God Hand

[Skull Commander]

I like this a lot. Mindless beat 'em ups are totally my thing, and I'm always keen to try out new ones and this one has not dissapointed. I love the setting, love the gameplay. Just wish there was a 2 player mode..

[Ryo Saeba]

Played this a few days ago and I'd soo wanted to like this. I just adore the setting and the wacky characters but..
they utilized nearly every freaking button the PS2 controler has while using both of the analogue sticks???
I mean what? Ever heard of "Less is More"? These controls may be acceptable in a simulation style game, but what the hell did Clover think when they came up with it in an arcade style brawler?

Older games of this kind of genre needed only two buttons and now I'm supposed to use the face buttons, some of the shoulder buttons and both sticks at the same time? How much hands did they thought I'd have?
Maybe I'm just getting old but.. I prefer it clean and simple.

It just smells like bad (or lazy) gamedesign to me, when developers can't make a console game that uses less than 10 buttons, especially when they're trying to make an arcade style action game.

I've tried hard on resting my fingers comfortably on the face buttons, both sticks and the shoulder triggers, but failed.
I think I'll stick to watching youtube vids, of playthroughs of people who enjoy playing it, instead of battling this mess of a control layout.

[FreelancePolice]

think it's pretty subjective as I don't have any problem with the controls

[MattyD]

Duuuuude, you only really need to use one thumbstick and two buttons most of the time! Forget everything else! If you spend a few minutes setting up your techniques you should only really need to use the square, triangle and left stick.

The right (movement) stick is basically redundant when you're actually fighting. The reason the viewpoint is so weird when you're running around is to stop you running around willy-nilly so you get down to business! (kind of like in P.N.03 ).

You only need to use the left one to do dodges, which you'll notice allows you to use the attack buttons with your free right hand. That's good control design. And if you spend a few minutes setting up your techniques, you only really need to use square and triangle, and possibly the occasional special (I set my guard break to back + triangle for instance). Set a special attack like a charge or high-powered kick to X and then it's there for you if you ever get a window of opportunity, like if you stun an enemy. The only time you should need to use a shoulder button is the odd time when you open the Roullette or unleash the God Hand :>

Needless to say I've been getting really into this and I'm still really enjoying it

[PeterUK]

The right (movement) stick is basically redundant

No, no it's not.

[Champloo]

Only just got around to playing this one. Done the first stage, made a bit in the casino, and I think i'm going to move on in a few mins if I havn't got any work to catch up on.

The first stage was pretty tough on normal, i'm guessing this game is going to be giving me a beating later on!

Any tips or important bits of advice I should remember?

[Emir]

The dodge and guard breaker are you're friends.
When you can, use the dodge to cancel long attack frames once you've dealt the damage inorder to avoid a beating. This is especially useful against some of the bosses.
There are a few moves which build up the power gauge for the god hand quicker than the normal set. I tend to have one of these stronger moves assigned to one button, with all other buttons used for a range of short, sharp burst attacks that'll run smoothly with each other, and won't slow the pace of the immense beating you'll be dealing out.
Also, if you can help it, try not to use many (or any) continues as this will reward you with a greater bounty at the stage end. Alternatively, you could use some sly "save" tactics on the slot machines to rake it in and buy new moves.

[SuperBeatBoy]

i recently picked this up again PAL. the default moveset doesn't start you off to well, cant wait to buy some new stuff and get some awesome combo loveliness.

[Champloo]

Well i've played this a bit more now and I absolutely love it. Very funny, and the combat is top notch, been a while since i've really had that desperate urge to play a game. I came home with an awful hangover this morning but couldn't help firing this one up!

Its not as tough as I was expecting actually, and I have it on normal. I imagine it'll pick up a bit later, but still, I had heard it was rediclously hard and so far its been pretty reasonable.

The dodge and guard breaker are you're friends.
When you can, use the dodge to cancel long attack frames once you've dealt the damage inorder to avoid a beating. This is especially useful against some of the bosses.
Also, if you can help it, try not to use many (or any) continues as this will reward you with a greater bounty at the stage end. Alternatively, you could use some sly "save" tactics on the slot machines to rake it in and buy new moves.

I do use the dodge a lot, but only really the backwards dodge and the left and right. Pressing forward on the stick so he ducks hasn't been much good, as I often end up getting hit with low blows, and I havn't really learned the enemies moves well enough to be able to know whats coming.

And yeah, the slot machines have been very handy!

