Ryse: Son of Rome

Alright, we're diving into Chapter II: S.P.Q.R. in Ryse: Son of Rome. This section is all about getting you comfortable with the combat system, and it kicks off with a sparring match against Marius's old man. Don't let his age fool you; he's still got some fight left in him and will teach you the ropes.

When you're facing enemies with shields, like your dad here, the first thing you need to do is press Y to break their guard. Do this a few times, and then just keep following his lead. He'll eventually ask you to break his defense and then land a few 'perfect strikes.' A perfect strike is basically an attack that lands right after you've broken their defense – timing is key!

For countering attacks, you'll want to wait until your dad is *almost* hitting you. You'll know it's time because his whole body will flash green. That's your cue to hit A. Once the sparring is done, get ready, because you and your dad are going to be ambushed by some barbarians!

After you fend off the first wave of barbarians, follow your dad into the courtyard. A quick cutscene will play out (and you'll snag an achievement!), but don't get too comfortable – more barbarians are coming your way. From this point on, it's mostly about sticking with your dad and battling through waves of enemies as you move through the city.

While you're busy slaughtering barbarians, remember to upgrade Marius. Also, keep an eye out for new perks; two more will be introduced in this chapter. You'll also learn about the 'Focus' ability. To use it, tap RB. This will slow down time, letting Marius unleash a flurry of attacks on your enemies with little to no resistance.

Don't be afraid to experiment with the different perks and swap them out as needed. Just be mindful of Marius's health, especially if you don't have the health perk equipped – it's easy to lose track and end up losing a life.

As you navigate the city, keep an eye out for objects and barricades that have a blue cloth draped over them. This blue marking means you can climb over or onto it, so use these to your advantage for traversal.

Besides the constant fighting, there are also collectibles to find in this chapter. You'll spot glowing green bodies lying around – examine these for 'letters from the past.' You'll also find a couple of 'vistas' that offer insights into Roman history and also count as collectibles. Just keep an eye out for anything glowing green!

Speaking of glowing green things, you'll also be introduced to projectiles. When you first encounter them, press A to pick them up. To aim at distant enemies, hold LT. Then, hold RT to focus in on them. When the arrows turn red, release RT for an instant kill. You can also use them quickly against close-range enemies by tapping LT and then immediately tapping RT.

These projectiles come into play in a small puzzle. You'll need to lower a bridge for your father. When you reach it, turn around; directly opposite the bridge, you'll see an area to climb up. Make your way to the rope holding the bridge up and throw a projectile at it. Shortly after, you'll need to push a cart. Just get behind it and press Y to interact and move it.

You'll notice the cart is highlighted in yellow. This color-coding, similar to combat prompts, indicates that you need to press Y to interact with it. Objects in the environment that require interaction for puzzles are color-coded to match the face buttons on your controller.

There will also be some boards you need to break using sword swings, which is done with the X button. X is also used to cut ropes, allowing Marius to progress. And if you're really hurting for XP, you can smash open pots and vases scattered around for a little extra boost.