Description
In the context of fighting games, an 'Infinite' is a highly contentious and often game-breaking mechanic. It involves a combo or series of moves that, once initiated, can be continued indefinitely without giving the opponent a chance to break free. This can lead to extremely unbalanced gameplay, where a player who successfully initiates an Infinite can secure an easy victory. While some players may see this as a high-level strategy, most game developers and competitive communities view Infinites as detrimental to fair play. As a result, many games include patches or balancing updates to remove or mitigate Infinites. The presence of an Infinite can significantly affect the competitive scene, leading to debates about the skill required to perform them versus the fairness of their existence. Ultimately, Infinites highlight the delicate balance developers must maintain to ensure a game is both challenging and fair.
Examples
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: This game is infamous for its Infinites, particularly Magneto's ROM infinite, which involves a series of repeated air dashes and attacks.
- Street Fighter II: In this classic game, characters like Guile could perform 'handcuff' glitches that essentially trapped opponents in an infinite loop, leading to a ban of such tactics in tournaments.
Additional Information
- Infinites are often discovered by players through extensive experimentation and are not usually intended by game developers.
- Competitive fighting game communities usually ban Infinites to maintain fair play and balance during tournaments.