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Basic gameplay details: Street Fighter 4

Last updated on Sept. 27, 2008

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Focus Attacks

A Focus Attack (sometimes known as a Saving Attack) is done by pressing the Medium Punch and Kick buttons at the same time. This combines both defense and offense in one powerful package.

Your character will enter a special preparation pose, which will absorb one attack — as long as it's not an armor breaking move or throw — and then they'll unleash a move in retaliation.

There are three levels of Focus Attacks depending on how long you hold down the buttons.

Level 1: Simply tap the buttons or release after a split second. Your character will launch a weak attack.

Level 2: Hold the buttons for about a second and you'll see your character flash. then release. This causes you to do a medium powered attack which will open up the other fighter for a combo if it lands.

Level 3: Hold the buttons for about 2 ½ seconds. This causes you to flash yellow and the resulting attack is unblockable, you can also combo after this move if it lands.

Absorbing a hit with a Focus Attack also builds Revenge Meter, used for executing an Ultra move.

Throwing and Counter Throwing

Throwing is done by pressing the Light Punch and Kick buttons at the same time when you're close to your opponent and holding back or towards. You can break your opponent's throw attempt by pressing the Light Punch and Kick buttons at the moment they try to throw you.

Ultra Moves

This is basically an enhanced super move, which you can execute by doing the same motion as your character's super move, but pressing all three punch or kick buttons instead of just one.

You can only perform an Ultra move by building up your Revenge Meter so its over half-full, then the word "Ultra" will light up meaning you can execute one. You build up Revenge Meter by taking damage.

Your Revenge Meter does not transfer over to the next round.

Super Moves

These are usually an enhanced special move. Most times they are executed by doing a double motion and pressing a punch or kick button.

Your Super Bar is the Blue meter at the bottom of the screen. The word, "Super!" appears when you've fully charged it, and then you can perform your character's applicable Super move.

EX Moves

EX moves are executed by pressing two punch or two kick buttons after doing the respective motion for a move. For example to execute Ryu's EX Hadoken (Fireball) you would do the down, down-forward, forward motion and press the Light and Medium punch buttons. Some players find it easier to press all three buttons at one time to help ensure their EX moves come out.

Doing an EX move takes away some of your Super meter.

Dashing

     or     
You can dash forwards or backwards by double tapping the joystick towards or away.

Focus Attack Dash Canceling

(hold)       (Release)
Sometimes referred to as a 'FADC' or a 'SADC'. After executing some special moves, you can Dash Cancel by pressing and holding the buttons for your Focus Attack and hitting forward twice and then releasing the Medium Punch and Kick buttons to cancel the animation to set up more hits in a combo.

This also takes part of your Super meter to do.

Getting up quickly after a knock down

(hold)
When you're being knocked down, you can get up quickly by holding down on the joystick when you're just about to hit the ground. Your character will rise up faster than they normally would.

Taunting (Personal Action)

You can taunt your opponent by pressing both Hard Punch and Kick buttons at the same time.

General notes

Street Fighter 4 uses the traditional 6 button layout in most Capcom fighting games. The gameplay is 2-D, even though the graphics are 3-D. Characters move along a 2-D plane, and the camera will make 3-D flourishes based on what's currently happening.