Counter Kill Help or Tips
Hi,
I hope someone can give me some help or hints as to how to get through the Counter Kill portion of the combat training you get from Mario in the fight ring. I am really frustrated...No matter what I do I can't seem to achieve a counter kill. I've looked it up on YouTube, I've read the AC2 wikia help on it. as and I still can't get through it. I mean, I done a good deal of fighting already and and achieved some counter kills already (at least I think so) without really knowing what I was doing and achieved several kills. I have achieved one assassination successfully. I have read that it's all about timing, but I didn't think it would be this hard. Has anyone had as hard a time as me doing this? I'm playing the PC version BTW. Thanks for any help you can give.
Andrew
You have to be locked on the target (with 'f'), and keep the right button pressed.
Can you tell the difference when you are locked on (in fighting mode) and when you are not? It's not immediately obvious, but an important difference. All the special techniques work only when locked on.
All you do is hold [High Profile] to block and press [Armed Hand] just before their attack hits your sword. Don't release [High Profile].
The timing is really forgiving with medium and large weapons, tighter with small weapons and really tight with the hidden blades.
The hidden blade is probably the hardest of Ezio's weapons to counter-attack with. You have to wait until the attacker strikes. Not when they pull back their weapon. So pretty much when it's almost hit Ezio.
The sword is the easiest to counter with. You can press [High Profile] and [Armed Hand] seemingly at any time of the regular attack.
Knives are in the middle. Just use them more like the sword...but shorter...
Using your fists is the most satisfying. There are so many different KO animations that really show Ezio's fighting skills. I've found that they are easier to use than the hidden blades, but harder than the knives and swords. I hope we're helping you out! 
I assume you didn't play AC1? If not, I recommend you do. You will be most pleased to play it and love it before you go too far in ACII but I'm probably blowing smoke, rarely do ppl go back. Counters will be second nature if you go back and play the first one, trust us on that.
Hi All,
Thanks for all the tips. I still have some questions/comments just to make sure I'm clear on your instructions.
1. al-Assas, when I hit F to lock on at the start, the white aura around my opponent gets brighter correct? My question is, once I hit F do I stay locked on the whole time or do I have to keep hitting F to stay locked on every so often?
2. I am playing on an Intel iMac with a single button mouse, however I have it set up to function as a 2 button mouse, but it seems that while I am holding down the "HIGH PROFILE" button(MB1) and I press "THE ARMED HAND" button (MB 2), nothing happens. I can't do anything. To block I have to release MB1 and press MB2, and if I want to attack I release MB2 and press MB1. It is at this time that my opponent can and does knee me in the gut or throws a punch, but when I try and counter, it doesn't work. I have tried re-configuring the keys but when I do this and get back in game I can't do anything, hit, block...nothing. Ezio just stands there and gets beat up. So I have to go back to the default key setup. I have noticed when I hit "ARMED HAND" just as my opponents sword strikes mine I can stun him, but none of the special commands seem to work.
Does it seem to you all that I'm doing something wrong in my mechanics when playing? If you can advise one more time I'd appreciate it.
Sounds like it has something to do with your setup. I'm willing to bet the problem lies with the single-button mouse.
Do you physically only have one button on your mouse?
Both F and high-profile can work two ways, depending on settings. Default is that f is "toggle", which means that you press f to lock on a target, and then press f again to get out of the locked-on state. High-profile on the other hand is not toggle by default, meaning that you are in high profile while you keep it pressed, and get back to low profile right when you release it.
It's not entirely clear what you mean by mb1 and mb2 (is there only 1 button on the mouse, and also: which is the left button?), so let me refer to them as leftclick and rightclick.
By default leftclick is supposed to be armed hand, that is: the attack button. And rightclick is high profile: you keep it pressed to deflect attacks, and while keeping it pressed, leftclick at the right moment to counter. (That only when you are locked on. Armed hand in itself however works even when not locked on, just swinging in the air.)
"white aura around my opponent gets brighter"
There's a white aura around the opponent you are looking at even before locking on. Then, when you press f, it should change even more, and you get into fighting mode. You know that you managed to get into fighting mode when the whole camera movement changes. You cannot move the camera that freely as normally.
While locked on, you attack with armed-hand. If you keep high-profile pressed, and then press weapon-hand, he shouldn't attack, just wave his sword. Unless you do it during an incoming attack, at the right time, and that is the counter.
So basically yes, it is probably the control settings.
Try playing with the toggle options in the settings, and try to reassign high-profile to a different button, or change other control settings.
The 'f', that is lock-on should not be problematic, because it is not mouse, just keyboard. Also, you can try plugging in a different mouse, if you have one.
Also, make sure that you stay locked on when you release f, meaning it is not set to toggle.
Don't give up, and keep us posted on your progress!
al-Assas,
Yes, I physically have only a one button mouse, but I have it configured so that I can perform left-click and right-click functions. However, if I'm playing a game such as AC2, where I have to hold a left-click and do a right click at the same time, it does not work well. So, I usually will reassign the right-click function to another key, while playing a game. But when I tried to do that with AC2, it made matters worse. When I assigned the "High Profile" command to another key (x) and kept the "Armed Hand" the same and hit "Select" (SHIFT) and resumed the game, the commands would not work at all. My character would just stand there and get his butt kicked. I tried this 3 times and each time the same thing. So, I finally re-set the controls back to default. I will keep trying though.
I have the "Lock On" thing figured out BTW...Thanks for confirming it.
One funny thing that happened when I was playing last night, was that when I attempted a dodge in order to try and get behind my opponent. I used my "open hand" to try and grab him, I ended up pick-pocketing him....I got 3 florins!LOL. I've been trying for over a week to get a Counter Kill using the special commands and can't, but I can pick-pocket the dude!
I really appreciate your help with this...Yes, I will keep trying. AC2 is too good of a game to give up on. In the end I may have to get a two button mouse, but I will try playing with the key settings first....Thanks again!
Thanks for your help too Asaic...I really appreciate it!
"I ended up pick-pocketing him"
That can happen if you are not in high profile.
"My character would just stand there and get his butt kicked."
So no armed-hand function at all? Well, yea... Now you basically know all the relevant factors in the equasion, so try some different settings. Buying or borrowing a PC mouse can help, yes, that sounds plausible.
al-Assas,
Well, I finally did it! I got through the Counter Kill training. I did re-configure and reassigned the "High Profile" command to a different key and it worked...So, I am continuing my adventure in AC2. Thanks to you and all that helped me.
Andrew
Bene, bene!
If you can't do counter kills with the hidden blade, you can always do this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUkEk-N8hpc
You have much more time to react if you side step around them! BTW, side step requires you not to hold down RT so... if you get smacked with a flanged mace, don't blame me.