Tekken 8: Clive Rosfield Review (Native Unc)
Clive isn't broken. But he does need fixes. Phoenix Stance (dash) needs balancing.
Phoenix Stance does not have any risk because of how safe Phoenix Stance 4 and 2 are on block. Yes, -13 frames is safe. I am getting sick of characters not having any real danger in their forced stance mix up bs. There is no reason to use Phoenix Stance 1 over 2 when 1 is -14. Or to use Phoenix Stance hell sweep over Phoenix Stance 4 when Phoenix Stance 4 is so safe on block.
Oh yeah, both Phoenix Stance 1 and 2 are mid. So, Phoenix Stance 2 is a -7 mid poke and has a 15 frame set up and Phoenix Stance 3 is a -13 low poke and has a 15 frame start up. Oh yeah, if you land Phoenix stance 2, you can press 2 again for a 38 dam move. Nice balancing.
Other gripes I have are with his launchers. Why is F3 only -14 on block and a long range launcher/keep out? Why is SS 1+2 +2? Why is DF 2 -13?
Though there are some slight balancing with these launchers such as DF 2 being very short range and SS 1+2 being a whole 25 frame start up, the question still exists, why is this character not more punishable or risky given his great poking and keep out?
1+2 is -8 and has a 13 frame start up and is a heat engager. And F1+2 is -8 and has a 19 frame start up and is a heat engager and wall splats. D1 has 18 frames of start up and does 14 dam and is only -13 on block. D1+2 has 22 frames of start up and does 23 dam and knocks down and is only -6 on block.
Also, why is his armor not launch punishable when it does upwards of 40 dam!? In what universe does this make sense?? But sure, give him a bunch of safe forced mix ups from Phoenix Stance and safe launchers and mid pokes and low pokes.
All in all, like every other DLC character, he has everything. He has no personality in game play (at least a high blues and Tekken King) and is a mash of other characters like Victor, Noctis and kunimitsu's Setsunagake. Which sucks because I love FF16, but this is just a rehash of other chars in older games and a bunch of reused animations.
I don't hate Clive, I love Final Fantasy. I adored Noctis being in T7 because FF15 is one of my fave games of all time. But adding Clive at the end of season one was a stupid, greedy move. With the awful launch and balancing this game already has, adding a guest character was not what this game needed. Not when this game already wasted 4 slots on Lars, Alisa, Claudio and Zafina. Speaking of which, I love the argument "Oh, nobody plays Lei, don't add him." Then why do we have both bears, Lars, Alisa, Claudio and Zafina?
This game is far from finished and I'm beyond upset they refuse to properly balance chars like King, Lili, Dragunov, Alisa, Yoshimitsu and Jin. Before adding their next DLC in what is essentially the Alpha build of the game, they should focus on balancing, fixing connection, input and graphical issues and actually optimize the game.
Also, nice work Bamco. Buying reviews and getting steam to take down negative reviews to help boost your at best, mixed review game.