Banana Placement
By AlphaZealot | Published: July 1, 2008 6:24pm EST
 Sometimes it is better to forgo grouping bananas if you need to regain control over the pace of the match. This can be done not by throwing the banana at the opponent directly, but instead by placing the bananas directly in front of them or just behind them. Keeping the bananas near them, instead of throwing them at them, forces the opponent to react to the banana more slowly. This reaction can help reduce the pace of the match until you can get your bearings back. For the most part, attempt to place bananas in locations around the opponent that they will be likely to enter soon. For example, if you know the opponent has a tendency to use running Up-Smashes, then place the banana where the Up-Smash would likely be soon, not where the opponent currently is. Even if the opponent doesn’t perform the move, you have still limited his options and frustrated him from performing something he originally wanted to do. Remember, a banana tossed in front of the opponent can be followed up nicely with a peanut shot, giving them two projectiles to worry about in a small window of time. If the opponent is approaching you from the air, your first reaction may be to toss a banana upwards. While this can occasionally hit the opponent, you will likely limit your success to the damage of the banana alone. Instead, throwing the banana directly down or tossing it just in front of you may net better results. Consider that the opponent, when approaching, must attack from the front in most situations. From here, they have two options: First, if they make the poor decision to disregard the banana, then they should slip upon landing and be punishable (assuming you have good placement and were shielding). Second, if they make the better decision, using an air attack to pick up the banana, then you know where and when the attack will occur. Use this information to plan accordingly. Sometimes it is best though, to go with this simple solution. Hitting them with a dash attack can lead into other moves, allowing you to pile on the damage. There are other smaller tidbits and devices that many Diddy players develop on their own. Learning to make good decisions, like when to attack with bananas or when to place them around the opponent, is one of the key aspects of playing Diddy Kong. |
