Xbox 360 Gamers Street Fighter IV Hints & Tips: Focus Attacks, Special Attacks, Throws, and Ex Attacks
The Basics
Street Fighter IV brings together again the whole gang from Super Street Fighter II on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 Game Consoles, adds a few familiar faces from chapters in the long running and popular franchise and recruits several new opponents to add a little fresh content to the game play and keep the fighting action fresh. Mingling the fun of Super Street Fighter II with space-age graphics and interesting new ideas like Ultra Combos and Focus Attacks, Street Fighter IV is a cheeky rehash of one of the most popular and successful fighting video games in the history of interactive entertainment.
This article provides you with information on the basic attacks, Focus Attacks, Special Attacks, Focus Dash Cancels, Throws, and EX Attacks that are common to all the characters.
Basic Attacks
Basic Attacks: Street Fighter IV implements six attack buttons; Light Punch (LP), Medium Punch (MP), Heavy Punch (HP), Light Kick (LK), Medium Kick (MK), and Heavy Kick (HK). Light attacks are faster, but you’ll need to be a lot closer to your opponent to execute them, while medium and heavy attacks are effective at greater range, and inflict more damage on your opponent.
Special Attacks
Special Attacks: Special attacks are your fighter’s individual techniques and attacks, these are the attacks that often provide a little personality to the character and make him distinguishable among the crowd of fighters. Special attacks executed with Light Punch or Light Kick will have less range, will be slower, than attacks executed with Medium or Heavy attacks. One needs to take time to absorb the nuisances of each attack and the most effective situations to use each is essential to becoming a champion in Street Fighter IV.
Throws
Throws: Throws are pretty easy to execute but do require a little finger magic. Tapping LP + LK when right next to an enemy will start a throw attempt. Pushing left or right on the direction pad controls the direction you’ll throw your opponent. You can also turn the tables on an opponent that tries to throw you by tapping LP + LK as your opponent attempts the throw, which will mean both fighters will be unsuccessful in grabbing the opponent.
Focus Attacks
Focus Attacks: Focus Attacks is one of the new elements to the Street Fighter IV Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 experience from earlier titles in the franchise. Pressing MP + MK will begin Focus Attacks that can be both defensive and offensive attacks. By holding MP + MK you’ll charge up the attack. When in this stance your character has the ability to absorb one attack, while releasing the buttons will result in a counter attack. After a few seconds if nothing has happened your character will unleash an unblockable attack. Throws and attacks using the Armor Break property will by pass the Focus stance.
EX Attacks
EX Attacks: Most special attacks come with an EX version that does a lot more damage and is most times faster than the normal attack. You execute an EX attack by double pressing a kick or punch button, instead of the usual one press. You should be careful how many times you use EX attacks because each time you’ll deplete your Super Combo Gauge.
