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4[[quoteright:312:[[Franchise/{{Disgaea}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/00a1046ad650d1252adb6d53cdb20cfb_7562.png]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:312:PrepareToDie!]]
6
7In video games with {{Limit Break}}s or [[SpecialAttack Special Moves]], sometimes a character using said special will have [[CharacterPortrait a portrait or close-up of his face]] flashed on the screen just before he proceeds to use his technique.
8
9This allows us to see the determination on the attacker's face that may otherwise be difficult to convey on the character's in-game sprite or model and serves as a good OhCrap moment for his opponents (who may be other players if it's a multiplayer game). If the model ''is'' detailed enough to convey emotion, then an alternate option is to have the camera temporarily zoom in on the attacker.
10
11When used with an image, this trope is frequently referred to as a "cut-in."
12
13See also {{Eyedscreen}}, VersusCharacterSplash.
14
15----
16!!Examples:
17
18[[foldercontrol]]
19
20[[folder:Card Battle Game]]
21* ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' uses this for its many special moves.
22** ''Shinken Hissatsu'', a special "full-throttle" state that can be triggered when a sword is hit when in heavy damage stages. This state is heralded by an ''epic'' shot of the sword's going full rampage and a PreAssKickingOneLiner.
23** Double attack, which starts with close-ups of the swords doing the attack.
24** ''Ikkiuchi'', a randomly triggered FinishingMove involving both sides' captains going one-on-one against each other. This move begins with close-ups of the attackers' faces.
25* ''VideoGame/YuGiOhDuelLinks'', does this whenever a character uses their special skills.
26[[/folder]]
27
28[[folder:Fighting Game]]
29* The Hyper Combos from the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' series.
30** Its predecessor ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes'' has a Super Move '''Sound Effect''': a deep "'''X!'''" for X-Men (a holdover from ''X-Men: Children of the Atom'') or "'''Infinity!'''" for other characters (which also carries over into [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes the first MvC game]] for the returning cast from ''MSH'').
31** ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'', ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' and ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' show close-up animations of the characters which change for each Hyper Combo.
32* Quite a few ''{{VideoGame/MUGEN}}'' characters, though it's mostly in an attempt to stay true to the games they come from.
33** Shadow Kouma, an edit of [[VideoGame/MeltyBlood Kishima Kouma]], has a LITERAL ONE.
34* Used in the ''VideoGame/GundamVsSeries'' series of {{Fighting Game}}s. The installments centered around ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' flash the character's portrait when the player activates their SuperMode, while ''Gundam Vs. Gundam NEXT'' shows a cut-in of your character if you land the final attack. ''Gundam Extreme Versus'' brings back {{Super Mode}}s, but this time portraits only appear if it's especially critical (ie, if you're low on HP and/or it's the last 30 seconds of a match).
35* ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureHeritageForTheFuture'' shows this for supers and "custom combo" inputs; in the latter case the portrait lingers for a second or two and the character's facial features twitch to give some semblance of not being just a still image. There are also "defeated" portraits when a super move [=KO=]s a combatant.
36* In ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureAllStarBattle'', Heart Heat Attacks ([=HHAs=]) zoom in on the character launching the move. Great Heat Attacks ([=GHAs=]) show a momentary cutaway in the style of manga panels as the character winds up.
37* Done in the ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' {{Fighting Game}}s. Taken further, unleashing [[LimitBreak Bankai]] causes a short cutscene of their personal activation method to play.
38* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' added this to the beginning of the [[LimitBreak Fatal Blow]] attack openers after neglecting to include it in the X-Ray Attacks and Fatal Blows of ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' games ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat2011 9]]'', ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatX X]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat11 11]]''.
39* Final Smashes in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' tend to zoom in on the character using it immediately before the effect.
40** Robin's Final Smash in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' uses the cut-in effect of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' to show Chrom joining Robin in the smashing.
