Changes: SNK Boss Syndrome

Revision as of 01:31, 4 October 2016

SNK Boss Syndrome is an unofficial term to describe the infamously high difficulty of SNK fighting game bosses.

Traits

The syndrome manifests by an overall weakness that is made up for by unfair advantages. There are several recognizable traits that can be linked to a small number of core symptoms typically stemming from poor programming.

Arbitrary advantages over playable characters in the game

attacks with unreasonable damage, priority, speed, range or recovery
greater defense than average
immunity to chip damage
unavoidable moves that hit the player regardless of their position, and can only be blocked

Disregard for established gameplay rules

no dizzy state when featured in the game
infinite or costless super special moves
unblockable moves

Absence of reaction time, command input and "human error"

ability to read the inputs of a human player and/or appropriately reacting to the player's inputs at the same time as (or even before) the player's own character does
inhuman consistency in achieving maneuvers that require precise timing or difficult commands
never falling for a command counter unless initiated during the start up of the boss's attack
ability to follow up every hit with a combo on reaction regardless of the frame window of the first hit
ability to execute special and super special moves without inputting a command
ability to do so on reaction
ability to counter a fast attack with a faster super move on reaction

This syndrome is often looked down upon as a lazy way of adding difficulty, by putting unfair disadvantages in the way of the player instead of taking the time to design a genuinely challenging AI. SNK bosses typically suffer from various programming flaws as well, leading to exploits and patterns that are most often the easiest way to defeat a boss.

Although named after SNK, the syndrome can be found in many other fighting games, and is not exclusive to bosses; higher difficulty settings are likely to have the AI engage in some degree of this behavior.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''SNK Boss Syndrome''' is an unofficial term to describe the infamous difficulty of most SNK fighting game bosses. A boss is said to suffer the syndrome if it:
+'''SNK Boss Syndrome''' is an unofficial term to describe the infamously high difficulty of SNK fighting game [[:Category:Boss Characters|bosses]].
-*has moves with priority and damage significantly higher than any other character in the game
+==Traits==
-**cannot be dizzied
+The syndrome manifests by an overall weakness that is made up for by unfair advantages. There are several recognizable traits that can be linked to a small number of core symptoms typically stemming from poor programming.
-**has unavoidable moves that hit the player no matter his position and can only be blocked
-*has no reaction time. Subsequently:
-**reads the inputs of a human player and/or reacts to the player's inputs before the player's own character does
-**can perfectly counter the player's attacks with precise timing with an inhuman consistency (sometimes referred to as "MK walking")
+====Arbitrary advantages over playable characters in the game====
-**never falls for a counter move
+*''attacks with unreasonable damage, priority, speed, range or recovery''
+*''greater defense than average''
+*''immunity to chip damage''
+*''unavoidable moves that hit the player regardless of their position, and can only be blocked''
+====Disregard for established gameplay rules====
-**can follow up every hit with a combo on reaction regardless of the speed of the first hit
+*''no dizzy state when featured in the game''
-*can execute special super moves without inputting a command
+*''infinite or costless super special moves''
-**can consistently cancel into super moves regardless of how fast the command would have to be inputted if the character was controlled by a human
+*''unblockable moves''
-*can only be beaten with one pattern or overpowered move performed repeatedly
+====Absence of reaction time, command input and "human error"====
-This syndrome is often looked down upon as a lazy way of adding difficulty, by putting unfair disadvantages in the way of the player instead of putting effort into a genuinely challenging AI. Most, if not all of the bosses in SNK games have exhibited some degree of this behavior.
+*''ability to read the inputs of a human player and/or appropriately reacting to the player's inputs at the same time as (or even '''before''') the player's own character does''
+*''inhuman consistency in achieving maneuvers that require precise timing or difficult commands''
+*''never falling for a command counter unless initiated during the start up of the boss's attack''
+*''ability to follow up every hit with a combo on reaction regardless of the frame window of the first hit''
+*''ability to execute special and super special moves without inputting a command''
+*''ability to do so on reaction''
+*''ability to counter a fast attack with a faster super move on reaction''
+This syndrome is often looked down upon as a lazy way of adding difficulty, by putting unfair disadvantages in the way of the player instead of taking the time to design a genuinely challenging AI. SNK bosses typically suffer from various programming flaws as well, leading to exploits and patterns that are most often the easiest way to defeat a boss.
-==Bosses==
-Characters listed below often demonstrate this behavior.
+Although named after SNK, the syndrome can be found in many other fighting games, and is not exclusive to bosses; higher difficulty settings are likely to have the AI engage in some degree of this behavior.
-<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
-*[[Geese Howard]]
-*[[Nightmare Geese]]
-*[[Wolfgang Krauser]]
-*[[Rugal Bernstein]]
-*[[Omega Rugal]]
-*[[God Rugal]]
-*[[Goenitz]]
-*[[Orochi]]
-*[[Krizalid]]
-*[[Zero (Clone)]]
-*[[Igniz]]
-*[[Mukai]]
-*[[Adelheid Bernstein]]
-*[[Magaki]]
-*[[King Leo]]
-*[[Jyazu]]
-*[[Shiro Tokisada Amakusa]]
-*[[Aku Amakusa]]
-*[[Mizuki Rashojin]]
-*[[Zankuro Minazuki]]
-*[[Gaoh]]
-*[[Demon Gaoh]]
-*[[Yuga the Destroyer]]
-*[[Oboro]]
-*[[Kouryu]]
-*[[Johann]]
-*[[Princess Sissy]]
-*[[Neo Dio]]
-*[[Mizuchi]]
-*[[Goodman]]
-</div>
 ==External links==
 *[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SNKBoss TV Tropes article]
+* [http://www.giantbomb.com/snk-boss-syndrome/3015-2788/ Giant Bomb article]
 [[Category:Miscellaneous]]