only on one single platform: XB1, and that the XB1 is still quite pricey in Japan. Even up until this day both the PS4 and XB1 remain at a high price level in JPN, they lament. Mago, on the far left, asks again if it is on PS4 (
). Tokido explains not on PS4 and not on Steam. Only XB1.
They ask Tokido how KI works. So he gives an example of a common SFIV combo, but doesn’t name the character. But it’s likely a combo for Akuma from what I understand. Tokido then says that this wouldn’t work in KI as you would get your combo broken. (Mago yells “c-C-Combo breaker” at this point. And Momochi (guy in the middle ) is surprised that it makes such a sound…
Tokido goes on to explain the different strengths of your special move and the opponent’s breaker strengths and how that determines if the combo breaker will be successful or not. Btw, he is using street fighter terms and examples to explain it. He explains that linking various moves and specials together is how KI creates longer combos. Tokido then briefly goes into shadow moves and their purpose. They refer to EX moves as something similar in SF but only with more (5-)hits. ‘Bursts’ are sort of compared to both Combo Breakers and Counter Breakers. Lockouts is another topic as Tokido goes through the basics.
After some gameplay mechanics discussion, Tokido gives his opinion about what he likes about KI. Tokido likes both the game system (breakers, etc.) and character design. Tokido mentions that he is trying out Spinal at the moment.
Mago thinks the characters are evident of a more western (non Japanese) type of game and perhaps not very appealing to Japanese players. He mentions a Marvel character, who was hugely requested in the west but in Japan raises eyebrows. Further comparisons with Marvel and MK in respect to visuals are made by the three guys. Mago feels the realism or style is not very popular and a bit too dark for Japanese taste, while he understands why they are popular elsewhere in the world. Mago feels growing up in different cultures and countries from a young age impacts your tastes and that strongly affects what you like and dislike. They all agree on this last point, but still Tokido emphasizes again that HE likes the art style. The guys talk about how you have to be attracted to one specific character with MK or Marvel and you almost have to be lucky to have one such (cheerful) character in the roster. Mago also makes similar comments about KI’s music and the Japanese taste.
As for the gameplay system, Mago thinks the moves are very easy to understand and execute but the combo breaker system turns him off. He says that there is too much going on too fast and all at once. They all discuss the hard work of setting up and executing combos and then only for it to go to waste (interesting) when your opponent does a combo breaker. Especially Mago seems to see this as a negative aspect towards KI getting more popular. Tokido seems to find the ‘back and forth’ interesting and intriguing. Both Mago and Momochi continue to ask questions on mechanics. Momochi is mostly soaking it all up as he has never tried the game, while Mago tells about his brief experience. They briefly recall how Rico won EVO last year…
Tokido talks about online play. He tells the others how smooth it is. Unfortunately, few players online in Japan and after a while you will be paired up with overseas players, who are of course better and kick your a s s. Inviting friends (to get similar levels) is the way to go he advises Japanese players. Probably this stream was done last year, because Tokido shares with the others that next year (2016) PC version is to be released. Mago notes that this will be a cheaper option for Japanese FG players. (I couldn’t quite hear clearly but I think Tokido anticipates the increase of KI players with a PC release and therefore wanted to start earlier, hence the reason that he bought an XB1).
Tokido says he wants the two guys to try KI (or try KI more in Mago’s case). He also is looking for ways to train. He says how he currently only does short combos and his avg. damage output is about 20%-ish while his opponents usually get more than avg. of 30% on him. Apparently he is keen on playing more. Tokido complains to the guys how he likes to use medium linkers and medium ADs and that he gets punished by combo breakers constantly for doing so.
(this summary covers mainly 56min to 1hr10min mark)
/// END ///
They mention KI a few more times afterwards here and there. I haven’t heard the part about Tokido playing KI with EVO in mind but it is probably me that missed that part. Will add new stuff later this weekend but only if it’s significant and interesting… @WandaMaximoff thnx for the compliment.