>i don't know how to fight character x bc
>i'm encountering x for the first time.

yeah, most of early ranked is figuring out how to beat the cheap/unknown stuff. I don't like to lab so I get hit by anything that's more advanced than Gold level.

>i've seen a million
>ryus and sakuras. 80+ matches in and i've only seen one
>kolin, and there are probably 15 characters i haven't fought
>against yet.

the newest character always gets a lot of play. Ryu is forever popular; probably the match-up I am most comfortable with aside from a Ken mirror because I've played it the most. Kentards are everywhere as well.

once you get to Silver you'll see a lot more character variety.

>i forgot how counter-y street fighter is. most of the game
>seems to be punishing unsafe attacks. there are universal
>strategies that everyone (at least in bronze) seems to use.

Bronze is about who can not kill themselves first. and you'll get out of Silver just by learning all your punishes.

>there is a a LOT of turtle-ing and running away. ground oki
>setups are unreliable with the way street fighter handles
>knock down tech-ing. i'm having fun though

it's got its flaws (as do most every SF) but I love it nonetheless. it's fun and accessible to me.