The timing in Street Fighter V is generous, and the game gives you plenty of time to hit the buttons after inputting the motion – many newcomers hit buttons far too early while entering a special move's command. Special moves aren't as difficult as many may imagine. Looking up and practising these in training mode is a good way to get cracking.

These are sometimes called target combos, and are listed under the 'Unique Attack' tab of the command list in-game. Ryu can land medium punch to heavy punch to heavy kick very easily, for example, and Laura can hit medium punch to medium kick with minimal effort. Generally, you have to time attacks quite well – but some characters have predefined attack patterns that are far easier to perform. A series of attacks that can't be blocked once the first hit lands is a combo. While reeling, they can't block, so any subsequent attacks you land while the opponent is in this state are free damage – and, of course, they set them reeling again. When an attack hits, the recipient is staggered from this attack.

It's not infallible, and gets more complex, but worry about that later. New players really need to get into this habit. If the opponent is airborne and attacking, just keep back held on your d-pad or stick. When knocked down or under attack, simply hold down-back to defend, or 'block'. We'll assume that you know what a fighting game is, have been through the game's short introductory tutorial, and that you just can't wait to batter your friends. So then, here's our absolute beginner's guide to Street Fighter V. There are caveats and disclaimers galore for most of the following, but information overload helps nobody – particularly those people picking up something quite competitive for the first time. The best fighting games have incredible depth, and the below pointers are only a starter. This is great news for those who've always wanted to leap into the genre, but it can still be daunting, and sometimes, asking for advice – even with the best will in the world – can simply make things more confusing. Street Fighter V is finally here, and we think that the game's easier to learn than ever.

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