4. Hard Difficulty Walkthrough
This page is an abbreviated form of the previous page since you already know what to do, obviously. However, all the treasures are mentioned for the achievement. They are in the same places as they were in normal difficulty, they just have different stuff. Since we got all the cumulative stuff out of the way during our normal runthrough we can concentrate on blasting through this playthrough as quickly as possible.
Volcanic Dale
Choose story from the main menu and then select Volcanic Dale. Press Y to change the difficulty to hard and then press A to get started. Turn around and walk forward, and open the chest on your right for Swords of Chaos Power. Kill the four statue enemies and go back to the chest. Face it and then look behind it, you will see a chest. Open it for a short cutscene. Now go back to that same chest and look at it from behind, go straight forward to find a chest and open the chest in the little nook you find.
After opening the chest, go to the front of this room where the dragon is. His head will fall and you can jump on it and cross it. Do so. Continue following the path until you see some statues. Keep going and they will awaken. Kill them all and continue, you'll get a cutscene shortly after with the altar.
Now continue. Lava will start rising. Continue following the path and use double jumps to keep following the path up. You'll reach a dead-end and you'll see time rewind for the first time. You'll have seen a door closing when you were climbing, that door is now open. Backtrack a bit down and enter the now open door. Time will start moving again.
Follow the path until you reach a big room, the path is on your left. You'll be attacked by a few spiders. Kill them all. Follow the path till you reach a glowing door you can't pass and take a left. In this room, step in the middle of the weird device. The statue enemies will activate, kill them all. Three spiders will drop down afterwards, kill them as well.
Now back to the glowing door you just passed, it is now gone. Go through the doorway and follow the path into a new room. You'll see a weird flower floating around, destroy it. You'll be attacked by some weird monster dog-thing, kill it. Enter the door nearby and you'll get a short cutscene. Now look for the door blocked by magic nearby. Look above it, you'll see a weird machine. Shoot it. The door will open and the two statues will activate. Kill the statues and then continue.
The game will point out a new enemy. Shoot it with your rifle until it dies. Follow the path and continue until 3 locusts appear. Kill them and then move a tad forward and 2 of those flying things will spawn, shoot them down and then 3 more locusts will appear, kill them all. To the right of where the flying enemies spawned is a door with a wheel. Turn the wheel to open the door, and then go through it. You'll find a bunch of spiders here, kill them. After killing them all you'll notice another altar. Approach it.
Look for the doorway on the left wall if you are facing the gate. Enter and kill the two flying enemies here. Walk around the middle pillar to find a chest containing the Arcane Ring. If you are facing the chest, go right and look for a coral above you. Dash to it, and then the next one.
Kill the flying enemy and then look for a coral nearby above you and dash up them. Kill the enemy again and use the wheel to open the nearby door. Now step on the device inside the room and kill the statues. Dash to the coral nearby and then dash to the next three. After you hit the last (fourth one), drop down and return to the big gate. It is now open. Now use the wheel to open the door nearby and enter. Follow the path to a dead end room and another device on the ground. Walk into it and then kill the enemies that spawn. Now backtrack a tad to find the door you passed that was closed is now open.
Enter to find two humans being decimated by a new type of flying enemy. Gun them all down and then go forward for a cutscene. Go to where the first coral is and look to the left for a chest with an Amulet of the Ancients, use the compass to help you find it if need be. Now shoot the two parasites off the nearby coral. Dash across the corals to continue.
Drop down the platform nearby to find an altar, and approach it. Dash to the flying bugs and kill them with X. Cross the bridge afterwards and go forward for a cutscene. Boss time. This boss has two fireball throwing uh...shoulders, I guess. You'll need to use your newly learned dash to enemy ability here. Dash to one of his shoulders, use the left stick to aim toward the boss, and press X to try and hit him. After doing enough damage to his body/shoulder, it will die. Do the same for the other shoulder and then jump and attack his upper body. His body will start flashing colors and then he will slam the ground with his face. Once he does, the ring in the middle will be vulnerable and you can damage it. Spam X at it to damage him and use whatever spells you want. You might have to do it a second time in order to kill him. A video for reference...
Now approach the big device. Cutscene. Now look at the two switches. Walk onto one of the switches, and then wait until it activates. Walk to the other one. While on top of it, hold LB. You'll see a clone retrace your steps. Let it retrace them all the way back to before you stepped on the first switch. You'll then watch your clone do what you did. Once it steps on and activates the other switch, the portal opens. Enter the portal to move on to the next area.
