Five shurikens

[dgz]

Guys, I am replaying the game for a 5th time. Never managed to get past level 11 because I just want to go back and redo every fight, collecting as much karma as possible. This is exhausting and time consuming but I love it.

The thing is, I just don't get the reward system. Sometimes I take down even the largest demons and their hordes without taking a single hit, and yet the game only reward me star and a half. Other times I do really, really poorly (imo) but I receive 4 stars. What is this ♥♥♥♥?

Has anyone managed to get five full stars at least once? What do you do?

I should also mention that I don't upgrade my skills and weapons. Well, sometimes I upgrade just for testing, but that's not it so I always revert back to my bare character. I use the sword almost exclusively. Pretty sure that's not it, either.

How do YOU get consistently 4 or more shurikens with lots of precious karma?

Oh, I almost forgot. Let's just say a fight sequence just rewarded me with 3 shurikens and 1000 karma. Now, this exact fight would sometimes reward me with more karma with less shurikens. Why is that? Just curious.

[Kenshiro3]

honestly it think it's completely random...

[Ziel]

I don't think taking hits changes anything, what matters are the score multipliers that pop up when performing certain combat actions like cutting off limbs (shredder), nailing enemies to the wall with the xbow (nailed), quickly killing several enemies in a row (massacre)... I think killing burning enemies and electrocuted enemies gives bonuses as well, and there are several others that I can't think of right now.

[Tolik]

As I think - need do more karma beat. Try to not use normal attacks - only karma: WW-LMB, DD-LMB etc. And don't repeat. And try to kill all enemies with less number of beats.

[Tolik]

look here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R6CfZE2kzA#t=841
4.5/5 surikens

[Kenshiro3]

Originally posted by Tolik:

As I think - need do more karma beat. Try to not use normal attacks - only karma: WW-LMB, DD-LMB etc. And don't repeat. And try to kill all enemies with less number of beats.

Originally posted by Ziel:

I don't think taking hits changes anything, what matters are the score multipliers that pop up when performing certain combat actions like cutting off limbs (shredder), nailing enemies to the wall with the xbow (nailed), quickly killing several enemies in a row (massacre)... I think killing burning enemies and electrocuted enemies gives bonuses as well, and there are several others that I can't think of right now.

Dude I've tried both... got obscene multipliers and still ended up with a lower rating... This is why I said i think its completely random.

[Smidge204]

Speed is also a factor. I think there might be a particular time limit for each battle sequence that you have to meet to get full credit.

There's a part in Chapter 14, when going for the green statue in the area where the Whisperer's cage is, where a bunch of skeletons come out of the woodwork. Shooting one of the barrels at just the right time sets off a chain explosion that wipes them all out - easiest 5-star finish in the game.

[Futaleufu]

Try to use environmental damage, explosive weapons and sword specialty attacks to increase the score.

[InVader]

I did get 5 star a couple of times, and 4.5 a lot on my third playthrough (doing 4th, heroic mode).

You need to:
- Take minimal damage
- Do it fast (there's a time limit)
- Use environmental damage effectively (wasting them results usually in a 3 star fight)
- Mix things up and kill enemies stylishly (aviator, shredder, headache, massacre, merciless etc. as many you can on one enemy)
- Do try to be precise with your weapons (accuracy %)
- Every weapon has it's use (e.g. revolver is very good against the flying ones) and you need to discover and use them accordingly. Applies to sword skills too. One well aimed Ki wave (S+S+LMB) can kill an entire wave of enemies (behead all in a row, set off environtmental damage and you kill 'em all in one shot)
- Accuracy and usage combined, it should take minimal amount of ammunition/attacks to clear a wave (specific to the weapon because of e.g. Uzi)
- Aim your spells and use them sparingly. Hitting like 1-2 enemies with the River or Tiger's roar, then trying it again will penalize the result in stars.
- Do try to find the most effective way of killing each type of enemy (usually you neeed to cut off some other bodyparts first).
- Just like in the original Shadow Warrior, you can make the enemies kill themselves (I saw this twice. Happened as I brutalized one of their buddies next to them. They drop on their knees, start coughing, and exploded, usually after their enrage ended)

I believe difficulty level is not a factor.

I must say, they created quite a complex rating system and I congratulate them for that, BUT they really should explain the exact mechanics to you somwehere in the game.