History Main / ActionCommands

* ''VideoGame/{{Super Mario RPG}}'', where players could use "Timed Hits" to increase attack or defense power. But then again, [[HeKnowsAboutTimedHits you probably already knew that]].

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'': Action Commands were available in battle, usually right before the enemy strikes. Though called "parry attacks", they actually involved Link dodging by rolling around the enemy, then leaping up to slash his foe in the back of the head. Especially effective against [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Darknut knights]].

[[folder:Survival Horror]]
* ''VideoGame/Condemned2Bloodshot'' uses these in Chain Combos (not to be confused with the game's {{Combos}}, which are series of a regular attacks) that range from doing massive damage, to broken arms, to instant kills.
* ''VideoGame/DeadlyCreatures'' uses a combo system of attack button and Wii-mote waggles. More closely to the trope, the Scorpion has a unique "Finishing Move" for each type of enemy in the game which is pulled off by a creature-specific action command. This results in everything from a double-pincer pound to the jaw, followed by prying the jaws open to stab the stinger down the throat (lizards), to rolling an enemy over and stabbing them in the underbelly (wolf spiders).
* ''VideoGame/DeadSpace1'' has these when an enemy grabs you. The command can either be a single press of the action button to squish a bug, or the frenzied hammering of said key to rip off a PersonalSpaceInvader and bludgeon it around the head. Then stomp on it. Repeatedly.
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' has these for knocking down stunned {{Mooks}} or [[AttackItsWeakPoint attacking a boss's weak point]]. Sometimes it is dangerous to use one, such as using a roundhouse kick on a Ganado only for the OneHitKill Plaga to pop out.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' uses this whenever you are physically attacked by any creature (even some of the bosses), doing so allows your character or your ally to perform a physical attack (such as a kick, punch, or a stab). During boss battles, it's used to dodge certain attacks, many that can result in a game over including in the second to last battle where failing to dodge the attack causes the boss to rip out your heart.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheUmbrellaChronicles'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheDarksideChronicles Darkside Chronicles]]'' have these when you are grabbed by creatures. If you shake the Wii-mote, you can counter-attack for a one-hit kill. Each character has their own counter-attack animation/style.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' ups the ante with {{Counter Attack}}s that are more often than not a OneHitKill or amazingly damaging on mooks.
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* ''VideoGame/TheLastRemnant'' uses action commands for increasing damage and counterattacking after dodging or blocking, this happens randomly.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan 3'', during action cinematics, flashed the necessary buttons to press moments before in order for Spidey to win the battle.

** However, since the game doesn't punish you for repeatedly mashing a direction instead of trying to time the dodges, most of the combat can easily devolve into mashing a single direction whenever there's any enemy attack on the screen and pelting the enemies with an endless stream of instant charge shots.

* ''VideoGame/Manhunt2'' used these to perform 'executions' -- although thanks to meddling from censorship groups, these segments became essentially unplayable, as the player could rarely see what was going on.

* Used heavily in all three ''VideoGame/{{Shadow Hearts}}'' games, whose combat system relied on the Judgment Ring. The player had to press the X button when the Judgment Ring's rotating bar was inside certain colored areas of the ring. Good timing was rewarded with a stronger attack, spell, or item effect; bad timing meant a blown turn (thankfully, you didn't use spells or items if you failed their rings, preventing wasted supplies or MP). The Judgment Ring was also used to get discounts at stores, and in the first game, it was even used in a few extra mini-games. The second and third games allowed one to set the attack to "Auto Ring", but this prevented you from earning Strikes and limited available attacks.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed'':
** In the first fame, a similar non-gameplay system occurs during scripted sequences; Hitting a button when the Animus's screen does a variety of camera shifts, and lets targets give their final soliloquy as if undamaged. The result is surreal, but expressive, as the mark's speeches are long and emotive, losing effect when given by a reclining figure unable to support his own head. (Plus their unnaturally clear vocal acuity considering the hole in their necks.)

* ''Videogame/BatmanArkham'' has these in combat, as whenever enemies are about to attack (except for Hard mode, which disables this), an icon appears over the head indicating that you can press a button to CounterAttack, and if the enemy is down, the icon is there to indicate a floor KO is possible. There are also those for automatic stealth takedowns, whether by approaching an unaware enemy from behind (some games even allow [[PutTheirHeadsTogether a multiple one if there's two side by side]]) or if the enemy is nearby Batman's hiding position (atop a gargoyle, hanging from a ledge, inside a floor grate).

* ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'' has these when an enemy grabs you. The command can either be a single press of the action button to squish a bug, or the frenzied hammering of said key to rip off a PersonalSpaceInvader and bludgeon it around the head. Then stomp on it. Repeatedly.

* The arcade game ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'', its sequel, ''Time Warp'', and its SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/SpaceAce'' were nothing ''but'' Action Commands. They essentially ran a Don Bluth animated movie, and [[PressXToNotDie if you didn't execute the right command, you would die]]. Even if you were just trying to dodge a mother-in-law throwing pots and pans at you.

In Action Adventure games, players receive a visual cue in the main window, often connected to the targeted enemy. Action commands allow the player to kill regular enemies more efficiently, and are sometimes necessary to defeat more advanced enemies (''especially'' bosses). Again, it serves to reward players for attentive gameplay, rather than simply {{Hack and Slash}}ing their way through. Compare the CounterAttack, which usually does not have an overt visual cue.

* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' had these for knocking down stunned {{Mooks}} or [[AttackItsWeakPoint attacking a boss's weak point]]. Sometimes it was dangerous to use one, such as using a roundhouse kick on a Ganado only for the OneHitKill Plaga to pop out.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 4'' has a variant, in that although the Devil Bringer is used normally against most Mooks, against bosses it is necessary to find specific moments of vulnerability before it can be used. Also, there are some "hidden" Devil Bringer attacks that work in this way by requiring a precisely-timed input, like catching [[spoiler:Credo's]] spear and [[CatchAndReturn throwing it back at him]].

* ''Videogame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'' used timed hits similar to ''Paper Mario'' (which has been cited by the developers as a major influence) to execute attacks as well as to defend.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'': Action Commands were available in battle, usually right before the enemy strikes. Though called "parry attacks", they actually involved Link dodging by rolling around the enemy, then leaping up to slash his foe in the back of the head. Especially effective against [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Darknut knights]].