While in combat, the player can monitor a 'Difficulty Level' bar that dynamically adjusts to how much damage the player is dealing or receiving.
By using various stat boosting items, the player can increase the size of his Tension Gauge to hold more power. In this state he is completely invincible and all of his attacks increase in both power and speed. When it reaches a set amount, the player can remove the bracelet from Gene's arm to temporarily unleash the God Hand. The player can also evade attacks, taunt, use tension boosting attacks, or find cards within a stage to increase this bar.
As the player strikes and defeats enemies, his 'Tension Gauge' goes up. Another gameplay mechanic in the player's arsenal is the God Hand itself. Some moves send the opponents flying into the stratosphere while others are simple punches or kicks to specific bodyparts. God Reel techniques require between one and three Roulette Orbs to execute. These moves are limited to a number of 'Roulette Orbs' that the player can increase by collecting 'Skull Cards' found throughout each stage. More powerful abilities in the game can be utilized in the player's 'God Reel' (or 'God Roulette'), a roulette wheel that contains moves that the player chooses.
