Contents
====================
1. Version History
2. Introduction
A. Legend
B. Set-Up
3. About Vanessa
4. General Tips
5. Moves List
6. Items List
7. Vs. Whomever
8. Second, Third, Fourth, etc., Opinions
9. Credits
====================
1. Version History
-------------------------
3/26/02: ver. 1.0- First version of this FAQ. Only found eight items out
of ???.
3/28/02: ver. 1.1- Added vitals info to "About Vanessa" section.
4/2/02: ver. 1.5- Got it! I finally figured out how items are awarded.
I also found more items. Add to that a few corrections, additions to
interesting combos, and more "About Vanessa". Now, if only I could
figure out how to get those cool looking masks...
4/11/02: ver. 2.0- Sorry about the long wait. I had been busy. Anyway, I
think I have a couple more items to find (Overdrive, I am gunnin' for
you...). Other additions include expanded "General Tips", a new section,
and more credits.
4/25/02: ver. 2.5- Another long wait, another busy couple of weeks...
That just means that YOU, the reader, get a lot more in this update!
It's a Super Fantastic Update EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Uh, wait, just give me a
second...(counting e-mails)... PLEASE, tell me that more than five
people read this FAQ! Awww, C'mon! Now that I think of it, this is the
only Vanessa Move List on this site (at the time). Hmmm... Maybe I
should have done an FAQ on Aoi or Sarah... Just joking. As an old rule
of show-business states, ("Cater to your audience. No matter how big or
small."), I will do the same. Besides, it's not about getting a big
audience, or {sobbing} winning any contests. But, it is about helping
people. That's what counts! Updates include more advice, and a new
"twist" on Vanessa's story.
-------------------------
2. Introduction
-------------------------
Hey! How are you?
As you can see, this FAQ is supposed to be about playing as Vanessa.
But, I'm just going to complain about the local traffic... Just kidding.
Let's begin with how commands will be represented in this FAQ.
Special Directional Commands- half-circle forward = hcf; half-circle
backward = hcb; full-circle forward = fcf; full-circle backwards = fcb;
Please note, in the case of full-circle forward/backward commands, a
starting point will be issued (example: fcf{from up}, fcb{from down},
etc.)
Action Commands- punch = P; kick = K; guard = G;
Please note that simultaneous button presses will be noted with a "+"
(example: P+K, K+G, P+K+G, etc.).
Positional Notations- note: Not commands, per se, but important
nonetheless.
(back) = opponent's back is facing you.
(BACK) = your back is facing your opponent.
(wall) = opponent is against a wall.
(WALL) = you are against the wall.
(low) = opponent is crouching.
(side) = you are at your opponent's side.
(During...) = second command is issued immediately after initial
command.
(While rising) = command is performed on the way up.
(While jumping) = command is performed while in the air.
(Before landing) = command is performed right before the fighter lands.
Hit Locations-
High = H; Low = L; Middle = M; Hold = hld
B. Set-up-
The moves list will be set up like this:
Name Commands Pos.Info.
React Round Kick [f,P+K+G (BACK, WALL)]-
Description Damage Location
Wall bounce and aerial round house. 30 _ M
The move's name will be displayed. Followed by the command inputs and
position info. Then, a short description, damage counter, and location.
-------------------------
3. About Vanessa
-------------------------
Vanessa's story as told in instruction manual:
Vanessa Lewis
Country: ???
Sex: Female
Blood type: AB
Job: Security Officer
Hobby: Singing
Height: 5 ft. 9 in.
Weight: 121 lbs.
B/W/H: 37/22/37
Fighting Style: Vale Tudo
Held by "J6" at a young age, Vanessa developed very powerful physical
abilities. She was later rescued by a special forces officer named
Lewis during his assault on "J6". Lewis adopted Vanessa, but was
murdered by terrorists on her 20th birthday. Learning that the
terrorists were targeting VIPs, Vanessa became a security officer and
vowed to find her father's killer. Years later, Vanessa learned that a
woman named "Sara Bryant" was being targeted by "J6". She immediately
contacted the Bryants and entered the Fourth World Fighting Tournament
to protect Sara from harm.
