The sparring mode has been vastly upgraded, so learning each characters strengths and weaknesses, and mastering their litany of combos, is easier and more intuitive than before. You can choose any stage you have unlocked and spar against any character you want (just like before), but you can also set specific actions for your opponent to undertake and even select which stance they use. You can also go through each combo one by one, setting the game up so it ticks each combo and move off the list as you successfully complete it.