Let's Begin: Special Attacks

Special attacks, more commonly referred to as "specials", are an integral part of Street Fighter, and are ultimately the most defining aspect of a character. Some characters have special attacks that are more well oriented for rushing down your opponent with a well thought out offense, while others may be more suited for playing defensively and punishing your opponent for a mistimed or unsafe move. Other characters still are somewhat of a balance between the three. To be honest, this is just barely scratching the surface.

Now, as I went over in a previous blog, special attacks are attacks that require simultaneous input on both the joystick and buttons. For the most part, there are three separate types of joystick inputs for special attacks:

• Command Input: Movement on the joystick is a sequence of directions, most of which are quarter circles. For example, moving the stick from the down position to down-forward, and then forward while pressing an attack button.

• Charge Input: Movement on the joystick is held in one direction for approximately one and a half seconds, and then moved to the opposite direction.

• Grappling Input: A certain type of Command Input, grapples (most commonly referred to as throws) are performed by rotating the joystick a certain amount of degrees and then followed up with an input on the joystick. Some characters, such as Zangief, revolve completely around their grapples, and a majority of their moves can be used to set up a grapple.