Yakuza: Dead Souls: controls, crowds, and the seven mutants

Yakuza: Dead Souls: controls, crowds, and the seven mutants Dead Souls is one of those games where I'd spend a little time sorting out the controls before making a judgment about the combat. It still has some of the older Yakuza movement underneath it, but you're using that movement to shoot through groups of enemies. There are two control layouts. In Type A, R1 fires, Square reloads, L2 aims, and L1 locks the camera behind you. In Type B, Square fires, L1 reloads, R2 aims, and R1 locks the camera. Triangle starts Heat Sniping. X dodges, and adding a direction changes the dodge. Circle handles close-range interactions such as kicking, picking up objects, and stomping a downed zombie. Try both layouts in a safe encounter. The character and camera can point in different directions, so use the camera-lock control when you need them aligned. Don't assume that turning the camera also turns every movement or attack the way a newer shooter would. KEEP AN EXIT The ordinary handgun has unlimited reserve ammunition, but it still reloads. Akiyama's twin handguns are particularly useful for conserving supplies. That does not make shotgun, rifle, or gatling ammunition unlimited. Use the pistols on ordinary enemies when there's room. Bring a shotgun or another crowd-clearing option for moments when there's no room. Reload before entering a packed corridor, not after the first few enemies have already pinned you against a wall. The dangerous situation is repeated knockdowns. A zombie knocks you over, another starts hitting you before you can move, and suddenly a small mistake costs most of your health. Invest in the abilities that help you escape grabs and act when grounded. Leg Sweep is particularly useful. More inventory space also matters because ammunition, recovery items, and other supplies compete for room. Head Tracking and Head Lock-On help you land quick weak-point shots. Increase Weapon Skill and Armor Skill as you need them for better modifications. Expand accessory slots so you can actually equip the useful items you're collecting. Max Focus opens stronger Heat Snipes. You don't need to buy every expensive ability immediately just because the next icon is available. Helpful Links: Control layouts: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps3/998171-yakuza-dead-souls/faqs/79387/controls Enemy and mutant reference: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps3/998171-yakuza-dead-souls/faqs/79387/enemies THE MUTANTS Cry Baby: this is usually the first target I'd remove. Her scream brings in more zombies, and later screams can enrage the ones already present. Kill her promptly unless you're deliberately allowing extra spawns for a Spec-Op score or directive. Meathead: the body absorbs punishment, so aim at the head. Watch for both arms rising before the overhead slam. That is also the opportunity for its intercept Heat Snipe. Back away from the shockwave rather than remaining beside its feet and emptying a magazine into its torso. Monkey Boy: it moves quickly and avoids shots while running. Aim when it commits to an attack, or use the Heat Snipe as it jumps at you. Chasing it around with slow aimed shots often gives the surrounding zombies time to catch you. Fattie: its explosion releases gas that enrages nearby enemies. Be aware of what is standing around it before making its stomach explode. Killing one in the middle of an already crowded corridor can leave the surviving zombies much more aggressive. Aggro: it becomes dangerous when you get close or provoke it. Open with a strong shot from a distance, preferably aimed at the head, instead of walking up to see what it does. A sniper rifle or Kiryu's later anti-materiel rifle can stop the fight before its evasive close-range attacks become a problem. Diptera: the flying one. It dodges distant fire, but its spit attack gives you a more predictable opening. Wait for that animation and shoot the head. Its charge can also be intercepted with a sufficiently developed Heat Snipe gauge. Hermit: the shell protects it from ordinary shots until you break the armor. Automatic fire can strip that armor, but fire on the ground is another option. A Molotov or incendiary launcher can burn it while it is still armored. That is how to get Steamed Vegetable; shooting the shell away first defeats the point of the trophy. USING THE ENVIRONMENT Explosive drums, cars, gas cylinders, water mains, and other objects are part of your combat options. A well-placed Heat Snipe can remove a group without using the same amount of ammunition as shooting every enemy separately. Build the gauge, choose the right target, and finish the button prompt. Activating the slow-motion selection by itself isn't a successful attack. You can also use objects as melee weapons. They break, so don't depend on the same street sign or bicycle indefinitely. A vehicle section is a good time to get the 10 run-over kills for Road Rage. For Goda's trophy, the requirement is breaking 100 pick-up objects, and shooting them counts. For partners, “Back me up!” keeps them focused on enemies threatening you. “Attack!” sends them farther into the fight, which is not always what you want in a crowded area. Bring Habaneron G if you're relying on a companion. Reviving them helps you finish the encounter, but being knocked out still hurts their affinity. When a shop inside the quarantine says CLOSED, interact with the entrance and clear the liberation battle. That can reopen somewhere you need for supplies or a minigame. A blocked entrance with a prohibition sign is different: the current story state may simply not allow it yet.