mrapchem
Kombatant
In this game, NRS has tried not to cater to the masses as much, so most of the nerfs - specifically to Geras, Liu, Jacqui and Cassie - were fine. However, other nerfs, like Sonya's, Scorpion's and Kitana/D'Vorah's post-launch nerfs were knee-jerky.In your opinion, do the nerfs to Geras, Liu Kang, Cassie, Jacqui, Sonya etc. indicate that NRS is "catering to the masses"? Or hitting the top characters with the "nerf hammer"? Almost every legitimately top character that's been nerfed is still tournament-viable.
I'd say it's characters who aren't as good that have more to fear, because a small adjustment might have a larger impact overall (Scorpion). But among characters who are actually being used frequently in tournament Top 8s, their track record of balance adjustments has been pretty conservative and well-reasoned so far.
I would say that Sonya just needed her zoning toned down slightly and not to get so much damage off the cancel. Instead, they kept her zoning and gave her even less combo-versatility than she already had by changing the properties of her EX anti-air move.
Scorpion really just needed his the launcher part of his EX-Tele to not come out on block - Scorpion players tried to warn people that he'd drop like a hot rock if his teleport was made a high. Ever since it was made high, Scorpion - who was already not a consistent Top 16/Top 8 character - is rarer in tournament than ever.
When I refer to the nerf hammer, I think of INJ 2 Aquaman and Deadshot, MKX Cyrax, Cyber-Sub, Erron, Jax and Kotal. To be clear, these characters definitely had some OD shit that needed to be toned down. Yet NRS nerf-batted these characters to the point of barely having any strengths when they only needed some tweaks.
I don't want Johnny Cage - or any character, even the ones I dislike - joining their ranks, you know?