To be honest....I don't want to do this. I love the GS community, and I've enjoyed (for the most part) the times I've spent with you guys. But alas, fate has other plans.

As of June 5th, 2008, I have 105 people on my friends list and 2 (don't believe what it actually says on my profile) additional people tracking me. Even though it's summer, I find it nigh-impossible to keep up with that high a number of people. When my junior year of high school begins in late August, my leisure time will go straight down the drain.

No, I'm not doing this because I'm a jerk. I'm not doing this because people haven't been commenting in my blogs. I'm doing it because...well I really can't afford to try to stay in touch with that many people. It's just too taxing.

I don't know how many people I'll keep, but I'm expecting (at the very least) a cut somewhere between 20-30 people. There are some tough choices to make and I'm very sorry if anyone is offended by this. There's just no other option.

So then, just giving you guys a heads up. It's the least I can do....

Regardless of the outcome, I wish the best of luck to all of you. Perhaps our paths will cross again someday..... Who knows?

EDIT: I won't actually do the cleanout until Monday. I do need some time to think, y'know?

Before I start, one sentence. I hate driving with my mom. >_>

That is all.

Well, it's the moment you've all been waiting for. I'll try to make this quick, but "try" is a word that doesn't always find itself in my vocabulary.

Better luck next time, Falco! (Honorable Mentions)
Well excuuuuuse me, Princess! (#5)
Victory...is my destiny... (#4)
Show me ya MOOSE! (#3)
Politics make strange bedfellows... (#2)

1. Ike
Preferred Costume: Crimea's Golden Fury

For the love of Ashera, even you weren't here for my Brawl 'Til Ya Fall, Baby! series of blog a few months ago, you still should have known that this guy was going to be my #1. For one, the words at the top of my blog say "Aether: My Anti-Drug." Who else in the world (not counting a select few) would I be talking about? Plus, my banner has five, count 'em, five pictures of Ike as well as his (loltastic) victory phrase "I fight for my friends." I even have a silly animated gif of Ike in my blog! C'mon people; it's not rocket science.

Anyway, if you've played SSBB online, chances are that every 2 out of 5 matches has at least one Ike in it. People complain about how Ike is "too cheap". To be honest, he isn't.

In Brawl, Ike is slow and powerful. In Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn, he's fast and powerful. In Brawl, Aether is a simple, multi-hit attack. In both Fire Emblem games that Ike appeared in, Aether was a two-hit critical attack. The first hit restores Ike's HP by the amount of damage inflicted. The second hit then strikes the opponent with their defense halved. In Brawl, Ragnell (Ike's sword) is limited only to fire-based attacks and slashes. In Path of Radiance, Ragnell could launch shockwaves at long range. See this video of PoR Ike vs the Black Knight to see what I'm talking about with the whole Ragnell & Aether thing. C'mon! Ike is probably the only Lord-type character in a Fire Emblem game who can single an entire map (that includes the final levels as well as the trial maps).

Long story short: PoR Ike = Broken. Brawl Ike = Powerful.

BTW, Ike also isn't gay Just because he has a close friendship with a halfbreed who's been persecuted for most of his life doesn't mean that he's a homo. Jeez, get with the times people.

Last thing: Did you that Ike's crowd cheer ("We like Ike!") is the same as former President Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower's campaign slogan? Didn't think so.

Ok...I really got off-topic, didn't I? Anyway, Ike's here to stay, and he definitely making waves in the Brawl universe.

