The first few opponents in Arcade Mode are designed to be relatively straightforward, allowing you to ease into the game and practice your character's fundamentals. Don't underestimate them, but also don't overcomplicate your strategy.
Tips for Early Matches:
- Practice Basic Combos: Focus on landing your character's bread-and-butter combos. For example, Ryu's crouching Medium Kick into Hadoken.
- Utilize Projectiles: If your character has projectiles (like Ryu's Hadoken or Guile's Sonic Boom), use them to control space and pressure the opponent.
- Anti-Airs: CPU opponents often jump in. Be ready with your character's anti-air moves (e.g., Shoryuken for Ryu/Ken, Guile's Flash Kick).
- Simple Mix-ups: Try mixing up high and low attacks to open up the CPU's guard.
- Block and Punish: Observe the CPU's attack patterns. After they commit to an unsafe move, block it and retaliate with a quick combo.
These early matches are your opportunity to build confidence and refine your execution before facing tougher challenges. Don't be afraid to experiment with different moves and see what works.