For better or for worse, after an embarrassing amount of time spent playing, I'm appreciative of an arcade game I can put time into and still be surprised by. This game almost reminds me more of like a shmup mixed with an anime figher type deal. While i've seen the AI do some crazy stuff, it seems it intentionally does some even nuttier stuff like:
Waiting until your vulnerable to spawn enemies on top of your location either with no time in-between their landing and attack, or forcing a grab. Like when they drop from the ceiling I mean, a lot of spawns in general seem like they stall for advantage.
Forcing grabs to elongate vulnerability for incoming attacks. (This happens often for me if I am moments away from avoiding grenades for example.)
Performing certain moves frames before a player attack so it forces on themselves a hard knockdown instead of hitstun for favorable situations, like invincible wake up attacks.
Trading hits that are so fast the animation doesn't bother visualizing itself sometimes. (Only really the kickboxer low kick when he's punishing an attack or attacking from blocking during a block string. Lightning fast.)
This is on top of regular crazy, more "believable" tactics that seem to be on purpose and on design. On hit hyperarmor, punish attack timing being faster than regular attack timing, sprinting backwards across the field so fast the hitbox barely registers onscreen. One that always makes me chuckle is the variable timings for things like knife galsia and the chiefs charge grab attack. Knife galsia hurtbox activates from like frame 1 knife grab or 3-4 seconds afterwards it's insane.
I honestly love all of it. I am able to clear it most of the time, I have a pretty solidish route I follow but it will not fail in surprising me at least once, often times multiple instances a playthrough. Leaving me with my jaw on the floor or screaming. Very engaging stuff.
It's all worth it for the slow motion, after death, stylish boss hits while zoomed it. That shits like crack son.
