__
__ \\
// / \
___ __ / \ / /\\
// // //\ \/ / |
// ________/ \ | \ /
/ \ ) _____/\ \ / \ | TM
//\ \ / |__ \ \ / /\ \//
| \ \ / /| __/ \ \/ / \ /
\ \ / / | |_____/ \ / _//
\ \/ / \______/ / \
\ / \ / / /\ \ ____ ___ ___
\/ | / / \ \ | )(_ //_\\ // \\
\\/ / \ \// )( . (( )). \\_//.
\ / \ / ((__
\\_ _//
Vexx x Walkthrough/FAQ
version 0.6 x 5/10/03
By Matt "luckylink" Bush x Contact:
http://www.ebold.com/mattb/vexx
NOTE: This Walkthrough/FAQ is based on the PlayStation2 version of
Vexx, but I included some of the changes in the XBox/GameCube versions
(such as controls) so it should be usable with all versions.
\/-------------\/
/\ LEGAL STUFF /\
This FAQ is intended for personal use only. It can't be used for any
profitable purposes nor can it be published in any forms. It can't be
altered in any way nor can it be placed on any web site without my
permission. No parts of it can be taken without my permission. Any
offenders will be severely dealt with. It is protected by U.S.
Copyright law.
VEXX and Acclaim (R) and (C) Acclaim Entertainment Inc.
This FAQ Copyright (C)2003 by Matt Bush
Only gamefaqs.com and ign.com have permission to post this FAQ.
Please contact me if you want to include my FAQ on your site.
\\//=============================================================\\//
\/ TABLE OF CONTENTS/ \/
/\ NAVIGATION /\
//\\=============================================================//\\
To automatically skip to a section through "Find":
x If you are on a PC, press Control-F to find a section.
x If you are on a Mac, press Command-F to find a section.
Type in the section name you want to look up, or the section ID, to
automatically jump to it. (you should probably "Match case" too.)
ID SECTION NAME COMMENTARY
A VERSION HISTORY See what changes I've made to this guide.
B ABOUT ME About me, contacting me, my other walkthroughs.
C GAME BASICS From the manual and my commentary.
C-01 Introduction C-04 Items
C-02 Characters C-05 Enemies
C-03 Controls/Moves C-06 Level/Hub System
D WALKTHROUGH Guide to each level and boss.
D-01 Training Level D-07 The Below
D-02 Timberdale
D-03 Rift Hub To be continued...
D-04 Dragonreach
D-05 The Neverglades
D-06 Tempest Peak Manor
E FAQS Frequently Asked Questions.
/ F HINTS/SECRETS Things you may or may not know.
under /
construction \ F-01 Gameplay Tips
\ F-02 Secrets
G CREDITS Who helped me make/publish this FAQ
\\//=============================================================\\//
\/ Section A \/
/\ VERSION HISTORY /\
//\\=============================================================//\\
3/29/03 x version 0.1
Started Writing the FAQ
4/05/03 x version 0.3 x 67K
Wrote walkthrough up to Dragonreach
4/14/03 x version 0.5 x 105K
Fixed several small errors
Wrote walkthrough up to Tempest Peak Manor
Wrote FAQS Section
5/10/03 x version 0.6 x 131K
Wrote walkthrough up to The Below
\\//=============================================================\\//
\/ Section B \/
/\ ABOUT ME /\
//\\=============================================================//\\
Hello, and welcome to my FAQ!!
I am Matt Bush (luckylink17 on GameFAQs boards), and you can go to
-->
http://www.ebold.com/mattb/vexx <--
to contact me. It contains E-mail and Instant Messenger links.
Feel free to contact me about this guide and with questions about
this game that are not answered in the FAQ section.
I have three other Walkthroughs/FAQs.
My HTML walkthrough for Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)
is at
http://www.ebold.com/mattb/jnd
My walkthrough/FAQ for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (PSX)
is at gamefaqs.com, and a few other sites.
My Enemy/Boss FAQ for Ratchet and Clank (PS2) is here at gamefaqs.com
and IGN.com.
\\//=============================================================\\//
\/ Section C \/
/\ GAME BASICS /\
//\\=============================================================//\\
\/--------------------\/
/\ C-01 Introduction /\
_____
|_ _|he terror in Astara began when the powerful and sinister
| | forces of the Shadowraith Dark Yabu and his devoted minions
|_| came down from the skies. They descended upon the peaceful
village of Overwood and wreaked havoc and destruction.
__ __
\ \/ /argas, the aging guardian of Overwood, and his grandson Vexx
\ / were defiant yet outnumbered and were enslaved with the other
\/ defenseless villages under Yabu's dark power.
_ _
| | | |nable to bear it any longer, Vexx launched a futile assault
| |_| | on Dark Yabu. Before Yabu had a chance to punish the boy,
|_____| Vargas attacked the Shadowraith, hoping to distract the evil
lord long enough for his grandson to flee. Yabu turned his
powers on Vargas and destroyed him as Vexx helplessly watched.
____
/ ___)tricken with grief, Vexx escaped through the tunnels, vowing
\___ \ to one day take his revenge. Fate would grant him not
(____/ revenge, but fortune . . . the legendary Astani War Talons.
__ _
| \| |ow armed with his war talons and his fearless determination,
| \ \ | Astara's slave turned savior will stop at nothing to
|_|\__| overthrow the evil Dark Yabu, avenge his grandfather's
murder, and bring peace back to his planet!
Vexx is a challenging platform-genre game released in February
2003. Released on PlayStation2, XBox, and GameCube (and will be
on Game Boy Advance too, I think.)
In my opinion, Vexx reminds me a lot of the Spyro games. Especially
the latest addition to the Spyro series, Enter The Dragonfly. (They
both use portals to get between levels, they both have a hub level
and about nine worlds, with a certain amount of something to get
into each level and reach the final boss, they both, unlike other
recent platformers, still use "lives," and have similar gameplay
and powerups.) On the contrary, the latest Spyro game completely
was a failure, but Vexx is great. It has great controls, original
gameplay, huge, detailed levels, appropriate sound and storyline,
and more. But what's with naughty camera's these days? This game
has one of the worst cameras ever, at least you can move it around
usually (often it will fix itself). There were also bad cameras
in Ratchet & Clank and in Maximo.
Well, enough with the game chitchat, here's the basics of storyline,
controls, and concepts for Vexx!
\/------------------\/
/\ C-02 Characters /\
(From the manual)
==VEXX==
Just a kid filled with enthusiasm and reckless spirit, Vexx's peaceful
childhood is destroyed by Dark Yabu's vile greed. When Vexx discovers
the Astani War Talons, his destiny will never be the same. As he grows
into a nimble and able combatant, can he harness the power of the
Talons and his own rage to exact his revenge?