41** ''Ultimate'' adds a [[https://i.imgur.com/Fakyxw3.jpg small portrait]] of the character to the corner of the screen when they use their Final Smash.
42** ''Ultimate'' also has [[VideoGame/Persona5 Joker]] doing this when his Rebellion Gauge is full, summoning Arsene and powering up his attacks and abilities. Notably, this only occurs if he is standing still, and doing so grants him momentary invulnerability.
43* ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown V'' had a variation. Portraits appeared not when a character used a super attack, but when they activated "[[DesperationAttack Mu no Kyouchi]]" [[SuperMode mode]] (which dramatically slows down the opponent).
44* The ''Mahjong Fight Club'' series has in-game AI-controlled avatars of real life TabletopGame/{{Mahjong}} professional league players. Whenever one of them wins a hand, a cut-in of the pro's face flashes on their opponents' screens right before declaring the win. The pros themselves also have special user accounts that allow them to play as their in-game avatars (with a "real-life person" tag in place of the usual "CPU"), which will have the same effect, though the pro will see his/her own facial cut-in on his/her own screen as well.
45* Starting from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'', the zoom-in, screen freeze, flashy lights variant when a Super/Critical Art is activated. ''[=SFIV=]'' goes one step further, and uses full motion zoom-ins for Ultra Moves, to enhance that OhCrap feeling. ''[=SFV=]'' adds a little more with a screen freeze after the finishing off the opponent with an autocombo.
46* ''VideoGame/RumbleRoses'' uses this whenever any wrestler performs one of her two finishing moves.
47* ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'', as of ''Actress Again Current Code''.
48** Also happens in earlier games for EX and Arc moves.
49** This was also adopted into it's SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth''
50* Based on the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANTj2PpyXS0 trailers,]] ''VideoGame/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAsPortable: The Gears of Destiny'' has added these to accompany the Full Drive super moves.
51* ''VideoGame/NarutoClashOfNinja'' and in the Ultimate Ninja series has a portrait of your character appear briefly in the background when activating your special attack.
52** ''VideoGame/NarutoShippudenUltimateNinjaStorm3'', you get a scene from the anime and a PreAsskickingOneLiner when finishing an opponent with an ultimate.
53* ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match]]'' did this with the character's [=MAX2=] supers.
54* ''{{VideoGame/Dead Or Alive 5}}'' does this with power blows.
55* ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' uses black-and-white portraits of characters behind fast-moving film reels, in keeping with the game's film noir aesthetic.
56* ''[[{{VideoGame/Aquapazza}} Aquapazza]]'' has this for each of the characters' Splash Arts.
57* In ''[[VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry Ougon Musou Kyouku]]'', characters' portraits swoop in when they make meta-declarations or counter-declarations, and they get one or more for their meta super attacks. Even support characters' portraits appear for their assists.
58* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear Xrd'' goes the ''SFIV'' route and has cinematic startups to certain supers.
59* Guilty Gear's sister series ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' takes a more different approach to this by having a character's [[MotifMerger special]] [[ThemeTable crest]] (which represents them) pop up when activating a [[LimitBreak Distortion Drive]], an [[SuperMode Overdrive]] or an [[FinishingMove Astral Heat]].
60* ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' has ''multiple'' cut-ins appear during the animations for certain SP Skills. The facial cut-ins focusing on a character's eyes are also brought over from the [[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} original game]] when a character enters "Awakened Mode".
61* The ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' fighting games stay true to their bullet hell origins by doing this whenever spell cards are declared.
62* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}} 7'' introduces rage arts with starts with this trope.
63* ''VideoGame/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' has an image of the character in a fighting pose appear over the screen whenever the player uses a Mojo Meltdown, which is possible after the player has collected enough Mojo Balls to fill up their Mojo Meter twice.
