So I've been practicing the Jenova Life Aqualung backup strat on PS4 and I don't think the time bars are filling up properly. I know that you're supposed to Big Guard with Cid after using a Phoenix Down with Cloud to revive Tifa. The problem I'm having is Cloud and Tifa's ATB gauges don't fill before the Big Guard animation is done so I can't use Cross-Slash before Jenova gets a turn.

Is this a PS4-only problem? Do my characters have a lower Dexterity stat than their supposed to? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a video link to further explain:

In the video, "WAIT" appears above Cloud and Tifa's timebars before they can fill so I can't Cross-Slash with Cloud. It's really buggging me and I don't know what's wrong/what I can do. Maybe I'm leaking time in between using the Phoenix Down with Cloud and Big Guarding with Cid?

The whole strat should be as follows: Cast big guard with cloud first turn always even if you see aqualung. Revive Cid and allow his atb to fill as much as possible then open clouds menu to get ready to throw Phoenix down on Tifa. When Jenova’s turn is over and Cid is alive throw the Phoenix down and immediately hold time with Cid’s ESkill menu. After cloud throws the Phoenix down and his atb is empty, cast big guard and allow atbs to fill as much as possible. When the atb is paused during big guard, do cross slash. Hold circle to do one physical attack with Tifa and hold time with Cid. When tifas arb is empty, cast death sentence on Tifa and hold time as soon as tifas atb is full. During the death sentence animation, use deathblow with Tifa and hold time with cloud on attack. When tifas atb is empty, hold circle to attack with cloud, dblow with Tifa and hold time with Cid. When tifas atb is empty, defend with Cid and hold circle to do the last deathblow. Hope this helps.

The whole strat should be as follows: Cast big guard with cloud first turn always even if you see aqualung. Revive Cid and allow his atb to fill as much as possible then open clouds menu to get ready to throw Phoenix down on Tifa. When Jenova’s turn is over and Cid is alive throw the Phoenix down and immediately hold time with Cid’s ESkill menu. After cloud throws the Phoenix down and his atb is empty, cast big guard and allow atbs to fill as much as possible. When the atb is paused during big guard, do cross slash. Hold circle to do one physical attack with Tifa and hold time with Cid. When tifas arb is empty, cast death sentence on Tifa and hold time as soon as tifas atb is full. During the death sentence animation, use deathblow with Tifa and hold time with cloud on attack. When tifas atb is empty, hold circle to attack with cloud, dblow with Tifa and hold time with Cid. When tifas atb is empty, defend with Cid and hold circle to do the last deathblow. Hope this helps.

Okay after some practice I was able to get it fairly consistently:

Thanks for the help!