Pros:
* Insanely powerful
* Most attacks have good knockback and can KO at low percentages (i.e. Foward Smash can KO as low as 30-40%)
* Swords attacks have very long range
* Fairly heavy (SmashWiki ranks Ike as 11th in terms of weight)
* Decent running speed for one of Ike's weight c-l-a-s-s
* Neutral A combo and Quick Draw (Side B) are fast attacks and can kill at fairly high percentages
* Quick Draw is highly versatile, allowing for many combo opportunities (provided that it misses the target; in this case "missing" means that Ike doesn't swing his sword at all during the execution), and can be charged indefinitely
* Quick Draw is a great vertical recovery
* Aether (Up B) allows Ike to edge-hog, as it can hit opponents on/near the edge and open up spots for Ike to recover
* Aether works as an impromptu projectile that can pass through ledges/platforms, interrupt opponents in the air, and negate some projectiles
* Eruption (Neutral B) can OHKO (one-hit KO) in some instances
* Eruption has horizointal range (both sides of Ike) as well as vertical range
* A fully-charged Eruption can shield-break, provided that it's not a perfect shield
* Aether (when the sword is out of Ike's hand) and Eruption (when Ike plunges the sword into the ground/air) give Ike frames of knockback resistance (read "super armor")
* Counter (Down B) is stronger than Marth's version and be used to avoid some Final Smashes
Note: Just in case I forgot to say this, both Marth and Ike's Counters, as well as Lucario's Double Team (Down B), can negate a few Final Smashes.
* Factoring in the frames of super armor from Aether and Eruption, Ike's ability to Counter, and his weight, Ike has some of the best defensive strategies in the game
* Also possesses one of the best offensive strategies, due to Foward Smash and other high-knockback moves
* Great edge-guarding game
* Possess four meteor smashes (excluding the footstool jump), the highest amount in the game: Aether (the downward hit; best used as a suicidal KO only if the opponent has no chance of recovery), Eruption (opponent must be below Ike and hit by the tip of the blade; tricky to pull off), Down Tilt (somewhat slow); and Down Aerial (the entire blade can meteor smash)
* Can KO other heavyweights easier than others
* Throws combo easily into Aether and other aerials
* Can easily escape from juggles due to Eruption and meteor smashes
* Down Smash is one of Ike's faster moves and hits on both sides
* Neutral Air has a roughly 270 degree attack range and is quick (at the expense of some of the range) if auto-cancelled
* Up Tilt is long ranged and quick
* Back Aerial is fast and has good knockback
* Final Smash can attack three opponents at once

Cons:
* Most attacks have significant startup and/or ending lag
* Aether is short ranged vertically and ends quickly
* Aether can't sweet spot ledges
* Fairly large target
* No true projectiles
* Weak throws
* Quick Draw puts Ike into a helpless state if used midair
* Counter is slow (can't be used immediately like Marth's) and become predictable if overused
* Both recoveries are somewhat predictable, as they only travel in one general direction
* Low jumping ability
* Bad recovery ability if underneath the stage
* Final Smash has a short activation range and is dodgeable
* Final Smash has bad knockback in comparison to others, despite the amount of damage it inflicts (between 60-70%)
* Opponents can steal KOs from Ike if they hit the opponent mere centiseconds (yes, you read that correctly) before Ike hits the ground

Final Word: Yes, Ike is my favorite and most often used character. But this isn't hero worship. Ike has his flaws, just like everyone else. Speed is definitely an issue. Use Ike's range to offset his speed. Ike's Neutral A combo, Side B, and Foward Smash should not be overlooked. The first can rack up damage quite fast. The second can combo into several different attacks, as well perform a tactic known as the "Ike Charge Tackle". If Ike is about level to the platform when he executes Quick Draw, Ike will slide across the terrain instead of grabbing the ledge, allowing him the attack while sliding. The third is your killer KO machine. Use it well, and you'll be KOing opponents well beofre they reach 50%. Ike's Counter isn't as reliable as Marth's, so use his frames of super armor to compensate. Use Counter only when you know that you'll have enough time to properly perform it. Since your opponents know that Ike is deadly when it comes to raw power, they'll see your attacks coming from a mile away. Vary up your attacks to confuse 'em. All in all, playing with Ike isn't that much different from playing as any other swordsman in Brawl; you'll just have to use a slightly different approach.

That concludes my Top 5 list. What did you guys think?

EDIT: On Friday and Sunday, I'll be away visting some relatives of mine. I'll try to get a blog and my Brawl review in by then. Just in case....Happy 4th of July!

Another day, another delay.

Sorry, my #1 Brawler blog won't be posted today. Hopefully, it'll be posted tomorrow. I also hope to finish my Brawl review by the weekend.

Anyway...after that....I'll just wing it. I'm still on-track with my goals for the summer at GS (see here), but I'll have to kick it into overdrive from here on.

That's....pretty much it.

Move 'ZIG'. For great justice.

EDIT: I had intended on posting this yesterday, but obviously, Glitchspot had to interfere. Whoopee....

For the record, I'm still ticked about the fact that I probably won't be going to Otakon. Stupid family outing....