JUNGLE
There will be an altar nearby. Progress afterwards and you'll see the world change color and Ayumi will mention Chaos. The game tells you about your Order spell. Keep moving and you’ll find another Chaos area. Keep going and you'll eventually see a bunch of heads spawn. Immediately make an order sphere and stay inside it. Kill the heads as they attack. Continue forward, kill the zombies with melee/Heavy Strike. Keep moving and you’ll reach two spearmen. Dash up to them and kill them, you'll then be told about obelisks. Kill the one nearby and then keep going. Drop down into the next big area.
An enemy with a sphere around him will approach. Shoot at him a bunch and then rewind time. Shoot at him with your clone a bunch. If the sphere is still there, rewind time again and shoot him with your clones. Once the armor is gone, kill him. A guy with a big shield will spawn. Attack his shield until he starts to attack, you'll get a prompt for RB, do so and press X a bunch of times. Now rewind time. While your clone is punching him in the face, approach him and press RB to kill him.
The next section is much harder. You'll be facing 3 spear throwers and 2-3 shield guys. Kill the spearman first using melee attacks, and then use guns to shoot the shield guys. Once the shield guy with a sphere spawns, use the same tactic as you did for the last one a second ago. After they are all dead, don't leave yet. Go to where you first dropped down and use the compass, you'll see a red arrow pointing straight ahead from where you dropped down. You'll see a coral above you with a parasite on it. Shoot the parasite and then dash to the coral. On the rock outcropping is a chest, take the Emerald Ring from it.
Now dash up the corals the cutscene pointed out to you when you killed the enemies. Continue forward for a cutscene. Follow the path to a cutscene. Whip out the compass and walk forward. For some reason the game points this chest out. Walk forward until the red arrow is spinning, this means you are right on top of it. Use an Order spell as the game suggests and open it to get a Amulet of Miracles.
Now go into the water to the right of the airship and you'll meet an interesting enemy. Despite being called a "Slasher", he doesn't slash you. He grabs you if you get near and damages you by eating your face off. You have to mash X to get away. The cutscene points out a parasite on an obelisk, you'll need to hit the parasite and then hit the obelisk. The game tells you to use time rewind, but I just evaded him and hit it (double jumps with an air dash work well). You can shoot the parasite off before he will notice and come after you.
Now go to the altar. Dash to the corals nearby and then onto the ship. Take a left for an ambush. Shoot the flies down and then break the small obelisk nearby. Kill the enemies and then continue following the path on the ship to the front and then it’ll U-turn down the other side of the ship and you'll have an event where you meet Michelle. Right after, there is a chest nearby. The chest is invisible at first, as you have to use an Order spell. That metal platform on the far left of the screen when facing the two wooden planks leading up, leads down, walk down it and then jump over to the platform and use the Order spell to claim the Swords of Ancient Doom. Use the compass if need be.
Continue following the path. Two flying enemies will spawn, so shoot them down. Continue along the path to the next boss. The Shaman is actually fairly easy. At the start, run toward him until you can dash at him. Do so and attack him for a few seconds. He will start charging up an attack. After a few seconds, dash behind him and then dash to the coral on your left. Dash across them and when you reach the 5th one you'll dash back to the boss. Repeat until he dies. The one thing you need to watch out for is the big fire spell he uses. It causes fire explosions all across the bridge. If you are jumping across the bridge via corals during the attack, it will hit you. You need to avoid getting hit at all for an achievement.
Now go up the bridge to the side opposite where you started. Follow the path to an altar. Afterwards enter the portal nearby.
HUMAN BASE
Go forward and look on the right for a break in the wall. Enter it and follow the path to a cutscene. Look for some stairs to the left of the guy with the sword and take them down, then take a left and go forward to find another break in the wall.
Follow the path to the door with a wheel. The game tells you a guard has the key. Backtrack, killing guys, until you get a key (the game tells you when you do with some text). Return to the wheel and open the door. Go inside. The game points out a spike trap, double jump over it and continue to the fight. Shoot the humans nearby and shoot everything else as they fight amongst themselves.
After everything is dead, an altar activates. Use the compass to a find a chest nearby you can open with the Order spell to get a Figured Amulet. Approach the altar and the Slasher spawns. Dash past it, run away for a bit, and then use rewind. While it is chasing your clone, run past it and use the wheel to open the door. Quickly run inside. Continue up the stairs and pull out the compass, follow it until it starts spinning, use your Order Spell to snag a Ring of Guardians at the top of the stairs.
