[Kalyx triaD]

Originally Posted by .44 Magdalene Actually, the bizarre part is that I'm pretty sure you should know already--at least, if I recall correctly. Have you really never turned a match around with EX Hooligan Throw?

Against an opponent who used EX moves on me so... what? I have won games with Cammy without EX anything. She does not need it. I have used it to best an opponent, but that end of the match facet making her somehow dependent on the move is the same logic that says he who drinks the last of the lemonade drank it all.

And I use EX moves a lot to great success. That doesn't mean I believe the game (or certain) requires it. Altering options wouldn't even affect Ranked play anyway - so why even mention competitive play? I see where your stance comes from, and I fuckin knew it. More on this later.

A substantial chunk of many Akuma players' strategies revolve around combo'ing into his Super FTW, though that's most certainly not his only option--it's just that his other options involve... being kind of silly.

Akuma, with the hilarious stamina? Well let's think about historical context: Akuma is Capcom's first post-Super Meter character. To your credit he is dependent on a powerful super/ultra move - his weak stamina reflects this. It's almost his gimmick. Fix his stamina after removing his Raging Demons from his move list, however, and you will find that he's still a viable character even without the maneuver.

Sagat without EX or Ultra has no real reason to ever use Tiger Uppercut over Tiger Knee. Not exactly crippling to his gameplay, but I don't see why you'd want to completely wreck what little versatility he has over the usual TIGER-TIGER-TIGER-HIGHKICK-TIGER-TIGER.

SAGAT'S THE BEST CHARACTER IN THE GAME! ARE YOU SERIOUS!? HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT HIS DOMINATION?!

He's broken, dude. Your admission that he has "little versatility" is... jarring.

That's off the top of my head, after not playing it for fuck knows how long. Surely there's a reason people do that challenge with certain characters specifically, while others are rather ill advised? Aside from the obvious LOLZANGIEF. And are you really sticking to the idea that certain characters--say, Akuma--aren't balanced in SFIV (discarding past SFs for this particular case) with their bar moves very distinctly in mind? Akuma loses a pretty healthy amount of his capability without his Super, at the very least struggling quite a bit harder against characters that don't necessarily need it as much. Which is really the thing here--people that don't use the meters want to turn them off. What if I don't personally use sweeps? Why shouldn't I be able to turn them off? You still haven't really done anything to convey why there's a distinct line in the sand between this level of customization and that level of customization, and anything retarded I've potentially said in the past doesn't disregard you from that. You're offering a very visible bias with little justification, outside of us, uhh, taking your word for it.

Bias? BIAS!? I'm bias for wanting people to play the game how they want? Absurd. Let me educate you (in a respectful manner):

When a fighting game is developed there's a reason the last things to be implemented are the special meters that add to, and complete, gameplay. Before the super and ultra meters were added to SF4, you can bet they had the core engine up and running. Because there is a clear-cut difference between core engine mechanics and elements that round out the gameplay. Only after you mostly finalize core elements (move properties, ranges) do you augment the game with things like Super Meters, Ultra Meters, Critical Attack Meters, Guard Libras, Guard Meters... This is why when you get preview pics of fighting games, you don't see any bars let alone meters. The core engine comes first, then meters, then you optimize them together best you can.

This is how you distinguish between sweeps and Ultra Meters. One is related to the core engine the other is not quite as necessary. Modifying shields in Halo is one thing, making gun properties behave differently is another entirely. There is no option to make a Battle Rifle behave like a shotgun or plasma rifle.

Your argument stems from personal skill, and this much is understandable. You cite personal experience for your case and that's well in good, but it doesn't correlate with what's going down.

The Ultra Meter is a big topic amongst players of Street Fighter 4. Some like it, some hate it. This is common with fighting games that have had many different incarnations. What Street Fighter can do is offer options, not unlike other games, for people to define their play experience - including keeping the game how it is (my choice). My stance is one that helps most, and if that's biased than I'm a biased fuck.