NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA STRENGTH BEYOND STRENGTH - STRONGER THAN ALL - FULL PS3 FAQ/WALKTHROUGH Authored by VampireHorde MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMM MMMM MMMMMMMMMMM MMM MMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMM MMMMMM MMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMM MMMMMMMM MMMM MMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMM MMMMM MMMMMMMM MMMM MMMM LATEST UPDATE: --NEW INFO ON SURVIVAL MODE --ADDED A BRAND SPANKIN' NEW TABLE OF CONTENTS ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= What it do, party peoples? Let me get one thing straight: All my tips and tactics will be very detailed and will give PS3 players a run for their money against the experts of the original Xbox game. Do you think you can handle that? If so, scroll down and read on, Master Ninja! LET'S START THIS PARTY! RYDE OR DIE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= +++ TABLE OF CONTENTS +++ To find a certain section of this FAQ, press CTRL+F and then type the letter of that section from the Table Of Contents below. Trust me, this is a very lengthy FAQ and it's easy to get lost. READY? AA...THE GAMEPLAY ASPECTS AB...THE WEAPONS --AB1...DRAGON SWORD/PLAMSA SABRE MK II/TRUE DRAGON SWORD --AB2...NUNCHUKUS/VIGOORIAN FLAILS --AB3...LUNAR --AB4...DRAGON CLAW & TIGER FANG --AB5...DABILAHRO --AB6...KITETSU --AB7...WAR HAMMER --AB8...WOODEN SWORD/UNLABORED FLAWLESSNESS --AB9...DARK DRAGON BLADE --AB10...SECONDARY WEAPONS & ARMLETS AC...FIEND CHALLENGE INFO AD...THE IMPORTANCE OF ESSENCE AE...FARMING FOR ESSENCE AF...KARMA IN YOUR ASS AG...MURAMASA'S SHOP INFO AH...CHAPTER/ONLINE RANKING & MASTER NINJA TIME RANKINGS AJ...HOW TO USE RACHEL SECTION AK...ADVANCED TIPS & TACTICS AL...HOW TO KILL EVERY ENEMY PROPERLY ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++CHAPTER WALKTHROUGHS (PER DIFFICULTY) CHAPTER 1 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BA1 --HARD MODE.........DA1 --VERY HARD MODE....EA1 CHAPTER 2 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BB1 --HARD MODE.........DB1 --VERY HARD MODE....EB1 CHAPTER 3 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BT1 --HARD MODE.........DC1 --VERY HARD MODE....EC1 CHAPTER 4 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BC1 --HARD MODE.........DD1 --VERY HARD MODE....ED1 CHAPTER 5 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BC2 --HARD MODE.........DE1 --VERY HARD MODE....EE1 CHAPTER 6 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BC4 --HARD MODE.........DF1 --VERY HARD MODE....EF1 CHAPTER 7 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BD1 --HARD MODE.........DG1 --VERY HARD MODE....EG1 CHAPTER 8 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BE1 --HARD MODE.........DH1 --VERY HARD MODE....EH1 CHAPTER 9 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BF1 --HARD MODE.........DI1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 10 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BG1 --HARD MODE.........DJ1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 11 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BH1 --HARD MODE.........DK1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BI1 --HARD MODE.........DL1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 13 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BJ1 --HARD MODE.........DM1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 14 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BK1 --HARD MODE.........DN1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 15 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BL1 --HARD MODE.........DP1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 16 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BM1 --HARD MODE.........DQ1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 17 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BN1 --HARD MODE.........DR1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 18 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BP1 --HARD MODE.........DS1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 19 WALKTHROUGH --NORMAL MODE.......BQ1 --HARD MODE.........DT1 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++BOSS/SUB-BOSS SECTION (PER DIFFICULTY) CHAPTER 1 MURAI --NORMAL MODE.......BA2 --HARD MODE.........DA2 --VERY HARD MODE....EA2 CHAPTER 2 HORSEMEN SUB-BOSS --NORMAL MODE.......BB2 --HARD MODE.........DB2 --VERY HARD MODE....EB2 CHAPTER 2 MASAKADO --NORMAL MODE.......BB3 --HARD MODE.........DB3 --VERY HARD MODE....EB3/EB4 CHAPTER 2 DOKU --NORMAL MODE.......BB4 --HARD MODE.........DB4 --VERY HARD MODE....EB5 CHAPTER 3 DYNAMO --NORMAL MODE.......BT3 --HARD MODE.........DC3 --VERY HARD MODE....EC3 CHAPTER 6 GAHRULA DINOS SUB-BOSS --NORMAL MODE.......BC5 --HARD MODE.........DF2 --VERY HARD MODE....EF2 CHAPTER 6 HYDRACUBUS --NORMAL MODE.......BC6 --HARD MODE.........DF3 --VERY HARD MODE....EF3 CHAPTER 7 BLACK DRAGON CLONE --HARD MODE.........DG2 --VERY HARD MODE....EG2 CHAPTER 7 BONE DRAGON --NORMAL MODE.......BD3 --HARD MODE.........DG4 --VERY HARD MODE....EG4 CHAPTER 8 GAMOV --NORMAL MODE.......BE3 --HARD MODE.........DH3 --VERY HARD MODE....EH3 CHAPTER 9 HYDRACUBUS --NORMAL MODE.......BF2 --HARD MODE.........DI2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 9 ALMA --NORMAL MODE.......BF3 --HARD MODE.........DI3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 10 ALTERNATOR --NORMAL MODE.......BG3 --HARD MODE.........DJ3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 11 MILITARY TANKS X2 --NORMAL MODE.......BH2 --HARD MODE.........DK2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 11 TOMOHAWK CHOPPER --NORMAL MODE.......BH3 --HARD MODE.........DK3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 THUNDERBOLT WORM --NORMAL MODE.......BI3 --HARD MODE.........DL3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 THUNDERBOLT WORM X2 --NORMAL MODE.......BI4 --HARD MODE.........DL4 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 BLACK DRAGON CLONE --HARD MODE.........DL5 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 PAZ ZUU --NORMAL MODE.......BI6 --HARD MODE.........DL7 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 13 DOKU --NORMAL MODE.......BJ2 --HARD MODE.........DM2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 15 YOTUNFRAU --NORMAL MODE.......BL4 --HARD MODE.........DP4 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 15 FLAME WORM X2 --NORMAL MODE.......BL5 --HARD MODE.........DP5 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 15 SMAUGAN --NORMAL MODE.......BL6 --HARD MODE.........DP6 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 16 BLACK DRAGON CLONE --HARD MODE.........DQ4 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 16 ALMA AWAKENED --NORMAL MODE.......BM4 --HARD MODE.........DQ5 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 17 SPECTRAL DOKU --NORMAL MODE.......BN2 --HARD MODE.........DR2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 18 MARBUS --NORMAL MODE.......BP3 --HARD MODE.........DS3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 18 EMPEROR - FORM 1 --NORMAL MODE.......BP5 --HARD MODE.........DS4 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 18 EMPEROR - FORM 2 --NORMAL MODE.......BP6 --HARD MODE.........DS5 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 19 DARK MURAI --NORMAL MODE.......BQ2 --HARD MODE.........DT2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++FIEND CHALLENGES (PER DIFFICULTY) CHAPTER 3 - AIRSHIP --NORMAL MODE.......BT2 --HARD MODE.........DC2 --VERY HARD MODE....EC2 CHAPTER 6 - ARCHIVES ROOM --NORMAL MODE.......BD2 --HARD MODE.........DG3 --VERY HARD MODE....EG3 CHAPTER 10 - RITUAL ROOM --NORMAL MODE.......BG2 --HARD MODE.........DJ2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 - PERISTYLE PASSAGE --NORMAL MODE.......BI5 --HARD MODE.........DL6 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 12 - AQUADUCTS 4B --NORMAL MODE.......BI2 --HARD MODE.........DL2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 15 - ZARKHAN STADIUM --NORMAL MODE.......BL2 --HARD MODE.........DP2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 15 - STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE --NORMAL MODE.......BL3 --HARD MODE.........DP3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 16 - UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY --NORMAL MODE.......BM2 --HARD MODE.........DQ2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 16 - DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE --NORMAL MODE.......BM3 --HARD MODE.........DQ3 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! CHAPTER 18 - GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE --NORMAL MODE.......BP2 --HARD MODE.........DS2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #1: MONASTERY ANNEX --NORMAL MODE.......BC3 --HARD MODE.........DE2 --VERY HARD MODE....EE2 RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #2: MILITARY GATE --NORMAL MODE.......BE2 --HARD MODE.........DH2 --VERY HARD MODE....EH2 RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #3: HAYABUSA VILLAGE --NORMAL MODE.......BK2 --HARD MODE.........DN2 --VERY HARD MODE....COMING SOON! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CC1...SECRETS & EXTRAS CC2...INSTRUCTIONAL BOSS & GAMEPLAY VIDEOS JJ1...50 GOLDEN SCARABS LIST/NORMAL MODE POWER-UPS LIST JJ2...HARD MODE - LIFE OF THE GODS/POWER-UPS LIST JJ3...VERY HARD MODE - LIFE OF THE GODS/POWER-UPS LIST KK1...MISSIONS MODE SECTION KK2...SURVIVAL MODE SECTION LL1...XBOX TO PS3 CHANGES FAQ MM1...USELESS NINJA GAIDEN CRAP SECTION NN1...THANK YOU SECTION ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= AA. +++ WAR NERVE - THE GAMEPLAY ASPECTS +++ X BUTTON: JUMP CIRCLE BUTTON: SECONDARY/PROJECTILE WEAPON SQUARE BUTTON: REGULAR ATTACK TRIANGLE BUTTON: HARD ATTACK/HOLD FOR ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE START BUTTON: MENU SCREEN SELECT BUTTON: MAP L1 BUTTON: BLOCK BUTTON L2 BUTTON: KARMA SCORE R1 BUTTON: RE-CENTER CAMERA R2 BUTTON: MAP BUTTON D-PAD LEFT: CHOOSE HEALING/RESTORE ITEM D-PAD RIGHT: CHOOSE HEALING/RESTORE ITEM D-PAD UP: REMOVE INVENTORY SCREEN D-PAD DOWN: USE HEALING/RESTORE ITEM L3 BUTTON: NOT USED R3 BUTTON: TOGGLE FIRST-PERSON/THIRD-PERSON CAMERA WIND RUN: X + SQUARE NINPO: CIRCLE + TRIANGLE (SHAKE SIXAXIS FOR MORE POWER) COUNTERATTACK (SCROLL ONLY): PRESS TRIANGLE OR SQUARE WHILE BLOCKING REVERSE WIND: MOVE ANALOG STICK IN ANY DIRECTION WHILE BLOCKING +++ THINGS TO REMEMBER +++ --Ryu can now shoot Arrows in mid-air --Ryu can automatically run on water without needing to tap any buttons --When an enemy breaks your guard, it will make a "CLANG" sound --You DO NOT need to upgrade the Dragon Sword to Level 2 to use the Flying Swallow attack --Ryu can absorb Essence for an On-Land Charge WHILE blocking ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= AB. +++ SLAUGHTERED - RYU'S ARMORY +++ In this section, I will reveal everything you need to know about every single weapon in the game. Ready? --BUTTONS LEGEND: SQUARE BUTTON = [] TRIANGLE BUTTON = /\ DIRECTIONAL --> = PUSH ANALOG STICK FORWARD FROM RYU'S PERSPECTIVE ROTATE 360 = ROTATE LEFT ANALOG STICK IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB1. == DRAGON SWORD/PLASMA SABER MK II/TRUE DRAGON SWORD == The default weapon of choice. Before you decide to master other weapons in Ryu's inventory, you must first learn how to master Ryu's sword! Once you learn how to utilize the Dragon Sword, then using the other weapons will be a breeze. --LEVEL 1 CRIMSON SLASH [][][] TIGER ROAR [][]/\ FIEND BANE'S KICK [][] --> [][] EARLY WINTER RAIN [][] --> []/\ WINDMILL SLASH --> [] BLADE OF THE UNDEFEATABLE /\ HAZE STRAIGHT SLASH PRESS & HOLD /\ AZURE DRAGON --> /\ SCARLET DRAGON -->, PRESS & HOLD /\ VIOLENT WIND [] WHILE RUNNING THUNDERCLAP KICK /\ WHILE RUNNING BLADE OF EMPTY AIR JUMP STRAIGHT UP, /\ AIR DESTRUCTION SLASH JUMP FORWARD, [] FALLING DRAGON BLADE JUMP FORWARD, /\ CICADA SLASH RUN AGAINST WALL, [] OR /\ DIVINE CICADA SLASH [] OR /\ DURING BIRD FLIP --LEVEL 2 FANG OF THE WOLF [][]/\/\ BLADE OF NIRRTI []/\[][][][] VIOLENT GALE [][] WHILE RUNNING FLYING CRANE ROTATE 360, /\ --LEVEL 3 BLADE OF THE DRAGON'S TAIL [][]/\/\/\ GLEAMING BLADE ROTATE 360, PRESS & HOLD /\ --LEVEL 4 DRAGON TEAR [][][]/\ BLADE OF THE TWIN DRAGONS --> PRESS & HOLD /\, /\/\ --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES EXTINCTION STRAIGHT SLASH /\ + ESSENCE STORM OF THE HEAVENLY DRAGON /\ + ESSENCE MAX ROARING GLEAM ROTATE 360 PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE TRUE DRAGON GLEAM ROTATE 360 PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB2. == NUNCHUKUS/VIGOORIAN FLAILS == The Nunchukus/Vigoorian Flails are great weapons to use on smaller enemies and most of the bosses (if you know their weak spot). Use these if you want to show-off that you can beat a boss with a smaller weapon! ++NOTE: If Ryu tries to do the Runaway Lightning, chances are he'll end up doing the Wide Heavens combo instead. To pull it off properly, Ryu MUST stand next to an enemy before pulling off the combo. --NUNCHUKUS & FLAILS - LEVEL 1 DRAGON & PHOENIX [][][][][][] FIRE PIT 1 [][]/\ FIRE PIT 2 [][][]/\ FIRE PIT 3 [][][][]/\ FIRE PIT 4 [][][][][]/\ WIDE HEAVENS []/\ SWEEPING KICK --> [] FLAME WHEEL /\/\ AUSPICIOUS CRANE PRESS & HOLD /\ EARTH SLIDE [] WHILE RUNNING DEMON CHASER /\ ON DOWNED ENEMY SWEEPING STRIKE [] WHILE JUMPING DRAGON EMPEROR KICK /\ WHILE JUMPING HELL DROP [] OR /\ DURING BIRD FLIP MOUNTAIN CRANE []/\ OR /\/\ DURING BIRD FLIP RED-HOT IRON BRAND JUMP TOWARDS ENEMY, /\ --FLAILS ONLY - LEVEL 2 CREMATOR [][][] --> [][][][][] DRAGON SLAUGHTER [][][] --> []/\ RUNAWAY LIGHTNING []/\ NEAR ENEMY RIPPING THUNDER --> /\/\/\ --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES AUSPICIOUS PHOENIX PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE GATHERING CLOUDS PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB3. == LUNAR == The Lunar is one of the few weapons that are a little bit difficult to master than the others. While the Lunar does have a lot of super-fast combos to perform, its attacks are not so powerful until it is fully upgraded to Level 3. To properly utilize this weapon, Ryu must first learn to use its counterattack properly. After Ryu performs a counter, he can then perform a hard combo like the Black Widow for lots of damage to the enemy. Understand how the attack pattern works? The Lunar was the newest weapon that was first introduced in the Hurricane Packs for the original Xbox versions. --LEVEL 1 RAVEN STRIKE [][][] RAVEN LIGHT [][]/\ TWILIGHT []/\ ARC OF THE MOON /\ SOUL OF THE CRESCENT PRESS & HOLD /\ LION'S RAGE 1 --> [] BLACK WIDOW 1 --> []/\ CRESCENT STRIKE --> /\ PURGATORY'S RIVET [] WHILE RUNNING TWIN SERPENT STRIKE /\ WHILE RUNNING NIRMANAKAYA /\ NEXT TO DOWNED ENEMY TEMPEST [] WHILE JUMPING PHANTOM MOON /\ WHILE JUMPING GIBBOUS /\ DURING BIRD FLIP --LEVEL 2 DRAGON'S CLAW [][][]/\ INFINITE FURY []/\/\ LION'S RAGE 2 --> [][] BLACK WIDOW 2 --> [][]/\ --LEVEL 3 LION'S RAGE 3 --> [][][] BLACK WIDOW 3 --> [][][]/\ FULL MOON STRIKE --> /\/\ LUNAR EXPLOSION --> /\/\/\ RAVEN STREAM ROTATE 360, /\ --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES SHROUDED RESCENT PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE RAVEN'S VEIL PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB4. == DRAGON CLAW & TIGER FANG == The Dual Katanas are a great weapon to master if you are looking for something else to use other than the Dragon Sword. The Katanas have about 5 times more combos to learn than the Dragon Sword and both blades shave off more than 1.5% more health. Unfortunately, the Dual Katanas have a very slow reaction time after pulling a combo. Some enemy encounters become much more difficult because it takes Ryu a second to recover after pulling off a combo, which can lead to bad news. But other than that small problem, the Dual Katanas are still a bad-ass addition to the NG series. --LEVEL 1 TIGER'S ROAR [] DRAGON'S BREATH [][] MOONLIGHT REND [][][] TRANSMIGRATION SLASH [][][][] THREE ROBES & ONE BOWL [][][]/\ MAHAYANA BLADE [][][]/\/\ THERAVADA BLADE [][]/\ BLADE OF DHARMA'S WAY [][]/\/\ LIGHTNING STRIKE [][] --> [] DOUBLE LIGHTNING STRIKE [][] --> [][] TRIPLE LIGHTNING STRIKE [][] --> [][][] ROARING THUNDER [][] --> /\ THUNDER SLASH [][] --> /\/\ TRUE DRAGON'S BREATH [] [] (BUTTON DELAY) RISING DRAGON [] [][] (BUTTON DELAY) FALLING DRAGON [] [][][] (BUTTON DELAY) ZHONG KUI SLASH []/\ DOUBLE ZHONG KUI SLASH []/\[] FIRE DRAGON SPINNING DESCENT []/\/\ CLIMBING DRAGON BLADE [], PRESS & HOLD /\ TWIN BLADES [], PRESS & HOLD /\, /\ CONTINUOUS SLASH --> [] TWIN CONTINUOUS SLASH --> [][] FLYING DRAGON --> []/\ BLADE OF EARTH --> /\ BLADE OF HEAVEN -->, PRESS & HOLD /\ HEAVEN & EARTH -->, PRESS & HOLD /\, /\ FANG OF THE DRAGON /\ DOUBLE DRAGON FANG /\/\ TRIPLE DRAGON FANG /\/\/\ SWOOPING DRAGON FANG /\/\/\/\ HAZE ROLLING SLASH -->, PRESS & HOLD /\ SILENT GALE [] WHILE RUNNING GALE RISING SLASH /\ RISE TO HEAVEN ROTATE 360, /\ GROUND ROLL /\ NEXT TO DOWNED ENEMY SPIN SLASH /\ WHILE JUMPING DIVINE HAWK TWIN BLADES RUN AGAINST WALL, [] DIVINE HAWK DANCING BLADES [] DURING BIRD FLIP DESCENDING DIVINE HAWK RUN AGAINST WALL, /\ FLYING BIRD DESCENT /\ DURING BIRD FLIP --LEVEL 2 ROLLING THUNDER [][] --> /\ --> [] WAVES OF ROLLING THUNDER [][] --> /\ --> [][] ROARING THUNDER CROSS CUT [][] --> /\ --> [][][] RISING THUNDER [][] --> /\ --> []/\ FALLING THUNDER [][] --> /\ --> []/\/\ RISING ZHONG KUI []/\[][] HEAVENLY ZHONG KUI []/\[][][] FALLING DRAGON SLAYER []/\[][][][][] SPINNING DRAGON SLAYER []/\[][][][]/\ BIRD & DRAGON []/\[][][][]X FALLING ZHONG KUI []/\[][]/\ TWIN CROSS CUT --> [][][] DESCENDING DRAGON --> []/\/\ GALE CROSS CUT [][] WHILE RUNNING GALE FALLING SLASH /\/\ --LEVEL 3 BLADED WIND [][] --> []/\ GREAT DRAGON SLAYER []/\[][][][]/\/\ ZHONG KUI WHIRLWIND []/\[][]/\/\ SPINNING FIRE DRAGON []/\/\/\ WHIRLWIND SLASH /\/\ WHILE JUMPING SPINNING DIVINE HAWK RUN AGAINST WALL, /\/\ FLYING BIRD SPIN /\/\ DURING BIRD FLIP --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES EXTINCTION CROSS CUT PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE EXTINCTION RISE TO HEAVEN PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB5. == DABILAHRO == Of all the bigger weapons in Ryu's armory, the one you'll want to master is the Dabilahro. When you first equip it, it might seem a little difficult to perform combos with it because of its large size and slow combo animations. But in all fairness, it's more powerful. For smaller enemies, this weapon's counterattack works best. And for bigger enemies, the counterattack and Flaming Hell Slash will be your friends. Also, the Dabilahro is one of the better weapons to use when spamming for Karma points because of its long-range Ultimate Technique. Once you've mastered using the Dabilahro, then you can easily utilize the other bigger weapons with ease (like the Dark Dragon Blade). --LEVEL 1 DESTROYER OF ARMIES [][][][] FLAMING HELL SLASH 1 [][][][]/\ GLEAM OF HEAVEN & EARTH []/\ INFERNO SLASH /\ PURGATORY SLASH PRESS & HOLD /\ FLAMING INFERNO --> [] FLAMING WHIRLWIND --> /\ HUNDRED MAN SLASH ROTATE 360, /\ CORPSE CRUSHER /\ NEXT TO DOWNED ENEMY FOOL CRUSHER [] OR /\ WHILE JUMPING THUNDERUOS BLADE RUN AGAINST WALL [] OR /\ RAGING THUNDEROUS BLADE [] OR /\ DURING BIRD FLIP --LEVEL 2 There are no Level 2 moves --LEVEL 3 WHIRLING EMPIRE BLADE [][][][][] FLAMING HELL SLASH 2 [][][][][]/\ --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES HUNDRED DEMON'S BLADE PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE ASURA SLASH PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB6. == KITETSU == The Kitetsu was the original "dual Katana" of the Xbox Ninja Gaidens. Aside from its own special combos, the Kitetsu acts just like the Dragon Sword because of its same combos (Blade of Nirrti, etc.). The Kitetsu also has some cool life-sucking animations which leave Ryu invulnerable for a few seconds from enemy attack and it has the second coolest UT in the entire game called the Bassara! I only recommend that you use Kitetsu for fun until Ryu obtains the True Dragon Sword. Once he obtains the TDS, the Kitetsu becomes pretty much useless for the rest of the game. In the original Xbox Ninja Gaiden, the Kitetsu was a 3-leveled sword that drained Ryu's health for as long as he wielded it on his back. The only way to counter the life-draining effect was to equip an armlet called the Armlet of Tranquility. For NG Black and NG Sigma, the life- draining effect and the Armlet of Tranquility have both been omitted. --LEVEL 1 DARK RAIN [][][] STAB OF OVERPOWERING EVIL [][]/\ CRAZED BONES SLASH [][] --> [] DEAD SOUL BIND [][] --> [][] SOUL ERASER 1 [][] --> []/\ SOUL ERASER 1.1 /\ DURING DEAD SOUL BIND BEHEADED DEMON [][] WHILE RUNNING --LEVEL 2 There are no Level 2 moves --LEVEL 3 SOUL ERASER 3 [][] --> []/\/\/\ SOUL ERASER 3.1 /\/\/\ DURING DEAD SOUL BIND --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES EXTINCTION STRAIGHT SLASH PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE BASSARA PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB7. == WAR HAMMER === Not really one of my favorite weapons in the game. The WH has fewer combos than the Dabilahro and doesn't inflict as much damage. Unless you feel like you must complete Ryu's armory, there's really no use for this weapon unless you want to try it out for fun. --LEVEL 1 RAM'S HEAD DROP [] HORSE HEAD CRUSH [][] GLEAM OF HEAVEN & EARTH []/\ SURGING WAVE /\ THUNDER TREMOR PRESS & HOLD /\ STEEL SEVERE --> [] FLAMING WHIRLWIND --> /\ CORPSE CRUSHER /\ NEXT TO DOWNED ENEMY AVALANCHE DROP [] OR /\ WHILE JUMPING ROLLING THUNDER RUN AGAINST WALL [] OR /\ RAGING THUNDER [] OR /\ DURING BIRD FLIP --LEVEL 2 FLAMING TORRENT /\/\ SIX PATHS SPIN ROTATE 360, /\ --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES RAGE TREMOR PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE TREMOR OF THE HEAVENS PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB8. == WOODEN SWORD/UNLABORED FLAWLESSNESS == The Wooden Sword has very little attack power yet has SEVEN upgrade slots. It takes about 108,500 Yellow Essence total (or 108,000 on harder modes) to upgrade the sword to a big paddle-looking weapon called the Unlabored Flawlessness. At first glance, the Unlabored Flawlessness (or simply, the UF) has immense strength but slow attack animations. While it may be slow in terms of starting a combo, it can kill an enemy instantly. The UF also has a trick called the 5% Health Trick. When Ryu has less than 5% health in his HP bar, the kanji letters on the UF will start to glow. From that point on, any enemy or boss that is struck with the glowing UF will lose up to 40-55% of their health in ONE combo! You wanna talk about cheap and easy deaths? Then THIS is your weapon right here! --LEVEL 7 ATTACKS ONLY FLAMING HELL SLASH [][]/\ FLYING DRAGON FALLING SLASH []/\[][][][] FOREST WINDS & MOUNTAIN FIRES [], PRESS & HOLD /\, /\ BOULDER SPLITTER /\ STEEL SPLITTER PRESS & HOLD /\ HUNDRED DEMONS BITE --> [] FLAMING WHIRLWIND --> /\ HUNDRED MAN SLASH ROTATE 360, /\ --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES - LEVEL 7 ONLY TEMPERED STEEL SPLITTER PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE EARTH SPLITTER PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB9. == DARK DRAGON BLADE == The Dark Dragon Blade is the ABSOLUTE coolest and most stylish weapon in the game. The DDB actually has fewer combos than the Dabilahro but is just as powerful as the Unlabored Flawlessness (though no 5% health trick) and requires NO upgrades. This weapon can only be obtained on harder modes by collecting all 50 Golden Scarabs. So what's the point of using this blasted thing? Well, if you didn't complete any of the Fiend Challenges before obtaining this item, you can try it there. The DDB has a quicker combo attack and has the ABSOLUTE coolest Ultimate Technique in the game (better than the TDS). It might take a short while to get used to the DDB's slow UT absorption though, because it takes Ryu three seconds to fully charge it! --ATTACKS GLEAM OF HEAVEN & EARTH []/\ FLAMING HELL SLASH [][]/\ DRAK DRAGON DESCENDING FIENDS /\ DARK DRAGON FLAMING DRAGON PRESS & HOLD /\ HUNDRED DEMON'S BITE --> [] FLAMING WHIRLWIND --> /\ HUNDRED MAN SLASH ROTATE 360, /\ CORPSE CRUSHER [] OR /\ NEXT TO DOWNED ENEMY --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES DARK DRAGON CAUTERIZING SLASH PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE DARK DRAGON GATES OF HELL PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this awesome weapon: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/91602.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AB10. +++ SECONDARY WEAPONS & ARMLETS +++ --SHURIKENS --INCENDIARY SHURIKEN --WINDMILL SHURIKEN --SMOKE BOMB --APFSDS CORES --EXPLOSIVE CORES --BOW/STRONGBOW --SPEAR GUN --ARMLET OF THE SUN --ARMLET OF THE MOON --ARMLET OF BENEDICTION --ARMLET OF FORTUNE --ARMELT OF CELERITY --ARMLET OF POTENCY Each Armlet has its own specific use. Sun and Moon increase attack or Defense power. Benediction increases Yellow Essence by 1.5 percent. Fortune gives you an additional Ninpo refill (two slots refilled instead of one). Celerity decreases the Ultimate Attack time by 1.5 seconds and the Potency Armlet increases your kick and throw attacks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AC. == FIEND CHALLENGES == During a specific chapter or event, Ryu can partake in a special optional challenge called a "Fiend Challenge". When he enters an area, multiple numbers of fiends will keep spawning until all are dead and gone. On Normal Difficulty, Ryu will usually face off against 60 Fiends. As the difficulty level rises, the challenges increase by 20 fiends, which means a Fiend Challenge by the time you reach Master Ninja Mode will contain 120 Fiends. All Fiend Challenges are optional, but in some cases if you skip the challenge, you can still return to pursue the challenge again (and gain the prize) but you will NOT receive the Karma scores for it. So what is the point of pursuing these difficult challenges? For the most part, the prize for each challenge is usually a Power-up like a Lives of the Thousand Gods or a Spirit of the Devils. This is the complete list of Fiend Challenges to pursue for Ryu's walkthrough (most are available after a specific chapter and some are unavailable after certain events): --CHALLENGE #1: CHAPTER 3 - AIRSHIP --CHALLENGE #2: CHAPTER 6 - ARCHIVES ROOM --CHALLENGE #3: CHAPTER 10 - RITUAL ROOM --CHALLENGE #4: CHAPTER 12 - PERISTYLE PASSAGE --CHALLENGE #5: CHAPTER 12 - AQUADUCTS 4B --CHALLENGE #6: CHAPTER 15 - ZARKHAN STADIUM --CHALLENGE #7: CHAPTER 15 - STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE --CHALLENGE #8: CHAPTER 16 - UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY --CHALLENGE #9: CHAPTER 16 - DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE --CHALLENGE #10: CHAPTER 18 - GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE Unlike Ryu's challenges, which take place during specific chapters, Rachel has a Fiend Challenge in each of her chapters. It takes a little bit of exploration to find the challenge, but if Rachel pursues it and wins, she will receive the highest ranking at the end of the chapter. --RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #1: MONASTERY ANNEX --RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #2: MILITARY GATE --RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #3: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - CENTRAL BRIDGE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AD. == THE IMPORTANCE OF ESSENCE == As you defeat enemies in the game, they release different colored Essence. There are three types of colored Essence: YELLOW, RED, and BLUE. BLUE Essence restores little to big chunks of health, RED Essence restores an empty Ninpo slot, and YELLOW Essence is the currency used for purchasing items from Muramasa. Depending on the situation, you can either absorb the Essence to collect the money and health OR...you can use Essence wisely and absorb it for an Ultimate Attack. When pressing and holding the Triangle Button during combat, Ryu will absorb any floating Essence and when the button is released, he unleashes an Ultimate Attack that instantly kills the enemy. Choose wisely on how to utilize the leftover Essence! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AE. == FARMING FOR ESSENCE === What is "farming for essence"? It means to kill enemies, grab the Yellow Essence they leave behind, leave the area, come back, and then repeat the process. As long as a set of enemies re-spawn in a certain area, the money will pour in. Depending on difficulty, Muramasa's inventory just gets more and more expensive. Why? Because he's a goddamn money-grubbing whore, that's why! In order for Ryu to afford the items that Muramasa sells at those bullshit prices (especially the Wooden Sword upgrades), Ryu needs to kill enemies and gather the Yellow essence that they leave behind to increase his paper. Ryu should take advantage of the re-spawning enemy presence and eliminate them by using UT's to double the essence intake. Usually a successful farm encounter can gather anywhere from 2000 essence up to 10,000 essence depending on the enemy or situation. Here is a list of areas that have re-spawning enemies (some areas don't have enemies until after a certain chapter and some enemies disappear after the chapter): --CHAPTER 1 - DOJO ROOM --CHAPTER 4 - TWIN SERPENTS PLAZA/DWORKU ALLEYWAY --CHAPTER 4 - CLOCK TOWER SQUARE/CLOCK TOWER STAIRWAY/CLOCK TOWER BASE --CHAPTER 6 - HAN'S BAR (ENEMIES RE-SPAWN THROUGHOUT ENTIRE GAME) --CHAPTER 6 - MOAT ROAD --CHAPTER 9 - CHAMBER OF EVERLASTING SLEEP --CHAPTER 10 - DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE/MOAT ROAD/DWORKU ALLEYWAY --CHAPTER 12 - AQUADUCTS 2B NEAR ELECTRIC WORM ROOM/PERISTYLE PASSAGE --CHAPTER 13 - MOATS/FLOODED MONK CHAMBER --CHAPTER 15 - STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE --CHAPTER 16 - DRAWBRIDGE HILL/MOAT ROAD/CLOCK TOWER SQUARE --CHAPTER 17 - THE LABYRINTH --CHAPTER 18 - PALACE COMPOUND/THE CORE/GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE Also, once Muramasa gives you the Armlet Of Benediction, equip it when you begin farming so that you can receive twice the money in less time. Another alternate (but not recommended) way to gather lots of essence is to pursue a Fiend Challenge. Enter a Fiend Challenge and kill all but the last enemy and leave the battle. Return to the area and the Fiend Challenge will reset and you can start the Essence run again. Just know that you won't receive any Karma points if you do this! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AF. == KARMA IN YOUR ASS == What the hell is Karma? Karma is the score you receive for completing Chapters and defeating enemies and bosses. You will notice that when you press the L2 Button during a fight, it brings up a HUD that shows KARMA, COMBO, KILL, and TIME. Whenever you encounter an enemy or a group of enemies, that encounter is timed. If you finish the encounter within the Time Limit or not, you will still gain a score just for pursuing it. If you SKIP the encounter and then decide to return to pursue the encounter, the Karma score is forfeited. These are the scoring patterns: --COMBOS = 10 POINTS PER HIT Anytime you perform a regular or hard combo on an enemy while the Timer is running, the HUD will total up the hits. Each combo that you successfully make WITHOUT getting hit by the enemy (blocked hit or not) will multiply by ten. So if you made a 15-hit combo, multiply it by 10 and your score will increase by 150 points. Understand? The more combos that you can muster up, the more points you'll receive. --ESSENCE TECHNIQUE LEVEL 1 = 2,000 POINTS --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE LEVEL 2 = 5,000 POINTS When Ryu performs an ET/UT, he receives a score IF the Technique successfully hits the enemy. If the Technique misses, the score won't tally. A Level 1 ET is achieved by using one Essence and a Level 2 UT is achieved by absorbing two or more pieces of Essence. --KILL BONUS = VARIES Ryu and Rachel will receive a Kill Bonus IF they defeat an enemy or set of enemies within the Time Limit. Depending on the encounter, a successful Kill Bonus can range from 50,000 points all the way up to 150,000 points! You better start learning to speed up your kills! --NON-KILL BONUS = 1000 POINTS PER ENEMY If you DO NOT make the Time Limit during an enemy encounter, the Kill and Time Bonus is forfeited and you will only receive 1000 points for each enemy killed. So if you defeated 4 enemies but didn't make the Time Limit, you will only receive 4,000 points total. Understand it? --TIME LIMIT BONUS = 10,000 POINTS Every single enemy encounter is TIMED. Some encounters can range from 30 seconds up to 15 full minutes to finish. If you successfully defeat the enemies within the Time Limit on the HUD, you will be awarded 10,000 points IN ADDITION to the Kill Bonus. That's a lot of points! Remember, each encounter is only timed ONCE! --SPAMMING FOR KARMA What is spamming for Karma? There are certain ways to gain lots of points during an encounter and most of the time, Master Ninja players like to spam for Karma. Depending on the encounter, Ryu can exploit Karma by spamming Ultimate Techniques on the enemy. If you know how to exploit an enemy's weakness, Ryu can spend most of the battle just charging and unleashing Ultimate Techniques for lots of points. You have to ask which is better during a battle: a 50-hit combo worth 500 points or five successful Ultimate Techniques worth 25,000 points? Trust me, the highest Karma scores on the Sigma Leaderboards were all achieved this way. (Oops, did I reveal the "secret"?) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AG. == SHOPPING AT MURAMASA'S === As soon as you enter the supply room in Chapter 2, you will find a statue with an old man carrying a large bag. This is called the Muramasa Statue and it appears frequently throughout the entire game. Access it to open up an Inventory and Blacksmith screen. Muramasa will sell various items including Technique Scrolls, Maps, Elixirs, and Armlets, etc. Depending on difficulty, Muramasa will sell his items for as low as 500 Essence up to 15,000 Essence. When you select the Blacksmith Screen, you can choose to upgrade your weapons IF the upgrade is available. Don't wait until the last minute to upgrade! Any opportunity to make your weapons stronger is always the best one. And when you discover Golden Scarabs throughout the game, pass them on to Muramasa and he'll trade you the Scarabs for useful items. You'll receive various gifts for the Scarabs like a Life of the Gods and sometimes, he even gives you a brand spankin' new weapon to use! Also, if you feel so inclined, go to Muramasa's Shop in Tairon and try attacking that money-grubbing whore to see what happens. Here is a Price List for Muramasa's Items for specific difficulties: --NINJA DOG/NORMAL ELIXIR OF SPIRITUAL LIFE ELIXIR OF THE DEVIL WAY GREAT SPIRIT ELIXIR GREAT DEVIL ELIXIR TALISMAN OF REBIRTH ARROWS APFSDS CORES EXPLOSIVE ARROWS INCENDIARY SHURIKEN SMOKE BOMB ARMLET OF THE SUN ARMLET OF THE MOON ART OF THE INFERNO SCROLL FLYING SWALLOW SCROLL --HARD ELIXIR OF SPIRITUAL LIFE 1000 ELIXIR OF THE DEVIL WAY 3000 GREAT SPIRIT ELIXIR 10,000 GREAT DEVIL ELIXIR 15,000 TALISMAN OF REBIRTH 20,000 ARROWS 10 APFSDS CORES 200 EXPLOSIVE ARROWS 100 INCENDIARY SHURIKEN 100 SMOKE BOMB 400 ARMLET OF THE SUN 5000 ARMLET OF THE MOON 5000 ART OF THE INFERNO SCROLL 1000 FLYING SWALLOW SCROLL 1000 --VERY HARD ELIXIR OF SPIRITUAL LIFE 1500 ELIXIR OF THE DEVIL WAY 4000 GREAT SPIRIT ELIXIR 10,000 GREAT DEVIL ELIXIR 15,000 TALISMAN OF REBIRTH 20,000 ARROWS 10 APFSDS CORES 200 EXPLOSIVE ARROWS 100 INCENDIARY SHURIKEN 100 SMOKE BOMB 500 WOODEN SWORD 500 ARMLET OF THE SUN 5000 ARMLET OF THE MOON 5000 GUILLOTINE THROW 1000 COUNTERATTACK SCROLL 1000 FLYING SWALLOW SCROLL 1000 --MASTER NINJA COMING SOON! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AH. == CHAPTER/ONLINE RANKINGS == There are five types of rankings that Ryu can achieve as he completes each Chapter. Depending on how good or how completely suck-ass you are as a player, your ranking will reflect your skills. As for the Sigma Leaderboard rankings, the majority of rankings are all based on Karma Score. These are the chapter rankings from lowest to highest: --NINJA DOG --LESSER NINJA --GREATER NINJA --HEAD NINJA --MASTER NINJA Usually, the biggest factor in your ranking is the Chapter Time Limit (especially on the harder modes). While you may be able to muster up a lot of kills and gather lots of Essence, you can still get a low Ranking. The game factors up several types of requirements: --CHAPTER TIME LIMIT With the exception of a couple of chapters towards the end, you can easily get a high ranking by completing a chapter in less than 10-15 minutes. Some chapters give you the benefit of the doubt and give you the highest ranking IF you can muster up a ton of kills past the chapter time limit. Read the next section below for the Clear Times. --# OF KILLS There a few chapters where the # of kills is a requirement in order to get the highest ranking. A good example is the "Tairon Under Alert" chapter where you can literally finish the chapter in less than 7-8 minutes and still receive a low ranking. Usually, the best way to boost up your ranking is to finish Fiend Challenges during a specific chapter and that'll do it for you. --UNUSED NINPO It's simple as it sounds. If you can finish a chapter with all Ryu's Ninpo slots still full, expect a full score. --ESSENCE COLLECTED If Ryu finishes a chapter with a ton of collected (and unused) Yellow Essence, he can rack up a high ranking. Just note that using the collected Essence at Muramasa's Statue DOES count against you, so use the Essence wisely! Wanna receive a Master Ninja Ranking for each Chapter? The list below will give details for the Clear Time per chapter! Some of the Chapter Clear times increase dramatically on harder difficulties while some still rely on the # of Kills. === MASTER NINJA RANKING TIME REQUIREMENTS === NINJA DOG/NORMAL HARD MODE VERY HARD CHAPTER 1 9-10 MINUTES 9-10 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES CHAPTER 2 10-15 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES CHAPTER 3** 10-15 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES 15-25 MINUTES CHAPTER 4 10-15 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES CHAPTER 5** 10-15 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES CHAPTER 6 10-15 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES CHAPTER 7** 25-40 MINUTES 40-60 MINUTES 30-60 MINUTES CHAPTER 8** 20-25 MINUTES 20-30 MINUTES 15-30 MINUTES CHAPTER 9 20-30 MINUTES 20-30 MINUTES 30-50 MINUTES CHAPTER 10** 10-20 MINUTES 10-20 MINUTES 20-25 MINUTES CHAPTER 11 20-30 MINUTES 20-25 MINUTES 20-25 MINUTES CHAPTER 12** 30-35 MINUTES 40-45 MINUTES 45-60 MINUTES CHAPTER 13 15-20 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES 20-25 MINUTES CHAPTER 14** 10-15 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES CHAPTER 15** 30-40 MINUTES 70-80 MINUTES 80-90 MINUTES CHAPTER 16** 30-35 MINUTES 40-45 MINUTES 45-60 MINUTES CHAPTER 17 10-15 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES 15-20 MINUTES CHAPTER 18** 20-30 MINUTES 20-25 MINUTES 40-50 MINUTES CHAPTER 19 5-10 MINUTES 5-10 MINUTES 10-15 MINUTES **Complete the Fiend/Enemy Challenges in this Chapter to receive an automatic Master Ninja ranking! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AJ. +++ THE PEARL NECKLACE - UTILIZING RACHEL +++ Oh my, the lovely and voluptuous Rachel. Controlling and using Rachel is much different than controlling Ryu. She moves like a tank and is pretty slow when it comes to combos. So how can you use Rachel properly without dying all over the place? First of all, Rachel's best line of defense is her counterattack. Since her combos take some time pull off, her counterattack is the closest thing to a fast combo. The main strategy is to lure the enemy into attacking you and then countering. Also, when an enemy strikes at Rachel, she can immediately flip over them while blocking and then strike them from behind with a hard combo. This is probably the only evasion move that Ryu does NOT have in his set of evasion moves. When fighting multiple big and small enemies, Rachel should target the weakest one first. For example, when fighting Samurais and Warlocks, Rachel should kill the Warlock and then use his Essence to UT the other Samurais. If Rachel faces off against Shadow Fiends and Red Dinos, she should lure the smaller fiends away from the Dinos, kill them off, and then use the Essence for a UT on the dinos. Understand how the pattern works in these situations? Also, don't hesitate to use wall attacks! Here's a complete list of Rachel's War Hammer attacks and combos: --DEFAULT LEVEL 2 ATTACKS RIGHT FANG [] LEFT FANG [][] VIPER BITE [][][] COPPERHEAD KICK [][][], -->, [] VIPER CRUNCH [][][][] BARE FANGS []/\ SAVAGE SNAKE []/\/\ YELL IN PAIN [][]/\ MAX PAIN [][]/\/\ HIGH KICK --> [] DOUBLE HIGH --> [][] INTEGRAL HIGH --> [][][] PYTHON BITE --> [][][][] PYTHON CRUNCH --> [][][][][] HIGH KICK VENOM --> []/\ DOUBLE HIGH VENOM --> [][]/\ INTEGRAL HIGH VENOM --> [][][]/\ STINGER --> /\ SNAKE HUNT --> /\/\ SNAKE KILLER --> /\/\[] OR --> /\/\/\ VENOM /\ PIERCING KICK [] WHILE RUNNING DEADLY VENOM /\ WHILE RUNNING ANACONDA CLUTCH ROTATE 360, /\ SERPENT HAMMER [] OR /\ WHILE JUMPING --ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES SIDEWINDER PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE JORMUNGANDR PRESS & HOLD /\ + ESSENCE MAX For an example of how to properly use Rachel, copy and paste this URL to see a Rachel Fiend Challenge video: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/78514.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= AK. +++ DOMINATION - ADVANCED TIPS & TACTICS +++ If you want to see if you are indeed a Master Ninja player (or want to play like one), then utilizing the tactics mentioned below is vital in becoming an expert player. The more that you practice these advanced tactics, the easier it becomes to becoming a veteran player. If you find yourself already doing the things I mention here, congratulate yourself because you've earned my respect. --ALWAYS BLOCK!!!! I can NEVER stress this enough: ALWAYS BLOCK! If taking cover is the main strategy in Gears Of War, then blocking should be the main strategy for Ninja Gaiden. When you aren't busy performing kick-ass combos on your enemies, you should be in a defensive stance! No matter how close or far you are to the enemy, one finger should be on the Block Button regardless! Trust me, I've seen horrible gameplay videos (*cough IGN cough*) where the player didn't understand the gist of using the Block Button. Don't be that person, be the EXPERT! --ALWAYS USE THE ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE (UT) When Ryu kills an enemy (or a bunch of them), they leave essence for you to absorb. Instead of wasting time collecting the essence for the sake of collecting it, use essence wisely by absorbing it for Ultimate Techniques. Anytime that essence is floating around, don't hesitate to absorb it and unleash holy Hell on your enemies. By doing this, it increases your Karma score and it more than doubles the Yellow Essence intake left over. Also remember, if Ryu is in a blocking stance, he CANNOT absorb the essence by mistake! --BE EVASIVE BUT DEFENSIVE Always use the Reverse Wind when fighting enemies. If an enemy has an attack that breaks your guard (when Ryu falls back while blocking) the enemy WILL cause damage to you on the next hit. To avoid the embarrassing pain, use the Reverse Wind to evade the attack as soon as your guard is broken. Rolling away is a good way to avoid getting swarmed. Stay defensive while rolling, too! When rolling away, keep your finger on the Block Button so that another enemy doesn't attack you during mid-roll (it can happen). Remember, being a defensive player doesn't make you a wimp, it makes you a better player. Don't let any smart-mouthed peckerhead tell you otherwise! --USE THE ROLL JUMP This is a move that every expert player never leaves home without. To get through an area faster (or if you wanna avoid confrontations), using the roll jump is the fastest way to do it. While running, press the Block Button to roll and then press the X Button to jump forward. It's like doing a rolling somersault. Keep doing the move to get through an area faster. --LEARN THE COUNTER-ATTACK Every single weapon in the game has a special counter attack. Counters are crucial in most battles and are very helpful in eliminating enemies faster instead of just standing and blocking. To do the Counter attack for any weapon, hold the Block Button. When the enemy strikes you, press (don't mash) the Triangle Button at the right time when you hear the "CLANG" sound to perform the counter WHILE BLOCKING. Ryu will then break their attack with his own. Trust me, it's NOT so easy to learn, but once you figure out how it works, you'll never stop using it. Copy and paste this URL to see an instructional video for Counters: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/102857.html --AVOID USING NINPO ATTACKS Yes, as pretty as the animations look for each attack, using Ninpo is just a time-waster. Using Ninpo on enemies is NOT necessary when you already know how to defeat them and trying Ninpo attacks on bosses is COMPLETELY useless anyway, so why bother with it? For the record, it IS indeed possible to go through the ENTIRE game without equipping Ninpo at all! If a player claims that the only way to beat harder difficulties is to spam your Ninpo attacks, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM! --UTILIZE THE ON-LAND CHARGE (OLC) The On-Land Charge is an advanced move that first-time players will not understand at first. When performing an Ultimate Attack, Ryu has to spend about a second or two to charge up and absorb essence, which leaves him vulnerable to attack. To make this animation go even faster, utilize the On-Land Charge. To do an OLC, jump up and then press and hold the Triangle Button as soon as Ryu's feet touch the ground and then unleash it for a quick Ultimate Attack (or hold the button until the enemy closes in). When you do an OLC, Ryu will immediately absorb the essence and can perform the Ultimate Attack without needing to actually charge. This move takes advantage of situations where you have multiple essences floating around and being bombarded by enemies. Remember, Ryu can also do an OLC from a roll jump! Copy and paste this URL to see an instructional video for the OLC: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/92749.html --RELY ON BLUE ESSENCE INSTEAD OF ELIXIRS It's as simple as it sounds. If you find that you are consuming way too many Elixirs before you even reach the next boss battle, then you need to seriously practice your techniques. Ryu should conserve all of his Elixirs for boss battles only! Well, unless you are playing as Rachel. --AVOID SPAMMING YOUR ATTACKS What is a spam attack? It is when a player constantly does the same moves over and over. One example is the Flying Swallow attack. Players that spend most of their time spamming their attacks only show just how much they haven't learned. Ryu has a large arsenal of moves and all you're gonna do is spam ONE move? I don't think so. Be creative and mix your attacks! Unless you are on the last set of chapters (or you're spamming for some Karma), there's no reason to spam one attack incessantly on Chapter 1! --MASTER NINJA DIFFICULTY IS ONLY FOR HARDCORE PLAYERS You do not need to defeat this difficulty to call yourself a veteran player. Out of the three harder difficulties, the one that will test your patience is Very Hard Mode. If you can defeat Very Hard Mode with little to no problems, then pat yourself on the back, Master Ninja Vet! If you feel you need that extra push after completing VH Mode, then go ahead and attempt Master Ninja Mode. It should be easy...MY ASS! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= AL. +++ MESSAGE IN BLOOD - KNOWING YOUR ENEMY +++ In this section, I will explain the best tactics to use for each enemy in the game. Every single enemy in the game (minus one or two of them) is well-balanced and has attacks to use against you from all ranges. While it may seem simple to just do the same combo over and over, using the same moves on every enemy might not always work out so well. This isn't God Of War or Devil May Cry! NOTE: this section is for regular enemies only! Boss and Sub-boss strategies will be explained in the main walkthrough. --BROWN NINJA --WHITE NINJA These guys are the easiest enemy you'll encounter in the game. They don't have any guard-breakers and rarely inflict any hard damage. While they aren't hard to defeat, the white ninjas are a little bit tricky, so be on your guard when you're on the offense. --BLACK SPIDER NINJA --RED FIRE NINJA --PURPLE WS NINJA These guys are no joke, unlike the brown and white ninjas. Not only do they have guard-breakers but they also have grab moves and special weapons at their disposal. All it takes is a couple of hard combos to kill them, but what you REALLY need is to be super defensive AND evasive to keep from being swarmed. Use counterattacks on them and always utilize the Izuna Drop to lessen the herd. --SAMURAI --WARLOCK Usually, Samurais on foot are always accompanied by a Warlock or two. The main strategy here is to avoid the Samurais and focus on the Warlock. Evade and block the Samurai attacks and wait for the Warlock to appear. When he appears, roll under his fireball TOWARDS him and perform a hard combo to kill him. If the fireball attack is too difficult to dodge, toss a projectile at the Warlock BEFORE he throws the fireball. This will stop him and sets him up for a combo. Use the leftover essence for UT's against the Samurais, rinse & repeat. Trust me, this tactic works wonders in Chapter 2! --M-SAT SOLDIER --ROBOT M-SAT SOLDIER --M-SAT COMMANDER --ROBOT M-SAT COMMANDER These guys also require you to be on your guard. They have guns to shoot at you if you are too far and they have a mean guard breaker and grab move (SLIT THROAT AND KNEE TO THE GUT!). Use quick evasive rolls, counterattacks, and the Izuna Drop to get the best of these guys. --MOTORCYCLE M-SAT SOLDIER --MOTORCYCLE ROBOT M-SAT SOLDIER All it takes is a few well-timed Flying Swallow attacks or a Guillotine Throw to unseat these guys from their bikes. Avoid trying to block the motorcycle as it approaches you and just keep your distance. --RED DINOS (GAHRULAS) --BLUE DINOS Both of these dinos have five attacks: a chomp attack, a two-hit combo, fire breath, jumping attack, and a tail swipe. All these attacks can be evaded using evasive rolls. A good combo to perform on these lizards is the Blade of Nirrti attack. After evading one of their attacks, use the Blade Of Nirrti as a counter. Separate the group and then fight each one individually as much as possible. Once Ryu acquires the Dabilahro, use the Flaming Hell Slash combo on them. --MACE-WIELDING GREEN/RED OGRES These guys are probably the biggest enemy in the game. A lot of the ogre's attacks are based on their large maces, which means you need some heavy firepower to kill them. Your best weapon against these overgrown freaks is a fully upgraded Dabilahro. When the ogre begins his mace attack, simply roll forward IN FRONT of the ogre to avoid getting whacked. When it stops to recover, immediately do ONE Flaming Hell Slash combo on it. If they retaliate by jumping up, roll away. Always roll FORWARD when they use their mace or backhand attacks to easily evade them and then counter with a Flaming Hell Slash. Repeat this tactic as necessary to kill these stupid freaks. Copy and paste this URL to see how to defeat these Ogre freaks: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/90778.html --CATWOMAN (KIYATT) These feline pussies are the cheapest enemies in the game. Not only can they break your guard, but they can also grab you while you are evading them. Most of your combos will be difficult to pull off since they run and flip around all the goddamn time. The best weapon to use against them is the long-range Lunar. The Twilight combo of the Lunar usually stops them dead in their tracks, so abuse it! If worse comes to worse and you find that they are too difficult to kill, equip some Explosive Arrows and then shoot them in mid-air. This will put those furball pussies to bed. THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!!!! --BROWN SHADOW FIENDS --PINK SHADOW FIENDS I really don't know what the difference is between these two enemies are since they are virtually the same enemy (except with a different colored skin). These guys are quite easy to dispatch with a few easy counterattacks and some hard Izuna Drops, so abuse it! --ONE-EYED PINCER FIENDS This guy is a strong and sneaky little bitch. Most of its attacks break your guard and they have that annoying home run slide attack. When it breaks your guard, roll back and try to counter with an Izuna Drop. That should do it for them. --SCYTHE-WIELDING FIENDS These guys are quite annoying since they like to do cheap swipes with their scythes. The best weapon to use against them is a Level 2 Dragon Claw & Tiger Fang. Jump up towards the fiend and press the Square Button FOUR times and see what happens. It's HI-LARIOUS! --ZOMBIE WARRIOR/ARCHER (GHUULS) The archers are the ones to be concerned about. While the other zombies are (slowly) trying to attack you, the archers can easily damage you with their arrows. Kill the archers in the area FIRST and then focus on the other zombies. If a zombie looks like he's about to hug you, roll back to avoid getting molested by them. Use any weapons and combos you want on these guys but watch out! When you see one of them about to strike with their large weapon, be ready to roll away or BLOCK! --ARMORED SOLDIER --MECHA-ARMORED SOLDIER --RPG SOLDIER --MECHA-RPG SOLDIER These guys are a little more difficult to kill than the M-SAT soldiers because of their heavy armor and their non-stop machine gun fire (or rockets). Also, these are the only enemies in the game that have a combo breaker move. When you try to do a combo on them, they can immediately break your combo and attack back at you. Fortunately, there is a way to kill them in one hit: Explosive Arrows. 'Nuff SAID! --ZOMBIFIED MSAT SOLDIER These guys are sort of like a bizarre mix between the Black Spider Ninjas, regular MSAT soldiers, and the Warlocks. Use evasive rolls and wall attacks and then counter at them with the Izuna Drop. --PURPLE ZOMBIES You only encounter these guys ONCE in the main game. They have a super long life bar and are quite difficult to kill under the Time Limit. Simply equip the Dabilahro and spam the Ultimate Technique on them to kill them all. --LASER/BULLET/BOMB COPTERS You can kill these copters with any types of Arrows or with the Windmill Shuriken. With Rachel, use the Peluda Tail to destroy them. --BATS --WASP FIENDS Bats can easily be killed with Shurikens, while the Wasp Fiends (those Metroid-looking rip-offs) can be killed with simple combos or Projectiles. Simply block the Wasp Fiends and then counter. --STINKFISH MERMAID These guys are more dangerous if you approach them up close, so avoid the close encounter. When they are at a mid-to-far distance, they throw Waterballs at you. To kill these guys, rely on using projectiles like Explosive Arrows or the Windmill Shuriken. Run on the water to get within mid-distance and then start shooting them using mid-air attacks. --WHITE LIGHT APPARITIONS These are those large glowing thingies that are found in the caverns under the Monastery. Simply use the Windmill Shuriken or Arrows to eliminate these floating light bulbs. Be careful though because these high-falootin' things can break your guard! --GHOST FISH I love and hate these Fish. I love them because they bestow so much leftover Yellow essence when you kill them all properly. I also hate them because all it takes is ONE bite from them to ruin the Yellow Essence run. To kill these Fish properly, equip the Flails and walk into a Fish area and then jump and attack. When Ryu lands on the ground, use a continuous Flail combo but DO NOT finish the combo! When it looks like the combo is about to be done, quickly jump up again and repeat the tactic. With some well-timed jumps and attacks, you can net close to 10,000 essence in ONE encounter! Repeat over for more money! --LARGE DUNG BEETLES --LARGE GREEN FISH The beetles are quite aggressive with their attacks and can really hamper your combos. Equip the Dabilahro and perform a downward wall strike to kill a couple of them. Now roll jump to the other end of the room and use the On-Land Charge for an Ultimate Technique. Roll jump from one end of the room to the other end and repeat (you gotta be FAST!). For the large green fish, simply avoid them by not swimming in front of them. You can also kill the green fish using APFSDS Cores (if you are standing above them on dry ground) or with the Spear Gun. --CRAB FIENDS (ARIOCHS) Oh dear god, I've hated these things ever since I first fought them in the original Xbox Ninja Gaiden. Just use the Flying Swallow and mid-air Explosive Arrows on these freaks, WHATEVER! --KNIGHTMARES These guys are quite brutal as the Ogres and are more agile to boot, but they do have a very serious weakness that you can exploit! Equip a Level-3 Dabilahro and approach the Knightmare and let him attack you. You'll notice that when Ryu blocks the Knightmare's regular attacks, it does NOT break his guard (except for the second combo hit)! Take advantage of this weakness and use the Counterattack like crazy! +++ENEMY NOTE: Some of the enemies that are mentioned in this section usually don't appear until harder modes or Mission Mode. Once you start Hard or Very Hard Mode (or Master Ninja Mode, if you're lucky), expect to see different enemies where you normally wouldn't see them. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= +++ BY DEMONS BE DRIVEN - THE WALKTHROUGH +++ ____ __ __ __ _ ______ _/ / /__/ /_/ /_ _________ __ ______ _/ /_ | | /| / / __ `/ / //_/ __/ __ \/ ___/ __ \/ / / / __ `/ __ \ | |/ |/ / /_/ / / ,< / /_/ / / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / / |__/|__/\__,_/_/_/|_|\__/_/ /_/_/ \____/\__,_/\__, /_/ /_/ /____/ The walkthrough below is a non-Ninpo walkthrough for Ninja Dog/Normal Mode and is detailed as I can make it. You will also find the locations for all the Power-Ups and all 50 Golden Scarabs here. I will also add links to websites with expert Sigma videos (made by yours truly) for most of the difficult battles at the bottom of the walkthrough. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BA1. +++ CHAPTER 1: THE WAY OF THE NINJA +++ ++ AREA: VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS ++ --OBJECTIVE: INFILTRATE THE FORTRESS After the cutscene, collect an Elixir from the dead body. Two ninjas will appear from both sides, so be ready to eliminate them. Test out your weapon on them and eliminate them with ease. At the end of the mountain ledge (where the second ninja jumped out from) you'll find a lone chest. Open it and continue up the hill towards the fortress. Further down the path is a large closed doorway. It can't be opened yet, so just ignore it and take the rocky ledges to the top. Jump past the open gap and grab Ayane's first Kunai scroll. Run up against the wall to grab the ledge and then shimmy to the right and climb up. Open the nearby chest for a goodie and then climb up the next wall and jump up. Go up the large tree bark onto the ledge to encounter two more enemies. Slice them down with some easy combos and then use a Wall Run to the next ledge. Open the chest to receive a new item. Now jump towards the branch and swing and jump to the next ledge. Use a Bird Flip to the upper ledge and prepare for battle. As you enter the pathway, three more enemies will emerge. You can either cut them down or avoid the battle by using a Bird Flip out of the cave from the area they emerge from. ++ AREA: NINJA FORTRESS ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE SAVE POINT Enter the fortress to encounter two more enemies. Cut them down with some fancy combos and then enter the fortress. As you enter the first room (brown room), you will encounter three enemies. Eliminate them and then open the lone chest for a goodie. Exit this room to the next one. ++ AREA: YELLOW ROOM ++ This area will be your first real test of combat. About 6-8 enemies will drop from the ceiling above and swarm you. Prepare the blood feast by testing out more combos. Be sure to be evasive and this room will be too easy. Once the room is cleared, exit out from the newly opened doorway to the next room. ++ AREA: STORAGE HALL ++ As soon as you enter this hall, three enemies will be waiting on the right side. Eliminate them to clear this area. Before you exit this room, head to the opposite area from where you entered to see a large Samurai statue holding a Key Item. Ignore it for now and collect the Elixirs next to the statue. Exit the hall to the opposite doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: TATAMI ROOM ++ ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #1 As you enter into this room, open the well-hidden chest next to the door to find your first LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS item! Equip it to increase your health bar! Now go further into the room and be prepared for more enemies to jump down from the ceiling. Now is a good time to try out the On-Land Charge move on these guys. Once the room is cleared, open the lone chest to obtain a FLYING SWALLOW Scroll. Exit the room by cutting open the scroll on the wall next to the large pot. ++ AREA: DOJO ROOM ++ There is a large trapdoor in this room. Avoid falling into it for now. This room will test your patience and the skills you've learned so far. About 10-12 enemies will appear from out of the rotating walls to swarm you. Outdo their tactics by being on your guard. Use evasive rolls and attack them from behind. Once the room is cleared, head past the trapdoor towards the wall scroll and cut it down to reveal a small doorway. Enter that room to find the Save Point. Save your game and then enter back into the Dojo room. Fall through the trapdoor to fall into a cave below the fortress. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND STORAGE HOUSE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE FANGS OF THE SAMURAI There are a couple of hard-to-see pots at the end of the cave. Destroy them to find a hidden chest with a goodie inside. Use the Shurikens on the bats to gather essence if you need to. Just before you exit the cave, open the chest just near the exit to find the FANGS OF THE SAMURAI Key Item. Now exit outside by destroying the fire posts and then jumping back to the upper ledge. Grab Ayane's Kunai if you want and then continue up the ledge. Destroy the two enemies and enter back inside to see an open ceiling gap that leads down to the Tatami Room. Before jumping down, open the lone chest to find a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH. --OBJECTIVE: RETRIEVE THE KEY OF COURAGE Jump down to the Tatami Room and go back into the Storage Hall. Place the FANGS onto the Samurai statue to obtain the KEY OF COURAGE Item. Now head back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now its time to meet up with the boss man! --OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT MURAI Head up the stairs towards the walkway. As you head up the walkway, eliminate the two ninjas and then use the Key Of Courage on the next door to unlock it. Enter inside for another battle. ++ AREA: INNER SANCTUM ++ Six to eight ninjas will jump down from above to swarm against you. Use hard combos and evasive rolls to clear the room. As soon as the room is cleared, the exit door will re-open and the entrance to the boss's lair will open up. Go back to the Save Point if you want and then head back to the Inner Fortress to face off against your first boss! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BA2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MURAI +++ Murai is NO pushover. Although he may only have puny Nunchukus as weapons, he can still kick your stupid little ass like nothing. Murai's main strategy is that he likes to get in close to you in a slow way. If you approach him, he either attacks with a three-hit combo or a grab. These are his main attacks: --FIRE PIT 3-HIT COMBO --GRAB ATTACK --BACK KICK --RUSH ATTACK Getting caught by Murai is not a good thing, so you must stay on your guard! If you try to spam the wall attack against him, he immediately grabs you. If you try the Fiend Bane's Kick combo, he'll just block it. This is what you should do to defeat Murai under the Time Limit: Stay at mid-distance from Murai and let him come closer. Roll away with a Reverse Wind to get farther back. When you are a good distance away, Murai will either somersault or use a Rush Attack to get closer to you. If he somersaults closer, immediately attack him with a Square, Triangle 2-hit combo. As soon as Ryu lands on the ground, quickly roll back and Murai will retaliate with a Rush Attack or another somersault. If he uses the Rush Attack to get closer, quickly roll away and then smack him with the Square, Triangle combo. But you MUST be quick with the Reverse Wind after the combo or Murai will grab you! After you do the two-hit combo, roll away to let Murai retaliate. When he repeats the attack (or somersault), use the same combo again. The main point here is to let him get closer by baiting him to do an attack. Block his melee attacks and continue to roll away. If Murai blocks the two-hit combo, press Triangle again to do a downward strike. This will allow you to roll away while he blocks the third hit. Continue this simple tactic and you can defeat Murai in less than 30-40 seconds. It's the Master Ninja way, BEE-YITCH! MISSION COMPLETE! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/78428.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BB1. +++ CHAPTER 2: THE HAYABUSA NINJA VILLAGE +++ --OBJECTIVE: HEAD TO HAYABUSA VILLAGE If you didn't see it, there is a pot in Murai's lair. Break it open to find a goodie and then exit out of the room. Head back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now exit out of the Fortress and back outside to the Valley Of The Shadows. ++ AREA: VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS ++ Remember that large locked doorway you couldn't enter in the previous chapter? Well, it's opened up so head for it. Enter the cavern and watch out for BATS!!!! ++ AREA: ALTAR ++ Approach the altar and grab the scroll on it to obtain the ART OF THE FIRE WHEELS Ninpo scroll. Equip it if you want and then jump onto the manual elevator and ride down to the bottom. Once you reach the bottom, jump behind the elevator to find a well-hidden chest. Now exit the elevator area outside to a grassy area. Use a Wall Run towards the next ledge and then open the nearby chest from a SMOKE BOMB item. ++ AREA: UPPER MOUNTAIN PATH ++ As you leave this area, three Samurais will stop by to try and stop you. These guys are more defensive than the ninjas from the previous chapter, so you'll need to use some hard combos to break their guard. Quickly charge your sword for a UT before they approach you. Kill the first Samurai with a Level 1 UT and then use an On-Land Charge with the leftover essence to decapitate the other two Samurais. Time this tactic well and it'll be easy as cake. ++ AREA: MOUNTAIN PATH ++ Now head down the path to a large hillside slope. Slide on down and then jump and grab the branch before you fall off the ledge to the water below (not that it's a bad thing). Jump from branch to branch and onto the dry land to encounter more Samurais. ++ AREA: OUTER VILLAGE ++ As you approach the path, a bunch of Samurais will come running towards you. Charge the sword for an Ultimate Technique and unleash it on the first enemy that approaches you. Continue to evade the Samurai melee attacks and use UT's to quickly kill them all. Once the area is cleared, climb the watchtower ladder to the top to find a chest with the HAYABUSA VILLAGE MAP Key Item. Now make your way towards the broken bridge area. In this area, you can try out your Water Running abilities. Jump down to the water below and do a Water Run to the opposite ledge. If you mess up and fall into the water, don't worry and just swim to the next ledge. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #1 Before you climb up to the top to the Save Point, look under the broken bridge across from you to see a small shack. Use a Water Run and head inside the shack to find a chest with your first Life OTG item! Now run back and use the Save Point. ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ENTRANCE ++ Enter the village entrance and you'll see that's it empty. To the right side of the entrance are a couple of statues (one with a missing head). Ignore the statue for now and continue down the path. A couple of Samurais and Warlocks will come from the farther end of the village (and behind you) to swarm you as soon as you descend the village. Evade all the Samurais and focus on killing the Warlocks. Roll under their fireball and use a hard combo to kill them off. Use the Essence they leave behind for UT's on the Samurais. Continue this tactic to clear this area quickly. Once the area is clear, it's time to do some item collecting! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #2 At the end of the pathway from the village entrance, you'll see a STONE HEAD lying on the ground. Pick it up and then place it on one of the Jizo statues near the village entrance with the missing head to obtain a Life OTG item! Also notice that there is an upper hill slope that leads to a small "shrine" with a large stone on it that cannot be cracked. You will deal with this stone later in Chapter 15, so ignore it for now. Near the village entrance on the left side is an alleyway. Enter the alleyway to find a dead body with an Elixir. Pick it up and you should be done with collecting items in this area! --OBJECTIVE: FIND AYANE Once you've collected all the goodies in the village, SAVE your game! Now make your way to the middle of the village and you will see a large window ledge on the left side that you can jump up to. Jump up towards the open window on the second floor to find Ayane inside. After the cutscene, Ayane will pass you the BOW. Now jump downstairs to find a small supply room and a Muramasa Statue. If you have enough cash, buy the Armlet Of The Sun item. Scour the shelves of the supply room to find more goodies and then exit the room. ++ AREA: OPEN RANGE ++ Exit the supply room to an open range area. More Samurais and Warlocks will appear in this area. Use the tactic I mentioned above to kill them all with ease. If you want to test your BOW on the enemies, grab some ARROWS from the nearby dead body and start flinging! Once the area is cleared, you will notice that there are three bull's- eye targets above the wooden fence. Just near the supply room entrance, stand close by and start shooting arrows at each target in the center (using First Person) to reveal some Essence. If you need Blue, Red, or Yellow Essence then keep shooting until the essence runs out. Now before you exit this area, SAVE your game! Come back to this area when you've replenished your supply and get ready for a difficult battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BB2. ++ SUB-BOSSES: SAMURAI HORSEMEN ++ On Normal difficulty, you will face off against four horsemen. When this battle begins, you will face off against two horsemen. One has a large spear and the other uses a Bow and Arrow. While it may seem obvious to try and use aerial attacks as they circle around the area, DON'T DO IT! Instead of being a hero, stay defensive! Stay near the mountain wall and let each horsemen get near (be sure to keep holding the Block Button). When each horseman gets close (and attacks), block the attack and then immediately counter with a Roaring Tiger combo (SQUARE, SQUARE, TRIANGLE) as soon as they turn around. This will make the horse stop and "neigh" for a second, so immediately repeat the combo. Continue this tactic on both horsemen until one (or both) of them fall off their horse. When the Samurai falls off, the horse dies and the Samurai must fight you solo. Use the essence from the dead horse for a UT on the stupid Samurai. While you are fighting the Samurai, another horseman will jump into the battle. Continue this tactic and you should be able to destroy all the horsemen with ease. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: CENTRAL BRIDGE ++ Once the sub-boss battle ends, the fire on the other side will die down to reveal a new Save Point. Jump over the rubble and approach the dead body to find an Elixir. Be sure to approach Muramasa's Statue to replenish any stock before fighting the next boss! Now approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. When you're ready, enter the through the doorway towards the Central Bridge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BB3. ++ BOSS BATTLE: MASAKADO ++ Masakado is no different than the previous Horsemen except that he's bigger, he's on fire, and he has Warlocks assisting his flaming ass (oh, and his horse breathes fire). All his attacks are virtually the same as the Horsemen, so using simple blocks are enough. If you try to follow and attack him as he circles around the bridge, consider yourself a noob because that's not how you're supposed to do it! The main tactic here is to kill the Warlocks and use their essence for Ultimate Techniques on Masakado. Trying to dodge two Warlocks is more trouble than it seems but here's how to do it properly: As soon as the battle starts, move out of the way and head towards the opposite doorway (not the one that crumbled) and stay there. Roll under the Warlock fireballs and wait until Masakado passes by. When he turns around, kill any nearby Warlock and use the leftover essence for a UT on Masakado as he returns to attack. How do you know if he's near? The screen shakes and gets brighter, so unleash the UT when this happens to shave off 20% of his health. Be quick with the UT or else Masakado will stick a spear your slow ass! Keep up this tactic and Masakado will fall like the flaming douchebag that he is. Once the battle is over, grab the COUNTERATTACK scroll and then approach the doorway to enter the next area. Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: CLAN LEADER'S RESIDENCE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND KUREHA As you enter the burning courtyard, you'll encounter more Samurais and Warlocks. If you made it this far, then you should already know how to dispatch these guys. Clear the area but don't enter the house just yet! Enter the small alley on the left side of the house to find a chest with a goodie inside. Grab the item and then head inside the house. Slice open the burning walls to reveal some Samurais hiding behind them. Evade the Samurais and focus on killing the Warlocks first but BE CAREFUL! The area in the middle of the house is a breathing inferno! Once you eliminate the enemies, DO NOT EXIT THE HOUSE YET! +++LIFE OF THE GODS #3 Yes, there is a hidden chest inside the burning house with a special item. Go to the back of the room and look on the left side to see an open gap. Enter this gap to a small hall. Go down the hall and you will see the chest with a Life OTG item inside! Yay! Now go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. When you're ready, go back into the burning house and exit at the other end to the backyard. Get ready for the most difficult (or easiest) battle of the game! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BB4. ++ BOSS BATTLE: DOKU ++ Luckily for you, you can either let Doku kick your ass to finish the Chapter OR......you can be an expert about it and kick Doku's cheap metallic ass instead! First of all, Doku has the Dark Dragon Blade in his grips. If he stabs you with it, the mission ends and the story continues on. But if you are willing to put up a fight against him, you will unlock a special prize for it! This is a totally unfair battle because Ryu is ill- equipped with a Level 1 Dragon Sword and fairly short HP bar. Still scared to face off against Doku now? When the battle begins, you will need to keep your distance from Doku. Keep rolling back as he approaches you and bait him into making an attack. Doku likes to use several attacks: --5-HIT COMBO --TREMOR ATTACK --RUSH ATTACK --DOUBLE RUSH ATTACK --PURPLE FIRE BREATH --"THE STAB" All of these attacks are easy to evade but you still need to be defensive. As soon as Doku makes an attack, evade it and then quickly approach him and do a Square, Triangle, Triangle combo and then quickly roll away. By doing this, you can shave about 2% of his health if he didn't block. You MUST be the aggressor of this battle or you'll never win! Every time Doku misses an attack (melee or special), quickly attack back at him with the Square, Triangle, Triangle combo and then roll away to avoid "The Stab". While this might sound too simple, it isn't! For the entire battle, Doku is trying to stab and kill you, so don't just stand and wait around for him to do something! The strategy I mention above worked wonders for me (even though it took me nearly 5 minutes to defeat Doku)! If you defeat Doku, you will unlock Mission Mode! GOOD LUCK! MISSION COMPLETE! Copy and paste this URL to see my Doku boss video on Very Hard Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/85475.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BT1. +++ CHAPTER 3: SKIES OF VENGEANCE +++ ++ AREA: RYU'S CABIN ++ When the Chapter begins, grab the nearby Elixir on the table and then use the Save Point. Now exit the cabin into the hallway outside. In the hallway are three other cabin rooms and a storage room next to Ryu's cabin (remember that Storage Room, you'll come back there later). ++ AREA: LIVING QUARTERS ++ Explore the cabin across from Ryu's cabin to find an Elixir of the Devil Way inside the room. Exit this room and enter the cabin next door. Inside the cabin you will find a Chest that has a MAP. Open the chest and grab the Map and then exit the room. As soon as you exit, two MSAT soldiers will burst through the windows. Now is a good time to test out your Counterattack combos on these guys, but be careful because they can still grab you! Eliminate the two soldiers in style and exit the room to the outer hallway. More soldiers will appear from the windows near the double doors, so use counters and hard combos on the regular soldiers. Use the leftover essence for a UT on the MSAT Commander (the one wearing black) to clear this area and reveal the WING KEY. Grab the key and use it to open the double doors. ++ AREA: MAIN CABIN ++ Enter the Main Cabin and you will see another set of double doors that are locked, two stairways, and two office rooms (one on the left and one on the right side of the double doors). Eliminate the soldiers that appear here to clear the area. Take the stairway down on the RIGHT side to find a Save Point and SAVE your game. There's another door next to the Save Point that leads outside, but ignore that door for now. Go back upstairs to the Main Cabin and go to the other stairway. At the bottom of that stairway is Muramasa's Statue. When you access Muramasa's inventory, go and purchase the IZUNA DROP SCROLL and a Level 2 upgrade for the Dragon Sword. Trust me, you NEED those upgrades! And if you have enough cash, purchase the Armlet of the Sun and equip it. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #4 Now go back up the stairway and enter the small office on the left side of the double doors to find a chest with a Life OTG item! ++ AREA: CREW COMPARTMENT QUARTERS ++ Exit the room and enter the office room on the right side. Exit through the other door to encounter more soldiers. When the battle begins, block the soldier's attacks and wait for one of them to get closer. When he approaches, use the counterattack and Izuna Drop to see what happens. Repeat the strategy for the other soldiers to clear out the room. Exit through the newly opened door to a red carpet hallway. ++ AREA: CREW COMPARTMENT - OUTER HALLWAY ++ At the end of the hallway are the double doors that lead back to the Main Cabin (the other metal doorway is locked for now). If you decide to open the double doors, it unlocks them for good. If not, then enter the door across from the Crew Quarters to the Main Office. ++ AREA: MAIN OFFICE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #1/LIFE OF THE GODS #5 Inside the main office are two items: a Golden Scarab on the shelf behind the desk and a Map Of Tairon next to the desk. Grab both items and then take the elevator going down. Give the Golden Scarab to Muramasa and he'll trade the Scarab for a Life OTG item! ++ AREA: FORE CABIN ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE ID CARD Exit the elevator and go around the flight control deck to the other end of the room to find another elevator. Take the elevator down to the Control Deck and get ready for some bloodshed. As soon as you exit the elevator, roll in and use Izuna Drops and Ultimate Techniques on the soldiers. When all of them are dead, an MSAT Commander will arrive via elevator. Dispatch him and he'll drop the ID CARD Key Item. After you take the ID CARD, open the door next to the elevator into a small store room. Open the chest inside the room to find the DRAGON CLAW & TIGER FANG Dual Katanas! Now exit and take the elevator back up to the flight deck. There is a doorway across the elevator, so enter through to find two soldiers waiting for you in the small corridor. Eliminate them and then exit the corridor to the Save Point. SAVE your game and then take the opposite doorway next to the Save Point leading outside. Cross the bridge and use the ID CARD to enter a Container Room with crates and containers. ++ AREA: MIDDLE CABIN ++ The crate to the left of the door contains Arrows, so replenish your stock. Destroy the wooden crates to clear the room. --OBJECTIVE: OPEN THE LARGE METAL DOOR At the other end of the room are a large metal door and a turnstile. Grab the turnstile and keep rotating it to open the large metal door. After three rotations, more soldiers will burst through the windows. Kill them off with some hard combos to clear the room. Once it's cleared, rotate the handle until the metal door is fully opened. Enjoy the view of the skies! --OBJECTIVE: REACH THE ENGINE ROOM Across from the Middle Cabin is the Engine Room but to get there you need to somehow make it past the open skies. There is a zipline on the upper right side of the doorway, but DO NOT use it yet! A couple of soldiers will emerge from the other end of the ship and shoot at you with their...rocket launcher. Bust out the Bow and start shooting an Arrow at the Red Explosive Barrels to blow those soldiers up. Once the soldiers have been eliminated, take the zipline to the other end of the ship and then jump down. ++ AREA: AFT CABIN ++ Go down the walkway to encounter an MSAT Commander patiently waiting for you in front of the Engine Room. Whack him off the ship to clear this area. --OBJECTIVE: DISABLE THE ENGINES & DEACTIVATE EMERGENCY LOCKS The front door is closed so you'll need to go to the side of the room and break open the window (don't forget about the chest at the end of the walkway). Jump into the Engine Room and start smashing shit up with your sword. After the engines are down, the Emergency locks will open and you can now open the rest of the doors in the ship. Exit the room and go back to the Main Deck. Eliminate any soldiers in the way. --OBJECTIVE: EXPLORE THE LOCKED STORAGE ROOM SAVE your game at the Fore Cabin Save Point. Remember the Storage Room that was locked next to Ryu's Cabin? When you head in there, be prepared for an Enemy Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BT2. ++ AREA: STORAGE ROOM ++ +++AIRSHIP CHALLENGE: STORAGE ROOM Ryu will enter a large arena with a couple of containers in the back. Soldiers will start jumping in from various windows and attacking you. Simply use counterattacks, Izuna Drops, and lots of UT's to complete this uber-easy challenge. After all the soldiers are dead, you will receive a Lives OTTG item! Just remember that if you SKIP this challenge, you will miss out on certain items that cannot be retrieved once the chapter is done. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #2 Before you leave the Storage Room, jump to the top of the containers at the back of the room and grab the Golden Scarab sitting on the very top container. Once you've taken all the stuff in this room, go to Ryu's Cabin and SAVE your game. --OBJECTIVE: HEAD FOR THE AIRSHIP ROOFTOP Now it's time to meet up with the boss man! Go to the Main Cabin and open the double doors. Go to the other end of the hallway and open the metal door that was previously locked. ++ AREA: GAS COMPARTMENT PASSAGEWAY ++ Go up the metal stairway and you'll see two MSAT soldiers shooting at you. Quickly roll jump to the top and use a Flying Swallow on both of them. Above the stairway is a ledge walkway. Jump up to it to encounter more soldiers. Eliminate them with the Izuna Drop and use UT's on the MSAT commander. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #3 There is a large crate on the walkway above the metal stairs. Jump on top of the crate and then use a Bird Flip to jump to a higher walkway with a hidden Golden Scarab! Take the Scarab now because once the chapter ends, you won't be able to get it again! Jump down the upper walkway and continue past the ledges to the other end of the ship. Destroy the enemies with Izuna Drops and Flying Swallows and use UT's on the commanders. Once you reach the other end of the walkway, use a Bird Flip to another upper walkway. Eliminate the last two soldiers at the top to completely clear the ship of enemies. See that ladder? If you take it to the roof, the roof door won't open. Use a continuous Bird Flip at the bottom of the ladder to find a small little room that has the lever to deactivate the roof door. Pull the lever and then jump back down. Use the Save Point across from the ladder and SAVE your game! If you need to go back to Muramasa's Statue, DO IT NOW! If not, climb up the ladder to encounter the big boss man! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BT3. ++ BOSS BATTLE: DYNAMO ++ Dynamo is quite agile and brutal for a big chunk of bloated fat. He has an attack for every range, so don't think you can run away easily. For long range attacks, he uses his laser gun. For mid-range attacks, he uses his Electric Sphere. And for melee attacks, he uses a forward thrust, a backhand swing, or a grab move. All these attacks are easy to evade but you'll have to be quick with your evasion to avoid getting blasted. The strategy is to get close to him and let him use melee attacks. As long as you're up close, he'll refrain from using his long or mid-range attacks (some of the time). When you are up close, let him attack with his melee attacks. When Dynamo breaks your guard, immediately roll away to avoid his grab counter, and then counter with a hard combo of your own. Dynamo will quickly retaliate with another melee attack or a grab, so roll away. As long as you keep up this tactic and stay within close to mid-range, Dynamo will fall just as fast as he started. MISSION COMPLETE! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle on Normal Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81791.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BC1. +++ CHAPTER 4: IMPERIAL CITY INFILTRATION +++ ++ AREA: TAIRON OUTSKIRTS ++ --OBJECTIVE: GO TO HAN'S BAR After the cutscene, SAVE your game! Now jump down to encounter some more soldiers. These guys should be simple to eliminate, so get to it! After that's done, go down the alley to Twin Serpents Plaza. You'll be coming back here later, so ignore the large monument for now. To the left of the alley you just came from is a chest under an arch. Do you see it? Open it and grab the goodies inside. Now head for the other open alleyway and you'll see three soldiers. Eliminate them with style and then open the large door to the next area. ++ AREA: MILITARY GATES ++ As you enter this large open area, make a left to see a dead body. Search the body for the GUILLOTINE THROW Scroll. Across from the gates is another dead body with Arrows. Replenish your stock and head for the door with the single Red jewel on it. As you approach the Red-jeweled door, it locks itself and soldiers will appear from the gates. Approach the Grenadier soldier first and use an Izuna Drop on him to clear out most of the soldiers and then use UT's on the rest of them. When the area is cleared, the Red-jeweled door will unlock. Now exit through the door to the next area. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY ++ When you enter the next area, three soldiers will attack from off- screen, so be ready for the ambush. Eliminate them to clear the alley. --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE LUNAR Go to the other end of this alley to the other side (ignore the stairway going down for now). At the end of the zigzag alley is a large pot with the Lunar weapon inside. Take the new weapon and equip it if you want. After you've taken the Lunar, open the nearby gate for future purposes. Now go back to the Dworku Alleyway. As you go back to the stairway, the three soldiers that tried to ambush you will reappear (and will respawn whenever you come back to this area). Eliminate or ignore them and go down the stairs. Take a right and down the alley to the next stairway. As you approach the stairs, you will see two soldiers (one on separate balconies) shooting at you. Bust out your Bow and kill them in First-Person to clear this area. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #6 Near the stairway is one of Ayane's Kunai Scrolls. She will inform you about blue-colored ledges that lead to certain areas. There is a blue ledge just where you found the Kunai Scroll, so approach it and Ryu will grab it and flip over it. Shimmy all the way to the right side and then climb up to the hidden ledge to find a Life OTG. Go back to the blue ledge and shimmy back to the upper stairway (or just jump down). ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #2 On top of the stairway is a blue ledge. Use a Wall Run to grab the ledge and then shimmy all the way to the left side and jump down onto the balcony. See that blue zipline above the balcony? Jump up and grab it and shimmy all the way to the other balcony. Once you reach the other balcony, jump down and open the chest to find the Lives OTTG item! Equip the item to increase your HP bar. When you turn around, there will be a pair of soldiers on top of the stairs shooting at you. Ignore them or kill them if you want. At the other side of the stairway is a dead body. Do you see it? Search the body to find the NUNCHUKU weapon! There is also a Save Point next to the door with a Bronze Lilly on it. SAVE your game and then exit this area using the Yellow-jeweled door to a new area. ++ AREA: CLOCK TOWER PLAZA ++ As soon as you enter CTP, you'll notice another multi-jeweled doorway with a purple jewel in the middle. That door is locked at the moment, so ignore it. Across from the multi-jeweled door is a doorway with blue-lining. Enter through that doorway and go up the stairs to encounter three soldiers. Eliminate them with the Izuna Drop and continue up towards the Clock Tower balcony. As you approach the balcony, three Black Spider Ninjas will jump down. Use evasive rolls and counterattacks on them as best you can. Try to use Izuna Drops on them when their defense is open. ++SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS #1 Once the BS Ninjas have been dispatched, approach the lone chest under the archway to find a Spirit OTD item! Equip it to give yourself another Ninpo slot. Now jump down back onto the street. Head down Clock Tower Square past the multi-jeweled door again and a short cutscene will occur showing Muramasa's Shop. Enter inside the shop if you want and then continue on. Outside Muramasa's Shop is a large Green-jeweled doorway. As you approach the door, soldiers will appear from the other side. Eliminate the soldiers to unlock that door. Enter the Green-jeweled doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #4 As soon as you enter this area, make a left to see a small fountain. There is a hidden Golden Scarab in the fountain, so grab it! --OBJECTIVE: UNLOCK THE GATE TO PLEASURE STREET There is a bunch of things you can find in Great Bridge Square. In the alley on the right side, you'll find a doorway with a crack on it. It can't be opened until later, so ignore it. Also notice that there is an enclosed area with a locked gate here. To go inside that area, go to the back of the alley and turn right. Use a Bird Flip to an upper ledge and jump down to the enclosed area with a circular stone pattern. If you step in the middle of the stone pattern, three BS Ninjas will jump down. Eliminate them with hard combos to clear this area. There is also a chest with LOTS of goodies inside. Open it up to get the stuff and then approach the metal door to unlock it. Now you're done collecting all the stuff in this area. See those small set of stairs next to Great Bridge Square? Take those stairs and you will encounter three more Black Spider Ninjas. Eliminate them with hard combos. To exit this area, go to the small alley where those BS Ninjas came from and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top ledge. Use a Wall Run on the blue-lined wall to the other ledge and head through the doorway. Follow the ledge until you see a dead body. Search the body to find a diary. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #5 This Golden Scarab is just across from the dead body. Grab it and continue down the walkway towards the end. At the end of the walkway, you will see another chest and a lever. Open the chest for some goodies and then pull the lever to unlock the multi- jeweled door to Pleasure Street. Jump back down to the ground below to encounter some patrolling soldiers. You can either fight them off or just enter the multi-jeweled door to Pleasure Street. ++ AREA: PLEASURE STREET ++ As you make your way up Pleasure Street, another batch of BS Ninjas will drop down to ambush you. Eliminate them with ease and continue up to Han's Bar to trigger a new battle. Now it's time for some Crotch Rocket action! A bunch of motorcycle MSAT soldiers will come crashing in, so get ready for the party! Unfortunately, the motorcycles are more powerful than the soldiers. Avoid trying to block the motorcycles because they break your guard and hurt you. Stay evasive and use Flying Swallow attacks or the Guillotine Throw if you can get close. Unseat all of the riders and then kill them with some easy combos. After the battle ends, grab the LILLY KEY and then approach Han's Bar to end the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BC2. +++ CHAPTER 5: THE FIEND HUNTER +++ Alright! We finally get to see the Double-D twins in action! Rachel is not as agile as Ryu but she makes up for lack of speed by having powerful attacks. If that is something that doesn't suit you, then just look at the boobs instead. ++ AREA: MONASTERY INNER CLEARING ++ Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. A trio of soldiers will run towards you, so smack them with some hard combos to eliminate them. Once the area is cleared, head out of the area using the gateway. Eliminate the next bunch of soldiers and use the Peluda Tail to destroy the Copter. Continue down the road towards Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE DWORKU MONASTERY KEY A couple more soldiers and a Grenadier will come after you in this area. Use hard combos on the soldiers and a UT on the Grenadier. When the soldiers are toast, go up the stairs to encounter more soldiers. Defeat them with some hard combos and the DWORKU MONASTERY KEY will flash on the ground. Grab the item and go back to Monastery Plaza. If you want to use Muramasa's Statue near the top of the stairs, then do it now. When you re-enter the Plaza, prepare for a Shadow Fiend ambush! Use counterattacks and UT's to defeat these easy enemies and then use the DWORKU KEY on the large double gate. ++ AREA: MONASTERY ENTRANCE ++ When you enter the area, prepare to eliminate more Shadow Fiends. Clear the area of the baddies and then approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! From here, Rachel has the option to pursue her first Fiend Challenge. To the left of the Monastery entrance is the Monastery Annex. Make your way to that area to find ANOTHER Muramasa Statue. Go up the stairs and double jump to the ledge above. Follow the walkway to the other side and jump down. Exit to trigger a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BC3. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #1: MONASTERY ANNEX ENTRANCE This challenge consists of Brown Shadow Fiends. Simply use counterattacks on them and pound hard combos when there is an opening to do so. Continuously use non-stop UT's for lots of Karma points and dead bodies. Once the challenge is done, Rachel will receive a brand spankin' new Hairstyle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Now make your way BACK to the Monastery entrance doors and SAVE your game! Enter the Monastery and go up the walkway towards the Altar Hall. ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ Destroy all the Shadow Fiends with some easy combos. Avoid approaching the Altar and instead, enter the door on the right side of the Altar Hall into the Archives Room. ++ AREA: ARCHIVES ++ Watch out because Black Spider Ninjas will swarm you from above! Use quick evasion and counterattacks on them to stop them cold. A few hard combos and some UT's will clear this room. Once that's done, go up the stairs and approach the paintings to end the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BC4. +++ CHAPTER 6: CITY OF FIENDS +++ After all that hot boobtastic action, it's nice to go back to some REAL bloodshed. Approach the nearby Save Point and SAVE your game first! Now open the nearby chest to obtain some goodies. Time to leave this place! --OBJECTIVE: LEAVE HAN'S BAR There are two ways to leave Han's Bar: the hard way or the easy way. --THE EASY WAY: Jump down the balcony (the one Gamov jumped from) to the lower balcony. Open the chest for another set of goodies and then jump down to the street below. --THE HARD WAY: Go inside the Bar and take the stairs going down. Eliminate the soldiers waiting for you and continue down the halls. Eliminate another batch of soldiers as you make your way to the exit. Choose whichever way you want. Just note that if you jump down to the street, you will miss out on some chests inside Han's Bar. As you exit back onto the street, more MSAT Motorcycle guys will appear. Defeat them by using the Flying Swallow. Once the area is clear of motorcycle threats, approach the Save Point next to Han's Bar to SAVE your game! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #6 & WINDMILL SHURIKEN As you leave Pleasure Street, Ayane will throw a scroll at the nearby wall about a "hidden weapon". Look above the walls to see blue lines. For this part, you will use a Wall Run & Jump method. Jump and run the blue lines and then press the Square Button to land on a high ledge with a special weapon. Grab the weapon to obtain the WINDMILL SHURIKEN. Also, don't forget to touch the TEAM NINJA logo next to the Windmill Shuriken to completely restore health and Ninpo. Come back here whenever you need to refill on health and Ninpo. Now jump down and head towards the end of the alley to find a Golden Scarab all by itself. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO MOAT ROAD Remember that large door with the Bronze Lilly on it? Make your way back to that door. Once you get there, enter through to find more soldiers waiting for you. Eliminate them and head down the alley. Use a continuous Wall Run at the end of the alley to the upper ledge with a chest waiting there. ++ AREA: MOAT ROAD ++ As you make your way down the alley, a trio of BS Ninjas will appear. These three will re-spawn every time you come back to this area, so eliminate them as fast as you can! When the Ninjas are dead, continue down Moat Road into a zigzag passageway. Inside the passageway, you'll see a locked gate that needs a key. Continue outside the passageway to a small area that has a Save Point. SAVE your game and then go up the stairs to a new area. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE PEGASUS KEY TO LOWER DRAWBRIDGE In this small enclosed area, you'll see a drawbridge that is up and more motorcycle soldiers. Eliminate them to clear this area and then enter the blue-jeweled doorway. When you enter the other side, you'll see a long alley and three more soldiers waiting at the other end. Quickly roll jump towards them and destroy them to clear this area. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #7 In the middle of the alley is a chest that contains the PEGASUS KEY. Open the chest to obtain the item. Opposite from the chest is a Golden Scarab on a ledge. To get to it, use a continuous Wall Run on the nearby wall to grab it. Once you've gotten the Scarab, jump back down to Moat Road below or take the blue-jeweled door back to the locked gate near Moat Road. Whichever way you choose, be prepared to face those three BS Ninjas. Once you use the PEGASUS KEY on the gate, pull the lever inside the room to lower the drawbridge in Drawbridge Square. SAVE your game if you need to and make your way past the drawbridge. --OBJECTIVE: HEAD FOR THE MONASTERY ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE HILL ++ Cross the Drawbridge and make your way up the large stairs to Drawbridge Hill. On the way up, you'll see a Save Point across the way, but when you reach it, three BS Ninjas will jump down to ambush you. Eliminate them ninjas with some hard combos. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #8 & #9 Golden Scarab #8 is right next to the Save Point on Drawbridge Hill. Grab the item and then take the path to the right. Search the wall crevices to find Golden Scarab #9 and a chest with an Elixir next to it. Grab the items and go BACK the other way you came. Go around the street to find Muramasa's Statue. Replenish any stock you need and then go down the stairs to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ As soon as you enter this area, the gate will rise and lock you in and a bunch of soldiers will drop down from a nearby balcony. Quickly make your way to the area where they are jumping down from and eliminate them by using Izuna Drops and UT's. Once you killed them all, the gates unlock and you can continue through. The front gates to the Monastery are closed at the moment, so you'll need to take the path on the other side. As you make your way to the other side of the Monastery, you will be ambushed by MORE BS Ninjas. Stay evasive and use some well-timed counterattacks and Izuna Drops on them to eliminate them all. Once the Ninjas are gone, search the tiny alleyway to find a chest with goodies. Before you continue, I suggest saving your game! Go back to Drawbridge Hill and SAVE there. Just remember, whenever you reload a SAVED GAME in Drawbridge Hill, you WILL be ambushed by the BS Ninjas, so BE PREPARED! Alright, now go all the way to the other side of the Monastery. ++ AREA: MONASTERY INNER CLEARING ++ While this area may look empty, continue going down until the gates rise and lock. A new set of Motorcycle soldiers will appear here (one driving the bike with another sitting in the cab next to him). Bait the bikers into driving into the corner so they can't turn around. Use Flying Swallows on them to easily kill them off. After the soldiers are dead, a short and hilariously bloody cutscene will occur. Be prepared for a sub-boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BC5. +++ SUB-BOSS: RED DINO FIENDS (GAHRULAS) +++ This will be your first encounter with these red-colored dinos (and certainly not the last, either). They have a couple of hard attacks that you can simply evade and block. Here's the way to evade them: If you are behind them, they turn around and use their tail to smack you (it's a tricky attack). Block and roll away when you see them turn around. When they use their two-hit melee combo attack, simply block it. If they use their Fire Breath, roll away. If they use their Rollerball attack, simply block it. When they do their jumping attack, roll away to avoid getting pounced. AND...if they use their Chomp Attack (where they chomp you with their large mouths), use a well-timed Reverse Wind. To destroy them with some ease, attack them from up front. Block their melee attack or chomp and then use the Blade of Nirrti attack on them. Roll away after the combo to let them retaliate and then repeat the tactic. It's simple as it sounds, but when you have three dinos roaming around, you need to be evasive. Use the tactic to kill them all and to trigger another cutscene with Rachel's boobs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BC6. +++ BOSS BATTLE: HYDRACUBUS +++ The strategy for Hydracubus is simple as can be. Simply use the Flying Swallow on its tentacles to slice them off. When both tentacles are gone, the boss is vulnerable and you can attack it non-stop until its tentacles re-grow. That's pretty much it. Of course, you still need to be evasive when it lunges its tentacles at you. When you block its tentacle swipes, it breaks your guard, so keep the Reverse Wind handy. Also, if you move too far away, it spews out Acid Balls, so try to stay up close to it. When you've lopped off both tentacles, use an Ultimate Technique and a Blade Of Nirrti attack on it to lower its health dramatically. Keep up the strategy and the battle is done! Yay for Rachel's boobs! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BD1. +++ CHAPTER 7: THE MONASTERY +++ ++ AREA: MONASTERY ANNEX ++ When the mission begins, SAVE your game at the nearby Save Point. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #7 Across from the Save Point are two chests. One of them contains the Life OTG, so grab it! Remember though, this chest will contain something different on harder modes. Just a note! Now go up the stairs and open the chests at the top of the stairs to find some goodies. As you walk towards the archway, you will be swarmed by Bats and Laser Copters. Equip the Windmill Shuriken and start tossing it at the Laser Copters and then use Shurikens for the Bats. With the area cleared, continue down the archway and jump down. You will find a Muramasa Statue here, so use it if you need to and then continue outside to a grassy area. Near the exit is a chest with an item inside. Grab the item and then continue towards the Monastery entrance. Shadow Fiends will appear in this area, so get to killing! Use simple Izuna Drops and hard combos to eliminate them all. Once they've all been diced, head for the Save Point next to the Monastery entrance and SAVE your game! ++ AREA: MONASTERY If you want to open the double doorway leading back to Monastery Square, then do it. You'll encounter more Shadow Fiends if you do, so be prepared. If you don't open the door, then enter the large doors to enter the Monastery. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE STONE TABLET (RIGHT) ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ As soon as you enter inside, go up the walkway and search the area for chests. See that Altar at the other side of the room? Ignore it for now and take the door located on the right side to the Archive Room. ++ AREA: ARCHIVES ++ As soon as you enter the Archives, the gates on the second floor close and the door behind you locks itself. That means it's an ambush! Scythe-Wielding Fiends will appear together with some Shadow Fiends, so get ready for the action. Instead of killing the smaller fiends, focus on killing the Scythe-Wielding fiend first. He tends to use green glowing portals underneath you. If you get caught in the green glow, you must quickly roll away to avoid getting hurt. Equip the Dragon Claw & Tiger Fang for faster results. If the dual Katanas are at Level 2, you can do a cool mid-air attack that can kill these Scythe-wielding fiends easily. To kill the Scythe fiend, jump up towards them and press the Square Button FOUR times and see what happens. Trust me, it's a faster combo than the Dragon Sword. Destroy all the fiends in the room to re-open the metal gates and the door. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #10 & 11 With the gates re-opened, go up the stairs and search the Archive Room to find a couple of goodies. You'll find a Golden Scarab, the Right Stone Tablet, and some Incendiary Shurikens. Equip the Incendiary Shurikens and continue up to the third floor. Use a Bird Flip to reach the higher floor and to find Golden Scarab #11 sitting there. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE BOOK OF EONS Ascend the third floor and then toss an Incendiary Shuriken at the wall to break it open. As soon as the wall breaks, more Scythe-Wielding Fiends and Shadow Fiends will show up. Destroy them using the strategy mentioned above and then exit using the door at the end of the room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BD2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: ARCHIVE ROOM If you re-enter the Archive Room after find the BOOK OF EONS, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge with Pink Shadow Fiends and Scythe-Wielding Fiends. Finishing this challenge nets you a Spirit Of The Devils. Keep in mind though, if you defeat Alma BEFORE attempting this Fiend Challenge, the challenge is forfeited. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #12 As you exit the room, you'll be on the upper balcony of the Monastery. There are two catwalks and ledges up here: one on the left and one on the right. Each ledge contains a chest and each balcony contains an item. The Golden Scarab is on the right balcony, so grab it and jump back to the upper balcony. If you want to grab the rest of the chests, that's up to you. Once you've collected the goodies, enter the door at the opposite end of the balcony to a new room. ++ AREA: MONK'S ROOM ++ The room is empty at the moment, so keep your cool. In the office room, you see a Safe on the wall and a desk with a book on top. Read the book on the table to receive a combination: 2 7 1 2 LEFT RIGHT RIGHT LEFT. Approach the safe and unlock it by doing it this way: rotate the dial LEFT until it touches #2. Rotate the dial RIGHT until it touches #7. Rotate the dial RIGHT until it touches #1. And then rotate the dial LEFT until it reaches #2. When the combination is correct, one of the four lights on the Safe turns blue. If you get it wrong, just start over again. Once the Safe is cracked, grab the BOOK OF EONS. Now you have to fight off the unwanted guests. --OBJECTIVE: USE THE BOOK OF EONS ON THE ALTAR Eliminate all the fiends that appear in the room to clear it out and then exit back to the Altar Hall. REMEMBER! Come back to this room in Chapter 9 & 13 for more goodies hidden in the Safe! Exit back to the Altar Hall and use the Book of Eons on the Altar to open up a large sarcophagus-looking thingie behind it. Fight off or ignore the Fiends in the Altar Hall and jump down to the newly opened cavern below. In the small cavern, you'll find a dead body and a Chest and some bats. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #13 Search the dead body to find some Incendiary Shurikens and open the chest obtain the Map to the area. Grab the Golden Scarab on the ground and kill the Apparitions. Use the Save Point and SAVE your game! --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE HOLY GRAIL ++ AREA: CORRIDOR OF DOOM ++ Enter the gate near the Save Point to a small corridor. Use an Incendiary Shuriken on the wall to open a new pathway and enter through, but WATCH OUT! Once you walk past the newly opened corridor, a large rock-face boulder will come rolling after you! NO TIME FOR LOVE DOCTAH JONES! Quickly start running down the Corridor! Stay on the left side for most of the boulder run. Quickly jump over spikes and use Wall Runs to move faster. If you get trampled by the boulder, don't worry, Ryu will immediately start over at the beginning of the Corridor. So keep trying until you get it right, dammit! Once you reach the end of the Corridor, Ryu will grab on to a metal bar and start swinging. ++ AREA: ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS ++ Jump from bar to bar until you reach the Save Point. SAVE your game and then descend the large spiral going down to the area below. Kill the glowing apparitions with the Windmill Shuriken and keep descending until you reach an area with a large fossilized dinosaur. Kill the Shadow fiends that appear here to clear the area. Notice that there is a large altar next to the metal gate. Remember this altar because you'll be returning here later in the chapter! ++ AREA: INNER ECONTRA ++ Enter through the other metal gate towards a large area infested with a bunch of Wasp Fiends. These Metroid-looking rip-offs are not so lethal but they can be annoying when they start to sting you in groups. Jump down to the bottom and use Flying Swallow/Windmill Shuriken attacks on them to kill them off. Explore this room to see a couple of high ledges. There is a Golden Scarab on an alcove above and two ledges that goes back up to the fossilized dinosaur area. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #14/LIFE OF THE GODS #8 Once all the Wasp Fiends are gone, search the upper alcove for a Golden Scarab. To find that Scarab, use a Bird Flip in the enclosure and you will land on the alcove to find the Scarab lying there. Jump to the ledge across from the Scarab and you will see a higher ledge across from you with a chest. Use a Wall Run to reach the chest and open it to find a Life OTG item! ++ AREA: HALL OF EONS ++ Now jump back down and out of Inner Econtra to find a Save Point. SAVE your game and continue to descend the large spiral (or you can just jump down to the ground below). Once you reach the bottom, prepare to fight some more Shadow Fiends and Apparitions. Kill them all (or don't) and them access Muramasa's Statue to replenish any items you need. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #15 Now enter the tunnel and jump down the ladder. You'll find a Golden Scarab between the crevices of the wall, so grab it! ++ AREA: TOMB OF EONS ++ Continue into the Tomb Of Eons until you reach a large circular platform. Use a downward strike on the switch in the center to activate the platform and make it descend. As it descends, Shadow Fiends will appear, so start some killing! When you do an Izuna Drop on them as the platform descends, watch how far Ryu drops them, it's FUNNY AS HELL! Once the platform stops, enter the doorway to another cavern. Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. See that chest in the corner? Open in to find the VIGOORIAN FLAILS weapon inside. Equip it if you want and test out its coolness. Now make your way for the opposite doorway to enter a new room. ++ AREA: RITUAL ROOM ++ As you enter the room, you will be swarmed with Wasp Fiends. Eliminate them with some easy Flying Swallow attacks. Once the last Wasp Fiend dies, the door locks and a new set of enemies will appear. A whole bunch of Zombies (or Ghuuls) will emerge and try to molest you. Yes, I said "molest" you. You will see a couple of Zombies carrying maces and axes and some Archers. Approach the Archer first and eliminate it with hard combos. Be sure to block his arrows (be careful though because they are strong arrows) and then use the leftover essence for UT's on the others (remember to stay evasive). You'll deal with four Archers total, so get to it! Once the Archers are gone, use whatever weapon you want on the other Zombies. Be sure to stay evasive and kill them off with UT's. Once the room is cleared, the door will re-open. Grab the HOLY GRAIL item on the mantle and then exit the room. ++ AREA: TOMB OF EONS ++ When you exit the Ritual Room, more Zombies and Archers will appear in the corridor. Eliminate them if you want or just make your way back to the rotating platform. When you reach the platform, strike the dial to make it ascend back up. Destroy the Zombies that appear until the platform stops halfway. Continue destroying Zombies and then strike the dial again to make it ascend up. Make your way up to the large spiral cavern and eliminate anything that gets in your way. As you ascend the spiral, there will be three Archers waiting for you. Use Incendiary Shurikens on them and block their arrow attacks. Be careful not to get too careless when jumping from ledge to ledge because if you fall down, you will have to ascend the spiral again and the Archers will respawn! Make your way back to the Save Point next to Inner Econtra and SAVE your game! Once that's done, go back up to Econtra Babel Specus and place the HOLY GRAIL on the altar near the fossilized dinosaur to trigger the next boss fight! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BD3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BONE DRAGON +++ This battle is really simple when you think about it. All you need to do is sever all four limbs on the boss to kill it. Sounds simple, right? Maybe, maybe not. If you know how to evade its attacks, then it's all just a breeze. The boss has a couple of attacks: a Spinal Attack where it tosses large chunks of bone fragments at you, a tail swipe, a Chomp Attack, and a Melee Attack with its claws. When it tosses those bone chunks at you, use evasive blocks and rolls. Ryu can only block one bone chunk before it breaks his guard, so roll away after the first bone hits you and keep blocking. When the boss begins to sway his boney tail, jump straight up as he sweeps the area to avoid getting smacked. Sometimes, he sweeps the area with his tail three times, so keep jumping! When the boss rears its head back, that means its going for the Chomp! Simply roll away as fast as you can to avoid getting chewed by the boss. Here's the strategy: when the boss puts one of its limbs down on the center of the area, move up to it and start smacking it with hard combos. If it raises its limb, move away to avoid the melee attack and continue smacking it until the boss rears back in pain. Continue this tactic for the remaining limbs and the boss will fall like nothing! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BE1. +++ CHAPTER 8: ALMA, GREATER FIEND +++ --OBJECTIVE #1: GO TO GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE --OBJECTIVE #2: GO TO THE MILITARY GATES (OPTIONAL) This is a pretty short mission depending if you want to take on both objectives or not. First of all, SAVE your game at the Save Point. Replenish your supply at Muramasa's Statue if you need to and then exit out of the Monastery back to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ Take the only pathway that is open at the moment. Eliminate the soldiers on the way down as you head towards Drawbridge Hill. Use the Save Point at Drawbridge Hill if you need to and then go down the steps towards Drawbridge Square. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ Pull the lever in front of the bridge to lower it and then head for the Square to encounter some Red Dinos. You do NOT need to kill these dinos to continue the mission, but if you defeat them, Rachel will receive the BLADE OF THE OUROBOROS Sorcery! Exit Drawbridge Square using the Blue-jeweled doorway. Roll jump towards the soldiers and take out the Grenadier first and then use UT's on the other two soldiers. With all three dead, go to the end of the path and strike at the crack on the wall to open a new secret pathway. Open the chest for a goodie and make your way down the zigzag path to the other gate. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY ++ As you exit the gate, you have to decide if you want to go to Great Bridge Square or to the Military Gate. If you go to Great Bridge Square, you will face off against a boss character. If you go to the Military Gates, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge. If you choose to do both, then do the Fiend Challenge first. Go up the stairs and exit using the Red-jeweled door to the Military Gate. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BE2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #2: MILITARY GATE The Fiend Challenge in this area consists of a mixture of Shadow Fiends and Red Dinos. Use counterattacks on the Shadow Fiends and stay evasive from the Dinos. Kill the Shadow Fiends and use the leftover Essence for UT's on them red dinos. That's pretty much it for this challenge. You can also use the red exploding barrels to your advantage. After the battle, Rachel will receive a SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS item! