Balrog is first introduced here as a former heavyweight boxing champion now affiliated as an "executive" enforcer for Shadaloo, having worked up the ranks. He is sent to investigate Gen after the latter had a confrontation with Shadaloo's dealers, and to also apprehend Birdie for his treachery.
Balrog is a hidden character, in order to select him you must hover over Karin for 2+ seconds, then select any random select while holding start.
If the game has not been on for long enough the hidden characters will not be selectable, the title screen will have a cream colored background if this is the case. To manually skip this restriction enter the dip switch menu, select the 1st option, "Input", then on the player 1 side controller input LP LP right LK HP LP+Start. The game should display "HERE COME NEW CHALLENGERS" on screen, confirming that the hidden characters are able to be played. (This does not need to be done on Fightcade or 30th collection)
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| Pros |
Cons |
- Oppressive neutral. Other characters have difficulty playing footsies due to him controlling a lot of horizontal space
- Dash specials start up fast
- Very high priority on his most of his buttons
- s. FP is a great poke in some match-ups
- Low jump arc
- Amazing air normals with deceptively large hitboxes and good priority
- Big meterless damage off crouch cancel juggles
- One of the best alpha counters
- Level 3 punch super can punish a ton of stuff on block and is also safe on block. Easily one of the best supers in the game
- Has a V-ISM infinite on P1 side if he catches you with an air counter hit
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- Headbutt is reversal-only
- Many of his punch and kick normals are identical, limiting his options
- s. fierce can be ducked by many characters
- Dash straight can be ducked by many characters
- Struggles hard in match-ups where both s. FP and dash straight are no longer viable against crouchers
- Lacks any real V-ISM juggles on the ground
- Rush punches become fodder for reaction activates at high level, making many of his main tools risky to use
- TAP is incredibly slow and unsafe on block from many ranges even though the damage is good. Has awful i-frames and can't even make it through a fireball.
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