Are You Too Human?

Published August 21, 2008

Silicon Knights' Too Human™ is a unique breed of action/role-playing game, with its rules of engagement very much its own. And while each class boasts its own unique strategies, I've come up with a few tips that should work for any class you choose to play.

Stop dilly-dallying and climb that troll!

PingPong
Unless you're juggling or picking off enemies with ranged weapons, you're always at your most dangerous when on the move. Always try sliding into an enemy, striking once or twice, and then "ping ponging" into another, distant enemy.

Never stand and just battle it out when there's more than a couple of enemies nearby. It's just too easy to get surrounded, and consequently stuck amid a swarm. Sliding constantly among enemies will set your combo meter spiraling upward, allowing you faster access to Battle Cries and Ruiner attacks.

2-in-1s
If constantly sliding among your enemies cuts to the core of the combat, it's the 2-in-1 attacks that helps you put all that sliding around to devastating use. Execute a juggle (double tap in the enemy's direction) or a finisher (left stick and right stick in the enemy's direction) before you reach the enemy you're sliding toward. Execute it correctly, and you'll deliver more damage, and add significantly to your combo meter.

The key here is to consistently bounce from one enemy to another that's far away. That way, you'll have the time you need to pre-set your attack before you reach the goblin, elf, or troll.

You can take out their legs to slow them down.

Troll Riding
Unless you're working with the gun-specialist Commando, annihilating trolls (the enormous, hammer-wielding machines) is best handled by scrambling up their backs and landing the killing blow while "riding" them. Here's how to execute this tactic:

1. In order to climb on top of the troll, you must first destroy their chest-armor. This is more easily accomplished at range with a gun. If the troll you're dealing with sports a canister on their back, destroy that, too.
2. Make your way around behind the troll and tap A to leap on top of them.
3. Once you're on top, they'll try to shake you off, but you can keep your balance by pressing the left stick in the opposite direction to which they're leaning. The key here is to press in the desired direction the moment they lean to one side or the other. You've got to be quick. Also, don't hold the thumbstick too long or you'll overcompensate and fall off.
4. Once you're steady on your feet, hold down the right thumbstick to drive your weapon into the troll for the finishing blow.

Ranged First
When set upon by the enemy, look beyond the initial wave to spot whether any ranged attackers are standing near the back. If they are, make a beeline for them. You'll be able to swat, juggle and bash your way through the grunts a heckuva lot easier if you annihilate the missile-shooting goblins and dark elves at the outset.

You take one side, I'll take the other.

Juggle Escape
If you find yourself caught in the middle of an enormous mass of enemies, try sending one in the air and then jumping after them (A) and juggling them with successive aerial attacks (hold the right thumbstick).

Provided there's an enemy outside the group below you, you should be able to slide through the air towards them and so escape the huddled mass. Even if you can't, you should be in better position on landing.

Dodge Radius
Whether you're hoping to avoid a missile barrage or the damage radius of a troll's hammer, the dodge button is your best friend. Any area-based attack can be nullified if you execute your dodge the moment before the missiles or hammer lands. Even if you're still within the area of effect, you should still take little or no damage.

Use this to your advantage particularly against the trolls or the enormous spider-like dark elves by sliding into a quick attack combo, dodging the moment before their attack lands, and then repeating the process.

Fierce Bowling
Often you'll encounter groups of enemies too tightly grouped together to effectively slide among them. Try using your ranged Fierce attack to knock several enemies down. This should scatter them just enough to give you some much needed breathing room at close range.

Did I do that?

Color Kills
Any time you spot a brightly colored enemy in a group, set your sights on them first. Whether it's the explosive fire-based dark elves or the bright-green toxic variety, these wildcards represent serious danger. Don't let them get close.

Focused Gear
When choosing which gear and Runes to use, specialize rather than attempt to spread out your buffs and abilities.

For example, if you've fallen in love with your Ruiner ability and tend to use your Fierce attack rather than your guns, focus on gear and Runes specific to those abilities. You'll be far more effective with a character that's outstanding at one or two things, rather than simply average at several.

Salvage Setting

Tired of constantly cleaning out your inventory after every few battles? You can bet after the first couple levels you won't be using any green or white items, so set your auto-Salvage setting to green. This way, every green or white item you collect will be sold automatically.

The preceding tips should go a long way to helping you understand combat and revel in your share of glory prior to your appointment with Valhalla. Sharpen your sword, gear up and get ready. Humanity is depending on you.

Article by Ryan Treit