Eclipse

Couple questions about Hazama and his pressure/ options to escape pressure. For some random reason I use mixup ten times more in CS2, so I'm glad I'm improving. But question 1: I often do j.B > 5B > 214D~A as a pressure string, and it surprises people. I've read that 214D~A is advantageous on block, and I usually follow it up with an immediate 2A. But recently I've noticed that Ragnas are Inferno Divider'ing immediately after 214D~A. If it was advantage on block, wouldn't there be no time frame for them to do so? I've even seen people 2A and 5A me after 214D~A, but it's possible I'm just not quick enough with the input. What can I follow it up with to create tighter gatlings, and not give my opponent's a chance to DP. (Obviously they'll always be able to DP during a stance I enter, but that's why you mix it up and don't use it after 3C.) Second question is what options does Hazama have in the corner when under pressure. Ragna and Makoto get out of my 2A range, so I can't wake up 2A anymore. They usually 5B or whatever Makoto has that keeps me in her range. The problem is when there's a gatling in their blockstring, I jump out. But they predict it and keep pressure on me by jumping in the air and attacking. I need another option to escape pressure. Don't want to use wake up Houtenjins since it's too risky, and 2A's range is too short to work in the situation I'm talking about. Advice?

Actually, you may have to follow the throw up with a (Dash) 5C > 2C > 6D~A > 4D~A... etc. And take out the 214D~C in the beginning. I think the proration won't allow the entire combo to finish. Or it's an easier link, so pros tend to go for it more often. I've gotten used to a lot of the changes. Like using 6C after Jayoku instead of going for 214D~C, depending on the starter.

If they're close enough to the corner. You can mizuchi rekkazan them as they bounce off the wall. I like to wait till they hit the corner. 5D, then Mizuchi for a little extra damage, and well, it just looks really flashy. Jayoku's almost always the better option, but now you can end nearly any jayoku combo with mizuchi since you build 50 heat. Love CS2 Hazama's diversity in combos and playstyle now. This game is 1,000 times better from my perspective. Somehow, I've gotten so used to CS2 Hazama, that I'm actually increasing my PSR.

Delay the Jakou more, and it should usually catch him. Make sure you're delaying the 6D~A, 4D~A, and j.7D~A as well.

That is far from being an easy link. It's actually one of Hazama's more difficult ones. You have to input 66C, and yeah, it's a moonwalk motion. Almost impossible to be consistent with online, even with the slightest lag.

This post is full of win. Best answer ever!

I'm here. And ready to destroy anyone with CS2 Hazama, if Sony/Aksys ever stops being a b***. Haha.

Fails every time for me, lol. But it could be due to the terrible PSP D-Pads. This is why we need the CS2 patch as soon as possible on the PS3.

Honestly, this parts pretty easy in CS2. The hardest part is the Dash 6C after j.6D. But make sure you're using 6D~A, 4D~A, and j.7D~A before 623D. Just hold up (9) during the ending animation of 623D, and as soon as you see Hazama leave the ground, press j.6D. I get it pretty much everytime using that method. Hope it helps.

Yeah, that tutorial was nothing short of amazing. Even a rough translation would help immensely. Watched it this morning, and practiced for around a couple hours.

Yeah, there are other mixups. Watch professional Hazama players, and you'll see the strategies they use. One of them Buppa tends to use is 5D~D followed by j.4D~D, or j.6D~D depending on your position relative to the opponent. Zidane often uses j.4D~D without letting it extend at all, which causes you to fly directly at your opponent if you're positioned correctly.

Okay. Must be a really fast input. To me, Hazama's combos in CS2 are much harder intuitively and the timing is more strict. Could be my imagination since I don't have the muscle memory yet... But then again, every combo for Hazama in CS1 was extremely easy. The only semi-difficult one was the double Houtenjin combo.

Now, I'm just confused, lol. But I'll try out the dash.

Question about CS2 Hazama. In this combo: 5B > 3C > 236236B > Dash 214D~C > 6C > Dash 5C > 2C > 6D~A > 4D~A > j.7D~A > 623D > j.6D~D > 6C > Dash 2C > j.C x 5 > 5C > 623D > 632146C I have trouble connecting the 6C after j.6D~D. Do I need to dash as soon as I touch the ground, then 6C. Or is the direction I'm jumping during j.6D~D screwing me up? I'm performing the combo on Ragna. Any help is appreciated. (By the way, love how Hazama's 50 Heat combos mid-screen automatically become 100 heat combos, and exceed 6-7k damage. Jayoku really is more threatening.)

So, basically it works on the entire cast the same way it worked on Tager in the original CS? It wasn't hard on Tager at all, but I had some trouble on a couple other characters.

So it's not like 623D > j.6D in CS1? That was character specific on Tager, etc, and extremely strict timing. It's more forgiving in CS2, right? haha

The follow up for j.5D if the opponent's also in the air is usually something like > j.B > j.C x n > JC > j.C x 5. Get as many of those hits in as you can since it builds heat and deals decent damage. Sometimes you can land and continue the combo with 2C, but that's rare since you'll need to be really close to the ground. Edit: Question about CS2 Hazama. I heard somewhere that 623D (Hungry Coils/ Jakou) lets you recover faster than it did before. Is this what makes the j.6D possible after it in the relaunce combos? And how easy is it to follow up a 623D with Dash 3C > Mizuchi Rekkazan, or j.6D etc in CS2?

It's not mandatory in a lot of cases. Just necessary depending on the distance your opponent is after 214D~C. You can even get multiple chains without the dash. It's recommended to learn and polish your skills, not required.

The second match between Buppa and Tetsu was much better though. And in response to what people said earlier. 3C CH does yield a lot of damage for Hazama, but that's only CH. His overheads are nothing to fear when he doesn't have heat. As some of the others have said, it's way too early to rant about characters being broken. And they're attempting to balance the game much more, so the discussion should probably end there. Back to video discussion: It seems like Tetsu wasn't trying as hard overall, but I look forward to there next matches. Now we just need a collection of Tetsu vs Buppa matches, just like Kaqn vs Buppa. Instead it'll be true ice vs snakes, haha.

I don't think Hazama is as unbalanced as you guys claim. Without meter, he has one of the lowest damage outputs in the game. Even in the corner, he usually nets around 2.5-3k if you're lucky. His high damage combos are higher damage than they were before, but rightfully so, since he needs the metere to make a significant impact. Burst out of his high damage combo, and he'll have to gain that 50 meter back again. He's definitely not broken, possibly A tier, but people certainly won't be tier-whoring him.

Interesting and good to know. Hazama seems to be more high damage off of Jayoku combos, or hardly any damage period. Occasionally some moderate damage in the corner. Anyways, thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

LK, what do you think of Hazama's playstyle and tier placement in CS2? And what could I do to improve my CS1 Hazama, knowing his changes in CS2? (Ex: Should I practice different blockstrings? Change my focus from mixup to zoning, etc?)

Now we just need to send it to the national newspapers...

It'll get easier through time. Hazama's combos are all about positioning, not strict timing. Once you get used to it, his combos are relatively easy compared to most of the cast. His difficulty comes in his awkward movement and playstyle, that most people can't adjust to. Anyways, that 4D~A shouldn't be there. It only works if you go directly from 5C > 2C > 4D~A > 4D~D If you choose to relaunch, by doing a j.C x 5 in the middle of the combo. Only use 4D~D after that. Good luck picking him up.

As much as your excessive swearing bothers me. That gif made up for everything, haha. Christian Bale and Kermit for the win. Regardless, it's good to hear that Hazama isn't looking as terrible as everyone speculated.