Continue forward for a cutscene. Afterwards, fall back to where you just were and use the rocks as cover to shoot everyone. Inch out slowly and start with the guy on the gate opposite where you are. Then kill the guys on the left on the cliff. Once they are all dead, go up to the wheel on the right and turn it. The gate will close before you can get to it. Walk up to it and then rewind all the way to before you opened the gate. Then go through as your clone turns the wheel and drop down. Go up the stairs for a cutscene, and gun the guys down using the pillars as cover. Then use the wheel to open the gate. Follow the path to the door, use the wheel and enter.
TEMPLE
You'll see lasers in front of you, dash past when the horizontal one is high enough you won't hit it. At the end of the corridor are two humans. Shoot them down. Progress forward, but watch out for the spike trap, double jump over it. After the spikes, whip out the compass and look for a treasure chest on the right, when the tunnel opens up. Use an Order spell and grab the Scribed Machine Gun from the chest.
Follow the path up the stairs and kill the rifle guys around the top. Follow the path to the left of the stairs if you are facing them to find a room with two switches, a statue, and a spike trap. You need to activate the statue. First, trigger the bomb trap on the ground and then wait about 15 seconds or so. Then stand on one switch for 10 seconds. Move to the other and rewind time back about 5 seconds. Your clones should activate both switches removing the spike trap. Quickly grab the item. Backtrack to the stairs and take the path on the right going straight ahead. There will be a break in the wall on the right. It has a wheel and a door. Use the wheel and enter, kill the four guys in here and touch the statue.
Boss time. This guy isn't fun at all. You'll need to damage him to about half way. You can jump and use melee attacks, which is pretty dangerous. You can melee on the ground and use Heavy Strike too. You can also shoot his stomach to damage him from afar. Shooting him, your only worry is when he lowers his shoulder, that means he is about to charge. Exit shooting mode and dash left or right to dodge it. Once you get him to half health walk up to him and press RB. Then mash X when prompted. Once he knocks you off, rewind and press RB from behind him while your clone is kicking his face. You should jump up and cut the pipes leading to his regeneration tubes. If not, rewind and try again. After that, shoot or melee him to death. He follows the same patterns except he jumps in the air and stomps on the ground occasionally.
Now use the wheel to exit and look to the right, you'll see enemies fighting. Take them all down from afar using your gun. Watch out for bombs on the ground though. Enter the gate behind them using the wheel. Inside, stick to the left wall and use it for cover to kill the humans, and then look for the altar on the right.
Go up the nearby ramp and go through the doorway for a cutscene. You need to jump across the gaps while avoiding the traps. You can dash after a double jump and will need to do so in order to make it across most of the gaps. These are fairly difficult and the timing to pass them is pretty steep. All I can really suggest is practice. Note that at the end of most platforms are two torches. Standing on the edges of the platforms these torches are on and jumping to the torches on the next platform make the jumps a bit easier.
Once you get to the platform from the cutscene with the lasers, another cutscene will show you where to go next. Jump on the first wooden platform, then jump on the platform to your right (not through the spinning blades) and then jump to the next wooden platform, and then the platform with the switch. Now you'll need to jump all the way to that platform in front of the spinning blades, and then jump to the platform with the lasers.
Go through the now laser-less door to find...more lasers. The lasers on the left are the way to go. Double jump over the bottom two while the third one is at the top. Double jump between the 2 beams on the sides in the second laser group and watch out for the spikes. Dash through the next group. For these next ones, look at the ground and you'll notice laser tracks. You'll see a bunch of lasers moving back and forth behind the two blocking your path. You need to dash past the first two and then get on the right side (where the page was) to avoid the others. Run past the set moving back and forth when they pass you going toward the two stationary ones.
The last set is next. You need to regular jump over the two horizontal ones when the vertical ones move all the way to the sides. Once you get past them, step on the switch and the lasers disappear. Whip out your compass and move toward the arrow until it is spinning and use Order to find the Swords of Pain. Now touch the statue. Straight left of the statue is the path to take.
Progress forward and you'll see some flying enemies appear. Use a nearby pillar for cover and gun them down. Go forward after they are dead and use the wheel on the left. Jump over the spikes on the way to the door and then use rewind so the clone opens the gate for you. Go through and approach the altar. Ignore the cutscene about the Slasher, he disappears once you enter O_o.