==VARGAS==
Vexx's tough old grandfather, Vargas, is the aging guardian of the
village of Overwood. Even as the years slow him, he never backs down
from a fight, and he's taught his grandson to never take anyone's gaff
either.
==DARBY==
The old wanderer serves as Vexx's guide and mentor. Having lost his
once considerable powers, he now must rely on the young Vexx to carry
on the ancient traditions and right the wrongs that have plagued his
existence. A mysterious figure leading Vexx into an even greater
mystery? Perhaps.
==REIA==
The last of a proud and noble race, Reia maintains a lonely watch over
Astara. A mysterious figure whose ancient powers have waned, Reia
moves through the shadows of Astara's dark history.
==DARK YABU==
There are none more evil than the Shadowraith Dark Yabu, a creature so
vile and troubling that generations curse his name. He is the cause of
so much misery, and the one Vexx is sworn to vanquish. He will not be
conquered easily...
\/----------------------\/
/\ C-03 Controls/Moves /\
==CONTROLS==
Here are the controls for all platforms the game runs on:
CONTROL PlayStation2 Button XBox Button GameCube Button
MOVEMENT/ACTION:
Move Left Stick Left Stick Control Stick
Jump ( X ) ( A ) ( A )
Attack ( Square ) ( X ) ( B )
Power Up [R1] or [R2] [ R ] [ R ]
Crouch [L1] or [L2] [ L ] [ L ]
CAMERA CONTROL:
1st Person ( Triangle ) ( Y ) ( Y )
Center Camera ( Circle ) ( B ) ?
Move Camera Right Stick Right Stick C-Stick
Zoom Camera R3 (press) Press Right Stick Digital Pad
MENUS:
Pause [ START ] [ START ] [ START ]
Inventory [ SELECT ] [ BACK ] [ Z ]
From now on, I will just refer to buttons by the name for them at
the left (e.g. Crouch, Attack, Move Left) and button combinations as
Jump + Attack, etc., instead of using the names of the buttons.
==MOVES==
JUMP = Press Jump button.
CROUCH/DUCK = Press the Crouch button.
LONG JUMP = Press Crouch while running and press Jump button.
PULSE JUMP = Crouch while standing still and press Jump button.
WALL JUMP = Press Jump as Vexx strikes a wall after jumping.
USE = Press Attack button.
SWIM = Hold the Attack button underwater. Tap the Attack button when
on the surface.
SURFACE JUMP = Press jump when on the surface of water.
PUSH = Walk into a pushable object.
GRAB = Press Attack when in front of a pushable object.
THROW = Press Attack when holding a grabbable object.
RECOVER = Rapidly press Move button back and forth to recover from
stun/inhibitor.
EDGE GRAB = Jump and intersect a grabbable edge.
EDGE SHIMMY = Press Move when hanging from edge.
CLIMB EDGE = Press Jump when hanging from edge.
CLIMB = Press Move in any direction when on climbable surface.
DANGLE CLIMB = Press Move in any direction when hanging from a dangle
surface.
WALL SHIMMY = Move into a wall and press Move to walk along it.
CLIMB POLE = Press Up/Down on the Move stick to climb up/down a pole,
Press Left/Right to rotate around the pole.
You can stand at the top and jump off any direction.
==COMBINATION MOVES==
ATTACK = Attack button
3 HIT COMBO ATTACK = Press Attack three times
CHARGED PUNCH = Press Attack twice, hesitate, hold down Attack to
charge, then release Attack to deliver the blow.
ALTERNATE SLASH COMBO = Press Attack twice, hesitate, press
Attack twice again.
4 HIT COMBO = Preformed the Charged Punch then Attack again.
RAGE ATTACK = Attack an enemy and continue to rapidly press Attack.
FLARE KICK (Tumble) = Press Attack while airborne.
GROUND POUND = Press Crouch while in midair.
UPPERCUT = Press Attack while Crouching.
JUGGLING = Once an attack has an enemy in the air (a FLARE KICK or
UPPERCUT works) continue the attack, keeping your enemy
in the air by "juggling" him. Juggling an enemy fills
your Frenzy Meter.
==TALON ATTACKS==
TALON CHARGES = Juggle enemies to release glowing blue energy. Collect
enough of this energy and you can unleash the hidden
power of the War Talons.
CHARGED TALON ACTIVATION = To activate the Charged talons, press the
Power Up button.
TALON DASH = Once the Talons are charged and activated, press Move to
move around in a dash.
TALON BLAST = Once the Talons are charged and activated, press Attack
to fire a Talon Blast.
\/-------------\/
/\ C-04 Items /\
==SHADOWRAITH HEARTS==
APPEARANCE - Large, glowing, beating, red hearts.
FOUND IN - After completing objectives in each level.
Shadowraith Hearts are the goal of this game. There are 8-10 to
collect in each level. With certain amounts of them, you can unlock
new levels. With 60, you can access the final boss. With 81, you've
collected them all.
When the Shadowraiths descended upon Astara 700 years ago, their
ravenous appetite for power drove them to devour the energy that
fueled the Astani's amazing portal system. Now, nearly a
millennium later, Vexx can restore power to an incredible network of
gates by returning the hearts of the fallen Shadowraiths to the
portal's Rift Hub. Once enough hearts are placed in the rift, portals
to new worlds will be unlocked. Powering up the portal system is the
only way Vexx can travel to the Landspire and catch Dark Yabu.
==SOUL JARS==
APPEARANCE - Bright yellow jars, look like bottles with a skull
FOUND IN - There are 6 in each level, in the levels that have them
Find six of these Soul Jars in a level to reveal a Shadowraith Heart.
If the Soul Jars in a level are spread out, I recommend saving this
challenge for later until you get other Hearts in the level, since
getting a Heart makes your Jar count go back to zero.
As the Shadowraiths pillaged Astara during the great Cataclysm,
each Dark Warrior carried a Soul Jar at his side. Soul Jars were used
to contain the spirits of the fallen Astani so they could be devoured
after the battle. Many of these jars were left behind when the war
was over and the dead of each side littered Astara. Vexx can collect
six Soul Jars in each world and the freed souls from within them will
reward you with a Shadowraith Heart.
==SHARDS==
APPEARANCE: Small shards of a heart, in a bright little bubble
FOUND IN: Usually along paths in all levels
I recommend saving this challenge for later until you get other
Hearts and Jars in a level, since getting a Heart makes your Shard
count go back to zero. In a level there are usually more shards than
you'll need, so don't worry, it's easy.
Some Shadowraith hearts were broken into the many shards from which
they were constructed. Collect 100 shards in each world and you'll
reveal a Shadowraith heart.
==HEALTH==
APPEARANCE: bouncing blue little balls
FOUND IN: Defeating enemies, and finding spirit stones
Curiosity and courage can result in regained health. Destroying an
enemy can cause him to drop a health pickup and certain objects can
be smashed to reveal health pick ups, too. Don't forget to check the
spirit stones. Always be on the lookout.
