@golguin: @demoskinos: Thanks. I made it halfway through the game without knowing how to dodge even though I think I bought it as soon as I could. They way it was worded I thought the upgrade was automatic.

Was kind of jarring since I had just finished Bayonetta which is nothing but dodging.

The gameplay focus of Revengeance is definitely on executing a perfect parry and following up with a blade mode execution, but on the harder difficulties the enemies will use moves that can't be blocked or parried so you'll need to dodge them to get an opening.

Thats the biggest shortcoming of that entire system. When you center your gameplay around parrying, there shouldn't be any enemies that have unblockable/unparryable moves. That dodge is also very wishy-washy in my opinion.

The most fun I had with MGR was undoubtedly on a second playthrough with unlimited ripper mode and a fully upgraded sword and polearm subweapon - the game turns from a pseudo-Assassins Creed cat and mouse waiting game to a full out non-stop massacre.

I couldn't have had a more opposite play style on the higher difficulties. I used ripper mode once right after the Monsoon fight and wanted nothing to do with it. I didn't use a sub weapon and I stuck with my HF Blade. No wigs or funny business.

There shouldn't be a pseudo-Assassins Creed waiting game when fighting. There was no fishing for parries. I went all out with the intent to force the enemy into their dizzy mode as fast as possible to execute them. Parries and dodges were peppered into the combat as the need arose because you can't stand still on Very Hard.

It's interesting though. I believe you like DmC and I thought it was the worst. I loved Revengeance and you didn't really like it.

Well I'll be the intermediate party and say I liked both?

I needed to see this thread. I am not put off by the fight mechanics, I'm am not good at them but I wanted to try. I did pretty well up to 'Jacks back'. I could say I almost started laughing at that one for a few reasons, one involving the frontman for a fast food chain. But I wanted to be competent and suddenly I wasn't, though I thought I had understood a few things. So for a while I did the VR missions, then I lost interest.

I'm marking this thread and watching the instructionals and taking the advice. Though Jack being back and all caused me to remember why Raiden is a difficult character for me, leaking that sticky white stuff all over MGS4 after his penetration fest with Vamp. Him going psycho Jack really doesn't make it better. But it is a MGS title and I love the Big Live-Live Show that goes along an MGS game.

You and me both. Although the scales aren't as even since I really liked DmC and thought MGR was alright but heavily flawed. Out of the two DmC has a way better and deeper combat system that is ultimately a lot more satisfying to master, not to mention that the level design is amazing compared to the completely dull and drab areas you fight through in MGR. Of course it's not really a fair comparison as Ninja Theory had a lot more time to put together DmC while Revengeance was haphazardly slapped together at the last minute - a testament to the talent over at Platinum seeing as their rush job is still better than most entries in the genre.

Ripper mode is definitely very fun to use so it's a shame that you chose to not engage it for whatever reason. The subweapons are all fairly useless except for the Polearm which is extremely useful for crowd control.

You used unlimited ripper mode. The reason you don't use ripper mode is because it drains too much energy too fast and I need that energy to activate my executions. It destroys enemies pretty easily on normal, but I had no intention of turning the game into a mash fest. It's the reason why I never wore a wig. Combat is much more satisfying on the higher difficulties when you learn how to properly use dodges and perfect parries to tear through enemies.