IPW: “We moved the numbers into different boxes.”
After the initial backlash discussion over the original iPlayWinner Super Street Fighter 4 tier list, Haunts has posted a new tier list with significantly fewer head-scratching results.
This new list, part of an initiative to use “Match Up Consultants” to crunch numbers every month, now places the Super Street Fighter IV roster into 6 tiers (though I can’t figure out why there isn’t a C+ tier). As we saw in both the original IPW and the JPN Wiki list, familiar faces populate both the top shelf and the bottom floor:
A+: Rufus, Akuma, Guile, Abel, Sagat
A: Dictator, C. Viper, Ryu
B+: Boxer, Chun Li, E. Honda, Dhalsim, Ibuki
B: Zangief, Blanka, Seth, Dudley, Cammy, El Fuerte, Ken, Juri, Rose
C: T. Hawk, DeeJay, Guy, Fei Long, Cody, Gouken, Claw, Adon, Gen
D: Hakan, Makoto, Sakura, Dan
Looking at the actual matchup data, it seems to me there should also be a C+ tier that contains T. Hawk, Dee Jay, Guy, and Fei Long, as these characters all place a few notches higher than those directly below them. That said, this iteration does seem to be much more reasonable than the first go-around. Hopefully, with monthly updates, we can expect the IPW tier list to turn out to be a fairly accurate account of the standing of the game’s roster.
I would like to note that, despite there being 6/7 tiers in SSF4, if this list is correct, the game is noticeably more balanced than its predecessor. In SF4, the highest tier character (Sagat) had nearly a 50% matchup point margin over the lowest tier character (Dan). In Super, Rufus has only a 31% margin over Dan. While that’s still nothing to scoff at, it means a much larger number of the cast will probably be competitive this time around, which is good for everyone.
Well, everyone except Dan players.
nice post. thanks.
whoever made this tier list has no idea how to play street fighter guile a+ they made him a little bettter but he still has shit combos RYU WHO THEY MADE INTO A FUCKING NGOD TIER LIKE SAGAT IN A TIER? HONDA IN B+ GO PLAY MW2
[…] lists are still subjective and anecdotal and, therefore, highly suspect in long-term reliability. As mentioned before, the most authoritative tier lists are the result of compiling thousands of match results, not from […]