(Image credit goes to the official Steam page and the owners of it. I do not own this image, and no copyright infringement is intended.)
ULTRAKILL, a high octane DOOM-like game, is possibly one of the most intense games out there. It features powerful weapon combinations, outstanding movement mechanics, and more. Overall, it’s a fantastic game; however, there is just one problem: while it isn’t overly difficult, if you are attempting to get a high rank on each level, including the prestigious P-rank, you may encounter a bit of trouble. After all, P-rank is the highest rank you can get on a level, and in order to get it, you must not only kill all the enemies within a narrow window of time, but you must not die and you must have a high “style” count. If you find this task too difficult, perhaps it’s because you’re not going fast enough, you have trouble finding all the enemies, your score isn’t high enough, or you simply aren’t killing efficiently enough. Here are some tips and tricks to resolve those problems, and get you one (or several) steps toward the legendary P-rank.
- Learn how to parry attacks. It may be difficult, but try to practice hitting attacks with your blue fist (not the red one) right as the attack connects with you; not only will it deal extremely high damage back to the target, but the parry will also restore most of your health. Generally, any attack that looks like it can be parried, can be parried (even the drone dive-bomb), so try and parry any attacks you can. It’ll help you kill more enemies and keep you alive long enough to continue the level. Even if you find parrying attacks practically impossible, that doesn’t mean you can’t get P-rank, but it does mean you’ll have to get a bit more creative with how you take down enemies.
- Coin flips can be utilized with the Railgun. One of the revolver’s abilities allows you to flip a coin in the air; when shot, it will reflect to the nearest enemy, dealing extra damage. Not only can it be hit with the charge-up pistol ability, but it can also be shot with the Railgun. Simply pull out the Railgun right as you flip the coin and shoot the weapon, and the beam will automatically hit any nearby enemies, causing tremendous damage. This can clear out large groups and take down large enemies, allowing you to complete the level quicker and getting you closer and closer towards P-rank.
- Speed can be quickly gained by sliding + jumping, and then repeating the process. By sliding and immediately jumping, you are able to quickly gain speed, which is then transferred on to the next slide. You can then keep repeating the process to go faster and faster, allowing you to reach high speeds and complete a level much quicker.
- The Rocket Launcher can be used to give you a quick boost of speed. The rocket launcher is an interesting weapon; if you don’t hit an enemy, it’ll launch nearby enemies within the AoE into different directions, and if it’s right below them, expect the enemy in question to go flying into the air. The explosive properties of the weapon only kick in once you actually hit an enemy; therefore, if you aim the rocket launcher behind you, you’ll get a nice boost to your momentum without taking any damage from an explosion. This can allow you to practically soar down long hallways you would otherwise have to run through, saving you a lot of time.
- Try to kill every enemy in style. You can do this in a multitude of ways, like parrying an enemy, shooting a coin that you flipped, or killing an enemy while in the air; in fact, you can probably find an extensive list online, if you so wish. It is recommended that you try sliding or jumping as regularly as you can, as you can get a point multiplier (up to 3x) if you do so, allowing you to earn a ton more points. Also, try not to use one gun too much, as it’s own boost will go down slowly, from “fresh” to “used” to “stale” and so forth. Therefore, try to switch weapons constantly, as keeping the “fresh” status on a weapon will give you a 1.5x boost to style points. Overall, make sure to regularly slide/jump/switch weapons to earn a plethora of points.
- Unlock the slab revolver from Layer 1, “Limbo.” The slab revolver is an alternate style for the base revolver; this weapon is absolutely devastating, and can be used to take down huge enemies with ease. Obtaining it on one’s own can prove to be difficult, as you must find several secret “slabs” just to unlock the weapon. A guide on how to do so can be found here.
- Use the shotgun parry. If you parry with your blue fist and shoot your shotgun (both shotgun types work) at the same time, you will be able to “parry” your own bullets. These parried bullets will explode on contact with an enemy, so these can be used to take down groups of enemies, or even big enemies, with ease.
- Listen to the music. This may sound odd, but listening to the soundtrack of the game can help you determine if there are still enemies alive in a room; after all, they’ll sometimes get stuck on something. If the music seems intense, there’s likely one or more enemies nearby, so try flipping a coin into the air and firing it, as the reflected shot will target any enemies nearby automatically. If that doesn’t work, try moving around while still shooting the coins, as some enemies may be hiding behind a wall that the reflected shot can’t get through. If the music seems calm, all enemies in the room are likely dead, but if you don’t feel sure, try reflecting a shot into the room anyway.
- Try doing a practice run through a level before attempting to P-rank the level. This may seem simple, but learning the layout of the level is crucial in getting P-rank. Some levels contain puzzles in order to progress, and if you don’t know how to solve them, your time will quickly increase, and you will not be able to finish the level with a P-rank, regardless of what you do. However, if you complete the level once (or twice) just to figure out your surroundings, you’ll know what to do and where to go on your P-rank attempt, and you will most likely be successful (at least in terms of time).
This guide is by no means a thorough guide that covers every aspect and every mechanic of this game, but by following these tips, you’ve already increased your chances of getting P-rank in ULTRAKILL.
Image credit: Official Steam Page