64* In the ''VideoGame/DragonBallXenoverse'' series, this trope serves a practical purpose, warning the player if an enemy character is targeting them with an Ultimate Attack so they can try to defend against it. If the player uses an Ultimate, they get the traditional 3D fighter-style closeup instead. These images occupy one corner or one side of the screen to appear roughly where the opponent is and to leave enough space when you're being targeted by more than one ultimate at once.
65[[/folder]]
66
67[[folder:Hack And Slash]]
68* If it's been a Creator/KoeiTecmo hack and slash franchise, it's used this trope. They seem to favor extreme close ups over still portraits, but that's mostly dependent on the franchise. Almost all of the ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' and ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' games have used extreme close ups of the character model, often from multiple dramatic angles.
69** Most characters in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriorsGundam'' use the standard artwork of the character in an action pose for their True Musou attack, but certain characters like [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Domon Kasshu]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Kira Yamato]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Setsuna F. Seiei]] feature them in their respective SuperMode.
70* ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors Legends'' uses cut ins for its special attacks, replacing the zoom ins from the Wii U version due to the 3DS' lower resolution.
71* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriors'' uses a close-up of the attacker along with an EyedScreen effect in homage to the CriticalHit animations of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates''.
72[[/folder]]
73
74[[folder:Mecha Game]]
75* ''VideoGame/GotchaForce''
76* ''VideoGame/HardcoreMecha'', similarly to VideoGame/SuperRobotWars, there are close-up animated portraits of the protagonist, Tarethur, in his Thunderbolt mecha when he uses any of his ultimate moves. However, the animated portraits and ultimate moves are only exclusive to story mode.
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:MMORPG's]]
80* In ''VideoGame/DungeonFighterOnline'', when a Dungeon Fighter uses their classes "Awakening" skill (or certain high level normal skills), a portrait of their subclass appears on screen.
81* ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'': Just before executing their Charge Attack animations, characters will have their own static portraits flash horizontally on the screen, along with a sound effect. Some characters introduced in 2017 onwards, such as ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' characters Mikasa and Levi, have animated portraits zooming in and with a different background color.
82* ''VideoGame/GrandChase'' does this during special attacks.
83* Special Actives in ''{{VideoGame/Elsword}}'' also work like this.
84* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' features cut-ins of your actual character model's face talking as an option for text chat communication (with a choice of various backgrounds and facial expressions). As such, this trope can be used manually by players at their own will, or the Autowords feature can even be set up to do it automatically during special moments, such as an Emergency Code starting or clearing a Quest. Excessive use of them during gameplay though, especially when broadcast to all players in the field rather than just the player's own party, is seen as disruptive and annoying by some. As the cut-ins match your character exactly, it can also result in some less than graceful situations where your character is knocked to the ground by an enemy mid-sentence and this is reflected in the cut-in window at the time.
85[[/folder]]
86
87[[folder:Party Game]]
88* ''VideoGame/MarioParty3'': The game does this on the duel boards when one player's partner attacks the opposition.
89[[/folder]]
90
91[[folder:Platform Game]]
92* ''VideoGame/ApeEscape 3'' has the bosses do this. Usually before doing a hard to dodge or powerful move.
93* In ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt'' and its spinoff series ''VideoGame/LuminousAvengerIx'', when you or a boss use an offensive skill or Anthem is triggered, the game will briefly cut to a full-screen image of the character in question. In ''VideoGame/LuminousAvengerIx2'' and ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt3'', these images are partially animated.
94* In ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin'', when initiating a Dual Crush attack, the portraits of the two protagonists will flash on screen in a brief time-stop moment, accompanied by the characters shouting the incantation.
95* Happens once per boss fight in ''VideoGame/RabiRibi'' and its sequel, ''VideoGame/{{TEVI}}'', where the present antagonist will have a portrait display right before their ultimate attack. Erina does this too when using her 'ultimate weapon', the Bunny Amulet, which mostly just grants a few frames of MercyInvincibility.
