Catwoman - 6. Feral Instinct (20% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Back Square - Square - Jump Forward Triangle, Down Back Square

Skull Pouncer (Back Square)
Quick Scratch (Square)
Jump Smack Down (Jump Forward Triangle)
Whip String (Down Back Square)

2/7/09 3:05 PM - This Kombo Challenge wasn't hard to complete but is difficult to repeat consistently. Hence my rating of difficult. Here are the steps:

1. Bounce your opponent in the air by executing a Skull Pouncer (Back Square)

2. Juggle your opponent in mid air by pressing Square again for Quick Scratch. Thre is a little bit of timing involved here. Note a very slight pause is needed before you press Square.

3. Jump at your opponent in mid air and press Triangle for a Jumping Smack Down.

4. Finally, execute teh Whip String in mid air immediately after the Jumping Smack Down. You need to be fast to do this. To execute this make the Jump Forward Triangle Down Back Square all one move. By that I mean execute that sequence as fast as possible.

I like initiating Kombos with the Skull Pouncer because Catwoman reaches to do this. It allows you to initiate an attack just outside of close Kombat range where your opponent may have faster moves than Catwoman.

Captain Marvel - 9. Stroke of Genius (30% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Jump Forward Triangle, Down Back O, Triangle - Square, Square, O, Down Back O, X

Jump Smack Down (Jump Forward Triangle)
Solomon Escape / Jump Smack Down (Down Back O, Triangle)
Punted Death (Square, Square, O)
Solomon Escape / Jump Kick (Down Back O, X)

1/31/09 5:35 PM - OK, this Kombo is difficult but can be practiced enough to where it becomes much easier. Beware of using this move against opponents that like to use the uppercut a lot. This one leaves you vunerable since you start off with a Jump Smack Down which requires you to hit your opponent towards the decent of your jump. Here are the steps:

1. To initiate this move you start with a Jump Smackdown, as mentioned above. You then need to immediately execute the Solomon Escape. I have a technique that works well for me.while I'm in the air jumping towards my opponent I have the tip of my thumb on the Triangle button. As I'm about to press Triangle for the smack down, I begin rolling the directional pad down back. While I'm doing that I press triangle to initiate the smack down. By the time I'm ready to immediately press O with the bottom part of my thumb I've completed the directional down back. In other words you can be starting your directional pad for the next move while your are completing yoru first move. Does that make sense? Practice this until it feels like one move.

2. By now you must be used to pressing triangle after the Solomon Escape to initiate another smack down. This is time is no different.

3. The last attack sequence needs to be done with consecutive immediate timing and is worth practicing on it's own. Any extra attack buttons pressed or pauses will cause this Kombo to fail. This part is not overly difficult but just needs to be done accurately. Practice simply pressing: Square, Square, X, Down Back O quickly and deliberately. Once you are comfortable with that add the last X (Jump Kick) to it.

4. Once you are comfortable with the final attack sequence, put the whole Kombo together.

I think this one with a lot of practice could become a useful option.

Captain Marvel - 8. Lightning of Zeus (19% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Jump Forward Triangle, Jump Forward Triangle, Jump Forward Square, Back Forward O

Jump Smack Down (Jump Forward Triangle)
Jump Smack Down (Jump Forward Triangle)
Jump Punch (Jump Forward Square)
Mercury Bearing Hug (Back Forward O)

1/3/09 5:05 PM - This move is pretty funny to watch because you get your opponent bouncing across the screen. The problem is timing or positioning yourself on the last move. I can only execute this move completely about every 3 out of 10 tries. Here are the steps.

1. Jump towards your opponent and press triangle to smack the opponet down.
2. Immediately jump towards your opponent again and do the exact same thing.
3. Immediately jump towards your opponent again and this time press Square.
4. At the very moment you feet hit the ground execute the Mercury Bearing Hug (Back Forward O)

This may take you a few times to execute. You may want to incorporate this into your live game play to intimidate your opponent. Even if you don't complete the whole move it still gets them bouncing around. However, don't expect any real damage from this. The entire Kombo only delivers 19% damage.

