This article is incomplete
Some sections are missing or need additional details. Help improve it by contributing.
Combat in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN is a brutal, hands-on brawling system. Its signature feature is independent control of Makoto Daito's left and right sides.

Dual-Sided Control
The left shoulder buttons control Makoto's left arm and side, and the right shoulder buttons control his right. This lets players block with one hand while countering with the other, build asymmetric attack chains, perform charge attacks, and tackle opponents by using both sides at once.
Weapons
Makoto can fight with knives, hammers, mallets, katanas, and other era-specific weapons, and these can be upgraded. Context-sensitive finishing moves punctuate his fights.
An Evolving Style
Because the story spans fifty years, Makoto's fighting ability evolves with his age and experience. Choices in some encounters, such as whether to punish or spare a defeated enemy, carry consequences within the story.