[MattyD]

I do use the dodge a lot, but only really the backwards dodge and the left and right. Pressing forward on the stick so he ducks hasn't been much good...

I started out like this too, a bad habit I learned from playing too much Soul Calibur. When you get to the later levels or want to become one ass-kicking Ninja son-of-a-bitch, ducking and weaving by pressing the stick forward is the most reliable dodge.

It's just like in Viewtiful Joe - ducking is cooler so you get more rewards for it. You can charge your tension guage very quickly and easily by timing the first dodge just right and repeatedly tapping forward to dodge your foe's complete series of moves. Another bonus is that at the end of their attack animation they will be exposed for pretty much any more you care to throw at them, including powerful charged attacks like Fist of Justice or launches like the One-Two Punch.

It's also handy for dodging projectiles, which you WILL see in the later levels. Only a handful of attacks need you to actually dodge away to the side or do a backflip.

God I love this game

[Champloo]

I'm going to have to start polishing up my ducking skills then. Ive just beaten the crazy demon girl in her true form. I'm assuming that i'm going to have to fight the old crusty geezer next stage.

Still finding it a bit easier than expected, but maybe thats because i've been using the casino to rake in the cash and buy all the best moves.

As for techniques, any recommendations on a good way to arrange mine?

[Largo]

Got this game finally today and can only echo what others have said, i think the games best summed up but what this damsel I rescued said "I cant believe this is happening they smacked my ass so many times.....but in the end i started to like it!"

[MattyD]

As for techniques, any recommendations on a good way to arrange mine?

In your regular eight moves for the square button, makes sure the fourth, fifth and sixth move are either very quick moves or moves you can cancel, because that's usually how long it takes for your foes to start blocking and obviously you need to stop tapping square and get a guard break in ASAP before they counter-attack.

I normally map a really strong punch or kick attack to the back+X; a charge or launch attack to back+triangle; an evade attack to X (such as Drunken Sweep or Side Swipe, but NOT Drunken FAll as that doubles as a launch), and I then keep triangle free for either an opportunity move (i.e. something powerful to throw out if your enemy is stunned or misses you etc) or just something that takes my fancy because it looks good or whatever.

I find Mach Speed Jab is a good opener for the square button, or else I follow a sequence something along the lines of left punch / right punch / straight or uppercut / low kick (this is a REALLY good move to have here despite being quite weak because it tends to catch your foe off guard and keeps the combo going), then the last couple I just put powerful or showboating moves like Stinging Butterfly / Sweet Chin Music, roundhouses, as getting as far as the sixth move tends to mean you'll get the whole lot in for MASSIVE DAMAGE Setting up this way also allows you to keep up the pressure AND bring the pain when unleashing the unblockable, unstoppable God Hand

[Largo]

Does anyone else think that the boss demon, looks a bit like dracula? Sounds just like Spottswoode from Team America lol, "We've got to get this God Hand Gary, youre the only one you can act your way past his defences"

[Champloo]

In your regular eight moves for the square button, makes sure the fourth, fifth and sixth move are either very quick moves or moves you can cancel, because that's usually how long it takes for your foes to start blocking and obviously you need to stop tapping square and get a guard break in ASAP before they counter-attack.

I normally map a really strong punch or kick attack to the back+X; a charge or launch attack to back+triangle; an evade attack to X (such as Drunken Sweep or Side Swipe, but NOT Drunken FAll as that doubles as a launch), and I then keep triangle free for either an opportunity move (i.e. something powerful to throw out if your enemy is stunned or misses you etc) or just something that takes my fancy because it looks good or whatever.

I find Mach Speed Jab is a good opener for the square button, or else I follow a sequence something along the lines of left punch / right punch / straight or uppercut / low kick (this is a REALLY good move to have here despite being quite weak because it tends to catch your foe off guard and keeps the combo going), then the last couple I just put powerful or showboating moves like Stinging Butterfly / Sweet Chin Music, roundhouses, as getting as far as the sixth move tends to mean you'll get the whole lot in for MASSIVE DAMAGE Setting up this way also allows you to keep up the pressure AND bring the pain when unleashing the unblockable, unstoppable God Hand

You know thats pretty much exactly what i've got.

On the square I open with mach speed jab, i've got a few hooks in there, low kick, since they don't seem to dodge that and then a few of the combo moves at the end, like stinging butterfly.

I'll get an evade attack on x though as I can see that coming in handy.

Havn't had a chance to play this last 2 days, i'll get going tonight if work permits.