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- After the challenge, make your way to the Bronze Lilly Door. Eliminate any soldiers that appear and use Save Point next to the Bronze Lilly Door. Now go to Clock Tower Square and exit using the Green-jeweled door. If you need to replenish items at Muramasa's Shop, DO IT NOW! ++ AREA: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE ++ Approach Great Bridge Square (the large empty area across the green- jeweled door) and be prepared for a Black Spider ambush. Use quick evasion and hard combos on the BS Ninjas. Kill them all to trigger a tedious new boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BE3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: GAMOV +++ Gamov has a few tricky moves up his sleazy sleeve: --ARMOR-PIERCING BULLETS --3-HIT KNIFE COMBO --KNIFE UPPERCUT AND BLAST --OVERHEAD DIVE AND GRAB His gunfire is quite strong, so block and roll at every opportunity! If you stay immobile, the gunfire will break Rachel's guard and she'll get shot like crazy. Simply block his gunfire and roll forward towards Gamov. The tactic here is to get up close and bait him into doing his Knife combos. When Rachel is up close, Gamov will start punching with his fists, so IMMEDIATELY do a Counter attack on him BEFORE he breaks your guard! The timing for the counter attack must be quick! If he breaks your guard, quickly roll away to make Gamov stop his combo (or else you'll pay the price for being so goddamn slow). When Rachel counters Gamov, she'll smack him down. Sometimes, Gamov won't flinch during the Counter but he'll still take lots of damage. As soon as Rachel counters, keep blocking and countering. Roll away to avoid being grabbed if Gamov dives over you! The main strategy is to counter Gamov from up close so that he doesn't use his cheap-ass guns. Trust me, this method works better than anything else. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BF1. +++ CHAPTER 9: HIDDEN UNDERGROUND +++ Rachel's boobs are lovely and all that, but its time to get back to some real bloody messiness. ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #3 After the battle with the Bone Dragon, it leaves a Lives OTTG item for you to collect, so get it! Use the item to increase your HP bar. After grabbing the Lives OTTG, DO NOT JUMP DOWN from Econtra Babel Specus! If you do, you will pay the consequences for doing so! Instead, make your way back to the Save Point at Inner Econtra and SAVE your game. Jump down to the area with the Bone Dragon's dead body. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND CEMETARY ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #16 Scour around the underground cemetery near the Bone Dragon's body to find a Golden Scarab sitting in one of the wall alcoves. Grab it and then enter the doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: COFFIN CHAMBER ++ Four Archers and some Apparitions will be waiting for you at the end of this chamber, so bust out the Incendiary Shurikens (if you still have any left) or destroy them the hard way. Once the room is cleared, enter the next room to find Muramasa's Statue. By this point in the game, you need to upgrade the Dragon Sword to Level Three. Restock on whatever you need and then head for the next room. Use the Save Point to SAVE your game and then open the nearby chest to find the MAP for the area. Now exit this room to a new area. ++ AREA: SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #9/GOLDEN SCARAB #17 Avoid walking on the bridge. To the left of the exit is a Life OTG item. Equip all nine Life Of The Gods to increase your health bar. Also, to the right of the exit is a Golden Scarab! Now jump down to the bottom of the Suspension Bridge Room to encounter some Zombies and Shadow Fiends. Eliminate them to clear the area (for now) and explore the area. You will see two doorways: one with a Red Eye and one with a Blue Eye. Also in this area is a large locked door with a statue engraving and a red and blue lock. Enter through either doorway to start a series of easy puzzles. ++ AREA: RED EYE CHAMBER ++ This is a pretty simple puzzle. There are two Archers at the other end of the flooded chamber. Run on the water and use left-to-right zigzag running patterns to avoid getting hit by their Arrows. If you get hit, just get up and continue running. Once you make it to the other side, kill the Archers and press the Red Eye button on the wall to unlock one side of the large door outside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #18 Underneath the area where you pressed the Red Eye is a Golden Scarab. Swim under the water to grab it and then exit the room and go to the Blue Eye Chamber. ++ AREA: BLUE EYE CHAMBER ++ In this room, you will see a series of swinging pendulums and three Archers. Kill the nearby Archer first and then replenish your Arrows by grabbing them from the dead body. Go down the stairs and hide behind one of the broken pillars in the center of the room. Use the cover and start shooting Arrows at the Archers until you bag them both. Now that the room is clear, go back up the stairs and shoot the glowing Medallion on the upper wall to reveal a glowing pathway. Quickly make your way down the path while avoiding the pendulums (you can shoot the medallions above the pendulums to slow them down, if you want). Use a Wall Run at the end to reach the Blue Eye Button and press it to unlock the large door outside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #19 Just like in the Red Eye Chamber, there is a Golden Scarab under the platform. Jump down and grab the item and then exit the room. After you've pressed both jeweled buttons in both rooms, the large door in the Suspension Bridge Room unlocks. Exit the chamber and enter into that room to face off against an old foe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BF2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: HYDRACUBUS PART 2 +++ Yup, the tentacled phenom makes a less-than-stellar return for a rematch. Since you're Sword is now at Level Three, slicing off its tentacles is much easier. After lopping off both tentacles, get in close to him and use a Gleaming Dragon Ultimate Attack. Rotate the Analog Stick in a 360 degree motion and press the Triangle Button to unleash a cool Ultimate Technique. Continue this tactic and you'll finish off this bitch easy! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #4 After the battle, Hydracubus leaves a special item for you. Grab the Lives OTTG item and use it to increase your life bar. Now exit back outside to the Suspension Bridge Room. Notice that a couple of pillars outside the Suspension Bridge Room emerge from the walls after the Hydra battle. Approach either of the wall enclosures and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top of the room. If you didn't cross the bridge earlier in the level, then you can now cross it back to the previous Save Point. ++JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL #1 On the throne seat at the other end of the room, grab the Jewel OTDS on the seat. This item will give an additional upgrade to whichever Ninpo Scroll you have. ++ AREA: THE GREAT CORRIDOR ++ Continue down the walkway towards another Save Point and SAVE your game. Descend the corridor to encounter some Archers and Zombies waiting for you at the bottom. Destroy them with some hard combos and don't forget to use some UT's on them. Once the room is cleared, search the nearby dead body to find the ART OF THE ICE STORM Ninpo Scroll. Equip it if you want and continue down the corridor to a new area. ++ AREA: CHAMBER OF EVERLASTING SLEEP ++ At the entrance to the Chamber, you will be swarmed by bats. Use Shurikens to kill them or equip the Flails. Enter the Chamber to see a large sarcophagus holding a Key and a statue. Don't approach it or it will rise up. Instead, go to the left ledge and use a Wall Run to land on a large step button. When the step button lowers, you can access the coffin and grab the WOLF DEITY Statue and the SKULL KEY. Use the SKULL KEY on the nearby door and head down the pathway. Kill the Bats in the cavern and continue down until a cutscene occurs. After the cutscene, swim forward to see an elevator and a sunken tunnel. Oddly enough, there is also a Muramasa's Statue under the water! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #20 In the center of the sunken room is a Golden Scarab. Swim down to find it and grab it! ++ AREA: JUNCTION CHAMBER ++ Avoid the elevator and just swim into the nearby tunnel that leads to the Junction Chamber. Swim all the way to the end to find a dormant platform and a Save Point. Use the Save Point to SAVE your game and then swim back to the elevator and take it up to the Monastery. ++ AREA: MONK'S ROOM ++ As soon as you enter the room, you will be ambushed by some BS Ninjas. Eliminate them with hard combos to clear this room. Now it's time to crack open that safe for another goodie! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #10 Read the book on the desk to find another combination: 1410 RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT. You should know how to crack open the safe by now, so crack it open to receive your Life OTG item. Exit the Monk's room and head for the Altar Hall to face off against one of the most difficult bosses in the game. +++FIEND CHALLENGE NOTE: If you have not attempted the Fiend Challenge in the Archives Room, do it now! Once you defeat Alma, the Fiend Challenge in the Archives Room is forfeited. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BF3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ALMA +++ Oh Alma. Alma, Alma, Alma. I guarantee that by the time you actually do defeat Alma, you'll hate her. REALLY hate her. Alma has a series of attacks from all ranges: --MULTIPLE PINK FIREBALLS --FLYING PILLARS --KAMIKAZE DIVE --SNATCH AND GRAB And on top of that, she has her own melee attacks when she isn't floating around the arena! You'll need to be on your feet and constantly moving to avoid getting hit by any of her projectile attacks. Anytime she gets close to you, jump away or she will grab you! The main strategy here is to avoid all her attacks and then use a Flying Swallow attack on her. If you miss the Flying Swallow attack (she'll move out of the way), quickly jump away to avoid her retaliating attack. Keep attempting to use a Flying Swallow and eventually, you will get her. When Alma gets hit by the Flying Swallow she will fall down and will be vulnerable for a few seconds. Immediately perform a Blade Of Nirrti attack on her to decrease her health and then quickly jump away. That's pretty much the strategy for this battle. It sounds simple, but just wait until you try it. It's just not as easy as it sounds, trust me. MISSION COMPLETE! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/82142.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BG1. +++ CHAPTER 10: TAIRON UNDER ALERT +++ --OBJECTIVE #1: GO TO THE MILITARY GATE --OBJECTIVE #2: GO TO THE RITUAL ROOM (OPTIONAL) When the Chapter begins, go back into the Monastery and look for Rachel's War Hammer at the back of the Altar Hall. Take the weapon and then exit back outside. Use the Save Point outside the Monastery and SAVE your game! Go to Muramasa's Statue nearby and replenish any items you need. From here, you can continue the mission or attempt another Fiend Challenge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BG2. ++FIEND CHALLENGE: RITUAL ROOM This challenge can be done at any time after the Alma battle, but its best to do it in Chapter 10 if you want to get a higher ranking. Go back to the Ritual Room (where you found the Holy Grail) and prepare to face off against a bunch of Zombies. Finish the Challenge to gain a Lives OTTG item! Once you finish this challenge, go back to the Monastery the same way you came in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you decide not to pursue the Fiend Challenge, leave the Monastery and go to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ As you enter the area, the gates will close and a bunch of Armored soldiers will appear from the balconies. If you want, test out the power of the Dabilahro on these guys. Use downward strikes and lots of UT's to clear this area. When the gates open, make your way back to Drawbridge Square. Eliminate more soldiers in your way to get there. On the way down the stairs, watch out for the Tomahawk Chopper! It'll drop a couple of bombs on you, so jump out of the way! Once you reach Drawbridge Square, pull the lever to lower the drawbridge and reveal more armored soldiers and Armored cars. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ Equip the Incendiary Shurikens and start tossing them at Armored soldiers. Eliminate the soldiers and RPG soldiers with some well-timed UT's and then go to the Save Point at the bottom of the stairs and SAVE your game. Continue through the zigzag tunnel and eliminate more soldiers using Incendiary Shurikens and Flying Swallows. ++ AREA: MOAT ROAD ++ As you head down Moat Road, the Tomahawk Chopper will stop by again to drop more bombs. Jump out of the way and continue down the alleyway back to the Bronze Lilly Door. Once you exit the door, more soldiers will be waiting for you. Eliminate them and then use the Save Point. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE STONE TABLET (TOP) Go up the stairs and up the alleyway. As you approach the stairway, you will see a chest at the end of the path. A couple of Armored soldiers will be waiting near the stairway, so eliminate them first and then open the chest to find the STONE TABLET (TOP) Key Item. Now go up the stairs towards the Military Gate. --OBJECTIVE: UNLOCK THE SKULL GATE Near the Military Gate entrance is the Skull Gate. It's a metal door with a Skull on it. Use the Skull Key you got from the previous Chapter to unlock the Skull Gate and enter inside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #21 &22 Inside this area are a Muramasa Statue and some goodies. Open the chest for a goodie and grab the nearby Golden Scarab. Now use a Bird Flip on the nearby ledge to reach the higher ledge. Use another Bird Flip to reach the top ledge. Rotate the camera from the ledge to see another Golden Scarab sitting on an opposite ledge. Use a Wall-to-Wall Run and land on that ledge and grab that Scarab! Now jump back down, access Muramasa's Statue and purchase some Incendiary Shurikens. Before you enter the Military Gates, I strongly suggest going back to the Save Point next to the Lilly Door and SAVE your game! The next part will be quite difficult and it will definitely frustrate you if you don't SAVE your game NOW! Once you've done that, make your way to the Military Gate and enter. ++ AREA: MILITARY GATE ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE STRONGBOW As you enter the Military Gate area, start roll jumping and tossing Incendiary Shurikens at the gunners on the gate balcony. Eliminate the other Armored soldiers here with Flying Swallows while blocking gunfire. Once the area is clear, grab some Arrows from the nearby dead body and look at the building across the Military Gate. You will see an open window and an RPG soldier inside trying to blast you with rockets. Bust out the Bow and shoot him dead to obtain a new weapon: the Strongbow! Once that's done, grab the Strongbow and prepare for a new boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BG3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ALTERNATOR +++ Does the boss look familiar? Yup, it's Dynamo and he's been reassembled with a newer body, yet he's still a big piece of bloated fat. Alternator retains his old attacks (laser attack, backhand swing, etc.) but he has a new Rush Attack similar to Murai. Oh, and he also has that goddamn Tomahawk Chopper assisting him, too. Alternator does not seem to use his grab attack as much as he did in Chapter 3, so it's safe to use the same tactics from the Dynamo fight to reduce his health. Just be aware that if you block his melee attacks, you WILL lose a little bitty piece of health each time you block it. Tedious, you say? The only other thing you need to watch out for is his Rocket Rush Attack because it's his most lethal attack. When he puts his gun down, he'll do the Rush attack, so roll out of the way to avoid getting hit. Again, the main tactic here is to stay within close range of Alternator. When you stay up close, he'll resort to using melee attacks (and the Chopper won't drop bombs on you...sometimes). Block the attacks and then roll forward and counter with a hard combo. Repeat this strategy and Alternator will re-explode like a sonofabitch. Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81790.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Hold up there, big boy! There's still one thing left to do! --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN A FREE TALISMAN OF REBIRTH Go back to the Skull Gate area and Bird Flip your way to the third floor. Enter the room where the RPG soldier was shooting at you and look out the window. Above the Military Gate is an office with glass windows. Do you see it? On the back wall of the office is a large medallion that looks like a wall-clock. Bust out the Strongbow and shoot an arrow at that medallion. When you make the shot, a chest with a Talisman Of Rebirth will appear on the ground. Go and grab it and then exit the gates to end the chapter! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BH1. +++ CHAPTER 11: THE MILITARY SUPPLY BASE +++ ++ AREA: MILITARY GATE ROAD ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE WAREHOUSE KEY/ENTER THE WAREHOUSE Before you continue the chapter, first go back to Muramasa's Statue next to the Skull Door and purchase a full set of Explosive Arrows. Equip the Explosive Arrows and then exit to the gates and then continue down Military Gate Road to the end. Exit at the lone door. As you enter the next area, a trio of Armored soldiers will ambush you. Destroy them by using Explosive Arrows for less headaches. Jump and shoot the Explosive Arrows in mid-air to kill them with ease. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #23 Once you've killed the three soldiers, continue down the long road and look to the left of the tunnel exit to find a Golden Scarab sitting there. GRAB IT! ++ AREA: WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE ++ As you approach the next open area, you will see an Armored car and a bunch of soldiers and gunners shooting at you. Roll jump towards the gunners and use mid-air Explosive Arrow shots to kill them. Eliminate the other soldiers the same way. If you run out of Explosive Arrows, jump to the large crate next to the Warehouse door and restock. Kill all the soldiers and grab the WAREHOUSE KEY item. Now use the key and enter to the Warehouse. ++ AREA: WAREHOUSE ++ For now, avoid the stairway and scour the ground for some goodies. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #24/LIFE OF THE GODS #11 One of the train rooftops has a Golden Scarab (the one on the right). To get it, use a Wall Run on the right side of the train (running UP) and then press the attack button to jump higher and land on the train rooftop. Grab it and then jump down. Destroy the two crates in the middle of the room to find some goodies including a Life OTG! --OBJECTIVE: TURN ON THE LIGHTS Once that's done, go to the stairway on the left side of the warehouse (there's a chest next to the stairs) and ascend to the second floor. As you make your way to the next stairway, a bunch of Laser Copters will come flying out of the top windows ready to blast you. Run underneath the second set of stairs to find a large crate of APFSDS Cores. Bust out the Strongbow and start shooting at the Laser Copters in First-Person view. When the Copter hits you with its laser, Ryu will fly back and you definitely don't want that. When you see the laser about to pass by, press the BLOCK button. You'll still get hit but you won't fly back. If the copters fly near you, throw the Windmill Shuriken at them. It'll take awhile but once all the Copters are destroyed, the warehouse is cleared of any more threats. With the copters gone, continue up the stairs to the third floor and access the lever on the wall to turn on the lights and activate the platforms in the warehouse. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE SHUTTER CONTROL KEY CARD Now go back to the second floor (next to the APFSDS Cores crate) and wait for the moving platform to pass by. Jump on the platform and then jump onto the adjacent train rooftop. Wait for the next platform to pass and then jump on it. Jump to the next metal ledge. Open the nearby chest and then go up the stairs to the third floor. You will see an office room up there. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #25 Before entering the office, jump up to the office roof to find a Golden Scarab sitting there. Grab it and then enter into the office. Grab the SUPPLY BASE MAP and the SHUTTER CONTROL KEY CARD on the table and then exit and jump back down to the ground. Approach the metal doors at the other end of the warehouse and use the key to exit. Be sure that you've obtained ALL the Power-Ups and Golden Scarabs in the Warehouse because once you exit, you cannot return here anymore! ++ AREA: LOCOMOTIVE TURNTABLE ++ Once you exit, prepare for an ambush. Approach the soldiers running towards you and use Incendiary Shurikens and hard combos on them. Armored soldiers will emerge from one side to another, so kill one and then use a UT on the other. Keep this up to clear the area. When the area is clear, approach the large open doorway to find a Save Point and SAVE your game. Stock up on Cores and Explosive Arrows from the Muramasa Statue. When you're ready, go and exit the area using the unlocked metal door to a new area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BH2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MILITARY TANKS X2 +++ The strategy of this battle is quite simple. All you need to do is equip the APFSDS Cores and shoot them at the Tank to reduce its health. Sounds easy, right? MY ASS! Since Ryu can shoot arrows in mid-air (unlike the Xbox version), all you have to do is roll jump out of the way of the tank's gunfire and missiles and shoot at it with Cores or Explosive Arrows. When it rotates its cannons at you, run away! Sometimes, a lucky arrow shot will make the gunner hide and make the Tank stop for a few seconds, so take advantage when this happens and shoot as many arrows before the gunner re-emerges and the Tank starts moving. Reload on Arrows and continue the tactic until the first tank perishes. Once the first Tank explodes, a second one will emerge from the garage doors. Use the same strategy mentioned above and the battle is over. It'll take awhile to figure out the Tank's less-than-predictable behavior pattern, but just keep shooting at it! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE TEAM NINJA PROTOTYPE After the battle, reload on Arrows and Cores. There is a hidden TEAM NINJA prototype in this large area. Go all the way around the back gates from the elevator. The TEAM NINJA logo is hidden in the very corner of this large area. Interact with it to replenish Health and Ninpo and then take the elevator going up to the Steel Bridge area (open the chest next to the elevator). Use the Save Point! ++ AREA: STEEL BRIDGE ++ As you approach the Steel Bridge, a duo of RPG soldiers will be waiting at the other end. Use Explosive Arrows on them and then continue down the walkway for another boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BH3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: TOMAHAWK HELICOPTER +++ The helicopter has three main attacks: --BULLET FIRE --HEAT SEEKING MISSILES --FLY-BY BOMBS As lame as that sounds, you'll still need to be quick on your feet if you want to survive the onslaught of pain! The only thing that can damage the chopper is APFSDS Cores. Luckily, both sides of the walkway have crates with Explosive Arrows and Cores. When the battle begins, start shooting Cores at the chopper in First-Person view. When it starts shooting bullets, block them until it flies away. The chopper will circle around the area firing bullets until it reaches the other side. Sometimes, the chopper will fly from the side and attempt a kamikaze-style flyby. Also, if it flies under the walkway, it'll emerge from the other side, so be ready to start shooting Cores as it slowly emerges up. Just keep blocking the bullets until the chopper stops. When it stops, continue shooting Cores at it. From there, the chopper will start blasting missiles at you. To avoid getting hurt, wait for the missiles to reach you and then do well-timed roll jumps out of the way. Roll jump away from the missile fire until it stops. Reload on Cores and continue to shoot at the chopper until it finally explodes. WHEW! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81802.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --OBJECTIVE: DESTROY THE RADIO CONTROL TOWER Go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Continue down the walkway and you'll enter an area that has a Muramasa Statue. Replenish any items you need. Also, if you have the cash, upgrade the Dabilahro to Level 3. There's also a chest near the statue, so open it and grab the stuff inside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #26 Next to Muramasa's Statue is an enclosed wall. Use a continuous Bird Flip to the top and you will find a Golden Scarab waiting there. Grab it and then enter the doorway. ++ AREA: ROOFTOP ++ As soon as you enter the rooftop, Armored soldiers will jump down from the windows above to ambush you. Eliminate them with Explosive Arrows to clear the area. Once all the soldiers are toast, its time to destroy the tower! Grab some Explosive Arrows from the nearby chest. Across from the rooftop is a large Radio Tower. On the tower, you will see large spotlights on it. There's a total of nine spotlights on the tower (three per floor), so start shooting at them with Arrows. Be careful though, because RPG soldiers are patrolling that tower and will start shooting rockets at you. Quickly shoot each spotlight and the tower will explode. With the tower gone, it's time to leave this place! --OBJECTIVE: ESCAPE! Exit this area using the other door. As you enter the next area, you will see some more Copters. Use Explosive Arrows to destroy them and then continue down the walkway. Use a Wall Run near the open gap and open the door to the next room. As you enter this small room, three RPG soldiers will start firing rockets at you. Quickly start shooting Explosive Arrows at them before they shoot you! Now exit this room using the other door back outside. Go down the stairs and take the elevator down. Enter the next room and destroy the soldiers below with Explosive Arrows. Unfortunately, the key to enter the control room is BACK in the previous room where you encountered those damn RPG soldiers! --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE CONTROL ROOM KEY ++LIFE OF THE GODS #12 Before going back outside, look under the stairs to find a chest with a Life OTG! Now exit the room and take the elevator back up. Enter the room again and destroy the RPG soldiers with Explosive Arrows to reveal the CONTROL ROOM KEY item. Now go BACK to the control room and use the key. Approach the control board and pull the lever to finish the mission! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BI1. +++ CHAPTER 12: THE AQUADUCTS +++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #13 Open the nearby chest to find a Life OTG! --OBJECTIVE: ENTER THE AQUADUCTS Exit the area and unlock the metal door. The next area will be enclosed and you won't be able to escape for a few minutes. After a minute or two, pink Shadow Fiends will emerge from the sewers. Eliminate them the same way as the other Shadow fiends and then jump down the manhole to the Aquaducts. Destroy the bats swarming the room and then use the Save Point and SAVE your game! Exit the room to the next area. ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B1 ++ Pink Shadow Fiends will appear in this room. Equip your favorite weapon and eliminate them with some easy combos, but be careful! These fiends can break your guard, so stay evasive. Once that's done, exit through the next door. ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B2 ++ More fiends will appear in this area. Fight the fiends near the stairs and kill them all to clear this area. Now go down the stairs to a large hallway. Turn right to find a dead body with the AQUADUCT MAP. Now go the opposite direction and look for the open wall on the right side. Jump down to the next area. ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B3 ++ More fiends will appear here, so eliminate them! In this area, you will find an elevator on the right to Aquaduct B4, a Save Point across from you, a doorway to the left, and a cavern just before the left doorway. Before you do anything, SAVE your game at the Save Point. Once that's done, enter the large doorway next to the Save Point to enter the Hall Of Balance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BI2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: AQUADUCT B4 If you take the elevator in B3 down to B4, you will see a chest with a Jewel of the Demon Seal inside. After you grab that item, Large Dung Beetles will appear. The best way to kill them all is to equip the Dabilahro and using downward strikes and UT's on them. Once you kill the last Dung Beetle, take the elevator back up and then take it back down again to trigger a Fiend Challenge with those Dung Beetles. Finish the Fiend Challenge to obtain a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: HALL OF BALANCE ++ There is a chest in the upper left side of the room (above Muramasa's Statue). Use a Wall Run and shimmy up to the chest and open it to find the KEY OF THE INSECT. Exit the room and go back to Aquaduct B2. To reach Aquaduct B2 from B3, use a continuous Wall Run to get to the top. Make a right turn and use the KEY OF THE INSECT at the orange door. In this large area, you'll encounter a bunch of respawning fiends. Destroy them all and come back to this room if you want to spam for essence. Also, notice that there are two doors: one near the door you entered and one all the way at the back. Ignore the door at the back for now and enter the nearby doorway for a boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BI3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ELECTRIC WORM +++ The Worm has three attacks: an Electric Fireball, a Worm Sweep (where it sweeps the arena with its body), and a Swallow Attack. Simply roll away from its fireball attack and stay away from the center of the room to avoid getting chomped. When the Worm begins to lunge its body at you, do a well-timed Reverse Wind to the left or right side of the worm and then immediately attack it with a hard combo. Continue that tactic until it perishes. Simple! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/82578.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #27 Once the Worm is dead, grab the ART OF THE INAZUMA Scroll that it leaves behind as the prize. Approach the arch where the Worm was hiding and then jump above the arch to find a Golden Scarab sitting there! Grab it and continue down the hallways back to the Hall Of Balance. ++ AREA: HALL OF BALANCE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #28 You are on the upper ledge of the Hall Of Balance. Open all the chests here to find some goodies including the RED TABLET OF THE STREAM. On the other side of the ledge is a Golden Scarab, so go and get it! ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B3 Once you've collected all the stuff, jump back down and exit back to Aquaduct B3. SAVE your game at the Save Point and take the path to the right. Go all the way to the end and enter the doorway (with the statue engraving of a woman on it). ++ AREA: RED WATER RESERVOIR ++ Once you enter, prepare for an ambush! Fiends will drop from above and swarm you. Use wall attacks and then UT's to eliminate them all. When the area is clear, stand between the wall enclosure and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top of the room. At the back of the room is a chest that contains a SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS item. Equip it for more Ninpo slots! Now approach the large room with the gated floor. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #29 The Golden Scarab is on the right side of the room. Grab it! Now approach the pedestal and place the RED TABLET on it to trigger an ambush from the fiends. Kill them all and then exit the room and go back up to Aquaduct B2. Take the path to the left (past the dead body) and enter the door at the end of the hall. Enter the empty room and grab the WATER STATUE item from the pedestal. Now go BACK to Aquaduct B3 and use the Save Point! Enter the cavern just before the Red Reservoir Room to find another dead body. Search the body for an item and then approach the nearby doorway. Use the WATER STATUE item on it to open the door and then enter. Jump down the Bat-infested gap to the bottom of the Aquaducts. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND WATERWAY ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #30 As you enter this area, you will find a Muramasa Statue sitting across from where you dropped in. Across the statue is a Golden Scarab. Grab it and then replenish any stock. Enter the nearby cavern (with more Bats) to encounter another boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BI4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ELECTRIC WORM X2 +++ If you think fighting one Worm was difficult, try fighting TWO of them! The strategy from the first Worm battle applies here, but you'll need to be more alert of what both Worms are doing. When the battle begins, move to the area on the right side of the screen to stay safe. Evade the Worm attacks and then smack some hard combos on them when they do the Worm Sweep attack. Keep up this simple tactic and you'll beat both Worms easily! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #31/LIFE OF THE GODS #14 After both Worms are dead, approach the little cavern that the Worm on the left was using to find a Golden Scarab inside. Also, look in the little cavern that the Worm on the right was using to find a chest with a Life OTG inside! After you've collected all the stuff, enter the cavern in between the Worm holes and emerge to a large rocky area. Ascend to the top of the rocky heap and eliminate the fiends that appear. Open the chests at the top and then enter the doorway. ++ AREA: BLUE TABLET ROOM ++ Make your way down this cavern (kill those Bats) and enter the next cavern. Destroy the Wasp Fiends waiting in the cavern and then approach the chest to obtain the BLUE TABLET OF THE STREAM. Now exit back to the rocky area and enter the cavern next to it. Kill the Bats in the area and continue through to another cavern with a dead body and some fiends. Kill the fiends and then search the body for some Incendiary Shurikens. Go further into the cavern to find a large cracked wall. Use the Dabilahro and smash the wall open to end up back in the cavern where Muramasa's Statue is located. Go back up to Aquaduct B3 and then SAVE your game! Now go up to Aquaduct B2 and enter the orange doorway. Go down the room and enter the other metal door (not the one from the first Worm battle). Go up the stairway and approach the pedestal and place the BLUE TABLET on it to drain the water. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #32/LIFE OF THE GODS #15 Jump down to the drained room and grab the Scarab sitting in the middle. Kill the fiends that appear and continue through the open doorway. Just before you go back to the Hall Of Balance, there is a tricky turn in the hall with room that has a chest inside. Open that chest to obtain a Life OTG! Now jump down and enter the newly opened doorway to a brand new area. ++ AREA: PERISTYLE PASSAGE ++ As soon as you enter Peristyle Passage, prepare for a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BI5. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: PERISTYLE PASSAGE Unfortunately, this Fiend Challenge is NOT optional, so you MUST kill all the Shadow fiends in this room in order to continue. Use the Dabilahro and its counterattack and then use lots of UT's to kill all the fiends. Once all the enemies are dead, a chest with a Life Of the Thousand Gods will appear. Open it up and take the item! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #33 After the Fiend Challenge, go between the pillars located next to the Peristyle Passage entrance and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top to find a Golden Scarab sitting on the top. Grab it! To open the other doorway out of this room, approach the large statue at the end of the room to see a large step button in front of it. Do a continuous Bird Flip and then a downward strike from the very top to push the large button down. This will unlock the nearby door. Now exit this area! ++ AREA: OUTER SANCTUARY ++ As you enter this room, swarms of bats will fly down. Kill them all with the Flails or Shurikens. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #16 Before you exit the room, look above to see a well-hidden chest on a high ledge. To reach it, you must do a continuous Wall-to-Wall Run. Start from the left side of the room and keep running and jumping until you reach the high ledge. Now approach the chest and open it to get a Life OTG! Now exit this room using the large double doors. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND SANCTUARY ++ When you enter the large room, kill the fiends that appear here to clear the room. There is an open doorway on the left side of the Sanctuary, so enter inside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #34 Inside the room is a dead body with Arrows and a Golden Scarab next to it. Grab that Scarab! To reach the top of the room, use a continuous Wall-to-Wall Run from the right side of the entrance. Once you reach the top ledge, equip the Strongbow and shoot an Arrow at the shining medallion on the opposite ledge to lower a chained wall. Use a Wall Run on the chained wall to reach that ledge and then take the stairs to the upper ledge. Open the chest and then go around. Jump towards the branch and swing to the next ledge. See that glowing mantle? Approach it and grab the BRAND OF VALOR item from it. Now use the Save Point and SAVE your game! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #35 Right behind the Save Point is a Golden Scarab! Grab it and then jump down and place the BRAND OF VALOR on the engraving in the middle of the Sanctuary to trigger a boss battle! +++FIEND CHALLENGE NOTE: If you haven't attempted the Fiend Challenge in Aquaduct B4, do it now. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BI6. +++ BOSS BATTLE: PAZ ZUU +++ Check out the giant boneheaded bird! Paz Zuu is the first giant boss you'll face in the game (sorry, those Worms don't count). It has several attacks: --HORIZONTAL LASER BEAM --DIAGONAL LASER BEAM --WINGSPAN ATTACK When it shoots its lasers from left to right (or vice versa), roll FORWARD or BACK to avoid getting hit. If it shoots its lasers from a straight angle, roll to the left or right of the laser to avoid getting hit by it. If you get too close to it, it will try to do a melee attack by either using its wings or the Wingspan attack. The original tactic here is to try and attack his head in order to stun him. But let's not do that! Let's do a trick strategy that I learned from a good friend! Here's the trick strategy: Paz Zuu likes to run from one end of the room to the other every few seconds. Back and forth and back and forth, get the idea? When he approaches the doorway (with the Paz Zuu logo on it), simply dodge its attacks and avoid getting close to him. When he runs towards the other door (the one that leads back to Peristyle Passage), quickly run towards him and stand behind him on the stairway before he starts his attacks. When you stand behind Paz Zuu's ass, he'll continually jump up and down and you won't get hurt (oddly enough). After he jumps, immediately do a Blade Of Nirrti attack on his boney ass when he lands to damage him. After you perform the combo, stay where you are and he'll jump again! Repeat the Blade Of Nirrti tactic until he either runs to the other side or until he gets stunned. When Paz Zuu is stunned (it kneels down in pain), run up to its head and perform another Blade Of Nirrti on its head. After the combo, he'll stand back up, so run behind him again. You can only do this trick when he stands in front of the exit doorway (not the one with the Paz Zuu logo). Continue this strategy and you'll defeat Paz Zuu in less than a minute without any damage to Ryu! MISSION COMPLETE! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81799.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BJ1. +++ CHAPTER 13: PATH TO ZARKHAN +++ ++ AREA: THE UNDERGROUND SANCTUARY MOATS ++ As soon as the Chapter begins, approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! Open the nearby chests to obtain a MAP and a goodie. First thing's first, eliminate the threat! There are a couple of Stinkfish enemies in the water together with those large Green Fish. To kill those Stinkfish mermaids, AVOID approaching them and use Projectile weapons on them instead. Stay on solid ground and evade their Waterball attacks with Reverse Wind rolls. Counter at them by tossing the Windmill Shuriken. If they are too far away, use the Water Run and use a mid-jump Explosive Arrow attack on them to kill them all. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #36 Once this area is cleared of threats, go to the large gateway next to the Save Point. Swim under the gate to see an open gap with a Golden Scarab waiting there. GRAB IT! Now swim under the water and through the broken metal bars. Swim up and destroy the Copters first! Now dive down and swim through the underwater tunnel. Be careful because there are protruding spikes! Swim to the other side and emerge from the water to catch your breath. Climb up and approach Muramasa's Statue to restock if you need to. Next to the statue is a dead body with the SPEAR GUN weapon. Grab it and then swim out of the cavern through the next underwater tunnel. As you pass through the spike-infested tunnel, emerge out of the tunnel at the other end and catch your breath. When you emerge, bust out the Windmill Shuriken and start running on the water and tossing it at the Laser Copters to destroy them. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #37 In the area where you encounter those Copters, look above the next waterway tunnel to see a Golden Scarab sitting on top of it. Grab it! ++ AREA: MEDALLION ALTAR AREA ++ Swim through the next tunnel and emerge out to find a Save Point. Destroy the Wasp Fiends and Shadow Fiends in the room first before you do anything else! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #17 Once the room is cleared of all enemies, open one of the chests near the Save Point to find a Life OTG! One more Life OTG and you'll extend your life bar! Now approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. Swim out of the cavern using the adjacent underwater tunnel and then emerge out of the other end to a large open area called the Fissure. ++ AREA: THE FISSURE ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE OXYGEN CYLINDER/FIND THE TRITON KEY Jump out of the water and runs toward the large dry ledge. There is a door (the Triton Door) on the ledge that is locked at the moment. First off, kill all the Stinkfish mermaids with some hardcore projectiles and then kill the Green Fish. Once the area is clear, it's time to find the Oxygen Cylinder. Across from the Triton Door is a set of metal bars. Swim UNDER the bars to find an open gap. Swim through the open gap and emerge out of the water next to the sunken ship. Jump out of the water and start running and destroying the Laser Copters with the Windmill Shuriken to clear the area. Jump onto the dry ship deck and access the Crank Handle and turn it to open a door under the ship. Dive into the water and swim towards the large open hole at the back of the ship. Swim towards the chest in the middle and open it to obtain the OXYGEN CYLINDER. With this item, Ryu can now breathe underwater indefinitely. After you obtain the Cylinder, swim UPWARDS from the chest to find an upper deck with another chest. Open it to obtain the TRITON KEY item! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #38 Next to the chest with the Triton Key is a lonely Golden Scarab. Swim towards it and grab it! Now its time to grab the rest of the goodies in this area! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #39/LIFE OF THE GODS #18 There is a Golden Scarab next to the underwater tunnel that you emerged from. Swim up to it and GRAB IT! Also, underneath the large ledge (with the locked Triton Door) is an underwater zigzag path. Swim through the zigzag bars and you'll find a chest halfway through the path. Open the chest to obtain another Life OTG! Equip all nine Life OTG's to increase your health bar! Nine more Life OTG's to go! At the end of the zigzag path is a chest with a Talisman Of Rebirth. If you want to grab it, that's up to you. Once you've collected all the goodies in the area, go up to the dry ledge and use the TRITON KEY and exit out to the next area. ++ AREA: THE DWORKU MOATS ++ --OBJECTIVE: SWIM TO ZARKHAN STADIUM As you enter this area, you'll see a small strip of dry land in the middle of the water. There's also some Laser Copters, Stinkfish mermaids, and some Green Fish. If you want to fight these guys, it's up to you. If you decide to fight, use the same method with the other mermaid battles. Use the Windmill Shuriken on the Copters and use Run- And-Shoot tactics against the Stinkfish mermaids. Once the area is cleared, swim towards the large open gap under the water. Swim through the caverns to emerge back to the Tomb Of Eons area (with the Bone Dragon's dead body). If you want, emerge out of the water and run back onto dry land. Access Muramasa's Statue to replenish any stock and then dive back into the water. Swim through the next open gap into another cavern. At the end of the cavern, swim DOWN toward the Chamber of Everlasting Sleep. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #40 When you enter the Chamber of Everlasting Sleep, look at the top of the room to see a Golden Scarab near the roof. Swim up towards it and grab it! Now swim through the Skull Door path to emerge back to the flooded chamber with the elevator. Avoid the Green Fish and swim towards the elevator to go back to the Monk's Room. As you exit the elevator at the top, prepare for a BS Ninja ambush. Kill them all with hard combos and then approach the broken desk to find another combination for the safe. The final prize inside the safe is a JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL. ++ AREA: JUNCTION CHAMBER ++ Once you're done in the Monk's room, take the elevator going BACK down to the underwater area. Swim to the Junction Chamber and use the Save Point to SAVE your game. Now take the nearby platform going up to Zarkhan Stadium and prepare for your next boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BJ2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: DOKU +++ If you defeated Doku in Chapter 2, then you don't need me to tell you what to do! But if you blew hard like Lindsay Lohan on an alcohol- induced binger, then read the strategy below to learn how to win! Doku will use the same attacks from Chapter 2 (except for "The Stab"). With that in mind, Doku also has two new moves in his arsenal: a boomerang attack and a Grab-And-Stab move. Just like the Murai battle in Chapter 1, keep your distance from Doku and block his attacks. Bait Doku into doing his Rush Attack so that you can evade and counter with a hard combo. Keep baiting Doku and you'll finish him off easily! MISSION COMPLETE! Copy this URL to see my video for this battle for Normal Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81789.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BK1. +++ CHAPTER 14: THE ANCIENT TWIN DIETIES +++ --OBJECTIVE: FOLLOW DOKU When the Chapter begins, use the Save Point and SAVE your game! Now make your way past Great Bridge Square towards the alleyway that Doku was passing through to encounter some Zombified Soldiers. These guys are similar to the BS Ninjas but are a little bit faster. Use downward wall strikes and counterattacks and then use a UT to kill these three. Once their dead, approach the first building with the cracked door and bust it open. Open the chest for a goodie and then make your way to the large building with the glowing portal. Before you enter the portal, look in the corner to find another chest with lots of different essence. Grab it all and then teleport out! ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ++ Run down the hill and down towards the Save Point at the bottom. Access Muramasa's statue to replenish your stock and then SAVE your game! From here, you can continue on towards the next area OR you can participate in one last Fiend Challenge. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO THE CENTRAL BRIDGE AREA (OPTIONAL) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BK2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #3: CENTRAL BRIDGE On the bridge where Ryu fought Masakado is a Fiend Challenge with Warlocks and Samurais. At first glance, this challenge may seem difficult because of Rachel's slow evasion. Warlocks will toss their fireballs at you and then teleport for a cheap combo (all while you're trying to dodge a bunch of goddamn Samurais). The Samurais will spend most of their time breaking your guard and swarming you. But there IS a trick: Lure the Warlock! Evade all the Samurais and watch for the Warlock to do his fireball attack. Evade the fireball and he'll teleport next to you for a cheap combo. Immediately do a counterattack to stop him and then use a follow-up hard attack while he's down to kill him (BE QUICK!). Use the leftover essence for a UT on the other Samurais. From there, just keep luring the Warlock and keep using UT's on all of them. After lots of death, the last three enemies will be BS Ninjas. Finish them off to complete this challenge. It's easier than it sounds but you need to be quick with your evasion or you'll just get smacked around. When the challenge is done, Rachel will receive another new Hairstyle! Work that weave girlfriend! You are truly, truly, truly OUTRAGEOUS! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: OPEN RANGE ++ Make your way to the other side of the village. Kill the Warlocks with counterattacks and use UT's on the Samurais. Once the area is clear, enter the building with Muramasa's Statue inside. Search the shelves for freebies and then climb that ladder to the top. Jump out of the top window to the village entrance. ++ AREA: VILLAGE ENTRANCE ++ More Warlocks and Samurais will swarm you in this area. Eliminate them all with the tactics mentioned above to clear the area. Once that's done, go up the mini-hill towards the shrine with the stone it. Break it open to find the MYSTERIOUS STONE TABLET. Grab it and jump down. Place the TABLET on the pedestal (it's kind of hard to spot at first) to reveal a new portal. You can't go back to the Save Point from here, so just enter the portal to a new area. ++ AREA: OUTER MONASTERY ++ In this small gated enclosure, Shadow Fiends will appear and swarm you. Use counterattacks and hard combos to kill them all. Once the last fiend is gone, a Mace-Wielding Ogre will appear (together with more shadow fiends). Avoid fighting the ogre by not getting close to him. Kill the smaller fiends and then use the leftover essence for UT's on the Ogre. If all the fiends are gone but the Ogre is still there, use hard combos and quick evasion to kill it. When the area is cleared, enter the adjacent portal to a new area. ++ AREA: THE PYRAMID ++ Approach Doku and you will enter a new area. ++ AREA: HP2 REALM ++ I DARE you to defeat Nicchae and Ishtaros using Rachel. If you can't beat them, then don't worry. But if you wanna put up your dukes against these two, there is a simple way (*COUGH spam the wall attack COUGH*). MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BL1. +++ CHAPTER 15: THE CAVERNS +++ ++ AREA: ZARKHAN STADIUM ++ --OBJECTIVE: TAKE THE TREASURE IN ZARKHAN STADIUM When the Chapter begins, grab the Kitetsu Sword next to Ryu. There are a whole bunch of chests in the upper balconies and ledge of the stadium but you'll need to activate the floating ledges to reach them. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #41 Exit the stadium using the opposite doorway (not the one you used from the Save Point). Next to the doorway are a bunch of broken pillars with a Golden Scarab hiding behind them. Grab it! Approach the back wall to find a lever. Pull the lever to reveal the exit to the stadium (and to activate the floating ledges). There are two more Golden Scarabs and Life OTG's in the stadium. If you decide to go back into the stadium, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BL2. ++FIEND CHALLENGE: ZARKHAN STADIUM On Normal Mode, the Fiends in the stadium will be Red Dinos. The strategy here is to equip the Dabilahro and use its immense power. If you have the Unlabored Flawlessness, then consider this a cakewalk. The strategy is to separate the dinos. Perform a Flaming Hell Slash on it to stun it. Before it can retaliate, IMMEDIATELY do a Flaming Whirlwind move (-->, /\) to kill it off. From there, use its leftover essence for a UT on the other dinos. A UT won't kill the dino, so you'll need to attack it with a Flaming Whirlwind to finish it off. That's pretty much the strategy. It'll take awhile to get the rhythm going, but it's as easy as it sounds. Complete the challenge to obtain a Lives Of The Thousand Gods! In order to get it, read the directions below. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Once you've finished the Fiend Challenge, its time to collect the rest of the treasures above the stadium. There are two floating platforms on the ground near you. Take the one on the right and do a Wall-To-Wall Run to the next floating ledge. Jump over to the top of the doorway to obtain a Great Spirit Elixir. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #42 & 43/LIFE OF THE GODS #19 & 20 Jump down and then jump on the floating ledge to the left. Use a Wall- To-Wall Run to next floating ledge. Run up to the top of the doorway to find a Golden Scarab! Now jump down to the floating ledge you were on and use ANOTHER Wall-To-Wall Run in the opposite direction to the top ledge. Jump to the next ledge and then jump into the balcony. Open the two chests for a Devil Elixir and a Life OTG and continue down the upper balcony. Go all the way to the other end of the balcony to find another Golden Scarab. There are also two more chests here: one with another Life OTG and the other is your prize from the Fiend Challenge. Take them all and then leave the stadium. ++ AREA: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE ++ Exit the stadium and go down the hill towards the large stairway. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BL3. ++FIEND CHALLENGE: IMPERIAL PALACE STAIRWAY As soon as you enter this area, be prepared for a Fiend Challenge with Brown and Pink Shadow Fiends. Simply use nonstop counterattacks and UT's and this challenge is done in less than 2 minutes. The prize for this challenge is a Lives Of The Thousand Gods! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There is also a dead body near the doorway across the stairs. Search it if you want and then continue down the path towards a large tree blocking the way. Jump over the tree to see a Save Point. ++ AREA: ZARKHAN WATERFALLS ++ First, there is another dead body across from the Save Point. Search it to obtain the MAP. Now SAVE your game. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #44 & 45/LIFE OF THE GODS #21 & 22 See those large boulders that look like heads? Destroy them to find a Golden Scarab and a Life OTG under each one. Now enter the next area with a large pool. Dive into the water to find another Golden Scarab and a chest with another Life OTG! Once you're done collecting the stuff, enter the Cavern. Go all the way to the end and jump down to a small enclosure. Kill the bats and then dive into the water and emerge on the other side. Slide down the large slope to enter a new area. ++ AREA: ICE CAVERN ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #23 When you land in this cavern, a bunch of Shadow Fiends and Red dinos will pop out to swarm you. Fight them if you want but you can escape the problem by just using a Bird Flip on the nearby wall and jumping to the top ledge. Open the nearby chest for a Life OTG! Now enter further into the Ice Cavern. Enter the area to find a Save Point and a large doorway. The door is missing an item, so SAVE your game first. Jump down to the area below and kill the enemies that appear. Follow the path to the right and climb up to the top. Make another right turn and break the ice to fall into a small ice enclosure with more enemies. Kill them all and then jump up to the top cavern. ++ AREA: RUINS ++ You'll see some sort of device here used to make metal. On the opposite side is the SHIELD OF VIGOOR item. Grab it and make your way back to the door next to the Save Point. SAVE your game and then place the shield on the door to open it. ++ AREA: MAGMA LAKE ++ Enter the doorway into Magma Lake. Across from you will be a large globe. Approach it to obtain the STONE TABLET (LEFT) to complete the Tablet. To kill the dinos in the magma, use a non-essence charged UT on them to kill them off. Use a Wall Run to get past each magma gap and drop to dry land. When you reach the other end, you'll see a large open gap and walls that billow hot smoke. Above those hot smoke thingies is a ledge. Run up to it and shimmy all the way to the right (don't get hit by the smoke!). Drop down at the end and then jump down to the small little enclosure to encounter some Red dinos. Kill them with some hard Dabilahro combos and continue to the other. Slam down on the large step button to reveal some floating platforms. Jump towards the platform and jump past the dinos to the other side with a Muramasa Statue and Save Point. SAVE your game! Next to Muramasa's Statue is a wall enclosure. Use a Wall-To-Wall Run to enter another small enclosed area. Red dinos will pop out so eliminate them! Across from where you landed is a doorway. Jump up to it and enter to the other side with a large see-saw. ++ AREA: SEE-SAW ROOM ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #46 Before you jump onto the see-saw, jump down to the dry ledge on the right side to find a Golden Scarab! Now jump on the see-saw! Let the see-saw go all the way down. Start running to the top and then jump to the upper room before the weight of the see-saw shifts. In the upper cavern is a room with bats. Destroy the bats and then exit out. Approach the large boiling pot at the other end to make it pour some hot Iron Ore onto the other side. Once that's done, it's time to leave. There is another room above the exit door. Use the see-saw to get to it and then open the chest inside that room for a goodie. Now make your way BACK to the Ice Cavern. SAVE you game at Magma Lake first! ++ AREA: ICE CAVERN ++ Make your way back to the Ruins (where you found the SHIELD OF VIGOOR) to find the COG OF VIGOOR item. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #47 Next to where you find the COG OF VIGOOR is a Save Point. The Golden Scarab is across the Save Point. SAVE your game and then approach the ice chunk in the corner and slam it down to enter a new area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BL4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: YOTUNFRAU +++ The boss for the Ice Cavern is large legless beast. That don't mean he ain't gonna be an easy boss! Yotunfrau has several attacks: --ICE POUND --3-HIT MELEE COMBO --GRAB-AND-CHOMP --ICE BREATH All these attack are easy to evade. Just as long as you don't get careless, then this battle is easy to beat. When the battle begins, Yotunfrau will sit there for a couple of seconds. Approach him and get in a couple of hard combos. Once he starts moving, stay in front of him and bait him to attack you. When he puts his left arm back, he's going for the melee combo. Simply roll to the LEFT side and roll behind him. Attack him from behind until he flips over or retaliates with an Ice Pound attack. If he flips over, stand in front of him again and let him attack. If he rears both arms, he's going for the grab and chomp. A good way to avoid this is to just jump straight up (so misses grabbing you) or to jump backwards. When he misses the grab, perform another hard combo until he retaliates. That's pretty much it. With some quick evasive maneuvers and hard combos, he'll fall easily. When the boss is dead, grab the EYE OF ICE item and use it to leave the room. Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81796.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- When you exit Yotunfrau's cavern, use a Bird Flip to reach the top of the room. Notice that chest in that alcove? When you reach the top, flip over the ledge and drop down and Ryu will catch the next ledge. Jump up and open the chest for a goodie and then jump down. Bird Flip to the top and make your way BACK to the Magma Cavern. ++ AREA: MAGMA LAKE ++ Go to the area with the Save Point and SAVE your game. Replenish any stock at Muramasa's Statue and then place the COG OF VIGOOR on the door next to the Save Point. Enter inside for another boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BL5. +++ BOSS BATTLE: FLAME WORM X2 +++ You'll be fighting against two Worms but oddly enough, they only have ONE life bar! So that means you only need to kill one of them. The Flame Worms use the same attacks as their electric brethren but they have a new attack. The Flame Worms have a Fire Ring attack that can be evaded by jumping straight up or rolling at the right moment. When they shoot the Fire Ring at you, jump straight up or roll so that the fire ring goes through you. The timing is a little difficult to get right but it's not so tough after some practice. When the Worm uses its body to sweep the area, evade the attack and then counter with a hard Dabilahro combo. Evade and counter until one of them dies! Grab the EYE OF FLAME and use it to leave the room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock up on anymore things you need from Muramasa and SAVE your game. Across from the Magma Lake is a large ledge with a doorway that has a face on it. Slam down on the step button to raise the floating platforms and then run and jump up towards the large face door. Place the EYE OF ICE and the EYE OF FLAME on the door to open it. Approach the mantle and grab the DEVIL DIETY statue to trigger the next boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BL6. +++ BOSS BATTLE: SMAUGAN +++ Smaugan has a couple of attacks he likes to use: --FIREBALL --FIRE BREATH --WINGSPAN ATTACK --CHOMP ATTACK All of these attacks can be evaded with simple evasive rolls. When it does the Wingspan Attack (when it rears its wings and unleashes a quick force field), wait for a second before it unleashes the attack and then use a Reverse Wind to roll under the attack. The timing for this Reverse Wind is CRUCIAL! When it uses its Fire Breath, simply jump over (not above) the flames. The best weapon to use for this battle is the Dabilahro (or Unlabored Flawlessness). When the battle begins, Smaugan will slowly move its head towards you. Stay in your position and let him get closer. When its head is next you, do a Flaming Hell Slash to reduce his health and make him reel back in pain. Once that's done, jump towards one of the step buttons and slam it down to make the platform rise to the top. Move onto the top platforms and stand in the very left corner of the platform. When you stand there, Smaugan will attempt to bite you but he can't even touch you! Evade all its attacks and stay in that corner. After a while, Smaugan will take a break and move his head in slowly. Quickly approach him and use a Flaming Hell Slash in his head and then roll back towards the corner. Repeat this tactic and Smaugan will fall easily. Once the battle is over, run above its dead body and grab the Lives OTTG item and equip it! Exit the room to complete the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/82569.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BM1. +++ CHAPTER 16: THE FIENDISH AWAKENING +++ ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE TRUE DRAGON SWORD Enter the cavern and bust out the Flails. Destroy the Bats that emerge until all of them are dead. Search the dead body for an item and then continue through to a Save Point Room. DO NOT use the Save Point yet because there is a Fiend Challenge in the room! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BM2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY In this large room, you'll encounter a bunch of Wasp Fiends. To properly kill them all, use a continuous Wall-To-Wall Run all the way to the top of the room. Equip the Dabilahro and smack one of the Wasp Fiends to leave Essence. From there, use non-stop On-Land Charges and UT's to kill all the Fiends. You MUST be super duper quick with your On-Land Charges if you want to make the Time Limit! Once all the enemies are dead, the prize will be a Jewel Of The Demon Seal! Remember, if you use the Save Point or accidentally exit the area during this Challenge, you will forfeit the Time and Kill Bonuses! You will still get the Prize, though... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++LIFE OF THE GODS #24 Jump down to the bottom of the cavern back to the Save Point. Open the chest behind the Save Point for a Life OTG! Now SAVE your game. --OBJECTIVE: EXIT THE AQUADUCTS Use a Wall-To-Wall Run to the top and exit the room. Work your way through the caverns and head back to the Aquaducts. Destroy any enemies in the way and exit the Aquaducts back to the streets of Tairon. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO TWIN SERPENTS PLAZA As you exit the Aquaducts, eliminate the Zombified soldiers with hard combos and Izuna Drops. Access Muramasa's Statue if you need to and then make your way back to Drawbridge Square. When you activate the lever to lower the Drawbridge, get ready for a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BM3. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE There are only three enemies in this challenge but all three are just as dangerous. The Purple Zombies have a super long life bar, which means it'll take lots and lots of combos to kill them. Fortunately for you, these guys are just as slow (although powerful) as the regular Zombie enemies. To kill them within the Time Limit, you'll need to spam the Ultimate Technique. Equip the Dabilahro and get within a distance and start charging for a UT. Unleash several UT's on the enemies until one of them dies. From there use hard combos and leftover essence to kill the rest of them. For killing them, you get a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH for your troubles. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Once you're done fooling around with those Zombies, enter the Blue- jeweled door and take the path all the way to the end. There are no more enemies, so just make your way to Twin Serpents Plaza. Approach the large monument and place all three Tablets on the pedestal to activate the portal. ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ++ Head down the path to enter the graveyard and trigger a cutscene. From here on in, equip the True Dragon Sword for maximum damage to your enemies. Jump down towards the Save Point and SAVE your game. Jump over towards the Open Range area and test out the TDS on the Samurais and Warlocks. Unleash a UT to see the new cool attack. Once the area is cleared, enter the building with Muramasa's Statue and emerge out of the top window towards the village entrance. Before you access the other portal (that Rachel activated), go up the mini-hill and you'll find a Jewel Of The Demon seal on the shrine (that Rachel destroyed). Now jump down and enter the portal to the Outer Monastery. Enter the next portal and open the door to the Magma Cavern. Enter the portal in the caverns to emerge at the Pyramid. SAVE your game at the Save Point and then approach the field to trigger a boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BM4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ALMA AWAKENED +++ This version of Alma is not as annoying as her other counterpart from Chapter 9, but she's still a difficult boss. Alma has these attacks she likes to use: --MULTIPLE PINK FIREBALLS --MULTIPLE PILLAR ATTACK --PINK SUPER FIREBALL --SNATCH-AND-GRAB --RUSH TACKLE When Alma tosses her fireballs or pillars at you, use continuous roll jumps to get out of the way! The main strategy here is to evade Alma's attacks and stay as far away as possible. When Alma is hovering around the area, keep rolling away until she lands on the ground. When she starts rushing towards you to tackle you, use a well-timed Flying Swallow to knock her down. If you miscalculate the attack, Alma will tackle you down before you even press the button! When Alma is down, use a hard combo like the Dragon Tear combo to shave off a chunk of her health. Repeat this tactic and you should be able to get by without using too many (or any) Elixirs. Well...unless you stink at evasion. That's pretty much it the strategy. It's very similar to the first Alma battle in Chapter 9 (only Ryu can't do the Blade of Nirrti attack). MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BN1. +++ CHAPTER 17: VENGEFUL SPIRIT +++ --OBJECTIVE: SOLVE THE PYRAMID PUZZLE Equip the Dabilahro and approach the temple. Smash open the large crack to reveal a doorway leading inside. Enter the temple and go down the stairs to encounter a new enemy: the Knightmare! To solve the Pyramid, you need to defeat three Knightmares. Sounds easy, right? F*CK YEAH! The Knightmares like to use aggressive attacks, so you need to be just as aggressive as them. Equip the Dabilahro and let theses suckers attack you first. Notice how their regular attacks don't break Ryu's guard when he blocks them. Exploit that weakness by using non-stop counterattacks with the Dabilahro. After a few good hits, they transform. Repeat the tactic to kill off all three of these suckers. Once their dead grab the SERPENT DIETY statue and exit the Pyramid. Copy and paste this URL to see how to easily beat this Knightmare challenge in less than 40 seconds: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/90659.html ++ AREA: OUTER PYRAMID ++ Make your way down the grassy path towards the open doorway. The GRIFFON DOOR is locked at the moment, so approach towards the other open doorway with the Save Point. SAVE your game and then access Muramasa's Statue to replenish your stock. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE GRIFFON KEY Further down Muramasa's Statue is a glowing portal. Approach the portal and enter through it to a new area. ++ AREA: HELLISH DEPTHS ++ In this small arena, a bunch of Shadow Fiends will appear and swarm at you. Kill all of them to reveal a chest with the GRIFFON KEY. Grab the key and then teleport outta there. Make your way towards the GRIFFON DOOR and use the key to unlock it. ++ AREA: THE LABYRINTH 1 ++ As you approach the first area of the Labyrinth, be prepared for a whole bunch of Ghost Fish. Equip the Flails and start attacking at them using a jump attack and then a continuous combo when you land. The timing for this strategy might be a little difficult to figure out but it's your best bet at killing them all. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #25 Once all the Fish are dead, enter the alcove between the walls to find a chest all the way at the back. Open it up to find a Life OTG! Now continue down the path. Go up the stairs and climb the upper stairs to the top. There is a chest with a Devil Elixir and a dead body on the opposite side. Search the body for an item and continue down the path past the LION DOOR. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE LION KEY Equip the Flails and go all the way down the path to see a lone chest. Open the chest to receive the LION KEY. Once you retrieve the item, Ghost Fish will attack from behind you, so start swinging! Once the Fish are dead, a trio of Catwomen will appear and ambush you. Use Explosive Arrows and shoot them in mid-air while being evasive. After the Catwomen are gone, leave the area. As you leave, ANOTHER ambush will occur with more Catwomen and a Crab Fiend. Again, use lots of Explosive Arrows and abuse whatever weapon you have to kill them. Now make your way to the LION DOOR and enter to the next area. ++ AREA: LABYRINTH 2 ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #48/LIFE OF THE GODS #26 Make a left turn when you enter the LION DOOR and go all the way to the end of the path to find a lone Golden Scarab. Grab it and go back the other way. Go up the stairs and use the Save Point to SAVE your game. To the left of the Save Point is a small enclosed alcove with a chest. Open it up for a Life OTG and then continue down the next path. Avoid the open area with the LIONESS DOOR and take the long path to the right. Kill more Ghost Fish here and continue down. Further down the path are MORE Ghost Fish. Kill them all and continue down to the end of the path. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE LIONESS KEY ++GOLDEN SCARAB #49 Enter the large alcove across Muramasa's Statue to find a Golden Scarab all by itself. There is another alcove behind this Golden Scarab location with a chest. Grab the item in there if you want. There is one more alley with Ghost Fish in it, so kill them all and then approach the chest at the very end of the path to find the LIONESS KEY! Now make your way BACK to the Save Point. Kill the Fish in the way and then approach the wide open area with the LIONESS DOOR. When you enter here, you will be ambushed by Ghost Fish and two Crab Fiends. Try to kill the Fish using aerial combos with the Flails and then use UT's on the Crab Fiends. Also continue to use the Flying Swallow on them to make it less painful. From here, go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game (so you don't have to fight these guys again) and then use the LIONESS KEY to enter the next area for a boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BN2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: SPECTRAL DOKU +++ For this battle, I've found Doku to be quite the cheapster. He retains some of his old attacks but carries a few newer ones: --FAST HOVER AND SLAM --JEDI MIND TRICK GRAB-AND-STAB COMBO Baiting Doku into doing his Rush Attack (the strategy from Chapter 13) is a little more difficult to pull off since Doku likes to spend most of the battle hovering around. Particularly, he likes to hover quickly towards you and then does a quick slam attack. If you roll away before he approaches you, it's possible to evade unscathed (which isn't always the case, sometimes). If you can bait Doku into doing his Rush Attack, roll away and then counter with a Square, Triangle 2-hit combo. This attack usually pushes Doku back a far distance and shaves off about 10-15% of his health bar. When he gets pushed back, roll away to avoid his retaliation counter. Other than that, I don't see any other combo that can do much damage. Continue to bait Doku into doing his Rush Attack and then use the 2-hit counter. If Doku doesn't do his Rush Attack at the first minute or two of the fight, prepare for a LONG battle of waiting. MISSION COMPLETE! **Have a better strategy for battling Doku? E-mail me and pass me your strategy and you might be able to see it here on the next update! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BP1. +++ CHAPTER 18: THE CORE +++ --OBJECTIVE: REACH THE CORE When the Chapter begins, equip the Flails and start slicing all the Fish in the area. Kill them off and then grab the RAPTOR DEITY statue to unveil the exit out of the Labyrinth. Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! Go to the far right of the path to find a lone chest. Open it up and then go the other way. Search the dead body for a MAP and then continue down the path to encounter some enemies. Use Izuna Drops on the Shadow Fiends and try to use UT's on the Crab Fiend. Once their dead, approach the chest in the far off corner to get a Devil Elixir. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE KEY OF THE DECAYED SOUL ++ AREA: PALACE COMPOUND ++ If you take the whirligig path to the Imperial Palace, the door will be locked. To get the Key to open it, go back to the path and head towards the large gateway. When you reach the gateway, you will be swarmed by Ghost Fish. Bust out the Flails and start slicing away to get some essence. Once that's done, open the doorway to trigger a cutscene. ++ AREA: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE ++ After the cutscene, search the dead body for an additional item. Before you do anything else, there are a few more things you can do in Tairon before entering the Palace. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #27 The very last piece of this item is located back at Great Bridge Square in the building that Rachel cracked open. Go into that building and then use a Wall-To-Wall Run to the top ledge to find the last Life OTG! Equip the remaining Life OTG to increase your life bar! There is ONE more Fiend Challenge to pursue in the game. The Prize for completing it isn't so hot, but if you're up for the Karma Points, then get to it and complete it! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BP2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE Across from where you found the last Life OTG is a glowing portal in an enclosed arena. Do you see it? If you didn't unlock the gate in Chapter 4, go to the end of the alleyway and turn right. Use a Bird Flip to reach the upper ledge and then jump down towards the portal. Enter the portal to face off against Pink Shadow Fiends and some Arioch Crab Fiends. The main strategy here is to evade the Arioch Crab and focus on killing the Shadow Fiends first. From there, use the leftover essence for a True Dragon Sword UT on those goddamn Arioch Crabs. Continue this tactic to complete the challenge and the prize will be a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH. YAAY!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you need to go to Muramasa's Shop, do it now! Replenish all your stock before heading into the Imperial Palace! When you're ready, head back to the Imperial Palace entrance and enter with the Decayed Key. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 1ST FLOOR ++ A couple of Red dinos will appear here. Equip the Dabilahro and use the Flaming Hell Slash and a follow-up Flaming Whirlwind to kill them all. Separate each dino so that you don't get attacked from behind. When all the dinos are dead, approach the mantle and place the WOLF DEITY statue. Exit out through the adjacent door and equip the Flails. Slice all of the Ghost Fish here and then ascend the stairway to the next floor. Open the nearby chest for a goodie and then enter. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 2ND FLOOR ++ This floor is exactly the same as the first floor (red dinos). Kill all the red dinos and then place the DEVIL DEITY statue on the mantle. Exit through the adjacent door and then bust out the Flails for the next pile of Ghost Fish. Eliminate them and then ascend to the third floor. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 3RD FLOOR ++ In this room, you'll face off against a few Crab Fiends. Equip the True Dragon Sword and use hard combos on these guys. Stay evasive and use Explosive Arrows to make the battle a little bit easier. When the room is cleared, place the SERPENT DEITY statue on the mantle and then exit through the adjacent door. Slice some more Fish with the Flails and ascend to the fourth floor but DO NOT ENTER YET! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #50 The last Scarab of the game is just below the fourth floor. When you reach the fourth floor doorway entrance, jump off the nearby ledge to land on a smaller ledge below. The Scarab is at the other end of the ledge, so GRAB IT! Bring it to Muramasa, he'll give you a cool new weapon! Now jump down to the stairs below and go BACK to the fourth floor doorway. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 4TH FLOOR ++ In this room, it'll be a split combination of Red dinos and Crab fiends. Equip the True Dragon Sword and focus on killing the Crab Fiends first. Use hard combos and Flying Swallows on them to kill them. For the dinos, use UT's. If you still have Explosive Arrows, use them! Once the room is cleared, place the RAPTOR DIETY statue on the mantle to clear the entire Core. Exit through the adjacent door and slice the Ghost Fish in the stairway. ++ AREA: THE IMPERIAL PALACE CORE ++ Take the stairs to the top of the Imperial Palace. You'll find two chests, a Save Point, and a TEAM NINJA logo up on this floor. Before you approach the portal, SAVE your game! If you need to go back to Muramasa's Shop, you'll have to traverse all the way back down the Core. The closest shop is the one in Tairon, so go there now if you need to! When you're ready, enter the portal for an epic battle. ++ AREA: HELLISH DEPTHS ++ When the battle begins, Shadow Fiends will appear and swarm you. Use simple counterattacks and UT's to clear the area. Once it's cleared, you will be transported to a boss battle against Hydracubus. Defeat Hydracubus the same way you did the last two times. Since you are now equipped with the TDS, it should be too easy. After finishing off Hydracubus, you will be transported back to the previous area. More Shadow Fiends will swarm you but this time Marbus (the large goat dude) will occasionally toss fireballs at you while you are fighting the fiends. When Marbus starts laughing, he'll toss a fireball at you, so move away! Once all the fiends are dead, you are transported to ANOTHER boss battle against Yotunfrau. Defeat Yotunfrau the same way you did in the Ice Cavern and it should be easy as pie. After he's been defeated, you will be transported back to the previous area to finally face off against Marbus himself. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BP3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MARBUS +++ Marbus has a couple of attacks he likes to use: --FIEND SUMMON --KAMIKAZE DIVE --FLY-BY TACKLE --KAMIKAZE PUNCH --MULTIPLE FIREBALLS Marbus likes to hover around the arena. You can block his Fly-by tackle but you have to evade the other attacks. When he flies up high and starts spinning fast, he's going for the Kamikaze Dive. As soon as he torpedoes towards you, use a well-timed Reverse Wind to move out of the way. When he misses, he'll kneel down in pain. Get in close and perform a hard combo on him and then jump back to avoid his retaliation attack. When he starts launching his fireballs at you, use roll jumps to get out of the way. Also, when he hovers above you and does a loud snarl, he's going for the Kamikaze Punch where he slams down on you with his fist. Use a well-timed Reverse Wind to avoid the punch and then roll in and perform a hard combo. When he summons the Shadow Fiends, kill them off with Izuna Drops and counterattacks. If you can bait him into getting close to you when there is floating essence, try and do an Ultimate Attack on him. The main strategy here is to bait Marbus into attacking YOU. When you evade his attacks, go and counter at the right moment to reduce his health. Follow the tactics mentioned above and the battle shouldn't be too hard to finish. Once Marbus is dead, grab the DEMON DEITY statue and then hightail it outta there! Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/81824.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: THE IMPERIAL PALACE CORE ++ With the DEMON DEITY statue in hand, place it on the mantle across the Save Point to open the doors above the Core. SAVE your game and finish whatever it is you need to do. If you need to finish the rest of the Fiend Challenges you missed or restock at Muramasa's Shop, do it now! Once you enter through the doors above the Core, there's no going back! When you're ready, go up the stairs until a cutscene is triggered. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BP5. +++ BOSS BATTLE: THE EMPEROR - FORM 1 +++ The Emperor only has two attacks: a melee swipe attack and a Laser Beam attack. Its Laser Beam attack comes in two separate forms: a diagonal beam and a circular beam. When dodging the beams, hold the Block Button and then move the Analog Stick UP or DOWN to move the floating platform. To dodge the diagonal beams, you must position Ryu (not the platform) BETWEEN the laser paths to avoid getting hit. You can also try jumping down the platform. Ryu won't get hurt and he'll emerge on another platform. DO NOT waste your Ninpo on this boss! Even though it seems logical to activate Ninpo to avoid getting hit, you're only wasting time! When the boss begins its Circular Laser Beams, simply move all the way BACK and AWAY from the boss. As for its melee attack, just move away! The boss has three large Orbs on its body: one on each shoulder and one on its chest. You must attack these areas to damage the boss. Dodge its beams and then close in and do some hard combos like the Dragon Tear to shave off lots of health. That's pretty much it. Once the boss is dead, it's time for the next wave! BP6. +++ BOSS BATTLE: THE EMPEROR - FORM 2 +++ When the battle begins, equip the Strongbow and start shooting APFSDS Cores or Explosive Arrows at the skulls on the boss's body (shoot from First-Person View). After a couple of direct hits, the boss will start flinging a bunch of skulls at you. Equip the Flails and begin slicing and dicing (or use fast left and right Reverse Winds). After a couple of flying skulls fly by, the Emperor's head will come after you to chomp on you. Quickly roll away to avoid the attack and then it'll reform. Or if you feel SO inclined and desperate, activate a Ninpo attack during the flying skull attack to avoid getting hurt. Ugh, that is so cheap, I can't believe I recommended that. Use all the Arrows, APFSDS Cores, Explosive Arrows, and Incendiary Shurikens you can to damage the boss while it's walking the lava. When the boss jumps onto dry land, jump towards it and begin attacking its legs using the True Dragon Sword to do some real damage! Keep up the tactic and this boss is toast! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= BQ1. +++ CHAPTER 19: THE DARK DRAGON BLADE +++ First thing's first, SAVE your game at the nearby Save Point. Jump up the first two rocky ledges and then use a continuous Bird Flip to the top. Jump over two more ledges to find the Dark Dragon Blade. After the cutscene, jump across towards the fallen stalactite and jump to the top of it. Run and jump towards the first branch and then swing towards the next two. At the last branch, jump and Ryu will do a Wall Run to the adjacent ledge. Jump the next branch to the next ledge and jump to the top. Use a Wall Run on the next wall to reach the top ledge. Shimmy all the way to the left and climb up. Continue down the ledge and jump towards the next ledge and climb up. The next part is tricky because you need to jump DOWN to a lower ledge. Enter First-Person View and look down to see where the ledge is located. Jump down to it and then jump up to the last ledge. Go around it and then jump towards Rachel to trigger the last boss battle! +++BOSS NOTE: If you LOSE to Murai in the next battle, you have to do the ENTIRE level over again! That means running and jumping through the ledges again! WHY?!? It wasn't like that in Xbox version!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BQ2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: DARK MURAI +++ Murai is basically a MUCH faster version of himself and he uses some of Doku's attacks as well. These are his new arsenal of attacks: --DARK DRAGON SUMMON --DARK DRAGON SHURIKENS --DARK DRAGON TACKLE --DARK DRAGON RUSH Murai also uses a lot of heavy melee attacks, so you'll need to keep your distance to avoid the painful stabs and slams. The main thing you want to do is bait Murai into doing his Dark Dragon Tackle (where he torpedoes at you). Evade the attack and then counter with any combo and then QUICKLY roll away. After he misses the Tackle, he is vulnerable for a second, so take advantage and bring on the rain! This tactic is your best bet at damaging him, so do it! When he summons the Dark Dragon, stand against the nearby pillar and then do a Wall Run on it to jump OVER the dragon as it passes near you. When he uses his Shuriken attacks, he'll either toss all of them in one attack or he'll throw them one by one (similar to Alma's fireball attack). Use lots of roll jumps to keep safe. As for the Dark Dragon Rush attack, he'll stop for a second to charge and then rush at you. This move is easy to see, so time your Reverse Winds. Another way defeat Murai is to stun him using the Flying Swallow (a tactic that worked wonders in the first Xbox version). When the Flying Swallow hits Murai, he gets stunned for a second or two. Quickly perform a hard combo on him while he's stunned and then roll away. Just for safety, have at least 3 Great Elixirs and ONE Talisman Of Rebirth in your inventory (hopefully, you didn't blow them all on the Emperor battle). You don't need to be conserving them anymore anyway, so use them! Defeat Murai to complete the game! MISSION COMPLETE!!!! As you watch the End Credits, watch for a special scene towards the end with Kureha! Upload your score on the Sigma Leaderboards and see how you did. For a list of the cool unlockables and for visual help for this game, read the section below. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CC1. +++ THE UNLOCKABLES +++ --BONUS COSTUMES 1 & 2 Finish the main game on Ninja Dog or Normal Mode to unlock the CLASSIC ARCADE costume. Finish the game on Hard Mode to unlock the BLACK DRAGON SKIN costume. --MISSION MODE There are two ways to unlock Mission Mode: finish the game on Ninja Dog or Normal difficulty or defeat Doku in Chapter 2. --NINJA DOG MODE This mode is NOT selectable from the Main Menu. To start in this mode, get a GAME OVER (aka DIE) three times and then select YES twice to start Ninja Dog Mode. In addition to Elixirs, Ryu will receive Ration Bundles from Ayane to restore his health. --ADDITIONAL DIFFICULTIES Finish the game on Normal Mode to unlock Hard Mode. Finish Hard Mode to unlock Very Hard Mode and finish Very Hard Mode to unlock Master Ninja Mode. Another alternate way to unlock those modes is to defeat Doku in Chapter 2 in the subsequent difficulties. --UNEARTHED CHALLENGE There are 5 Extra Missions in Mission Mode called "Unearthed Challenge". To unlock them, simply press the following buttons on the D-Pad in the Mission Mode screen: UP DOWN LEFT DOWN RIGHT UP SQUARE. Five new missions will appear above the Eternal Legend mission. --BEHIND THE SWORD FEATURETTE This cheaply-produced DVD can kiss my ass. +++GAME NOTE: Once you finish the game on a specific difficulty, THAT'S IT! You cannot carryover any weapons or Golden Scarabs into a new game. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= CC2. +++ NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA VIDEOS +++ __ _____ ___ ___ ___ ___ \ \ / /_ _| \| __/ _ \/ __| \ V / | || |) | _| (_) \__ \ \_/ |___|___/|___\___/|___/ Visit this URL to view some helpful videos for NG Sigma: http://vampirehorde.gametrailers.com/gamepad/index.php?action=fanmovs&s tyle=thumbs The videos on my GameTrailers page will have videos for boss battles and some of my favorite Missions from Mission Mode. All videos range from various difficulties and is reference material for first time players! The page will be updated often, so please check back for more Sigma videos. Some of my stuff isn't flawless as it should be, but then again, neither is any of the other goddamn expert Ninja Gaiden players. For specialty videos from the original XBOX and PS3 versions, please visit this URL: http://www.iberiansngrealm.com For a complete walkthrough for Hard Mode, read the section below! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= +++ SANDBLASTED SKIN - HARD MODE WALKTHROUGH +++ This walkthrough below is strictly for Hard Mode only! A couple of changes were made from Normal difficulty, so the walkthrough below will have different tactics for certain chapters and bosses...sort of. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DA1. +++ CHAPTER 1: THE WAY OF THE NINJA +++ ++ AREA: VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS ++ --OBJECTIVE: INFILTRATE THE FORTRESS After the cutscene, collect an Elixir from the dead body. Two White ninjas will appear from both sides, so be ready to eliminate them. Once they're dead, search the end of the mountain to find a lone chest. Open it and continue up the hill towards the fortress. Further down the path is a large closed doorway. It can't be opened yet, so just ignore it and take the rocky ledges to the top. Jump past the open gap and grab Ayane's first Kunai scroll. Run up against the wall to grab the ledge and then shimmy to the right and climb up. Open the nearby chest for a goodie and then climb up the next wall and jump up. Go up the large tree bark onto the ledge to encounter two more White ninjas. Slice them down with some easy combos and then use a Wall Run to the next ledge. Open the chest to receive a new item. Now jump towards the branch and swing and jump to the next ledge. Use a Bird Flip to the upper ledge and prepare for battle. As you enter the pathway, three more enemies will emerge. You can either cut them down or avoid the battle by using a Bird Flip out of the cave from the area they emerge from. ++ AREA: NINJA FORTRESS ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE SAVE POINT Enter the fortress to encounter two more enemies. Cut them down with some fancy combos and then enter the fortress. As you enter the first room (brown room), you will encounter three enemies. Eliminate them and then open the lone chest for a goodie. Exit this room to the next one. ++ AREA: YELLOW ROOM ++ About 8-10 White ninjas will drop from the ceiling above and swarm you. Prepare the blood feast by testing out more combos. Be sure to be evasive and this room will be too easy. Once the room is cleared, exit out from the newly opened doorway to the next room. ++ AREA: STORAGE HALL ++ As soon as you enter this hall, three White ninjas will be waiting on the right side. Eliminate them to clear this area. Before you exit this room, head to the opposite area from where you entered to see a large Samurai statue holding a Key Item. Ignore it for now and collect the Elixirs next to the statue. Exit the hall to the opposite doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: TATAMI ROOM ++ ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #1 As you enter into this room, open the well-hidden chest next to the door to find your first LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS item! Equip it to increase your health bar! Now go further into the room and be prepared for more enemies to jump down from the ceiling. Now is a good time to try out the On-Land Charge move on these guys. Once the room is cleared, open the lone chest to obtain a FLYING SWALLOW Scroll. Exit the room by cutting open the scroll on the wall next to the large pot. ++ AREA: DOJO ROOM ++ There is a large trapdoor in this room. Avoid falling into it for now. This room will test your patience and the skills you've learned so far. About 10-12 White and Black Spider Ninjas will appear from out of the rotating walls to swarm you. Outdo their tactics by being on your guard. Use evasive rolls and attack them from behind. If Ryu gets an Incendiary Shuriken thrown up his ass, wait for a second and then use a Reverse Wind to avoid getting exploded (trust me, the timing for this move is difficult). Once the room is cleared, head past the trapdoor towards the wall scroll and cut it down to reveal a small doorway. Enter that room to find the Save Point. Save your game and then enter back into the Dojo room. Fall through the trapdoor to fall into a cave below the fortress. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND STORAGE HOUSE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE FANGS OF THE SAMURAI There are a couple of hard-to-see pots at the end of the cave. Destroy them to find a hidden chest with a goodie inside. Use the Shurikens on the bats to gather essence if you need to. DO NOT OPEN THE SECOND CHEST! It contains Bats! Instead, exit the cave by destroying the fire posts and then jumping back to the upper ledge. Grab Ayane's Kunai if you want and then continue up the ledge. Destroy the two enemies and enter back inside to see an open ceiling gap that leads down to the Tatami Room. Before jumping down, open the lone chest to find the FANGS OF THE SAMURAI. --OBJECTIVE: RETRIEVE THE KEY OF COURAGE Jump down to the Tatami Room and go back into the Storage Hall. Place the FANGS onto the Samurai statue to obtain the KEY OF COURAGE Item. Now head back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now its time to meet up with the boss man! --OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT MURAI Head up the stairs towards the walkway. As you head up the walkway, eliminate the two ninjas and then use the Key Of Courage on the next door to unlock it. Enter inside for another battle. ++ AREA: INNER SANCTUM ++ 8-10 Black Spider Ninjas will jump down from above to swarm against you. Use hard combos and evasive rolls to clear the room. As soon as the room is cleared, the exit door will re-open and the entrance to the boss's lair will open up. Go back to the Save Point if you want and then head back to the Inner Fortress to face off against your first boss! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DA2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MURAI +++ Murai uses White and Black Spider Ninjas to assist him in battle. Keep your distance from Murai and kill the lackeys off with hard combos to clear the area. Avoid using OLC's because Murai will just block it! Use the same tactics from Normal Mode to finish him off. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DB1. +++ CHAPTER 2: THE HAYABUSA NINJA VILLAGE +++ --OBJECTIVE: HEAD TO HAYABUSA VILLAGE Exit the Inner Sanctum and make your back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now exit out of the Fortress to the Valley Of The Shadows. ++ AREA: VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS ++ Remember that large locked doorway you couldn't enter in the previous chapter? Well, it's opened up so head for it. Enter the cavern and watch out for BATS!!!! ++ AREA: ALTAR ++ Approach the altar and grab the scroll on it to obtain the ART OF THE FIRE WHEELS Ninpo scroll. Equip it if you want and then jump onto the manual elevator and ride down to the bottom. Once you reach the bottom, jump behind the elevator to find a well-hidden chest. Now exit the elevator area outside to a grassy area. Use a Wall Run towards the next ledge and then open the nearby chest from a SMOKE BOMB item. ++ AREA: UPPER MOUNTAIN PATH ++ As you leave this area, three Samurais will stop by to try and stop you. Quickly charge your sword for a UT before they approach you. Kill the first Samurai with a Level 1 UT and then use an On-Land Charge with the leftover essence to decapitate the other two Samurais. Time this tactic well and it'll be easy as cake. ++ AREA: MOUNTAIN PATH ++ Now head down the path to a large hillside slope. Slide on down and then jump and grab the branch before you fall off the ledge to the water below (not that it's a bad thing). Jump from branch to branch and onto the dry land to encounter more Samurais. ++ AREA: OUTER VILLAGE ++ As you approach the path, a bunch of Samurais will come running towards you. Charge the sword for an Ultimate Technique and unleash it on the first enemy that approaches you. Continue to evade the Samurai melee attacks and use UT's to quickly kill them all. Once the area is cleared, climb the watchtower ladder to the top to find a chest with the HAYABUSA VILLAGE MAP Key Item. Now make your way towards the broken bridge area. In this area, you can try out your Water Running abilities. Jump down to the water below and do a Water Run to the opposite ledge. If you mess up and fall into the water, don't worry and just swim to the next ledge. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #1 Before you climb up to the top to the Save Point, look under the broken bridge across from you to see a small shack. Use a Water Run and head inside the shack to find a chest with your first Life OTG item! Now run back and use the Save Point. ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ENTRANCE ++ Enter the village entrance and you'll see that's it empty. To the right side of the entrance are a couple of statues (one with a missing head). Ignore the statue for now and continue down the path. A couple of Samurais and Warlocks will come from the farther end of the village (and behind you) to swarm you as soon as you descend the village. Evade all the Samurais and focus on killing the Warlocks. Be careful though, because the Warlocks now shoot multiple fireballs! Roll under the fireballs and use a hard combo to kill them off. Use the Essence they leave behind for UT's on the Samurais. Continue this tactic to clear this area quickly. Once the area is clear, it's time to do some item collecting! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #2 At the end of the pathway from the village entrance, you'll see a STONE HEAD lying on the ground. Pick it up and then place it on one of the Jizo statues near the village entrance with the missing head to obtain a Life OTG item! Also notice that there is an upper hill slope that leads to a small "shrine" with a large stone on it that cannot be cracked. You will deal with this stone later in Chapter 15, so ignore it for now. Near the village entrance on the left side is an alleyway. Enter the alleyway to find a dead body with an Elixir. Pick it up and you should be done with collecting items in this area! --OBJECTIVE: FIND AYANE Once you've collected all the goodies in the village, SAVE your game! Now make your way to the middle of the village and you will see a large window ledge on the left side that you can jump up to. Jump up towards the open window on the second floor to find Ayane inside. After the cutscene, Ayane will pass you the BOW. Now jump downstairs to find a small supply room and a Muramasa Statue. If you have enough cash, buy the ARMLET OF THE SUN item. Scour the shelves of the supply room to find more goodies and then exit the room. ++ AREA: OPEN RANGE ++ Exit the supply room to an open range area. More Samurais and Warlocks will appear in this area. Use the tactic I mentioned above to kill them all with ease. If you want to test your BOW on the enemies, grab some ARROWS from the nearby dead body and start flinging! Once the area is cleared, you will notice that there are three bull's- eye targets above the wooden fence. Just near the supply room entrance, stand close by and start shooting arrows at each target in the center (using First Person) to reveal some Essence. If you need Blue, Red, or Yellow Essence then keep shooting until the essence runs out. Now before you exit this area, SAVE your game! Come back to this area when you've replenished your supply and get ready for a difficult battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DB2. ++ SUB-BOSSES: SAMURAI HORSEMEN ++ On Hard difficulty, you will face off against six horsemen. When this battle begins, you will face off against two horsemen. One has a large spear and the other uses a Bow and Arrow. While it may seem obvious to try and use aerial attacks as they circle around the area, DON'T DO IT! Instead of being a hero, stay defensive! Stay near the mountain wall and let each horsemen get near (be sure to keep holding the Block Button). When each horseman gets close (and attacks), block the attack and then immediately counter with a Roaring Tiger combo (SQUARE, SQUARE, TRIANGLE) as soon as they turn around. This will make the horse stop and "neigh" for a second, so immediately repeat the combo. Continue this tactic on both horsemen until one (or both) of them fall off their horse. When the Samurai falls off, the horse dies and the Samurai must fight you solo. Use the essence from the dead horse for a UT on the stupid Samurai. After you kill the first Samurai, another TWO horsemen will enter the arena, which means there are THREE of them circling this area! Stay on your guard and continue the tactic to kill them all. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: CENTRAL BRIDGE ++ Once the sub-boss battle ends, the fire on the other side will die down to reveal a new Save Point. Jump over the rubble and approach the dead body to find an Elixir. Be sure to approach Muramasa's Statue to replenish any stock before fighting the next boss! Now approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. When you're ready, enter the through the doorway towards the Central Bridge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DB3. ++ BOSS BATTLE: MASAKADO ++ All Masakado's attacks are virtually the same as the Horsemen, so using simple blocks are enough. If you try to follow and attack him as he circles around the bridge, consider yourself a noob because that's not how you're supposed to do it! The main tactic here is to kill the Warlocks and use their essence for Ultimate Techniques on Masakado. Trying to dodge two Warlocks is more trouble than it seems but here's how to do it properly: As soon as the battle starts, move out of the way and head towards the opposite doorway (not the one that crumbled) and stay there. Roll under the Warlock fireballs and wait until Masakado passes by. When he turns around, kill any nearby Warlock and use the leftover essence for a UT on Masakado as he returns to attack. How do you know if he's near? The screen shakes and gets brighter, so unleash the UT when this happens to shave off 20% of his health. Be quick with the UT or else Masakado will stick a spear up your slow ass! Keep up this tactic and Masakado will fall like the flaming douchebag that he is. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #3 Once the battle is over, Masakado will leave a Life OTG as the prize, so grab it! Now exit the area using the double doors and SAVE your game at the next Save Point! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: CLAN LEADER'S RESIDENCE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND KUREHA As you enter the burning courtyard, you'll encounter more Samurais and Warlocks. If you made it this far, then you should already know how to dispatch these guys. Clear the area but don't enter the house just yet! Enter the small alley on the left side of the house to find a chest with a goodie inside. Grab the item and then head inside the house. Slice open the burning walls to reveal some Samurais hiding behind them. Evade the Samurais and focus on killing the Warlocks first but BE CAREFUL! The area in the middle of the house is a breathing inferno! Once you eliminate the enemies, DO NOT EXIT THE HOUSE YET! +++LIFE OF THE GODS #4 Yes, there is a hidden chest inside the burning house with a special item. Go to the back of the room and look on the left side to see an open gap. Enter this gap to a small hall. Go down the hall and you will see the chest with a Life OTG item inside! Now go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. When you're ready, go back into the burning house and exit at the other end to the backyard. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DB4. ++ BOSS BATTLE: DOKU ++ If you defeated Doku in this chapter on Normal Mode, then this battle won't be as cheap as the first time. GOOD LUCK! Defeating Doku on this mode will unlock Very Hard Mode! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DC1. +++ CHAPTER 3: SKIES OF VENGEANCE +++ ++ AREA: RYU'S CABIN ++ When the Chapter begins, grab the nearby Elixir on the table and then use the Save Point. Now exit the cabin into the hallway outside. In the hallway are three other cabin rooms and a storage room next to Ryu's cabin (remember that Storage Room, you'll come back there later). ++ AREA: LIVING QUARTERS ++ Explore the cabin across from Ryu's cabin to find an Elixir of the Devil Way inside the room. Exit this room and enter the cabin next door. Inside the cabin you will find a Chest that has a MAP. Open the chest and grab the Map and then exit the room. As soon as you exit, two MSAT soldiers will burst through the windows. Eliminate the two soldiers in style and exit the room to the outer hallway. More soldiers will appear from the windows near the double doors, so use hard combos and evasive rolls on the regular soldiers. Use the leftover essence for a UT on the MSAT Commander (the one wearing black) to clear this area and reveal the WING KEY. Grab the key and use it to open the double doors. ++ AREA: MAIN CABIN ++ Enter the Main Cabin and you will see another set of double doors that are locked, two stairways, and two office rooms (one on the left and one on the right side of the double doors). Eliminate the soldiers that appear here to clear the area. Take the stairway down on the RIGHT side to find a Save Point and SAVE your game. There's another door next to the Save Point that leads outside, but ignore that door for now. Go back upstairs to the Main Cabin and go to the other stairway. At the bottom of that stairway is Muramasa's Statue. When you access Muramasa's inventory, purchase a Level 2 upgrade for the Dragon Sword. And if you have enough cash, purchase the Armlet of the Sun and equip it. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #5 Now go back up the stairway and enter the office on the left side of the double doors to find a chest with a Life OTG item! ++ AREA: CREW COMPARTMENT QUARTERS ++ Exit the room and enter the office room on the right side. Exit through the other door to encounter more soldiers. When the battle begins, block the soldier's attacks and wait for one of them to get closer. Use a hard combo and stay evasive! Repeat the strategy for the other soldiers to clear out the room. Exit through the newly opened door to a red carpet hallway. ++ AREA: CREW COMPARTMENT - OUTER HALLWAY ++ At the end of the hallway are the double doors that lead back to the Main Cabin (the other metal doorway is locked for now). If you decide to open the double doors, it unlocks them for good. If not, then enter the door across from the Crew Quarters to the Main Office. ++ AREA: MAIN OFFICE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #1 Inside the main office are two items: a Golden Scarab on the shelf behind the desk and a Map Of Tairon next to the desk. Grab them! Once you've gotten the first Golden Scarab, immediately bring it to Muramasa! He will give you the Counterattack Scroll for it and trust me, YOU NEED THAT SCROLL! Once you've obtained the Counterattack Scroll, go back into the Main Office and take the nearby elevator going down to the Fore Cabin. ++ AREA: FORE CABIN ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE ID CARD Exit the elevator and go around the flight control deck to the other end of the room to find another elevator. Take the elevator down to the Control Deck and get ready for some bloodshed. As soon as you exit the elevator, roll in and use hard combos and counters on the soldiers. When all of them are dead, an MSAT Commander will arrive via elevator. Dispatch him and he'll drop the ID CARD Key Item. After you take the ID CARD, open the door next to the elevator into a small store room. Open the chest inside the room to find the DRAGON CLAW & TIGER FANG Dual Katanas! Now exit and take the elevator back up to the flight deck. There is a doorway across the elevator, so enter through to find two soldiers waiting for you in the small corridor. Eliminate them and then exit the corridor to the Save Point. SAVE your game and then take the opposite doorway next to the Save Point leading outside. Cross the bridge and use the ID CARD to enter a Container Room with crates and containers. ++ AREA: MIDDLE CABIN ++ The crate to the left of the door contains Arrows, so replenish your stock. Destroy the wooden crates to clear the room. --OBJECTIVE: OPEN THE LARGE METAL DOOR At the other end of the room are a large metal door and a turnstile. Grab the turnstile and keep rotating it to open the large metal door. After three rotations, more soldiers will burst through the windows. Kill them off with some hard combos to clear the room. Once it's cleared, rotate the handle until the metal door is fully opened. Enjoy the view of the skies! --OBJECTIVE: REACH THE ENGINE ROOM Across from the Middle Cabin is the Engine Room but to get there you need to somehow make it past the open skies. There is a zipline on the upper right side of the doorway, but DO NOT use it yet! A couple of soldiers will emerge from the other end of the ship and shoot at you with their...rocket launcher. Bust out the Bow and start shooting an Arrow at the Red Explosive Barrels to blow those soldiers up. Once the soldiers have been eliminated, take the zipline to the other end of the ship and then jump down. ++ AREA: AFT CABIN ++ Go down the walkway to encounter an MSAT Commander patiently waiting for you in front of the Engine Room. Whack him off the ship to clear this area. --OBJECTIVE: DISABLE THE ENGINES & DEACTIVATE EMERGENCY LOCKS The front door is closed so you'll need to go to the side of the room and break open the window (don't forget about the chest at the end of the walkway). Jump into the Engine Room and start smashing shit up with your sword. After the engines are down, the Emergency locks will open and you can now open the rest of the doors in the ship. Exit the room and go back to the Main Deck. Eliminate any soldiers in the way. --OBJECTIVE: EXPLORE THE LOCKED STORAGE ROOM SAVE your game at the Fore Cabin Save Point. Remember the Storage Room that was locked next to Ryu's Cabin? When you head in there, be prepared for an Enemy Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DC2. ++ AREA: STORAGE ROOM ++ +++AIRSHIP CHALLENGE: STORAGE ROOM Ryu will enter a large arena with a couple of containers in the back. Soldiers will start jumping in from various windows and attacking you. Simply use counterattacks and lots of UT's to complete this uber-easy challenge. After all the soldiers are dead, you will receive a Lives OTTG item! Just remember that if you SKIP this challenge, you will miss out on certain items that cannot be retrieved once the chapter is done. Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle on Hard Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/84307.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #2 Before you leave the Storage Room, jump to the top of the containers at the back of the room and grab the Golden Scarab sitting on the very top container. Once you've taken all the stuff in this room, go to Ryu's Cabin and SAVE your game. --OBJECTIVE: HEAD FOR THE AIRSHIP ROOFTOP Now it's time to meet up with the boss man! Go to the Main Cabin and open the double doors. Go to the other end of the hallway and open the metal door that was previously locked. ++ AREA: GAS COMPARTMENT PASSAGEWAY ++ Go up the metal stairway and you'll see two MSAT soldiers shooting at you. Quickly roll jump to the top and use a Flying Swallow on both of them. Above the stairway is a ledge walkway. Jump up to it to encounter more soldiers. Eliminate them with counters. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #3 There is a large crate on the walkway above the metal stairs. Jump on top of the crate and then use a Bird Flip to jump to a higher walkway with a hidden Golden Scarab! Take the Scarab now because once the chapter ends, you won't be able to get it again! Jump down the upper walkway and continue past the ledges to the other end of the ship. Destroy the enemies with Flying Swallows and use UT's on the commanders. Once you reach the other end of the walkway, use a Bird Flip to another upper walkway. Eliminate the last two soldiers at the top to completely clear the ship of enemies. See that ladder? If you take it to the roof, the roof door won't open. Use a continuous Bird Flip at the bottom of the ladder to find a small little room that has the lever to deactivate the roof door. Pull the lever and then jump back down. Use the Save Point across from the ladder and SAVE your game! If you need to go back to Muramasa's Statue, DO IT NOW! If not, climb up the ladder to encounter the big boss man! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DC3. ++ BOSS BATTLE: DYNAMO ++ Dynamo will use MSAT soldiers to assist him in this battle. Avoid killing off the soldiers and stay within close range of Dynamo so that the soldiers don't approach and grab you. Use the same up-close tactics from Normal Mode to destroy this fatass. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DD1. +++ CHAPTER 4: IMPERIAL CITY INFILTRATION +++ ++ AREA: TAIRON OUTSKIRTS ++ --OBJECTIVE: GO TO HAN'S BAR After the cutscene, SAVE your game! Now jump down to encounter a new enemy: Robotic M-SAT soldiers. These guys should be simple to eliminate as their human counterparts, so get to it! After that's done, go down the alley to Twin Serpents Plaza. You'll be coming back here later, so ignore the large monument for now. To the left of the alley you just came from is a chest under an arch. Do you see it? Open it and grab the goodies inside. Now head for the other open alleyway and you'll see three soldiers. Eliminate them with style and then open the large door to the next area. ++ AREA: MILITARY GATES ++ As you enter this large open area, make a left to see a dead body. Search the body for a goodie. Across from the gates is another dead body with Arrows. Replenish your stock and head for the door with the single Red jewel on it. As you approach the Red-jeweled door, it locks itself and soldiers will appear from the gates. Approach the Grenadier soldier first and use a hard combo on him then use UT's on the rest of them. When the area is cleared, the Red-jeweled door will unlock. Now exit through the door to the next area. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY ++ When you enter the next area, three soldiers will attack from off- screen, so be ready for the ambush. Eliminate them to clear the alley. --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE LUNAR Go to the other end of this alley to the other side (ignore the stairway going down for now). At the end of the zigzag alley is a large pot with the Lunar weapon inside. Take the new weapon and equip it if you want. After you've taken the Lunar, open the nearby gate for future purposes. Now go back to the Dworku Alleyway. As you go back to the stairway, the three soldiers that tried to ambush you will reappear (and will respawn whenever you come back to this area). Eliminate or ignore them and go down the stairs. Take a right and down the alley to the next stairway. ++ AREA: OUTER CLOCK TOWER SQUARE ++ As you approach the stairs, you will see two soldiers (one on separate balconies) shooting at you. Bust out your Bow and kill them in First- Person to clear this area. