Button mashing

Categories: Computer and video game terminology

Button mashing is the term given to repeated button presses over a short period. Most of the time, button mashing is seen in (but not exclusively) athletic and fighting games.

Athletic games

In athletic games, button mashing is the usual way of making the athlete run or set strength. Over time, different ways of achieving this result have been tried: Epyx relied on moving the directional pad left and right (this practice is commonly called joystick wobbling) and occasionally on 360º turns, Accolade's Challenge games used only one button, while other companies (such as U.S. Gold and ATD) use two buttons. In Olympic video games based on the Summer Games, usually only technical events (diving and gymnastics), archery, shooting and others that in reality do not rely much on physical strength are free from button mashing. In games based on Winter events, button mashing usage decreases greatly, since those events are either aerobic (such as cross country) or Alpine skiing, button mashing is reserved for starts (bobsled and luge) or in speed skating.

Fighting games

In fighting games, mashing is more a desperation tactic over actual skill. Less experienced players will button mash in a attempt to do moves. However, in some games, combos are done by combining over 10 button presses in a period of time shorter than three seconds, turning gameplay into a complex button mashing party. Others, like many games based on the Dragon Ball franchise require the player to mash the button to win a power wave move (such as a Kamehameha) battle. In games involving swords, like Bushido Blade or Jedi Outcast, in order to break a sword lock, the player has to press one button repeatedly.

Criticism

Players who abuse this tactic are known as button mashers; given the unpredictability of the outcome, proper countering and opposing tactics are extremely tough to apply, which grants an advantage over even the best players, the reason why the tactic is poorly seen.

Given the extensive wear caused to the massive repetition of presses, there are specific game controllers that feature a turbo button. While this defeats games where only one button is used, it can't be used in fighting games or "A+B" swaps to be done at a simple key press. However, games like Metal Gear Solid (during the torture sequence), put a limit on the number of keystrokes per second the developers tought feasible, ending the game if the player uses a turbo button. This led to newer game controllers with turbo buttons featuring a lower hit frequency, closer to "human" values, but still high enough to allow passing even the most difficult sequences without danger. Most modern game devices for PC carry drivers and applications that allow the same, including complex button sequences from fighting games.

Modern games are usually criticized for using button mashing, a formula popularized by Track & Field in 1983. Daley Thompson Decathlon (1996) used mouse clicks and holds, but the formula proved to be only effective or rewarding while playing in a working enviroment, as it can be perceived as working from distance.

Possibly the most recent button mashing sequence (except, of course, Athens 2004) in a console game was in Final Fantasy VIII for the boost ability that Guardian Forces (GFs) have in order to boost their attack power.