==BUBBLES==
APPEARANCE: large magic bubbles of air
FOUND IN: underwater in certain locations
When you're underwater and need more health or air, go up to one of
these bubbles to reset the swim-timer and get one point of health.
==EXTRA LIFE==
APPEARANCE: A little gold card in the shape of Vexx's head
FOUND IN: Hidden in certain parts of every level
Gain an extra life by collecting this item.
==TALON CHARGES==
APPEARANCE: Small bursts of blue energy
FOUND IN: Rewarded from enemies
Juggle your enemies and these wisps of blue energy will fly from
the enemies into your War Talons, increasing your Frenzy Meter.
==REIA'S SCROLLS==
APPEARANCE: small glowing scrolls
FOUND IN: One in each world
The history of Astara is written on a few precious scrolls. Collect
on in each world.
==ELEMENTAL POWERUPS==
At key points throughout Astara, Vexx will find ancient power-up
pads that the Astani used to tap into the elemental forges of the
War Talons. One unlocks the Air Suit and the other unlocks the Rock
Suit.
For the pads to work, Vexx must first collect an elemental rune for
each. Once the rune has been collected, standing on the elemental
pads will unlock special abilities.
AIR SUIT (Tornado Icon) - Allows Vexx to glide through the air and
land harmlessly on the ground. Allows him to reach heights he
never could otherwise.
ROCK SUIT (Flame Icon) - Allows Vexx to smash through some tough
surfaces, gives temporary invulnerability and faster top speed.
Causes him to sink to the bottom of water.
Both suits only last a certain amount of time, so be careful. A
timer in the corner tells you how long you have.
==SUNDIAL==
APPEARANCE: Flat little clocks on the ground
FOUND IN: One in every level
In many worlds, there is a sundial that can actually be used to
change the time of day. When Vexx jumps into the center of a sundial,
you can change the time of day by pressing Left and Right on the
Move stick. Watch the suns and moons rise as the time rushes by.
This device can come in handy when there are tough enemies at night
or it's too dark to see your way around.
NOTE: The sundial's hand turns counterclockwise.
==SUNDIAL PORTALS==
APPEARANCE: Small portals with a small sundial at the bottom
FOUND IN: One in several levels
At certain hours in the day, these doorways reveal portals to
enigmatic worlds. Check each sundial for markers hinting at when
these doors will open.
==SHATTERSPHERES==
APPEARANCE: Little black spinning capsules with runes on the side
FOUND IN: Many places in a level
Hit these mysterious bobbing orbs and they reveal precious
information that will make the wild world of Astara a little less
daunting.
==BOUNCE PADS==
APPEARANCE: Hexagonal pads on the ground with a sun on them
FOUND IN: Many places in a level
These handy pads will give you an extra lift to get to hard to reach
spots. Just hop on, depress the pad and you are up and away.
==SPIRIT STONES==
APPEARANCE: Large gravestones
FOUND IN: Different locations in some levels
These eerie memorials to the fallen Astani will give you a glimpse
of the awful fate that awaited that proud race. Give the stones a
pop and they'll give you health.
\/---------------\/
/\ C-05 Enemies /\
All enemies and sections are those so far covered in the Walkthrough
part of this guide. Enemy descriptions are from the game manual,
everything else I wrote.
==PUGGLES==
Levels found in: Timberdale, Dragonreach, Tempest Peak Manor, The Below
Health: Medium-Low
Attacks: they run at you slowly, touch them to take damage
Difficulty: Easy
This scuttling little mound of warts known as the Puggle is a squeaky
little testament to nature's cruel whimsy. Armless, nearly legless,
and covered in bumpy, slimy skin, it should not be surprising that
Puggles have a bad disposition. Wait until a herd of them tries to
bump you around and you'll see what we are talking about.
==GRIMKINS==
Levels found in: Timberdale, Dragonreach, The Neverglades, Tempest
Peak Manor, The Below
Health: Medium-Low
Attacks: they run at you slowly, touch them to take damage
Difficulty: Easy
This strange race of half-wits may have, by default, inherited much
of Astara, but just one look at them and you'll agree they still got
the short end of the post-apocalyptic mutation stick. All that
misspent evolution seems to have gone to their thick-skulled heads.
Watch out for that monstrous melon, by the way, the Grimkin are fond
of delivering a jarring, thick-skulled head-butt.
==FLEMBLOSSOMS==
Levels found in: Timberdale, Dragonreach, The Neverglades
Health: Low
Attacks: they squirt a glop of goo at you from a distance. Fairly
hard but their aim isn't good and they have low health.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
As if the fauna around Astara wasn't bad enough, the flora can be
worse. Even the plants can kick your butt around here. You can spot
the strange Flemblossoms by their colorful leaves and their
tendency to heave up and down right before they spit out a glob of
searing plasma. Plasma that can kill you if you get hit too many
times. After each shower, the blossoms gurgle up another round --
that would be a good time to get the hell away. At least two
different varieties of Flemblossoms are known to exist, possibly
each has a slightly different attack.
==SHREEKS==
Levels found in: Timberdale (Castle Tower), Tempest Peak Manor,
The Below (Estuary)
Health: Medium
Attacks: if they see you, they summon more enemies and stun you
Difficulty: Medium
These guys seem to have gotten a raw deal. Tethered to a pole and
stuck in the middle of some forsaken spot, the Shreeks are
miserable creatures. The only thing that makes them feel better is
to make you more miserable. If you catch one napping, try and keep
it that way. When it wakes up, a Shreek scans around and if you get
caught in its headlight, he lets out a blood curdling scream that
paralyzes you with a jolt of electricity (recover from it by jiggling
the Move stick back and forth). If that isn't enough, his wail also
summons a pack of other enemies, each of whom seeks to hurt you bad.
==SKINXES==
Levels found in: Dragonreach, The Neverglades, Tempest Peak Manor,
The Below
Health: Low
Attacks: Gradually dive down and sting you
Difficulty: Medium-Low
These hooded pests have a habit of showing up in the worst locations.
They hover until an enemy comes in range and then use their swooping
dive attack to knock you off track. The worst place to be during a
Skinx attack, right underneath that, is also the best place to be.
Keep that in mind. (Use their shadow to tell where they are).
==HOBBLETRODS==
Levels found in: Dragonreach (on the gear), Tempest Peak Manor,
The Below
Health: Medium (by shaking it off you can defeat it really quickly,
but you can also try attacking it in your slow motion phase.)
