I still remember the first time I properly executed a Counterspark in combat—that perfect moment when my blade met my opponent's with impeccable timing, creating that distinctive metallic ring that signaled a successful parry. It was only later that I started to truly appreciate the combat system's sophisticated combination of elements, particularly how the timing of Countersparks interacts with the ability to change your fighting style dynamically. This system isn't just about reaction speed; it's about strategic adaptation, and understanding this transformed my entire approach to battles. When you approach an enemy, a small icon appears next to their name—a deceptively simple indicator that reveals both the difficulty level of the upcoming fight and whether their fighting style is strong or weak against your current approach. This visual cue became my primary strategic tool, allowing me to assess threats within seconds and adjust my tactics accordingly.
The weapon system offers remarkable flexibility that took me about 15-20 hours of gameplay to fully master. You can equip two main weapons simultaneously—choosing from katanas, odachis, European-style sabers, greatswords, and spears—with three distinct fighting styles available for each weapon. This means at any given moment, you have access to six potential combat approaches that can be swapped instantly. I personally found the combination of katana and spear to be particularly effective, covering about 85% of combat scenarios I encountered. The katana's balanced approach worked wonderfully against standard enemies, while the spear's reach proved invaluable against larger, slower opponents. What makes this system truly shine is how these style changes aren't just cosmetic—they fundamentally alter your combat effectiveness against different enemy types.
I gradually discovered that picking the right style against specific enemies doesn't just give you a minor advantage—it dramatically enhances your Counterspark effectiveness. Against enemies using brute force styles, I found that switching to more agile approaches increased my Counterspark window by what felt like at least 30-40%, turning nearly impossible parries into manageable defensive maneuvers. There was this one particular duel against a sword master in the bamboo forests where I must have died eight or nine times before I realized my European saber style was completely wrong for his quick, precise strikes. The moment I switched to a katana's water style, everything clicked—his previously overwhelming attacks became readable, parryable, and ultimately defeatable. That battle transformed from a frustrating wall into an intense, hard-fought duel that made me feel like a legendary swordsman mastering his craft.
The learning curve for this system is steep but incredibly rewarding. During my first 10 hours with the game, I'd estimate I successfully executed Countersparks only about 20% of the time I attempted them. But as I grew more comfortable with style matching and timing, that success rate climbed to what felt like 70-80% by the 40-hour mark. This progression wasn't just about getting better at pressing buttons—it was about internalizing the rock-paper-scissors relationship between combat styles and understanding how to read enemy tells. The combat stopped being about memorizing combos and started feeling like genuine swordplay, where observation and adaptation mattered more than raw execution.
What I appreciate most about this system is how it maintains tension and engagement throughout the entire experience. Even after defeating the final boss (which took me three intense hours of attempts), I still found myself discovering new style interactions and Counterspark opportunities in the post-game content. The weapon system's depth means that there's always room for improvement, always a new combination to try against familiar enemies. I've probably spent at least 15 hours just experimenting with different weapon pairings against various enemy types in the training grounds, and I'm still uncovering subtle advantages I hadn't noticed before.
This approach to combat design represents what I believe to be the future of action games—systems that are easy to understand but take significant time to master, where player growth feels tangible and rewarding. The satisfaction I felt when I finally defeated that previously mentioned sword master without taking a single hit remains one of my most memorable gaming moments this year. It's this combination of strategic depth and visceral execution that keeps me coming back to the game months after completion, still finding new challenges and refinements to my combat approach. The system respects your intelligence as a player while providing the tools to feel genuinely skilled and powerful.
