Blessed by Bosspower

Looks like Street Fighter X Tekken isn’t perfect. 

Gaming has changed. Long before gaming editor Jerry Jacobs made me hate all fighting games, I enjoyed games like BUDOKAN which is probably one of the best martial arts games I’ve played. 

Check out the video below. We’ve come along way…

While the rest of the gaming world is focusing on Street Fighter VS. Tekken, our Gaming Editor, Jerry BOSSPOWER Jacobs takes a look at what he feels is the biggest fight in gaming. Bigger than boxing’s Pacquiao vs Mayweather! Here in our first edition of VERSUS, we present …

RYU VS LUI KANG

by Jerry BOSSPOWER Jacobs

I would like to kick off the inaugural VERSUS segment with a monumental versus that could be saved for a finale!

The world talks about this matchup, but few think it will ever happen. On one hand we have Street Fighter’s Ryu VS Mortal Kombat’s Lui Kang. The names says it all on the marquee. This is main event, PPV, Super Bowl, World Series of gaming right here. I’d say it eclipse Street Fighter Vs anyone! Lui Kang, The Chosen One Vs Ryu The World Wanderer, looking to fight the best in the world. 

So who will come out victorious? 

First up is Lui Kang, he possesses lightning quick speed. He has a deadly Dragon Kick that has the length to strike at great distance and strikes quick and powerful. He also possess a bicycle kick that is a multi hit kick, that sets up combos but can finish combos as well. 

Kang also has three fireballs. Low, Standing and Air, that is used to control distance and tempo of match. Kang also has combo breakers, a variety of combos that can reach up to ten hits, an EX move where he cartwheels two kicks and hits with a bone crushing uppercut. Last but certainly not least, is his variety of fatalities. Kang’s fatalities are turning into a dragon and eating his unfortunate opponents.  His second has his hand lighting on fire and punching a hole right through his opponents chest. Now a star matchup is not new to Lui Kang as he has fought Batman, Superman, Freddy Krueger, Kratos, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, so he has some huge matches under his belt as well.    

RYU Ryu is up next and we all know his resume — he’s fought Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi, Geese Howard, Wolverine, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk. He is currently putting on his headband to fight Jin, Eddy, Paul and Heihachi Mishima. Ryu has even fought his Master Gouken! Now let’s analyze his skill set.

Ryu Possesses the fastest fireball in gaming. Only Iron Man’s lasers move faster than Ryu’s Fireball. Ryu also is equipped with the legendary Shoryuken, known in America as the Dragon Punch. This punch counters any move coming his way. Also he has the Hurricane Kick that he can use in the air, and on the ground.  His point of impact on this move makes it a very dangerous move as he hits with his knees at start if close and with his foot, if at a distance. This allows him to use this move in combos and counters depending on distance. He also has five variations of his fireball. 

He has a ball of fire versions that lights opponents on fire, he has an Ex Fireball, where he throws two at a time, and then he has his Super Fireball where he throws five at a time, and then his Ultra Fireball where it drains half the opponent’s life force.

He also has EX versions of his Hurricane Kick where he hits his victim five times, and he has EX and Ultra versions of his Dragon Punch. The latter usually is the end all, but in Capcom world, Ryu has to choose which Ultra he’ll use and most likely he goes with the Ultra fireball. But If he chose the Ultra Shoryuken, it will defintely be used to Counter Lui Kangs wide variety of kicks. His Ultra fireball allows Ryu to go after Lui Kang and be more aggressive.    

Now that we examined the Skill set let’s examine their mentality. Ryu lives for the fight and is always training trying to get better. He wants to get to the peak after he reaches his peak! He feels he is never as good as he wants to be. Lui Kang has problems accepting his calling and although he trains he doesnt have the relentlessness that his opponent has. He relies more on his natural gifts and is known to be hot tempered while Ryu is always level headed and constantly thinking during battle. In a fight the edge has to go to Ryu, on a game console that is a hard call because the two game franchises run on very different game engines and depending on who makes the game, it will depend on who does what. Call it home game advantage.  Profile wise Ryu would beat Lui Kang in a very tough fight but Lui Kang isnt as mentality stable as Ryu.

Ryu would exploit that in their matchup.

STREETFIGHTER VS TEKKEN has to be one of the most highly anticipated video games in years. I have no doubt, that on March 6th, a number of individuals will call out from work, school and neglect their significant others. #HADOUKEN