This new "twist" comes from a fellow who calls himself Zero-chan^_^. His
contribution comes from the Japanese VF4 Red Book as well as the
Japanese PS2 VF4 Official web page:
Vanessa, known among the SP for her silver-white hair, and a coldness in
her eyes, was held by J6 and trained in their military research facility
until she was about 10 years old. Which was when Lewis and his special
forces rescued her. Because of her experience in captivity, her heart
had become closed. However, Lewis gave her his warm love, and she began
to open up to his affection. When he was killed in duty shortly after
she became an adult, she became emotionally cold again. Vanessa became
an SP after she learned that the terrorists were attacking VIPs, and
also to find her "father's" murderer. Several years later, she learns
that Sarah is being targeted by the terrorists, and contacts the Bryant
family so that she can protect her. She joinst the Bryant family as her
client.
Vanessa is a complicated character with two stances and a ton of moves.
An awful lot of her moves have a spin to them. Which means that it is
nearly impossible to evade them. Add a wide variety of reversals and
throws, and you will soon find that Vanessa is a character to be
reckoned with.
Vanessa's equipped with two stances; Defensive and Muay Thai.
The Defensive stance has decent speed, power, and defense, and is pretty
standard. Her most devastating moves are done from this stance.
Defensive stance is (probably) aptly named because while in this stance,
she can automatically grab high/mid punches.
The Muay Thai stance sacrifices power and defense for speed. While in
this stance, she cannot automatically grab punches. In exchange, she can
attack with blinding speed.
The key to effectively using Vanessa is knowing when to use the two
stances (well, that, and finding enough time to set-up the stances...).
Unfortunately, Vanessa's combos don't switch-up enough, which makes them
pretty easy to block or counter.
The instruction manual says that Vanessa is recommended for advanced
players. As most of her moves are situational, and require one to
remember which moves are best for certain situations. I disagree.
Vanessa should be used by beginners (Believe me. I haven't picked up a
VF game since Virtua Fighter Remix.). Why? Since her moves require one
to match them with situations, using her encourages quick, strategic
action, and a good memory. As one would notice, these are skills that
can be used to good effect when playing as other characters.
-------------------------
4. General Tips
-------------------------
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, here are a few tips.
Strategy To Go- Learn to devise strategies quickly. Always try to keep
your mind on what you are doing, and pay attention.
Going Through Trials...- Before you do anything, go to the Trial mode
(you'll find it in the "Training" Menu). Trial mode shows you some
strategies that you'll need at some time. Sure, some of them may seem
complicated, and some of the strategies may not be immediately useful,
but with (much) practice, you will be well equipped for just about
anything that is thrown at you.
Taking a Gamble- Throwing your opponents is something of a crapshoot. To
throw your opponent, he/she must not be performing a strike, or they
must be guarding. There are several moves that all characters have
called "Guaranteed Throw Moves". This means that if a character does
this move, and for some odd reason it misses, that character is left
open to be thrown. Remember; "good things come to those who wait, but
not to those who wait too long".
Revenge...- Try not to attack every time you have to get up from being
knocked down. Sooner or Later, your opponent will get wise and begin to
block.
Bouncing Back- The side-roll recovery is better than the bounce-back
recovery. With the side roll, you end up in a better position to fight
back.
Like an Eel- Learn to evade and reverse quickly. That way, you will be
able to deal with just about anything.
Back-Up Plan- In case your initial course of action doesn't work, you
will need an all purpose contingency plan. This plan is usually a
reversal, parry, or evade.
Keeping a "Spotless" Record- If you want a 100% win rate, simply pause
when you are about to lose. Go back to the main menu. This is great for
when things go sour, and one more hit could mean that you lose.
Dont Think of it as Losing...- Sometimes, the best way to figure out how
to win is to learn from losing. Don't be ashamed to lose (to people) as
long as you learn from your loss.
This is not "Oprah", but...- When using Vanessa, it helps to know when
to let things happen and when to make things happen. In some instances,
it is best to let your opponent attack first. In other instances, it is
best ot get them. Only experience will allow you to discern when.