You have to use your order spell to get the two orbs to the altar. There are two little stone pillars by the entrance door. You'll see glowing orbs on top of them. You have to "push" these across the room to the altar to activate it. Each time you use Order near it, it'll push the orb to another small pillar. You want to herd it toward the altar, basically. Be warned, sometimes when you push an orb monsters will appear. They are Chaos monsters so they are almost invisible outside of an Order orb.
Once you've pushed them both to the altar, boss time. This boss. This damn boss. Basically, you want to start off by blitzing it until it flies into the air. Then use Massive Inferno. This seems to make it come down most of the time. Once it does, pummel it with Heavy Strike. Attack it with your swords when it is on the ground and you have no rage. Whenever the dog-like enemies spawn I'd suggest killing them as they will do nothing but annoy you. Use your rifle on the Skyguards to get rage so you can use Massive Inferno if the boss is in the air. Hopefully this video helps make this strategy clearer.
DESERT
The portal will spit you out in a desert region. This is really wide open and there aren't really any landmarks, so I'll mention the compass for navigation more often. Stay in the shadows when possible. The sun will kill you in seconds. This area has no treasures or notes You only need to worry about getting through it. Use the compass and it'll tell you to go forward. Rush across the sun spot to the next shadow. There are enemies here, two shield guys. Kill them both (Heavy Strike works well) and then shoot the 3 spear guys.
Now go to the shadow the two throwers were at, and then cross to the shadow the last one was at. Use the compass. The direction it points at will have a thrower, kill him. At the end of the shadow you'll notice 3 shield guys. They'll start coming toward you, so try to gun them down before they get to you. After they are dead, shoot the parasite off the coral. Now dash out, then dash to the coral, then jump off and dash to the shadow. You should make it just in time. Progress forward and hit the switch. A shield will drop down and put a shadow on the wheel in front of you, use it.
Walk to the cliff and then jump off the left side toward the platform fo a cutscene (where exactly would she stash that, anyway?). Time to fight. A sandworm is in the ground and will shake the ground when it is about to surface. It pokes its head out so fast you can't really hit it. Use rewind after it has attacked once or twice and then attack it when it appears. The slowdown makes it easier to hit him. After that, look for the corals nearby. Shoot the parasites off, double jump toward it and dash to it, then dash across them to the platform. You'll see a green device nearby. When you approach it, new enemies will appear.
You can jump up on the platform with the green switch and heal if you need to, they cannot reach you there. Once they are dead, use the green switch to get the shield into a position you like and then dash shadow to shadow to reach a blue switch. Step on it. You'll see a shield drop down. Return to where the first green switch was and you'll see some steps you can jump up Do so. Cross the small sun spot and look right for a green switch, step on it. Return to that small sun spot and look opposite of where you originally came from. You'll see an elevator shaft. Wait for the elevator and then take it up.
You'll see a generator in the shadows. It is blocked by a shield. Shoot the shield to destroy it, and then use the newly activated elevator nearby. When you get to the top you'll be in sun, so dash forward quickly. Kill the enemies that spawn and continue forward to the ledge. Step on the switch for 5-10 seconds and then rewind. While your clone is on the switch, stand at the edge, aim down and shoot the parasite. Dash across the corals to the other side, quickly jump off and dash toward a shadow. You'll get the next crystal part.
A sandworm and those small things will attack. Kill them all. Jump to the shadow just to the left of the airship wing. Use your gun to destroy the bombs in the way and stick to the wall until you reach a pipe. Quickly dash across it to find a green switch. Face the pipe and look left. Straight ahead is where you need to go. Step on the green switch for 5 seconds and then let your clone stand on it. A shield will drop. Dash across the desert to the shield, and then dash to the doorway. Progress forward to find a blue switch. Stand on it and then go back to the doorway. The shield that rises opened a pathway. Dash across to find another blue switch.
When you step on that switch, a shield will start moving to your left. You need to follow it. A bunch of shield guys will spawn and try to hit you. You'll need to dash past them, counter them, or jump. Jump is the safest bet. It will pause halfway for a few seconds and then keep going. At the end, shoot the shield guys down for being annoying, although you can continue ahead without doing so if you like. Continue forward. A sandworm will be in the first shadow, kill him. You'll see three green switches. One in a shadow. You need to have a clone on two of them and yourself on the last one.
