Maintaining a high combo is the single most important factor for achieving top scores. Here are some advanced techniques:
- Melee Chains: Learn to chain melee attacks. After stunning an enemy, perform a melee. If another enemy is nearby, your character might automatically target them for a follow-up melee, extending the chain and saving ammo.
- Flash Grenade Setup: Always carry Flash Grenades if your character has them. Throw one into a group, then run in and perform multiple melee attacks on the stunned enemies. This is a massive combo booster.
- Special Attack as Combo Saver: If your combo timer is about to expire and no enemies are immediately visible, use your special attack. Even if it doesn't kill many, the animation time can sometimes buy you precious seconds for more enemies to spawn or for you to reach the next group.
- Environmental Kills: Utilize explosive barrels. Lure enemies near them and detonate. This counts as a kill and extends your combo.
- Spawn Point Knowledge: Memorize enemy spawn points. This allows you to pre-aim or position yourself to immediately engage new enemies as they appear, preventing your combo from breaking.
- Prioritize Ranged Enemies: Ranged enemies (Crossbow Ganados, Bowgun Majini) can break your combo from a distance. Prioritize them immediately.
Practice these techniques in every mission. The flow of combat and combo maintenance will become second nature with enough repetition.