-------------------------
5. Moves List
-------------------------
_________
|Strikes|
---------
DEFENSIVE
=========
Jab [P]-
What does it sound like? 10_H
One Two [PP]-
Two punches. 10,20_H,H
One Two Low [PPK]-
Two punches and a kick to the knee/shin. 10,20,17_H,H,L
Shadow Combination [PPP]-
Jab, cross and uppercut. 10,20,17_H,H,M
Shadow Combo High Kick [PPPK]-
Jab, cross, uppercut, and roundhouse to head. 10,20,17,20_H,H,M,H
Feint Body [P,df,P]-
Jab and cross to below belt area... 10,17_H,M
Crush Jaw [P while rising from crouch]-
Rising uppercut. 18_M
Leg Guard Crush [d,P]-
crouching jab to leg. 9_L
Back Knuckle [f,P]-
Spin-in backhand. 15_M
Back Knuckle High [f,PK]-
Spin-in backhand and roundhouse. 15,21_M,H
Back Knuckle Stream [f,PKK]-
Spin-in backhand, roundhouse, and thrust kick. 15,21,24_M,H,M
Back Knuckle Toe Kick [f,P,df,K]-
Spin-in backhand and front kick. 15,23_M,M
Back Knuckle Toe->Front Sleeper [f,P+G (During BKTK)]
Spin-in backhand, front kick, and headlock. 15,34,40_M,M,hld
Ducking Body Blow [f,f,P]-
Lunging cross. 18_M
Ducking Body Smash [f,f,PP]-
Lunging cross and uppercut. 18,20_M,M
Heavy Impact [b,P]-
Stepping uppercut to body. 28_M
Cut Upper [df,P]-
Swift uppercut. 8_H
Intrude Combo [df,PP]-
Swift uppercut and body blow. 8,15_H,M
Defensive Elbow [db,P]-
Slow elbow to knee. 18_M
Front Kick [K]-
Front kick. 17_M
Switch Left/Right Slicer [K,u,K or K,d,K]-
Front kick and hook kick. Quick succession. 17,20_M,H
Half Moon Kick [K while rising from a crouch]-
Rising turn kick. 20_M
Stopping Low [d,K]-
Low skip side thrust kick. 13_L
Stopping Low Combo [d,KP]-
Low skip side thrust kick and jab. 13,10_L,H
Stopping Low Smash [d,KPP]-
Low skip side thrust kick, jab, and hook. 13,10,20_L,H,H
Sit Down Low Kick [hold d,K]-
Low side thrust kick. 17_L
Cut-in Knee Kick [f,K]-
Knee assault. 27_M
Cut-in Knee Kick->Front Sleeper [f,P+G (During Cut-in Knee)]
Knee assault and front headlock. 27,40_M,hld
Shadow Slicer [f,f,K]-
Swift turning roundhouse. 25_M
Counter Strike [b,K]-
Front kick performed while jumping backwards. 26_M
Parrying High Kick [b,f,K]-
Roundhouse to head. 20_H
Parrying Combination [b,f,KP]-
Roundhouse to head, step-in backhand. 20,35_H,H
Right Angle Toe Kick [u,K]-
Jumping front kick. 25_M
Bone Crush Middle [df,K (charge)]-
Skip-in side thrust kick. 23-30_M
Heavy Hook [P+K]-
Left hook. 25_M
Heavy Hook Combo [P+KP]-
Left hook and spinning step-in upper. 25,37_M,H
From Muay Thai: Flicker Tornado Trap [K+G,PPP,repeat,repeat,repeat]-
This is an interesting combo because if you use it on the computer, the
computer will almost always block the first hit, but take the next
three. Oddly enough, if the first move of the combo (Guard Crush
Tornado), is used in defensive stance, and it connects, you can use the
opponents recovery time to get into the Muay Thai stance. Sure it's
cheap, but it works. Before you ask, yes, I made the combo name up
myself. NOTE: This move will not be as effective vs. high-level CPU
opponents (namely Aoi, Pai, and Vanessa). In these cases, (every once
and a while) switch the "PPP" for "KK" or a throw.
By allowing this, the people at AM2 may have (advertently or
inadvertently) created another (albeit, more attractive) Eddie Gordo.
VS. PEOPLE
==========
From either stance: [b,b,K+G(hold K)G,K+G]-
Using the Step-Out technique allows for a quick retreat. The Guard Crush
Tornado allows for a quick and powerful retaliation.