Attacks: Fire an energy beam that slows you down
Difficulty: Easy
On their own, these critters seem pretty tame. After all, their only
attack is defensive: They fire out a single energy beam that grabs
onto you and forms a sort of electric leash. The problem is, this
leash is kind of debilitating as it inhibits your movements and
attacks to the tune of half-speed. No big deal, unless you're in the
middle of a risky jump or facing on with a horde if enemies, or
desperately chasing a bit of health...well, these guys are a big
drag. If you want to get free you'll have to shake your way out.
==SHADOWCREEPS==
Levels found in: Dragonreach (whirlpool area), Neverglades (citadel
area)
Health: Medium-Low
Attacks: will creep out of the ground and attack you if you're not
watching
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
Vile creations of the Shadowrealm, these creeps are under Yabu's
command and gleefully scurry about on his evil errands. When you
find them, you can be sure the dark one has been about. These guys
burrow out of the ground, scurry about, and leap into their attack.
They also like to travel in packs.
==PHANTOMS==
Levels found in: Dragonreach (Haunted House area)
Health: Low
Attacks: If they hit you, they knock you to the ground AND disappear
so you can't strike back and recover health.
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
(Not described in manual)
==SHARKS==
Levels found in: Dragonreach (Underwater area), The Below (Dome)
Health: (You can't defeat them since you can't attack underwater,
so just swim away quickly to escape)
Attacks: Swim after you really fast and bite
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
(Not described in manual)
==GOOBEASTS==
Levels found in: The Neverglades
Health: Goobeasts are a little different. Each individual takes only
one hit. When you hit a large one, it turns into two small
ones. When you step on or hit a small one, it disappears.
Small ones grow back into large ones after about 5 seconds.
Attacks: If it touches you, you take damage.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy (they give out a lot of health)
These slithering piles of slime like to me in the swamps where they
can spawn their little goo babies in peace. Watch out, because these
guys will go to pieces when you pop them. When attack, goodbeasts
break into several little goods who will rapidly grow to full size
and increase the grief. Fortunately, when they are small you can
simply step on them and they'll go splat.
==FIRE SNOUTS==
Levels found in: The Neverglades
Health: Medium-Low
Attacks: Blow fire at you if you stay near them long enough
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
(Not described in manual)
==SHOCKING SHARKS==
Levels found in: The Neverglades (Well area)
Health: (You can't defeat them since you can't attack underwater,
so just swim away quickly to escape)
Attacks: Shock you (or the ring you're trying to electrocute)
from a slight distance
Difficulty: They're kind of hard, but you have to use them as
an ally in the Well Area challenge...
(Not described in manual)
==REX==
Levels found in: Tempest Peak Manor (Floor Level)
Health: Cannot be defeated
Attacks: Eat you, you lose a life, if he catches you on the floor
Difficulty: N/A
You may find your way to the legendary Tempest Peak Manor, the
exquisite and imposing former residence of the Storm Giant, an
enigmatic figure who once ruled and raged around the peaks of
Astara. Legend has it the Giant was sucked up through the Rift to
the Shadowrealm. His poor pet was left behind and hasn't been fed
for 700 years...so don't tempt him. You might be able to outrun
him, but if you think you can defeat him, here's a hint: you can't.
==BLAST BUGS==
Levels found in: Tempest Peak Manor (Floor Level)
Health: Medium
Attacks: Shock you from a short distance
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Beware these scurrying insects that seem to have benefited from
some very strange mutations over the past 700 years. No one is sure
why, but they generate electric beams from their antennae. Stay
away from the beams because they result can be devastating. Another
heads up, they like to travel in pairs so they can bridge their beams.
Sometimes you'll find them in small packs. Together, they can
dish out brutal punishment.
==KRUNKS==
Levels found in: Tempest Peak Manor (Rafters)
Health: Medium-Low
Attacks: Touching you, and powerful charge
Difficulty: Medium
These ornery beasts have a brutal dash attack and have heads like
an anvil to deliver it with. Once they lower their heads and start
their charge, there is nothing you can do but get out of the way.
Apparently, they can be snuck up on grazing, but we can't
recommend such suicidal behavior. If you meet a Krunk you will
be either airborne or lucky. Krunks tend to inhabit mountaineous
peaks and ledges.
==HULKS==
Levels found in: Tempest Peak Manor (Sundial Portal)
Health: Medium-High
Attacks: Powerful body attack
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
These massive behemoths seem to be some strange mutant cousins of
the Grimkin but, unlike those puny melon heads, these bruisers put
their whole body into an attack. These guys are tough and appear
unfazed by extremes of temperature. When you least want to meet
one of these guys, you'll probably meet three.
==SLYPHS==
Levels found in: The Below (Hydro-Charger area)
Health: Medium-Low
Attacks: Grab you with their head if you're near, and throw you
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
At least Slyphs are stuck in the ground. They aren't going anywhere
but whip and strike at anything that comes their way. If you find
them on a path you must traverse, you better hope they overextend
themselves.
==YABU'S GUARDS==
Levels found in: The Below (Hell and Sundial Portal)
Health: High
Attacks: Swing their axes
Difficulty: Hard
Dark Yabu's guards are big, bad, and have an axe to grind...a big
axe. These guys swing with authority and are amazingly quick for
their size. When attacked, the guards block with their mighty
axe head. Your only hope may be to get them off their feet.
==SHADOWMINIONS==
Levels found in: The Below (Hell)
Health: High
Attacks: They either have a sword, swing mace, or throwing stars
that they attack with.
Difficulty: Hard
What they lack in stature these shock troopers make up for in
viciousness and weaponry.
==FLOPPERS==
Levels found in: The Below (Hell)
Health: Low
Attacks: Crawl around under certain ground and attack you.
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
The only thing worse than a vicious little enemy is a vicious
little enemy that attacks and then hides. You'll find these
guys burrowing underground and leaving mounds of dirt in their
wake. They like to pop out right where you are standing and send
you sailing through the air, only to scurry back underground and
escape your wrath. Oh, and here's the bad news: they like to be
either where it is really hot or really cold.
\/------------------------\/
/\ C-06 Level/Hub System /\
This game is separated into 9 levels. It has an area which you can
go between levels, called the Rift Hub.
Each level has a main area, usually the largest area, hosting the
first heart described, the 100 Shards, the 6 Soul Jars, the sundial,
and the access back to the Rift Hub.
When you choose to visit a level from the Rift Hub, a screen pops up
with the current Shadowraith Hearts collected from each level. The
default heart selected is the first one from the left that you have
not gotten yet, but you may choose any heart you wish to collect next.
By pressing the Jump button the level will load with the arrows in the
level guiding you to the heart you selected. Cool, huh? You can go
back to this screen and switch the arrows around in the level by
going to the Inventory (in Pause menu, and a button by itself.)
The Rift Hub is like a base, and you can return to it anytime by
accessing the Start Menu, and selecting "Return to Hub." You must be
standing still on solid ground to select this.
