Hit stop
Also said as Hit pause, Hitlag, Freeze frames
The game freezes for a few frames at the moment of impact. Fighting games have used it for decades, and it is among the strongest tools for making a blow feel heavy.
A hit lasting one frame barely registers. Freezing that frame gives the eye time to take it in, and makes contact feel as if the blow met real resistance.
Say it
“Add 85 ms of hit stop on a stomp: freeze the player and enemy, keep particles and camera moving. Scale it up for heavier hits.”
Where you’ve seen it
Street Fighter stops both fighters on every connecting hit, and the Smash Bros. games lengthen the freeze with the strength of the hit.
Not to be confused with slow motion
Hit stop is a complete stop lasting a few hundredths of a second. Slow motion is a slowdown lasting long enough for you to act during it.