==============
|Good Openers|
==============
VS. CPU/PEOPLE
==============
From either stance: Leg Bomber->Cut Upper/Uppercut [db,K+G,df,P]-
This is a good opener because if the first hit connects, one can use the
second hit to send the opponent sky ward. This is a good set-up for
juggle/bounce combos.
From Defensive: Takedown->Pass Guard Knuckle [f,f,P+K,P]-
Heh, heh, heh... I don't necessarily recommend this one for constant
use. This move is good for the "shock factor".
==================
|Back to the Wall|
==================
From Defensive: Switch Back Middle->React Round Kick [b,K+G,f,P+K+G]-
This move has to be performed when you are right next to a wall. The
Switch Back Middle turns your back and attacks the opponent. Quickly use
the React Round Kick to knock down the staggering opponent.
-------------------------
6. Items List
-------------------------
Items are won after you defeat certain opponents. Until the 5th Dan,
items are can be earned from just about anyone. After that, items can
only be aquired from similar characters of equal or higher rank (example
5th dan Vanessa vs. 9th dan Vanessa, as opposed to 5th dan Vanessa vs.
Conqueror Jacky). Although, there is a small chance of not recieving an
item from the look-alikes. After Vanquisher, you will notice that you
are facing High Kings. Defeat these High King opponents, and you should
recieve an orb. Collect seven of these orbs (black, orange, blue, white,
green, crimson, and purple), and you will recieve an item. These are
High King Items (Yes, I made that name up myself.), or HK Items. Soon
enough, you will notice that you are running out of High Kings (with
orbs) to defeat. That's where Dural comes in. Every 10-20 matches you
win, you face Dural. Win, and you will receive an orb. Lose, and you
will lose an orb (if you possessed any before you fought Dural). These
are the items I have acquired so far. I will include more as I find
them.
Crossbow- from Shuriken
Hemp Cap- from ??? (I forgot the name before I could write it down...)
Short Hair- from Ugly Shun
Gold Circlet- from Krazy Kage (green)
Knit Cap- from Krazy Kage (red)
Pink Tuft Earring- from Brutal Aoi
Goggles- from Striker
Medal Necklace- from Roadkill.
Rifle- from Scrappy
Army Beret- from Snakebite
Walkie-talkie- from Hi Voltage
Dragon Tatto- from Hi Voltage
Spear Insignia- from Hi Voltage
Eagle Tatto- from Destroyer
Victory Insignia- from Destroyer
Black Beret- HK Item
Black Sunglasses- HK Item
Butterfly Tattoo- HK Item
Basilisk Insignia- HK Item
Long Ponytail- from Mutant Lau
Bazooka- HK Item
Arabesque Tatto- from out2lunch
Crescent Insignia- from out2lunch
-------------------------
7. Vs. Whomever
-------------------------
This is the part of the guide that should give you an idea of how to
beat other characters in the game.
AKIRA-
This guy has decent strength and speed, not to mention a pretty sizeable
amount of evasion techs and reversals. Try to be careful. Use the Muay
Thai stance, and use reversals and evasive moves.
PAI-
She is much faster than you. Hope you can evade well. Watch for her
guaranteed throw moves and capitalize. All else, use the Muay Thai
stance for a fighting chance.
LAU-
Lau is not much faster than you are, but he can do a lot of damage in a
small amount of time. Learn his series attacks, and how to block them
and you will do fine.
SHUN-DI-
For an old man, he is not too fast, but confusing. I'm not necessarily
sure how many reversals or stances he has. Whatever you do, don't give
him time to take a drink! Try to mix high and low attacks. If he is not
moving, throw him.
LION-
He is really quick, and, chances are, he won't give you a chance to
breathe. If you can, use the Step-Out technique to make time for a set-
up to the Muay Thai stance.
KAGE-
Ah, the obligatory ninja. As one would expect, he is quite agile, and
has a lot of evasion techs. Try to learn his series attacks and block
them. If he evades something, be prepared to either block, or evade.
AOI-
She isn't especially strong, but with that many reversals and evasive
techs, who needs to be? Not much I can help you with here. Watch out for
her "all-purpose" reversal.
