Thor: God of Thunder Basic Tips

To play through Thor, the main thing you need to figure out how to do is fight.

The Hammer

Thor attacks in the manner you might expect: with his hammer. The hammer can be used as a melee weapon or it can be thrown at enemies. The range of a toss is limited, and a thrown hammer doesn't have the same heft as a melee blow does, but it's still a useful move because it can allow Thor to damage enemies from a distance. That spares him from taking damage (sometimes) and it also can allow him to hit enemies that he otherwise wouldn't be able to reach.

The Magic

Thor is capable of learning spells that can be used in battle when you have sufficient Odinforce. Spells fall into one of three elemental categories: Lightning, Thunder and Wind. Lightning attacks can instantly harm one or multiple targets within a certain range. Once upgraded, Lightning moves can also stun opponents and tear apart shields. Thunder magic allows Thor to hit the ground and create rifts in the soil that will damage foes. Once upgraded, that magic can be guided to hit enemies that are not positioned along a straight path. Finally, Wind magic lets Thor send out cyclones. While each of the various spells are interesting, you'll do best on your first trip through the game if you focus on improving one of the three magic types rather than spending your points on multiple elements. We recommend starting with Lightning magic.

The Fury

As Thor battles foes, his Fury Meter slowly fills. When the Fury Meter is completely filled and twinkling, Thor can unleash a powerful attack that will demolish any enemies in the area (bosses can't be defeated in that manner, but any others can). At various points in the game, it won't be possible to proceed through the level until you make use of a Fury attack.

The Shield

Thor carries a shield that can block weak attacks from enemies. Mostly, it's good at preventing projectile attacks from dealing any damage. By the time you reach the game's halfway point, it's usually safer to dodge an attack than to try blocking it with what has by that point become an ineffectual shield. However, it's still worth using the shield because it serves a secondary purpose: if Thor pulls out the shield just before being hit by a flying projectile, he can send the projectile flying back toward whatever foe fired the shot. This is a useful skill and you will be required to put it to use at several points as you work through the game.

The Grapple

As Thor battles enemies, he will find that most of them can withstand a great deal of damage before they will fall. That's particularly true of boss monsters, naturally. Fortunately, grappling with foes can speed along the process. Once Thor deals enough damage, his foe will temporarily become stunned. A yellow orb will appear. If Thor stands at that point and you press the appropriate button, he can initiate a grapple. A grapple is not a guaranteed win; enemies can escape from it and retaliate. That seldom happens, however. Often, Thor will wrestle his foe to the ground (even if that foe is a boss) and deal a world of hurt over the course of only a few seconds. As an added bonus, grappled enemies often produce health and magic meter refills. They're a real lifesaver.

Keep the above concepts in mind and you should seldom find yourself wondering what to do next as you work through the game. Complete mastery of the referenced skills will equip you to deal with nearly everything the game throws at you.