The Rift Hub also holds all the Hearts you have so far in the
levels, and every time you get a new heart, you are warped back to
the Rift Hub to deliver the Heart. At this point, the game will
automatically save (THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THE GAME SAVES, apart from
getting new Elemental Runes). You may not save the game manually.
Also at this point, your Soul Jars and Shards will go back down to
zero. So if you're going for a Heart already floating in part of the
level, it's pointless to get all the shards or jars. (After you get
a heart, a "shadow" of it that isn't glowing as bright appears where
you found it. By returning to the "shadow" and touching it, you will
be returned to the Rift Hub, but the game won't save nor will you be
rewarded.)
The more Shadowraith Hearts you collect, the more levels you can
access.
Timberdale - first level in the game, visited before the Rift Hub
Dragonreach - 2 Hearts required
The Neverglades - 5 Hearts required
Tempest Peak Manor - 11 Hearts required
The Below - 18 Hearts required
Daggercrag - 26 Hearts required
Summit of the Sages - 34 Hearts required
Frostblight Mill - 42 Hearts required
Citadel of Shadows - 50 Hearts required
The Shadowrealm - 60 Hearts required
\\//=============================================================\\//
\/ Section D \/
/\ WALKTHROUGH /\
//\\=============================================================//\\
\/----------------------\/
/\ D-01 Training Level /\
After enjoying the opening CGI scene of the game, you'll be
teleported here to the training level of the game. Here you can't
die or get hurt in any way. If you fall off the platforms you just
get moved back to where you fell off. With that said, have fun and
get used to the controls of the game, and its wacky camera.
You learn how to do the following:
Move Triple Attack
Jump Uppercut
Long Jump Flare Kick
Pulse Jump Ground Pound
Swim Collecting Shards
Climb Collecting Soul Jars
So have fun! To skip the training level, go to the menu and select
"End Dream."
\/------------------\/
/\ D-02 Timberdale /\
This is the first level. After the training level, you go into Darby's
house, and then you head outside. Take in the breathtaking graphics of
the game, and now you have a whole, fairly easy big environment to
explore.
ENEMIES: Puggles, Grimkins, Flemblossoms, Shreeks (only in
castle tower area)
_______________
==MAP OF TIMBERDALE==/ E tree 1 \ # \ A-F = Soul Jars
/8\_______________/__F 2 | 6 1-8 = Shadowraith Hearts
/ rs _D_____ __/ep | b = Soccer Ball
dh_ _______ __ sp # | | (rh)
(____ \ \A/ \B_su | | | rs = Reia's Scroll
/______/ \_\____/__C__\3_b_/ # = Spirit Stone
\__ ___) (rh)= Rift Hub Gate
|__| dh = Darby's House sp = Sundial Portal
utd 5 utd = Upper Timberdale su = Sundial
4 tree = Tree Area ep = Earth Elemental Powerup
It is fairly hard to die in this level, unless you fall of the level's
edge. Usually you'll just take one hit of damage from an enemy or
fall, but just go to a spirit stone and defeat an easy enemy to
regain it. Also use the water that's in so much of the level to break
your falls.
Note my "level difficulty rating system." This is a grade out of five,
five being the hardest, in how hard it was for me to do this task
relative to the other tasks in the level. (So a five in the first
level might still be easier than a one in the last level).
==REIA'S SCROLL LOCATION==
Reia's first scroll is at the end of the main dirt path from Darby's
house to the Tree area, near the base of the tree, in a circle of
Shards.
==HEART #1 Climb the Tree==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: High atop a village
of metal, wood, and flame
a twisted tree to pillage
a secret to attain
Objective: Climb to the top of the level's tree to get your first
Shadowraith Heart and be introduced to the Rift Hub.
Location on the map: At the 1, is where the heart is located.
Just follow the arrows from the entrance to most of the way up
the tree, which is the Heart that Darby mentions before disappearing.
Going up the tree is fairly easy. Remember that the Shards and
Soul Jars get reset once you get a Shadowraith Heart, so don't
bother collecting them yet. You will stay solely in one area in this
challenge (there are also some sub-areas of Timberdale you can go to).
After the part of the tree with the falling boulder, take a right
turn to climb/jump up the rest of the tree and the Heart.
(After your first heart, whether it's this one or a different one,
you get transported to the Rift Hub, see the next section for more
on the Rift Hub.)
==HEART #2 Sumo Match==
Difficulty: 2/5
Do this Heart first: Heart #1 Climb the Tree
Riddle: Hulking sumo crashes
Storms his crushes bring
To win escape his smashes
Or be knocked out of the ring
Objective: Climb to the very top of the tree and defeat the Sumo
in a minigame for your next Heart.
Location on the map: Sumo and Heart are both at the 2.
Follow the arrows again, this time to the top of the tree. Time for
your first boss battle - the Sumo Wrestler! It's not hard at all.
Keep moving to the side so he's never really facing you. When he
starts "flaming", move out of the way so his powerful charge misses.
Go up to him and strike him out of the ring as he's recovering, for
a point. Repeat this twice to get the Heart.
==HEART #3 Dancing Rocks==
Difficulty: 3/5
Do this Heart first: Heart #1 Climb the Tree
Riddle: Upon a spirit breeze
Stones dance against the void
A prize there you must seize
A fall you must avoid
Objective: Climb the rocks flying around the top of the level to
get another Heart.
Location on the map: You start climbing at 3 on the map.
Climb the rocks near the Hub's entrance, also near the soccer ball.
On the climb, you run into two "climbing walls," which can be hard
with the plant enemies at the top, and some falling rocks. Once
you reach the top of the cliffside, you must jump through the
series of rocks. (The next rock you have to jump to is always to
the side of your rock, not above.) Plan ahead for each jump, what
angle you'll jump at, and when you should jump. You can climb up
the side of the rocks, fortunately. If you fall, it should only
take away one health point, so recover at the Spirit Stone near
the Sundial and try again. The Heart is hovering where the last
rock can reach it.
=HEART #4 Castle Tower== (D-02.4)
Difficulty: 5/5
Riddle: Beyond the curtain falls
model castle comes to light
to scale the tower walls
mind what is out of sight
Objective: A hard task, you must venture deep into Timberdale to
a tower with a Shadowraith Heart at the very top.
Location on the map: Upper Timberdale Area.
TO GET TO UPPER TIMBERDALE: Follow the path behind the first
waterfall by Darby's house. The path is fairly easy to see as it's
lined with Shards. After the first waterfall, walk the path towards
the falls' center, to the rock with the Shard, and climb up the wall
past the second waterfall into a cave in the wall. In the cave, go
straight, up into the mysterious portal, and soon you'll be in a
peaceful little village area.
For the heart, go straight from the village area into the tall tower.
This is probably the hardest challenge in the level. You have quite
a ways to go up. Start with hopping only on the darker blue platforms
onto the elevator. Don't touch the other platforms. Look at the
following platforms/enemies/etc and their descriptions for more.
