Transformers Devastation

Transformers Devastation sets attack speed through wind-up frames. The light attack lands in 14 frames and the heavy takes 36. The player is left open during the wind-up, so the heavy attack carries more risk.

Every attack animation has anticipation, contact and recovery, and the wind-up mostly sets the speed. During anticipation the enemy can move away, block or strike first. Dark Souls' Black Knight Greatsword, with almost two seconds of anticipation, is the extreme example given. The quote: "you’re completely vulnerable during those anticipation frames".

Transformers Devastation freezes both fighters for three frames on impact. Both fighters hold the same pose for three frames when a hit lands. This brief freeze helps sell the impact of the hit.

It is one part of the wider recipe for crunchy hits: a big wind-up, a very fast strike, a short hit pause on contact and a heavy recovery. Resident Evil 6, God of War 3 and Ryse use variations of the same pattern.

Transformers Devastation rewards successful combos with a high-damage vehicle attack. Landing a combo unlocks a vehicle attack that deals high damage. This gives players a reason to chain attacks instead of repeating one move.

It is cited as an incentive for using the whole move set. Furi's health refund for a hard parry and the scoring systems in Clover and Platinum games work toward the same goal in different ways.