The Blind Woman
Following the intense events of Chapter 3, "A Gilded Cage," Majima finds himself in a precarious situation, tasked with a seemingly impossible mission. This section of Chapter 4, "Proof of Resolve," culminates in a pivotal encounter with Makoto Makimura, the blind woman at the heart of the Empty Lot mystery. Your decisions and combat prowess here will significantly impact the unfolding narrative.
Encountering Makoto Makimura
After a series of events leading you to her, you'll finally come face-to-face with Makoto. This is a critical narrative juncture. Pay close attention to the dialogue and your choices, as they subtly influence Majima's character development and his relationship with Makoto. While there aren't explicit dialogue options that drastically alter the immediate plot, your demeanor and responses contribute to the overall tone of their interactions.
The Gauntlet: Defending Makoto
Immediately following your initial interaction with Makoto, you will be thrust into a challenging combat sequence. This is not a simple street brawl; you are protecting Makoto from a relentless assault by multiple enemies. Expect to face several waves of thugs, each attempting to reach and harm her. Your primary objective is to keep Makoto safe, which means actively engaging and dispatching enemies before they can close in on her position.
Combat Strategy: Majima's Thug Style Mastery
This encounter is designed to test your proficiency with Majima's Thug Style. This style excels at crowd control and quick, agile attacks, making it ideal for managing multiple opponents. Here’s a breakdown of effective strategies:
- Prioritize Targets: Enemies will often spawn in groups. Focus on taking down the closest threats to Makoto first. Don't let them surround her.
- Wide-Arc Attacks: Thug Style's basic combos often have a wide arc, allowing you to hit multiple enemies simultaneously. Utilize these to keep groups at bay.
- Rush Attacks: The Thug Style's quick dash and attack (Square, Square, Triangle or similar combos) are excellent for closing distances and interrupting enemy attacks.
- Heat Actions for Crowd Control: This is where your Heat Gauge becomes invaluable. Look for opportunities to execute Heat Actions that affect multiple enemies. For example, grabbing an enemy and swinging them into others, or environmental Heat Actions using nearby objects, can clear a path and deal significant damage.
- Environmental Awareness: The environment around Makoto can be your ally. Look for objects like bicycles, signs, or even walls that you can use for powerful Heat Actions. These often deal more damage and can stun multiple enemies.
- Dodging and Weaving: Don't stand still. Thug Style's agility allows for quick dodges. Use these to evade incoming attacks and reposition yourself to get better angles on groups of enemies.
- Health Management: Keep an eye on your health bar. If you're taking too much damage, create some space, block, or use a healing item. This is a sustained fight, so conserving health is crucial.
Recommended Upgrades for Thug Style:
If you have the opportunity before this chapter, consider investing in these Thug Style upgrades:
- Essence of Mashing: A powerful Heat Action that can clear out groups of enemies quickly.
- Essence of Disarming: Useful if enemies are wielding weapons, allowing you to disarm them and potentially use their weapons against them.
- Increased Combo Speed/Damage: General upgrades that will make your basic attacks more effective against the waves of foes.
Post-Combat Consequences
Successfully defending Makoto will progress the story. The immediate consequence is a continuation of the narrative, revealing more about Makoto's situation and Majima's growing involvement. While the immediate outcome of the fight is straightforward (either you succeed or fail and retry), the emotional impact and the bond forged during this desperate defense are significant for Majima's character arc. This encounter solidifies his commitment to protecting her, setting the stage for future developments.
There are no immediate branching paths based on your combat performance beyond simply winning or losing. However, the sheer intensity of the fight and the narrative weight placed upon it reinforce the importance of Makoto to the overarching plot.