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Rhythm Game]]
99* Even ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'' started doing this in [=SuperNOVA 2=], flashing a portrait of the dancer in the background whenever the player gets high {{Combos}}. (20 or higher, with another portrait flash for every 50 combo)
100** Hottest Party 3 took this up another notch and made it more awesome. Starting from 50 combos the character will make a move on screen, and from 100 to 200 combos, so on, they'll continue to make a fancy celebrating move for it. And better yet, if you end off with a full combo, they'll have a finishing move while "Full Combo Finish!!" flashes on screen. Distracting for easily distracted players, but it's still very awesome.
101* ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'' and ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'' have the portrait of the lead member appear whenever the player completes a particularly good string of beats or hits a specific number of combos.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Role Playing Game]]
105* ''VideoGame/SacredEarthSeries''
106** ''VideoGame/SacredEarthPromise'': In older versions of Promise, EX Arts were accompanied by a cut-in image of the user. In the current version, only Exceed Limits have cut-in images due to these skills surpassing EX Arts.
107** ''VideoGame/SacredEarthAlternative'': This game only gives cut-ins to Elemental Arts, which are EX Arts that are enhanced by the Field Element mechanic. However, the only characters who get cut-ins are Konoe [[spoiler:and the FinalBoss, her original non-clone self.]]
108* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' uses this for its strongest attacks, known as Mystic Artes (Hi-Ougis) or Blast Calibers, depending on the game. Portraits generally come in two flavors - a horizontal or (rarely) vertical "stripe" with character's portrait, or much larger, upper-body artworks.
109** Cut-ins first appear in ''VideoGame/TalesOfEternia'', uniquely drawn in one color.
110** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2'' Judas has a secret arte, that can only be activated on a NewGamePlus. By extending one of his Mystic Artes, he will go through a DramaticUnmask and his cut-in shows him as such.
111** ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'' lacks traditional Mystic Artes, but features Climax Combo - a CombinationAttack performed by all four party members. When activated, it shows four {{Eyedscreen}}-style portraits of the current party, stacked on top of each other.
112** ''VideoGame/TalesOfInnocence'' heavily features {{Reincarnation}}, and in its VideoGameRemake all second-tier Mystic Artes has unique cut-ins that show both the character and their past self. Naturally, it doesn't apply to non-reincarnated characters.
113** ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' and UpdatedReRelease of ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' use both styles of cut-ins, reserving stripe-type ones for weaker Mystic Artes, and upper-body portraits for stronger [=MAs=], that can be accessed only during NewGamePlus. In Vesperia they are animated, too! Because nothing quite says "power" like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zy8LUZ1kzM boobie bounce]].
114** ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'' has a second cut-in for Kunzite, different portrait from normal - specifically, with his helmet off. In can only be seen on NewGamePlus.
115** The [[CombinationAttack Link artes]] in ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' and ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' briefly display a face portrait of the two participating characters whenever they're used.
116** ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'':
117*** The game has only one cut-in per character, but frames them differently depending on Mystic Arte used. First-ties artes show only a stripe, second-tier show most of the character, and third-tier show full-body artwork, accompanied by a cool effect, that depend on character, like Velvet's claw tearing through the screen, or Magilou's portrait spinning before setting in place.
118*** Additionally, Break Souls display a small stripe-type portrait, seemingly modified from characters' status screen portraits.
119** ''VideoGame/TalesOfArise'' ditches cut-ins along with all of in-game 2D art, but still has characters strike a distinct pose before unleashing an attack. Indeed, when ''Arise'' characters were added in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheRays'', their default cut-ins were modified from these poses.
120* Two games in in the ''VideoGame/{{Lunar}}'' series use this trope, both of them remakes of ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'' but released nearly a decade apart. ''Lunar Legend'' was the first game in the series to use a LimitBreak mechanic, and years later, ''Silver Star Harmony'' added a similar system to the framework of ''Silver Star Story''. The additional moves make the first half of the game rather easy, since Luna's move restores all health and magic.
121* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
122** The PSP remake of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}: Innocent Sin'' added these to [[CombinationAttack Fusion Spells]]. Everyone participating in the spell appears on the screen, usually with some loose bit of clothing or their hair flapping about as a [[DramaticWind side-effect of summoning their Personas]].
123** ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' shows a close-up of the hero every time a Fusion Spell is used. Portraits of the Personas involved will appear to his sides. It also randomly shows a cut-in of a character's eyes when their Persona either hits a weakness or gets a CriticalHit (and the very first time they summon in battle as part of the story). This applies both to party members and enemy Persona-users (plus the optional superboss). Finally, when all enemies are knocked down, a character will suggest (via portrait pop-up and a voice-over) initiating an [[BigBallOfViolence All-Out Attack]]. Agree, and the screen will throw up the portraits of all characters participating in the attack.
124** ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' features the party's portraits when they perform one of their follow-up attacks. In addition, the eye cut-ins and All-Out Attack group portraits are still present. [[WhamShot Used for dramatic effect]] near the end of the game, [[spoiler:where the Killer's portrait when he first attacks during his boss battle reveals he himself has a Persona]].
125** ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'' features them for critical hits/weaknesses and All-Out Attacks like in ''3'' and ''4'', but no longer for follow-up attacks.
126** They return in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'', the artwork used looking somewhat more dynamic. Fitting the game's comic book-like aesthetic, the critical hit cut-ins look as if parts of the screen are "torn away" to reveal the portrait. TheHero even has a separate cut-in for minigames, like [[MundaneMadeAwesome scoring a homerun in batting cage]].
127** ''VideoGame/Persona3Reload'' features an updated style for the cut-ins to coincide with the visual upgrade, with the shot of the user's eyes now appearing behind them before being shattered by their Persona. Conversely, All-Out Attack portraits have been removed in this game, being replaced by all available party members posing for the camera before rushing in for the attack.
128* Fusion attacks in ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': Level 1 Fusions have Neku's portrait on the bottom screen, and his partner's portrait on the top screen, each in a colored horizontal bar. Level 2 Fusions have the two portraits side-by-side, in colored vertical bars that stretch across both screens; this one of both characters with their eyes closed, opening them simultaneously. Level 3 fusions have full-body, non-bar portraits of the two characters in fighting poses circle each other once or twice before the attack starts.
129* From the [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire third]] generation of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games onward, Pokémon using a move outside of battle (Cut, Fly, etc.) flash across the screen and cry before performing the action.
130** It also happens when you're challenged by a Gym Leader.
131* ''VideoGame/RivieraThePromisedLand'' does this for characters' Level 3 Over Skills and enemies' Max Rage attacks.
132* The final battle of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' manages a sprite-based variant. When Kefka begins charging his [[AwesomeButImpractical Forsaken]] attack, a small sprite representing his laughing face will appear on the battlefield. When he appeared in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' the same attack reappears as his LimitBreak and a more traditional close-up of his face is used before pulling back to show the attack.
133* The final boss of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' made the most of its newfangled 3-D graphics to give the final boss a dramatic face close-up when he performed his [[OverlyLongFightingAnimation infamous]] Supernova attack.
134* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'': ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'' has two cut-ins for each character: one "normal" one and one showing part of the attack in progress - Harken turning his super revolver into a beam cannon, Aschen removing her personality limiters (and [[{{Fanservice}} significant chunks of spandex]]), and so on. They also pop up whenever you switch characters or summon in support characters to join in on the beatdown, and the second game makes them even more elaborate and increases their number greatly as well because of all the support-only characters. It also cranked up the ammount of [[MaleGaze butt-shots and]] [[FanService bouncy breasts]].
135* ''VideoGame/ArcRiseFantasia'' mostly uses these for {{Combination Attack}}s. Whenever a magic or [[LimitBreak Excel Act]] is synced with another magic/Excel Art, portraits of all participants of the sync will be briefly displayed on the screen, before the powered-up move is executed. Some bosses have attacks that display only their portrait, that they can use by syncing their Excel Arts with themselves. [[ComputerIsACheatingBastard The player can't use this technique for themselves]].
136* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' and its sequels: Not in the games themselves, but one of the online Dream World minigames, named [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_Dream_World_mini-games#Open_the_Treasure_Box "Open the Treasure Box"]], featured this when beating the minigame.
137* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' does this with the [[LimitBreak S-Crafts]]:
138** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Trails in the Sky]]'' trilogy has eyes-only cut-ins, while ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZeroAndTrailsToAzure Trails From Zero]]'' uses characters' normal speaking portraits with determined expressions. ''Trails to Azure'', however, replaces these with full-body artworks. The ''Evolution'' ports of the ''Sky'' trilogy would also give new full-body artwork for all S-Crafts.
139** Starting with ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Trails of Cold Steel]]'', series undergoes VideoGame3DLeap and starts using dramatic close-ups even for most normal Crafts. Cut-ins, however, are still being used for S-Crafts. It also uses cut-ins for Link Attacks and HumongousMecha battles. The latter uses mostly the same mechanic as the former, which means that the second cut-in displayed is cut-in for the ''mecha''. It makes some sense for sentient [[SuperRobot Divine Knights]], but less so for [[RealRobot Panzer Soldats]], which are just inanimate war machines.
140** Zigzagged in the first ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsThroughDaybreak Trails through Daybreak]]'' game; it discards cut-ins for faster combat flow, but its turn-based mode still has a lot of dramatic close-ups shown during Crafts and S-Crafts. However, it's hard to pinpoint close-ups with the same impact as cut-ins in previous games. Regardless, ''Kuro II'' brings cut-ins back, though these ones still use the 3D models instead of 2D artwork.
141* In ''VideoGame/FateExtra'', some of the [[LimitBreak Noble Phantasms]] such as the ones used by the playable Saber or one of the Berserkers involve this.
142* ''VideoGame/UncommonTime'' does this for the {{Limit Break}}s. Each one uses a unique portrait, in fact, with everyone having different portraits for each of their two attacks.
143* Similar to the above example, the Awakenings in ''VideoGame/DotHackGU'' feature the portraits of all three (or two) of your party members.
144* In ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'', whenever a Mii executes a new skill (be it a class skill, a personality skill or a relationship skill), we see a close up of their eyes in letterboxed portrait with the name of the attack next to it. In the Switch port, this was edited to now show the Mii's whole face.
145* In ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyVBeyondTheMyth'', when a Union Skill -- CombinationAttack meets LimitBreak -- is used, all participants' portraits flash on the screen momentarily before the skill animation takes place.
146* ''VideoGame/RakenzarnTales'' began using these for its Soul Break moves with Version 4, going with a full body shot of the character.
147* ''VideoGame/RakenzarnFrontierStory'' uses it for its Soul Breaks as well, sticking with a facial close-up akin to an EyedScreen style.
148* ''VideoGame/SacredEarthSeries'': In older versions of ''Promise'', EX Arts were accompanied by a cut-in image of the user. In the current version, only Exceed Limits have cut-in images due to these skills surpassing EX Arts.
149* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'': When 5-star characters--and Barbara[[note]]who was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally intended to be a 5-star character]], but was lowered to a 4-star so new players could more easily get a dedicated healer[[/note]]--initiate an [[LimitBreak Elemental Burst]], you get a small cutscene zooming in on the character’s face as they unleash their attack while their elemental color flashes in the background.
150* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' combines this with [[EyedScreen Eyed Screen]] when starting Chain Attacks, selecting Chain Orders, and Interlinking.
151** ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3FutureRedeemed'' extends this to using Specials.
152* ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series uses these for EXTRA skills, i.e. in all games with the PlayerParty.
153** ''VideoGame/YsSEVEN'' has a small eyes-only portrait flashing on the upper part of the screen.
