Under Night: In-Birth: How to Play

The System page has been added to the official website of Under Night: In-Birth yesterday. The very good news is not only it has no comeback mechanics, it also rewards better players big bonus.

Here is our summary.

There are only 2 gauges that you have to pay attention to, EXS and GRD. This game really requires strategy as both of them can fill each other.

EXS (pronounced Exis)
- It is on the bottom left or right of the screen.
- This is similar to SF4's Super Combo gauge.
- Full gauge is EXS 200%. Half gauge is EXS 100%.
- It is used for EX version of special moves. EXS 100%+ is required.
- By pressing A+B+C at EXS 100%+, the character will enter Veil Off state. In this state, you can use EXS moves as much as you want in limited time until the gauge depletes to 0%. (Veil Off consumes all of your EXS.)
- Veil Off activation moment also works similar to "Burst." You gain some invincibility and the shockwave will push opponent away. It will also cause GRD Break to opponent upon hitting. (The developer said in February that you cannot use it under hit-stun so it is not a typical "Burst.")
- In Veil Off state, you will also get GRD bonus from actions.
- Ultimate moves called Infinite Verse will be usable at EXS 200% or in Veil Off state.
- Ultimate moves called Infinite Verse EXST will be usable only at EXS 200% and while opponent has 30% life or below, and you must use between a combo while having max Veil Off. This is instant death move.

GRD (Grind Grid)
- It is on the bottom center of the screen.
- Your GRD will increase if you are in a good situation, and decrease during a bad situation.
- GRD Vorpal is activated each time after the circle is filled with light. If your GRD is more than opponent at the moment, the circle will turn into your color (red or blue) and you get the benefits. The circle will then be reset again after it is filled. There is a chance that the circle will always be your color if you can maintain the momentum. If both players have the same GRD when the circle is filled, the circle will turn white and no one gets the benefits.
- In GRD Vorpal state, you do extra damage.
- In GRD Vorpal state, by pressing D twice, you can convert all of your GRD into EXS gauge. This action is called Chain Shift. Moreover, Chain Shift will cancel the ongoing animations, returning you to neutral again so you can continue a combo or use it for frame trap. The GRD circle will turn white after using it.
- You can boost your GRD by holding D. It can also decrease opponent's GRD. This action (called Concentration) consumes EXS.
- You will get GRD bonus when blocking an attack using Shield. But if you get hit while using Shield, GRD Break will occur. GRD Break will reset your GRD.
- Shield (press D while blocking) requires some EXS (around 20%). If successful, you will gain a lot of momentum in GRD.

Other features
- There are 4 buttons: A (light attack), B (medium), C (strong), D (EXS Action).
- There is something similar to P4U's Auto Combo, called Smart Steer. You get a combo by pressing A>A>A>A.
- Assault (forward + D) works like hop (for hop attack), midair is possible. It requires 10% EXS.

Here are some of the new gameplay videos from last week which you can use as reference.





Under Night: In-Birth will be released to the Japanese arcades on September 20.

Under Night: In-Birth

In the previous post, we said you should pay attention to this game, but we feel that it needs a separate post for the reasons why.

Under Night In-Birth* is the upcoming fighting game from the developer of Melty Blood. It is scheduled for arcade release this Summer (or in near future). The game may look like a low-budget version of BlazBlue, but some elements are better.

*The game officially uses In-Birth in English, but Inverse in Japanese.

The first thing you will quickly notice is it's clean. It doesn't have millions of gauges and icons like in BlazBlue. The game is in good pace and has good camera work (no unnecessary zoom-out or move-up). Overall, it has one of those things that make SF4 easier to get into.

Anyway, the video below is the most important reason. Orie probably has the best sprite in any 2D FGs right now. She's so smooth.

There're many smaller FGs from smaller developers like this both on PC and in the arcades in Japan. Due to the lack of budget and resources, none of them can compete with FGs from the bigger companies. These game probably are not up to your standard, but there're something that they get it right and we want to promote that. The more you know, the more you realize that bigger FGs in the market are still far from being genuinely good.