Bottom Platforms - At the bottom of the area. Only jump on the dark
blue ones. The other ones collapse and will no longer be able to
save you if you fall from above.
Air Blowers - Fairly easy to avoid, except when they're grouped up.
They make the invisible platforms visible, but they also do damage.
Invisible Platforms - They're always there, the air blowers only help
you see them. Jump on them when the blowers stop.
Rock Back and Forth Platforms - There's only one of these. Start on
near end to make the far end go the highest (don't worry, it has a
limit) then go to the other side and do a Pulse Jump to get up.
Very Skinny Platforms - Be careful on these. They're not that hard
if you go slowly, since Vexx will grab onto the edge if you begin
to fall. NOTE the platforms under the large gap in this platform.
Crushing Statues - LETHAL but easy to dodge. They crush downward.
Hiding Statues - These ones crush towards the wall, but they don't
deal damage. There are extra lives behind them, and it's fun to
play hide and seek with the monsters the Shreeks hire.
Rotating Wall Cubes - Jump onto the next one as they start turning.
Purple Platforms - Jump to the next one before the one you're on
falls down and disappears.
Revolving Platforms - At the top of the level. You're almost there...
Once you reach the top of the main chamber through the pole, just
jump off the pole, climb up the spiraling platforms into the center,
and finally a well-earned Heart for you.
==HEART #5 Water Towers==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: To each watery tower
You may get around
Grab a gift of power
When their answer is found
Objective: Climb the three water towers in Upper Timberdale to get
another Shadowraith Heart.
Location on map: Upper Timberdale Area.
Use the description from the last Heart challenge to get to Upper
Timberdale again. This time, note the towers to the left, right, and
behind the tall tower from the last Heart. You need to swim through
a ring in each of them to activate them. You can do them in any
order, here they are:
Tower to the left: Probably the easiest. Get out of the water, climb
up to the pole, climb the pole, jump into the floating water, swim
through the ring, go back down, exit.
Tower in the center: Medium difficulty. Swim up to the surface of
the water and find the first Bounce Pad. Jump up to a series of
two more bounce pads, until you find yourself stuck to the
ceiling. Move the Move Stick until you're hanging over the center
of the tower in the middle. Press X to drop through the ring, and
swim back through the exit.
Tower to the right: Probably the hardest. It's all water, no place
to get air, so you have to be fast. Swim upward through the moving
"blades" (they don't hurt you, just block you), being fast. After
about four blades, you can swim through the ring at the top, back
down, and outside.
Once you've swam through the third ring, you get a message that a
Shadowraith Heart has appeared outside. Go back outside and look
around the back of the town square area for it.
==HEART #6 Soccer==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: A reward is concealed
somewhere 'twixt and knoll
for it to be revealed
keep your mind on your goal
Objective: Kick the soccer ball across some of the level into the
little goal. Fun and easy.
Location on map: Soccer ball located at point "b". Goal area located
at the 6.
Kick the soccer ball, found near the Rift Hub and the entrance to
the cliffside for heart #3. It moves just by running into it. Don't
let it roll any hills out of your control! If it goes into water or
off the edge of the level, use "Warp to Hub" and it should appear
again at its starting point, or just go back to where it was and it
should teleport there again. Make the ball keep steady to keep it
from rolling out of control, and make it roll around the back of
the Hub entrance so it's further away from all the water. The goal is
located near the Earth Elemental Powerup, by the tree and the
spirit stone in that area. Kick the ball into the goal and the Heart
appears.
==HEART #7 Sundial Portal==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: A one-way portal calls
Sundial tells the time
Hidden gateway opens halls
missed chance would be a crime
Objective: Go through a platforming challenge in the Sundial Portal.
Location on map: The sundial portal, next to the sundial, marked
with "sp".
Go onto the sundial and set the time (left or right with your
controller) so the nearby Sundial Portal is active, and go in.
It's a platform jumping challenge. I had a lot of fun with this
one. Like the Rock-Jumping challenge above the level, plan all your
jumps onto and off of moving platforms. Pretty easy.
==HEART #8 Heart in Veil==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: Cursed heart just out of reach
behind a crystal veil
if molten trick we didn't teach
this run will not avail
Objective: Activate the Earth Elemental Powerup of this level so
you can get a heart encased in crystal.
Location on Map: Earth Rune is in Darby's House
Earth Elemental Powerup is marked with "ep".
Locked Heart is located at the 8.
See the encased heart near where you started the level (by
Darby's house?) You need to break it's cover, which can only be
done with the Earth Elemental powerup. Start by going back into
Darby's house. Jump on the table in the center (watch out for the
fire) then Do a Pulse Jump + Flare Kick in the air (Crouch + Jump +
Attack) for the maximum air to reach the rafters. Get the extra
life, then go into the whirlywindy thing to enter the fire tapestry.
Climb up the animal's back to the powerup to now be able to activate
any Earth powerup at any time now! The game should save auto-
matically. Now go to where you can power up (near the soccer goal
and the Hub Entrance). You can power up as many times as you want
now. To get to the crystal veil in enough time, use this route:
Go from the powerup into the shallow water by the giant waterfall.
Jump from there to the lower part of the tree.
Go towards the original dirt path you took.
You should finish with around five seconds. Just run into the veil
to release the Heart.
==HEART #9 Soul Jars==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: Souls of Astani old
are trapped in these jars six
to gain the prize they hold
make use of all your tricks
Objective: Collect the six Soul Jars in the level for a Heart.
Location on the map: They're marked A-F on the map.
Soul Jar A: Climb the wall near the first Shattersphere (that,
appropriately, tells you about climbing).
EXTRA LIFE near this Jar, under the second waterfall bridge.
B: Similarly, perform a pulse jump on the ledge by the second
shattersphere (that tells you about Pulse Jumping).
C: Similarly, find the third Shattersphere (do a Pulse Jump + Flare
Kick (Crouch + Jump + Attack) on the high plateau near the sundial.
This shattersphere tells you about long jumping. Long jump to the
nearby platforms hovering over the large waterfall and climb up.
D: This Soul Jar can be found in the middle of the very large
rotating platform at the base of the big tree.
E: Swim around the base of the tree to an island with a Bounce Pad.
Climb up and launch to the Soul Jar.
F: Hard! Climb the tree until you reach the platform about halfway
up that rocks back and forth. On the tree stump area after this
platform, you should see a pole sticking up off the other edge of
this stump. Jump onto this pole and climb down. This is the tough
part - jumping to the other poles. Face the camera so the pole Vexx's
on is the closest, and so Vexx is as close as possible to the other
pole, and almost all the way up to the top of the earth where the
poles are hanging from. Jump and hold down "up" all the way to get
Vexx to grab onto the next pole. Repeat, climb up, good job.