Captain Marvel - 7. Purity's Purge (18% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Jump Forward X - Back Forward O

Jump Kick (Jump Forward X)
Mercury Bearing Hug (Back Forward O)

1/31/0 4:55 PM - I actually rated this one as difficult even though it only involves 2 moves. The problem I have with this one, is that it takes perfect timing, or so it seems for me. The key to my success, which has been limited, is to land the initial jump kick low on the opponents body. If you can land the kick at your opponents feet you should have better luck getting the Mercury Bearing Hug to execute. I currently only execute this Kombo successfully every 3 out of 10 tries. I know, that terrible. I have the same problem with Batman's Out of the Darkness Kombo. If you have a better technique for this please post a reply.

Captain Marvel - 4. Shocking Surprise (26% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Jump Forward Triangle - X, O, Down Back Square, * Back Forward Triangle

Jump Smack Down (Jump Forward Triangle)
Power of Wind (X, O)
Power of Zeus (Down Back Square)
Strength of Hercules (Back Forward Triangle)

1/31/09 3:55 PM - I don't know why I am so inconsistent with this move. It shouldn't be that difficult. Here are the steps:

1. Jump towards your opponent and press triangle to smack them down.

2. After you smack your opponent down they will bounce in the air. You will need to time your Power of Wind attack to start when they begin to descend. Up to this point I'm fine.

3. Then you will need to execute the Power of Zeus. This is where I'm inconsistent. Sometimes it get it to work but most of the time it doesn't. That's why I ranked this Kombo as difficult. If you do get this move initiated you will need to follow it with the Strength of Hercules which is easy. Just like I wrote in the Summoned Smackdown post you can skip pressing back and simply press forward triangle to complete the Kombo.

Please post your insight to this Kombo. I'm sure there is some technique to get more consistent to this.

Batman - 4. Predator (28% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Square, Square, Triangle - Down Forward Square, * Down Back Triangle

Vengeance (Square, Square, Triangle)
Batarang (Down Forward Square)
Smoke Capsule (Down Away Triangle)

1/25/09 7:35 PM - OK, remember Gotham's Hero Kombo Challenge? "Bop, Bop"? Yeah, I know, I'm a dork. The Gotham's Hero Kombo is the last part of this Kombo. You may want to practice again. Once you get the Batarange to Smoke Capsule "Bop, Bop" down go on to try the entire move from the top. OK, taking it from the top now...

When you execute the Vengeance attack sequence (Square, Square, Triangle) Batman will perform 2 kicks when you press triangle. The timing on this move is key. Do your Gotham's Hero "Bop, Bop" move immediately after Batman gets his first kick off. If you do this you will complete the Kombo Challenge no problem. I personally prefer Knightfall and Caped Crusader for 25+% damage because they are a bit easier in live game play.

Baraka - 8. Love of Battle (43% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Fists Only, Jump Forward Square, X, Down Forward O - Back X, O, Square, Square, X, Forward Forward Triangle

Start with your blades retracted (Fists Only)
Jump Punch & Kick Combo (Jump Forward Square, X)
Blade Cyclone (Down Forward O)
Nail and Impale (Back X, O)
Feasting on You (Square, Square, O)
Scrape Kick (Forward Forward Triangle)

1/21/09 9:30 PM - This one really isn't that hard with a little practice. Practice jumping in and rolling your right thumb over Square and X to get off your punch kick Kombo. Immediatley role your left thumb on the directional pad forward down and press O to execute the Blade Cyclone. Practice this sequence a few times until you get it off consitently. The nice thing about the Blade Cyclone is that you get to pause for a momement until Baraka finishes his spinning. Remember to wait until his wait shifts back after he comes to a stop. Then execute the Nail and Impale move (Back X, O). This will send your opponent flying in the air. After a very brief pause execute the Feasting on You Kombo (Square, Square, O). I kept messing up here trying to remember the right buttons to press. I had to just practice the Feasting no You Kombo on its own to condition myself to press Square, Square, O each time.

Note: if you try practicing the Feasting on You to Scrape Kick move, it will be extrememly difficult to get off without doing the entire Kombo sequence. I'm not sure why, but I guess you the Feasting on You move knocks your opponent higher in the air.

Once you've become comfortable from the beginning of the Kombo sequence to the Feasting on You move finish the Kombo with a Scrape Kick (Forward, Forward, Triangle). It's not that hard and this move delivers 43% damage.

1/23/09 12:20 AM - This is by far the easiest move with the most damage. Master this and you will have an air attack that does some serious damage. In applying it to actual fights it's difficult to get off because most opponents are blocking or ready to deliver a massive upper cut to you, so be careful. Choose your opportunities wisely.

