5−2. Top Tips for Command Input 2

　The rule of Frame Delay has been simplified in Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, so you had better confirm the system once again. You are referred to 'VF Moves Project (Ed., Akai)' for detailed analysis of attacks in this chapter.^[1]

　In section 5・1, we described an important concept: a button of the attack command have to enter within Input Buffer.^[2] This section considers in more depth the point that emerged from the discussions of command input. Now we shall introduce a top tip for command input: you can start to enter the direction portion before Input Buffer. An example of this is Jean performing Gyaku Seikenzuki 66P. The figure below has Player 1 advantaged by 4 frames due to blocking Player 2's Hiji'uchi 6P (Figure 5−3).

　Player 1 then attempts Gyaku Seikenzuki (15 frames attack) against Player 2's 11 frames punch. Both attacks are supposed to reach their Active Phase^[3] at the same time, and Player 1 should win because Gyaku Seikenzuki do more damage than normal punch (See chapter 3).^[4] You might be surprised seeing the result that was the other way (Figure 5−4).

　You have to look at actual command input of Player 1 carefully. Player 1 keeps the top tip for command input in mind, and starts to enter the direction portion (marked red 6 in Diagram 5−8) before the first frame of Input Buffer (highlighted yellow). However, there is a delay of 1 frame though Player 1 entered attack command P within Input Buffer. This is called 1-Frame Delay.

　How do you get around 1-Frame Delay? The answers are shown in Diagram 5−9. All you have to do is enter Dash Command 66 not later than the first frame of Input Buffer. By using this method, you can avoid 1-Frame Delay so Gyaku Seikenzuki starts executing in the fastest time possible (Figure 5−5).

　The next example will emphasize one aspect of Frame Delay system, in which Akira is performing Yakuho Chouchu 666P. The figure below has Player 1 advantaged by 3 frames (See chapter 4, Figure 4−5: click here).^[5] Subsequently, Player 1 attempts Yakuho Chouchu (15 frames attack) against Player 2's 12 frames punch (Figure 5−6). Although Player 1 started to enter Dash Command (marked red 66 in Diagram 5−10) before Input Buffer, a delay of 1 frame has existed. The reason for this 1-Frame Delay is that the last input 6 is left behind in the period of Input Buffer.

　There is a simple solution to this serious problem. The most important message in this chapter is that:

　Indeed, you would obtain the best result by using this input method (Figure 5−7 and Diagram 5−11). This technique mentioned in this section is called 0-Frame Delay (See also chapter 7).^[6]

References