Marvel Super Heroes Combo Information

First Created: Sep 20th, 1996

The Combos in Marvel Super Heroes are what make this game so much fun, or at least one of the things that make it fun. First of all, I am one of those much-hated people that really enjoy "Chain Combos", but can use them skillfully, although I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. On with the guide...

What's A Combo?

A combo is a string of attacks that, when executed with the proper timing, cannot be blocked once the first hit scores. The first hit must hit an unblocking opponent, and every hit thereafter must connect until the last hit. But just because a hit connects doesn't mean it's a combo.

The remaining hits must connect because they can't be blocked; even if the opponent were to try and block. A combo must be at least three hits to be considered a combo.

Combo Styles

Because the definition for a combo (even with all the restrictions above) is pretty loose, there are many different kinds of combos that you can do.

Traditional Combos

Traditional combos (most likely having their first appearance in Street Fighter 2) were actually an accident. There were some attacks in Street Fighter where, before the animation for the attack was complete, a special move could be executed.

An example of this is Ken and Ryu's ability to throw a fireball after having hit their opponent with a Down+Fierce punch. Before the Fierce punch animation was completed, a fireball could be thrown. Because the animation was not completed, the opponents damage animation is not completed, and the fireball connects before they can recover.

This is a classic example of a traditional combo. The most traditional combo would be to jump in the air and strike your opponent with a Roundhouse kick. While they're still stunned from the kick, and as you hit the ground, attack with a Down+Forward kick, and straight into a fireball before the animation is completed.

There are only certain attacks that can have special moves "buffered" into them, and there are only certain special moves that can be buffered. I will offer some help in that area with my Guide, but it's up to you to master your character.

Chain Combos

Nobody knows why Chain combos were introduced, but I have my theories. Because there were only certain "comboable" moves, the possibilities for combos were limited, although Video Game players everywhere quickly realized how cool combos are (Killer Instinct is the result of such a combo-lust.)

Combos quickly became Air Attack -> Normal Attack -> Special Move, or at least some variant thereof. And believe me, the variants weren't that varying.

Chain Combos, a fresh new look on combos, involve "chaining" together hits of increasing power to make a combos. Instead of being an "accident", combos became "on purpose." In fact, the complaint about Chain Combos is that they're too much on purpose.

In Marvel Super Heroes, you can basically count on being able to do a Chain Combo by attacking quickly with Jab->Strong->Fierce or Short->Forward->Roundhouse while you are close to an unblocking opponent.

It is possible, even, to "buffer" in special moves on the end of Chain combos sometimes, although usually you'll have to add the Special Move in place of the Fierce/Roundhouse portion of a Chain, since most Fierce/Roundhouse attacks in a chain will either knock the opponent over or knock them up in the air; either way -- ending the combo. Although knocking them up in the air can be used to your advantage if you want to learn how to do:

Sky-High Combos

OK, it's kind of a stupid name for it, but it's my name, darn it, for Air Combos in Marvel Super Heroes.

Each character has certain moves (normal ones) that when executed as part of a combo, will knock the opponent up in the air. You can pursue them and continue the combo on them if you're good enough. In fact, you're really missing out on a bunch of fun if you don't!!

Do this by pressing up quickly on the joystick and then do a zig-zag Air Combo on them. What's that? Easy, just go 1->4->2->5 (that's Jab->Short->Strong->Forward.) Sounds simple and brainless, right? Well it is! Have fun!! It looks cool! After you finish the last hit of your zig zag, do a special move, (or even a Super Move) to finish the Air Combo.

More to come...