For anyone struggling to get into this, I think the first thing I'd say is just make sure you are using the parry mechanic as much as possible, rather than the avoid/dodge. It might feel more natural to go for the dodge but it's parry that you need to use 90% of the time.

I'm actually enjoying this so far.
Combat is meaty and crunchy, mechanically takes from arkham style and adds a few more layers to make it a bit more technical. Basically what i hoped for.

Not sure i have the skills to be good at it or the mentality to keep grinding through the rogue like elements, but it's good fun when you put some moves on a bunch of thugs. I'm just too much of a natural brawler (in video games) to concentrate on timing multiple parries and dodges then remembering button combos.
Made it to the boss at end of second level and got chinned, think i was in 30s when i got there. Not sure i even managed to hit him.

Beat 2nd boss but i was 76 and didn't last long on next level.
Went back and got through at 51. Think i got close to level 3 boss but it all went a bit trippy before i died.
Not sure i really approve of the 'magical' element with the bosses when the rest of the enemies and combat is relatively grounded and realistic, but i guess it makes it a bit different

I have a disc if anyone wants a lend.

Yep, that's a great price. Up to you anyway, it's in the drawer.

I didn't really like it

Maybe just cos I was shit at it tho

Got to the second phase of the level 3 boss but combo of lack of patience and reactions are making it a bit tricky

Art imitating life

I appreciate the alternative is to 'git gud'

Cupatay wrote:

I am aware I'm probably the only one still playing this but I think it's fuckin brilliant.

I'm through to level 4 aged 28 now. Absolutely on fire in the second stage of this boss fight. Catching those daggers and flinging them back helps.

I think it's mainly about timing and rhythm. It's certainly not a reflex thing but it does comes from repetition and feeling. It's that practice that gets you to that flow state. If you can stick with it and get there, then beating this boss changes your mindset on whats possible I think. She's a tough one though.

It's a shame there's no difficulty setting somewhere between standard and super easy. Can't have everything I guess.

RamSteelwood wrote:

I gave up, lowered the skill level and smashed the rest of the game. The actual combat was still enjoyable with enough challenge, still died a few times especially on bosses, but the extra headroom on health and blocking meant i could experiment and enjoy the game without dying after every little mistake.
Only aging 1 year per death takes a bit of pressure off too.
I think there's prob scope for a skill level between student and disciple where the level is like student but with the proper aging mechanic.
Anyhoo, it's rare for me but i think I'll still go back to try out the arena mode and clean up some of the stuff i missed in levels....maybe even one day try again on the proper skill level

Glad you got through to the end Ram.

I hope they make a sequel with some sort of co-op or multiplayer and build on the move set that's already in place. It's a cracking game.

What Ram’s said above about patience and health whittling is one of those A-Ha moments for me: it perfectly describes what I couldn’t articulate about my problems with games like these (souls type)

If I get good at a fighting game, that means I can beat the shit out of whatever boss there is after a while: like Ram says, whale on the fucker. Getting good at pattern recognition and then having to be super patient as you get that single hit in every ten seconds? Fuck that it’s like fighting has turned into a job, it’s bullshit rpg grinding with pyrotechnics and more punishment

Thank you ram. Next time someone says get good I can just say why the fuck would I want to get good at boring repetitive strain injury and cross eye inducing make-work?

It’s the difference between how I got ok at BotW (can take out any number of high level bastards with a few weapons) or viewtiful joe or street fighter, and how I’ll never get ok with this

That's just it though. you can get good enough at punch-out!! to grind a bit, sure, but you can also keep getting better until you're just destroying the opponents in seconds, with a simple-ish move set and some good timing. In this, it's deliberately hobbling you to make the boss 'harder', one or two hits and you have to pause the combo or get punished. it's not harder! it's just takes fucking longer, and forces you to keep doing the same shit again and again! needing patience is not the same as getting good