I was playing through the Arcade mode on normal with Xianghua and had a really tough time with the Apprentice (the second last enemy), but had no problem with Algol or whoever was after him.  I felt like the A.I. was really strong for his character, or that his attacks are too fast or something.  I'm certainly not the best player out there, but it took me like 25 mins to beat him, yet only one or two matches for all the others.

Anyone else feel this way, or was I just having a bad match?

Something you can use against him, though: when he uses "force" moves a lot and you block it, he kind of gets stunned or dazed.

(ps. I haven't played as him or against human as him yet)

I also had a very hard time with him compared to other characters. That said, I'm not that good but still.

Yeah he's harder then Algol. Had no problem when I fought Algol with Vader...but a big problem against the apprentice.. and I didn't feel like learning a majority his moves yet either.

The Apprentice is a bugger. I was so close to throw the control into the wall, screaming and pulling my hair.. But then I finally got him.. Seems he is a bit tough, with his very long range and the way he kinda loves beating you when you are down on the ground.. 

Yeah, he's a lot tougher than any of the other characters, and honestly, he's a lot cheaper when you're playing as him too. I feel like the game in general is balanced except for this one character. He just seems overpowered/easysauce to me.

yeah, apprentice is definitly OP in arcade. Takes a few tries for me every time.

They crank up his AI on Arcade to make him a bad ass.

I don't think he is overpowered even when a skilled person plays as him but he is mos def in arcade.

I felt The Apprentice was damn near impossible to beat as Vader that's the only way to unlock him. I swear I fought him at least 30 times before I beat him. I suck using Vader.

Even with a jedi master like yoda his a strong bitch in arcade

he was hard as hell I beat him because I got lucky

Yeah it takes persistance but is worth it. Bad news though according to egm rumor mill more starwars characters are coming as downloadable content.

Yeah. Very annoying.

It took me 2 times through Arcade Mode and about an hour of playing him to beat him.  Even then I got lucky and beat him with 2 Time Ups.  I died like 3 times on Algol afterwards, then put him in his place (This was all with Vader, mind you).  I came back a few days later with the Apprentice through Arcade Mode and beat it in under 7 minutes.  Just...argh!

Yeah I always have a tough time with him in Arcade mode.  When I really get fed up with him I just spam grapples and I can beat him every time.

The apprentice made me his bitch... five times in a row. I mean, I wouldn't say I'm that good, but I beat everyone else in 2 rounds straight. Algol killed himself twice in a row too. It made my day, he jumped out of the ring.

But yeah the apprentice handed my ass to me. Hes just so cheap, and I'm sure the xbox live 5 year olds use sigfreid, nightmare, and the apprentice, and just hit every button. I don't know yet though I haven't been online.

The apprentice AI in arcade on the default difficulty does have one weakness that I've found. If you back off at the start of the match, then start sidestepping, for some reason he always tries to use vertical attacks, so you can time it so you sidestep the attack, then step in an throw, rinse and repeat. I can beat him with any character now using this method, but if I try to fight him normally, it takes like 10 attempts.

I always find his weakness to be throwing him. He always leaves himself open for it and never counters it. One time I beat him by only throw moves, cheap yes but that asshole deserves it.

It seems he's a bit buffed up, I can beat every other character easy except the Apprentice, he's one mean AI machine!

Wow I had no trouble with ringing him out twice with Yoda in 42 seconds but then Algol took 7 minutes and 51 seconds :(