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #6 Near the stairway is one of Ayane's Kunai Scrolls. She will inform you about blue-colored ledges that lead to certain areas. There is a blue ledge just where you found the Kunai Scroll, so approach it and Ryu will grab it and flip over it. Shimmy all the way to the right side and then climb up to the hidden ledge to find a Life OTG. Go back to the blue ledge and shimmy back to the upper stairway (or just jump down). ++LIFE OF THE GODS #7 On top of the stairway is a blue ledge. Use a Wall Run to grab the ledge and then shimmy all the way to the left side and jump down onto the balcony. See that blue zipline above the balcony? Jump up and grab it and shimmy all the way to the other balcony. Once you reach the other balcony, jump down and open the chest to find A Life OTG ! When you turn around, there will be a pair of soldiers on top of the stairs shooting at you. Ignore them or kill them if you want. At the other side of the stairway is a dead body. Do you see it? Search the body to find a goodie. There is also a Save Point next to the door with a Bronze Lilly on it. SAVE your game and then exit this area using the Yellow-jeweled door to a new area. ++ AREA: CLOCK TOWER PLAZA ++ As soon as you enter CTP, you'll notice another multi-jeweled doorway with a purple jewel in the middle. That door is locked at the moment, so ignore it. Across from the multi-jeweled door is a doorway with blue-lining. Enter through that doorway and go up the stairs to encounter three soldiers. Eliminate them with hard combos and continue up towards the Clock Tower balcony. As you approach the balcony, three Catwomen will jump down. Use evasive rolls and counterattacks on them as best you can. ++SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS #1 Once the Catwomen have been dispatched, approach the lone chest under the archway to find a Spirit OTD item! Equip it to give yourself another Ninpo slot. Now jump down back onto the street. Head down Clock Tower Square past the multi-jeweled door again and a short cutscene will occur showing Muramasa's Shop. Enter inside the shop if you want and then continue on. Outside Muramasa's Shop is a large Green-jeweled doorway. As you approach the door, soldiers will appear from the other side. Eliminate the soldiers to unlock that door. Enter the Green-jeweled doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #4 As soon as you enter this area, make a left to see a small fountain. There is a hidden Golden Scarab in the fountain, so grab it! --OBJECTIVE: UNLOCK THE GATE TO PLEASURE STREET There is a bunch of things you can find in Great Bridge Square. In the alley on the right side, you'll find a doorway with a crack on it. It can't be opened until later, so ignore it. Also notice that there is an enclosed area with a locked gate here. To go inside that area, go to the back of the alley and turn right. Use a Bird Flip to an upper ledge and jump down to the enclosed area with a circular stone pattern. If you step in the middle of the stone pattern, three Catwomen will jump down. Eliminate them with hard combos to clear this area. There is also a chest with LOTS of goodies inside. Open it up to get the stuff and then approach the metal door to unlock it. Now you're done collecting all the stuff in this area. See those small set of stairs next to Great Bridge Square? Take those stairs and you will encounter two more Catwomen. Eliminate them with hard combos. To exit this area, go to the small alley where those Catwomen came from and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top ledge. Use a Wall Run on the blue-lined wall to the other ledge and head through the doorway. Follow the ledge until you see a dead body. Search the body to find a diary. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #5 This Golden Scarab is just across from the dead body. Grab it and continue down the walkway towards the end. --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE IZUNA DROP At the end of the walkway, you will see another chest and a lever. Open the chest for some goodies and then pull the lever to unlock the multi- jeweled door to Pleasure Street. Jump back down to the ground below to encounter some patrolling soldiers. Fight them off and then go BACK to Muramasa's Shop. Talk to him and he will pass the IZUNA DROP Scroll to you. Trust me, YOU NEED THAT SCROLL! Once that's done, go back outside and enter the Purple-jeweled doorway. ++ AREA: PLEASURE STREET ++ As you make your way up Pleasure Street, another batch of Catwomen will drop down to ambush you. Eliminate them with ease using the Izuna Drop and continue up to Han's Bar to trigger a new battle. Now it's time for some Crotch Rocket action! A bunch of motorcycle MSAT soldiers will come crashing in, so get ready for the party! Unfortunately, the motorcycles are more powerful than the soldiers. Avoid trying to block the motorcycles because they break your guard and hurt you. Stay evasive and use Flying Swallow attacks or the Guillotine Throw if you can get close. Unseat all of the riders and then kill them with some easy combos. After the battle ends, grab the LILLY KEY and then approach Han's Bar to end the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DE1. +++ CHAPTER 5: THE FIEND HUNTER +++ ++ AREA: MONASTERY INNER CLEARING ++ Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. A trio of Robot M-SAT soldiers will run towards you, so smack them with some hard combos to eliminate them. Once the area is cleared, head out of the area using the gateway. Eliminate the next bunch of soldiers and use the Peluda Tail to destroy the Copter. Continue down the road towards Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE DWORKU MONASTERY KEY A couple more soldiers and a Grenadier will come after you in this area. Use hard combos on the soldiers and a UT on the Grenadier. When the soldiers are toast, go up the stairs to encounter more soldiers. Defeat them with some hard combos and the DWORKU MONASTERY KEY will flash on the ground. Grab the item and go back to Monastery Plaza. If you want to use Muramasa's Statue near the top of the stairs, then do it now. When you re-enter the Plaza, prepare for a Shadow Fiend ambush! Use counterattacks and UT's to defeat these easy enemies and then use the DWORKU KEY on the large double gate. ++ AREA: MONASTERY ENTRANCE ++ When you enter the area, prepare to eliminate more Shadow Fiends. Clear the area of the baddies and then approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! From here, Rachel has the option to pursue her first Fiend Challenge. To the left of the Monastery entrance is the Monastery Annex. Make your way to that area to find ANOTHER Muramasa Statue. Go up the stairs and double jump to the ledge above. Follow the walkway to the other side and jump down. Exit to trigger a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DE2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #1: MONASTERY ANNEX ENTRANCE This challenge consists of Brown Shadow Fiends. Simply use counterattacks on them and pound hard combos when there is an opening to do so. Continuously use non-stop UT's for lots of Karma points and dead bodies. Once the challenge is done, Rachel will receive a brand spankin' new Hairstyle. Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle for Hard Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/84310.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Now make your way BACK to the Monastery entrance doors and SAVE your game! Enter the Monastery and go up the walkway towards the Altar Hall. ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ Destroy all the Shadow Fiends with some easy combos. Avoid approaching the Altar and instead, enter the door on the right side of the Altar Hall into the Archives Room. ++ AREA: ARCHIVES ++ Watch out because Black Spider Ninjas will swarm you from above! Use quick evasion and counterattacks on them to stop them cold. A few hard combos and some UT's will clear this room. Once that's done, go up the stairs and approach the paintings to end the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DF1. +++ CHAPTER 6: CITY OF FIENDS +++ Approach the nearby Save Point and SAVE your game first! Now open the nearby chest to obtain some goodies. Time to leave this place! --OBJECTIVE: LEAVE HAN'S BAR There are two ways to leave Han's Bar: the hard way or the easy way. --THE EASY WAY: Jump down the balcony (the one Gamov jumped from) to the lower balcony. Open the chest for another set of goodies and then jump down to the street below. --THE HARD WAY: Go inside the Bar and take the stairs going down. Eliminate the soldiers waiting for you and continue down the halls. Eliminate another batch of soldiers as you make your way to the exit. Choose whichever way you want. Just note that if you jump down to the street, you will miss out on some chests inside Han's Bar. As you exit back onto the street, more MSAT Motorcycle guys will appear. Defeat them by using the Flying Swallow. Once the area is clear of motorcycle threats, approach the Save Point next to Han's Bar to SAVE your game! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #6 As you leave Pleasure Street, you'll notice an alley with blue lines. For this part, you will use a Wall Run & Jump method. Jump and run the blue lines and then press the Square Button to land on a high ledge with a Team Ninja logo. Touch the TEAM NINJA logo to completely restore health and Ninpo. (The Windmill Shuriken doesn't exist here because Muramasa has it.) Come back here whenever you need to refill on health and Ninpo. Now jump down and head towards the end of the alley to find a Golden Scarab all by itself. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO MOAT ROAD ++LIFE OF THE GODS #8 Remember that large door with the Bronze Lilly on it? Make your way back to that door. Once you get there, enter through to find more soldiers waiting for you. Eliminate them and head down the alley. Use a continuous Wall Run at the end of the alley to the upper ledge with a chest. Open the chest to find a Life OTG! ++ AREA: MOAT ROAD ++ As you make your way down the alley, a trio of Catwomen will appear. These three will re-spawn every time you come back to this area, so eliminate them as fast as you can! When the Catwomen are dead, continue down Moat Road into a zigzag passageway. Inside the passageway, you'll see a locked gate that needs a key. Continue outside the passageway to a small area that has a Save Point. SAVE your game and then go up the stairs to a new area. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE PEGASUS KEY TO LOWER DRAWBRIDGE In this small enclosed area, you'll see a drawbridge that is up and more motorcycle soldiers. Eliminate them to clear this area and then enter the blue-jeweled doorway. When you enter the other side, you'll see a long alley and three more soldiers waiting at the other end. Quickly roll jump towards them and destroy them to clear this area. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #7 In the middle of the alley is a chest that contains the PEGASUS KEY. Open the chest to obtain the item. Opposite from the chest is a Golden Scarab on a ledge. To get to it, use a continuous Wall Run on the nearby wall to grab it. Once you've gotten the Scarab, jump back down to Moat Road below or take the blue-jeweled door back to the locked gate near Moat Road. Whichever way you choose, be prepared to face those three Catwomen. Once you use the PEGASUS KEY on the gate, pull the lever inside the room to lower the drawbridge in Drawbridge Square. SAVE your game if you need to and make your way past the drawbridge. --OBJECTIVE: HEAD FOR THE MONASTERY ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE HILL ++ Cross the Drawbridge and make your way up the large stairs to Drawbridge Hill. On the way up, you'll see a Save Point across the way, but when you reach it, three BS Ninjas will jump down to ambush you. Eliminate them ninjas with some hard combos. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #8 & #9/LIFE OF THE GODS #9 Golden Scarab #8 is right next to the Save Point on Drawbridge Hill. Grab the item and then take the path to the right. Search the wall crevices to find Golden Scarab #9. The chest next to Scarab #9 contains a Life OTG, so grab it! Grab the items and go BACK the other way you came. Go around the street to find Muramasa's Statue. Replenish any stock you need and then go down the stairs to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ As soon as you enter this area, the gate will rise and lock you in and a bunch of soldiers will drop down from a nearby balcony. Quickly make your way to the area where they are jumping down from and eliminate them by using Izuna Drops and UT's. Once you killed them all, the gates unlock and you can continue through. The front gates to the Monastery are closed at the moment, so you'll need to take the path on the other side. As you make your way to the other side of the Monastery, you will be ambushed by MORE BS Ninjas. Stay evasive and use some well-timed counterattacks and Izuna Drops on them to eliminate them all. Once the Ninjas are gone, search the tiny alleyway to find a chest with goodies. Before you continue, I suggest saving your game! Go back to Drawbridge Hill and SAVE there. Just remember, whenever you reload a SAVED GAME in Drawbridge Hill, you WILL be ambushed by the BS Ninjas, so BE PREPARED! Alright, now go all the way to the other side of the Monastery. ++ AREA: MONASTERY INNER CLEARING ++ While this area may look empty, continue going down until the gates rise and lock. A new set of Motorcycle soldiers will appear here (one driving the bike with another sitting in the cab next to him). Bait the bikers into driving into the corner so they can't turn around. Use Flying Swallows on them to easily kill them off. After the soldiers are dead, a short and hilariously bloody cutscene will occur. Be prepared for a sub-boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DF2. +++ SUB-BOSS: RED DINO FIENDS (GAHRULAS) +++ Just kill these freaks already. BLAH BLAH BLAH. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DF3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: HYDRACUBUS +++ The strategy for this battle is still the same: Cut off both tentacles with Flying Swallows and use UT's when vulnerable BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. The only thing you need to watch out for is the Brown Shadow Fiend lackey. Use Izuna Drops on them to eliminate them and continue focusing on cutting off Hydra's crap. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DG1. +++ CHAPTER 7: THE MONASTERY +++ ++ AREA: MONASTERY ANNEX ++ When the mission begins, SAVE your game at the nearby Save Point. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #10 Across from the Save Point are two chests. One of them contains the Life OTG, so grab it! The other one contains exploding Bats, so open at your discretion! Now go up the stairs and open the chests at the top of the stairs to find some goodies. As you walk towards the archway, you will be swarmed by Bats and Laser Copters. Equip the Windmill Shuriken and start tossing it at the Laser Copters and then use Shurikens for the Bats. With the area cleared, continue down the archway and jump down. You will find a Muramasa Statue here, so use it if you need to and then continue outside to a grassy area. Near the exit is a chest with an item inside. Grab the item and then continue towards the Monastery entrance. Catwomen will appear in this area, so get to killing! Use Izuna Drops and hard combos to eliminate them all. Once they've all been diced, head for the Save Point next to the Monastery entrance and SAVE your game! ++ AREA: MONASTERY If you want to open the double doorway leading back to Monastery Square, then do it. You'll encounter more Catwomen if you do, so be prepared. If you don't open the door, then enter the large doors to enter the Monastery. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE STONE TABLET (RIGHT) ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #11 As soon as you enter inside, go up the walkway and search the area for chests. One of them contains a Life OTG, so grab that bitch! See that Altar at the other side of the room? Ignore it for now and take the door located on the right side to the Archive Room. ++ AREA: ARCHIVES ++ As soon as you enter the Archives, the gates on the second floor close and the door behind you locks itself. That means its boss time! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DG2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BLACK DRAGON CLONE - PART 1 +++ One thing to know about the Clone is that from the minute he shows up, he is fully equipped with a powerful set of weapons at his disposal. For this battle, the Clone is equipped with the True Dragon Sword and infinite Projectiles (unfortunately). The Clone is not as difficult to battle as Chapter 2 Doku (it's not a One-Hit Kill battle) but he does have powerful combos and guard breakers that he loves to use like a madman. For one thing, if he isn't attacking you, he's tossing Incendiary Shurikens, the Windmill Shuriken, and regular Shurikens (sometimes all at the same goddamn time). The Clone can do real-time Projectile switching (WHAT THE HELL, MAN!) and can activate the Inferno and Fire Wheels Ninpo at any moment. These are some of the combos that the Clone is prone to using: --FLYING SWALLOW + GLEAMING BLADE --DRAGON TEAR COMBO --WINDMILL SLASH + CRIMSON SLASH --UPPERCUT SLASH + PROJECTILE + DOWNWARD STRIKE --WIND JUMP + PROJECTILE So how do you defeat an opponent as fully-powered as this? Well, you could spend your time trying to just perform non-stop Flying Swallows on him OR...you can catch him off-guard and do an Izuna Drop combo on him. First of all, stay defensive for the entire battle. The main tactic here is to bait the Clone into attacking you directly and breaking your guard. When he breaks your guard, immediately roll away and quickly try to counter with an IZUNA DROP or BLADE OF NIRRTI combo. If he blocks the hit, do a downward strike and that will usually stop him cold (some of the time). The IZUNA DROP is your most powerful combo for this battle and can shave off about 40% if successful. When staying defensive, be sure to keep the Block Button held at all times because the Clone tends to throw Projectiles at you WHILE you are rolling and that will definitely hurt you. When the Clone fires up an Inferno Ninpo, use a well-timed Reverse Wind rolling FORWARD and the fireball will miss. If he activates the Fire Wheels, simply run up the stairs until the wheel dissipates. That's pretty much the main strategy for the battle: BLOCK, EVADE, IZUNA DROP. Since Ryu is still ill-equipped for the battle, this is your only best strategy for the moment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #10 & 11 After the battle, go up the stairs and search the Archive Room to find a couple of goodies. You'll find a Golden Scarab, the Right Stone Tablet, and some Incendiary Shurikens. Equip the Incendiary Shurikens and continue up to the third floor. Use a Bird Flip to reach the higher floor and to find Golden Scarab #11 sitting there. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE BOOK OF EONS Ascend the third floor and then toss an Incendiary Shuriken at the wall to break it open. As soon as the wall breaks, more Scythe-Wielding Fiends and Catwomen will show up. Destroy them with counters and combos and then exit using the door at the end of the room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DG3. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: ARCHIVE ROOM If you re-enter the Archive Room after find the BOOK OF EONS, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge with Catwomen and Scythe-Wielding Fiends. Finishing this challenge nets you a Spirit Of The Devils. Keep in mind though, if you defeat Alma BEFORE attempting this Fiend Challenge, the challenge is forfeited. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #12/LIFE OF THE GODS #12 As you exit the room, you'll be on the upper balcony of the Monastery. There are two catwalks and ledges up here: one on the left and one on the right. Each ledge contains a chest and each balcony contains an item. The Golden Scarab is on the right balcony AND THE Life OTG is on the left, so grab both items. Once you've collected the goodies, enter the door at the opposite end of the balcony to a new room. ++ AREA: MONK'S ROOM ++ The room is empty at the moment, so keep your cool. In the office room, you see a Safe on the wall and a desk with a book on top. Read the book on the table to receive a combination: 2 7 1 2 LEFT RIGHT RIGHT LEFT. Approach the safe and unlock it by doing it this way: rotate the dial LEFT until it touches #2. Rotate the dial RIGHT until it touches #7. Rotate the dial RIGHT until it touches #1. And then rotate the dial LEFT until it reaches #2. When the combination is correct, one of the four lights on the Safe turns blue. If you get it wrong, just start over again. Once the Safe is cracked, grab the BOOK OF EONS. Now you have to fight off the unwanted guests. --OBJECTIVE: USE THE BOOK OF EONS ON THE ALTAR Eliminate all the fiends that appear in the room to clear it out and then exit back to the Altar Hall. REMEMBER! Come back to this room in Chapter 9 & 13 for more goodies hidden in the Safe! Exit back to the Altar Hall and use the Book of Eons on the Altar to open up a large sarcophagus-looking thingie behind it. Fight off or ignore the Fiends in the Altar Hall and jump down to the newly opened cavern below. In the small cavern, you'll find a dead body and a Chest and some Apparitions. Kill them with simple slashes. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #13 Search the dead body to find some Incendiary Shurikens and open the chest obtain the Map to the area. Grab the Golden Scarab on the ground and kill the Apparitions. Use the Save Point and SAVE your game! --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE HOLY GRAIL ++ AREA: CORRIDOR OF DOOM ++ Enter the gate near the Save Point to a small corridor. Use an Incendiary Shuriken on the wall to open a new pathway and enter through, but WATCH OUT! Once you walk past the newly opened corridor, a large rock-face boulder will come rolling after you! NO TIME FOR LOVE DOCTAH JONES! Quickly start running down the Corridor! Stay on the left side for most of the boulder run. Quickly jump over spikes and use Wall Runs to move faster. If you get trampled by the boulder, don't worry, Ryu will immediately start over at the beginning of the Corridor. So keep trying until you get it right, dammit! Once you reach the end of the Corridor, Ryu will grab on to a metal bar and start swinging. ++ AREA: ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS ++ Jump from bar to bar until you reach the Save Point. SAVE your game and then descend the large spiral going down to the area below. Kill the glowing apparitions with the Windmill Shuriken and keep descending until you reach an area with a large fossilized dinosaur. Kill the Shadow fiends that appear here to clear the area. Notice that there is a large altar next to the metal gate. Remember this altar because you'll be returning here later in the chapter! ++ AREA: INNER ECONTRA ++ Enter through the other metal gate towards a large area infested with a bunch of Wasp Fiends. These Metroid-looking rip-offs are not so lethal but they can be annoying when they start to sting you in groups. Jump down to the bottom and use Flying Swallow/Windmill Shuriken attacks on them to kill them off. Explore this room to see a couple of high ledges. There is a Golden Scarab on an alcove above and two ledges that goes back up to the fossilized dinosaur area. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #14/LIFE OF THE GODS #13 Once all the Wasp Fiends are gone, search the upper alcove for a Golden Scarab. To find that Scarab, use a Bird Flip in the enclosure and you will land on the alcove to find the Scarab lying there. Jump to the ledge across from the Scarab and you will see a higher ledge across from you with a chest. Use a Wall Run to reach the chest and open it to find a Life OTG item! ++ AREA: HALL OF EONS ++ Now jump back down and out of Inner Econtra to find a Save Point. SAVE your game and continue to descend the large spiral (or you can just jump down to the ground below). Once you reach the bottom, prepare to fight some more Shadow Fiends and Apparitions. Kill them all (or don't) and them access Muramasa's Statue to replenish any items you need. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #15 Now enter the tunnel and jump down the ladder. You'll find a Golden Scarab between the crevices of the wall, so grab it! ++ AREA: TOMB OF EONS ++ Continue into the Tomb Of Eons until you reach a large circular platform. Use a downward strike on the switch in the center to activate the platform and make it descend. As it descends, Shadow Fiends will appear, so start some killing! When you do an Izuna Drop on them as the platform descends, watch how far Ryu drops them, it's FUNNY AS HELL! Once the platform stops, enter the doorway to another cavern. Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. See that chest in the corner? Open in to find the VIGOORIAN FLAILS weapon inside. Equip it if you want and test out its coolness. Now make your way for the opposite doorway to enter a new room. ++ AREA: RITUAL ROOM ++ As you enter the room, you will be swarmed with Wasp Fiends. Eliminate them with some easy Flying Swallow attacks. Once the last Wasp Fiend dies, the door locks and a new set of enemies will appear. A whole bunch of Zombies (or Ghuuls) will emerge and try to molest you. Yes, I said "molest" you. You will see a couple of Zombies carrying maces and axes and some Archers. Approach the Archer first and eliminate it with hard combos. Be sure to block his arrows (be careful though because they are strong arrows) and then use the leftover essence for UT's on the others (remember to stay evasive). You'll deal with four Archers total, so get to it! Once the Archers are gone, use whatever weapon you want on the other Zombies. Be sure to stay evasive and kill them off with UT's. Once the room is cleared, the door will re-open. Grab the HOLY GRAIL item on the mantle and then exit the room. ++ AREA: TOMB OF EONS ++ When you exit the Ritual Room, more Zombies and Archers will appear in the corridor. Eliminate them if you want or just make your way back to the rotating platform. When you reach the platform, strike the dial to make it ascend back up. Destroy the Zombies that appear until the platform stops halfway. Continue destroying Zombies and then strike the dial again to make it ascend up. Make your way up to the large spiral cavern and eliminate anything that gets in your way. As you ascend the spiral, there will be FOUR Archers waiting for you. Use Incendiary Shurikens on them and block their arrow attacks. Be careful not to get too careless when jumping from ledge to ledge because if you fall down, you will have to ascend the spiral again and the Archers will respawn! Make your way back to the Save Point next to Inner Econtra and SAVE your game! Once that's done, go back up to Econtra Babel Specus and place the HOLY GRAIL on the altar near the fossilized dinosaur to trigger the next boss fight! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DG4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BONE DRAGON +++ This battle is no different than it was on Normal Mode, so use the same tactics from Normal Mode to kill it. As for his Wasp Fiend lackeys, keep your distance and use the Windmill Shuriken to kill them. Most of the time, the dead lackeys leave Blue Essence, so collect it if you need to but DO NOT attempt a UT on the Bone Dragon! It won't work, so just collect the Essence. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DH1. +++ CHAPTER 8: ALMA, GREATER FIEND +++ --OBJECTIVE #1: GO TO GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE --OBJECTIVE #2: GO TO THE MILITARY GATES (OPTIONAL) This is a pretty short mission depending if you want to take on both objectives or not. First of all, SAVE your game at the Save Point. Replenish your supply at Muramasa's Statue if you need to and then exit out of the Monastery back to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ Take the only pathway that is open at the moment. Eliminate the soldiers on the way down as you head towards Drawbridge Hill. Use the Save Point at Drawbridge Hill if you need to and then go down the steps towards Drawbridge Square. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ Pull the lever in front of the bridge to lower it and then head for the Square to encounter some Blue Dinos. You do NOT need to kill these dinos to continue the mission, but if you defeat them, Rachel will receive the BLADE OF THE OUROBOROS Sorcery! Exit Drawbridge Square using the Blue-jeweled doorway. Roll jump towards the soldiers and take out the Grenadier first and then use UT's on the other two soldiers. With all three dead, go to the end of the path and strike at the crack on the wall to open a new secret pathway. Open the chest for a goodie and make your way down the zigzag path to the other gate. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY ++ As you exit the gate, you have to decide if you want to go to Great Bridge Square or to the Military Gate. If you go to Great Bridge Square, you will face off against a boss character. If you go to the Military Gates, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge. If you choose to do both, then do the Fiend Challenge first. Go up the stairs and exit using the Red-jeweled door to the Military Gate. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DH2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #2: MILITARY GATE The Fiend Challenge in this area consists of a mixture of Brown Shadow Fiends and Blue Dinos. Use counterattacks on the small guys and stay evasive from the Dinos. Kill the Shadow Fiends and use the leftover Essence for UT's on them blue dinos. That's pretty much it for this challenge. You can use the red exploding barrels to your advantage. After the battle, Rachel will receive another Hairstyle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- After the challenge, make your way to the Bronze Lilly Door. Eliminate any soldiers that appear and use Save Point next to the Bronze Lilly Door. Now go to Clock Tower Square and exit using the Green-jeweled door. If you need to replenish items at Muramasa's Shop, DO IT NOW! ++ AREA: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE ++ Approach Great Bridge Square (the large empty area across the green- jeweled door) and be prepared for a Black Spider ambush. Use quick evasion and hard combos on the BS Ninjas. Kill them all to trigger a tedious new boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DH3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: GAMOV +++ For this battle, use a hard combo or a wall attack on the MSAT soldiers to clear the area. Use the same strategy I mentioned from Normal Mode for this battle. Avoid attempting a UT with the leftover Essence because Gamov can evade Rachel's UT. Get up close and counter at him! Do it already! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DI1. +++ CHAPTER 9: HIDDEN UNDERGROUND +++ ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #3 After the battle with the Bone Dragon, it leaves a Lives OTTG item for you to collect, so get it! Use the item to increase your HP bar. After grabbing the Lives OTTG, DO NOT JUMP DOWN from Econtra Babel Specus! If you do, you will pay the consequences for doing so! Instead, make your way back to the Save Point at Inner Econtra and SAVE your game. Jump down to the area with the Bone Dragon's dead body. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND CEMETARY ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #16 Scour around the underground cemetery near the Bone Dragon's body to find a Golden Scarab sitting in one of the wall alcoves. Grab it and then enter the doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: COFFIN CHAMBER ++ Four Archers and some Apparitions will be waiting for you at the end of this chamber, so bust out the Incendiary Shurikens (if you still have any left) or destroy them the hard way. Once the room is cleared, enter the next room to find Muramasa's Statue. By this point in the game, you need to upgrade the Dragon Sword to Level Three. Restock on whatever you need and then head for the next room. Use the Save Point to SAVE your game and then open the nearby chest to find the MAP for the area. Now exit this room to a new area. ++ AREA: SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #14/GOLDEN SCARAB #17 Avoid walking on the bridge. To the left of the exit is a Life OTG item. Equip all nine Life Of The Gods to increase your health bar. Also, to the right of the exit is a Golden Scarab! Now jump down to the bottom of the Suspension Bridge Room to encounter some Zombies and Shadow Fiends. Eliminate them to clear the area (for now) and explore the area. You will see two doorways: one with a Red Eye and one with a Blue Eye. Also in this area is a large locked door with a statue engraving and a red and blue lock. Enter through either doorway to start a series of easy puzzles. ++ AREA: RED EYE CHAMBER ++ This is a pretty simple puzzle. There are two Archers at the other end of the flooded chamber. Run on the water and use left-to-right zigzag running patterns to avoid getting hit by their Arrows. If you get hit, just get up and continue running. Once you make it to the other side, kill the Archers and press the Red Eye button on the wall to unlock one side of the large door outside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #18/LIFE OF THE GODS #15 Underneath the area where you pressed the Red Eye is a Golden Scarab. Swim under the water to grab it. Make your way towards the exit of the chamber and swim under the water to find a chest with Life OTG. GET IT! Exit the Red Eye Chamber and make your way to the Blue Eye Chamber. ++ AREA: BLUE EYE CHAMBER ++ In this room, you will see a series of swinging pendulums, Apparitions, and three Archers. Kill the nearby Archer first and then replenish your Arrows by grabbing them from the dead body. Go down the stairs and hide behind one of the broken pillars in the center of the room. Use the cover and start shooting Arrows at the Archers until you bag them both. Now that the room is clear, go back up the stairs and shoot the glowing Medallion on the upper wall to reveal a glowing pathway. Quickly make your way down the path while avoiding the pendulums (you can shoot the medallions above the pendulums to slow them down, if you want). Use a Wall Run at the end to reach the Blue Eye Button and press it to unlock the large door outside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #19 Just like in the Red Eye Chamber, there is a Golden Scarab under the platform. Jump down and grab the item and then exit the room. After you've pressed both jeweled buttons in both rooms, the large door in the Suspension Bridge Room unlocks. Exit the chamber and enter into that room to face off against an old foe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DI2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: HYDRACUBUS PART 2 +++ The same rule applies here but Hydra will have ONE Catwoman assisting him for the fight. Use mid-air Arrows on the feline pussy and then a hard combo to eliminate her and then focus on that tentacled bitch. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #4 After the battle, Hydracubus leaves a special item for you. Grab the Lives OTTG item and use it to increase your life bar. Now exit back outside to the Suspension Bridge Room. Notice that a couple of pillars outside the Suspension Bridge Room emerge from the walls after the Hydra battle. Approach either of the wall enclosures and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top of the room. If you didn't cross the bridge earlier in the level, then you can now cross it back to the previous Save Point. ++JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL #1 On the throne seat at the other end of the room, grab the Jewel OTDS on the seat. This item will give an additional upgrade to whichever Ninpo Scroll you have. ++ AREA: THE GREAT CORRIDOR ++ Continue down the walkway towards another Save Point and SAVE your game. Descend the corridor to encounter some Archers and Zombies waiting for you at the bottom. Destroy them with some hard combos and don't forget to use some UT's on them. Once the room is cleared, search the nearby dead body to find the ART OF THE ICE STORM Ninpo Scroll. Equip it if you want and continue down the corridor to a new area. ++ AREA: CHAMBER OF EVERLASTING SLEEP ++ At the entrance to the Chamber, you will be swarmed by bats. Use Shurikens to kill them or equip the Flails. Enter the Chamber to see a large sarcophagus holding a Key and a statue. Don't approach it or it will rise up. Instead, go to the left ledge and use a Wall Run to land on a large step button. When the step button lowers, you can access the coffin and grab the WOLF DEITY Statue and the SKULL KEY. Use the SKULL KEY on the nearby door and head down the pathway. Kill the Bats in the cavern and continue down until a cutscene occurs. After the cutscene, swim forward to see an elevator and a sunken tunnel. Oddly enough, there is also a Muramasa's Statue under the water! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #20 In the center of the sunken room is a Golden Scarab. Swim down to find it and grab it! ++ AREA: JUNCTION CHAMBER ++ Avoid the elevator and just swim into the nearby tunnel that leads to the Junction Chamber. Swim all the way to the end to find a dormant platform and a Save Point. Use the Save Point to SAVE your game and then swim back to the elevator and take it up to the Monastery. ++ AREA: MONK'S ROOM ++ As soon as you enter the room, you will be ambushed by some BS Ninjas. Eliminate them with hard combos to clear this room. Now it's time to crack open that safe for another goodie! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #16 Read the book on the desk to find another combination: 1410 RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT. You should know how to crack open the safe by now, so crack it open to receive your Life OTG item. Exit the Monk's room and head for the Altar Hall to face off against one of the most difficult bosses in the game. +++FIEND CHALLENGE NOTE: If you have not attempted the Fiend Challenge in the Archives Room, do it now! Once you defeat Alma, the Fiend Challenge in the Archives Room is forfeited. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DI3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ALMA +++ Alma uses Brown Shadow Fiends to assist her. If you already know how to evade Alma's attacks, then focus on using Izuna Drops on the lackeys to eliminate them. When the lackeys are gone, focus on Alma. If you sucked hard against Alma on Normal Mode, chances are you won't get any better with this battle, so practice on Normal Mode first! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DJ1. +++ CHAPTER 10: TAIRON UNDER ALERT +++ --OBJECTIVE #1: GO TO THE MILITARY GATE --OBJECTIVE #2: GO TO THE RITUAL ROOM (OPTIONAL) When the Chapter begins, go back into the Monastery and look for Rachel's War Hammer at the back of the Altar Hall. Take the weapon and then exit back outside. Use the Save Point outside the Monastery and SAVE your game! Go to Muramasa's Statue nearby and replenish any items you need. From here, you can continue the mission or attempt another Fiend Challenge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DJ2. ++FIEND CHALLENGE: RITUAL ROOM This challenge can be done at any time after the Alma battle, but its best to do it in Chapter 10 if you want to get a higher ranking. Go back to the Ritual Room (where you found the Holy Grail) and prepare to face off against a bunch of Zombies. Finish the Challenge to gain a Lives OTTG item! Once you finish this challenge, go back to the Monastery the same way you came in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you decide not to pursue the Fiend Challenge, leave the Monastery and go to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ As you enter the area, the gates will close and a bunch of Armored soldiers will appear from the balconies. If you want, test out the power of the Dabilahro on these guys. Use downward strikes and lots of UT's to clear this area. When the gates open, make your way back to Drawbridge Square. Eliminate more soldiers in your way to get there. On the way down the stairs, watch out for the Tomahawk Chopper! It'll drop a couple of bombs on you, so jump out of the way! Once you reach Drawbridge Square, pull the lever to lower the drawbridge and reveal more armored soldiers and Armored cars. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ Equip the Incendiary Shurikens and start tossing them at Armored soldiers. Eliminate the soldiers and RPG soldiers with some well-timed UT's and then go to the Save Point at the bottom of the stairs and SAVE your game. Continue through the zigzag tunnel and eliminate more soldiers using Incendiary Shurikens and Flying Swallows. ++ AREA: MOAT ROAD ++ As you head down Moat Road, the Tomahawk Chopper will stop by again to drop more bombs. Jump out of the way and continue down the alleyway back to the Bronze Lilly Door. Once you exit the door, more soldiers will be waiting for you. Eliminate them and then use the Save Point. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE STONE TABLET (TOP) Go up the stairs and up the alleyway. As you approach the stairway, you will see a chest at the end of the path. A couple of Armored soldiers will be waiting near the stairway, so eliminate them first and then open the chest to find the STONE TABLET (TOP) Key Item. Now go up the stairs towards the Military Gate. --OBJECTIVE: UNLOCK THE SKULL GATE Near the Military Gate entrance is the Skull Gate. It's a metal door with a Skull on it. Use the Skull Key you got from the previous Chapter to unlock the Skull Gate and enter inside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #21 &22/LIFE OF THE GODS #17 Inside this area are a Muramasa Statue and some goodies. Open the chest for a Life OTG and then grab the nearby Golden Scarab. Now use a Bird Flip on the nearby ledge to reach the higher ledge. Use another Bird Flip to reach the top ledge. Rotate the camera from the ledge to see another Golden Scarab sitting on an opposite ledge. Use a Wall-to-Wall Run and land on that ledge and grab that Scarab! Now jump back down, access Muramasa's Statue and purchase some Incendiary Shurikens. Before you enter the Military Gates, I strongly suggest going back to the Save Point next to the Lilly Door and SAVE your game! The next part will be quite difficult and it will definitely frustrate you if you don't SAVE your game NOW! Once you've done that, make your way to the Military Gate and enter. ++ AREA: MILITARY GATE ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE STRONGBOW As you enter the Military Gate area, start roll jumping and tossing Incendiary Shurikens at the gunners on the gate balcony. Eliminate the other Armored soldiers here with Flying Swallows while blocking gunfire. Once the area is clear, grab some Arrows from the nearby dead body and look at the building across the Military Gate. You will see an open window and an RPG soldier inside trying to blast you with rockets. Bust out the Bow and shoot him dead to obtain a new weapon: the Strongbow! Once that's done, grab the Strongbow and prepare for a new boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DJ3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ALTERNATOR +++ BLAH BLAH BLAH. This battle is no different than it was on Normal Mode, so just use the same strategies from that mode on this fat f*cker. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Hold up there, big boy! There's still one thing left to do! --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN A FREE TALISMAN OF REBIRTH Go back to the Skull Gate area and Bird Flip your way to the third floor. Enter the room where the RPG soldier was shooting at you and look out the window. Above the Military Gate is an office with glass windows. Do you see it? On the back wall of the office is a large medallion that looks like a wall-clock. Bust out the Strongbow and shoot an arrow at that medallion. When you make the shot, a chest with a Talisman Of Rebirth will appear on the ground. Go and grab it and then exit the gates to end the chapter! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DK1. +++ CHAPTER 11: THE MILITARY SUPPLY BASE +++ ++ AREA: MILITARY GATE ROAD ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE WAREHOUSE KEY/ENTER THE WAREHOUSE Before you continue the chapter, first go back to Muramasa's Statue next to the Skull Door and purchase a full set of Explosive Arrows. Equip the Explosive Arrows and then exit to the gates and then continue down Military Gate Road to the end. Exit at the lone door. As you enter the next area, a trio of Armored soldiers will ambush you. Destroy them by using Explosive Arrows for less headaches. Jump and shoot the Explosive Arrows in mid-air to kill them with ease. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #23 Once you've killed the three soldiers, continue down the long road and look to the left of the tunnel exit to find a Golden Scarab sitting there. GRAB IT! ++ AREA: WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE ++ As you approach the next open area, you will see an Armored car and a bunch of soldiers and gunners shooting at you. Roll jump towards the gunners and use mid-air Explosive Arrow shots to kill them. Eliminate the other soldiers the same way. If you run out of Explosive Arrows, jump to the large crate next to the Warehouse door and restock. Kill all the soldiers and grab the WAREHOUSE KEY item. Now use the key and enter to the Warehouse. ++ AREA: WAREHOUSE ++ For now, avoid the stairway and scour the ground for some goodies. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #24/LIFE OF THE GODS #18 One of the train rooftops has a Golden Scarab (the one on the right). To get it, use a Wall Run on the right side of the train (running UP) and then press the attack button to jump higher and land on the train rooftop. Grab it and then jump down. Destroy the two crates in the middle of the room to find some goodies including a Life OTG! --OBJECTIVE: TURN ON THE LIGHTS ++LIFE OF THE GODS #19 Once that's done, go to the stairway on the left side of the warehouse and ascend to the second floor. Open the chest above the stairs to find a Life OTG sitting there! As you make your way to the next stairway, a bunch of Laser Copters will come flying out of the top windows ready to blast you. Run underneath the second set of stairs to find a large crate of APFSDS Cores. Bust out the Strongbow and start shooting at the Laser Copters in First-Person view. When the Copter hits you with its laser, Ryu will fly back and you definitely don't want that. When you see the laser about to pass by, press the BLOCK button. You'll still get hit but you won't fly back. If the copters fly near you, throw the Windmill Shuriken at them. It'll take awhile but once all the Copters are destroyed, the warehouse is cleared of any more threats. With the copters gone, continue up the stairs to the third floor and access the lever on the wall to turn on the lights and activate the platforms in the warehouse. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE SHUTTER CONTROL KEY CARD Now go back to the second floor (next to the APFSDS Cores crate) and wait for the moving platform to pass by. Jump on the platform and then jump onto the adjacent train rooftop. Wait for the next platform to pass and then jump on it. Jump to the next metal ledge. Open the nearby chest and then go up the stairs to the third floor. You will see an office room up there. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #25 Before entering the office, jump up to the office roof to find a Golden Scarab sitting there. Grab it and then enter into the office. Grab the SUPPLY BASE MAP and the SHUTTER CONTROL KEY CARD on the table and then exit and jump back down to the ground. Approach the metal doors at the other end of the warehouse and use the key to exit. Be sure that you've obtained ALL the Power-Ups and Golden Scarabs in the Warehouse because once you exit, you cannot return here anymore! ++ AREA: LOCOMOTIVE TURNTABLE ++ Once you exit, prepare for an ambush. Approach the soldiers running towards you and use Incendiary Shurikens and hard combos on them. Armored soldiers will emerge from one side to another, so kill one and then use a UT on the other. Keep this up to clear the area. When the area is clear, approach the large open doorway to find a Save Point and SAVE your game. Stock up on Cores and Explosive Arrows from the Muramasa Statue. When you're ready, go and exit the area using the unlocked metal door to a new area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DK2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MILITARY TANKS X2 +++ APFSDS CORES, BLAH BLAH BLAH. This battle is the same as it was from Normal Mode. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE TEAM NINJA LOGO After the battle, reload on Arrows and Cores. There is a hidden TEAM NINJA logo in this large area. Go all the way around the back gates from the elevator. The TEAM NINJA logo is hidden in the very corner of this large area. Interact with it to replenish Health and Ninpo and then take the elevator going up to the Steel Bridge area (open the chest next to the elevator). Use the Save Point to SAVE your game! ++ AREA: STEEL BRIDGE ++ As you approach the Steel Bridge, a duo of RPG soldiers will be waiting at the other end. Use Explosive Arrows on them and then continue down the walkway for another boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DK3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: TOMAHAWK HELICOPTER +++ This battle is the same as it was on Normal Mode. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --OBJECTIVE: DESTROY THE RADIO CONTROL TOWER Go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Continue down the walkway and you'll enter an area that has a Muramasa Statue. Replenish any items you need. There's also a chest near the statue, but DO NOT open it! It contains surprise Ghost Fish! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #26 Next to Muramasa's Statue is an enclosed wall. Use a continuous Bird Flip to the top and you will find a Golden Scarab waiting there. Grab it and then enter the doorway. ++ AREA: ROOFTOP ++ As soon as you enter the rooftop, Armored soldiers will jump down from the windows above to ambush you. Eliminate them with Explosive Arrows to clear the area. Once all the soldiers are toast, its time to destroy the tower! Grab some Explosive Arrows from the nearby chest. Across from the rooftop is a large Radio Tower. On the tower, you will see large spotlights on it. There's a total of nine spotlights on the tower (three per floor), so start shooting at them with Arrows. Be careful though, because RPG soldiers are patrolling that tower and will start shooting rockets at you. Quickly shoot each spotlight and the tower will explode. With the tower gone, it's time to leave this place! --OBJECTIVE: ESCAPE! Exit this area using the other door. As you enter the next area, you will see some more Copters. Use Explosive Arrows to destroy them and then continue down the walkway. Use a Wall Run near the open gap and open the door to the next room. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #20 As you enter this small room, three RPG soldiers will start firing rockets at you. Quickly shoot Explosive Arrows at them before they shoot you! Open the chest they were standing next to for a Life OTG! Now exit this room using the other door back outside. Go down the stairs and take the elevator down. Enter the next room and destroy the soldiers below with Explosive Arrows. Unfortunately, the key to enter the control room is BACK in the previous room where you encountered those damn RPG soldiers! --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE CONTROL ROOM KEY ++LIFE OF THE GODS #21 Before going back outside, look under the stairs to find a chest with a Life OTG! Now exit the room and take the elevator back up. Enter the room again and destroy the RPG soldiers with Explosive Arrows to reveal the CONTROL ROOM KEY item. Now go BACK to the control room and use the key. Approach the control board and pull the lever to finish the mission! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DL1. +++ CHAPTER 12: THE AQUADUCTS +++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #22 Open the nearby chest to find a Life OTG! --OBJECTIVE: ENTER THE AQUADUCTS Exit the area and unlock the metal door. The next area will be enclosed and you won't be able to escape for a few minutes. After a minute or two, pink Shadow Fiends will emerge from the sewers. Eliminate them the same way as the other Shadow fiends and then jump down the manhole to the Aquaducts. Destroy the bats swarming the room and then use the Save Point and SAVE your game! Exit the room to the next area. ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B1 ++ Pink Shadow Fiends will appear in this room. Equip your favorite weapon and eliminate them with some easy combos, but be careful! These fiends can break your guard, so stay evasive. Once that's done, exit through the next door. ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B2 ++ More fiends will appear in this area. Fight the fiends near the stairs and kill them all to clear this area. Now go down the stairs to a large hallway. Turn right to find a dead body with the AQUADUCT MAP. Now go the opposite direction and look for the open wall on the right side. Jump down to the next area. ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B3 ++ More fiends will appear here, so eliminate them! In this area, you will find an elevator on the right to Aquaduct B4, a Save Point across from you, a doorway to the left that leads to the Red Reservoir Room, and a cavern just before the Red Reservoir doorway. Before you do anything, SAVE your game at the Save Point. Once that's done, enter the Red Reservoir Room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DL2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: AQUADUCT B4 If you take the elevator in B3 down to B4, you will see a chest with a SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS inside. After you grab that item, Large Dung Beetles will appear. The best way to kill them all is to equip the Dabilahro and using downward strikes and UT's on them. Once you kill the last Dung Beetle, take the elevator back up and then take it back down again to trigger a Fiend Challenge with those Dung Beetles. Finish the Fiend Challenge to obtain a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE KEY OF THE INSECT ++ AREA: RED RESERVOIR ROOM ++ When you enter the room, prepare for an ambush. Eliminate the fiends that jump down. When they're gone, use a Bird Flip to the top and then open the chest at the back of the room to find the KEY OF THE INSECT. Now jump back down and then make your way up to B2. Use the KEY OF THE INSECT at the orange doorway to enter a new area. ++ AREA: AQUADUCTS B2-1 ++ In this large area, you'll encounter a bunch of respawning fiends. Destroy them all and come back to this room if you want to spam for essence. Also, notice that there are two doors: one near the door you entered and one all the way at the back. Ignore the door at the back for now and enter the nearby doorway for a boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DL3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ELECTRIC WORM +++ BLAH BLAH BLAH. UT AND DABILAHRO. This battle is no different than it was on Normal Mode, so just use the same tactics from that mode. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #27 Once the Worm is dead, approach the arch where the Worm was hiding and then jump above the arch to find a Golden Scarab sitting there! Grab it and continue down the hallways to the Hall Of Balance. ++ AREA: HALL OF BALANCE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #28 You are on the upper ledge of the Hall Of Balance. Open all the chests here to find some goodies including the RED TABLET OF THE STREAM. On the other side of the ledge is a Golden Scarab, so go and get it! ++ AREA: AQUADUCT B3 Once you've collected all the stuff, jump back down and exit back to Aquaduct B3. SAVE your game at the Save Point and then go BACK to the Red Water Reservoir Room. ++ AREA: RED WATER RESERVOIR ++ Bird Flip your way to the top and approach the mantle. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #29/LIFE OF THE GODS #23 The Golden Scarab is on the right side of the room and a Life OTG is in a chest on the left. Grab both items! Now approach the mantle and place the RED TABLET on it to trigger an ambush from the fiends. Kill them all and then exit the room and go back up to Aquaduct B2. Take the path to the left (past the dead body) and enter the door at the end of the hall. Enter the empty room and grab the WATER STATUE item from the pedestal. Now go BACK to Aquaduct B3 and use the Save Point! Enter the cavern just before the Red Reservoir Room to find another dead body. Search the body for an item and then approach the nearby doorway. Use the WATER STATUE item on it to open the door and then enter. Enter through to find a hole leading underground. BE CAREFUL because the jump down contains Ghost Fish. Quickly jump down to the bottom and then use a continuous Bird Flip back to the top. Halfway through the Bird Flip, use a hard attack and Ryu will strike down on the Ghost Fish that are trying to follow him. Keep doing this tactic until all fish are dead. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND WATERWAY ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #30 As you enter this area, you will find a Muramasa Statue sitting across from where you dropped in. Across the statue is a Golden Scarab. Grab it and then replenish any stock. Enter the nearby cavern (with more Ghost Fish) to encounter another boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DL4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ELECTRIC WORM X2 +++ This battle is no different than it was in Normal Mode. Use the same tactics from that mode to kill these two dildo-looking monstrosities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #31/LIFE OF THE GODS #24 After both Worms are dead, approach the little cavern that the Worm on the left was using to find a Golden Scarab inside. Also, look in the little cavern that the Worm on the right was using to find a chest with a Life OTG inside! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #25 After you've collected all the stuff, enter the cavern in between the Worm holes and emerge to a large rocky area. Ascend to the top of the rocky heap and eliminate the fiends that appear. Open the chests at the top to find a Life OTG and then enter the doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: BLUE TABLET ROOM ++ Make your way down this cavern (kill those Fish) and enter the next cavern. Destroy the Wasp Fiends waiting in the cavern and then approach the chest to obtain the BLUE TABLET OF THE STREAM. Now exit back to the rocky area and enter the cavern next to it. Kill the Bats in the area and continue through to another cavern with a dead body and some fiends. Kill the fiends and then search the body for some Incendiary Shurikens. Go further into the cavern to find a large cracked wall. Use the Dabilahro and smash the wall open to end up back in the cavern where Muramasa's Statue is located. Go back up to Aquaduct B3 and then SAVE your game! Now go up to Aquaduct B2 and enter the orange doorway. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO THE BLUE WATER RESERVOIR ROOM ++ AREA: BLUE WATER RESERVOIR ++ Go down the room and enter the other metal door (not the one from the first Worm battle). Go up the stairway and approach the pedestal and place the BLUE TABLET on it to drain the water. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #32/LIFE OF THE GODS #26 Jump down to the drained room and grab the Scarab sitting in the middle. Kill the fiends that appear and continue through the open doorway. Just before you go back to the Hall Of Balance, there is a tricky turn in the hall with room that has a chest inside. Open that chest to obtain a Life OTG! Now jump down and enter the newly opened doorway to a brand new area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DL5. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BLACK DRAGON CLONE - PART 2 +++ Unlike the previous battle with the Clone, this one is equipped with a Level 3 Dabilahro and some VERY annoying Explosive Arrows. Again, the main strategy is to get up close to the Clone and let him attack YOU. For this battle, the Clone will spend most of his time firing Explosive Arrows, which can be blocked and evaded with the right timing. For the fight, Ryu should be well-equipped with a Level 3 Dabilahro (or any other fully upgraded weapon) and some Incendiary Shurikens. Avoid roll jumping and instead, time your Reverse Wind so that the Explosive Arrows miss hitting you as you roll. Toss an Incendiary Shuriken at him and if it connects, he'll be stunned, giving you the chance to approach him before he recovers from the explosion. When you finally approach the Clone, he'll spend most of his time attempting a Flaming Hell Slash combo, Flaming Whirlwind, or a Gleam of Heaven & Earth combo. When he strikes at you, immediately roll away and then counter with a hard combo of your own. If he breaks your guard and you miss the Reverse Wind, consider yourself dead! Remember to stay within close proximity of the Clone or else he'll start firing Explosive Arrows again. Bait him into attacking you with a combo so that you can evade and counter against him. Use the same evasion tactics when he activates Ninpo and stay defensive! For winning this battle, you'll receive a JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL. Leave the area and then re-enter to trigger the Fiend Challenge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: PERISTYLE PASSAGE ++ As soon as you re-enter Peristyle Passage, prepare for a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DL6. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: PERISTYLE PASSAGE Unfortunately, this Fiend Challenge is NOT optional, so you MUST kill all the Shadow fiends in this room in order to continue. Use the Dabilahro and its counterattack and then use lots of UT's to kill all the fiends. Once all the enemies are dead, a chest with a Life Of the Thousand Gods will appear. Open it up and take the item! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #33 After the Fiend Challenge, go between the pillars located next to the Peristyle Passage entrance and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top to find a Golden Scarab sitting on the top. Grab it! To open the other doorway out of this room, approach the large statue at the end of the room to see a large step button in front of it. Do a continuous Bird Flip and then a downward strike from the very top to push the large button down. This will unlock the nearby door. Now exit this area! ++ AREA: OUTER SANCTUARY ++ As you enter this room, swarms of bats will fly down. Kill them all with the Flails or Shurikens. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #27 Before you exit the room, look above to see a well-hidden chest on a high ledge. To reach it, you must do a continuous Wall-to-Wall Run. Start from the left side of the room and keep running and jumping until you reach the high ledge. Now approach the chest and open it to get a Life OTG! Now exit this room using the large double doors. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND SANCTUARY ++ When you enter the large room, kill the fiends that appear here to clear the room. There is an open doorway on the left side of the Sanctuary, so enter inside. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #34 Inside the room is a dead body with Arrows and a Golden Scarab next to it. Grab that Scarab! To reach the top of the room, use a continuous Wall-to-Wall Run from the right side of the entrance. Once you reach the top ledge, equip the Strongbow and shoot an Arrow at the shining medallion on the opposite ledge to lower a chained wall. Use a Wall Run on the chained wall to reach that ledge and then take the stairs to the upper ledge. Open the chest and then go around. Jump towards the branch and swing to the next ledge. See that glowing mantle? Approach it and grab the BRAND OF VALOR item from it. Now use the Save Point and SAVE your game! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #35 Right behind the Save Point is a Golden Scarab! Grab it and then jump down and place the BRAND OF VALOR on the engraving in the middle of the Sanctuary to trigger a boss battle! +++FIEND CHALLENGE NOTE: If you haven't attempted the Fiend Challenge in Aquaduct B4, do it now. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DL7. +++ BOSS BATTLE: PAZ ZUU +++ Paz Zuu will have a trio of Pink Shadow Fiends to assist him in this battle. You can ignore them and focus on Paz Zuu's ass or you can try to fight them off and attempt a Dabilahro UT on him. It's up to you! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DM1. +++ CHAPTER 13: PATH TO ZARKHAN +++ ++ AREA: THE UNDERGROUND SANCTUARY MOATS ++ As soon as the Chapter begins, approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! Open the nearby chests to obtain a MAP and a goodie. First thing's first, eliminate the threat! There are a couple of Stinkfish enemies in the water together with those large Green Fish. To kill those Stinkfish mermaids, AVOID approaching them and use Projectile weapons on them instead. Stay on solid ground and evade their Waterball attacks with Reverse Wind rolls. Counter at them by tossing the Windmill Shuriken. If they are too far away, use the Water Run and use a mid-jump Explosive Arrow attack on them to kill them all. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #36 Once this area is cleared of threats, go to the large gateway next to the Save Point. Swim under the gate to see an open gap with a Golden Scarab waiting there. GRAB IT! Now swim under the water and through the broken metal bars. Swim up and destroy the Copters first! Now dive down and swim through the underwater tunnel. Be careful because there are protruding spikes! Swim to the other side and emerge from the water to catch your breath. Climb up and approach Muramasa's Statue to restock if you need to. Next to the statue is a dead body with the SPEAR GUN weapon. Grab it and then swim out of the cavern through the next underwater tunnel. As you pass through the spike-infested tunnel, emerge out of the tunnel at the other end and catch your breath. When you emerge, bust out the Windmill Shuriken and start running on the water and tossing it at the Laser Copters to destroy them. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #37 In the area where you encounter those Copters, look above the next waterway tunnel to see a Golden Scarab sitting on top of it. Grab it! ++ AREA: MEDALLION ALTAR AREA ++ Swim through the next tunnel and emerge out to find a Save Point. Destroy the Pink Fiends and Dung Beetles in the room first before you do anything else! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #28 Once the room is cleared of all enemies, open one of the chests near the Save Point to find a Life OTG! One more Life OTG and you'll extend your life bar! Now approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. Swim out of the cavern using the adjacent underwater tunnel and then emerge out of the other end to a large open area called the Fissure. ++ AREA: THE FISSURE ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE OXYGEN CYLINDER/FIND THE TRITON KEY Jump out of the water and runs toward the large dry ledge. There is a door (the Triton Door) on the ledge that is locked at the moment. First off, kill all the Stinkfish mermaids with some hardcore projectiles and then kill the Green Fish. Once the area is clear, it's time to find the Oxygen Cylinder. Across from the Triton Door is a set of metal bars. Swim UNDER the bars to find an open gap. Swim through the open gap and emerge out of the water next to the sunken ship. Jump out of the water and start running and destroying the Laser Copters with the Windmill Shuriken to clear the area. Jump onto the dry ship deck and access the Crank Handle and turn it to open a door under the ship. Dive into the water and swim towards the large open hole at the back of the ship. Swim towards the chest in the middle and open it to obtain the OXYGEN CYLINDER. With this item, Ryu can now breathe underwater indefinitely. After you obtain the Cylinder, swim UPWARDS from the chest to find an upper deck with another chest. Open it to obtain the TRITON KEY item! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #38 Next to the chest with the Triton Key is a lonely Golden Scarab. Swim towards it and grab it! Now its time to grab the rest of the goodies in this area! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #39/LIFE OF THE GODS #29 There is a Golden Scarab next to the underwater tunnel that you emerged from. Swim up to it and GRAB IT! Also, underneath the large ledge (with the locked Triton Door) is an underwater zigzag path. Swim through the zigzag bars and you'll find a chest halfway through the path. Open the chest to obtain another Life OTG! At the end of the zigzag path is a chest with a Talisman Of Rebirth. If you want to grab it, that's up to you. Once you've collected all the goodies in the area, go up to the dry ledge and use the TRITON KEY and exit out to the next area. ++ AREA: THE DWORKU MOATS ++ --OBJECTIVE: SWIM TO ZARKHAN STADIUM As you enter this area, you'll see a small strip of dry land in the middle of the water. There's also some Laser Copters, Stinkfish mermaids, and some Green Fish. If you want to fight these guys, it's up to you. If you decide to fight, use the same method with the other mermaid battles. Use the Windmill Shuriken on the Copters and use Run- And-Shoot tactics against the Stinkfish mermaids. Once the area is cleared, swim towards the large open gap under the water. Swim through the caverns to emerge back to the Tomb Of Eons area (with the Bone Dragon's dead body). If you want, emerge out of the water and run back onto dry land. Access Muramasa's Statue to replenish any stock and then dive back into the water. Swim through the next open gap into another cavern. At the end of the cavern, swim DOWN toward the Chamber of Everlasting Sleep. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #40 When you enter the Chamber of Everlasting Sleep, look at the top of the room to see a Golden Scarab near the roof. Swim up towards it and grab it! Now swim through the Skull Door path to emerge back to the flooded chamber with the elevator. Avoid the Green Fish and swim towards the elevator to go back to the Monk's Room. As you exit the elevator at the top, prepare for a BS Ninja ambush. Kill them all with hard combos and then approach the broken desk to find another combination for the safe. The final prize inside the safe is a JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL. ++ AREA: JUNCTION CHAMBER ++ Once you're done in the Monk's room, take the elevator going BACK down to the underwater area. Swim to the Junction Chamber and use the Save Point to SAVE your game. Now take the nearby platform going up to Zarkhan Stadium and prepare for your next boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DM2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: DOKU +++ Doku uses two Samurais to assist him in this battle. Your best bet at defeating Doku is to quickly kill each Samurai and then use a well- timed OLC and UT Doku. A successful UT should be able to shave off lots of Doku's health (even more if you have the 5% Unlabored Flawlessness). MISSION COMPLETE! Copy this URL to see my video for this battle for Hard Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/88329.html ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DN1. +++ CHAPTER 14: THE ANCIENT TWIN DIETIES +++ --OBJECTIVE: FOLLOW DOKU When the Chapter begins, use the Save Point and SAVE your game! Now make your way past Great Bridge Square towards the alleyway that Doku was passing through to encounter some Zombified Soldiers. These guys are similar to the BS Ninjas but are a little bit faster. Use downward wall strikes and counterattacks and then use a UT to kill these three. Once their dead, approach the first building with the cracked door and bust it open. Open the chest for a goodie and then make your way to the large building with the glowing portal. Before you enter the portal, look in the corner to find another chest with lots of different essence. Grab it all and then teleport out! ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ++ Run down the hill and down towards the Save Point at the bottom. Access Muramasa's statue to replenish your stock and then SAVE your game! From here, you can continue on towards the next area OR you can participate in one last Fiend Challenge. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO THE CENTRAL BRIDGE AREA (OPTIONAL) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DN2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #3: CENTRAL BRIDGE On the bridge where Ryu fought Masakado is a Fiend Challenge with Warlocks and Samurais. At first glance, this challenge may seem difficult because of Rachel's slow evasion. Warlocks will toss their fireballs at you and then teleport for a cheap combo (all while you're trying to dodge a bunch of goddamn Samurais). The Samurais will spend most of their time breaking your guard and swarming you. But there IS a trick: Lure the Warlock! Evade all the Samurais and watch for the Warlock to do his fireball attack. Evade the fireball and he'll teleport next to you for a cheap combo. Immediately do a counterattack to stop him and then use a follow-up hard attack while he's down to kill him (BE QUICK!). Use the leftover essence for a UT on the other Samurais. From there, just keep luring the Warlock and keep using UT's on all of them. After lots of death, the last three enemies will be BS Ninjas. Finish them off to complete this challenge. It's easier than it sounds but you need to be quick with your evasion or you'll just get smacked around. When the challenge is done, Rachel will receive a SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS. (It's a little late to be receiving this item, don't ya think?) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: OPEN RANGE ++ Make your way to the other side of the village. Kill the Warlocks with counterattacks and use UT's on the Samurais. Once the area is clear, enter the building with Muramasa's Statue inside. Search the shelves for freebies and then climb that ladder to the top. Jump out of the top window to the village entrance. ++ AREA: VILLAGE ENTRANCE ++ More Warlocks and Samurais will swarm you in this area. Eliminate them all with the tactics mentioned above to clear the area. Once that's done, go up the mini-hill towards the shrine with the stone it. Break it open to find the MYSTERIOUS STONE TABLET. Grab it and jump down. Place the TABLET on the pedestal (it's kind of hard to spot at first) to reveal a new portal. You can't go back to the Save Point from here, so just enter the portal to a new area. ++ AREA: OUTER MONASTERY ++ In this small gated enclosure, Shadow Fiends will appear and swarm you. Use counterattacks and hard combos to kill them all. Once the last fiend is gone, a Mace-Wielding Ogre will appear (together with more shadow fiends). Avoid fighting the ogre by not getting close to him. Kill the smaller fiends and then use the leftover essence for UT's on the Ogre. If all the fiends are gone but the Ogre is still there, use hard combos and quick evasion to kill it. When the area is cleared, enter the adjacent portal to a new area. ++ AREA: THE PYRAMID ++ Approach Doku and you will enter a new area. ++ AREA: HP2 REALM ++ Nicchae and Ishtaros. Whatever. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DP1. +++ CHAPTER 15: THE CAVERNS +++ ++ AREA: ZARKHAN STADIUM ++ --OBJECTIVE: TAKE THE TREASURE IN ZARKHAN STADIUM When the Chapter begins, grab the Kitetsu Sword next to Ryu. There are a whole bunch of chests in the upper balconies and ledge of the stadium but you'll need to activate the floating ledges to reach them. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #41 Exit the stadium using the opposite doorway (not the one you used from the Save Point). Next to the doorway are a bunch of broken pillars with a Golden Scarab hiding behind them. Grab it! Approach the back wall to find a lever. Pull the lever to reveal the exit to the stadium (and to activate the floating ledges). There are two more Golden Scarabs and Life OTG's in the stadium. If you decide to go back into the stadium, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DP2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: ZARKHAN STADIUM On Hard Mode, the Fiends in the stadium will be those goddamn Ogres. If you have the Unlabored Flawlessness, then consider this a cakewalk. When you stand next to one of the floating platforms, Ryu will be in a "safe zone". Any Ogre that tries to attack you while standing there won't hurt him! Equip a fully powered UF and use hard combos on an Ogre when the opening is clear. Jump out of the safe zone, perform a hard combo to kill an Ogre, and then roll back to the safe zone. When another Ogre stops by, jump out of the safe zone and use a UT. Continue this awesomely glitchy strategy and you SHOULD be able to kill all 80 Ogres in less than 10 minutes. Complete the challenge to obtain a SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS! In order to get it, read the directions below. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Once you've finished the Fiend Challenge, its time to collect the rest of the treasures above the stadium. There are two floating platforms on the ground near you. Take the one on the right and do a Wall-To-Wall Run to the next floating ledge. Jump over to the top of the doorway to obtain a Great Spirit Elixir. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #42 & 43/LIFE OF THE GODS #30 Jump down and then jump on the floating ledge to the left. Use a Wall- To-Wall Run to next floating ledge. Run up to the top of the doorway to find a Golden Scarab! Now jump down to the floating ledge you were on and use ANOTHER Wall-To-Wall Run in the opposite direction to the top ledge. Jump to the next ledge and then jump into the balcony. Ignore the two chests on the balcony (they contain Bats) and continue down the upper ledges. Go all the way to the other end of the balcony to find another Golden Scarab. There are also two more chests here: one with a Life OTG and the other is your prize from the Fiend Challenge. Take them all and then leave the stadium. ++ AREA: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #31 Exit the stadium and go down the hill. Approach the chest near the small set of stairs to find a Life OTG. Continue down the hill to encounter some Fiends. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DP3. ++FIEND CHALLENGE: IMPERIAL PALACE STAIRWAY As soon as you enter this area, be prepared for a Fiend Challenge with Brown and Pink Shadow Fiends. Simply use nonstop counterattacks and UT's and this challenge is done in less than 2 minutes. The prize for this challenge is a Lives Of The Thousand Gods! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There is also a dead body near the doorway across the stairs. Search it if you want and then continue down the path towards a large tree blocking the way. Jump over the tree to see a Save Point. ++ AREA: ZARKHAN WATERFALLS ++ First, there is another dead body across from the Save Point. Search it to obtain the MAP. Now SAVE your game. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #44 & 45/LIFE OF THE GODS #32 & 33 See those large boulders that look like heads? Destroy them to find a Golden Scarab and a Life OTG under each one. Now enter the next area with a large pool. Dive into the water to find another Golden Scarab and a chest with another Life OTG! Once you're done collecting the stuff, enter the Cavern. Go all the way to the end and jump down to a small enclosure. Kill the Ghost Fish with the Flails and then dive into the water and emerge on the other side. Slide down the large slope to enter a new area. ++ AREA: ICE CAVERN DEPTHS ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #34 When you land in this cavern, a bunch of Shadow Fiends and Ogres will pop out to swarm you. Fight them if you want but you can escape the problem by just using a Bird Flip on the nearby wall and jumping to the top ledge. Open the nearby chest for a Life OTG! Now enter further into the Ice Cavern. Enter the area to find a Save Point and a large doorway. The door is missing an item, so SAVE your game first. Jump down to the area below and kill the enemies that appear. Follow the path to the right and climb up to the top. Make another right turn and break the ice to fall into a small ice enclosure with more enemies. Kill them all and then jump up to the top cavern. ++ AREA: RUINS ++ You'll see some sort of device here used to make metal. On the opposite side is the SHIELD OF VIGOOR item. Grab it and make your way back to the door next to the Save Point. SAVE your game and then place the shield on the door to open it. ++ AREA: MAGMA LAKE ++ Enter the doorway into Magma Lake. Across from you will be a large globe. Approach it to obtain the STONE TABLET (LEFT) to complete the Tablet. To kill the Ogres in the magma, use a non-essence charged UT on them to kill them (keep your distance). Use a Wall Run to get past each magma gap and drop to dry land. When you reach the other end, you'll see a large open gap and walls that billow hot smoke. Above those hot smoke thingies is a ledge. Run up to it and shimmy all the way to the right (don't get hit by the smoke!). Drop down at the end and then jump down to the small little enclosure to encounter some more Ogres. Kill them with some hard Dabilahro combos and continue to the other. Slam down on the large step button to reveal some floating platforms. Jump towards the platform and jump past the dinos to the other side with a Muramasa Statue and Save Point. SAVE your game! Next to Muramasa's Statue is a wall enclosure. Use a Wall-To-Wall Run to enter another small enclosed area. More Ogres will pop out so eliminate them! Across from where you landed is a doorway. Jump up to it and enter to the other side with a large see-saw. ++ AREA: SEE-SAW ROOM ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #46 Before you jump onto the see-saw, jump down to the dry ledge on the right side to find a Golden Scarab! Now jump on the see-saw! Let the see-saw go all the way down. Start running to the top and then jump to the upper room before the weight of the see-saw shifts. In the upper cavern is a room filled with Ghost Fish. Destroy the Fish and then exit out. Approach the large boiling pot at the other end to make it pour some hot Iron Ore onto the other side. Once that's done, it's time to leave. There is another room above the exit door. Use the see-saw to get to it and then open the chest inside that room for a goodie. Now make your way BACK to the Ice Cavern. SAVE you game at Magma Lake first! ++ AREA: ICE CAVERN ++ Make your way back to the Ruins (where you found the SHIELD OF VIGOOR) to find the COG OF VIGOOR item. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #47 Next to where you find the COG OF VIGOOR is a Save Point. The Golden Scarab is across the Save Point. SAVE your game and then approach the ice chunk in the corner and slam it down to enter a new area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DP4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: YOTUNFRAU +++ Yotunfrau uses Catwomen to assist him in battle. Equip the Dabilahro and some Explosive Arrows. Focus on shooting the Catwomen with arrows to kill them and then use a well-timed UT on Yotunfrau using the leftover Essence. This is not an easy task, so keep trying! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE ART OF THE INAZUMA When you exit Yotunfrau's cavern, use a Bird Flip to reach the top of the room. Notice that chest in that alcove? When you reach the top, flip over the ledge and drop down and Ryu will catch the next ledge. Jump up and open the chest to find the ART OF THE INAZUMA Ninpo Scroll and then jump down. Bird Flip to the top and make your way BACK to the Magma Cavern. ++ AREA: MAGMA LAKE ++ Go to the area with the Save Point and SAVE your game. Replenish any stock at Muramasa's Statue and then place the COG OF VIGOOR on the door next to the Save Point. Enter inside for another boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DP5. +++ BOSS BATTLE: FLAME WORM X2 +++ This battle is no different than it was on Normal Mode so just use the same tactics from Normal on these two waste-of-time bosses. Copy and paste this URL to see my video for this battle from Hard Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/90777.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock up on anymore things you need from Muramasa and SAVE your game. Across from the Magma Lake is a large ledge with a doorway that has a face on it. Slam down on the step button to raise the floating platforms and then run and jump up towards the large face door. Place the EYE OF ICE and the EYE OF FLAME on the door to open it. Approach the mantle and grab the DEVIL DIETY statue to trigger the next boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DP6. +++ BOSS BATTLE: SMAUGAN +++ Smaugan uses Red Dinos to assist him in battle. If you stay on the lower platforms, expect to fight them off. If you slam the step-button and stay on the top ledges, then you're safe from Dino trouble. Use the same tactics from Normal Mode on Smaugan to finish him off. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DQ1. +++ CHAPTER 16: THE FIENDISH AWAKENING +++ ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE TRUE DRAGON SWORD Enter the cavern and bust out the Flails. Destroy the Bats that emerge until all of them are dead. Search the dead body for an item and then continue through to a Save Point Room. DO NOT use the Save Point yet because there is a Fiend Challenge in the room! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DQ2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY In this large room, you'll encounter a bunch of Wasp Fiends. To properly kill them all, use a continuous Wall-To-Wall Run all the way to the top of the room. Equip the Dabilahro and smack one of the Wasp Fiends to leave Essence. From there, use non-stop On-Land Charges and UT's to kill all the Fiends. You MUST be super duper quick with your On-Land Charges if you want to make the Time Limit! Once all the enemies are dead, the prize will be a Jewel Of The Demon Seal! Remember, if you use the Save Point or accidentally exit the area during this Challenge, you will forfeit the Time and Kill Bonuses! You will still get the Prize, though... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++LIFE OF THE GODS #35 Jump down to the bottom of the cavern back to the Save Point. Open the chest behind the Save Point for a Life OTG! Now SAVE your game. --OBJECTIVE: EXIT THE AQUADUCTS Use a Wall-To-Wall Run to the top and exit the room. Work your way through the caverns and head back to the Aquaducts. Destroy any enemies in the way and exit the Aquaducts back to the streets of Tairon. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO TWIN SERPENTS PLAZA As you exit the Aquaducts, eliminate the Zombified soldiers with hard combos and Izuna Drops. Access Muramasa's Statue if you need to and then make your way back to Drawbridge Square. When you activate the lever to lower the Drawbridge, get ready for a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DQ3. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE This challenge consists of three Ogres. You should already know how to eliminate these suckers, so do it! For killing them, you get a TALISMAN OF REBIRTH for your troubles. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Once you're done fooling around with those goddamn Ogres, enter the Blue-jeweled door and take the path all the way to the end. There are no more enemies, so just make your way to Twin Serpents Plaza. Approach the large monument and place all three Tablets on the pedestal to activate the portal. ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ++ Head down the path to enter the graveyard and trigger a cutscene. From here on in, equip the True Dragon Sword for maximum damage to your enemies. Jump down towards the Save Point and SAVE your game. Jump over towards the Open Range area and test out the TDS on the Samurais and Warlocks. Unleash a UT to see the new cool attack. Once the area is cleared, enter the building with Muramasa's Statue and emerge out of the top window towards the village entrance. Before you access the other portal (that Rachel activated), go up the mini-hill and you'll find a Jewel Of The Demon seal on the shrine (that Rachel destroyed). Now jump down and enter the portal to the Outer Monastery. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DQ4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BLACK DRAGON CLONE - PART 3 +++ Since the Clone is using the Flails in such a tight space, his combos will mostly resort to the Fire Pit 3-hit combo attack. The Clone will resort to using the same moves from the previous encounters including the Inferno Ninpo, so be ready with some quick evasion! Since Ryu is equipped the True Dragon Sword, go ahead and use the same strategy from the first Clone battle. Let the Clone attack you first and evade and block them. Immediately counter at him with an Izuna Drop to shave off a large chunk of health. Repeat for the rest of the battle. With quick reflexes, you can easily defeat this Clone without any problems! Winning this battle nets you a Jewel Of The Demon Seal! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++LIFE OF THE GODS #36 & #37 After the battle is over, you will notice that there are four chests to open. Two contain Life OTG's and the other two contain Ghost Fish! I'll let you choose which ones you think they are. Once that's done, enter the next portal and open the door to the Magma Cavern. Enter the portal in the caverns to emerge at the Pyramid. SAVE your game at the Save Point and then approach the field to trigger a boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DQ5. +++ BOSS BATTLE: ALMA AWAKENED +++ Alma uses two Pink Shadow Fiends to assist her in this battle. Kill them off quickly and then focus on defeating Alma the same way you did on Normal Mode. Don't bother trying to UT Alma because it won't WORK! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DR1. +++ CHAPTER 17: VENGEFUL SPIRIT +++ --OBJECTIVE: SOLVE THE PYRAMID PUZZLE Equip the Dabilahro and approach the temple. Smash open the large crack to reveal a doorway leading inside. Enter the temple and go down the stairs to encounter a new enemy: the Knightmare! To solve the Pyramid, you need to defeat three Knightmares. Sounds easy, right? F*CK YEAH! The Knightmares like to use aggressive attacks, so you need to be just as aggressive as them. Equip the Dabilahro and let theses suckers attack you first. Notice how their regular attacks don't break Ryu's guard when he blocks them. Exploit that weakness by using non-stop counterattacks with the Dabilahro. After a few good hits, they transform. Repeat the tactic to kill off all three of these suckers. Once their dead grab the SERPENT DIETY statue and exit the Pyramid. Copy and paste this URL to see how to easily beat this Knightmare challenge in less than 40 seconds: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/90659.html ++ AREA: OUTER PYRAMID ++ Make your way down the grassy path towards the open doorway. The GRIFFON DOOR is locked at the moment, so approach towards the other open doorway with the Save Point. SAVE your game and then access Muramasa's Statue to replenish your stock. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE GRIFFON KEY Further down Muramasa's Statue is a glowing portal. Approach the portal and enter through it to a new area. ++ AREA: HELLISH DEPTHS ++ In this small arena, a bunch of Zombie soldiers will appear and swarm at you. Kill all of them to reveal a chest with the GRIFFON KEY. Grab the key and then teleport outta there. Make your way towards the GRIFFON DOOR and use the key to unlock it. ++ AREA: THE LABYRINTH 1 ++ As you approach the first area of the Labyrinth, be prepared for a whole bunch of Ghost Fish. Equip the Flails and start attacking at them using a jump attack and then a continuous combo when you land. The timing for this strategy might be a little difficult to figure out but it's your best bet at killing them all. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #38 Once all the Fish are dead, enter the alcove between the walls to find a chest all the way at the back. Open it up to find a Life OTG! Now continue down the path. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #39 Go up the stairs and climb the upper stairs to the top. There is a chest with a Life OTG and a dead body on the opposite side. Search the body for an item and continue down the path past the LION DOOR. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE LION KEY ++LIFE OF THE GODS #40 Equip the Flails and go all the way down the path to see a lone chest. Open the chest to receive A Life OTG. Once you retrieve the item, Ghost Fish will attack from behind you, so start swinging! Once the Fish are dead, a trio of Catwomen will appear and ambush you. Use Explosive Arrows and shoot them in mid-air while being evasive. After the Catwomen are gone, they leave the LION KEY as a prize, so grab it! As you leave the area, ANOTHER ambush will occur with more Catwomen and a Crab Fiend. Again, use lots of Explosive Arrows and abuse whatever weapon you have to kill them. Now make your way to the LION DOOR and enter to the next area. ++ AREA: LABYRINTH 2 ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #48/LIFE OF THE GODS #41 Make a left turn when you enter the LION DOOR and go all the way to the end of the path to find a lone Golden Scarab. Grab it and go back the other way. Go up the stairs and use the Save Point to SAVE your game. To the left of the Save Point is a small enclosed alcove with a chest. Open it up for a Life OTG and then continue down the next path. Avoid the open area with the LIONESS DOOR and take the long path to the right. Kill more Ghost Fish here and continue down. Further down the path are MORE Ghost Fish. Kill them all and continue down to the end of the path. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE LIONESS KEY ++GOLDEN SCARAB #49 Enter the large alcove across Muramasa's Statue to find a Golden Scarab all by itself. The LIONESS KEY is in the alcove behind Golden Scarab #49, so take the alley next to it and find it! There is one more alley with Ghost Fish in it. If you want to kill them all, then do it! There is ONE last chest at the very end of the alley (near the Muramasa Statue). If you open it, prepare for a Fish ambush! If you don't want to deal with them, then ignore going down this last alley. Make your way BACK to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now approach the wide open area with the LIONESS DOOR. When you enter here, you will be ambushed by Ghost Fish and two Crab Fiends. Try to kill the Fish using aerial combos with the Flails and then use UT's on the Crab Fiends. Also continue to use the Flying Swallow on them to make it less painful. From here, go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game (so you don't have to fight these guys again) and then use the LIONESS KEY to enter the next area for a boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DR2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: SPECTRAL DOKU +++ If you have the Unlabored Flawlessness, this battle will be a TAD bit easier. Doku uses Ghost Fish to assist him in battle, so equip the Flails and slice them down to leave Essence. Equip the UF and then try and catch Doku with an Unlabored UT to reduce his health dramatically. Continue this tactic and you should be able defeat him easily...after some practice! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DS1. +++ CHAPTER 18: THE CORE +++ --OBJECTIVE: REACH THE CORE When the Chapter begins, equip the Flails and start slicing all the Fish in the area. Kill them off and then grab the RAPTOR DEITY statue to unveil the exit out of the Labyrinth. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #42 Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! Go to the far right of the path to find a lone chest. Open it up and then go the other way. Search the dead body for a MAP and then continue down the path to encounter some enemies. Use Izuna Drops on the Shadow Fiends and try to use UT's on the Crab Fiend. Once their dead, approach the chest in the far off corner to get a Devil Elixir. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE KEY OF THE DECAYED SOUL ++ AREA: PALACE COMPOUND ++ If you take the whirligig path to the Imperial Palace, the door will be locked. To get the Key to open it, go back to the path and head towards the large gateway. When you reach the gateway, you will be swarmed by Ghost Fish. Bust out the Flails and start slicing away to get some essence. Once that's done, open the doorway to trigger a cutscene. ++ AREA: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE ++ After the cutscene, search the dead body for an additional item. Before you do anything else, there are a few more things you can do in Tairon before entering the Palace. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #43 The very last piece of this item is located back at Great Bridge Square in the building that Rachel cracked open. Go into that building and then use a Wall-To-Wall Run to the top ledge to find a Life OTG! There is also ONE more Fiend Challenge to pursue in the game. The Prize for completing it isn't so hot, but if you're up for the Karma Points, then get to it and complete it! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DS2. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE Across from where you found the last Life OTG is a glowing portal in an enclosed arena. Do you see it? If you didn't unlock the gate in Chapter 4, go to the end of the alleyway and turn right. Use a Bird Flip to reach the upper ledge and then jump down towards the portal. Enter the portal to face off against Red Dinos and Ogres. The main strategy here is to evade the Ogres and focus on killing the Dinos with a hard combo. If possible, use a fully charged UF for this battle. Use the leftover Essence from the Dinos and UT those goddamn Ogres with the UF to kill them off. The prize for this challenge is a Lives OTTG! Copy and paste this URL to see how to defeat this Ogre/Dino challenge: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/94714.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you need to go to Muramasa's Shop, do it now! Replenish all your stock before heading into the Imperial Palace! When you're ready, head back to the Imperial Palace entrance and enter with the Decayed Key. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 1ST FLOOR ++ A couple of Catwomen will appear here. Use hard combos and Explosive Arrows to kill them off. When all the pussies are dead, approach the mantle and place the WOLF DEITY statue. Exit out through the adjacent door and equip the Flails. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #44 Slice all of the Ghost Fish here and then ascend the stairway to the next floor. Open the nearby chest for a Life OTG and then enter the next doorway. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 2ND FLOOR ++ This floor contains Arioch Crabs and Zombie Soldiers. Use wall attacks to decap the soldiers and use UT's on the Crabs to kill them all. Once that's done, place the DEMON DEITY statue on the mantle and then exit the room. Equip the Flails and kill more Fish! ++ AREA: THE CORE - 3RD FLOOR ++ In this room, you'll face off against Ogres. Use hard Dabilahro combos on them to kill them all. When the room is cleared, place the SERPENT DEITY statue on the mantle and then exit through the adjacent door. Slice some more Fish with the Flails and ascend to the fourth floor but DO NOT ENTER YET! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #50/LIFE OF THE GODS #45 The last Scarab of the game is just below the fourth floor. When you reach the fourth floor doorway entrance, jump off the nearby ledge to land on a smaller ledge below. The Scarab is at the other end of the ledge, so GRAB IT! Now go back to the fourth floor entrance and open the chest to find the final Life OTG. ++ AREA: THE CORE - 4TH FLOOR ++ In this room, it'll be a split combination of Ogres and Crab fiends. Equip the True Dragon Sword and focus on killing the Crab Fiends first. Use hard combos and Flying Swallows on them to kill them. For the Ogres, use UT's from the Dabilahro or Unlabored Flawlessness. Once the room is cleared, place the RAPTOR DIETY statue on the mantle to clear the entire Core. Exit through the adjacent door and slice the Ghost Fish in the stairway. ++ AREA: THE IMPERIAL PALACE CORE ++ Take the stairs to the top of the Imperial Palace. You'll find two chests, a Save Point, and a TEAM NINJA logo up on this floor. One of the chests contains Ghost Fish, so open at your own risk! Before you approach the portal, SAVE your game! If you need to go back to Muramasa's Shop, you'll have to traverse all the way back down the Core. The closest shop is the one in Tairon, so go there now if you need to! When you're ready, enter the portal for an epic battle. ++ AREA: HELLISH DEPTHS ++ When the battle begins, Catwomen will appear and swarm you. Use evasive rolls and hard combos to clear the area. Once it's cleared, you will be transported to a boss battle against Hydracubus. Defeat Hydracubus the same way you did the last two times. Use an Izuna Drop on those Pincer Fiends and then focus on slicing off its tentacles as usual. Since you are now equipped with the TDS, it should be too easy. After finishing off Hydracubus, you will be transported back to the previous area. More Catwomen will swarm you but this time Marbus (the large goat dude) will occasionally toss fireballs at you while you are fighting the fiends. When Marbus starts laughing, he'll toss a fireball at you, so move away! Once all the fiends are dead, you are transported to ANOTHER boss battle against Yotunfrau. Defeat Yotunfrau (he flies solo) the same way you did on Normal Mode and he should be easy as pie. After he's been defeated, you will be transported back to the previous area to finally face off against Marbus himself. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DS3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MARBUS +++ If it isn't obvious yet, Marbus uses Catwomen to assist him in battle. Use Explosive Arrows on the pussies and then try to bait Marbus into doing his Kamikaze Dive so that you can UT him with the Dabilahro or the UF. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: THE IMPERIAL PALACE CORE ++ With the DEMON DEITY statue in hand, place it on the mantle across the Save Point to open the doors above the Core. SAVE your game and finish whatever it is you need to do. If you need to finish the rest of the Fiend Challenges you missed or restock at Muramasa's Shop, do it now! Once you enter through the doors above the Core, there's no going back! When you're ready, go up the stairs until a cutscene is triggered. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DS4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: THE EMPEROR - FORM 1 +++ This battle is no different than it was on Normal Mode, so just utilize the same strategies from that mode. DS5. +++ BOSS BATTLE: THE EMPEROR - FORM 2 +++ Same as above. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= DT1. +++ CHAPTER 19: THE DARK DRAGON BLADE +++ JUMP, FLIP, JUMP, FLIP. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Just get the DDB already! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DT2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: DARK MURAI +++ Just finish him off already! MISSION COMPLETE! Read the section below for info on Very Hard Mode. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= +++ DOMINATE & DESTROY - VERY HARD WALKTHROUGH +++ The following walkthrough below is for Very Hard Mode only! A lot of the Key Items and Weapons have been rearranged, so check this section for all the info if you are playing this mode. I only have ONE piece of advice for this Mode: DOMINATE AND DESTROY. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EA1. +++ CHAPTER 1: THE WAY OF THE NINJA +++ ++ AREA: VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS ++ --OBJECTIVE: INFILTRATE THE FORTRESS After the cutscene, collect an Elixir from the dead body. Two Purple Windmill Shuriken ninjas will appear from both sides, so be ready to eliminate them. Kill them already! Once they're dead, search the end of the mountain to find a lone chest. Open it and continue up the hill towards the fortress. Open the chests and then continue up the hill until some Purple Ninjas show up. KILL! Once their dead, continue onwards towards the Fortress. Open the chest to receive a new item. Now jump towards the branch and swing and jump to the next ledge. Use a Bird Flip to the upper ledge and prepare for battle. Kill the ninjas or bail outta there. Who cares! ++ AREA: NINJA FORTRESS ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE SAVE POINT Enter the fortress to encounter more enemies. Cut them down with some fancy combos and then enter the fortress. As you enter the first room (brown room), you will encounter three enemies. Eliminate them and then open the lone chest for a goodie. Exit this room to the next one. ++ AREA: YELLOW ROOM ++ About 10-12 Purple ninjas will drop from the ceiling above and swarm you. Abuse the downward wall strike to avoid getting grabbed cheaply by these sonofabitches. Use the UT when the coast is clear (or else they'll hurl the Windmill Shuriken at you) to kill them all. ++ AREA: STORAGE HALL ++ As soon as you enter this hall, three White ninjas will be waiting on the right side. Eliminate them to clear this area. Before you exit this room, head to the opposite area from where you entered to see a large Samurai statue holding a Key Item. Ignore it for now and collect the Elixirs next to the statue. Exit the hall to the opposite doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: TATAMI ROOM ++ ++LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS #1 As you enter into this room, open the well-hidden chest next to the door to find your first LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS item! Equip it to increase your health bar! Now go further into the room and be prepared for more enemies to jump down from the ceiling. Now is a good time to try out the On-Land Charge move on these guys. Once the room is cleared, open the lone chest to obtain a FLYING SWALLOW Scroll. Exit the room by cutting open the scroll on the wall next to the large pot. ++ AREA: DOJO ROOM ++ There is a large trapdoor in this room. Avoid falling into it for now. This room will test your patience and the skills you've learned so far. About 10-12 Purple and White Ninjas will appear from out of the rotating walls to swarm you. Just kill them already. Once the room is cleared, head past the trapdoor towards the wall scroll and cut it down to reveal a small doorway. Enter that room to find the Save Point. Save your game and then enter back into the Dojo room. Fall through the trapdoor to fall into a cave below the fortress. ++ AREA: UNDERGROUND STORAGE HOUSE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE FANGS OF THE SAMURAI There are two chests in this area. DO NOT OPEN EITHER OF THEM! They both contain Bats! Instead, exit the cave by destroying the fire posts and then jumping back to the upper ledge. Grab Ayane's Kunai if you want and then continue up the ledge. Destroy the two enemies and enter back inside to see an open ceiling gap that leads down to the Tatami Room. Before jumping down, open the lone chest to find the FANGS OF THE SAMURAI. --OBJECTIVE: RETRIEVE THE KEY OF COURAGE Jump down to the Tatami Room and go back into the Storage Hall. Place the FANGS onto the Samurai statue to obtain the KEY OF COURAGE Item. Now head back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now its time to meet up with the boss man! --OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT MURAI Head up the stairs towards the walkway. As you head up the walkway, eliminate the two ninjas and then use the Key Of Courage on the next door to unlock it. Enter inside for another battle. ++ AREA: INNER SANCTUM ++ 10-12 Purple Ninjas will jump down from above to swarm against you. Use hard combos and evasive rolls to clear the room. As soon as the room is cleared, the exit door will re-open and the entrance to the boss's lair will open up. Go back to the Save Point if you want and then head back to the Inner Fortress to face off against your first boss! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EA2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: MURAI +++ Defeating Murai is more of a pain in the ass on harder modes, don't you think so? Murai can be such a bitch. Anyway, Murai uses Purple WS Ninjas to assist him, which really cheapens the battle, but then again, IT'S VERY HARD MODE! Use the same evasion tactics from Hard Mode for this battle. Eliminate the ninjas and then focus on Murai. When he somersaults next to you, that's when you should strike. Avoid trying to attack him when he uses the Rush Attack. Trust me, it's very painful if you do. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EB1. +++ CHAPTER 2: THE HAYABUSA NINJA VILLAGE +++ --OBJECTIVE: HEAD TO HAYABUSA VILLAGE Exit the Inner Sanctum and make your back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now exit out of the Fortress to the Valley Of The Shadows. ++ AREA: VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS ++ Remember that large locked doorway you couldn't enter in the previous chapter? Well, it's opened up so head for it. Enter the cavern and watch out for BATS!!!! ++ AREA: ALTAR ++ Approach the altar and grab the scroll on it to obtain the ART OF THE FIRE WHEELS Ninpo scroll. Equip it if you want and then jump onto the manual elevator and ride down to the bottom. Once you reach the bottom, jump behind the elevator to find a well-hidden chest. Now exit the elevator area outside to a grassy area. Use a Wall Run towards the next ledge and then open the nearby chest from a SMOKE BOMB item. ++ AREA: UPPER MOUNTAIN PATH ++ As you leave this area, three Samurais will stop by to try and stop you. Quickly charge your sword for a UT before they approach you. Kill the first Samurai with a Level 1 UT and then use an On-Land Charge with the leftover essence to decapitate the other two Samurais. Time this tactic well and it'll be easy as cake. ++ AREA: MOUNTAIN PATH ++ Now head down the path to a large hillside slope. Slide on down and then jump and grab the branch before you fall off the ledge to the water below (not that it's a bad thing). Jump from branch to branch and onto the dry land to encounter more Samurais. ++ AREA: OUTER VILLAGE ++ As you approach the path, a bunch of Samurais will come running towards you. Charge the sword for an Ultimate Technique and unleash it on the first enemy that approaches you. Continue to evade the Samurai melee attacks and use UT's to quickly kill them all. Once the area is cleared, climb the watchtower ladder to the top to find a chest with the HAYABUSA VILLAGE MAP Key Item. Now make your way towards the broken bridge area. In this area, you can try out your Water Running abilities. Jump down to the water below and do a Water Run to the opposite ledge. If you mess up and fall into the water, don't worry and just swim to the next ledge. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #1 Before you climb up to the top to the Save Point, look under the broken bridge across from you to see a small shack. Use a Water Run and head inside the shack to find a chest with your first Life OTG item! Now run back and use the Save Point. ++ AREA: HAYABUSA VILLAGE ENTRANCE ++ Enter the village entrance and you'll see that's it empty. To the right side of the entrance are a couple of statues (one with a missing head). Ignore the statue for now and continue down the path. A couple of Samurais and Warlocks will come from the farther end of the village (and behind you) to swarm you as soon as you descend the village. Evade all the Samurais and focus on killing the Warlocks. Be careful though, because the Warlocks now shoot multiple fireballs! Roll under the fireballs and use a hard combo to kill them off. Use the Essence they leave behind for UT's on the Samurais. Continue this tactic to clear this area quickly. Once the area is clear, it's time to do some item collecting! ++LIFE OF THE GODS #2 At the end of the pathway from the village entrance, you'll see a STONE HEAD lying on the ground. Pick it up and then place it on one of the Jizo statues near the village entrance with the missing head to obtain a Life OTG item! Also notice that there is an upper hill slope that leads to a small "shrine" with a large stone on it that cannot be cracked. You will deal with this stone later in Chapter 15, so ignore it for now. Near the village entrance on the left side is an alleyway. Enter the alleyway to find a dead body with an Elixir. Pick it up and you should be done with collecting items in this area! --OBJECTIVE: FIND AYANE Once you've collected all the goodies in the village, SAVE your game! Now make your way to the middle of the village and you will see a large window ledge on the left side that you can jump up to. Jump up towards the open window on the second floor to find Ayane inside. After the cutscene, Ayane will pass you the BOW. Now jump downstairs to find a small supply room and a Muramasa Statue. If you have enough cash, buy the ARMLET OF THE SUN item. Scour the shelves of the supply room to find more goodies and then exit the room. ++ AREA: OPEN RANGE ++ Exit the supply room to an open range area. More Samurais and Warlocks will appear in this area. Use the tactic I mentioned above to kill them all with ease. If you want to test your BOW on the enemies, grab some ARROWS from the nearby dead body and start flinging! Once the area is cleared, you will notice that there are three bull's- eye targets above the wooden fence. Just near the supply room entrance, stand close by and start shooting arrows at each target in the center (using First Person) to reveal some Essence. If you need Blue, Red, or Yellow Essence then keep shooting until the essence runs out. Now before you exit this area, SAVE your game! Come back to this area when you've replenished your supply and get ready for a difficult battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EB2. ++ SUB-BOSSES: SAMURAI HORSEMEN ++ On Very Hard difficulty, you will face off against eight horsemen. Destroy them the same you did on Hard Mode (it should be easy by now). If you can't beat them with little to no problems, then how the hell did you even get this far? Don't be the noob! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: CENTRAL BRIDGE ++ Once the sub-boss battle ends, the fire on the other side will die down to reveal a new Save Point. Jump over the rubble and approach the dead body to find an Elixir. Be sure to approach Muramasa's Statue to replenish any stock before fighting the next boss! Now approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. When you're ready, enter the through the doorway towards the Central Bridge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EB3. ++ BOSS BATTLE: MASAKADO - PART 1 ++ If you made it this far, then you should already know how to defeat Masakado, so DO IT! When Masakado's douchebag health reaches 40%, he falls off the horse. Yup, that means you gotta fight him one on one! EB4. ++ BOSS BATTLE: MASAKADO - PART 2 +++ Masakado is one easy sonofabitch to defeat (it is such a goddamn joke). While his attacks do inflict a lot of damage, Ryu's attacks are just as powerful. Here's how to defeat him in 30 seconds: As soon as Masakado falls off the horse, jump away and immediately charge up with an On-Land Charge. When he approaches you, unleash a UT on him. If he blocks the attack, immediately follow it up with a Dragon Roar combo ([] [] /\) to shave off some his health. From there, jump away and do an OLC when he approaches to break his guard (you won't have time for UT, so just make him fall back). Immediately follow up again with a Dragon Roar combo as soon as he blocks the OLC (or not). Continue this tactic as fast as you can. If done correctly, Masakado won't have time to block the Dragon Roar combo after his guard is broken. With perfect timing, the battle is over within 30 seconds easy! Copy and past this URL to see a video for this battle on VH Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/85538.html ++LIFE OF THE GODS #3 Once the battle is over, Masakado will leave a Life OTG as the prize, so grab it! Now exit the area using the double doors and SAVE your game at the next Save Point! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: CLAN LEADER'S RESIDENCE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND KUREHA As you enter the burning courtyard, you'll encounter more Samurais and Warlocks. If you made it this far, then you should already know how to dispatch these guys. Clear the area but don't enter the house just yet! Enter the small alley on the left side of the house to find a chest with a goodie inside. Grab the item and then head inside the house. Slice open the burning walls to reveal some Samurais hiding behind them. Evade the Samurais and focus on killing the Warlocks first but BE CAREFUL! The area in the middle of the house is a breathing inferno! Once you eliminate the enemies, DO NOT EXIT THE HOUSE YET! +++LIFE OF THE GODS #4 Yes, there is a hidden chest inside the burning house with a special item. Go to the back of the room and look on the left side to see an open gap. Enter this gap to a small hall. Go down the hall and you will see the chest with a Life OTG item! Now go back to the Save Point and SAVE your game. When you're ready, go back into the burning house and exit at the other end to the backyard. Get ready for the most difficult (or easiest) battle of the game! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EB5. ++ BOSS BATTLE: DOKU ++ If you defeated Doku on Hard Mode, GOOD FOR YOU! Defeating him here unlocks Master Ninja Mode! Oooh, you must be SO good! Copy and paste this URL to see a video for this battle on VH Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/85475.html MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EC1. +++ CHAPTER 3: SKIES OF VENGEANCE +++ ++ AREA: RYU'S CABIN ++ When the Chapter begins, grab the nearby Elixir on the table and then use the Save Point. Now exit the cabin into the hallway outside. In the hallway are three other cabin rooms and a storage room next to Ryu's cabin (remember that Storage Room, you'll come back there later). ++ AREA: LIVING QUARTERS ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE COUNTERATTACK SCROLL When you exit your cabin, enter the cabin next door to find a chest with a crucial item: the COUNTERATTACK SCROLL. Trust me, you NEED that scroll! Explore the other cabins to find some Elixirs and then enter the cabin with the red carpeting. Approach the chest to find the Airship Map. Exit the room to trigger a battle with some MSAT soldiers. Eliminate them with easy combos and then exit the room. As you exit, STAY in the hall and use well-timed counterattacks and UT's on the MSAT soldiers and commanders. Once the room is cleared, they leave the WING KEY, so grab it and use it on the double doors to enter the next area. ++ AREA: MAIN CABIN ++ Enter the Main Cabin and you will see another set of double doors that are locked, two stairways, and two office rooms (one on the left and one on the right side of the double doors). Eliminate the MSAT soldiers that appear here to clear the area. Take the stairway down on the RIGHT side to find a Save Point and SAVE your game. There's another door next to the Save Point that leads outside, but ignore that door for now. Go back upstairs to the Main Cabin and go to the other stairway. At the bottom of that stairway is Muramasa's Statue. When you access Muramasa's inventory, purchase a Level 2 upgrade for the Dragon Sword and the Armlet of the Sun. ++ AREA: CREW COMPARTMENT QUARTERS ++ Exit the room and enter the office room on the right side. Exit through the other door to encounter more soldiers. When the battle begins, block the soldier's attacks and wait for one of them to get closer. Use a hard combo and stay evasive! Repeat the strategy for the other soldiers to clear out the room. Exit through the newly opened door to a red carpet hallway. ++ AREA: CREW COMPARTMENT - OUTER HALLWAY ++ At the end of the hallway are the double doors that lead back to the Main Cabin (the other metal doorway is locked for now). If you decide to open the double doors, it unlocks them for good. If not, then enter the door across from the Crew Quarters to the Main Office. ++ AREA: MAIN OFFICE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #1 Inside the main office are two items: a Golden Scarab on the shelf behind the desk and a Map Of Tairon next to the desk. Grab them! Now take the nearby elevator and go down to the Fore Cabin. ++ AREA: FORE CABIN ++ --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE ID CARD Exit the elevator and go around the flight control deck to the other end of the room to find another elevator. Take the elevator down to the Control Deck and get ready for some bloodshed. As soon as you exit the elevator, roll in and use hard combos and counters on the soldiers and grenadier. When all of them are dead, an MSAT Commander will arrive via elevator. Dispatch the two commanders and one of them will drop the ID CARD Key Item, so take it! After you take the ID CARD, open the door next to the elevator into a small store room. Open the chest inside the room to find the DRAGON CLAW & TIGER FANG Dual Katanas! Now exit and take the elevator back up to the flight deck. There is a doorway across the elevator, so enter through to find two soldiers waiting for you in the small corridor. Eliminate them and then exit the corridor to the Save Point. SAVE your game and then take the opposite doorway next to the Save Point leading outside. Cross the bridge and use the ID CARD to enter a Container Room with crates and containers. ++ AREA: MIDDLE CABIN ++ The crate to the left of the door contains Arrows, so replenish your stock. Destroy the wooden crates to clear the room. --OBJECTIVE: OPEN THE LARGE METAL DOOR At the other end of the room are a large metal door and a turnstile. Grab the turnstile and keep rotating it to open the large metal door. After three rotations, more soldiers will burst through the windows. Kill them off with some hard combos to clear the room. Once it's cleared, rotate the handle until the metal door is fully opened. --OBJECTIVE: REACH THE ENGINE ROOM There is a zipline on the upper right side of the doorway, but DO NOT use it yet! With the door wide open, two Laser Copters will appear. Use mid-air Arrows to destroy them and then quickly kill the two MSAT soldiers that appear on the other side with Arrows. Once the soldiers have been eliminated, take the zipline to the other end of the ship and then jump down. ++ AREA: AFT CABIN ++ Go down the walkway to encounter two MSAT Commanders. Kill them! --OBJECTIVE: DISABLE THE ENGINES & DEACTIVATE EMERGENCY LOCKS The front door is closed so you'll need to go to the side of the room and break open the window (AVOID the chest at the end of the walkway). Jump into the Engine Room and start smashing shit up with your sword. After the engines are down, the Emergency locks will open and you can now open the rest of the doors in the ship. Exit the room and go back to the Main Deck. Eliminate any soldiers in the way. --OBJECTIVE: EXPLORE THE LOCKED STORAGE ROOM SAVE your game at the Fore Cabin Save Point. Remember the Storage Room that was locked next to Ryu's Cabin? When you head in there, be prepared for an Enemy Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EC2. ++ AREA: STORAGE ROOM ++ +++AIRSHIP CHALLENGE: STORAGE ROOM Ryu will enter a large arena with a couple of containers in the back. Soldiers will start jumping in from various windows and attacking you. Simply use counterattacks and lots of UT's to complete this uber-easy challenge. After all the soldiers are dead, you will receive a Lives OTTG item! Just remember that if you SKIP this challenge, you will miss out on certain items that cannot be retrieved once the chapter is done. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #2 Before you leave the Storage Room, jump to the top of the containers at the back of the room and grab the Golden Scarab sitting on the very top container. Once you've taken all the stuff in this room, go to Ryu's Cabin and SAVE your game. --OBJECTIVE: HEAD FOR THE AIRSHIP ROOFTOP Now it's time to meet up with the boss man! Go to the Main Cabin and open the double doors. Go to the other end of the hallway and open the metal door that was previously locked. ++ AREA: GAS COMPARTMENT PASSAGEWAY ++ Go up the metal stairway and you'll see two MSAT soldiers shooting at you. Quickly roll jump to the top and use a Flying Swallow on both of them. Above the stairway is a ledge walkway. Jump up to it to encounter more soldiers. Eliminate them with counters. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #3 There is a large crate on the walkway above the metal stairs. Jump on top of the crate and then use a Bird Flip to jump to a higher walkway with a hidden Golden Scarab! Take the Scarab now because once the chapter ends, you won't be able to get it again! Jump down the upper walkway and continue past the ledges to the other end of the ship. Destroy the enemies with Flying Swallows and use UT's on the commanders. Once you reach the other end of the walkway, use a Bird Flip to another upper walkway. Eliminate the last two soldiers at the top to completely clear the ship of enemies. See that ladder? If you take it to the roof, the roof door won't open. Use a continuous Bird Flip at the bottom of the ladder to find a small little room that has the lever to deactivate the roof door. Pull the lever and then jump back down. Use the Save Point across from the ladder and SAVE your game! If you need to go back to Muramasa's Statue, DO IT NOW! If not, climb up the ladder to encounter the big boss man! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EC3. ++ BOSS BATTLE: DYNAMO ++ Dynamo will use an MSAT soldier and Commander to assist him in this battle. Use the same tactics from Hard Mode to kill him off. Just be careful though, because Dynamo uses his stupid Laser blasts more frequently for this battle than in previous difficulties! Copy and paste this URL to see a video for this battle on VH Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/94653.html MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ED1. +++ CHAPTER 4: IMPERIAL CITY INFILTRATION +++ ++ AREA: TAIRON OUTSKIRTS ++ --OBJECTIVE: GO TO HAN'S BAR After the cutscene, SAVE your game! Now jump down to encounter a new enemy: Robotic M-SAT soldiers. These guys should be simple to eliminate as their human counterparts, so get to it! After that's done, go down the alley to Twin Serpents Plaza. You'll be coming back here later, so ignore the large monument for now. To the left of the alley you just came from is a chest under an arch. Do you see it? Open it and grab the goodies inside. Now head for the other open alleyway and you'll see three soldiers. Eliminate them with style and then open the large door to the next area. ++ AREA: MILITARY GATES ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #5 As you enter this large open area, make a left to see a dead body. Search the body for a Life OTG! Across from the gates is another dead body with Arrows. Replenish your stock and head for the door with the single Red jewel on it. As you approach the Red-jeweled door, it locks itself and soldiers will appear from the gates. This battle will be a little more strenuous than before because you'll have to deal with 10 enemies: 1 MSAT soldier, 3 Grenadiers, and 6 MSAT Commanders. Eliminate the lesser soldiers with easy combos and then use the Essence for UT's on the Commanders. Keep the counterattack ready and don't be afraid to be evasive! Once the battle is done, the red-jeweled doorway opens up. Exit the area to Dworku Alleyway. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY ++ When you enter the next area, one soldier and two Commanders will attack from off-screen, so be ready for the ambush. Eliminate them to clear the alley. --OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN THE LUNAR Go to the other end of this alley to the other side (ignore the stairway going down for now). At the end of the zigzag alley is a large pot with the Lunar weapon inside. Take the new weapon and equip it if you want. After you've taken the Lunar, open the nearby gate for future purposes. Now go back to the Dworku Alleyway. As you go back to the stairway, the three soldiers that tried to ambush you will reappear (and will respawn whenever you come back to this area). Eliminate or ignore them and go down the stairs. Take a right and down the alley to the next stairway. ++ AREA: OUTER CLOCK TOWER SQUARE ++ As you approach the stairs, you will see two soldiers on separate balconies (one MSAT commander and one Grenadier) shooting at you. Bust out the Bow and kill them in First-Person to clear this area. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #6 Near the stairway is one of Ayane's Kunai Scrolls. She will inform you about blue-colored ledges that lead to certain areas. There is a blue ledge just where you found the Kunai Scroll, so approach it and Ryu will grab it and flip over it. Shimmy all the way to the right side and then climb up to the hidden ledge to find a Life OTG. Go back to the blue ledge and shimmy back to the upper stairway (or just jump down). ++LIFE OF THE GODS #7 On top of the stairway is a blue ledge. Use a Wall Run to grab the ledge and then shimmy all the way to the left side and jump down onto the balcony. See that blue zipline above the balcony? Jump up and grab it and shimmy all the way to the other balcony. Once you reach the other balcony, jump down and open the chest to find A Life OTG! When you turn around, there will be a pair of soldiers on top of the stairs shooting at you. Ignore them or kill them if you want. At the other side of the stairway is a dead body. Do you see it? Search the body to find a goodie. There is also a Save Point next to the door with a Bronze Lilly on it. SAVE your game and then exit this area using the Yellow-jeweled door to a new area. ++ AREA: CLOCK TOWER PLAZA ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE IZUNA DROP SCROLL As soon as you enter CTP, you'll notice another multi-jeweled doorway with a purple jewel in the middle. That door is locked at the moment, so ignore it. Across from the multi-jeweled door is a doorway with blue-lining. Enter through that doorway and go up the stairs to encounter three soldiers. Eliminate them with hard combos but do NOT absorb the last piece of Essence left behind! Leave it floating and quickly go up to the Clock Tower balcony. As you approach the balcony, three Red Fire Ninjas will jump down. To quickly eliminate the first Red Ninja, immediately charge up for a UT from the Essence that I said to leave behind. That should catch one or two of them off guard! Use evasive rolls and counterattacks on them as best you can. These guys are no different than the Black Spider Ninjas so they shouldn't be TOO difficult to kill. Once the ninjas have been dispatched, approach the lone chest under the archway to find the IZUNA DROP Scroll! Now jump down back onto the street. --OBJECTIVE: UNLOCK THE GATE TO PLEASURE STREET Head down Clock Tower Square past the multi-jeweled door again and a short cutscene will occur showing Muramasa's Shop. Enter inside the shop if you want and then continue on. Outside Muramasa's Shop is a large Green-jeweled doorway. As you approach the door, soldiers will appear from the other side. Eliminate the soldiers to unlock that door. Enter the Green-jeweled doorway to the next area. ++ AREA: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #4 As soon as you enter this area, make a left to see a small fountain. There is a hidden Golden Scarab in the fountain, so grab it! There is a bunch of things you can find in Great Bridge Square. In the alley on the right side, you'll find a doorway with a crack on it. It can't be opened until later, so ignore it. Also notice that there is an enclosed area with a locked gate here. To go inside that area, go to the back of the alley and turn right. Use a Bird Flip to an upper ledge and jump down to the enclosed area with a circular stone pattern. If you step in the middle of the stone pattern, two Red Fire Ninjas and a Catwoman will jump down. Eliminate them with hard combos to clear this area. There is also a chest with LOTS of goodies inside. Open it up to get the stuff and then approach the metal door to unlock it. Now you're done collecting all the stuff in this area. See those small set of stairs next to Great Bridge Square? Take those stairs and you will encounter two more Catwomen and a Red Fire Ninja. Eliminate them with easy counters and Izuna Drops. To exit this area, go to the small alley where those Catwomen came from and use a continuous Bird Flip to the top ledge. Use a Wall Run on the blue-lined wall to the other ledge and head through the doorway. Follow the ledge until you see a dead body. Search the body to find a diary. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #5 This Golden Scarab is just across from the dead body. Grab it and continue down the walkway towards the end. At the end of the walkway, you will see another chest and a lever. Open the chest for some goodies and then pull the lever to unlock the multi- jeweled door to Pleasure Street. Jump back down to the ground below to encounter some patrolling soldiers. Fight them off and then enter the Purple-jeweled doorway. ++ AREA: PLEASURE STREET ++ As you make your way up Pleasure Street, another batch of Red Fire Ninjas will drop down to ambush you. Eliminate them with ease using the Izuna Drop and continue up to Han's Bar to trigger a new battle. Now it's time for some Crotch Rocket action! Two (yes, just TWO) motorcycle MSAT soldiers will come crashing in, so get ready for the party! These two have a very impenetrable defense but keep using the Flying Swallow attack on them until they FINALLY fall off the bike and then eliminate them with easy combos. After the battle, approach the Save Point next to Han's Bar first and SAVE your game! Now approach the shiny object on the ground and grab the LILLY KEY and then approach Han's Bar to end the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EE1. +++ CHAPTER 5: THE FIEND HUNTER +++ ++ AREA: MONASTERY INNER CLEARING ++ Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. A trio of Robot MSAT soldiers will run towards you, so smack them with some hard combos to eliminate them. Once the area is cleared, head out of the area using the gateway. Eliminate the next bunch of soldiers and use the Peluda Tail to destroy the Copter. Continue down the road towards Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE DWORKU MONASTERY KEY A couple more soldiers and a Grenadier will come after you in this area. Use hard combos on the soldiers and a UT on the Grenadier. When the soldiers are toast, go up the stairs to encounter more soldiers. Defeat them with some hard combos and the DWORKU MONASTERY KEY will flash on the ground. Grab the item and go back to Monastery Plaza. If you want to use Muramasa's Statue near the top of the stairs, then do it now. When you re-enter the Plaza, prepare for a Pink Shadow Fiend ambush! Use counterattacks and UT's to defeat these easy enemies and then use the DWORKU KEY on the large double gate. ++ AREA: MONASTERY ENTRANCE ++ When you enter the area, prepare to eliminate more Pink Shadow Fiends. Clear the area of the baddies and then approach the Save Point and SAVE your game! From here, Rachel has the option to pursue her first Fiend Challenge. To the left of the Monastery entrance is the Monastery Annex. Make your way to that area to find ANOTHER Muramasa Statue. Go up the stairs and double jump to the ledge above. Follow the walkway to the other side and jump down. Exit to trigger a Fiend Challenge! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EE2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #1: MONASTERY ANNEX ENTRANCE This challenge consists of 100 Pink Shadow Fiends. Simply use the same tactics from Hard Mode and you should be able to make the Time Limit with no problems. Once the challenge is done, Rachel will receive a brand spankin' new Hairstyle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Now make your way BACK to the Monastery entrance doors and SAVE your game! Enter the Monastery and go up the walkway towards the Altar Hall. ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ Destroy all the Pink Shadow Fiends with some easy combos. Avoid approaching the Altar and instead, enter the door on the right side of the Altar Hall into the Archives Room. ++ AREA: ARCHIVES ++ Watch out because Red Fire Ninjas will swarm you from above! Use quick evasion and counterattacks on them to stop them cold. A few hard combos and some UT's will clear this room. Once that's done, go up the stairs and approach the paintings to end the mission. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EF1. +++ CHAPTER 6: CITY OF FIENDS +++ Approach the nearby Save Point and SAVE your game first! Now open the nearby chest to obtain some goodies. Time to leave this place! --OBJECTIVE: LEAVE HAN'S BAR There are two ways to leave Han's Bar: the hard way or the easy way. --THE EASY WAY: Jump down the balcony (the one Gamov jumped from) to the lower balcony. Open the chest for another set of goodies and then jump down to the street below. --THE HARD WAY: Go inside the Bar and take the stairs going down. Eliminate the soldiers waiting for you and continue down the halls. Eliminate another batch of soldiers as you make your way to the exit. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #8 Choose whichever way you want. Just note that if you jump down to the street, you will miss out on some chests inside Han's Bar including a Life OTG that you NEED! So if you missed it, go back and get it! As you exit back onto the street, two respawning MSAT Motorcycle guys will appear. Defeat them by using the Flying Swallow and the Arrows. Once the area is clear of motorcycle threats, approach the Save Point next to Han's Bar to SAVE your game! ++GOLDEN SCARAB #6/WINDMILL SHURIKEN Don't forget to grab Golden Scarab #6 and the Windmill Shuriken! Yes, the WS returns to its original place after being taken away in Hard Mode! Interact with the Team Ninja Prototype to restore everything. --OBJECTIVE: GO TO MOAT ROAD ++LIFE OF THE GODS #9 Make your way back to the Bronze Lilly Door, eliminate the waiting soldiers and head down the alley. Use a continuous Wall Run at the end of the alley to the upper ledge with a chest. Open the chest to find a Life OTG! ++ AREA: MOAT ROAD ++ As you make your way down the alley, a trio of Red Fire Ninjas will appear. These three will re-spawn every time you come back to this area, so eliminate them as fast as you can! Head for the Save Point to SAVE your game and then head for Drawbridge Square. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE PEGASUS KEY TO LOWER DRAWBRIDGE Kill those stupid motorcycle soldiers to clear this area and then enter the blue-jeweled doorway. When you enter the other side, kill the soldiers waiting at the other end to clear this area. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #7 In the middle of the alley is a chest that contains the PEGASUS KEY. Open the chest to obtain the item. Opposite from the chest is a Golden Scarab on a ledge. To get to it, use a continuous Wall Run on the nearby wall to grab it. Once you've gotten the Scarab, use the PEGASUS KEY on the gate, and pull the lever inside the room to lower the drawbridge. SAVE your game if you need to and make your way past the drawbridge. --OBJECTIVE: HEAD FOR THE MONASTERY ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE HILL ++ Cross the Drawbridge and make your way up the large stairs to Drawbridge Hill. On the way up, you'll see a Save Point across the way, but when you reach it, three Red Fire Ninjas will jump down to ambush you. Eliminate them ninjas with some hard combos. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #8 & #9/LIFE OF THE GODS #10 Golden Scarab #8 is right next to the Save Point on Drawbridge Hill. Grab the item and then take the path to the right. Search the wall crevices to find Golden Scarab #9. The chest next to Scarab #10 contains a Life OTG, so grab it! Grab the items and go BACK the other way you came. Go around the street to find Muramasa's Statue. Replenish any stock you need and then go down the stairs to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ As soon as you enter this area, the gate will rise and lock you in and a bunch of soldiers will drop down from a nearby balcony. Quickly make your way to the area where they are jumping down from and eliminate them by using Izuna Drops and UT's. Once you killed them all, the gates unlock and you can continue through. The front gates to the Monastery are closed at the moment, so you'll need to take the path on the other side. As you make your way to the other side of the Monastery, you will be ambushed by MORE Red Fire Ninjas. Stay evasive and use some well-timed counterattacks and Izuna Drops on them to eliminate them all. Once the Ninjas are gone, search the tiny alleyway to find a chest with goodies. Before you continue, I suggest saving your game! Go back to Drawbridge Hill and SAVE there. Just remember, whenever you reload a SAVED GAME in Drawbridge Hill, you WILL be ambushed by the Red Fire Ninjas, so BE PREPARED! Alright, now go back and fight those stupid Dinos. ++ AREA: MONASTERY INNER CLEARING ++ While this area may look empty, continue going down until the gates rise and lock. A new set of Motorcycle soldiers will appear here (one driving the bike with another sitting in the cab next to him). Bait the bikers into driving into the corner so they can't turn around. Use Flying Swallows on them to easily kill them off. After the soldiers are dead, a short and hilariously bloody cutscene will occur. Be prepared for a sub-boss battle! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EF2. +++ SUB-BOSS: RED DINO FIENDS (GAHRULAS) +++ Just kill these freaks already. BLAH BLAH BLAH. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EF3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: HYDRACUBUS +++ Hydra uses two Pink Shadow Fiends to assist him in battle. Use Izuna Drops on the lackeys and then stay defensive against Hydra's stupid arms. Kill him already! MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EG1. +++ CHAPTER 7: THE MONASTERY +++ ++ AREA: MONASTERY ANNEX ++ When the mission begins, SAVE your game at the nearby Save Point. Across from the Save Point are two chests. Both contain exploding Bats, so open at your discretion! Now go up the stairs and open the chests at the top of the stairs to find some goodies. As you walk towards the archway, you will be swarmed by Bats and Laser Copters. Equip the Windmill Shuriken and start tossing it at the Laser Copters and then use Shurikens for the Bats. With the area cleared, continue down the archway and jump down. You will find a Muramasa Statue here, so use it if you need to and then continue outside to a grassy area. ++LIFE OF THE GODS #11 Near the exit is a chest with a Life OTG inside, so grab it! Catwomen will appear in this area, so get to killing! Use easy combos with the Lunar to eliminate them all. Once they've all been diced, head for the Save Point next to the Monastery entrance and SAVE your game! ++ AREA: MONASTERY + If you want to open the double doorway leading back to Monastery Square, then do it. You'll encounter more Catwomen if you do, so be prepared. If you don't open the door, then enter the large doors to enter the Monastery. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE STONE TABLET (RIGHT) ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ ++LIFE OF THE GODS #12 As soon as you enter inside, go up the walkway and search the area for chests. One of them contains a Life OTG, so grab that bitch! See that Altar at the other side of the room? Ignore it for now and take the door located on the right side to the Archive Room. ++ AREA: ARCHIVES ++ As soon as you enter the Archives, the gates on the second floor close and the door behind you locks itself. That means its boss time! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EG2. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BLACK DRAGON CLONE - PART 1 +++ If you had no problems defeating the Clone on Hard Mode, then just go crazy. Just be careful though, because the Clone is a little more Ninpo-happy in this battle. But with some dumb luck, you'll defeat this bunghole easily. The prize for this battle is the ARMLET OF POTENCY. Copy and paste this URL to see a video for this battle on VH Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/97703.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++GOLDEN SCARAB #10 & 11 After the battle, go up the stairs and search the Archive Room to find a couple of goodies. You'll find a Golden Scarab, the Right Stone Tablet, and some Incendiary Shurikens. Equip the Incendiary Shurikens and continue up to the third floor. Use a Bird Flip to reach the higher floor and to find Golden Scarab #11 sitting there. --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE BOOK OF EONS Ascend the third floor and then toss an Incendiary Shuriken at the wall to break it open. As soon as the wall breaks, more Scythe-Wielding Fiends and Catwomen will show up. Destroy the Scythe-Fiends with the Dual Katana's mid-air combos to kill them easily. Stay evasive from the constant barrage of green portals and focus on the Scythe-Fiends. Once the Scythe-Fiends are dead, kill the pussies with easy combos and then exit the Archives using the nearby doorway. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EG3. +++FIEND CHALLENGE: ARCHIVE ROOM If you re-enter the Archive Room after find the BOOK OF EONS, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge with Catwomen and Scythe-Wielding Fiends. Finishing this challenge nets you a Spirit Of The Devils. Keep in mind though, if you defeat Alma BEFORE attempting this Fiend Challenge, the challenge is forfeited. GOOD LUCK! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ AREA: ALTAR HALL ++ ++GOLDEN SCARAB #12/LIFE OF THE GODS #13 As you exit the room, you'll be on the upper balcony of the Monastery. There are two catwalks and ledges up here: one on the left and one on the right. Each ledge contains a chest and each balcony contains an item. The Golden Scarab is on the left balcony and the Life OTG is on the right, so grab both items. Once you've collected the goodies, enter the door at the opposite end of the balcony to a new room. ++ AREA: MONK'S ROOM ++ Solve the Safe combo and then grab the BOOK OF EONS. Now you have to fight off the unwanted guests. Eliminate all the fiends that appear in the room to clear it out and then exit back to the Altar Hall. REMEMBER! Come back to the Monk's Room in Chapters 9 & 13 for more goodies hidden in the Safe! --OBJECTIVE: USE THE BOOK OF EONS ON THE ALTAR Exit back to the Altar Hall and use the Book of Eons on the Altar to open up a large sarcophagus-looking thingie behind it. Fight off or ignore the Fiends in the Altar Hall and jump down to the newly opened cavern below. In the small cavern, you'll find a dead body and a Chest and some Apparitions. Kill them with simple slashes. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #13 Search the dead body to find some Incendiary Shurikens and open the chest to obtain the Map to the area. Grab the Golden Scarab on the ground and kill the Apparitions. Use the Save Point and SAVE your game! --OBJECTIVE: FIND THE HOLY GRAIL ++ AREA: CORRIDOR OF DOOM ++ RUN FORREST RUN! ++ AREA: ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS ++ Jump from bar to bar until you reach the Save Point. SAVE your game and then descend the large spiral going down to the area below. Kill the glowing apparitions with the Windmill Shuriken and keep descending until you reach an area with a large fossilized dinosaur. Kill the Pincer Fiends that appear here to clear the area. Notice that there is a large altar next to the metal gate. Remember this altar because you'll be returning here later in the chapter! ++ AREA: INNER ECONTRA ++ Enter through the other metal gate towards a large area infested with a bunch of Wasp Fiends. These Metroid-looking rip-offs are not so lethal but they can be annoying when they start to sting you in groups. Jump down to the bottom and use Flying Swallow/Windmill Shuriken attacks on them to kill them off. Explore this room to see a couple of high ledges. There is a Golden Scarab on an alcove above and two ledges that goes back up to the fossilized dinosaur area. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #14/LIFE OF THE GODS #14 Once all the Wasp Fiends are gone, search the upper alcove for a Golden Scarab. To find that Scarab, use a Bird Flip in the enclosure and you will land on the alcove to find the Scarab lying there. Jump to the ledge across from the Scarab and you will see a higher ledge across from you with a chest. Use a Wall Run to reach the chest and open it to find a Life OTG item! ++ AREA: HALL OF EONS ++ Now jump back down and out of Inner Econtra to find a Save Point. SAVE your game and continue to descend the large spiral (or you can just jump down to the ground below). Once you reach the bottom, prepare to fight some more Pink Fiends and Apparitions. Kill them all (or don't) and them access Muramasa's Statue to replenish any items you need. ++GOLDEN SCARAB #15 Now enter the tunnel and jump down the ladder. You'll find a Golden Scarab between the crevices of the wall, so grab it! ++ AREA: TOMB OF EONS ++ Continue into the Tomb Of Eons until you reach a large circular platform. Open the nearby chest to find the VIGOORIAN FLAILS. Use a downward strike on the switch in the center to activate the platform and make it descend. As it descends, Brown Fiends will appear, so start some killing! Once the platform stops, enter the doorway to another cavern. Approach the Save Point and SAVE your game. Now make your way for the opposite doorway to enter a new room. ++ AREA: RITUAL ROOM ++ As you enter the room, you will be swarmed with Wasp Fiends. Eliminate them with some easy Flying Swallow attacks. Once the last Wasp Fiend dies, the door locks and a new set of enemies will appear. A whole bunch of Zombies (or Ghuuls) will emerge and try to molest you. Yes, I said "molest" you. You will see a couple of Zombies carrying maces and axes and some Archers. Approach the Archer first and eliminate it with hard combos. Be sure to block his arrows (be careful though because they are strong arrows) and then use the leftover essence for UT's on the others (remember to stay evasive). You'll deal with four Archers total, so get to it! Once the Archers are gone, use whatever weapon you want on the other Zombies. Be sure to stay evasive and kill them off with UT's. Once the room is cleared, the door will re-open. Grab the HOLY GRAIL item on the mantle and then exit the room. ++ AREA: TOMB OF EONS ++ When you exit the Ritual Room, more Zombies, Archers, and Red Dinos (say what?) will appear in the corridor. Eliminate them if you want or just make your way back to the rotating platform. When you reach the platform, strike the dial to make it ascend back up. Destroy the Zombies that appear until the platform stops halfway. Continue destroying Zombies and then strike the dial again to make it ascend up. Make your way up to the large spiral cavern and eliminate anything that gets in your way. As you ascend the spiral, there will be FOUR Archers waiting for you. Use Incendiary Shurikens on them and block their arrow attacks. Be careful not to get too careless when jumping from ledge to ledge because if you fall down, you will have to ascend the spiral again and the Archers will respawn! Make your way back to the Save Point next to Inner Econtra and SAVE your game! Once that's done, go back up to Econtra Babel Specus and place the HOLY GRAIL on the altar near the fossilized dinosaur to trigger the next boss fight! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EG4. +++ BOSS BATTLE: BONE DRAGON +++ This battle is no different than it was on Hard Mode, so use the same tactics to kill it. But instead of the Dragon Sword, equip the Dual Katanas instead! As for his Wasp Fiend lackeys, keep your distance and use the Windmill Shuriken and Flying Swallows to kill them. Most of the time, the dead lackeys leave Blue Essence, so collect it if you need to but DO NOT attempt a UT on the Bone Dragon! It won't work, so just collect the Essence. MISSION COMPLETE! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= EH1. +++ CHAPTER 8: ALMA, GREATER FIEND +++ --OBJECTIVE #1: GO TO GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE --OBJECTIVE #2: GO TO THE MILITARY GATES (OPTIONAL) This is a pretty short mission depending if you want to take on both objectives or not. First of all, SAVE your game at the Save Point. Replenish your supply at Muramasa's Statue if you need to and then exit out of the Monastery back to Monastery Plaza. ++ AREA: MONASTERY PLAZA ++ Take the only pathway that is open at the moment. Eliminate the soldiers on the way down as you head towards Drawbridge Hill. Use the Save Point at Drawbridge Hill if you need to and then go down the steps towards Drawbridge Square. ++ AREA: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE ++ Pull the lever in front of the bridge to lower it and then head for the Square to encounter some goddamn Ogres. If you defeat them, Rachel will receive the BLADE OF THE OUROBOROS Sorcery! Exit Drawbridge Square using the Blue-jeweled doorway. Roll jump towards the soldiers and take out the Grenadier first and then use UT's on the other two soldiers. With all three dead, go to the end of the path and strike at the crack on the wall to open a new secret pathway. Open the chest for a goodie and make your way down the zigzag path to the other gate. ++ AREA: DWORKU ALLEYWAY ++ As you exit the gate, you have to decide if you want to go to Great Bridge Square or to the Military Gate. If you go to Great Bridge Square, you will face off against a boss character. If you go to the Military Gates, you will trigger a Fiend Challenge. If you choose to do both, then do the Fiend Challenge first. Go up the stairs and exit using the Red-jeweled door to the Military Gate. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EH2. +++RACHEL FIEND CHALLENGE #2: MILITARY GATE INFO COMING SOON! GIMME A F*CKING BREAK! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- After the challenge, make your way to the Bronze Lilly Door. Eliminate any soldiers that appear and use Save Point next to the Bronze Lilly Door. Now go to Clock Tower Square and exit using the Green-jeweled door. If you need to replenish items at Muramasa's Shop, DO IT NOW! ++ AREA: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE ++ Approach Great Bridge Square and be prepared for a Red Fire Ninja ambush. Use quick evasion and hard combos on the Red Ninjas. Kill them all to trigger a tedious new boss battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EH3. +++ BOSS BATTLE: GAMOV +++ On Very Hard Mode, Gamov is pretty much immune to Rachel's UT moves, so take my advice, DON'T TRY IT. Rachel's ONLY best line of defense is her Counterattack. Use simple combos to rid the Robot MSAT lackeys and then get up close to Gamov. When in front of Gamov, he stops shooting and attempts either his Knife combo or his grab move. If he starts the Knife Combo, IMMEDIATELY use a Counterattack and the counterattack frames will allow Rachel to smack him and she won't take damage (if you countered). Sometimes a Counter move will stop Gamov cold and he'll lie on the ground for a few seconds. If that happens, IMMEDIATELY follow up with a Venom attack (just press the Triangle Button) while he's down to shave off more health. It's a cheap attack and it's awesome! Repeat this tactic and it shouldn't be too difficult to get the smackdown on this bitch-ass muthaf*cker. This battle is as tedious as they come, boys and girls, so don't expect to defeat Gamov unscathed. If you do, you're a LIAR. MISSION COMPLETE! TO BE CONTINUED... ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= For a complete list of all the Power-Up and Golden Scarab locations, read the section below. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= JJ1. +++ POWER-UPS & GOLDEN SCARABS CHECKLIST +++ The section below will list all the Power-Ups and Golden Scarab locations for all modes. The list is for Ninja Dog/Normal Mode. == GOLDEN SCARABS (ALL MODES) === All Scarabs are listed in order from which they are found in the game. For more details on finding each Scarab, consult the walkthrough above. #1 - AIRSHIP - MAIN OFFICE #2 - AIRSHIP - STORAGE ROOM (FINISH THE AIRSHIP CHALLENGE) #3 - AIRSHIP - GAS COMPARTMENT PASSAGEWAY - HIDDEN UPPER DECK #4 - GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE - INSIDE WATER FOUNTAIN #5 - CLOCK TOWER SQUARE - UPPER WALKWAY NEAR PLEASURE STREET SWITCH #6 - HAN'S BAR - END OF THE ALLEY NEAR THE HIDDEN WEAPON #7 - MOAT ROAD - UPPER LEDGE OPPOSITE FROM THE PEGASUS KEY CHEST #8 - DRAWBRIDGE HILL - NEXT TO SAVE POINT #9 - DRAWBRIDGE HILL - CREVICE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF STREET #10 - ARCHIVES ROOM - SECOND FLOOR - INSIDE GLASS CASE #11 - ARCHIVES ROOM - THIRD FLOOR #12 - ALTAR HALL - UPPER LEFT LEDGE #13 - CORRIDOR OF DOOM ENTRANCE - ACROSS FROM SAVE POINT #14 - ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS - ALCOVE NEAR WASP FIEND AREA #15 - HALL OF EONS - BETWEEN WALL CREVICES #16 - UNDERGROUND CEMETARY - ACROSS FROM BONE DRAGON'S DEAD BODY #17 - SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM - RIGHT SIDE #18 - RED EYE CHAMBER #19 - BLUE EYE CHAMBER #20 - FLOODED CORRIDOR - SWIM UNDER THE WATER NEAR ELEVATOR #21 - DWORKU ALLEYWAY - USE SKULL KEY TO ENTER #22 - DWORKU ALLEYWAY - UPPER LEDGE ABOVE GOLDEN SCARAB #21 #23 - MILITARY GATE ROAD - END OF THE ROAD; LEFT SIDE #24 - WAREHOUSE - TRAIN ROOFTOP #25 - WAREHOUSE - ON THE OFFICE ROOF #26 - RADIO CONTROL TOWER ENTRANCE - USE BIRD FLIP TO THE TOP #27 - AQUADUCTS 2B - HIDDEN LEDGE ABOVE ELECTRIC WORM BOSS ROOM #28 - HALL OF BALANCE - UPPER RIGHT LEDGE #29 - RED WATER RESERVOIR ROOM - RIGHT SIDE #30 - UNDERGROUND PASSAGE - CORNER ACROSS FROM MURAMASA'S STATUE #31 - UNDERGROUND PASSAGE - INSIDE ELECTRIC WORM ALCOVE ON LEFT SIDE #32 - BLUE WATER RESERVOIR - INSIDE DRAINED TANK #33 - PERISTYLE PASSAGE - UPPER PILLAR NEAR ENTRANCE - USE BIRD FLIP #34 - UNDERGROUND SANCTUARY - ACROSS FROM DEAD BODY WITH ARROWS #35 - UNDERGROUND SANCTUARY - BEHIND THE SAVE POINT NEAR BRAND OF VALOR #36 - THE MOATS - UNDER WATER NEXT TO SAVE POINT #37 - THE MOATS - UPPER ROOF - SECOND AREA WITH LASER COPTERS #38 - THE MOATS - NEAR THE EXIT PASSAGE FROM THE TRITON DOOR #39 - THE MOATS - INSIDE THE SUNKEN SHIP #40 - CHAMBER OF EVERLASTING SLEEP - SWIM TO THE TOP #41 - ZARKHAN STADIUM - BEHIND PILLARS ACROSS THE LEVER #42 - ZARKHAN STADIUM - ABOVE ENTRANCE DOORWAY - USE PLATFORM TO REACH #43 - ZARKHAN STADIUM - TOP BALCONY - USE PLATFORMS TO REACH #44 - ZARKHAN WATERFALLS - ACROSS SAVE POINT - BREAK OPEN STONE HEAD #45 - ZARKHAN WATERFALLS - UNDER THE POOL OF WATER #46 - MAGMA CAVERNS - SEE-SAW ROOM; SMALL LEDGE ON RIGHT SIDE #47 - ICE CAVERN - RUINS; NEXT TO SAVE POINT BEFORE YOTUNFRAU BATTLE #48 - LABYRINTH - ENTER LIONS DOOR; ALCOVE ON THE LEFT SIDE #49 - LABYRINTH - LARGE ALCOVE NEAR MURAMASA'S STATUE #50 - THE CORE - THIRD FLOOR; JUMP DOWN FROM FOURTH FLOOR == GOLDEN SCARAB PRIZES (NINJA DOG/NORMAL MODES) == 01 GOLDEN SCARABS - LIFE OF THE GODS 05 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF POTENCY 10 GOLDEN SCARABS - LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS 15 GOLDEN SCARABS - SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS 20 GOLDEN SCARABS - DABILAHRO 25 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF CELERITY 30 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF BENEDICTION 35 GOLDEN SCARABS - GREAT SPIRIT ELIXIR 40 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF FORTUNE 45 GOLDEN SCARABS - JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL 50 GOLDEN SCARABS - PLASMA SABER MK II == LIFE OF THE GODS (NINJA DOG/NORMAL MODES) == On Ninja Dog/Normal Modes, there are 27 Life of the Gods to find. #1 - HAYABUSA VILLAGE - UNDER BROKEN BRIDGE #2 - HAYABUSA VILLAGE - PLACE STATUE HEAD ON STATUE #3 - HAYABUSA VILLAGE - INSIDE BURNING HOUSE #4 - AIRSHIP - MAIN DECK - OFFICE ROOM ON LEFT SIDE #5 - MURAMASA'S STATUE - GIVE ONE GOLDEN SCARAB #6 - OUTER CLOCK TOWER PLAZA - USE BLUE LINES TO SHIMMY TO ALCOVE #7 - MONASTERY ANNEX - LEFT CHEST #8 - ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS - WASP FIEND ROOM - ON LEDGE #9 - SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM - LEFT SIDE #10 - MONK'S ROOM - INSIDE SAFE - SECOND TIME #11 - WAREHOUSE - BREAK CRATE BETWEEN TRAINS #12 - TRAIN CONTROL ROOM - DOWNSTAIRS #13 - DRAWBRIDGE HILL - NEXT TO TRAIN CRASH #14 - UNDERGROUND PASSAGE - INSIDE ELECTRIC WORM ALCOVE ON THE RIGHT #15 - HALL OF BALANCE - HIDDEN ALCOVE ON UPPER LEFT SIDE HALL #16 - OUTER SANCTUARY - HIDDEN UPPER LEDGE - USE WALL RUN #17 - THE MOATS - IN CHEST NEXT TO THE SECOND SAVE POINT #18 - THE MOATS - UNDERWATER ZIGZAG METAL BARS PUZZLE #19 - ZARKHAN STADIUM - UPPER BALCONY #20 - ZARKHAN STADIUM - UPPER LEDGE #21 - OUTER CAVERNS - BREAK STONE FACE #22 - OUTER CAVERNS - DIVE INTO POOL OF WATER TO FIND CHEST #23 - ICE CAVERNS - FIRST CHEST ON UPPER LEDGE AFTER SLIDING DOWN #24 - UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY - BEHIND THE SAVE POINT #25 - LABYRINTH - ALCOVE NEAR FIRST GHOST FISH ENCOUNTER #26 - LABYRINTH - CHEST ON LEFT SIDE OF THE SECOND SAVE POINT #27 - GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE - BUILDING WITH CRACKED DOOR == JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL == --#1: SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM - ON THE THRONE --#2: MONK'S ROOM - INSIDE THE SAFE (THIRD TIME) --#3: AQUADUCTS 4 --#4: GIVE 45 GOLDEN SCARABS TO MURAMASA --#5: DEFEAT FIEND CHALLENGE IN THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY --#6: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - CRACKED SHRINE == LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS (NINJA DOG/NORMAL MODE) == --#1: NINJA FORTRESS - TATAMI ROOM --#2: OUTER CLOCK TOWER PLAZA - USE ZIPLINE --#3: DEFEAT THE BONE DRAGON --#4: DEFEAT HYDRACUBUS - SECOND TIME --#5: PERISTYLE PASSAGE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#6: RITUAL ROOM - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#7: ZARKHAN STADIUM - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#8: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#9: HALL OF THE FLAME DRAGON - DEFEAT SMAUGAN == SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS == --#1: CLOCK TOWER BASE --#2: ARCHIVES ROOM - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#3: GIVE MURAMASA 15 GOLDEN SCARABS --#4: RED WATER RESERVOIR ROOM == TALISMAN OF REBIRTH == --#1: NINJA FORTRESS - UPPER TATAMI ROOM --#2: MILITARY GATES - Shoot arrow above the gate --#3: AQUADUCTS 4B - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#4: UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#5: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#6: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= This section will list all the locations of the Power-Ups for Hard Mode. Yes, changes were made and you'd be lost without this list. JJ2. ++ LIFE OF THE GODS LOCATIONS - HARD MODE ++ This list will reveal the locations for all 45 Life OTG's on Hard Mode. #1: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - SHACK UNDER BROKEN BRIDGE #2: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - PLACE JIZO HEAD ON STATUE #3: CENTRAL BRIDGE - DEFEAT MASAKADO #4: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - INSIDE BURNING HOUSE #5: AIRSHIP - MAIN DECK; OFFICE ON LEFT SIDE #6: OUTER CLOCK TOWER PLAZA - USE BLUE LINES TO SHIMMY INTO ALCOVE #7: OUTER CLOCK TOWER PLAZA - LEDGE ABOVE LILLY DOOR - USE ZIPLINE #8: MOAT ROAD - USE WALL RUN FROM LILLY DOOR EXIT #9: DRAWBRIDGE HILL - NEXT TO SAVE POINT #10: MONASTERY ANNEX - CHEST ON LEFT SIDE #11: ALTAR HALL - CHEST ON THE WALKWAY #12: ALTAR HALL - CHEST ON UPPER RIGHT CATWALK #13: INNER ECONTRA - UPPER LEDGE #14: SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM - LEFT SIDE OF ENTRANCE #15: RED EYE CHAMBER - CHEST UNDER THE WATER #16: MONK'S ROOM - INSIDE SAFE - SECOND TIME #17: SKULL GATE AREA #18: MILITARY WAREHOUSE - INSIDE CRATE BETWEEN TRAINS #19: MILITARY WAREHOUSE - SECOND FLOOR STAIRWAY #20: HALLWAY - WHERE YOU ENCOUNTER THREE RPG SOLDIERS #21: TRAIN CONTROL ROOM - UNDER THE STAIRS #22: DRAWBRIDGE HILL - NEXT TO TRAIN CRASH #23: RED WATER RESERVOIR - LEFT SIDE OF ALTAR #24: UNDERGROUND WATERWAY - INSIDE ELECTRIC WORM ALCOVE ON THE RIGHT #25: UNDERGROUND WATERWAY - SECOND AREA AFTER WORM BATTLE - UPPER LEDGE #26: HALL OF BALANCE - HIDDEN ALCOVE ON UPPER LEFT SIDE HALL #27: OUTER SANCTUARY - HIDDEN UPPER LEDGE - USE WALL RUN #28: THE MOATS - ACROSS FROM SECOND SAVE POINT #29: THE MOATS - UNDERWATER ZIGZAG METAL BARS #30: ZARKHAN STADIUM - UPPER LEDGES #31: STAIRWAY TO IMPERIAL PALACE - NEAR WALKWAY TO ZARKHAN STADIUM #32: ZARKHAN WATERFALL - BREAK STONE FACE #33: ZARKHAN WATERFALL - UNDER POOL OF WATER #34: ICE CAVERN DEPTHS - CHEST ON UPPER LEDGE #35: UNDERGROUND PASAGEWAY - BEHIND THE SAVE POINT #36: OUTER MONASTERY - UPPER RIGHT CHEST #37: OUTER MONASTERY - LOWER LEFT CHEST #38: LABYRINTH - CHEST IN FIRST AREA #39: LABYRINTH - CHEST IN UPPER AREA NEAR LIONS DOOR #40: LABYRINTH - CHEST WHERE YOU ACQUIRE THE LIONS KEY #41: LABYRINTH - CHEST NEXT TO SECOND SAVE POINT #42: UPPER PALACE COMPOUND - NEAR LABYRINTH EXIT #43: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE - INSIDE BUILDING ON UPPER LEDGE #44: THE CORE - SECOND FLOOR ENTRANCE #45: THE CORE - FOURTH FLOOR ENTRANCE == GOLDEN SCARAB PRIZES (HARD MODE) == 01 GOLDEN SCARABS - TECHNIQUE SCROLL - COUNTERATTACK 05 GOLDEN SCARABS - TECHNIQUE SCROLL - IZUNA DROP 10 GOLDEN SCARABS - TECHNIQUE SCROLL - GUILLOTINE THROW 15 GOLDEN SCARABS - WINDMILL SHURIKEN 20 GOLDEN SCARABS - WOODEN SWORD 25 GOLDEN SCARABS - DABILAHRO 30 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF CELERITY 35 GOLDEN SCARABS - SPEAR GUN 40 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF BENEDICTION 45 GOLDEN SCARABS - ARMLET OF FORTUNE 49 GOLDEN SCARABS - PLASMA SABER MK II 50 GOLDEN SCARABS - DARK DRAGON BLADE == JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL == --#1: SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM - ON THE THRONE --#2: PERISTYLE PASSAGE - DEFEAT THE CLONE --#3: MONK'S ROOM - INSIDE THE SAFE (THIRD TIME) --#4: UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#5: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - CRACKED SHRINE --#6: OUTER MONASTERY - DEFEAT THE BLACK DRAGON CLONE == LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS == --#1: NINJA FORTRESS - TATAMI ROOM --#2: AIRSHIP - DEFEAT THE ENEMY CHALLENGE --#3: ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS - DEFEAT THE BONE DRAGON --#4: SUSPENSION BRIDGE ROOM - DEFEAT HYDRACUBUS --#5: RITUAL ROOM - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#6: PERISTYLE PASSAGE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#7: STAIRWAY TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#8: HALL OF THE FLAME DRAGON - DEFEAT SMAUGAN --#9: GREAT BRIDGE SQUARE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE** **For some reason, there is one extra LIVES OTTG. If you already found all the Power-Ups, this extra Power-Up will NOT increase your life bar! == SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS == --#1: CLOCK TOWER BASE --#2: ARCHIVES ROOM - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#3: AQUADUCTS 4B --#4: ZARKHAN STADIUM - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE == TALISMAN OF REBIRTH == --#1: THE FISSURE MOATS - END OF THE UNDERWATER ZIGZAG PATH --#2: AQUADUCTS 4B - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE --#3: DRAWBRIDGE SQUARE - DEFEAT THE FIEND CHALLENGE ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= This list is for the Power-Up locations for Very Hard Mode. A lot of items and Power-Ups have been rearranged (again) from Hard Mode so read this section if you think you are missing something! JJ3. +++ LIFE OF THE GODS LOCATIONS - VERY HARD MODE +++ #1: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - SHACK UNDER BROKEN BRIDGE #2: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - PLACE JIZO HEAD ON STATUE #3: CENTRAL BRIDGE - DEFEAT MASAKADO #4: HAYABUSA VILLAGE - INSIDE BURNING HOUSE #5: MILITARY GATE - ON DEAD BODY #6: OUTER CLOCK TOWER SQUARE - USE BLUE LINES TO REACH HIDDEN ALCOVE #7: OUTER CLOCK TOWER SQUARE - USE ZIPLINE ABOVE LILLY DOOR #8: HAN'S BAR - CHEST INSIDE THE HALLWAY #9: MOAT ROAD - NEAR BRONZE LILLY DOOR AREA #10: DRAWBRIDGE HILL - FURTHER DOWN FROM GOLDEN SCARAB #9 #11: MONASTERY ANNEX ENTRANCE (ACROSS MURAMASA'S STATUE) #12: ALTAR HALL - ABOVE THE ENTRANCE WALKWAY #13: ALTAR HALL - UPPER LEDGES ON THE LEFT SIDE #14: INNER ECONTRA - UPPER LEDGE #15: == GOLDEN SCARAB PRIZES (VERY HARD MODE) == 01 GOLDEN SCARABS - ART OF THE INFERNO 05 GOLDEN SCARABS - SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS 10 GOLDEN SCARABS - ART OF THE ICE STORM 15 GOLDEN SCARABS - JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL 20 GOLDEN SCARABS - 25 GOLDEN SCARABS - 30 GOLDEN SCARABS - 35 GOLDEN SCARABS - 40 GOLDEN SCARABS - 45 GOLDEN SCARABS - 49 GOLDEN SCARABS - 50 GOLDEN SCARABS - == LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS == == SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS == == JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL == == TALISMAN OF REBIRTH == TO BE CONTINUED... ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= KK1. +++ HELL'S WRATH - MISSION MODE +++ __ _________________ ________ _ __ __ _______ ____ ______ / |/ / _/ ___/ ___// _/ __ \/ | / / / |/ / __ \/ __ \/ ____/ / /|_/ // / \__ \\__ \ / // / / / |/ / / /|_/ / / / / / / / __/ / / / // / ___/ /__/ // // /_/ / /| / / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /___ /_/ /_/___//____/____/___/\____/_/ |_/ /_/ /_/\____/_____/_____/ Mission Mode consists of 55 new missions (some of which were NOT in the XBOX version) that are divided into Five missions per Phase. For every Phase, Ryu has four missions and Rachel has one. Every mission consists of four difficulties: Normal, HARD, Very HARD, and Master Ninja. Each difficulty is unlocked once you complete the previous difficulty. For each difficulty you complete, it is represented by an Ayane symbol on the mission screen: --NORMAL: RICE RATION --HARD: RATION BUNDLE --VERY HARD: BAND OF STRENGTH --MASTER NINJA: KUNAI SCROLL The first two Phases are automatically unlocked as soon as you start Mission Mode. Complete 5 missions in any order to unlock the next Phase of missions. Also, you can choose a specific costume per mission by pressing the Triangle Button. So if you're ready, LET'S ROCK! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ PATH OF THE MASTER NINJA +++ --MISSION 1: DESTROY ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 2: DESTROY ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 3: DEFEAT MASAKADO --MISSION 4: DEFEAT MURAI --MISSION 5: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES (RACHEL ONLY) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ NIGHTMARISH PHANTASMS +++ --MISSION 6: DEFEAT THE BONE DRAGON --MISSION 7: DEFEAT HYDRACUBUS --MISSION 8: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 9: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 10: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES (RACHEL ONLY) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ ABYSMAL LAIR +++ --MISSION 11: DEFEAT SMAUGAN --MISSION 12: DEFEAT YOTUNFRAU --MISSION 13: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 14: DESTROY THE WORMS --MISSION 15: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES (RACHEL ONLY) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ MILITARY DESTRUCTION +++ --MISSION 16: DEFEAT GAMOV --MISSION 17: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 18: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 19: DEFEAT THE HELICOPTER --MISSION 20: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES (RACHEL ONLY) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ DESCENT OF THE FIENDS +++ --MISSION 21: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 22: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES --MISSION 23: DESTROY THE TANK --MISSION 24: DEFEAT PAZ ZUU --MISSION 25: DEFEAT YOTUNFRAU (RACHEL ONLY) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ CAPTIVATING GODDESSES +++ --MISSION 26: DEFEAT ISHATAROS --MISSION 27: DEFEAT ALMA --MISSION 28: SAVE RACHEL! --MISSION 29: DEFEAT MURAI (RACHEL ONLY) --MISSION 30: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ FATEFUL CONFRONTATION +++ --MISSION 31: OVERCOME YOURSELF! --MISSION 32: OVERCOME YOURSELF! --MISSION 33: OVERCOME YOURSELF! --MISSION 34: OVERCOME YOURSELF! --MISSION 35: DEFEAT ALL ENEMIES (RACHEL ONLY) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ BATTLEFIELDS OF THE ABYSS +++ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ GIANTS OF THE UNDERWORLD +++ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ UNEARTHED CHALLENGE +++ There are 5 Extra Missions in Mission Mode called the "Unearthed Challenge". To unlock them, simply press the following buttons on the Missions Mode menu: UP DOWN LEFT DOWN RIGHT UP SQUARE. Five new missions will appear above the Eternal Legend mission. Think you can beat these missions? --MISSION 46: DEFEAT MARBUS & DOKU For this Mission, equip the Dabilahro. While fighting these guys individually is easy, it's fighting two of them at the same time that is a problem. If one of them isn't attacking you, the other one is. Your best line of offense is to use a wall attack. Bait Doku to get near the wall and then run up and use a downward wall strike. Most of the time, you can snag both of these guys in one strike. Stay evasive and continue this tactic. Unless...you want to do it the hard way. --MISSION 47: DESTROY THE TANK --MISSION 48: DEFEAT DYNAMO This battle is similar to the Dynamo battle on Hard Mode in the main game. If you defeated Dynamo on that difficulty, consider this a cakewalk. Actually, there is ONE new factor to this battle aside from his MSAT lackeys: Thunderbolt Fire. I'll let you see for yourself. --MISSION 49: DEFEAT NICCHAE & ISHTAROS --MISSION 50: DEFEAT DOKU (RACHEL ONLY) To kill Doku properly, Rachel should kill ONE lackey and then use its Essence for a well-timed UT. Eventually, when you use a UT on Doku, the other lackey will also get killed by the UT blast (because he's trying desperately to follow and attack you). Keep your distance from Doku and stay defensive. Kill off the lackeys using counterattacks and quick evasion. Make well-timed On-Land Charge UT's on Doku and you should be able to defeat him before the Knightmares arrive. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ ETERNAL LEGEND +++ Eternal Legend is 5 Missions counted as ONE. After completing each Mission, the game allows you to save your progress between Phases. Each Mission is timed in Phases with a specific set of enemies to kill. After each set is killed, a new set will appear (hence a new Phase). The Phase ends after defeating the boss for that Mission. Originally, the Eternal Legend mission was a downloadable pack for the original Xbox Ninja Gaiden called the Hurricane Pack 2. It appeared during Round 3 of the Master Ninja Tournament in August 2004 (yeah, that was a long time ago). It was the Hurricane Pack 2 that introduced newer enemies like the Knightmares, Nicchae, and Ishtaros. The Hurricane Pack 2 was repackaged in Ninja Gaiden BLACK as the last batch of missions in Mission Mode called "Eternal Legend". 3 THINGS TO REMEMBER: --Utilize the On-Land Charge like crazy --Use the Essence wisely --ALL Projectiles are infinite READY? LET'S ROCK!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ MISSION 51: THE CORE ++ --FIRST FLOOR TIME LIMIT: 40 SECONDS ENEMIES: (8) WHITE NINJAS --SECOND FLOOR TIME LIMIT: 35 SECONDS ENEMIES: (3) PURPLE NINJAS PRIZE: WINDMILL SHURIKEN --THIRD FLOOR TIME LIMIT: NONE ENEMIES: (10) BATS DON'T FORGET THE ART OF THE FIRE WHEELS AND TALISMAN OF REBIRTH!!! --FOURTH FLOOR TIME LIMIT: 40 SECONDS ENEMIES: (3) PURPLE WS NINJAS (2) BLACK SPIDER NINJAS (2) WARLOCKS DON'T FORGET THE STRONGBOW!!! Get if from the Chest before you enter the HP2 Realm! --HP2 REALM TIME LIMIT: 60 SECONDS ENEMIES: SPEARMAN, MASAKADO PRIZE: LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS DON'T FORGET THE WARHAMMER!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ MISSION 52: MILITARY DESTRUCTION ++ --PART 1 TIME LIMIT: 45 SECONDS ENEMIES: (4) MSAT SOLDIERS (4) MSAT COMMANDERS --PART 2 TIME LIMIT: 35 SECONDS ENEMIES: (2) ARMORED GUNNER SOLDIERS (4) ARMORED RPG SOLDIERS --PART 3 TIME LIMIT: 15 SECONDS ENEMIES: (4) ARMORED RPG SOLDIERS --PART 4 TIME LIMIT: 40 SECONDS ENEMIES: (2) MECHA MSAT SOLDIERS (4) MECHA RPG SOLDIERS (4) MECHA GUNNER SOLDIERS --PART 5 TIME LIMIT: 20 SECONDS ENEMIES: (4) MECHA RPG SOLDIERS ++BOSS BATTLE: DYNAMO LACKEYS: (8) MSAT SOLDIERS TIME LIMIT: 60 SECONDS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ MISSION 53: ABYSMAL LAIR ++ --PART 1 TIME LIMIT: 50 SECONDS ENEMIES: (3) RED DINOS --PART 2 TIME LIMIT: 70 SECONDS ENEMIES: (1) RED DINO (2) SCYTHE-WIELDING FIENDS (10) BROWN FIENDS --PART 3 TIME LIMIT: 40 SECONDS ENEMIES: (30) LARGE DUNG BEETLES ++BOSS BATTLE #1: HYDRACUBUS LACKEYS: (10) BROWN FIENDS TIME LIMIT: 75 SECONDS PRIZE #1: LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS PRIZE #2: KITETSU --PART 4 TIME LIMIT: 45 SECONDS ENEMIES: (2) ZOMBIE ARCHERS (4) ZOMBIES --PART 5 TIME LIMIT: 50 SECONDS ENEMIES: (2) ZOMBIES (14) WASP FIENDS (4) PINK FIENDS ++BOSS BATTLE #2: YOTUNFRAU LACKEYS: (10) PINK FIENDS TIME LIMIT: 90 SECONDS PRIZE: TRUE DRAGON SWORD ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ MISSION 54: GIANTS OF THE UNDERWORLD ++ --PART 1 TIME LIMIT: 65 SECONDS ENEMIES: (9) ZOMBIE SOLDIERS (1) PURPLE ZOMBIE --PART 2 TIME LIMIT: 60 SECONDS ENEMIES: (6) CATWOMEN (6) PINCER FIENDS --PART 3 TIME LIMIT: 60 SECONDS ENEMIES: (2) CRAB FIENDS (6) PINCER FIENDS --PART 4 TIME LIMIT: 90 SECONDS ENEMIES: (4) OGRES (12) LARGE DUNG BEETLES ++BOSS BATTLE #1: DOKU LACKEYS: (8) PURPLE NINJAS TIME LIMIT: 100 SECONDS PRIZE: DARK DRAGON BLADE ++BOSS BATTLE #2: MARBUS LACKEYS: (11) CATWOMEN TIME LIMIT: 180 SECONDS PRIZE: LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ MISSION 55: CAPTIVATING GODDESSES +++ SUB-BOSSES: (4) KNIGHTMARES TIME LIMIT: 110 SECONDS ++BOSS BATTLE: NICCHAE LACKEYS: (8) PINCER FIENDS TIME LIMIT: 120 SECONDS --PART 1 ENEMIES: (15) BATS TIME LIMIT: NONE ++FINAL BATTLE: ISHTAROS LACKEYS: NONE TIME LIMIT: 90 SECONDS MISSION COMPLETED! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= +++ SURVIVAL MODE +++ The newest addition to the Ninja Gaiden Sigma world is called Survival Mode. There are three modes to choose from: Weapons Master, Speed Master, and Rachel Master. Weapons Master is currently playable but the other two won't be released until later. Survival Mode is only attainable by purchasing the Add-On from the Playstation Store. It costs $3 (US currency) and is over 160MB in size. Once you purchase and download the Add-On, go to the Sigma Menu and choose INSTALL. Once that's done, choose the SURVIVAL option to begin! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- KK2. ++ WEAPONS MASTER MODE ++ There are five Weapon Modes to choose: Dragon Sword, Lunar, Vigoorian Flails, Dragon Claw & Tiger Fang, and Dabilahro. The main point of Weapons Master Mode is to kill as many enemies as you can. There are 1000 enemies per Weapons Mode and Ryu can only use the weapon chosen for that mode (plus ONE Ninpo). If Ryu dies, the total tallies up and you can upload your Kill # to the Leaderboards. The first 100 enemies that appear will recycle their appearances after Ryu gets the 100th kill. So that means the same 100 enemies appear each time Ryu kills the 100th, 200th, 300th enemy...you get the picture. --BOSS CHARACTERS There are four bosses that appear in cycles per Mode. The bosses appear in this order: #30, #50, #70, and #100...and so on and so on. Most of the bosses will include Doku, Dynamo, Ishtaros, Gamov, the Clone, Murai, Alma, etc. so be ready when they show up! ++TIPS AND TACTICS: The biggest tactic in getting through the next enemy cycle is to leave leftover Essence as soon as you kill the last enemy. When the next set show up, use an On-Land Charge and unleash non-stop UT's. It's a really repetitive strategy but it's the only one that works, SO USE IT. Copy and paste this URL to see a sample video on how to defeat the first 100 enemies on Dabilahro Master Mode: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/103795.