JACKY-
Jacky has quick attacks, but his combo ability doesn't seem to be all
that great. Learn to identify his attacks and where they land.
SARAH-
Sarah has quick attacks and high combo ability, but her attacks seem to
lack power. Don't get me wrong, though. Remaining on the business end of
her series attacks and combos long enough will pile on damage in a short
amount of time. Moves like the Intrude Hook and Gliding Toe definitely
come in handy.
WOLF-
The typical bruiser; slow with strong attacks and throws. Most hits from
this guy will knock you down, so learn to roll to the side rather than
bounce back.
JEFFRY-
He is a little faster than Wolf, and, as a result, a lot more dangerous.
Stay on this guy, and try not to use any guaranteed throw moves.
LEI-FEI-
Whoa! This fella moves like Jet Li! He's pretty quick, and his attacks
don't seem to let up. The best advice I can provide is to get him before
he gets you.
VANESSA-
Because her combo attacks mostly land in the same place (middle), she is
really easy to counter using reversals. Since evasion is almost useless,
try to use your reversals. Using the poke strategy helps. Stay away from
walls.
-------------------------
8. Second, Third, Fourth, etc. Opinions.
-------------------------
In case you hadn't noticed, this is a new section. Why? Because the
opinion of just one person isn't enough. I have added this section
because I have recieved e-mails from people with all-around (VF4
related) good advice. Right now, there aren't many. But with time, and
perhaps a little help from you, we can make this the best danged VF4 FAQ
ever (maybe not THE best, but pretty close...)!
Here are a few ground rules, before we get started.
1. DO NOT E-MAIL ME WITH NONSENSE!!!- This is pretty self-explanatory
and does not require any detail. I personally try the tips given before
I put them here. It's no use trying to pull a fast one on me. I will
find out.
2. Flattery gets you nowhere.- Sure, everyone loves a kind word, now and
then. But, just because you compliment me doesn't mean that you will get
your e-mail into the next version of the FAQ.
3. Be sure to include any special names/alias'.- In other words, tell me
how you wish to be addressed in the FAQ.
4. Give me permission to use some or all of your e-mail.- For legal
reasons. Well, not necessarily, but just in case.
5. I won't include something that is already here.- Repitition is good
for memory, but it is practically useless if the text is right in front
of you. In the case that I get a repeat, only the first person
(time/date-wise) gets the credit.
Off and On...
This first piece of advice comes from a cool cat who calls himself
Typhoon:
The side-roll recovery IS punishable by a low throw, and Vanessa herself
can capitalize on this. Punish the bounce back recovery and rising
attacks with [f,f,K] or [b,f,K(from MT stance)]. Catch rising mid
attacks with mid reversals, (easy to time) and block low rises with low
throws.
Some of Vanessa's attacks can auto-parry during animation. Her [b,f,K]
from the Defensive is one such move, parrying most high and some mid
during the initial animation into the kick (as she puts her hands up),
which guarantees a hit if the parry is successful. Moves like [b,f,K]
are great as a safety tactic in place of evades after pushback guards
like [f,f,K] from defensive.
And, if you really want to cheeze the CPU, the Crush Tornado guardbreak
guarantees a [f,PKK] combo to float if the stagger isn't struggled. So,
[K+G, f,PKK, b,b(dash)] over and over... In a in a 2 to 2 kumite against
my first hero rank opponent, I decided I wasn't going to lose, and I
cheezed them out with this to win with a perfect!
Safe Times to Switch to Thai
============================
After [f,P+K]- If guarded, the knock back gives enough distance to
switch. If it hits, you have less distance, but enough frame advantage
to switch.
After a [f,f,K]- Same as above, but a hit will knockdown.
Oddly enough, after a [b,P]- hit or guard frame advantage is just enough
to switch, but make sure you get right on guard or break out a very fast
Flicker Jab.
After [b,K]- A whiff puts you at enough distance to shift quickly, while
a connect puts enough distance between you to bake cookies and then
switch stance (NOTE: Do not attempt to bake cookies immediately after
the hit lands. He was using a figure of speech.- Dash.)
