Beowulf Hints for PS3

Climbing

• "Beowulf" features a different control set than similar adventure-based games. For instance, Beowulf can't run or jog similar to protagonists in rival games, surely a bane for gamers since you can't simply turn heel and run for cover when facing an overwhelming horde of baddies. Instead, when you're near a vertical surface such as a wall, boulder or steep embankment, press "Circle" on your PlayStation controller to climb up the surface to distance yourself from the enemies long enough to catch your breath.

Play Defensively

• Most third-person adventure games use the strategy of going on the offensive, taking the fight to the enemy and often. In "Beowulf," this presents a problem since enemies are attacking from all sides in greater numbers and the help Beowulf needs from his party is practically non-existent thanks to poorly designed artificial intelligence. Don't fret; instead go on the defensive by continuously holding down the "L1" button as you move, putting Beowulf into a position where he'll automatically counter any attack. This is especially helpful when backed into a corner.

Fighting

• When the opportunity comes to go on the offensive --- when coming face to face with any of the game's bosses, such as The Wolf --- engage in Carnal Fury mode (see Section 4). This game mode ups your Hero Meter, allowing for more direct combo hits, and temporarily makes Beowulf impervious to enemy attack.

Battle Modes

• There are two distinct battle modes that Beowulf can engage in: Carnal Fury and Heroic Storm, each with their benefits and drawbacks. The key is knowing when to use what to minimize the potential drawbacks. For instance, Carnal Fury sends Beowulf into an unstoppable rage, where he rampages and attacks everything in sight; use this only when confronting bosses one-on-one, since a portion of your health is surrendered and doing so during melee battles opens you up to risk. Heroic Storm, on the other hand, can be used with more control and makes full use of defensive maneuvers not available during Carnal Fury. Use Heroic Storm periodically during melee horde fights to up your meter, but don't use it during boss battles.