Perfect Fatal Flash is Ninja Gaiden 4's most effective counter-attack, but also the most difficult maneuver to pull off consistently, as the skill's in-game description is vague on its activation conditions. Here what the game doesn't tell you to use Perfect Fatal Flash consistently after every parry.
NOTE: Method and strategy perfected in the over 30 hours the author has spent in the game, completing the main campaign twice in Normal and Hard difficulty and Boss Trials challenges. Screenshots captured from the Steam 1.0.1.0 version.
Purchase the Fatal Flash and Perfect Fatal Flash skills from Tyran for 900 and 27,000 NinjaCoins, respectively. The Bloodraven Form of both skills is also available for 9,000 and 36,000 NinjaCoins.
Parry an enemy attack by pressing any attack button (Square/ X for light attack, Triangle/ Y for heavy attack) right before an attack connects with Yakumo or Ryu
Press the heavy attack button (Triangle/ Y), or the Bloodraven/Gleam Form button (L2/ Left Trigger) at the right time.
If done correctly, the cinematic follow-up will show a red cross on the enemy, who will get dismembered instantly, regardless of health. Press the heavy attack button (Triangle/ Y) to eliminate the enemy with an Obliteration attack.
How to Use Perfect Fatal Flash Consistently
The in-game description of Perfect Fatal Flash only mentions that the heavy attack button (Triangle/Y) has to be pressed at the right time to use the skill, without elaborating.
Press the heavy attack button (Triangle/Y) or the Bloodraven/Gleam Form button (L2/Left Trigger) when your character is glowing to unleash a Perfect Fatal Flash
The correct timing to use Perfect Fatal Flash is pressing the heavy attack button (Triangle/Y) right when Yakumo's and Ryu's bodies are glowing. This happens roughly one second after a successful parry, so button mashing will only lead to a regular Fatal Flash, which, while useful, cannot incapacitate an enemy in a single strike.
Getting the correct timing of Perfect Final Flash can be tricky, but with enough practice, it can become second nature, and used consistently
How to Practice Perfect Fatal Flash
To learn the proper timing for Perfect Fatal Flash, you can use Ninja Gaiden 4's training by entering the Training Settings menu (Press the main menu button in Training Mode) and:
Change these Training Settings to practice the Pefect Fatal Flash timing with no hassle
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Select any enemy you want to practice against
Set their behavior to Normal
Set unlimited health. This makes it so that only an Obliteration attack unleashed after a Perfect Fatal Flash can defeat the training dummy, helping you understand quickly if you have performed a Final Fatal Flash, or a regular one.
Using certain Training Mode settings makes it easy to practice using Perfect Fatal Flash
Perfect Fatal Flash is only one of the intricate mechanics that powers the latest entry in the series by Team NINJA. You can check out our other Ninja Gaiden 4 guides for additional help with its gameplay intricacies.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack.
After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3.
When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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