How to beat Hiruko on Normal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlscxbADO0c

Shinobi 101 Primer

So you wanna run PS2 Shinobi.  Here's some good starting points.

# Controls

Square - Sword

Triangle - Throw Shuriken

Circle - Jump (can be pressed again in air for double jump

X - Dash

R1 - Lock-on

L1 - Center Camera

R2 - Switch Lock-on

L2 - Use Ninjutsu

D-pad Left/Right - Select Ninjutsu




# Ninjutsu types

Fire - Large AoE around Hotsuma

Lightning - Allows Hotsuma to dash rapidly + you are invincible for the duration

Wind - Gives you 6 stocks of projectiles which you can fire by swinging your sword



# Special Moves

Dash Strike

- Square [Hold while locked on]
- Hotsuma will strike a pose for as long as you hold down the button and have his sword at the ready
- When you release square he will dash forward with his sword and deal damage to all enemies in his path

Shuriken Burst

- Triangle [Press while double jumping]
- Hotsuma will shoot out a stock's worth of shuriken and stun all enemies in range

Stun Kick

- Back (away from the direction you are facing) + Lock-on + Square
- Hotsuma will perform a kick that will stun the enemy

Wall Run

- Jump or dash towards a wall and you will automatically cling to it.
- You can run or dash along a wall.
- Note: you cannot dash along walls with demonic corruption on them (looks like tar)
- 

# General Routing Philosophy of the Run

- Your sword does more damage as you kill more enemies in a wave, so many waves/bosses are designed around you taking out

a certain amount of enemies before one-shotting the boss or the stronger enemies with your powered up sword.

- Movement is very important as you can chain dashes forever on the ground. This means you are constantly on the move.
- Getting to know how air actions are distributed is also important.
- Shurikens are often used to either stun key enemies, or take out destructible goals (they will look like giant stones with kanji on them) from afar.
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# Runs to Watch First

HyperJaja's Run

[https://youtu.be/PJ7cBujN59Y](https://youtu.be/PJ7cBujN59Y)

TalesOfJade's Run

[https://youtu.be/2uFGIOJfxmI](https://youtu.be/2uFGIOJfxmI)

Name	Author
How to beat Hiruko on Normal	Dinghy 5 months ago
Shinobi 101 Primer	DECosmic 9 months ago