Combo (video games)
Template:Current-GCOTW A combo (short for combination) is a term in especially fighting games that is based on the concept of a striking combination. It indicates a sequence of moves which produce an unblockable series of hits. It takes an initial direct hit for the combo to begin. The first hit is then followed by a predetermined sequence of other hits, each of which leave the opponent in the least desirable condition for blocking or parrying the next hit in the sequence. Depending on the game design, a combo can theoretically be infinite, limited only by the player's skill.
The combo is believed to have been invented with the introduction of the arcade game Street Fighter II, when skilled players learned that they could combine several attacks that left no time for the CPU to recover, if they timed them correctly. However, the makers of the video game did not intend for the combo to be a feature, rather, they were unaware of it until testers started experimenting with different combinations. Since then, combos have been a feature from the start in most fighting games.
Many other types of video games include a combo system involving chains of tricks or other manoeuvers, usually in order to build up a high score. Examples include Killer Instinct, the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series and the Crazy Taxi games.