smashbrolink
Smash Journeyman
For those wondering, I'm making this thread because I promised a friend that I'd do one and report on how Link has changed compared to his form in Brawl, using the recently released Smash 4 Demo that came to Platinum club Nintendo members, since he himself is a Link main and, unfortunately, doesn't yet have the demo.
Keep in mind that this is entirely based on my opinion of Link from my time with him in the Demo; if anyone has something to add or disagree about, feel free to do so, albeit respectfully.
For the sake of keeping this as a topic everyone can participate in, though, please tell me what you're most looking forward to in Smash, and if you have the demo, how do you like how each character available in it plays?
Down to business...
After a couple of days of playing, I've come to the following conclusions regarding my favorite Hylian Mute.
Better recovery; his spin attack now covers more vertical and horizontal distance and his grappling hook is longer.
Dash attack is more lethal: changed from a stab to a jump attack with 3 properties; If hitting near the base it will spike, if hitting with the tip it has more power[that's right; his dash attack works like Marth's "Tipper" attacks, meaning they're very deadly], and in either case its got decent overhead range on top of the ability to KO.
Has a bit of wind-up to it, but functions essentially like a souped-up jump-attack.
Better grab: when using it, it doesn't fall limply to the ground if he misses anymore, it just snaps right back in to him, so it's a lot faster and less punishable.
Forward smash attack and tilt both have improved range and KO power.
Down smash properties have changed; the forward slash sends enemies up into the air, and the backwards slash acts like running into his spin attack after it had begun used to, back in Melee; it sends the opponent flying backwards and down, making it very lethal if you're hit with it near the edge.
Down Tilt seems to have gotten a buff in strength in exchange for [as far as I know] not being able to spike, which was too difficult to do in the first place before and feels like a fair trade-off.
Up smash and tilt are both more powerful, and the tilt can combo again.
Boomerang is more powerful; it hits harder, flies faster, and its pulling mechanism feels buffed compared to Brawls. It also seems to have a larger whirlwind, but that might just be my imagination.
Bombs have been buffed a bit; they no longer explode if you ever get one knocked out of your hand and at your feet; they'll remain active until their timer expires instead of blowing up on you the moment it touches the ground.
Power seems to have gone up in exchange for less knock-back at lower damage percentages compared to previously.
Need to check to see if bomb recoveries are possible.
Arrows seem to have less down-time after shots this time around, and shots in general fly much faster.
Spin attack is somewhat buffed; it doesn't last as long so you recover faster from using it, and the angle of the spin changes a little bit as he twirls to give it a bit more vertical range to its hitbox.
Down Aerial can now SPIKE when hitting an opponent with the first few moments[up until the flash at the tip of the blade ends, if I'm correct] of the attack, making it very dangerous off-stage.
He also stops the attack sooner than he used to, and if he lands with it, he pulls it out far faster than he used to, meaning less vulnerability.
His stance in mid-air for his up aerial has changed to a much more backwards-bent stance, meaning it's the same posture that Link in Zelda 2 pulls off. Power seems to have been buffed a bit, but I haven't discovered if hitting with the tip or during a certain frame has any impact.
His forward aerial is easier to land both hits with due to coming out faster and there's little to no down-time when landing during the move.
Back aerial seems to have a bit less priority in trade for more knock-back if both kicks hit.
Neutral aerial seems to have gotten a buff all around; priority, power, knock-back, range all seem to have been buffed, and it comes out fast and doesn't leave the player vulnerable for too long if they land while it's going.
Link himself feels more durable, yet faster; it takes more to KO him than in previous iterations of Smash. His back roll has been changed to a much speedier back-flip that leaves you able to act far more quickly than previously.
Keep in mind that this is entirely based on my opinion of Link from my time with him in the Demo; if anyone has something to add or disagree about, feel free to do so, albeit respectfully.
For the sake of keeping this as a topic everyone can participate in, though, please tell me what you're most looking forward to in Smash, and if you have the demo, how do you like how each character available in it plays?
Down to business...
After a couple of days of playing, I've come to the following conclusions regarding my favorite Hylian Mute.
Better recovery; his spin attack now covers more vertical and horizontal distance and his grappling hook is longer.
Dash attack is more lethal: changed from a stab to a jump attack with 3 properties; If hitting near the base it will spike, if hitting with the tip it has more power[that's right; his dash attack works like Marth's "Tipper" attacks, meaning they're very deadly], and in either case its got decent overhead range on top of the ability to KO.
Has a bit of wind-up to it, but functions essentially like a souped-up jump-attack.
Better grab: when using it, it doesn't fall limply to the ground if he misses anymore, it just snaps right back in to him, so it's a lot faster and less punishable.
Forward smash attack and tilt both have improved range and KO power.
Down smash properties have changed; the forward slash sends enemies up into the air, and the backwards slash acts like running into his spin attack after it had begun used to, back in Melee; it sends the opponent flying backwards and down, making it very lethal if you're hit with it near the edge.
Down Tilt seems to have gotten a buff in strength in exchange for [as far as I know] not being able to spike, which was too difficult to do in the first place before and feels like a fair trade-off.
Up smash and tilt are both more powerful, and the tilt can combo again.
Boomerang is more powerful; it hits harder, flies faster, and its pulling mechanism feels buffed compared to Brawls. It also seems to have a larger whirlwind, but that might just be my imagination.
Bombs have been buffed a bit; they no longer explode if you ever get one knocked out of your hand and at your feet; they'll remain active until their timer expires instead of blowing up on you the moment it touches the ground.
Power seems to have gone up in exchange for less knock-back at lower damage percentages compared to previously.
Need to check to see if bomb recoveries are possible.
Arrows seem to have less down-time after shots this time around, and shots in general fly much faster.
Spin attack is somewhat buffed; it doesn't last as long so you recover faster from using it, and the angle of the spin changes a little bit as he twirls to give it a bit more vertical range to its hitbox.
Down Aerial can now SPIKE when hitting an opponent with the first few moments[up until the flash at the tip of the blade ends, if I'm correct] of the attack, making it very dangerous off-stage.
He also stops the attack sooner than he used to, and if he lands with it, he pulls it out far faster than he used to, meaning less vulnerability.
His stance in mid-air for his up aerial has changed to a much more backwards-bent stance, meaning it's the same posture that Link in Zelda 2 pulls off. Power seems to have been buffed a bit, but I haven't discovered if hitting with the tip or during a certain frame has any impact.
His forward aerial is easier to land both hits with due to coming out faster and there's little to no down-time when landing during the move.
Back aerial seems to have a bit less priority in trade for more knock-back if both kicks hit.
Neutral aerial seems to have gotten a buff all around; priority, power, knock-back, range all seem to have been buffed, and it comes out fast and doesn't leave the player vulnerable for too long if they land while it's going.
Link himself feels more durable, yet faster; it takes more to KO him than in previous iterations of Smash. His back roll has been changed to a much speedier back-flip that leaves you able to act far more quickly than previously.
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