154** ''VideoGame/YsMemoriesOfCelceta'' and ''VideoGame/YsVIIILacrimosaOfDana'' has full-body artworks on the right side.
155** ''VideoGame/YsIXMonstrumNox'' has no cut-ins, but characters will strike a pose before unleashing the attack.
156[[/folder]]
157
158[[folder:Shoot Em Up]]
159* Spell card declarations in ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''.
160** Taken up a few notches with Utsuho's, wherein the portrait is accompanied by large, yellow, radiation-symbol-spammed "CAUTION!" text scrolling across the screen as well as a blaring klaxon. Reason for this being that she is a ''[[PersonOfMassDestruction living thermonuclear weapon.]]''
161* Characters in ''VideoGame/{{Otomedius}}'' flash their portraits when using a P-Burst or D-Burst attack. The portrait is different depending on which Burst is used.
162* In ''Wolf of the Battlefield: VideoGame/{{Commando}} 3'', the M-Crash special attack is accompanied by a cut-in portrait.
163[[/folder]]
164
165[[folder:Turn Based Strategy]]
166* In both the first [[VideoGame/AgarestSenki Agarest]] and its prequel, [[VideoGame/AgarestSenkiZero Zero]], whenever characters use their EX skills, their portraits appear in the middle of the screen.
167* [[CombinationAttack Team attacks]] in ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}''.
168** In the newer games, the Magichange ability also does this (As shown in the trope picture).
169** Some normal moves do this, as well, the Prism Rangers' Prism Justice (Squeezes the portraits of all seven of them onto the screen), and Mid-Boss' Adonic Buster and Super Adonis (A four person team attack and magichange respectively, both using copies of himself) being particularly noteworthy.
170*** ''[[VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten Disgaea 4]]'' has the Prism Rangers ultimate attack. It shoves 13 portraits on screen at once!
171* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' games in general absolutely abuse this, sometimes using cut-ins of the pilot, the mecha itself preparing the attack (or the next part of it), or both. In some of the games, everything from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dcALByDqAs the most basic attack]] is precipitated by at least a pilot cut-in. Considering [[OverlylongFightingAnimation the length of the more powerful attacks]], they almost affect the StoryToGameplayRatio.
172* ''VideoGame/SDGundamGGeneration'' post [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeed SEED]] uses this in anything stronger than vulcan and punch attacks. This is because you're basically create your own robot army, so cut-ins are used to show who is in your mech. Story-based G Generation games uses cut-in to show the character's pulling out ID Commands.
173* ''[[VideoGame/NintendoWars The Advance Wars series]]'' shows a portrait of the CO whenever they use their CO-Power.
174* ''VideoGame/LaPucelle''
175* Team/Group Attacks in ''VideoGame/ChaosWars'' show face cut-ins of all the characters participating in the combo. When a unit performs a Realize Special, a larger portrait of the unit is shown, and during the attack, just before landing the final blow, a face-cut in appears.
176* Pretty much every [[LimitBreak Flash Drives]] in the ''VideoGame/LuminousArc'' [[VideoGame/LuminousArc2 series]], with the [[VideoGame/LuminousArc3 third]] game also bringing in [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 Unison Strike]] combo attack between [[TheHero Refi]] and his [[DatingSim partner]].
177* The 3DS ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Echoes]]'') along with ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes Heroes]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]'' all pull this when characters execute special skills or critical hits, complete with a PreAssKickingOneLiner. ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriors'' imitates it with an {{Eyedscreen}} effect.
178* In ''VideoGame/PokemonConquest'', a brief portrait of both the Pokemon and the Warrior commanding it will appear when attacking with a super-effective move or activating a Warrior Skill.
179* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesIII'': When certain characters use their super special powers, such as [[CombinationAttack Kurt]], [[MacrossMissileMassacre Imca]], and [[SuperMode Riela]]. [[spoiler:Also, [[GuestFighter Alicia and Aliasse]].]] The use of Order in the game may also be counted as this.
