Unlike many games, collecting Afro Samurai’s Mementos is much more than a means to boost your Gamerscore. Mementos are the keys to unlocking some of the most devastating combos in the game, and in turn, the combos are going to make the aggravating boss-fights a little more manageable. Don’t you love it when two design elements work together so perfectly?

This guide is broken into in-game levels. From there, the Mementos are listed in chronological order. Most are inaccessible after reaching checkpoints, so make sure to read ahead unless you want to replay the level. I should also mention that a Memento will have to be re-collected if you die before the next checkpoint. After the Mementos of each level, you will find strategies for any noteworthy boss-fights in that level.

The Daimyo’s Story

Memento 1: Nice and easy, this one is only a few steps directly ahead.

Memento 2: After battling the red samurai and reaching the top of the stairs, take a left and follow the balcony around the building.

Memento 3: Once you have disabled the clock from the boiler room, you’ll have to platform your way to the top. Instead of going down the hall after the second wall run, take a sharp right to find the birds.

Memento 4: Stay on the elevator once it has arrived at the upper floor. Look around at the walls and you will see a series of pipes and platforms circling the room to the birds.

Memento 5: When climbing the wooden stairs of the rooftop dragon, stop at the third turn/landing. The camera angle doesn’t show it, but there is a set of stairs going down the other side that will take you behind the dragon.

Four Topless Women: You will actually fight similar opponents quite regularly in later stages. Now is a good time to work on alternating combos between opponents and separating groups. You will also have to learn to aim your Perfect Slices, as the women are extremely agile.

Daimyo: Do not bother with Focus techniques. Consider this fight your crash course in parries and counterattacks.

School Invasion

Memento 1: Your Sword Master will direct you toward a path to the training grounds. Instead, take the path immediately to the right and get behind the rock.

Memento 2: Once you have reached the training grounds, head to the arrow targets on your far left, in the direction of the sunset.

Memento 3: After defeating the club-wielding giant, go through the open gate and immediately turn right.

Memento 4: Enter the burning dormitory and turn right. The birds are in a semi-circle of fire. Be careful to not get burned.

Memento 5: When you leave to “assist” your Sword Master, exit the cave and follow the cliff path until you reach two stone columns on your left. There is a small statue immediately beforehand to mark the spot. Use wall-jumps between the two columns and from the top you should have no problem seeing the birds on an adjacent platform.

Sword Master’s Story

Sword Master: This is the man who taught you everything, so don’t expect to outclass him with Focus techniques. In fact, he’ll turn them right back around on you. This is a straight-forward fight in which effective blocks, parries, and combos are the only way to win.

Okiku’s Story

Memento 1: Turn left after exiting Okiku’s home and go around the back. The birds are slightly to the right of the hanging lantern.

Memento 2: A few minutes after defeating Takamure, Okiku will say, “For an assassin, anonymity is an asset.” Follow the path to the left, jump down from the first bamboo bridge, and move left towards the lanterns. The birds are next to a small house just beyond.

Memento 3: On your second trip through the level, stop when you reach the canyon beyond Okiku’s home and begin counting the lanterns. Do not go up the tree at the third lantern. Instead, veer left, down into the canyon, to find the birds in the shadows by the fourth lantern.

Memento 4: These birds can be found on your second visit to the familiar village. Cross the bridge and veer right upon reaching the Y-intersection. The road will culminate in a dead end and the birds.

Memento 5: In the waterfall section, when facing the Android vent, there will be a ledge to your left with the birds.

Takamure: Like the Four Women of The Daimyo’s Story, Takamure will be a standard character from this point on. Keep pounding into him until his back is turned and move in for a Perfect Slice. He will block any Perfect Slice when his not stunned.

Android Factory: There is no end to the androids, so now is the time to perfect your pouncing skills in order to take out the central machine. Immediately after parrying an attack, hold jump and push toward the opponent. Once mounted on the shoulders, hold jump again and push in the direction of the electric circuits to toss the android. Watch for drones crouching down and sparkling, as they explode if you miss too many parries.