Summary
Parrying is an essential mechanic to the best Soulslike games. It’s a tried and tested system that has worked for years and gives players freedom of movement and defense. No longer do they need to rely on a shield, or a roll, as they can challenge the weapon in front of them by simply deflecting it, leaving their opponent stunned and open for attack.
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The best parry mechanics in Soulslike games come in many different forms across a variety of different games. A parry mechanic is a great choice for a game to have, as it allows players to flex their skills and reaction times. Yet, these Soulslike games are certainly the best at pulling off a parry.
7Nioh 2
One of the basic defense options players can find in the mechanics ofNioh 2is the parry. It’s fairly satisfying to pull off but can be a difficult feat to master. Enemies and bosses especially play very aggressively, meaning aparry is not always assuredinNioh 2, but it is something worth trying to pull off.
It’s hard to find the right window for the opportunity, but the reward is great, as most enemies will falter and stumble down, leaving them vulnerable to the aggressive players that are on the offensive. Players should practice parry inNioh 2to better understand it.
6Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The iconic FromSoftware brought playersSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a game that is perhaps the definitive parry experience. Players can’t expect to roll around, shield up andslash with a swordto get through this game, asSekiro: Shadows Die Twicerewards well-timed parries and defensive playstyle to master the moves and determine the attack patterns of opponents. Enemies can only be defeated by breaking their guard, which makes parry the essential mechanic.
Some players may find parrying hard to master inSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but it is perhaps the most satisfying move to pull off out of all Soulslike games. The sound design deflection effect of metal upon Sekiro’s sword is addictive, and players can parry in countless succession with no cooldown window holding them back.
5Final Fantasy 16
One of the key mechanics inFinal Fantasy 16is a parry, an iconic feature of most Soulslike games. In this JRPG, this combat technique will turn the opponent’s strike against them, stunning them and leaving them open for a violent flurry of the player’s attack. Players can master the parry in Final Fantasy 16 through itsprecise and careful timing.
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There are even visual and audio cues that can assist players to pull off a perfect parry. However, there is a high risk with Final Fantasy 16’s parry system, if they miss, they are going to lose a chunk of damage. Players can swing their swords at the right time to commit to a parry.
4Lies Of P
Lies of Phas a unique parry system to other Soulslike games. The most important mechanic will be the noticeable lack of a shield to block damage. Therefore, players need to rely on their weapon of choice inLies of Pto absorb damage for them, so they are not filling themselves with cuts and slashes that will cause their death.
Players will need to master a Perfect Guard, which is blocking at the very perfect second of opportunity to stop themselves from losing health, and building a stun charge within their opponent so that they will eventually beopen to a grand attack, as well as a chance to break their weapon. There are even some enemies that have powerful attack moves that cannot be dodged, and players will need Perfect Guard to beat them or die trying.
3Wo Long Fallen Dynasty
Much likeSekiro: Shadows Die Twice,Wo Long Fallen Dynastyfeatures a parry system in which players need to keep their eyes on the blade of their enemy for the split-second decision of when to parry them. The game also has a stamina meter similar toSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and an intricate timing system that may provedifficult, but worthy of trying.
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Parrying is certainly the way to go inWo Long Fallen Dynasty, as aggressive enemies will not let up, and their pose will be far superior to the player’s blade. The goal of the player is to pull off these parries, allowing enemies to attack learn their moves, and master their demise.
2Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Showing the power of a Jedi Knight,Star Wars Jedi: Survivorputs players in direct control of Cal Kestis and his customizable lightsaber. In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, players will have plenty of playstyles to choose from thanks to the unique Stances. However, perhaps the most rewarding style isn’t to jump and dodge around, but totrust in the Force, and pull off some impressive and cinematic parries.
When players achieve a parry, it is noticeably easier than other Soulslike games, with an open window for success based on the difficulty scaling. Pulling off a parry will stun enemies, breaking their guard, and leaving them open for a vicious lightsaber slash that could see them lose an arm or leg.
1Hollow Knight
The parry mechanic inHollow Knightoften goes underused thanks to the freedom of movement and fast gameplayof this 2D Soulslike. However,Hollow Knighthas a challenging, and entirely satisfying parry system that should be mastered. When players pull off a parry, the screen will momentarily freeze and lose frames to show the raw power in such a deflection.
Pulling off a parry against the many different enemies inHollow Knightwill prevent the player from taking damage, and will also leave the enemy open for a quick attack window. However, the parry window and room for a counterattack is fairly short inHollow Knight, assuring that only the best reactions can pull this off.
