This beginner could use some tips.

[Moro]

I have two problems right now.
1. What I usually do with enemies is beating them up until I see they're ready to attack. Then I try to deflect, but 80% of the time it's always too late. I'm used to reflex-based games, so I know I'm not that slow. I'm clearly doing something wrong, but what is it? Should I rest after a few hits? Is there a way to say for how long I should hit them? Is it possible to tell they're going to attack even before they prepare their attack?
2. What should I do when there's 10 dudes attacking me and one of them is the size of a car and won't stop charging in my direction?
Thanks.

[5M0k1N]

id suggest looking at some videos online for tips. some enemies (especially bosses / mini bosses) are really hard to deflect and some others are really vulnerable to certain attacks and so forth. having said that, against most enemies you should be able to block / dodge just fine

[MaverickC45]

There is an item named "Deflector" (or something) that can help you with that... It can be upgraded to the level 4 and Deflect could be 50% easier.

When you use the deflect, note that the character is covered with a yellow light, so that is the time the defence works.

Also you can not deflect all attacks, in teory you can, but It's really imposible

[Zoidfreak]

I'm no pro, (many stages not completed on hard and some on normal) but having returned to the game recently I found that the defelct is often about specific timing for a specific attack - of which I've often mistken when to deflect - and then there are times when you shouldn't delfect at all.

To adress your question about defecting: Not sure but I often found myself to be defecting it too soon rather than too late.

About the big guy and the 10 small ones:

Be ready for when he charges, it's very hard to avoid.
The only ways to do so it to either be so far away that you can outrun him, which is rare.
Otherwise, it's a matter of being close enough that you can airglide at such a moment that he will run in the wrong direction and not be able to home in on you.
(That charge attack is quite a bother)

Some tips for general combat

Feel free to ask questions or specifics about anything below.


Deflecting:

Sometimes you need to deflect, other times you need to dodge, it's trail and error learning which attacks are most suitable to do one or the other. This can save you quite a bit.

Also, like Maverick said, not all attacks can be deflected, learn which. (note that some red glowing enemy attacks can be delfected)


Dodging and airgliding:

I pretty much already said it, but known when to dodge/airglide both in relation to the attack BUT also your posistioning to the enemy can make quite a diffrence.
Some attacks will hit you if are not/cannot get to the right place at the right time.


The best offense is sometimes a good defence:

One thing I've noticed which gets me into a lot of trouble is being too eager too attack, which puts me in a difficult posistion from which i cannot defend myself from.
This is also highly dependent on the enemy(s) but shouldn't be too hard to find out about with, yes I know: Trail and error.


Enemy kill priority:

Another thing I've come to put focus on is which enemy to take out first in which situation.
Sometimes some enemy just has to go down and it can make or break your succes on that stage/part of the stage.


Equipment:

Always figure out if you need some equipment over other on a specific stage.
(feel free to ask)


Critial hits:

This one took me some time to get used to.
To learn how long it ca. takes for your special attacks to execute and actually hit the enemy, the timing. I consider this a big one.

You are not invincible (as far as I know) when performing a special attack!

And it goes without saying that it's very useful knowing which special attack might be best or at least which one isn't.


Keep moving when on low health!

When on low health (when you regenerate special meter and a bit of health) try to avoid getting hit in prefrence to attacking since you can actually regenerate a good amount of health, enough to not die from the next hit.

This can also be explioted (not meaning against inteded design of the game) to perform a special attack since your meter is regenerating, though this is very situational.

And while we are at it, I've noticed that you can regenerate health from succesful critial hits I think and maybe also performing high combos. (not 100% on this one.)



Consider when to pick up health:

Strategically pickining up (or waiting to do so) health and meter refill can also be useful to consider.
Sometimes you just whish you hadn't picked up that health earlier when you didn't really need it.
Especially if you can manage to pick up health when critically low on it (cases where you'd probably die from the next few hits) brining you over the critical point, avoinding defeat.


Sometimes you are just screwed:

Maybe i'm not good enough yet, but I feel that there are times when it's practically impossible to not get hit.
Either because of the sheer amount of incoming attacks or the combination thereof.
My only solution to this is to find the correct tactic for the situation so that I will eventually become successful (i.e survive).

[TheBeak]

I'm on the last level on Normal. Tough game. Two of the biggest things on the list above (a good list as I check my own headnotes about combat in this game) is knowing who to beat up first and also trying to leave some health laying around for when you get in trouble.

I also found the Chi moves a must, especially the one where you can air juggle opponents and steal their health. That move has pulled me out of more than a few jams.

Equipment is certainly important and so are the critical hits, as well as summoning your own soldiers whenever you get a "horn" pick-up and you're in a really crowded, all out melee battle.