Kurohyō 1: combat controls, Heat and injuries

Kurohyō 1: combat controls, Heat and injuries Kurohyō gives you quite a few options beyond standing in front of somebody and throwing punches. Here are the PSP controls and the things to watch when a fight starts going badly. If you're using a controller with different button labels, match these to your PSP mappings first. BASIC CONTROLS Square: punch. Triangle: kick. Circle: grab. L: guard. R: change target/free movement. L + Circle: pick up a weapon. Start: pause menu. Select: control help during battle. Movement + Cross steps. Hold Cross to dash. While dashing, Square/Triangle attacks and Circle attempts a takedown. Toward the opponent + Square/Triangle gives a forward attack; away + Square/Triangle gives a strong attack. Hold an attack button for its charged special move. GRABS AND DEFENSE While grabbing, Square/Triangle attacks, Circle throws where the style allows it, and L moves behind the opponent for a rear attack. Guard protects your front. Time L with a direction against an incoming strike to attempt a catch. If grabbed, tap Cross before the enemy completes the move. Cross also helps you get up; Square/Triangle gives a rising attack. On the ground, hold a direction to evade a follow-up. Against a grounded enemy, Square/Triangle attacks. Weapons use Square/Triangle; Circle throws the weapon and L + Circle discards it. Holding Circle + Triangle taunts, leaving you exposed while helping build Heat. HOW HEAT WORKS The aura has three stages: blue, yellow and red. Attack to build it, then grab an enemy and press Cross for a Heat Action. Blue is the first stage. Yellow allows environmental actions when the situation is right. Red gives the strongest stage of the style's Heat attacks. Check where you're standing as well as which style you're using; an environmental move needs its surroundings. When a partner grabs an enemy, approach while in Heat and press Cross for a double-team action. If you're working on the full Heat Action list, pay attention to those partner opportunities instead of automatically knocking every held enemy away. WHY A FIGHT CAN GET HARDER AS IT GOES ON The injury icons matter. They move toward red as a body part takes damage: Head: you're more prone to becoming dazed. Torso: you tire more easily. Arms: your guard becomes easier to break. Legs: you're more likely to drop to your knees. Use injury treatment or the medical room when needed. Watch those icons as well as your health. Repeatedly taking the same kind of damage can leave you in a worse position than the health bar alone suggests. A PRACTICAL WAY TO APPROACH FIGHTS If your strikes keep getting caught or countered, work on getting a grab instead of forcing the same combo again. Throw, follow up while the enemy is down, then reassess as they get up. A step attack can help create an opening against opponents who resist a direct grab. In street fights, look for weapons. Make some space before picking one up so you aren't taking a hit during the pickup. Against a boss in Heat, don't assume blocking will save you. Give yourself room to move away from the attack, especially in the small underground arena. And carry healing items. You can use the pause menu during regular fights, Dragon Heat and ranking battles. Early on, Toughness Z from Kotobuki Pharmacy costs ¥750. Stocking up before a fight is a lot less frustrating than realizing halfway through it that you spent everything on training.