Nico to stream Extra Stage of Game Summer Festival 2012

It is revealed that Nico Nico will stream Game Summer Festival 2012's Extra Stage for free both day.

Game Summer Festival is the game event that will be held together with Tougeki 2012. Two events share the same ticket.

Below are stream links and time table.

August 4
11:50 - Soulcalibur V talk show
13:25 - Taiko no Tatsujin exhibition
15:00 - Puyo Puyo tutorial and super play
17:30 - Dead or Alive 5 tournament
19:10 - Doruaga Time Attack Battle
20:40 - Tougeki 2012 First Day talk show

August 5
11:50 - Hokuto no Ken exhibition match
13:10 - Puyo Puyo tutorial and super play
15:40 - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD Ver. introduction stage
16:40 - Touhou Hisoutensoku tournament*
18:10 - Under Night In-Birth tournament*
19:25 - Tougeki 2012 Second Day talk show

*Highly recommended by Beast Note

Big announcements from Tougeki: UMvC3, Touhou, etc.

Tonight on Nico, a show was arranged for some big announcements from Tougeki organizer. Tougeki producer and Fuudo were also there.

Here is our summary.

Umehara will be invited for exhibition match in Nico Nico Chokaigi
They asked the viewers who they want to watch in the 8-man exhibition matches. Umehara was named, though they will invite him anyway. Confirmed players are Haitani, Fuudo, MDR.

All tournaments in Chokaigi are single (1 on 1) and winners can choose teammates
The winners of Tougeki qualifiers in Chokaigi get to choose teammates if the tournament is 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 in the finals.

Tougeki to try double elimination in Chokaigi
They are planning to try double elimination system, but for SSF4AE2012 tournament only.

Tougeki to deal with doujin/PC game for the first time
Since there is Touhou booth in Chokaigi, Tougeki will have a Touhou Hisoutensoku special tournament in Chokaigi. (We actually have a post about this game.)

Nico to stream Tougeki 2011 for free
Since they did not release Tougeki 2011 DVD, they decided to stream it for free on April 22.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 being planned for Tougeki 2012
They want to add Soulcalibur V -- and UMvC3.

In the end, they said that UMvC3 is the last title so we now have a complete lineup. Leaving Street Fighter X Tekken behind is another bad news for Capcom's Ono team. The game is being given the cold shoulder from around the world. The game suffers from many issues. Evo 2012 does not accept its Gem System. Now Tougeki does not accept it at all. In contrast, Capcom's Niitsuma team is making a big comeback with UMvC3 as the Japanese start to give it attention.

Let us remind you about titles.

1. Aquapazza (2 on 2)
2. Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena (1 on 1)
3. Street Fighter III 3rd Strike (3 on 3)
4. Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Ver.2012 (3 on 3)
5. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Unlimited (2 on 2)
6. Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (3 on 3)
7. Soulcalibur V (being planned)
8. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (being planned)

Tougeki 2012 (finals) is still not dated. But judging from everything, it should last at least 2 days.

Ura Kao TV 2011.11.25 (Touhou Hisoutensoku)

M-ya, a player who is an acquaintance of Kami-chan came to play Touhou Hisoutensoku with the viewers on Ura Kao TV on November 25. M-ya also taught how to play and introduced all the characters.

The stream was 7 hours, and an amazing person just uploaded all of it today.

This's a self-published (doujin) PC fighting game (from 2009) which is a spinoff of Touhou (bullet-hell shooting game) series. The game maintains the bullet-hell image as fighting with projectiles is still the main theme. Its system and character customization make it very unique.

Being a low budget self-published game, it doesn't have character voices and online match maker. (You must enter your partner's IP manually.)

Both Touhou Hisoutensoku and Ougon Musou Kyoku are the same. They don't get what they deserve. You'll see more creativities in these low-profile games than those from a company like Capcom, who ran out of ideas and started to understand less about fighting games. (Did you notice that Capcom has comeback mechanics in their last 3 games. And Focus Attack is the only contribution.)

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Part 6


Part 7 (last)