==HEART #10 Shards==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder
one hundred's all that matters
Objective: Collect 100 Shards for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Everywhere, in the main section.
I recommend doing this challenge after you've done all the hearts
(or at least all the ones on the main section of the map, since
you may want to come back to the level to do #4 and 5 which are
hard).
Just explore all around the main section of the map to get 100 of
these. Revisit everywhere you've been, especially the route to Upper
Timberdale, the areas with Soul Jars A, B, C, and E, the main dirt
path of the level, and up, down, and all around the tree. If that
still isn't enough, go up to Upper Timberdale's castle tower section
for about 20 more, but you'd better not die up there.
\/----------------\/
/\ D-03 Rift Hub /\
After you collect your first heart, you will be transported here for
the first time to offer the heart's power to the amazing portal
system. With more hearts, more portals can be opened to new levels.
You come to the Rift Hub every time you get a new heart in a level.
The Rift Hub is connected to every level with a large metal entrance
door. You can also Warp back to the Rift Hub by accessing the start
menu (you have to be standing still on solid ground to do so).
Even when you've just been to Timberdale, you can open two more
levels very easily:
Dragonreach - 2 Shadowraith Hearts required
The Neverglades - 5 Hearts required
And the other levels open up after about every 8 hearts you get.
Tempest Peak Manor - 11 Hearts required
The Below - 18 Hearts required
Daggercrag - 26 Hearts required
Summit of the Sages - 34 Hearts required
Frostblight Mill - 42 Hearts required
Citadel of Shadows - 50 Hearts required
To go to a new level, if you have enough hearts, just stand on the
circle in front of the entrance to the level, choose a mission to
do (this will determine where the arrows in a level point), and
proceed into the open portal.
For more on the Rift Hub and choosing levels and Hearts, see section
C-06 Level/Hub System for more.
\/-------------------\/
/\ D-04 Dragonreach /\
Hearts Required to Enter: 2
This level is a little harder than Timberdale. There are no spirit
stones, you must recover life by defeating enemies. The deserty level
has kind of a circular layout, and three levels. The first level is
low on the ground, containing three pools, the sundial, and the
whirlpool. The second level has the large spinning gear, and entrances
to two side areas (one with a fun minigame). The highest level is a
bone bridge that spans over the circle of the level, ending in the
first Shadowraith Heart and in your ability to glide.
Enemies: Puggles, Grimkins, Skinxes, Hobbletrods (on the gear),
Shadowcreeps (whirlpool area), Phantoms (Haunted House Area),
Sharks (Underwater Area)
_____________
==MAP OF DRAGONREACH== / \
__4__ / ep \_________
/=====\___________| whirl =========\
##############$$$$$$$#####################=====\
###\==##############$$$# /===####===\____
### ###==/ \=/ \=/ | su /=======##===\ \
## ###==/ ___rs |-| | /_________#===|rune\
# wp / 6 /gear\ /-/ | /==========#===|____/
# | (p3) \====/ _/ / /=========###===/
# \ ____ ___/ /======#####===/
/|\ \ / /=2==\ __/ \_ ===####=====/
1 __ \____\ \====/____/ /====###======/
/==\ \__ ######======/
\5=/ (==) (p1) | (p2)====/
| \______/ \________/ -SURFACE KEY-
(== / # bone bridge (highest)
\___ ___/ $ pole part of bridge
\ / (can both be passed under)
\rh/ = medium-high elevation
1-6 = Shadowraith Hearts
4 = Haunted House Area, with Heart #4
(p1)(p2)(p3) = Underwater area, has pools with Heart #3
rs = Reia's Scroll gear = spinning gear with Hobbletrod
su = Sundial whirl = sand whirlpool area
wp = Wind-Elemental Powerup rune = Wind-Element Rune (high up)
ep = Earth-Elemental Powerup rh = Rift Hub (ENTRANCE)
==REIA'S SCROLL LOCATION==
In this level, Reia's scroll is located between the whirlpool area
and the area with the locked heart, near the sundial.
==HEART #1 Bone Bridge==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: Find a pulsing treasure
on an ancient knuckle
take care in each measure
or it may just buckle
Objective: Climb the lengthy bone bridge to introduce you to the
level and receive a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: At the 1, is where the heart is located.
By looking at the map and following the arrows, just go along the
high Bone Bridge path to get to the heart. Stick to the heart and
don't fall off. Here's some of what you'll run into:
Crushers - If they crush you you die instantly, but it's easy to
run past them in time.
Skinxes - These annoying bee-like creatures are common along the
bone bridge path. Practice attacking them, use an Uppercut
(Crouch + Attack) and don't fall off!
Opposite-Rotating Rocks - This pair of rocks are rotating in
opposite directions on the path. Just jump forward a lot and you
shouldn't be thrown off the path.
Pole Sequence - Stay on the poles, go to the top of each one and
jump off to the next one. If you fall off them you'll either slide
to the bottom of the pole section or off the whole bone bridge.
Large Rotating Cylinder - When you get to the top of the poles,
use the path to the right to finish the way to the first heart.
For this difficult section, run towards about 10:00 (from facing
forwards) so you don't get thrown off the platform but are still
proceeding forward.
Revolving Meteors - It's easy to dodge these meteors revolving
around the final section of the bone bridge. Usually you can just
flat out run and not get hit.
Soon, you'll reach a heart perched on a large claw-bone overlooking
the level. Congratulations and welcome to Dragonreach!
==HEART #2 Drop and Hop==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: Beneath the dragon's grasp
where time did make him stop
You must move twice as fast
to win at drop and hop
Objective: Play an Inner Demon minigame, and win to get a Heart.
Location on the map: At the 2 you can enter the area with the
minigame.
Follow the arrows along a fairly short path to the 2 on the map.
It's a building, placed on an area of fairly high elevation.
The first Inner Demon minigame is kind of like Snake, with you and
three computer players. Once you run off a floor tile, it disappears
and you get one point. Running in a straight line is effective.
Your Inner Demons should be much slower than you at collecting the
tiles, plus they can't Attack or Jump like you can. Which means you
can almost trap them on a single tile by taking all the ones around
them, and they don't jump off. There is no penalty for falling off,
and you will be regenerated in a few seconds. The tiles grow back
after about 5 seconds.
Vexx is represented by a blue circle under him, so you can tell him
apart from the demons. Each character's score appears above their
head.
Each round lasts 30 seconds. There are three rounds, and whoever has
the LEAST amount of tiles at the end of a round gets disqualified for
the next round. In the last round, there are only two participants.
Survive three rounds in a row to be declared winner and receive the
Heart.
==HEART #3 Well Cubes==
Difficulty: 5/5
Riddle: What once was ancient swells
a sea did drain below
to find it down the wells
you'll find you have to go
Objective: Descend into the three wells and activate several targets
underwater for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: At the (p1), (p2), and (p3).
