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SNK Boss Syndrome
SNK Boss Syndrome is an unofficial term to describe the infamously high difficulty of SNK fighting game bosses.
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Traits
Edit
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 gameEdit
- 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 rulesEdit
- 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"Edit
- 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.
