Can You Parry Cerberus in Ultrakill? A Deep Dive into Parrying Mechanics
Yes, you can parry Cerberus in Ultrakill, but it’s not as straightforward as parrying other enemies. While some of Cerberus’ attacks are indeed parryable, the timing and conditions make it a challenging maneuver that requires precision and practice. Understanding the mechanics involved is crucial to consistently pulling off this advanced technique. This article will not only explore the feasibility of parrying Cerberus but also answer other frequently asked questions regarding the challenging combat of Ultrakill.
Understanding Cerberus’ Attacks
Before delving into the parry details, it’s important to understand the attacks Cerberus employs. Cerberus is a formidable enemy, and its attacks are designed to be both aggressive and difficult to predict. The most notable of these is the explosive orb attack, which are also their primary way to defeat themselves. While Cerberus also has a melee attack which is usually a bite or lunge, the most pertinent for the sake of parrying is their charge attack.
Parryable Attack: The Charge
The Cerberus charge attack is telegraphed by a distinct shrill metal screech and a windup animation. During this brief moment before the actual charge, Cerberus is vulnerable to a parry. Successfully parrying this attack can stagger Cerberus, providing a brief window to attack or reposition yourself. However, the speed and trajectory of the charge, as well as the short window for parrying, makes this counterattack extremely difficult to execute consistently.
Non-Parryable Attack: Explosive Orbs
While it’s important to note that the explosive orbs themselves can be hit by attacks and used to damage or even kill a Cerberus, they cannot be parried. These orbs are projectiles specifically designed to explode and damage the player from a distance. Thus, the best way to deal with the explosive orbs is to either evade them or bait Cerberus into destroying itself with them.
The Mechanics of Parrying in Ultrakill
Parrying in Ultrakill is an essential skill that players need to master to survive. A successful parry will not only deflect an attack, but also often provides a healing boost and regenerates stamina, which is crucial for advanced maneuvers. The game provides a clear visual cue for parryable attacks: a brief flash and ping sound effect around the enemy. This visual cue indicates the perfect window for executing a parry. Most attacks that can be parried are indicated by a white flash, but some, like the Cerberus charge, are indicated by a yellow one.
How to Parry
To parry, you need to use either the Feedbacker melee or shotgun parry at the precise moment the visual cue appears. However, it’s critical to note that not all attacks can be parried. Attacks with a blue flash are not parryable and require dodging or other defensive strategies. The parry window is brief, requiring players to be quick and responsive.
Advanced Strategies for Parrying Cerberus
Parrying Cerberus is not just about pressing the parry button; it’s about understanding its behavior and adapting your gameplay.
- Anticipation: Learn the telegraphs for Cerberus’ charge attack. The windup animation and sound cue are key to anticipating the parry window.
- Practice: Utilize the sandbox mode to practice parrying Cerberus’ charge repeatedly. This will help you become more comfortable with the timing and rhythm of the attack.
- Movement: Don’t stand still. Use sliding and advanced sliding mechanics to evade attacks and reposition yourself for optimal parry opportunities.
- Prioritize: Consider if parrying Cerberus’s charge is the most efficient strategy or if it’s better to focus on evading it. Sometimes the risk of a missed parry isn’t worth the reward, especially given how it’s also possible to have Cerberus kill itself with its own orbs.
Conclusion
Parrying Cerberus in Ultrakill is a challenging yet rewarding maneuver that can give you an advantage in combat. While only the charge attack can be parried, and with considerable difficulty, mastering the parry mechanic and understanding Cerberus’s behavior can drastically improve your odds of survival. The key to success lies in practice, anticipation, and an understanding of the game’s parry mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are Cerberus’ primary attacks?
Cerberus’ primary attacks consist of a charge attack which can be parried, a standard bite or lunge melee attack and explosive orbs which are projectiles designed to explode and damage the player but cannot be parried.
2. Can Cerberus’ explosive orbs be parried?
No, the explosive orbs cannot be parried. They are designed to explode and damage from a distance. However, they can be shot at and can be used to damage Cerberus.
3. How do I identify parryable attacks in Ultrakill?
Parryable attacks are indicated by a brief flash and ping sound effect around the enemy. A white flash indicates that the attack can be parried normally, while a yellow flash, like in the case of Cerberus’ charge attack, is an attack that can still be parried, but with a shorter window.
4. What should I use to parry in Ultrakill?
You can use either the Feedbacker melee or shotgun parry to parry attacks.
5. What does a successful parry do?
A successful parry will not only deflect the attack, but also often provides a healing boost and regenerates stamina.
6. What happens if I fail a parry?
If you fail a parry, you will take the full damage of the attack. There is no penalty for attempting to parry outside of the risk of a failed parry.
7. What are the visual cues for a non-parryable attack?
Non-parryable attacks are usually indicated by a blue flash, and these attacks must be dodged or evaded through other means.
8. Is Cerberus the only enemy with a difficult parry window?
No, while Cerberus’ charge attack is notably difficult, there are other enemies in Ultrakill with challenging parry windows. Learning to master the game’s parry mechanic in general will be useful for all enemies.
9. Can I parry Sisyphus Prime’s attacks?
Yes, parrying Sisyphus Prime’s attacks is crucial for survival. It restores health and stamina, allowing for more aggressive plays.
10. Is it better to parry or dodge?
This depends on the situation. Parrying is riskier but has higher rewards, while dodging is a safer but more passive tactic. Understanding when to parry and when to dodge is a sign of a proficient player.
11. What happens when I parry the Cerberus charge?
A successful parry of the charge attack can stagger Cerberus briefly and also grants you the health/stamina benefits of a successful parry.
12. Does the parry mechanic change throughout the game?
No, the parry mechanic itself remains consistent, but the timing and difficulty of parrying attacks vary depending on the enemy.
13. Who created Ultrakill?
Arsi “Hakita” Patala is the main developer of Ultrakill, though the game is published by New Blood Interactive.
14. Why is V1 often called the “GoPro” by the community?
The community refers to V1 as the “GoPro” as they are more of an observer and less of a character in the story, thus giving the player the impression of watching through a mounted camera on a violent machine.
15. Can V1 speak in Ultrakill?
While V1 has no voice in the game, many fan works, especially by voice actors such as Gianni Matragrano, make it use SAM: Software Automatic Mouth for the in-game death screen, so that is often seen as the “official” voice of V1.