1/24/09 11:30 PM - If you are looking to deliver serious damage, this is the Kombo to practice.

Baraka - 7. Tarkatan Takedown (29% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Back X, O, Down O, Triangle, Triangle, Down Back Square

Nail and Impale (Back X, O)
Change Stance (Down O)
Double Cuts (Triangle, Triangle)
Sharp Spark (Down Back Square)

1/14/09 8:55 PM - This move is moderately difficult. I approached it by practicing the last part of the Kombo first. Press Triangle, Triangle, Down Back Square really fast to perform the Double Cuts to Sharp Spark. Once you've completed this 3 hit Kombo successfully a few times practice the Nail and Impale (Back X, O). This should be easy. I found the hardest part of this Kombo was the Change Stance (Down O). The transition to Down O is awekward as well as the transition from Down O to the Double Cuts. You just need to get used to the timing. It takes some conditioning to get the Kombo all the way through the Double Cuts. I practiced this Kombo and was pressing Triangle 3 times instead of 2 just for reinforcement of transitioning to the Triangle. Once I trained myself to complete this sequence a few times in a row. I then forced myself to only tap Triangle twice and attempt the Sharp Spark. This took some conditioning but only a little since I practiced this first. If you can quickly go from the Stance Change to the Double Cut, you should have enough time to get off the Sharp Spark with ease. This Kombo is not that hard after you practice it through several times. One thing I've been trying to do is keep practicing the Kombo even after I've reached Success. I keep trying until I can execute it 3 times in a row. Note, you do not need to go back to the previous trial to practice your Kombos. You can do them even when you've advanced to a new Kombo trial. You just won't get the "Success" displayed.

Baraka - 4. Killer Kuts (27% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: With blades out, Jump Forward Triangle - Square, Square, Triangle, Triangle, Forward Forward Triangle

Unleash Blades (O)
Jumping Smack Down (Triangle)
Open Wound (Square, Square)
Double Cuts (Triangle, Triangle)
Scrape Kick (Forward, Forward Triangle)

1/12/09 7:55 PM - Take my word on this, practice the Square, Square, Triangle, Triangle combo on the ground first. It delivers 2 horizontal blade swipes and then 2 vertical blade swipes. If you hit Square 3 times (which I kept doing) it will end the Kombo prematurely. So be very deliberate to only tap Square twice before switching to Triangle, Triangle. OK, once you've conditioned yourself to only press Square twice, then try adding the last part of the Kombo (Forward Forward Triangle). I'm no where near perfecting this part. You will need to do the Scrap Kick before your opponent hits the ground, so be tapping forward forward while you are hitting your first 2 triangles (I think). This is how I got it to work (once). Now practice the initial Kombo sequence by jumping towards your opponent. Make sure your blades are drawn. Hit O if they are not. OK, after jumping towards your opponent and hitting him in the head with a Triangle smack down blow, move "slightly" towards your opponent and initiate your Square, Square, Triangle, Triangle... sequence. Once you make contact with your first square you won't need to push forward. The sequence will naturally pull you forward. You will need to practice initiating the Square, Square sequence because if you start it to soon you will swing under your opponent in the air. If you initiate the Square, Square sequence to late your opponent will fall to the ground ending the Kombo. After practicing this, try putting the entire sequence together. I'm still working on the timing of the final Scrap Kick. If you get this off, it inflicts 27% damage. Let me know if you have any suggestions on this one.

Baraka - 3. Skinned Alive (16% Difficult)

Kombo Challenge: Jump Forward X - Forward Forward Triangle

Jump Kick (Jump Forward X)
Scrape Kick (Forward Forward Triangle)

1/11/09 11:15 PM - This one is hard. I think I'm just not quick enough. I managed to get this challenge completed by jumping over the opponent. I was next to the wall and after jumping over him and kicking him he bounced off the wall and I got the "Scrape Kick" to connect. After 20 attempts, I still haven't been able to repeat it.

1/14/09 9:50 PM - It really helps if you get your opponent near a wall. Also, I've had success with the Scrape Kick landing after an aerial kick very late. By late, I mean Baraka has almost landed on the ground. I have also had success jumping over my opponent and kicking late followed by a Scrape Kick. Hope this helps. Personally, I don't think this Kombo is worth the 16% damage it gives you.