Remember that you can click the thumbstick to recenter the camera, too. It's a way to quickly re-orient to where Raiden is facing.
Might be a bit late, but here are some general newcomer tips:
- You can look at your movelist under HELP in the pause menu.
- Set the camera sensitivity to setting 8 or so.
- The Parry and Perfect Parry mechanics are the foundation of the entire game.
- As soon as the store is available, purchase "Defensive Offense". This is a short dash slash with generous invincibility frames to avoid otherwise unblockable attacks (beams, fire, explosions, grabs/throws). The majority of attacks can be canceled into Defensive Offense, so you don't have to let up the offensive.
- Zandatsu's restore all fuel cell gauge and health. The game is set up where you can Zandatsu every enemy in a engagement and recovery whatever energy you need.
- Regular fodder enemies can be Zandatsu'd right away. Tougher enemies will either need to be stunned via Perfect Parry or you need to do enough damage to body parts (body parts will have a mild blue glow if they can be severed via Blade Mode).
- Blade mode camera and the slice angle can be controlled with both thumbsticks. You can press an attack button to actually perform the slice - X for horizontal and Y for vertical. If you line up the initial cut with the sticks, just press an attack button for the surgical slice. Once you've hit the red box target, you can "let'er rip" with the slashes... they won't destroy the spine, but do add to your combo/score.
- You can cancel anything into Blade Mode. This is useful for canceling the recovery on slower moves.
- Sometimes certain moves will initiate a slowdown and there will be a blue haze over the screen. This usually indicates a good Zandatsu opportunity, since certain moves will line up easy Zandatsus. Examples are the full L aircombo or running H.
- Falling Lightning, despite the name, is the easiest way to take out airborne opponents. Purchase it from the shop. This autotracking divekick sets up Zandatsus perfectly against the vulture-types.
The Parry Mechanic
- A Parry is performed by tapping towards the enemy + light attack during the startup and active frames of an enemy's attack.
- You must Parry in the direction of the enemy, not necessarily the direction of the attack.
- You must press toward + light attack for EVERY hit. This means, if a move strikes Raiden three times, you must press towards + light three times, timed for each hit.
- The Parry is simply a regular block if not timed perfectly. If you time the Parry with the very moment that Raiden will get struck, you'll get a Perfect Parry. Timing is less generous on the harder difficulties.
- A Perfect Parry will result in a powerful auto-counter slash by Raiden that will typically stun enemies, setting them up for Zandatsu. While you're learning the timing of the Perfect Parries, the general rule of thumb is to attempt Parry earlier rather than later. If you make a mistake, you'll still get the block.
- You can cancel almost any light attack into the Parry.
- You can cancel a Parry with Defensive Offense.
- Aerial Perfect Parries (must be bought in the shop) will hit enemies that otherwise dodge the the grounded Perfect Parry counterattack (such as Geckos).