Better Luck Next Time, Falco! (Honorable Mentions)
Well excuuuuuse me, Princess! (#5)
Victory...is my destiny... (#4)
Show me ya MOOSE! (#3)

Note: I play as #2, #3, and #4 roughly the same amount of time. I'm just better with #2 than the others. 'Tis all.

2. Marth
Preferred Costume: The Black Traitor

Back in 2001, you were probably shocked to see Marth (and Roy) make an appearance in Melee, right? Despite his effeminate looks, Marth became a very deadly competitor in the world of Melee tournament. While I don't care about tiers, it should be noted that Marth currently ranks fourth on the Melee tier list. Thanks to him (and Roy; R.I.P. buddy.... ), the Fire Emblem series was released internationally starting in 2003, so be thankful. Now, Marth's back. And he's well equipped (or at least, I believe he is) to deal with Smashers, both new and old. BTW, he's not gay He has a wife, y'know..... Tch....idiots...

Pros:
* Quick running speed and one of the fastest walking speeds
* Good combination of many attributes (speed, power, mobility, etc.)
* Most attacks have quick execution
* Good range due to sword
* High priority
* Attacks that hit the opponent at the tip of the blade deal the most damage and knockback
* Foward Smash has good range, deals good damage and knockback
* Shield Breaker (Neutral B) charges and executes faster, makes a good approach, and bites off a good chunk of the opponent's shield if it connects
* A fully charged mid-air Shield Breaker can aid in Marth's recovery
* Dancing Blade (Side B) is a combo within itself, is faster than the Melee version, and is probably the most versatile special in the game
* Dolphin Blade (Up B) has good vertical recovery, is more horizontal than in Melee, is a quick and good attack, seems to be a powerful as Melee's "Reverse Dolphin Blade", can help Marth escape from most chain grabs, and gives Marth knockback resistance (read "super armor") for the first four frames of the attack
* Counter (Down B) is the fastest move of its kind in the game, is improved from Melee, and is useful for mindgames
* Good at juggling
* Can combo well on both the ground and in the air
* One of the best sets of aerials in the game
* Probably the best edge-guarder in the game
* Down Air is a good spike, intercepts most attacks, and can be performed immediately after a Footstool Jump for optimal results (known as Vertical Spacing)
* Good grabbing range
* Weak throws set up good combo/KO opportunities
* Final Smash is a one-hit KO, can strike multiple opponents, and gives Marth knockback resistance

Cons:
* Light for his size
* Slightly slower than in Melee
* Shorter attack and grab range than Melee (making tippers and chain grabs more difficult)
* Neutral A combo is slower and can't infinite juggle anymore
* No projectiles
* Shield Breaker is harder to land because it's now a stab instead of a vertical slash
* Counter doesn't always provide an adequate solution to projectiles
* Weak throws
* Final Smash can result in an SD (self-destruct) on the if it misses (this depends on if there's intervening terrain or a walk-off stage) and puts Marth into a helpless state if in the air

Final Word:
It's easy to see why Marth was #4 in competitive Melee play: He's quite the demon, despite his looks. Marth has great aerial prowess (might I suggest trying to learn the legendary Ken combo?), so use that to your advantage. Counter is a reliable move, but only use it against powerful attacks or if you're in the middle of a crossfire. If not, it'll become too predictable and your opponents will just start grabbing/throwing you instead. Dancing Blade can play many a mindgame, so vary up your attacks to keep your opponents guessing. Marth's more of a technical character, so it wouldn't hurt to plug some time into Training Mode. Overall, the results are satisfying.

#1 will come either tomorrow or Monday......and we all should have a good idea of who that is.

My blog was cut off by Glitchspot. I'll try again later.

Some good news and some bad news.

Good News: I got my Learner's Permit. Yay me! To be honest though, I'm not overly excited. It's more of a "meh" experience.

For Mega Man fans, the rumor is real! Mega Man 9 exists! Apparently, it's for WiiWare. It's about time, Capcom. Unfortunately, the actual info pertaining to it kinda bums me out:
1. They're using the original 8-bit spirites from Mega Man 1-6. Whatever happened to the 16 and 32-bit era?
2. The story (from what I've heard) won't wrap up the original series.

Well at least they did somethings right. For once, Inti Creates (the guys behind the Zero and ZX series) are developing the game, and one of the Robot Masters is a female (*raises eyebrow*). The latter idea was definitely stolen from me. Oh well, my fan-fict (arMEGAddon) is still better (and at least it'll bridge the gaps between the original and X series).

