With Super Street Fighter IV on the horizon, GamerZines Guides brings you a rundown of the skills that will take your SF game to the next level, starting with the most crucial lynchpin of all – The Focus Attack.
The Basics
You can start a focus attack by holding down Medium Punch and Medium Kick. Your character will begin chargin a powerful attack, which you can unleash by letting go of the buttons, or holding the buttons down until he/she unleashes it automatically. If you hit with a focus attack that has over ‘half charge’, it will be unblockable.
Why Use It?
A focus attack can absorb one strike as a general rule, so it can be used as a parrying technique with an immediate counter. A good example of this is using it on ‘wake-up’ (when your opponent is getting up off the ground). Often they’ll attempt a quick strike as they wake-up, but if you are charging your focus attack – or FA – you’ll absorb it then immediately strike back.
This stands for Focus Attack Dash Cancel, and it’s a vital tool to use in Street Fighter IV. Basically, when your FA is charging, you can dash (double tap left or right) and it will ‘cancel’ the move. This can be used in a few ways. Say you’re fighting Ken, and he throws a fireball. You absorb it with an FA, then immediately dash, essentially absorbing the ‘ball without any loss of movement. When that motion is commited to muscle memory, you can start using it offensively. Land a focus attack, and your opponent will crumple to the floor. As soon as you hit, dash towards them, and you have a free combo opportunity, there’s even enough time to fire off a super or ultra combo. This is VITAL – spend time in the training room practising it until it’s second nature.
Conclusion
There are more subtleties that FADC allows, so get it into your muscle memory and start experimenting. It’s a great ‘fake’ too – try charging FA against a grounded Ken, then dashing backwards when he inevitably goes for the dragon punch. You’ll have a free throw, super or ultra just waiting for you. Lovely.
Tags: capcom, FADC, focus attack, ken, ryu, Street Fighter IV
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