Metal Gear Rising - Revengeance

you have to parry at the moment of impact to actually stagger your foe and turn the tables on 'em. Otherwise, you just absorb the incoming attack without taking damage.
seems like you can cancel any attack into a parry stance

To help everyone out who's still going throught the demo, here's some PS3 info on attacks that can help out. Most of the Special move info is from the video FlashBlade has been mentioning (thanks for keeping that up). It's worth watching it just to see how these are supposed to practically work too.
(Posting a lot of this from memory and a little research, call out something if you think it's wrong)


Special Moves
(unofficial names made on the fly; at least they look cool)

Fwd + Square = Parry (also in the air)

Fwd Fwd + Square = Launch

Fwd Fwd + Triangle = Dashing strike

360 Rotation + Triangle = Spinning Slash

X + Square = Evasion (optional direction)

Bk + Fwd + Square = Palm Strike

Bk + Fwd + Triangle = Blade Sweep

Ninja Run + Square = Quick Slash

Ninja Run + Triangle = Slide

Ninja Run + Triangle + Square/Triangle (Slide + Ground slam)

Jump + Triangle = Dive Kick




Some Combos (from GameFAQs)
unconfirmed for right now, will give all a try and update soon.

Square (repeatedly) = unlimited light attacks

Triangle (repeatedly) = unlimited heavy attacks

Triangle (delay) + Square + Triange = Sweep 'n' Strike

Triangle + Triangle + Square + Triangle

Triangle + Triangle + Triangle + Square + Triangle

Square + Triangle (delay) + Square + Triangle

Triangle + Square + Triangle

(there's one or two, or more jump combos off of launcher, I'll post those later when I can confirm them again)


Tips

-Don't forget that with blade mode, you have the option of using square(horizontal)/triangle(vertical) strikes instead of the analog stick. Although, I get the feeling that correct aiming with the analog will really come in handy later in the game.

-Unless you're looking to get S ranking in everything, you might try experimenting with Blade Mode. Sadistic as it is, cutting off limbs and leaving the torso to walk or crawl in agony is pretty cool.

-The most opportune time to use Blade mode is when you've got a stunned opponent. Once the attack slows down and the guy glows orange, start cutting.

-Triangle + Circle gives you a stylish finishing attempt on an enemy once he/it's stunned.

-Stealth-killing is mostly getting above or behind a cyborg or gekko and hitting the button prompt.

Combat in this game is so fucking good. You can link all sorts of things together, like:

XXXYXY => >>X => A => (air) XXYY => (air) >Y => (air) XYY => <>X => >>Y

That's three slashes, a foot slash, a leaping spinning slash, and a foot stab (XXXYXY), into a launcher (>>X), canceled into a jump (A), followed by a four-hit aerial slamdown (XXYY) with the recovery of the last hit canceled into an aerial dive kick (>Y), then a shorter aerial slamdown (XYY) with the last hit canceled into a force palm (<>X), ending with a stinger (>>Y).

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGH

Platinum, you spoil us.