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ++SPEED MASTER MODE ++RACHEL MASTER MODE DETAILS COMING SOON! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= LL1. +++ XBOX TO PS3 CHANGES +++ If you are an Xbox veteran to this game and you DO NOT own a PS3, you'll be surprised at the additions and deletions made to Sigma. And for those of you that are first-time PS3 players to the Ninja Gaiden universe, you'll also be surprised at how much different an experience Sigma is compared to the Xbox versions. While the core of the gameplay is still the same (KILL, KILL, KILL), it's the smaller things that can dramatically change everything. In this section I will chronicle EVERY single change made from the Xbox versions to the PS3 version known as Sigma. Okay, enough of my bullshit banter, let's PAR-TAY!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ GAMEPLAY ASPECTS +++ There a few minor additions and deletions towards the gameplay aspects. I'll list a few here that you may or may not have noticed. --THE DARK DRAGON BLADE CG INTRO XBOX VERSION: In all the Xbox versions, there is an opening CG scene which explains the history of the Dark Dragon Blade and also of the Dragon Sword and its current wielder: Ryu Hayabusa. PS3 VERSION: The CG intro was deleted! As soon as you begin a New Game, you will go straight into Chapter 1. --THE KARMA COUNTER XBOX VERSION: In the original Xbox version, every time you encountered set of respawning enemies, the encounter would be timed. Ryu could then come back and fight off the respawning enemies and the encounter would be timed again. Each time Ryu comes back for the encounter, the points gained would decrease by half each time. So if the first encounter was worth 5000 points, the second encounter would be worth 2500 and then 1250 points, 625 points, etc. After 6 or 7 encounters, the points deplete and the encounters are no longer timed. PS3 VERSION: After the release of the Hurricane Packs and Ninja Gaiden BLACK, all encounters are only timed once. If Ryu skips an enemy encounter, the Karma points are forfeited. This also applies to Sigma. --THE COMBO COUNTER XBOX VERSION: There were two types of Combo counters: one which showed the number of combos made onscreen and the other was the Karma Combo screen (with the Time Limit). If the Karma screen wasn't onscreen, the game would still show the number of combos Ryu was making. This was helpful especially when fighting against Ghost Fish and various other enemies. Also, if Ryu made a 50-hit or 100-hit combo, large letters would flash on the screen for a second showing "50 HITS" or "100 HITS". PS3 VERSION: The Combo counter has been omitted and it only shows up once on the Karma screen. Once you've finished an encounter, then that's it! If Ryu returns to pursue an enemy encounter (especially when farming), it's difficult to know how many combos Ryu has made since there is no Combo Counter. --SUCCESSIVE PLAY XBOX VERSION: In the original Ninja Gaiden, there was an option AFTER finishing a certain difficulty to start a SUCESSIVE PLAY game with all 50 Golden Scarabs intact in Chapter 1. When Ryu reaches Muramasa's Statue in Chapter 2, Muramasa will hand over some (not all) of the prizes for finding them. PS3 VERSION: When the Hurricane Packs and Ninja Gaiden BLACK were released, Team Ninja completely removed the SUCCESSIVE PLAY option for favor of an online Leaderboard. For the PS3 version of Sigma, this option does not exist. Basically, once Ryu finishes Chapter 19 of a specific difficulty, THAT'S IT! NO MORE! --THE DARK DRAGON BLADE XBOX VERSION: In the original Ninja Gaiden, the DDB could be obtained on a SUCCESSIVE PLAY file. All Ryu had to do was make it to Chapter 13 and enter the storage room via the upper window in Hayabusa Village and VOILA! The Dark Dragon Blade would be sitting there! PS3 VERSION: In the Hurricane Packs and Ninja Gaiden BLACK, the SUCCESSIVE PLAY option was removed and therefore, the only way to get the DDB was by passing 50 Golden Scarabs to Muramasa on harder modes. This option also applies to the PS3 version. --THE INTERCEPT TECHNIQUE XBOX VERSION: This Technique Scroll was first introduced in the Hurricane Packs. The scroll enabled Ryu to perform a parry move where he could block a (once) unblockable attack by pressing the Block Button at the right moment. This scroll was very helpful when fighting against the bigger enemies like the Ogres, Knightmares, and especially that goddamned Ishtaros. PS3 VERSION: At the last minute, Team Ninja deleted the Intercept Technique in Ninja Gaiden BLACK. For Ninja Gaiden Sigma, it was never intended to ever be added. This is absolutely, positively, utterly complete BULLSHIT!!! --THE NUNCHUKUS XBOX VERSION: The Nunchukus were available for every difficulty in all versions of NG. In the Hurricane Packs (and Hard Mode for BLACK), the Nunchukus were already in Ryu's inventory in Chapter 1. PS3 VERSION: The Nunchukus are only available for use on Ninja Dog & Normal Modes. From Hard Mode and on, the Nunchukus are no longer available for use. Not that it makes a difference, but it's true. --THE NINJA GAIDEN TRILOGY & ARCADE NINJA GAIDEN XBOX VERSION: In the original Ninja Gaiden version, Ryu was able to unlock all three NES versions of the Ninja Gaiden NES Trilogy (after some exploration). In Ninja Gaiden BLACK, the NES Trilogy was omitted and the Arcade beat-em-up version was added in its place. PS3 VERSION: The NES Trilogy and the Arcade versions do not exist in Sigma and the arcade machine in Han's Bar no longer exists! --THE MOVIE VIEWER XBOX VERSION: Once you defeated the game on Normal Mode in both Xbox versions, the Movie Viewer became available. All of the CG scenes (not the FMV's) from the game were available for playback at anytime. PS3 VERSION: The Movie Viewer option was deleted. The only way to view the CG scenes for Sigma is to replay a specific chapter to trigger it. --COSTUME CHANGE OPTION XBOX VERSION: In Ninja Gaiden BLACK, you had the option to choose any unlocked costume when reloading a saved game (including Mission Mode). PS3 VERSION: You cannot choose a different costume when reloading a saved game. To choose a different costume, you need to start a brand new game (to use for the rest of the game). --THE ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE XBOX VERSION: In the original Ninja Gaiden, Ryu could not perform an Ultimate Technique unless there was Essence to absorb. If you pressed and held the Y Button, Ryu would do the charge animation but not actually charge for a UT. PS3 VERSION: After the release of the Hurricane Packs and Ninja Gaiden BLACK, Ryu now had the option perform the UT without actually needing to absorb Essence. This gameplay feature is also in the PS3 version. --THE WATER RUN XBOX VERSION: In all the Xbox versions, the only way to use the Water Run was to rapidly tap the A Button as soon as Ryu's feet touch the water. If Ryu fell into the water during the run, that was it. PS3 VERSION: Ryu can now use the Water Run by simply approaching the water and running over it without tapping any buttons. If Ryu falls into the water, he can easily jump up and continue running. --MISSIONS MODE XBOX VERSION: In NG Black, there were 50 Missions to pursue in Missions Mode. Some missions were repetitions of other missions (like the Master Ninja Tournament Round 3 Mission) and a few presented a new challenge. PS3 VERSION: Most (but not all) of the repetitive missions have been omitted in favor of adding Rachel instead of Ryu. Within each Phase in Missions Mode, Ryu has four missions to complete and Rachel has one. In addition, there are FIVE unlockable missions called "Unearthed Challenge" (some of which were the repetitive missions found in Black) bringing the total to 55 Missions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS/ENEMIES (PS3 VERSION) +++ The PS3 version has TWO new additional characters to the mix: GAMOV & ALTERNATOR. Gamov was only seen in various early cutscenes in the Xbox version while Alternator is a brand new version of Dynamo. There is also a brand new Mermaid-man thingie-enemy-person found only in the Moats chapter. LAME! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ ADDITIONAL SAVE POINTS & MURAMASA STATUES +++ Yup, Sigma has a couple more of these things that neither Xbox versions contained. In some ways, it is quite weird to see a Muramasa Statue in the oddest of locations, but it is a welcome addition nonetheless. I will reveal all the locations for each one below. Ready? == EXTRA MURAMASA STATUES == --HAYABUSA VILLAGE: NEXT TO CENTRAL BRIDGE --UPPER DRAWBRIDGE HILL: SOUTH OF THE MONASTERY --ECONTRA BABEL SPECUS: BOTTOM OF THE SPIRAL --FLOODED MONK CHAMBER: NEXT TO UNDERWATER ELEVATOR --LOCOMOTIVE TURNTABLE: NEXT TO SAVE POINT --UNDERGROUND WATERWAY: BEFORE DUAL WORM CHAMBER **NOTE: THE MURAMASA STATUE IN THE HALL OF BALANCE IS NOT NEW! IT WAS RELOCATED FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION! == EXTRA SAVE POINTS == --OUTER CLOCK TOWER SQUARE: NEXT TO BRONZE LILLY DOOR --OUTER RITUAL ROOM --THE PYRAMID **NOTE: THE SAVE POINT IN THE MAGMA CAVERNS IS NOT NEW! IT WAS RELOCATED FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ GRAPHICS +++ TEAM NINJA has made some very dramatic changes to a couple of the environments in the game. While some are just higher resolutions of older areas in the Xbox version, some were completely redone from the ground up. Here's a list of the newer changes (but not many though): CHANGE #1 - NINJA FORTRESS --XBOX VERSION The outer Ninja Fortress was a bland-looking lifeless cold mountain. The path that Ryu lands on in the intro cinema is actually a waterfall. --PS3 VERSION The Fortress has been transformed into a forest-like area with lots of yellow foliage and trees. The environment itself looks like it's in the Fall season with its bright orange sky. Everything else inside the Fortress remains the same as the Xbox version. CHANGE #2 - HAYABUSA VILLAGE --XBOX VERSION The Xbox version also had the same bland-looking mountain look as the Ninja Fortress. When you entered the village, it was literally "dead". --PS3 VERSION The upper mountain path of the village is filled with red leaves all over the place. The trees look more robust and the area is more colorful. As you enter the village, red foliage falls to the ground. There are also additional Japanese archways at both portal areas. CHANGE #3 - THE AIRSHIP --XBOX VERSION The Main Deck was a small room that had a wall near the entrance (so you had to go around it). The Storage Room (where you found the third Golden Scarab) had a bunch of containers. --PS3 VERSION The Main Deck and Storage Room have different looks now. The Main Deck is now a wide open area with chandeliers and the Storage Room is a large empty room with a couple of large crates in the back of the room. CHANGE #4 - CITY OF TAIRON --PS3 VERSION Tairon is more high-res yet retains the same look as its Xbox counterpart. Well, there is ONE new addition to the PS3 version of the city of Tairon: TRASHCANS. Yeah, some of the alleys near Great Bridge Square have GODDAMN TRASHCANS! WOW!!! Can't get any better than THAT!!! CHANGE #5 - THE ALTAR HALL/ARCHIVES ROOM --PS3 VERSION The Altar Hall retains the same look as the Xbox version but has a few more additions. The stained-glass windows are more vibrant and emit brighter lighting. There are also a couple of candle chandeliers added to the Altar Room and the marble floor has more patterns. Other than that, it's still the same room. In the Archives Room, there are two paintings of Nicchae and Ishtaros on the second floor that were not in the Xbox versions. CHANGE #6 - ZARKHAN STADIUM --XBOX VERSION The Stadium was a large gladiator-type arena with sand-filled floors. --PS3 VERSION The Stadium now has large stone patterns on the ground to make it look more like someone did a bad tile job. The arena also has real-time lighting with added wall torches. That's pretty much it in terms of graphical changes. Every environment in the game is just higher in textures and lighting, making it easier to navigate the areas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ PUZZLES +++ The Xbox versions had a few puzzles that were quite tedious to solve. They ain't your typical Resident Evil-type puzzle that's for sure. This is a list of puzzles that were changed from the Xbox version: --ZARKHAN STADIUM PUZZLE XBOX VERSION: To leave the stadium, Ryu had to pull various levers around the arena. Each lever re-positioned the floating platforms to a specific position which allowed Ryu to traverse to the upper balcony. PS3 VERSION: Technically, the floating platform puzzle is still intact, but Ryu only needs to pull ONE lever to solve the puzzle. --PYRAMID PUZZLE XBOX VERSION: The Pyramid puzzle takes place immediately after the Alma Awakened battle. Ryu had to place two sets of Tablets into certain slots in one room and then fight off a bunch of Dung Beetles. Once the puzzle was solved, the chapter ends. PS3 VERSION: This puzzle has been completely omitted for a different puzzle inside the Pyramid. The puzzle takes place on the following chapter AFTER The Fiendish Awakening. Instead of inserting Tablets into walls and fighting Dung Beetles, Ryu only needs to defeat three Knightmares to solve the puzzle. Every other puzzle has been kept intact in its original form in all versions of the game. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ ENEMIES +++ Various enemies in the Xbox version were low-res and it was difficult to make out their faces even in 480p HD. The enemies in the PS3 version have more polygons, brighter lighting, and are much easier to identify. When viewed from a far distance, you can still see their faces in disturbing detail. Some enemies were given makeovers, too! Few have newer costumes while some were re-done from the ground up. Here's a list of character makeovers from XBOX to PS3: --NINJAS The Black Spider and Red Fire Ninjas in the Xbox version wore rags similar to the Brown and White Ninjas. In the PS3 version, the BS and Fire Red Ninjas have more expensive-looking garbs with nice design patterns. The Purple Ninja retain the same look for both versions. --SAMURAIS & WARLOCKS The Samurais have shinier armor and wear different helmets in the PS3 version. There's even an additional Samurai enemy not seen in the Xbox version that wears gold armor. The Warlocks themselves have longer coats and their fireballs have a glowing design. --LARGE DUNG BEETLES The PS3 beetles were given a more edgy look. They've got spikes on their exo-shells to make them look cooler. --MASAKADO Masakado is literally a big douche bag ON FIRE! His horse breathes fire, too! In the Xbox version, it's the opposite. --BONE DRAGON/PAZ ZUU (PS3 VERSION) Both bosses have more textures to their bodies. The Bone Dragon has more rotting on its bones and Paz Zuu has a sort of rock-like texture to his exoskeleton. --DOKU Doku is now a Purple-flamed fiend encased in heavy Samurai armor as opposed to his blue Xbox counterpart. It's weird though that he turns back to blue in the "Vengeful Spirit" chapter... --SPECTRAL DOKU/MARBUS Spectral Doku is a big blue apparition with a head and two arms in the PS3 version. In the Xbox version, Doku's armor was spectral just like his head and arms. As for Marbus, he is much hairier and more veiny (wow, that sounded gay) than his Xbox counterpart. --THE EMPEROR The second form of the Emperor (that lame-ass Skull thing with legs) has a more realistic look than its Xbox counterpart. It has longer horns and doesn't have the mean-looking brow. Other than those sets of enemies, everyone else retains the same (but higher-quality) look as their Xbox counterparts. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ ADDITIONAL CUTSCENES +++ There is only a small handful of brand new cutscenes in Sigma. Most of them implement Rachel's storyline while others flesh out a couple of additional storyline elements...sort of. --NEW CUTSCENE: DEATH OF THE MASTER NINJA There are two different types of death scenes that Ryu can trigger when fighting Doku in Chapter 2. If Doku stabs Ryu, you'll see a scene of Doku standing over Ryu. If you defeat Doku, Ryu will fall to the ground and then Doku turns and leaves. --NEW CUTSCENE: THE TWIN SISTERS At the end of Rachel's first chapter, she walks up to a set of paintings in the Archives Room and reads the inscriptions regarding Nicchae and Ishtaros. --NEW CUTSCENE: GAMOV During Rachel's boss fight in her second chapter, there is a short cutscene involving Gamov. She apparently knows who he is and tries to attack him. At the end of the battle, Gamov watches in silence as Rachel runs off to find Alma. --NEW CUTSCENE: RETURN OF DYNAMO Well, it's technically not a new cutscene (more of an expanded one). At the Military Gate, the Tomahawk Chopper will fly by and Alternator will jump out of the chopper. After Ryu defeats Alternator, it re-explodes. --NEW CUTSCENE: NICCHAE & ISHTAROS At the end of Rachel's third chapter, she faces off against Nicchae & Ishtaros. Rachel falls during battle and is captured. --NEW CUTSCENE: THE EQUILIBRIUM IS COLLAPSING When Ryu exits the Palace Compound, he encounters a dying Black Spider Ninja that gives him the KEY OF THE DECAYED SOUL. Before he dies, the fallen Ninja explains that Ryu "must reclaim Vigoor". --NEW CUTSCENE: THE FALLEN PROTECTOR OF THE DRAGON'S EYE When you finish the game, the End Credits show various cutscenes from the game including a brand new scene with Kureha (the one that held the Dragon's Eye). There is no dialogue, just a short scene of her holding a bird on her finger. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +++ CHAPTER ADDITIONS/DELETIONS +++ This section will point out all of the major and minor changes made per Chapter. If a chapter is not mentioned, that means it has been left intact from the original versions. It's nitpicking at its FINEST! --CHAPTER 1 GAMEPLAY CHANGE XBOX VERSION: The Flying Swallow was a technique that can only be obtained by upgrading the Dragon Sword to Level 2. PS3 VERSION: The Flying Swallow is now learned by a Technique Scroll found in the Ninja Fortress instead of upgrading to Level 2. --CHAPTER 1 ITEM RELOCATION XBOX VERSION: In the Hurricane Pack, the Lunar was located in the Ninja Fortress Tatami Room. In Ninja Gaiden BLACK, the Lunar was relocated to Hayabusa Village. PS3 VERSION: For the third time, the Lunar has been relocated to Tairon. The item can now be found behind the metal gate at Twin Serpents Plaza. --CHAPTER 2 GAMEPLAY OMISSION XBOX VERSION: Originally, at the beginning of Chapter 2, Murai would be standing in the middle of the room. If you approached him, he would give Ryu a crucial lesson on how to utilize the Reverse Wind and the Ultimate Technique. When the lesson was over, Murai would tell you "Now go to your people!" PS3 VERSION: In all subsequent releases (including Sigma), Murai no longer gives you this lesson. At the beginning of Chapter 2, Murai would just tell you "Now go to your people!" if you approached him. --CHAPTER 2 GAMEPLAY DELETION XBOX VERSION: Whenever Ryu accessed Muramasa's Statue from Chapter 2 and on, there was a third option in the Muramasa menu called "TALK". When Ryu accesses it, Muramasa will give a few silly and useful quotes. PS3 VERSION: The "TALK" option has been completely removed from the Muramasa menu. --CHAPTER 3 & 4 ADDITIONS In the Middle and Aft Cabins of the Airship, there are a couple of red explosive barrels that were NOT in the Xbox versions. There are explosive barrels that are also at the Military Gate area in Tairon. --CHAPTER 4 ITEM RELOCATION XBOX VERSION: The Stone Tablet (Top) was originally found in Twin Serpents Plaza behind the metal gate. It was obtainable as early as Chapter 4 and as late as Chapter 13. PS3 VERSION: The item is no longer found there (the Lunar takes its place) and has been relocated to a chest in Chapter 10 near the stairway going to the Military Gate. The Lunar is now found behind the metal gate. --CHAPTER 4 DELETIONS XBOX VERSION: When Ryu enters Clock Tower Square, there was an additional Red-jeweled door (that lead to Moat Road) and an alleyway with a dead body adjacent to the Pleasure Street door. Also, when Ryu reaches Han's Bar, he encountered a bald-headed, eyeglass wearing bouncer at the front door that asked for a "ticket to the party". PS3 VERSION: All these elements (except the dead body) have been completely deleted from the PS3 version. --CHAPTER 4 GAMEPLAY OMISSION XBOX VERSION: As soon as Ryu reaches Han's Bar, the bouncer originally told him he needed a "Ticket" to get in. Ryu then had to go back to Muramasa's Shop and buy an item to obtain the Ticket. When Ryu returns to the bar, that's when the bar patrons start running outside. On the next chapter, Ryu finds the LILLY KEY on the roof of the Bar. PS3 VERSION: As soon as Ryu reaches Han's Bar, a Motorcycle MSAT soldier appears and asks "Do you have a Ticket for the Party?" (the line originally asked by the bouncer). Ryu then fights off a couple of Motorcycle MSAT soldiers and wins the LILLY KEY as a prize. After the fight, the bar patrons start running outside. --CHAPTER 6 DELETIONS XBOX VERSION: When Ryu finds the NES versions of Ninja Gaiden 1-3 or the Arcade NG (from Ninja Gaiden BLACK), he can go to Han's Bar and use the arcade machine located on the first floor to play the games. PS3 VERSION: The arcade machine no longer exists in this version. Since there is no NES or Arcade unlockables, the arcade machine was removed. --CHAPTER 6 LOCATION CHANGES XBOX VERSION: When Ryu reaches Drawbridge Hill, he can enter Monastery Plaza from both sides of the street. PS3 VERSION: Ryu can only enter Monastery Plaza from the south side of the street because the other entrance is locked. --CHAPTER 9 PUZZLE OMISSIONS XBOX VERSION: In the Red Eye Chamber, there was a walkway in the middle of the room with swinging pendulums and spikes. After killing the Zombies, Ryu had to cross the walkway while dodging the pendulums and jumping past the spikes. PS3 VERSION: The pendulums and spikes have been omitted and the room is now flooded, making it less tedious to solve the Red Eye puzzle. --CHAPTER 10 GAMEPLAY ADDITION PS3 VERSION: When Ryu descends the stairs to Drawbridge Square, the Tomahawk Chopper will ambush him from above by dropping bombs. The Chopper also makes a surprise flyby at Moat Road. --CHAPTER 10 GAMEPLAY CHANGE XBOX VERSION: When Ryu reaches Drawbridge Square, he can either exit the area by going past Moat Road OR he could enter through the Blue- jeweled doorway. If Ryu entered the Blue-jeweled door, he can crack the wall at the end of the alley and emerge towards Dworku Alleyway. PS3 VERSION: The Blue-jeweled doorway is blocked off by an Armored car and Ryu has no choice but to go through Moat Road. --CHAPTER 10 GAMEPLAY CHANGES XBOX VERSION: After Ryu eliminates the soldiers at the Military Gate, the Tomahawk Chopper will fly by the area and shoot bullets and drop a few bombs at Ryu. After a minute, the chopper flies off. Next, Ryu had to shoot an RPG soldier hiding in the adjacent building. Once the RPG soldier perishes, a short cutaway reveals the STRONGBOW in the same room the RPG soldier was in. Ryu then had to go and retrieve the STRONGBOW at the Skull Gate area and then shoot the medallion above the Military Gate to open it and end the chapter. PS3 VERSION: Once Ryu clears the Military Gate, an RPG soldier will emerge in a room on the adjacent building. Once Ryu, eliminates him, he'll receive the STRONGBOW as a prize. Once he obtains the item, Ryu faces off against Alternator. Once Alternator is eliminated, the Military Gates open and the chapter ends. --CHAPTER 11 PUZZLE OMISSIONS XBOX VERSION: When Ryu is in the Warehouse, he needed to turn on the lights to activate the power in the warehouse. After activating the power, he needed to activate the hanging platforms by pressing the red button switch located between the trains. PS3 VERSION: Ryu only needs to activate the lights to activate everything in the warehouse. It's less back-and-forth footwork for Ryu. --CHAPTER 13 PUZZLE DELETIONS #1 XBOX VERSION: When Ryu would traverse underwater, his vision would get darker and the only way to make it brighter was to find the OWL'S EYE item. Also, in order to get to the area with the second Save Point, Ryu needed to solve a numeric combination on an underwater doorway. PS3 VERSION: The OWL'S EYE is no longer needed for Ryu to swim in darker areas and the numeric combination puzzle is gone. --CHAPTER 13 PUZZLE DELETIONS #2 XBOX VERSION: When Ryu is in the second Save Point area of the Moats, there was a large alcove near the Save Point that had a large altar. Ryu needed to find two Medallions and place them on the altar to open a new doorway to the other side of the Moats PS3 VERSION: The Medallion Puzzle no longer exists. Instead, Ryu only needs to find the Triton Key to get to the other side of the Moats. --CHAPTER 15 DELETIONS XBOX VERSION: After leaving Zarkhan Stadium, Ryu receives a Kunai Scroll from Ayane about Muramasa wanting to see him about something. When Ryu visits Muramasa at his shop, he tells Ryu about a "Dragon's Eye" that can be placed under the Dragon Sword. PS3 VERSION: Ryu never receives the Kunai from Ayane and the doorway leading back to Great Bridge Square is locked down. --CHAPTER 15 GAMEPLAY CHANGES XBOX VERSION: As soon as Ryu entered the Magma Caverns, he had to find FOUR pieces of Iron Ore. There were six total pieces of Iron Ore in the Magma Caverns and when four pieces are collected, Ryu could place them into the boiling pot in the See-Saw Room to make the COG OF VIGOOR. PS3 VERSION: There are no pieces of Iron Ore to find. Ryu can just simply approach the boiling pot in the See-Saw Room to automatically create the COG OF VIGOOR item. --CHAPTER 15 DELETIONS XBOX VERSION: After Ryu defeats Yotunfrau, he has to go back to the Magma Caverns and place the COG OF VIGOOR at the door near Muramasa's Statue. When he places the Cog, Ryu enters another cavern with a Save Point. The cavern had fire-breathing statues that Ryu needed to dodge in order to get to the Flame Worm boss. Once Ryu defeats the Flame Worm, Ryu has to enter the back of the cavern and then run and jump to the other side by slamming down on a step-button in order to exit. PS3 VERSION: Once Ryu places the COG OF VIGOOR into the doorway, the next area will already be the Flame Worm boss battle. After the battle, Ryu can just exit by using the same doorway. See how simple it is? --CHAPTER 15 LOCATION CHANGES XBOX VERSION: When you encountered the Flame Worm, its lair was a concrete wall with him in the center. Ryu also had an entire platform to battle it on. PS3 VERSION: The Flame Worm's lair is now filled with multiple worm holes. The Flame Worm can emerge and attack from any direction while Ryu battles it from a tiny little platform. --CHAPTER 16 LOCATION CHANGES/ADDITIONS XBOX VERSION: When Ryu teleports back to Hayabusa Village, he ends up near the village entrance area. He then has to traverse through to the Graveyard to find the other portal. PS3 VERSION: After teleporting from Twin Serpents Plaza, Ryu ends up in Hayabusa Village near the Graveyard. When he traverses to the portal near the village entrance, he has to fight some Samurais and Warlocks. --CHAPTER 17 ITEMS RELOCATION XBOX VERSION: In order to obtain the RAPTOR DIETY Statue, Ryu had to find it in the Monk's Room inside the Monastery. PS3 VERSION: After defeating Spectral Doku, the Labyrinth exit to the Imperial Palace area opens up and the RAPTOR DIETY Statue is found above the door exit. That's everything you need to know! If I missed something major or minor regarding the Xbox and PS3 versions, e-mail me and let me know! ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= MM1. +++ THE USELESS STUFF SECTION +++ Do you actually take the time to read the useless descriptions and other crap in the game? Do you even listen to Ayane's Kunai Scrolls? No? Then scroll down to read all about the useless crap in the game! All descriptions are typed VERBATIM! +++ PRIMARY WEAPONS +++ --DRAGON SWORD A Japanese Sword handed down in the Hayabusa Ninja Clan. It is carved out of the fang of a dragon. --TRUE DRAGON SWORD The legendary ultimate form of the Dragon Sword, achieved by fitting the Dragon's Eye into it --PLASMA SABER MK. II A upgraded version of the Plasma Saber, in which the plasma oscillator has been tuned to the maximum. --NUNCHAKU A weapon made by joining two sticks together with a chain. It is very suited to free-form combo attacks. --VIGOORIAN FLAIL A weapon used by medieval Vigoorians. It can be swung like Nunchukus in combat. --WAR HAMMER Rachel's War Hammer. A Fiend Hunter's weapon, it is suitable for taking the heads off of fiends. --WAR HAMMER (RACHEL ONLY) A new War Hammer, crafted by the master blacksmith Muramasa. It is quite powerful. --DABILAHRO A two-handed sword used by ancient Vigoorian berserkers. Due to its 100-pound heft it is very powerful. --SPEAR GUN An auto-reloading spear gun. It is not of much use outside water. --WOODEN SWORD A sword made from wood. It is used mainly to practice sword fighting and is incapable of cutting attacks. --UNLABORED FLAWLESSNESS The true form of the Wooden Sword. Containing an ethereal sense of weight, its impacts are incredibly powerful. --KITETSU The weapon used by Doku, it is a cursed Japanese sword that feeds on the souls of those it slays. --DARK DRAGON BLADE It is an evil blade that has been sealed away by the Hayabusa Ninja Clan. Chaos brings out its hellish power. --LUNAR A weapon said to obtain mysterious power of the Moon. It's made of a strong willow tree. --DRAGON'S CLAW & TIGER'S FANG Two Japanese swords that were reputedly the property of a famous dual- sword master. +++ SECONDARY WEAPONS +++ --SHURIKEN A simple cross-shaped throwing star --INCENDIARY SHURIKEN A shuriken with a small timer-detonated explosive at the tip --WINDMILL SHURIKEN A giant shuriken with four folding blades. When thrown, it returns to the thrower like a boomerang. --BOW A typical bow. As a projectile weapon that makes no sound, it has an advantage over firearms. --STRONGBOW A composite bow made in Vigoor in medieval times. It cannot be pulled by people of average strength. --APFSDS CORES The core section of tank shells. Made from a heavy tungsten material, they have superb penetration capability. --EXPLOSIVE ARROWS Arrows with explosive tips. Very destructive --SMOKE BOMB When used, this item explodes, blinding all enemies in the immediate area (SIC) --PELUDA TAIL (RACHEL ONLY) A device made from the sewn skin of an ancient Fiend, it is flexible yet retains a sharp point. +++ ARMLETS/EARRINGS +++ RYU'S ARMLETS: --ARMLET OF THE SUN An armlet engraved with a picture of the sun. When equipped, Ryu's attack power will increase. --ARMLET OF THE MOON An armlet ingraved (SIC) with a picture of the moon. When equipped, Ryu's defensive power will increase. --ARMLET OF BENEDICTION An armlet emblazoned with the figure of a goddess. When equipped, it increases Yellow Essence absorption. --ARMLET OF FORTUNE An armlet emblazoned with the figures of two elephants. When equipped, it increases Ki power build-up. --ARMLET OF POTENCY An armlet emblazoned with a picture of a horse, it increases the damage done by kicks and throw techniques. --ARMLET OF CELERITY RACHEL'S EARRINGS: --EARRINGS OF FORTUNE Increases the wearer's Ki build-up. --EARRINGS OF THE MOON Increases the wearer's defensive power. --EARRINGS OF BENEDICTION Increases the wearer's Yellow Essence absorption. --EARRINGS OF POTENCY Increases the strength of the wearer's kick and throw techniques. --EARRINGS OF THE SUN Increases the wearer's attack power. --EARRINGS OF CELERITY Allows the wearer to charge Ultimate Techniques more quickly. --JADE EARRINGS Rachel's favorite earrings. +++ NINPO/SORCERY +++ --THE ART OF THE FIRE WHEELS Allows Ryu to control the spiritual waveforms around himself and create fire wheels that circle him. --THE ART OF THE INFERNO Allows Ryu to control fire at will, first enveloping him in flames and then shooting a fireball in front of him --THE ART OF THE ICE STORM Allows Ryu to quickly change the atmosphere around him, creating a whirlwind containing shards of ice. --THE ART OF THE INAZUMA Allows Ryu to amplify his internal bioelectric current and blast it out to the surrounding area. --BLADES OF THE OUROBOROS (RACHEL ONLY) This spell fuses the powers of flame & lightning to create rays of light that cut through enemies like blades. +++ POWER-UPS +++ --ELIXIR OF SPIRITUAL LIFE A spiritual elixir that heals Ryu's wounds slightly. --GREAT SPIRIT ELIXIR A spiritual elixir that completely heals Ryu's wounds --ELIXIR OF THE DEVIL WAY A spiritual elixir that replenishes Ryu's Ki power slightly --GREAT DEVIL ELIXIR A spiritual elixir that replenishes Ryu's Ki power greatly --LIFE OF THE GODS A jewel that shines bright blue. Ryu's health limit can be increased by using nine of these jewels. --LIVES OF THE THOUSAND GODS Nine shining jewels bound together. It raises Ryu's maximum health limit instantly. --SPIRIT OF THE DEVILS A jewel that shines bright crimson. It increases Ryu's Ki limit. --JEWEL OF THE DEMON SEAL A jewel that shines dark purple. It can be used to increase the potency of certain Ninpo techniques. -TALISMAN OF REBIRTH A talisman that protects its owner. When Ryu's health is fully depleted it will automatically revive him. +++ THE KEY ITEMS +++ --FANGS OF THE SAMURAI Part of a ceremonial suit of armor. The sharp fangs are made of ivory. --KEY OF COURAGE An ancient key, sculpted to appear as though it were made out of bone. It opens the door to the Inner Sanctum. --STATUE HEAD The stone head of a Jizo statue. --WING KEY A key sculpted with a wing design. --ID CARD A card carried by airship crew. It is used to open certain doors. --LILLY KEY A key crafted in the shape of a lilly. --KEY OF PEGASUS A key in the shape of the mythical winged horse, Pegasus --BOOK OF THE EONS On the cover a message is written: "Offer up this book on the Altar. The stair will open leading to the Hall of Eons." --HOLY GRAIL A holy cup once used for ceremonial purposes. It still gives off a fine glow. --SKULL KEY A key in which is carved a disturbing skull design --WAREHOUSE KEY A bronze key used to open the door to the Warehouse. --SHUTTER CONTROL CARD KEY A card key possesed (SIC) only by those who work in the base. It is used to open shutters. --CONTROL ROOM KEY A keycard carried only by base personnel. It is used to open the control room door. --KEY OF THE INSECT A key carved with an insect design. --RED TABLET OF THE STREAM A stone tablet curved like a bow. It is engraved with a wave pattern. --STATUE OF THE WATER SPIRIT A statue of the Water Spirit -BLUE TABLET OF THE STREAM A stone tablet curved like a bow. It is engraved with a wave pattern. --BRAND OF VALOR A fairly old ceremonial sword. It is highly decorated. --KEY OF TRITON A key shaped like Triton, whose lower body takes the form of a serpent. --MYSTERIOUS STONE TABLET A tablet thought to have been made by an ancient civilization. --SHIELD OF VIGOOR An ancient shield fashioned from stone. On its surface, the figure of the Sun God is portrayed. --COG OF VIGOOR An iron cog forged using the ancient smelting furnace. On its surface, the figure of the God of Rain is portrayed. --EYE OF FLAME A jewel that shines bright red, like a flame --EYE OF ICE A semi-transparent blue jewel --GRIFFON KEY A key made in the shape of the Griffon, a beast in ancient Greek myth. --KEY OF THE LION A key in the shape of the Lion. It shines gold. --KEY OF THE LIONESS A key in the shape of the Lioness. It shines silver. --KEY OF THE DECAYED SOUL A key in the shape of a rotted heart --STONE TABLET (TOP) One part of a stone tablet. "Offer me up before the twin-headed serpent; use me as a key to open the path..." --STONE TABLET (RIGHT) One part of a stone tablet. "There is another who travels the paths formed in the bowels of the Earth by Dragons." --STONE TABLET (LEFT) One part of a stone tablet. "These paths tie together far away places, making them but a few steps away." --OXYGEN CYLINDER A tank filled with compressed oxygen gas. It allows unlimited movement underwater. --RAPTOR, DEITY OF SENTIMENT One of the sculptures that portray the Five Great Deities. This one depicts the Raptor. --WOLF, DEITY OF WISDOM One of the sculptures that portray the Five Great Deities. This one depicts the Wolf. --DEVIL, DEITY OF IMMORALITY One of the sculptures that portray the Five Great Deities. This one depicts the Devil. --SERPENT, DEITY OF CREATION One of the sculptures that portray the Five Great Deities. This one depicts the Serpent. --DEMON, DEITY OF DESTRUCTION One of the sculptures that portray the Five Great Deities. This one depicts the Demon. +++ HISTORY OF VIGOOR BOOKS +++ These books can be found inside the Archive in the Monastery. Look for the blue books and learn a little something about the bad guys. --THE HISTORY OF VIGOOR I ...ever since, these monsters have come to be known as Fiends. The majority of them are mutations of human beings, existing in a condition of living without a soul due to their corruption by evil... --THE HISTORY OF VIGOOR II ...however the extraordinary power of the Fiends is incomparable to that of humans; in fact the highest level of Fiends exist in a state that can only be described as having transcended physical boundaries of form. Looking back through the pages of history, it is quite probable that many of the most powerful members of the Vigoorian ruling class in fact belonged to this classification. It is not surprising, then, that the Fiends have been seen as gods... --THE HISTORY OF VIGOOR III ...it is said that sometime Fiends may rise up from dead bodies; in fact there were many Monks of the Vigoor Order during the Middle Ages who labored for years to recreate this phenomenon... --THE HISTORY OF VIGOOR IV ...the vast majority of records dealing with the Fiends date from the Middle Ages or earlier. During recent times the Fiends have greatly decreased in numbers; so much so that for a member of the general Vigoorian public to come into contact with a Fiend has become an extremely rare occurrence... --THE EMPEROR, LORD OF ALL CREATION ...the Vigoor Emperor is the figurehead of the commoners, and his absolute authority as the Holy leader of our Vigoorian Order cannot be denied. He controls all, physical and ethereal, regardless of time or place... +++ THE MONK DIARY +++ Other than obtaining the combinations for the safe, do you actually read the rest of what this guy says? --FIRST COMBINATION PAGE 1 A diary written by a monk: "It is the 27TH day of the 12TH month, I have received the Book of the Eons as a birthday gift from His Majesty the Emperor. It is a great honor. I shall place it in the safe that no one will take it." At the end of the entry, there are notes reading LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT, LEFT. --SECOND COMBINATION PAGE 1 On the last page there is a hastily scribbled message: "I cannot believe it. Someone has opened the safe. The Book of the Eons I had received from the Emperor himself was stolen. In order to prevent this from ever happening again, I shall change the combination. The date of my daughter's birthday should suffice." At the end of the message, there are notes reading RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT. --SECOND COMBINATION PAGE 2 A message was found on one of the previous pages: "It is the 14TH day of the 10TH month, my beloved daughter's birthday. I remember her birth as if it were yesterday. What a glorious event that was!" --THIRD COMBINATION PAGE 1 On the last page there is yet another scribbled note: "My safe has been tampered with again! I have no choice but to change the number once again; this time I shall use my granddaughter's birthday. December 23RD, yes, I think that's right. No one will break into my safe again!" At the end of the entry, there are noted reading LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT. --LAST COMBINATION PAGE 1 On the last page, there a faint barely readable entry: "That safe is worth about as much as a dog turd." +++ THE TECHNIQUE SCROLLS +++ --COUNTERATTACKS Contains the Counter Attack techniques "Gleaming Cross" and "Fiend's Bane Kick" which allows Ryu to counter enemy attacks immediately after blocking them. --GUILLOTINE THROW Contains the technique "Guillotine Throw", in which Ryu grabs the enemy's neck while jumping and uses his momentum to toss the enemy for high damage --IZUNA DROP Contains the technique "Izuna Drop", an air attack in which Ryu grabs his enemy in mid-air and slams them down on the ground for massive damage. --FLYING SWALLOW Fly at high speeds towards your foe and cut their head off. +++ DEAD NINJA DIARIES +++ --LETTER FROM MURAI If you wish to find the Dark Dragon, you must simply start killing. It is said that the Dark Dragon's power grows as chaos and destruction grow in this world. There is no need for you to spare the subjects of the Vigoor Empire. You go there for revenge, do you not? The Dark Dragon revels in killing and destruction. If you provide these things, it is certain to call out to you. That is your destiny as a Dragon Ninja. Be aware of this as you enact your revenge! --SUKE'S DIARY January 24 - The woman that I saw tonight in Vigoor...she was extremely beautiful. I must persevere to keep my wits about me. Perseverance...Patience. February 2 - I encountered her again. That woman slays the beasts as if they were flies. The vicious way she fights is so unlike her beautiful appearance. A perfect example of extreme intensity...she is no ordinary female. February 6 - During the fight with the MSAT I slipped up and suffered a grave injury. I cannot reach my Black Spider brethren, my provisions are almost all gone, and my life is near its end. Death during an assignment is the wish of every Ninja, but we still have no clues regarding what happened to the Dark Dragon Blade. That is my only regret. All that is left is for me to trust my comrades, and accept these last painful moments of my destiny... February 7 - Although I have become so weak, I still await my death. Although I know it is only a matter of time before I perish, I wish I could glimpse that woman one more time... --TARO'S DIARY January 28 - I have not seen the young one, Sabu, for several days now. It worries me, seeing as he is so inexperienced. February 5 - I have heard nothing from Suke yet. I do not believe that a Ninja as powerful as he could have been defeated. However, the unstable look on his face the last time we met was very much unlike his usual manner. February 8 - I was able to track down Doku, the Lord of Greater Fiends, but I was unable to lay even a finger on him. Burned by an evil blue fire, I accepted my fate. The blade gripped in the hands of that devil was none other than the Dark Dragon Blade, the artifact that, for 450 years, our Black Spider Clan has been searching for. My brothers, hurry! You must not allow the young Hayabusa to possess that awful power... --SABU'S DIARY January 5 - I can't believe my first mission as a full-fledged Ninja is something so important! I feel the pride and honor of the Black Spider Clan. I'm going to distinguish myself here and rise through the ranks. January 20 - I think I might not be cut out to be a Ninja... January 25 - Dear Mother, I have no more strength left, and I will die here, in this forsaken place. Although Ninja are taught patience and perseverance even in the face of death, I just don't want to die. Please, please, please... --SARU'S DIARY February 3 - Everyone here trembles in fear. We witness a person turning into a Fiend. What is happening in this place? Even a Ninja as experienced as myself has no hope against these beasts... February 10 - I have discovered that the mastermind behind the plot to steal the Dark Dragon Blade is none other than the Holy Vigoor Emperor. Like our master, the Emperor must also be plotting to so something with the Blade... February 12 - What a disaster...the Dark Dragon Blade is cursed. I have been defeated, not by the enemy, but by the curse... --SAN'S DIARY January 30 - I have gathered some new information. According to the ancient legends of this place, "he who offers the lost stone tablet to the Twin Serpents may gain entrance to Zarkhan." The tablet, now apparently split into three pieces, is said to have been scattered throughout Vigoor. I was able to learn the locations of the pieces: One is at the Twin Serpents Plaza in Tairon. One is in the Archive on the Monastery. One is near the Stone Circle in the Magma Cavern. I must gather the fragments and then begin my approach to Zarkhan. February 5 - I'm hungry...(SIC) --GEN'S DIARY January 14 - I have arrived in Vigoor in search of the Dark Dragon Blade, leading a group of my comrades. February 18 - I have succeeded in infiltrating the Imperial Palace. I must accept that my comrades have all been slain...except for Dai, yes, he must certainly still be alive. I am sure he is hurrying to meet me at this moment, with the key to the Palace Core firmly I hand. I must join up with Dai as soon as possible, then plan out our attack on the Emperor. February 29 - While it may be true that the Dark Dragon Blade is formed out of dragon bones, one of the greatest delicacies in the ancient world, our master's plan to grind it up and use it for herbal tea is ridiculous. Of course I cannot tell anyone this, and therefore I must take this laughable secret with me to the grave...If we are forced to die for such goals as this, our Black Spider Clan will not last much longer. The Vigoor Emperor will gather his power and become the Devil on Earth, enslaving the human race for millennia to come...I have not been able to contact Dai, but it does not matter. His fate must be similar to mine... --DAI'S DIARY February 1 - As a member of the Black Spider Clan, I will fulfill my mission and gain the respect of our clan leader. I have promised so to Gen, and I will not break that promise. February 21 - I have been badly wounded, but I have obtained the key to the Core. I do not have much longer; I must get this to Gen... February 29 - With this last bit of strength in me, I have made it this far. However, I cannot find a way to pass though this door... +++ CHAPTER INTRODUCTIONS +++ --CHAPTER 1: The Way of the Ninja In the mountains of Autumn, there is one who walks the path of the Ninja... --CHAPTER 2: The Hayabusa Ninja Village The village is burning. Before long, Ryu hears the screams of his brethren... --CHAPTER 3: Skies of Vengeance The Hayabusa Village has burned, and the Dark Dragon Blade is gone. Ryu has stowed aboard an Airship headed for the Vigoor Empire. His goal: vengeance... --CHAPTER 4: Imperial City Infiltration Ryu has escaped from the crash of the Airship. Spread out before him is the city of Tairon, capital of the Vigoor Empire... --CHAPTER 5: THE FIEND HUNTER Searching for the whereabouts of her twin sister, Rachel the Fiend Hunter heads alone to the Dworku Monastery. She senses the presence of Fiends lurking in the shadows... --CHAPTER 6: City of Fiends Tairon is full of mysteries; strange creatures called Fiends and Rachel the Fiend Hunter. However, Ryu still has no clues to the whereabouts of Doku... --CHAPTER 7: The Monastery It is said that there is a secret path leading to the Palace of Zarkhan underneath the Dworku Monastery... --CHAPTER 8: ALMA, GREATER FIEND Rachel continues searching for her sister in Vigoor's capital. She is suddenly confronted by an inhuman form: Alma the Greater Fiend finally makes her appearance... --CHAPTER 9: Hidden Underground A dark underground world leading deeper and deeper. Does the path to Zarkhan truly exist? --CHAPTER 10: Tairon Under Alert The battle with Rachel's sister, the Greater Fiend Alma, ended without a victor. However, the aftermath of the battle has caused the Vigoor Army to be deployed... --CHAPTER 11: The Military Supply Base The Vigoor Army is after the renegade element, Ryu. The Military Radio Tower is key to the Army's organization... --CHAPTER 12: The Aquaducts The Army's organization has crumbled; there is no need for Ryu to stay in the now-silent capital... --CHAPTER 13: The Path to Zarkhan Using the Aquaduct, Ryu has arrived at the moat surrounding Zarkhan. However, a great wall blocks his path into the Palace itself... --CHAPTER 14: THE TWIN ANCIENT DIETIES Rachel follows Lord Doku, who now takes the form of a vengeful spirit...As she enters the torn fabric of space and time, what horrors await her? --CHAPTER 15: The Caverns Although it appears as though Ryu defeated Doku, his vengeance is still incomplete; the Dark Dragon in the hands of the Holy Vigoor Emperor. What will become of Rachel and her sister? --CHAPTER 16: The Fiendish Awakening All events thus far have lead up to one place: the depths of the Palace of Zarkhan. Will Ryu be able to discover the path inside? --CHAPTER 17: Vengeful Spirit The fate of the sisters has been decided. Ryu now heads for the depths of Zarkhan, determined to fulfill his vengeance once and for all... --CHAPTER 18: The Core Doku's hate continues to slowly transform Ryu into a Fiend. Feeling the blood of the Fiends pounding in his veins, the Dragon Ninja stands before the gates to the source of all evil, the Core of the Imperial Palace! --CHAPTER 19: The Dark Dragon Blade Ryu has defeated the evil Vigoor Emperor, and the Dark Dragon Blade is out of the reach of the Fiends. Now, Ryu must quickly escape the depths before the caverns come crashing down on him! +++ AYANE'S KUNAI SCROLLS +++ What is a Kunai Scroll? As Ryu traverses from area to area, a dagger with a purple flower will be thrown (not tossed) into Ryu's vicinity on a wall or on the floor. The scroll inside the dagger will usually offer advice, tips, or even a foreshadowing of events to happen. And like the other stuff, do you actually read these scrolls? CHAPTER 1: --A Ninja must be able to find his way even when his path is blocked. When facing an obstacle, jump towards it and run vertically up its side until you grab its upper ledge. Move to the left or right and climb up or drop down. --Don't underestimate the agility that your training has given you. Feats such as running along walls should be simple for you to perform. If you cannot reach your destination with a single leap, make use of the surrounding walls. --One of your most useful techniques is the Flying Bird Flip. Jump towards a wall and run up to it, then jump off again. This allows you to travel to areas that may first seem unreachable. Repeat the Flying Bird Flip to climb certain shafts and passages. --Some ledges or platforms above you can be reached simply by jumping towards them and running straight up. A Ninja must know the appropriate technique to use in every situation. Remember that unnecessary acrobatics may backfire on you. CHAPTER 4: --In this city there is a club called Han's Bar that is a well-known watering hole, as well as the center of Vigoor's underground intelligence. There will you find clue's about Doku's whereabouts. Go there now. You should be able to find it easily by its garish neon sign. --When in doubt, look to the color blue for the path. --A group of Ninja dressed in black garb act with wicked intent in Tairon. They are members of the Black Spider Clan, and they act behind the scenes to hinder our progress. Do not let them leave Tairon alive. --I have brought a legendary weapon to Tairon, a weapon known only by a select few. I have hidden it in a dark alley, in a location where only a Ninja will be able to reach it. I suggest that you find it and make use of it. CHAPTER 6: --If you wish to follow Doku, first investigate the Dworku Monastery. It is located in the Dworku district across the drawbridge. --Run along the wall, jump to another wall, and keep running to reach higher areas. This is the continuous wall running technique. Practice until you have perfected it. CHAPTER 9: --When underwater, pay close attention to the breath gauge. If you run out of breath, your strength will soon be sapped. CHAPTER 10: --Tairon is now under alert. You are completely surrounded and the situation is grave, but you should be able to disrupt the military's organization by attacking the Radio Control Tower next to the Military Supply Base. To reach the Supply Base, you must first cross the drawbridge. That is where your path should lead you. CHAPTER 11: --The military's communications are down and their organization is in shambles. Now is the time to escape the base. Resistance around the train turntable is low and it is the perfect time to steal a train. The rail runs through the Dworku district. CHAPTER 13: --The secret path to the Imperial Palace of Zarkhan is located under this building. You should now be able to forge your way through the water that fills this passage. CHAPTER 15: --Muramasa, the owner of the weapon shop and a world-renowned swordsmith, is looking for you. It seems that something is bothering him so much that he cannot sleep at night. The old man must have something quite important to tell you. If you follow this path you will eventually arrive at the gate back to Tairon. From there, it is only a short way to Muramasa's shop. --It is said that near the Palace of Zarkhan waterfall there is an entrance to a cave that leads somewhere. It is rumored to connect to the greatest depths of Zarkhan. +++ THE NINJA FORTRESS SAVE POINT +++ This is the description of the Ninja Fortress Save Point when Ryu first accesses it in Chapter 1: --There is a message engraved on the tablet in the dragon's mouth: "The sacred underground paths of the Dragons record all that occurs in the world of men. We have not forgotten those who live on the surface of the Earth..." +++ NINJA GAIDEN SOUND TEST +++ Once you beat Ninja Gaiden, you automatically unlock and have access to the entire musical soundtrack. Just go to OPTIONS and select AUDIO SETTINGS and look for the SOUND TEST options. It should be noted that the PS3 version has 30% MORE music tracks than the Xbox version. From here you can choose the following tracks: --OPENING This was the theme used for the opening Xbox FMV intro (that doesn't exist in the PS3 version). --VILLAGE The theme used for the Hayabusa Village in Chapter 16 --WORSHIP The theme for the Ninja Fortress --IN THE STILLNESS The theme used for certain enemy encounters --TRIAL The theme used when facing off against Chapter 1 Murai --CONFRONTATION The theme used when leaving the Ninja Fortress in Chapter 2 --GO THE DISTANCE The theme used in the beginning of Chapter 2 --VANISHED MEMORIES The theme one you reach Hayabusa Village in Chapter 2 --ANNOYANCES The theme for the Samurai horsemen sub-bosses --STAND IN THE WAY The theme used for the Masakado and the worm bosses. --LORD OF THE GREATER FIENDS Doku's theme --MILITARY STRENGTH The theme played during the introductory FMV in Chapter 3 --AIRSHIP The theme for all of Chapter 3 --VIGOOL EMPIRE --RISK A theme used when fighting certain enemies --TAIRON AT NIGHT The theme for the city of Tairon --BULLET --MURAMASA His theme song --SUDDEN THREAT Another theme for fighting off certain enemies --RESIDENT OF THE DARK Theme used for Rachel in Chapter 5 --GOD BLESS U Another theme used when Rachel encounters enemies --SURPRISE ATTACK The Motorcycle MSAT music --RACHEL This is NOT her theme song. This is actually the theme for the Drawbridge/Monastery area. --MYSTERY Where is this played? --THE FIEND The theme for the first Hydracubus battle --PRAY TO GOD The theme to the Monastery --CRYPT The theme whenever you are underground (Tomb of the Eons, Econtra Babel Specus, Hidden Underground). --REVIVAL OF THE DEAD The theme used for the Ritual Room when obtaining the Holy Grail and until you reach the Chapter 6 boss. --DINOSAUR The theme for the Bone Dragon and Paz Zuu --ONE SHOT ONE KILL --TAKE IT EASY The theme used in between Phases during the Eternal Legend mission --FIGHT IT OUT --UNDER ALERT The theme that plays during Chapter 10 --FORSAKEN HUMANITY The theme used during the Alma and Marbus battles --AN EASY ENEMY Another theme used when fighting certain enemies --MONASTERY DESTROYED The used in the Altar Hall after Chapter 10 --ENCIRCLEMENT --IRON AND SWORD The theme used for the Dynamo and Alternator battles --WAREHOUSE Theme used once you activate the lights in the Warehouse in Chapter 11 --SUPPLY BASE The theme played throughout the second half of Chapter 10 --ESCAPE FROM CRISIS The theme played during the Chapter 10 FMV and during the escape in Chapter 19 --AQUADUCT The theme for the Aquaducts --TOXIC WASTE The theme played whenever fighting the large beetles --MOAT OF ZARKHAN The theme song for all of Chapter 13 --11 --UNKNOWN The theme when battling Nicchae & Ishtaros in Chapter 14 --SASORI --THE TONE OF EVIL --DISTORTED WORLD The theme used in Zarkhan Stadium and Stairway to the Imperial Palace. --FREEZE UP The theme for the Ice Caverns --BURN AWAY The theme for the Underground Sanctuary and the Magma Caverns --CITY OF FIENDS The theme for Tairon after Chapter 16 --LYRIC The theme for Hayabusa Village when Ryu returns through the portal in Chapter 16 --ALMA AWAKENED The theme used for the Alma fight in Chapter 16 --PYRAMID The theme used inside the Pyramid --LABYRINTH The theme throughout Chapter 17 --NIGHTMARE The theme used for the Core of the Imperial Palace --EVIL SPIRIT MARCH The Fiendish Depths theme --TO A DIFFERENT WORLD The theme during the FMV when Ryu encounters the Emperor --EMPEROR The theme for the first of half of the Emperor fight --COLLAPSE --THE DARK DRAGON BLADE The theme as Ryu grabs the DDB in Chapter 19 --FINAL BATTLE The theme used when battling Fiend Murai --AFTER THE BATTLE The theme played during the FMV ending as Ryu destroys the DDB --A NEW CHALLENGE The theme for the Master Ninja Tournament --CHAPTER CLEAR The name says it all. --GAME OVER The name says it all. --SPEED --CRASH --NINJA GAIDEN THEME This theme was only used in the trailers END OF USELESSS SECTION ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= This FAQ is for all of the original Master Ninja Xbox veterans that have put aside precious time to record excellent gameplay videos and help other Ninja Gaiden players excel at one of the best goddamn action games of all time: Shinobier, Saryah, Iberian Warrior, bigalski, Weibull760, Sneh, Shin, and yours truly. Without swell guys like us, everyone else would suck at this game! And for the record, I am the ONLY player in the Sigma Leaderboards that has ZERO Ninpo uses in his record. I may not have the highest Karma Score or the highest Kills, but if I'm gonna claim a crown for something, it's gonna be for ZERO Ninpo use! Don't believe me? Go to RANKINGS section and check under my name for proof! Let's see you try and get through the entire game (and Mission Mode) without Ninpo! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NN1. BIG THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE: Shinobier, Saryah, Iberian Warrior, Bigalski, Afolabiyi Okubanjo, Ninja Jax, Enigmatic Skull, Paul King, Neil Walsh, Volume, Otakuman, and all the other Xbox veterans (myself included) that had to put up with three years of Xbox Ninja Gaiden to get to this final version of the game. Oh, and a big shout-out to my favorite ladies that made my time with this game a little less stressful: Jenna Jameson, Aria Giovanni, Tera Patrick, Lanny Barbie, Brittney Skye, Crissy Moran, Veronica Zemanova, Shay Laren, and Daisy Marie! Nothing gets your mind off of Sigma faster than these ladies! WINK, WINK! Remember, Life is full of entrees, so don't fill up on bread. ======================================================================= ======================================================================= ======================================================================= This FAQ is only for use on GameFAQS. You may not copy, reproduce, or link to this FAQ without permission. If you want to use this FAQ on your website or publication, please e-mail me at kroqjock@gmail.com. I have no problems with anyone who asks. July 2007.