Choose a learning environment
Capcom’s developers describe Story and Action as adjustable ways to approach the swordplay. Their focus is accessibility and satisfying action, not a single mandatory level of punishment.
For a first run, choose the mode that lets you observe complete enemy sequences. If repeated defeats end before you understand what happened, lowering the challenge can produce better practice. If you are recognizing attacks reliably and want tighter demands, Action is the more appropriate starting point.
Treat Carnage as a separate commitment
PC Gamer’s launch guide reports that Story and Action can be changed at save points. It also reports that Carnage unlocks after finishing the game and locks the chosen difficulty for that run. That distinction matters more than whether you call it hard mode or New Game Plus.
Before starting a repeat run, read the game’s own carryover screen and preserve your completed save. Do not assume that every resource or upgrade survives merely because some progression does.
Adjust information before blaming reflexes
Review the available action prompts, tutorials and navigation information. Assistance can help you learn which response the game expects without deciding every action for you.
Keep difficulty and performance troubleshooting separate. If inconsistent frame pacing makes an attack hard to read, changing the combat mode may conceal the symptom without addressing it. Establish a comfortable technical baseline, then decide how much combat pressure you want.