Basically, sit on the first switch for about 15-20 seconds. Then rewind time all the way back to when you first got on. Then go to the second switch and sit there for 10-15 seconds. Rewind 10-15 seconds and then hurry to the third switch when it has a shadow on it. It'll drop a shield allowing you to go to a wheel. Go back to where you killed those shield guys a second ago and look to the right for a cliff you can climb to the wheel. Use it. Go through the door and then immediately turn left and jump up the cliff to find the last crystal. Hit the blue switch nearby and then turn around and go straight. Use the shields you just dropped for shelter. Return to the altar and activate it.
Boss time. The three sandworm heads are the bosses. At the start the head grabs you and then slams you down. Dash away after it does. It will slam its head into the ground. Blitz the head, using freeze spells when possible. After it rises back up, it will either charge up to slam the ground again or grab you. You can't stop it from grabbing you. You can only evade the headslam that comes after. Once 1/3 of its health is gone, do the same for the second head, except those small desert bugs will be around and the third head will throw rocks at you. Once the second head is down the third head is the same except no rocks are thrown. Video...
SKY ISLANDS
Now enter the portal. Go straight down the ramp and take the left. Go forward and look for the coral on the left. Dash up them to the next area. Go down the ramp and activate your compass. On the left, in a bunch of flowers, is a treasure chest with the Swords of the Crimson Sky. Now turn right and you'll see a ramp. Go toward it to get ambushed by the dog-things. Kill them all. Now look to the right of the ramp you entered from to find another ramp. Go up it. Jump up to the next area. Skyguards will attack you. Shooting is the best way to handle these guys. Keep an eye on them all. If one jumps into the air he is going to dash at you, so hit him to stop him. After they are all dead hit the switch nearby. Jump on the blue platform, dash to the coral, and enter the palace.
A Skyguard will spawn on the left. Treat it just like the Skyguard boss you killed way back when. After killing him, shoot the two switches on either side of the magic door. Jump up the corals the cutscene points out. You'll see another coral nearby. Go up to it, turn left, and then follow the path to a dead end. Use Order here and claim the Strange Amulet from the chest. Return to the switch and hit it. Now turn left and enter the door. Walk to the dead end and you'll be teleported to a new area.
Kill the four Skyguard here, enter the open area and go left using the corals. Step on the switch. You can now fly. Fly to the big island in front of you and hit the switch after killing the Skyguard. You'll see a very small island with a buoy on it slightly lower than the island you are on, on the left. Fly to it. Look at the island down below and try and shoot some of the bombs in the ground. Then fly down to it and hit the switch. Watch out for bombs, as they are all over that island. Now fly to the island on the left when standing on the blue platform and hit the switch there. Now fly to the circular one with the statues. Hit them all and then press RB on the statue. Fly to the island from the cutscene and walk to the end of the platform to teleport.
Use the wheel to enter the building, follow the path to another wheel, and use it. Follow the path to another wheel, use it, and run down the ramp to the door. Closed. Rewind and go through. Follow the path to some corals. Dash across them to a platform. Shoot the flying enemies down. Look around and shoot all the corals with parasites on them. There are a bunch. After shooting them all, look for the coral slightly below your island, and then dash to it. Double jump and then dash to the next coral. Now dash across the rest to a platform. Land on it and then move under the roof to find a green switch, with another behind it. Use rewind to hit both at once, and then jump on the platform the cutscene points out.
Enemies will spawn while the platform moves, so be ready. Once it stops, jump off and use the wheel to open the nearby door. Kill the 5 Skyguard here and then step on the blue switch on your right if you are facing the lasers. Pick up the gun the game points out and then use it to kill the Skyguard spawning by the door. After they are dead, hit the other switch. Now exit this area and follow the path on the right until it dead ends. There will be a door on the left. You'll need to double jump dash to get into it. Go forward and then dash up the corals. Use the wheel. Enter, grab the gun on the right, shoot everyone, then use the wheel and enter the next door.
