After playing Shenmue for 17 years, I hate...HATE free battle. It was alright, but what was the point of all them moves and trying to input the commands when I keep getting jabbed, and my ass handed to me? I suck at fighting games, and since Shenmue has a 7 punch combo by just mashing X, then why not. What's the point?
Until about 3 weeks ago, live on stream, it happened. After all of those frustrations and giving up on the fighting system, I learned how to parry/block. Ohhh you just hit Y. It's easy! Just hit Y and that's at. Bollocks! I've been mashing Y for 17 years and Ryo never blocked anyrhing, until I realised I was doing it wrong. So wrong!
First of, never mash. The fighting system is not built for mashing...well anything at all. Mashing Y will not give you widespread cover. Second, time the block. An audio queue is usually good, but in fairness, a few hours of fighting in Shenmue, you get the sense of when an opponent is going to attack.
The MOST important thing I had been doing wrong all these years... DO NOT move the analogue stick when you hit Y. It's not back and Y, or down and Y to parry. That's what was killing me after all of these years! Go train with Fuku-san and make it your mission to not throw a single punch or kick. Don't even touch the analogue stick. Just have your thumb over Y/triangle the entire time, and block...block...block. You will then see how easy it is.
I thought it was amazing! That parry sound effect is so sweet, but that wasn't the best part. The best part was that parrying gave me time to input the commands needed to land a powerful attack. For 17 years I wished I could do the Demon Drop. Now, a simple block, back, back, B, and I can land it every time now. That's when I realised the fighting system is so amazing, and now one of my favourite parts of the game!!