Well, a bit of an update:
http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1217089_1124.html
And for the uninitiated/lazy:
*)
Bang Shishigami
Height: 192 cm.
Weight: 105 kg.
Date of birth: 1/1
Blood type: B
Origin: Country of Light
Hobbies: Training, thinking up names for special techniques (Translator's comment: It shows in his move names!)
Likes/precious things: Justice and the spike* he carries as a memento of his feudal lord (?)
Dislikes: Evil
* The weapon's name - "Gojuu Gosun Kugi" (五十五寸釘
- is a pun.
"Gosun kugi" (五寸釘
means "long nail" or "spike".
I quote BRPXQXME:
"五十五 would be 55, and one sun being ~3.03cm, 55 sun is about 66 inches.
At any rate, 五十五 or just 五十 is just one of those words that can mean a great number in older Japanese (-) it basically adds up to mean big-ass nail."
Bang is quick on his feet, but his attacks are quite slow (though powerful). He is a well-rounded fighter, his arsenal including a projectile (aerial qcf+A/B/C/D), a rushing attack (presumably the f, b, f+B ground/air attacks) and a command throw (ground/air dp+C?).
His aerial projectile is limited in supply, but a hit will poison the opponent for a limited time (I assume the effect can be negated by hitting Bang) and also hold him/her in place for a moment.
Bang's Burning Heart Drive is a slow attack (presumably too slow to combo) that has a guard point (think Anji). It can be followed up on for combos. More importantly, each BH hit adds a "Fuu", "Rin", "Ka" or "Zan" mark (spelling "Fuurinkazan", or "swift as the wind, silent as the forest, fierce as fire and immovable like the mountain"). These marks apparently carry over between rounds.
When Bang has collected four marks, he can perform a third Distortion Drive (qcbx2+D) to enter a special state in which he becomes faster and his attacks do more damage (?). **
Either way, it seems that when in "Fuurin mode" (my abbreviation, use it at will), he cannot block or even walk normally (he will automatically dash, and this dash can be performed in the air), and I believe he will stay in this mode for the remainder of the match?! I wonder if one can combo into the qcbx2+D and then extend the combo with the added speed (as with Ashley's Heat Up mode in Battle Fantasia)...
** Thanks to Bloodcrave on DL(dustloop) for the corrections!
*)
Carl
"Togajin wo oishi ningyoutsukai" ("The puppetmaster who pursues criminals")
Height: 144 cm.
Weight: 35 kg.
Date of birth: 5/5
Blood type: AB
Origin: Austria
Hobbies: Playing the violin, chess
Likes: His older sister
Dislikes: Lies
Carl is a first-class hunter of criminals (bounty hunter?). Despite his tender age, his talent and skills are very impressive. Together with the enigmatic puppet "Nirvana", he travels the world eliminating felons. He sets out for Kagutsuchi to face his next target, Ragna=The=Bloodedge (or obtain information about him/his whereabouts?). Carl always conducts himself in a courteous manner, never allowing his smile to fade. Not even when confronting his target...
Drive: Automaton
Carl's Drive button is used to manipulate the Nirvana puppet. With combinations of the directions and the D button (f+D, b+D, etc.?), the puppet can perform various movements and attacks. Carl is quick but has short range on his attacks, while the Nirvana is the opposite. Carl players should use skilful cooperation between the two characters to win.
His small frame allows him to "hide" behind Nirvana's attacks (which are slow but powerful). Nirvana remains inert until activated by the D button (plus directions), and apparently its movements are carried out when the D button is released (like Arakune's insect attacks).
Nirvana has its own life bar, which decreases as she sustains hits (i.e. like Elfriede rather than little Eddie). Should it (she?) be knocked out, the Drive function is disabled for a limited time (in this regard, she resembles Eddie more than Elfriede, who has to be tended to by Lieselotte before becoming available again).
Carl is aimed at players who wish to master a complex character with difficult and spectacular combos.
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Thus ends the latest update, many thanks to all at shoryuken forums, especially umgogo and this time BRPXQXME