Bad News: Remember when I said that I might be going to Otakon '08 this year? That chance is now severely slim, no thanks to family. Apparently, I have to go to a beach house in New Jersey (I don't want to) with my immediate and extended family. Sounds nice, right? Wrong. For one, my family (most specifically, certain members of the family) is annoying. Also, what the *insert word here* is in Jersey?! No offense to any GS users that hail from N.J., but seriously. Great, now there's nothing to foward to this summer. I might as well just get a jump on my homework for Junior year. Unbelievable. Effin' unbelievable. *goes on a swearing tirade*

Also, my summer vacation to San Antonio this year is the same week as E3. Great, that's both cool news and emblems that I'll miss out on. So much for a great summer....

Misc.: I changed my avatar to the 5 virtues used by the Ronin Warriors. It's kinda plain but I like it.

Better Luck Next Time, Falco! (Honorable Mentions)
Well excuuuuuse me, Princess! (#5)
Victory...is my destiny... (#4)

3. Captain Falcon
Preferred Costume: The F-Zero Champ

If you didn't know about anyone from the F-Zero games, you surely did after Captain Falcon made his debut in the Smash Bros. universe. When you come equipped with a devastating punch (which in some cases, can destroy the entire galaxy!), and then tells you to "show me ya moves", you know that he means business. Heck, some people consider him to be the video game equivalent of Chuck Norris. While I believe that this is played out, Falcon has definitely come a long way since F-Zero.

Pros:
* Fairly heavy
* Second fastest running speed (second only to Sonic)
* Fourth fastest air speed (tied with Wolf)
* Can wall jump
* Possesses one of the fastest back rolls in game as well as a good foward roll
* Knee Smash (Foward Air) is one of the best aerial finishers in the game
* Foward Smash and Falcon Punch (Neutral B) deal high damage and knockback
* Falcon Punch is slightly faster and has an 180 version
* Raptor Boost (Side B) is a good combo starter and hits easier than in Melee
* Raptor Boost either avoids or negates most projectiles
* An aerial Raptor Boost "leapfrogs" over the opponent and is an effective spike
* Falcon Kick (Down B) covers good distance
* Falcon Dive (Up B) can grab onto opponents hanging on the ledge
* Down Aerial is both a powerful spike and meteor smash, depending on the hitbox
* The knee in the rapid neutral A combo has less knockback, allowing the player to easily chain into the multi-punch
* Low aerial lag and all 4 aerials are good in their own right
* Good aerial game
* Foward Smash can be angled up or down
* Can combo almost every character (if not all of them) in the air
* Good throwing chains
* Final Smash picks up multiple opponents and can KO at low percentages

Cons:
* Fairly large target
* Easily comboed
* Smashes have bad windup lag, are short-ranged, and easily countered/avoided
* Aerial Falcon Kick can't regain your second jumps
* Raptor Boost lags if it misses (Captain Falcon trips)
* Knee Smash is weak if not sweetspotted (i.e. it's weak if you don't hit the opponent with the right hitbox)
* Knee Smash has been nerfed (read "weakened") in terms of knockback and is harder to land
* Falcon Dive is a weak recovery and is easily countered
* Low priority for most attacks
* Falcon Punch is predictable, has a slow startup (despite the speed reduction from Melee), and has decreased knockback from Melee
* Reverse Falcon Punch has an even slower startup and makes Captain Falcon even more vulnerable to attack
* Down Air can no longer Nipple Spike
* No projectiles
* Fast attacks are weak and strong attacks are slow
* All attacks seem to have a slower execution

Final Word:
Overall, Captain Falcon is only slightly worse in Brawl. He's gained a few nifty tricks, but sadly, lost a few as well. Melee vets should have no problem playing effectively with Falcon; it'll just take some practice to cope with some of his changes. Falcon brings a good mix of speed and power to the table and he's equipped to throughly punish anyone who gets in his way. And of course, Falcon's aerial punch is deadly. It's almost on par with Meta Knight's, and that's a feat within itself. Using aerial combos and a mixup of strong and speedy attacks, and the game should be yours. Captain Falcon may not be as much of a dominant force (perhaps he slacked off during that 7 year wait), but he's still a force to be reckoned with. And remember; throwing out a random Falcon Punch every once in awhile could save a potentially awry match.

That's it.

Only two more to go! #2 hits tomorrow!