Behind the Visions: The Gunslingers

So I have teased it on this page and my other blog. I am now proud to announce "The Gunslingers" my brand new KOF XIII combo video.

This combo video idea came to me after playing 'Bastion' (an Xbox Live Arcade game which I got for free :-D). I was enthralled and entranced by not only the game play but also the music. I thought, we don't have enough 'Western' flavored combo videos so I decided to run with it. I've always been a fan of gunslingers. One of my favorite novels is the 'The Dark Tower' by Stephen King which features Roland a gunslinger of old. I also love 'Firefly' and 'Serenity' and the old Western feel it had.

On top of that, I felt the gunslinger mentality of 'kill or be killed' and the need to be fast on the draw was rather similar to a fighting gamer. One needs quick wits, reactions and speedy hands to survive in the competitive fighting game world.

Intro: A lot of crazy moments, from Ralf's Neo Max and Maxima's shooting his lazer to Ash's 'Seal' Desperation Move. Note: this scene is a play on 'Ash-ole' but reversed. Instead of going into sepia tone, this time we are leaving the sepia tone as the DM concludes.

Hwai: Nice bread and butter for Hwai that requires full drive but only 2 meters for crazy damage. I'm actually surprised Hwai players don't use his aerial f,d,df+K in the air more in combo videos.

Ralf: Mid-screen 2 meter, Hyper Drive (HD) combo. Very practical if Ralf is your lead character and does very good damage for such little meter. I love the look of the chaining of qcf+P into b,f+P.

Ash: I got this idea from a post on Gamefaqs. We were discussing what was possible if Ash could carry an opponent to the wall and do his Sans Coutte (his install super). Nothing too fancy because I was saving that for the finale combo. As I mentioned on Gamefaqs, I bet Ash gets some perverse pleasure from watching people bounce on his big green balls.

Maxima: Heavy hitting combo, very meter intensive tho. A lot of people didn't know Maxima can cancel his EX anti air grab into his DM. Now you know.

Kyo: I like to call this color custom 'Vampire Kyo'. Pretty deadly combo off his over-head and I had to throw in a tiger knee Orochi Nagi (qcb,hcf+ 2 punches) for style points.

Clark: Yep, Clark has combos. Sticking with the theme of 'fast on the draw' Clark cancelling EX Gatling Gun (2 punches rapidly) into his DM looked pretty pimp.

Chin: Yes Chin LOL. I don't think I have ever sat down and used Chin in any KOF but in XIII he is a combo beast so I had to explore what he could do. True story, I originally pitched 'The Gunslingers' idea to myself as a story narrated by Chin to the viewers. I decided that wasn't really worth the hassle in the long run tho.

Vice: Fast hands again (makes sense now the theme doesn't it?) and I do love how Vice's Neo Max looks.

Ralf: My favorite part of this combo is the fact that Billy barely leaves the ground after Ralf's DM before he hit him with the Neo Max. Looks hella painful.

Saiki: Pretty happy with this one. Happy how I was able to use most of Saiki's DM's in one combo. I like the HD directly into his grab DM (hcbx2 punch) also. I also pretty stoked when he dropped down on his opponent with the beat of the song.

Clark: I am guilty of going for easy combos with Clark when I get a chance but that's because I'm so use to the old Clark. KOF XIII combo system has been very nice to him and I like how flexible he is.

Kyo: Both Kyo and Ash are rocking Hazama (from BlazBlue) colors here. This is pretty much my new bread and butter for Kyo when I have full drive and 3 bars. I am particularly proud of the hcb+K xx b,d,db+ K cancel.

Ash: Ash returns the favor to Kyo. One of the requirements of doing this combo video was I had to get in a dual install DM combo with Ash in there. I also love the ending with the seal DM. A nice way to end the video.

So there you go. Hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes.

Don't go nowhere tho, I'll be back with the Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 Community Combo Video very soon!

P