180[[/folder]]
181
182[[folder:Visual Novel]]
183* Even the ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' series does it, a close up of the Attorney/Prosecutor appears in the screen, generally when doing an Objection!
184** The beginning of the cross-examination, when the ''samurai eye shots'' of the prosecutor and the defense attorney are shown glaring at each other ''[[MundaneMadeAwesome with gusto]]!''
185* The ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' games do this whenever the protagonist points out a contradiction.
186** In ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', the other classmates can sometimes cut Hajime off when he's in the middle of laying out his analysis in the same effect. The game lampshaded the surprise of seeing Mahiru's interruption after spending the entire first game without any of such thing.
187* In ''Monster Girl Quest'', using an elemental sword skill while the corresponding spirit is summoned will cause portraits of both Luka and the spirit to appear. In ''Monster Girl Quest: Paradox'', every single playable character (and there are hundreds of them) has one when they use particular skills.
188[[/folder]]
189
190[[folder:Wrestling Game]]
191* Starting around 2002, the Wrestling/{{WWE}} series of games (formerly WWE Smackdown or WWE Smackdown Vs Raw) began adding more cinematic touches to the fights, typically dramatic zoom-ins, slow-mo, camera pans and/or [[RepeatCut repeating replays]] of successful finishing moves. In previous games you could invoke this trope in singles matches.
192* ''Big Bang Pro Wrestling'' briefly cuts in a full-screen portrait of your character with SpeedStripes in the background when you activate your LimitBreak.
193[[/folder]]
194
195!!Non-video game examples:
196
197[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
198* This happened in the ''[[Anime/NegimaSecondSeason Negima!?]]'' second series during the {{Omake}} involving Chao's super glove and her 2-D fighting game-esque battle with Ku Fei.
199* [[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha Nanoha]] does this sometimes. Especially in the movie, when she calls out her WaveMotionGun attack.
200* Used in ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'' for the last episode CombinationAttack.
201* ''Anime/CarnivalPhantasm'' contains a callback to the ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'' games in which Akiha's portrait appears during a very violent volleyball game.
202* ''Anime/Persona4TheAnimation'' carries this over from the original game, particularly when characters are about to get serious.
203[[/folder]]
204
205[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
206* ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'', which has video games as its overall theme, uses [[https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kamenrider/images/5/5a/Mighty_Critical_Finish_Thrust_%28Prelude%29.jpeg these]] whenever one of the Riders performs a FinishingMove.
207[[/folder]]
208
209[[folder:Web Animation]]
210* ''WebAnimation/{{Bunnykill}} 4'' has the battle in the Dragon Shrine, where both main characters and the BigBad get one such attack each.
211* ''WebAnimation/BananaNanaNinja'' uses these extensively, usually to add emphasis to Baninja's fits of overly dramatic dialogue, but also in action and fight scenes.
212[[/folder]]
213
214[[folder:Web Comics]]
215* As a parody of various video game tropes, ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'' made [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000993 liberal]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001072 use]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001133 of]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001137 these]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001736 shots.]]
216* As an obvious ShoutOut to ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'', the entire cat family does one in the 663rd strip of ''Webcomic/{{Girly}}''.
217[[/folder]]
218
219[[folder:Web Original]]
220* [[http://l.j-factor.com/misc/anime.gif That animated GIF]] where a stick figure tries to [[spoiler:[[DoorJudo open a door.]]]]
221* [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/11708-zidanes-headbutt One]] [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/136992-zidanes-headbutt take]] on [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} French]] soccer player Zinedine Zidane's [[UseYourHead headbutt attack]] against [[UsefulNotes/{{Italy}} Italian]] Marco Materazzi at [[UsefulNotes/TheWorldCup the 2006 FIFA World Cup final]].
222* Done in ''WebVideo/CollegeSaga'' with Jesús's "Hallelujah" special.
223[[/folder]]

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