Survival Priority
Survive by treating direct combat as an emergency option: block with L2, counter with R2 when an opening appears, and remember that makeshift clubs only last for a couple of battles.
Use firearms sparingly because the revolver can kill quickly but is loud, draws more enemies, reloads slowly one cartridge at a time, and depends on scarce ammunition.
Your safer default is stealth: duck behind cover with Circle, peek with R1 and the right stick, distract enemies, run when needed, and hide after breaking line of sight.
Handle An Encounter
- Before committing to a route, stay behind fences, signs, parked cars, or other cover, then hold R1 and use the right stick to peek around corners or over cover.
- Throw a bottle or brick, use a radio or TV, or trigger a normal car alarm by hitting the car or throwing a bottle or brick at it to draw enemies away.
- If a close attacker reaches you, hold L2 to block charges and swings with your melee weapon, then press R2 to strike back when you see an opening.
- If you use the revolver, fire only when the fast kill matters more than the noise, because gunfire can make the situation worse by drawing more enemies and reloading with Square is slow.
- If the encounter turns bad, run around a corner or duck behind something to break line of sight, then use a cabinet, closet, or locker while remembering that a pursuer who sees Simon enter can pull him out.
When Things Go Wrong
Drawing too much attention can make enemies dynamically hunt Simon, using their senses to track him while you switch between running, distracting, hiding, or fighting.
The streets can include faceless, writhing creatures with industrial straps and axe-blade faces, so keep enough room to avoid being forced into a fast melee exchange.
Ranged tentacle attackers need different spacing because they can attack from a distance or grab and overpower Simon almost instantly, especially when his health is low.