Hey guys...
Regarding the 5 star ratings... Not too hard once you really learn how to play the merc's game. 👍
According to the brady game guide the HandCannon has this setup for power levels.
1) 30
2) 35
3) 40
4) 45
5) 50
6) 60
Exclusive: * 99.99
(infinite ammo)
The "HC" makes the broken butterfly look and feel weak.
Infact, I can walk through the game super-easy with the handcannon.
I'm talking, the chainsaw mad-men go down in very few shots (I want to say 1).
The key to getting that full 99.99 power level is having the infinite ammo. 👍
And trust me, it may seem like having the infinite ammo wouldn't make that much of a difference- but it does.
Also, the Blacktail was my handgun of choice (other than the hc).
But in defense of the standard 9, the exclusive upgrade gives you 5 times the chance of a critical headshot. 👍
Still not great compared to the blacktail, but atleast it will get you through the game if you want it to.
On a side note:
All this talk has made me want to play RE4 again!
I have such a setup too.
Infinite Rocket Launcher
Infinite Tommy Gun
Infinite HandCannon
Blacktail (fully tuned)
RiotGun (fully tuned)
Semi-auto Rifle (fully tuned with all scopes)
OE 9mm (fully tuned)
With the largest case and no need for health I'm just breezing through the game.
If I run through it again that will make my 5th time.
Of course, my skills my have died-off a bit, but earning 5 star ratings on the mercs missions will teach you some hard-core techniques to the game.
Plus, once you know the game really well you don't have that fear of death keeping you from running.
And just to elaborate on those mercs missions...
They were fun as hell!
I loved playing them and after time I found them to be more entertaining than the game in some ways.
Oddly, I expected leon to be the weakest of the group because of his limited armory.
However, it was the opposite after I got my skills up to par.
Basically, I got 4 stars on each level.
The first with leon, then as each new character was unlocked I used that one for the next level.
Once all 4 levels were unlocked I started in reverse... Using Wester for the final level first I would get 5 stars, then use Hunk, then Krauser, then Ada, then Leon.
Sticking to 1 level and learning it well, then getting all 5 star ratings on it made things easier.
After getting that level cleared with all 4 at a 5 star level I would move back to the previous level and do the same thing.
By the time I got back to the village level Leon took the overall highest score of any level (I will check out my scores sometime soon and then post them).
He seems to have a great balance as a character (unlike wester and hunk).
Also, Krauser's bow is badass... Not only does it kill most opponents in one shot, it also floors the big guys with one shot so that even if you don't kill them you atleast knock them over.
Oh and finally, my last piece of experience for this post...
When doing the mercs missions, take the time to just run through the level as far as you possibley can and explore as much as possible.
Eventually you will figure out which places to make you stands and for how long you can make a stand there.
It will also give you a good idea of where the pickups are and how to take down the stronger enemies using the environment to your advantage (explosives or just hit-n-run techniques).
If you all have any questions I will be happy to help. 👍
I've got a deep knowledge of the game and a strategy guide to back me up for anything I don't know.
(Man I loved this game... Easily the best RE ever and probably one of the top games to this date)
Edit:
Forgot to mention... The handcannon looks like a huge magnum revolver (something like a .357 only really big... will try to find a picture

)
Didn't find a picture but did find this...
http://faqs.ign.com/articles/582/582831p1.html
Also, it seems my memory wasn't as good as this guy's research...
The Handcannon takes out prety much everything in 1 shot.
Of course, that depends on where you shot what...
Ganados taking a head shot will need two since a head shot will open up the parasite, but 1 to the chest will kill him outright (since the parasite doesn't come up).
El Gigante (2 according to this guy)
Major bosses... 1 to 3 in most cases.
Overall, I just can't tell you how powerful the thing is... You've got to work towards getting it and then experience it yourself.