SKY DOCKS
Shoot the flying enemies and progress forward. Kill the Skyguard that spawn and then enter the building. Immediately after entering turn right and then walk out the window onto the rock. Turn left and look up for a coral. Dash to that one and the next one to read some kind of structure. Use corals to get to the very top, where a chest with a Golden Rifle sits. Use an Order spell to reveal it. Now return to the building. Kill the Skyguard. Now, look at the pillars and you’ll notice an orange colored cord connecting them. Use Order spells on the pillars that are connected to each other to connect them (you’ll see electricity moving between them if you are doing it right). Once that is done the elevator will start moving. Now go to the elevator from the cutscene. Jump on it and then use the wheel at the top. Use rewind to get through the door and then kill the lone Skyguard. Step on the switch nearby. Slasher guy appears. Jump and dash over him and run to the elevator he was on...except it isn't that easy. When it is going to the other platform, you can't reach it. Also, when it reaches the platform you are on, the Slasher can still get to you. Essentially, you need to jump on it as it is moving away from the platform you are on.
Once you land on it, jump off on the other side, use an Order spell on the two obelisks, and kill the Skyguard. Jump on the ramp leading up and then take the gun nearby and shoot everything. After everything is dead walk straight ahead from the ramp until you get a checkpoint. Grab the gun if you don’t have one and prepare to shoot a ton of ships. After you kill them all the lasers to a ramp nearby will drop. Go down the ramp. U-Turn at the bottom of the ramp to the right and you’ll see two obelisks. Use an Order spell on them, and they return to the top of the ramp. Use a gun to kill the enemies and then a cutscene will show a path with a laser. You’ll need to jump over the laser with a double jump dash. Stay on the left side so it’ll pass over you if you land in its path. Follow the path to a small pillar and destroy it. Go down the ramp and take a right, wait for the elevator and then jump on it. Kill the flying enemies that spawn and then jump off at the top. Enter the building, kill the Skyguard, and then go toward the ships for a cutscene.
Return to the building and then use the corals to get to the third floor. The same concept applies here. Use Order spells to connect the pillars that have orange cords connecting them. It will form two triangles. Don’t use an Order spell when you would hit two pillars at once, this will simply mess the chain up. After you’ve done that, go back to where the ships are, grab the gun, and then shoot the ships that show up and start attacking you. After that, a cutscene plays.
Now you are on a moving ship. Concentrate on surviving. Skyguards will continue spawning, just concentrate on killing the Skyguard, and ignore the flying enemies that spawn. After you’ve survived long enough a cutscene will play and you’ll be in a new area. Hit the switch nearby and then walk up to the ring that appears.
In the new area, enemies will spawn after the talking. Kill them and go down the nearby ramp. Kill the enemies there and follow the path to a wheel and a door. Enter the door and a cutscene will play. Follow the path to the next wheel/door and kill the Skyguard on the way. Enter the door, and activate the two Obelisks with an Order spell. DO NOT walk into the area right between the two obelisks until you’ve activated them both. Once you have, walk in between them. Slasher guy will appear. Double jump dash over him once or twice then use time rewind so you can open the door you came from. Once you go through it he leaves.
Zero’s cell is now open. On your way back up to the portal he will join you. Return to the portal at the top for a boss fight with the Skyguard Commander, again. At the start rush him and attack him with X. When he starts to swing, dash away, wait for him to stop, and then attack him again. He will eventually fly in the air. Use the big guns around the arena to shoot him and wait for the flying enemies to shoot that missile beacon. When they do, kick it at the Skyguard Commander. Repeat until a second one drops, and kick that at him too. He will start shooting fireballs. Dodge them and then he will charge back to the ground and release a shockwave. Dodge the shockwave and melee him again. Repeat the pattern until he dies.
Brutal Lands
Start by going forward. You’ll be attacked by 5 shield guys. Kill them all and approach the altar nearby. Now look opposite of the stairs you came down for a door and a wheel hidden away in a corner. Enter the door, dash to the coral in front of you and jump to the other side. Whip out the compass to find a chest to your right with a Ring of the Shadow Star inside.
Drop down into the cave and follow the path into a chaos area. Kill the Chaos Enemies and you’ll get a cutscene. Now stay far away from the Brutal Mauls in the cutscene and shoot them in the head a bunch of times to kill them.
Continue forward after killing them both. You’ll drop down a platform. Look ahead and a bit to the right for a smaller platform below you. Double jump dash to it and then use your gun to shoot the three corals with ice on them. Dash across them to the next platform.
In this next area, shoot all the Brutal Mauls that spawn from afar. Once they stop spawning you can go through the door to the right of where they were spawning. You’ll see three small obelisks. Activate them all with an Order spell quickly. Now progress forward to what appears to be a graveyard after some corals (take a left if you are facing the area you came from).
