The Hunter x Hunter fighting game has only one input scheme, and it’s a simplified one. It feels like a fresh idea: not to divide players by their control preferences.
Having simplified inputs is a big trend in modern fighting games. Even the legacy series go for it, such as Street Fighter and FATAL FURY. At the same time, most of them follow the same principle: two separate control schemes, so players should choose one before their matches.
The games even indicate the control input near the player’s icon. In a way, it changes the emotional effect of winning or losing matches.
The developers from Arc System Works chose a different path. With only simplified controls available in Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, everyone is on the same page, at least in this aspect. It feels like a very good decision!
Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact controls
The game follows the signature Arc System Works pattern for Normals. You can find something similar in Granblue Fantasy Versus and DBFZ.
- Light, Medium, and Heavy attacks are linked to three action buttons: Square, Triangle, and Circle for PlayStation, X, Y, and B for Xbox-style controllers.
Your Nen Impact characters can unleash auto combos if you hold the Rush button (L2 / LT) and mash Normals.
- Nen Stance is a unique move in the Hunter x Hunter fighting game. It’s linked to Cross on PlayStation and A on Xbox controllers.
The Assists from other characters in your team and fighter swaps are activates with R1 / RB and L1 / LB.
As for Special and Super Moves, they are available without any quarter-circle or semi-circle inputs.
- Special Moves in Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact — you need to connect a simple directional button, forward, with Normal Attacks. To change the type of your Special Move, press a different Normal.
In terms of fighting games community, these are rather Command Normals, but they are marked as Specials in the game's menu.
- The game has Arts, which are true Specials in Nen Impact. The controls scheme has a dedicated button for them: R2 on PlayStation and RT on Xbox controllers. Directional inputs change the Arts type.
- Aura Arts are classic Super Moves. They consume Aura Gauge and require pressing the Nen Impact Stance with the Arts button.
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Nen x Impact controls are the best accessibility option in fighting games
If you have the skill of shooting fireballs with quarter-circles and link difficult Super inputs to the stream of attacks, congratulations, you probably don’t need any simplified inputs.
Sure, it feels totally different to perform all those Specials with the classic motion input. In a way, you do magic movements and unleash the power of those Hadokens and Shoryukens. One-button Specials are not the same.
However, not all newer players are extremely excited about that input type. Mastering Specials on their own is alright. Performing them in combos is pretty difficult. Doing Supers in combos and not just randomly in neutral — well, not all have the dedication to master that.
What Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact controls do especially right is that this scheme doesn’t create the subtle aura of inferiority around Modern/Smart input players.
Even Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising puts enjoyers of simplified input at a disadvantage. If you use one-button Specials and Supers, your attack damage is lower. It’s not like indicating to all the opponents “This guy is on M!” But Nen Impact does it better!
Casual fighting game?
The input scheme is one of the factors that define the potential core audience for Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact. The game is great for casual players! Another factor here is ridiculous combos you can do in the game. They don’t feel competitively balanced.
The esports future of this title will become clear thanks to an upcoming tournament. The first really big event for Nen Impact is Evo France, from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12.
For all fighting games news and updates, stick around on esports.gg.
