Tiers, shmiers.
Tiers should only be defined as the character's relative capabilities at the very top limits of human skill. Sorry for stating what to many of you is probably the obvious, but it seems that many people forget that, or don't understand the concept. Ease/difficulty of learning, versatility, power moves, and online capabilities don't have anything to do with Tiers. It's one of those concepts that was once the province of the elite, that the masses have ignorantly chosen to adopt, and mangled in the process, and when I see the mangling happen, it annoys me.
- Only the top 2% or so of serious players in the world should even be listened to, when it comes to tiers. Was the OP's "top level player" one of these people? I wouldn't know. And I am not saying here, that people outside the top 2% aren't entitled to their opinions... of course they are. I'm just saying that you shouldn't listen to them lol.
- Even those top 2%, still need time to judge the tiers properly. It's nowhere near time for them to come to final agreement on the subject. Although there's no lack of fun in listening in on their early opinions, of course. And I am not saying here, that the top 2% aren't entitled to have come to a final judgment on the matter this soon after SC4's release... of course they are. I'm just saying that you shouldn't necessarilylisten to them lol x2 + ;). There was the case of Chibita's Lion in Virtua Fighter 4... Lion was considered 'mid tier' until Chibita showed up and won the world tournament with his crazy and creative combos...
- Moreover, only the top 10% or so of serious players in the world should even possibly CARE about Tiers. And even then, only if they are making some kind of personal quest to develop their training up into the top 2%, and from there to make a bid for a world tournament win or something. And yes, I realize that a lot of 8wr's population is that type of peoples.
- For the vast majority of us (and here's me!! this is where I am in the scheme of things), Tiers are irrelevant as all fuck. For us, it's more of a simple question of who's better at the game and knows their character and their opponent better. And ease/difficulty of learning, versatility, power moves, and online capabilities... all those things that don't factor into the Tier system... might factor highly for us, in our character choices, or how we go into a battle.
End rant.
And oh, btw, Yoshi fucking rules. Is he a top-tier character? I just explained how I wouldn't know and shouldn't care. Is he fun as all fuck to learn and play and does he kick ass? YOU BET.