After the cutscene, shoot the two Brutal Mauls from afar and then do the same for the guy with the gun in the middle, in the back of the area. Once he drops his gun, rush up to him, pick it up and shoot him with it. Now back up until you can see the gun guy on the platform above you and shoot him until he drops his gun. Then use the ice cube to reach the platform he is on and freeze him too. Now jump on top of him and freeze the guy on the third platform. Jump on top of him and enter the cave.
You’ll reach a point where zombies spawn. Turn around and you’ll see a platform you can jump up to. Do so and follow the path to a chest with the Swords of Hidden Power. Now return to where you jumped up and follow the path after killing the zombies to a room with a cannon. Your companion says you need something special to kill them. Hang around the small pillar in the middle of the room with fire on it for a bit to lure them all to it, then run to the cannon and use time rewind to put them back at the pillar. Use the cannon to kill them. Now whip out the compass to find a chest with the Dragon Claw Rifle in the water. Progress forward.
The cave will soon open up into a very big area. Cross the bridge until you get a cutscene. Shoot the guy and then go forward. A bunch more of him will appear, shoot them all and then break the small pillar nearby. Now look at the bridge and go to the edge of the cliff on the right. You’ll see platforms leading down. Go down to the bottom and then take a right, following the path and killing the humans as they spawn.
Once it opens up to a chasm, go right and follow the path down, following the path until you reach platforms to jump up. Do so until you see the altar on the right, take whatever powers you want from it and continue up to the boss fight.
At the start of the fight with the Vicar, run around for a bit, dashing to avoid his sword attacks, then time rewind all the way back. Use this time to shoot the two Brutal Mauls until they die. Once that is done, Vicar will do 1 of 3 things. Try to hit you with his swords, go to the edge of the arena or the middle and suck you in, or start spinning like a tornado. Don’t bother trying to melee him. Just shoot at him and stay away from him, dashing away when necessary. A headshot does much more damage so attempt to hit his head at all times. There isn’t really much more to this battle than that, so here is a video.
Brutal Town
After the cutscene go forward a bit and then look up and to the left for an ice coral. Shoot it and then dash up to it and jump to the platform nearby. Jump to the platform across from you and pull out the compass to find a chest with the Swords of Miracles inside. Drop down and kill the humans on the other side of the chasm and the ship, and then use the floating platform to get to the other side.
Look to the right and you’ll see two platforms. Jump up to them and enter the door. The Slasher will spawn. Use time rewind to distract him and then step on the switch, then leave and he will disappear. Go in the door on the left and step on the switch inside this room.
Four humans spawn outside. Kill them and go to the main door and turn the wheel. Inside will be a bunch of zombies and Skyguards. Kill them all and go in the door on the right. Step on the switch and then use your gun to shoot the two switches behind you. Now go to the room on the other side of the first big room. Go up the stairs until you get a checkpoint. Instead of dropping down, shoot all the enemies in the pit. Shoot the ship that appears and then drop down. Turn the wheel nearby and then jump in the door.
Turn right and follow the path to some humans and flying enemies fighting. Shoot the flying enemies and then kill the humans. Continue following the path. When it opens up you’ll find humans and a ship fighting. Shoot the ship and then the humans. Follow the path until you cross a wooden bridge. Whip out the compass to find a chest with the Ring of Blood Mist on a lower platform.
Enter the door opposite the chest and step on the switch nearby. Kill the Brutal Maul, and go through the other door to stairs. Go down them and kill the flying enemies that spawn. At the bottom progress forward until enemies attack. Kill them, hit the ice coral and then use the altar. Use the floating platform from the cutscene to reach the next area.
You’ll get a cutscene here. Immediately turn left to see a small wall. Jump over it and use the compass to find the next chest, with Swords of the Forgotten Hero inside. Return to the platform you were at and continue forward across the wooden platform to a door. Kill the flying enemies nearby to open it, and then go inside. Kill the Chaos Monsters as you continue forward to find yourself back outside. Straight ahead is an ice coral. Shoot it and then double jump so you can dash to it. Jump to the next platform and hit the switch.
