The combat system in a video game is often the most satisfying and engaging feature. There’s nothing more enjoyable than the crisp feel of defending from an incoming attack and chaining a series of successful counters. That’s mainly because landing a well-timed parry is dependent on several factors, including sound design, camera tracking, visual effects, and polished animations.
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Some games have it where the UI will tell you when it’s the correct time to act, while others have no such warning. Instead, they may rely on your intuition before a hit lands. Nevertheless, it’s crucial that the motion feels unbelievably fluid when timed right, and these games certainly fit the bill.
10Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Soulsborne games fromFromSoftwarealways make the parry essential, but the technique is placed front and center in Sekiro’s design. That’s because the combat is reliant on a posture system. As the titular shinobi mercenary inSekiro, your goal is to fill an opponent’s posture meter, found below their health bar, to break their guard.
On smaller enemies, a few simple attacks would suffice. However, the higher-difficulty enemies with stronger attacks require successful blocks. When the posture meter reaches its max, a glowing red orb will appear on the body, which signals a clean, one-hit ‘Death Blow.’ The harsh clanging and sparks, followed by the gory animation, give the parry a rewarding quality.
When it comes to aggressive hand-to-hand combat, Mad Max makes quite an impressive display of it. Being that it’s a Warner Bros.-published game, the parry mechanics and counters borrow heavily from theBatman: Arkhamgames, but are tweaked just right to fit the brutal and gritty world of Mad Max.
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The parry must be timed right when the yellow circle closes in on the button prompt appearing above an enemy’s head. Max will either grab their leg and break it with a crunch, or grab their arm to knee them in the stomach. You can also use the environment, such as pinning enemies to walls to give them a beatdown. The sound design is captivating, and you can follow up with a ‘shiv punisher’ to deal a fatal blow.
8Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs offers an even more brutal portrayal of the hand-to-hand fighting style as you take on Hong Kong’s criminal underworld. The combat is based aroundperforming smooth martial art takedowns, inspired by some of the moves seen in popular action flicks from martial artists like Tony Jaa, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan.
Whenever a Triad member tries to land a hit on you, their body would outline in red. That’s your cue to counter their move, and what follows are various animations of your character breaking their limbs and throwing punches in worse ways than Mad Max. you may also drag them into environmental objects and use any weapons they have against them.
7Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Lightsaber battles and parrying are a beloved aesthetic ofStar Wars, andJedi: Fallen Orderexcitingly delivers on that front. The parry mechanic will be usedfor a variety of bossesand more minor enemies you’ll encounter in this Soulslike entry to the Star Wars universe.
As Jedi Cal Kestis, you can deflect ranged lasers fired by stormtroopers, which instantly sends them right back. Parrying the electric rods of scout troopers and lightsabers of the Inquisitors emits a satisfying sound of the successful block, and sparks fill the screen. Enemies like scout troopers will deplete stamina and have a finisher animation.
6Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Though it’s on the more difficult side of mechanics to master, the visual and audio feedback ofMetal GearRising: Revengeance’s parry system is undeniably stunning and satisfying. It’s also worth noting that a game series typically known for its extreme focus on stealth can also come out with a title that features phenomenal swordplay to the tune ofDevil May Cry.
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In this particular installment of the series, you assume the role of a half-cyborg ninja named Raiden to slice and dice your way through waves of enemy soldiers. When an enemy prepares to attack, a red beam will flash, but you parry only as their blade is about to strike. Pushing the light attack and flicking the analog stick together effectively creates this thrumming vortex effect with blue lightning.
5Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor And Shadow Of War
The Lord of the RingsMiddle-earth gameshave a combat system best described as the Batman: Arkham series meets Jedi: Fallen Order. You play as Talion, a resurrected ranger bound to the wraith soul of Celebrimbor. The map is one giant sandboxfilled with large hordes of orcsfor you to wreak havoc on from all directions, to an almost overwhelming amount at times.
They’re certainly not your PG-13 Peter JacksonLord of the Ringsaction, as most of the parries result in decapitation and other brutal slayings of orcs. Like in Mad Max, a button appearing above the hostile orc’s head will prompt you to perform a counter at that precise moment. It’s a swift animation, and the orcs become weakened enough to trigger the slow-motion execution.
4Ryse: Son Of Rome
The developer behind theCrysisseries, Crytek, went an entirely different route with Ryse: Son of Rome, and arguably launched one of the most noteworthy Xbox One exclusives. It’s from the point of view of a Roman soldier bent on revenge for the murder of his family. The cinematic violence and gore are highly reminiscent of series like Spartacus and Netflix’s Barbarians.
The combat system was quite unlike anything at the time, as there’s no visual cue for the exact moment you need to defend, and you mostly had to read the enemy’s movements. A perfect parry followed by a flurry of attacks will lead to a stylishly gruesome quick-time event, where much blood will spill.
3Batman: Arkham Series
With all this talk and comparison to the Batman: Arkham series, it’s about time it receives a mention. Batman: Arkham Asylum originated the ultra-fluid combat system where you build up your combos by jumping around and beating down enemies. This definitive style thatRocksteadycaptured only sees further improvements and refinements throughout the series' progression.
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Incoming attacks from thugs will display arcs of lightning bolts above their heads. Immediately upon pressing the button to counter, Batman will launch himself at his target wherever they may appear on-screen, possibly even getting two at once. The block usually entails Batman pinning foes to the ground in bone-breaking fashion orsending them flying in the air.
2Assassin’s Creed 3
Before theAssassin’s Creedseries pivoted to a more challenging combat system with its RPG makeover, the classic combat style of the older games was among the best highlights, and it reached its height inAssassin’s Creed 3. It introduced vastly improved and incredibly seamless action in its gameplay, where numerous enemies are dealt with in a matter of seconds.
It’s ultimately more immersive and makes you seem like more of a skillful assassin than some of the newer ones likeOdysseyandValhalla. A simple counter and parry will trigger a brutal animation of Connor creatively executing some redcoats. Since there’s no level system or health bar, you feel more effortless and are less likely to run away from a fight.
1Ghost Of Tsushima
Parrying is a skill that’s not only critical to the combat in this game but aims to capture that authentic feeling of being a samurai. There’s even an entire skill tree dedicated solely to deflection abilities.
One of the first tiers you can unlock is the perfect parry. When the white whoosh from an enemy swing becomes visible, a deflection will result in a distorted slow-mo stagger that connects with a sudden one-hit slash right after. The timing can prove a tad tricky to get down, but once you get the hang of it, Jin Sakaiwill become a fearsome force.