It might be just me, but in close defensive, Vanessa's [df,P] by itself
is a great counter. Also, it is great for ending risky attacks that give
your opponent a window to throw or counter attack. The range is strictly
in-your-face, but it will usually counter-hit to give you time to press
the attack or go neutral for the agressive punch rush lock. If you're
mean, you can buffer the [fc (full-circle)] throws following this quick
upper to counter throw people and really mess 'em up.
This next piece of advice comes from a nice person named Nakia P. (You
know who you are. I don't use people's last names on the "net". I hope
you understand.):
Anyone trying to use Vanessa should remember one thing: SHE HAS A MOVE
FOR ANY SITUATION! Whether your opponent is fast, powerful, or both,
Vanessa has the goods to deal with them. The problem most Vanessa users
will encounter is amnesia. Because to use her effectively, you need a
good memory. Her moves aren't complex to execute, mind you (Heaven's
Gate, and Leg Breaker might be the exception); the problem is
remembering the move for your current situation/strategy of attack. As
you know, the Guard Crush Tornado is her bread-and-butter opener, but if
you open with her Back Charge Kick [b,b,K+G] and immediately follow it
up with her Rib Crush Body or Knee, [df,P+K+G] or [d,P+G+K], you should
be able to knock off a pretty good chunk of energy (mind you, this works
even if the opponent blocks).{Note: for some reason, this combo doesn't
work too often in free training mode, but 9 times out of 9 1/2, it nails
a CPU/human opponent}. Also, the (blocked) Tornado, PPP combo can also
lead into Elbow Rush [f,P+G]. Another great technique to use when
guarding is her Intercept Body [d,P (hold G)] followed-up with her Rib
Crush Body/Knee. Keep in mind that all of these moves require decent(not
perfect) timing, so don't panic. With practice, you'll be amazed how
many of Vanessa's moves lead into one another. I ALWAYS follow every
knockdown move with her Rolling Leg Drop [u,P]. I find that this move
allows the smallest window for your opponent to connect with a rising
attack.
Note: The [b,b,K+G] move is pretty well known by now, so its
effectiveness depends upon the skill of the player you face. What I find
useful is to do the Step In move [press G as you're launching towards
the opponent to cancel the kick],then, immediately grab them for the
Elbow Rush, Hell's Gate, or Arm Crush Throw. Most people are blocking
when they see the kick coming so the throws are pretty easy to get in.
Any time you have your back against the wall, or are close to the edge,
REPLACE THROW!!! It's absolutely hilarious when your opponent goes
flying out of the ring. And, if there is a wall, grab them from behind
as soon as their face richochets off of the wall and they stumble back
towards you (should lead into her belly-to-back suplex throw
Crush Throw.- Dash>, or whatever wrestling move it is).
This may sound crazy, but don't ALWAYS block with Vanessa. Most people,
no matter what their skill level (IMO), will at some point, try to lead
off with a high/mid punch to start a combo. Just let the buttons rest,
watch Vanessa grab them, kick them in the back, chuckle a little,kick
them again, chuckle some more, and then hit P+G for a few more chuckles.
I've caused people to rely solely on their kicks because of my ability
to reverse punches, because people don't really try to execute low
strikes unless it's with a kick (in my experience, anyway). If people
can't learn to adapt, they deserve to get their butts kicked.
Last, but not least, pay attention to your OPPONENT'S fighter when
playing. Any player worth his/her salt, should be able to read their
opponent without ever having to look at their character. At the risk of
sounding like a poor man's Mr. Miagi, you have to become one with your
character. Learn his/her NECESSARY moves. Because, to be honest, some
moves are absolutely useless. Would you believe that I fight in
Vanessa's Muay Thai stance about 5% to never?
END.
That's all for now. I will be back with more later.
-------------------------
9. Credits
-------------------------
These are the people I want to thank...
Me. Yes, me. I have to put up with me everyday. I deserve some thanks.
My employer. I really love my job.
My mother. I'm here, and I probably wouldn't be here without her...
The good people at AM2. This is a great game.
My readers. Without you, I have no hobby.
Special Thanks- Typhoon
Nakia P.
Zero-chan^_^ (NOTE:Don't ask me. That's how the name
reads, Okay?- Dash)
This document copyright Dash-X 2002.
This document may not be used without the EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT of the
author. If it is, and I find out, be prepared to face litigation.