Dash across the corals to the next platform, jump to the other one and then a cutscene will play. Shoot the ice coral from it and dash across them to the platform with the Shaman. The easiest way to kill him is to attack him until you have enough rage for a Heavy Strike, then run to the spot in this picture, as his super attack won’t hit you there…
Repeat until he dies. Dash across the corals from the cutscene. Use the wheel to open the door and go inside. In the next area, kill the shield guys and then shoot the ship until some flying enemies destroy it, and then kill them. A Regen Tube Skyguard will appear. Kill him, then enter the left tower and go to the top. Jump through the window straight ahead and jump into the other tower. Use time rewind to hit both switches at once and then you can go through the door between the two towers. Enter the door to find Skyguards fighting Chaos enemies. Kill the spearmen by the two cannons from the cutscene, shoot the cannons, and then shoot whatever enemies are left. Now drop down and look for the door/wheel and enter. Shoot the human that shows up.
Follow the path into a big battle. Shoot everything from the top platform. Enter the door on the right at the bottom and approach the altar. Take whatever and then go up the stairs. Kill the enemies at the top and step on the switch. Recycled way-too-often boss guy will appear. Kill him and go down the stairs and enter the door opposite the one you came from.
Return to the big area, destroy the ship and kill any humans left over. Now dash to the second coral and then jump off to the right to a platform. Use the compass to find a chest with the Amulet of Power in it, providing the achievement for hard mode…
Find all the chests in story mode on the Hard difficulty level.
Now dash to the coral and jump behind the drawbridge. Kill the enemies in front of you (there is a big gun at the base of the stairs) and then enter the door. Kill the flying enemies that spawn and then a bunch of zombies will spawn. Enter the door on the right and use Order spheres so you can dash through the lasers. Return to the big room and take the other door. Freeze the gun guy and then step on the switch behind him. Go to the big room where the elevator is. Slasher will appear. Quickly run behind the elevator, he can’t reach you here. Now wait for the elevator to open, and then go inside. Use time rewind if the Slasher is in your way.
Dragon Temple
Afterwards, follow the path to some stairs, then go up the stairs. At the top, go through the door on your left to find the altar. Return to the closed door and use the wheel to open it. Go inside and then after the cutscene, enter the middle area and turn right to find a door and two switches. Use time rewind to open the door and go inside.
You need to stand on the middle switch, and then use time rewind to stand on the other green switch, then use time rewind to have clones on both switches and then stand on the blue switch. Enter the door by the blue switch and go to the edge of the cliff for a cutscene. Afterwards, enemies will start spawning all over the place, kill enemies until the game tells you to dash through the ceiling. Fly up there (hit A twice) and keep tapping A to go higher until you can dash through it. Repeat 2 more times and you’ll fight the Slasher. Mash X until he dies and then fly through the ceiling again. Now go up the stairs nearby and into the door for the beginning of the end.
The final boss’ first form is an ass. He doesn’t have a lot of attacks. He might slam the ground, creating a shockwave or just hitting things close to him. He might shoot fireballs, two of which will kill you, and he shoots them in pairs. His other move is creating a shield of fire or ice, which you can get rid of by using the opposite element (fire on an ice shield, or ice on a fire shield). He might also float up in the air and move somewhere else, but this isn’t harmful.
You want to be as close to him as possible at all times in order to minimize the chances of him using his cheap fireballs. So, get into melee range, and then spam X at him and use Heavy Strike when you have the rage. If he puts up a shield, destroy it and then keep at it. If he winds up to slam the ground, dash away and jump so it doesn’t hurt you, then dash up to him and pound on him. If he floats away, quickly close the gap (but be ready to dodge a fireball) and blitz him. As long as he doesn’t use the fireballs, you are golden. Video for reference…
His second form is pretty breezy, but isn’t intuitive. What you need to do is distract the keeper while Zero and Michelle destroy the covers on the four power sources for the sphere. The Skyguard will do a pretty good job of this on their own, but spam bullets at the keeper anyway to distract him when they can’t. I’ve never had Zero or Michelle die or fail, even on hard, so I’m not sure it is possible. Regardless, just concentrate on getting his attention. Video…
Afterwards, you’ll be back in the guild. Walk to the big door and wait for Zero and Michelle. Now, the final fight. You cannot hurt him at the start. Help Zero and Michelle kill all the zombies that spawn. Once you’ve killed enough, Zero and Michelle will charge the Keeper. Attack with them and he will start taking damage. Spam X button attacks at him and use Heavy Strike when possible. He will most likely knock you away before you can kill him. Simply repeat the process. The main problem is surviving the zombie onslaught long enough to get a second shot at him, you’ll need to kill between 10-20 enemies to attack him again. Video…
As a reward for finishing the game, you’ll get an achievement…
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement. (Secret)
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