To get this heart, dive into all three wells and swim down. There are
a bunch of "Cubes" you have to activate, and you need to go into all
the wells to access all the sections of the underwater area. There is
a very handy map in the corner showing Cubes and Bubbles. Here are
some of the enemies and items you'll run into:
Glowing Cubes - This is the main goal of the section. You must go
up to all the cubes in the area, simply swimming into them
deactivates them. All active cubes are shown in the map in the
corner, so it's easy to find them. Some cubes are hidden behind
doors you can open, see Tall Door description.
Air Bubbles - These are almost as important as the Glowing Cubes, as
they'll keep you alive underwater. Run into them and the swim
timer resets, and you'll get one point of health. They're also
marked on the map.
Switches - swim through the circular metal rings in the water to
open a nearby Tall Door.
Tall Doors - You can see these doors by swimming fairly high, where
their opening is. Open them with a switch. Swim through the small
opening to reach some of the Cubes.
Sharks - Swim away if they're chasing you until you reach an air
bubble. Don't let them slow you down. I guess they're just plain
annoying. If you don't swim away they'll take away some health.
Exits - When you're done with a section or you chicken out, exit
back to Dragonreach by swimming up high, where a large black
opening in the wall is.
Once you deactivate all of the Glowing Cubes, a Shadowraith Heart
will appear by the current section's exit.
==HEART #4 Haunted House==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: Where dragon's heart did beat
a doorway with suspense
within use talons' heat
to loose some things immense
Objective: Head into the "Haunted House" area and get a Shadowraith
Heart by lowering a series of blocks.
Location on the map: At the 4 where the Haunted House area is.
Follow the arrows once this mission is selected. You'll go past the
arena for Heart #2, go across a gear, and reach an elevated area with
a hole in the wall leading to the Haunted House. Why is it haunted?
It's full of Phantoms, who are very annoying. If they hit you, they
knock you to the ground AND disappear so you can't strike back and
recover health. In the house are four challenges, and four platforms
to lower to reach the Heart in the main room. To get to the challenges,
go left or right into hallways out of the main room, then left or
right once you're outside. Here are the challenges, you can do them
in any order, but these are in order of difficulty:
1. Left hallway, turn right when you're outside. Platform jumping
with platforms that rock back and forth. It's pretty easy.
2. Right hallway, right turn. Platform jumping, with narrow platforms
and some moving platforms. At times it's hard to see, but just
imagine the platforms you can see go on in a straight line.
3. Right hallway, left turn. Launch up. Once you reach the room, you
can't see a thing, but stand on the edge, center yourself in the
doorway facing into the room, and jump forward into the darkness.
You should end up grabbing onto an edge. Continue forward slowly
until you reach the fan. This is the hard part, you must jump over
the fanblades rapidly, going around the platform, to get to the
end.
4. Left hallway, left turn. Hard. Pole-to-pole jumping with moving
poles. Just patient and wait for the poles to position themselves.
Climb to the top of the poles each time.
NOTE FOR ALL CHALLENGES: The phantoms will not be able to damage you
or knock you over when you're up high in the rooms. If you fall
into the darkness, you will lose one point of health and be
returned to the main room. When you reach the end of each
challenge, use an uppercut or ground pound to cut the ropes and
lower the platforms.
Once all four platforms are lowered, return to the main room, climb
up, and get the Shadowraith Heart.
==HEART #5 Flying Lessons==
Difficulty: 3/5
Do this Heart first: Heart #1 Bone Bridge
Riddle: Beyond the fossil's grasp
a ship floats in the air
just thread the banded path
with wings to get you there.
Objective: Activate the Wind Powerup by obtaining the rune, and
try it out to get a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Rune is located at the "rune" (special way to
get there)
Powerup is located at the "wp"
Heart is located at the 5
To get this heart you must do three things: Get the wind rune, get
to the powerup, and fly to the heart.
To get the wind rune, climb the bone bridge (that you used to get
heart #1) until you reach the poles. Right after jumping off the
final pole, jump down to the ledge on the left. You should see a
platform that looks similar to a bounce pad, but it's really a
teleport pad. Step on it and you get teleported to the plateau with
the rune. Get the rune and the game auto-saves. Remember to come back
here if you need Shards for Heart #9. Return to safe ground by using
"Warp to Hub".
To get to the powerup, climb the bone bridge again. Go straight when
you get off the poles, and slide down the sand. (You should be glad
the game saved when you got the rune - this can be hard). Step on the
powerup.
To fly to the heart, once you get gliding from the powerup,
immediately fly towards the heart (straight forward, in the direction
of the nearby rings.) Fly through the rings for a speed bonus, which
you'll probably need to reach the platform with the heart in time.
Once you land on the platform, get the heart!
==HEART #6 Heart in Veil==
Difficulty: 1/5
Do this Heart first: Timberdale Heart #8 Heart in Veil
Riddle: Again a heart in sight
is locked within clear walls
without your molten might
it remains beyond your calls
Objective: Destroy another crystal veil protecting a Heart using the
Earth Elemental Powerup
Location on the map: Earth Elemental Powerup is located at the "ep"
Heart is located at the 6.
This is pretty self explanatory. Remember the last heart when you
did this? (If you didn't get the locked veil heart in Timberdale, get
it now since you need the rune from it to do this one.)
The Element Powerup is in the sand whirlpool area. The locked heart
is near the third well (to the left of the Rift Hub.) Since the
powered-up Vexx cannot jump out of the "moving sand" surrounding the
mesa in the level, you need to get close to the far wall (away from
the Rift Hub) so you have a fairly clean path to the Heart. Figure
out a good path beforehand, and it's easy. The area you pass through
should have the Sundial and Reia's Scroll.
==HEART #7 Sand Castle==
Difficulty: 6/5 (It's so hard, maybe you should come back later,
definitely do all other level tasks before this one)
Do this Heart first: Timberdale Heart #4 Castle Tower
Riddle: Within a certain spire
while moving hand o'er hand
access you'll acquire
to a castle of sand
Objective: Venture into Timberdale, to the Castle, then to the Sand
Castle for a difficult heart.
Location on the map: Not on map because not in level.
This is kind of confusing, since this heart isn't even part of
Dragonreach. You have to go back to Timberdale. Go back to the Castle
area by going to Upper Timberdale, and enter the tall tower.
(For more on this area, visit Timberdale Heart #4, use the keyword
D-02.4 in a Find search)
Climb the tower once again. When you reach the area with the very
narrow platforms going across the tower, find the gap in the platform.
Jump to the small platform under the first side of the gap, and you'll
notice a switch above your head. Jump to activate it and watch a
nearby window open. Your destination is that window. You have two
choices here, and start by jumping to the other lower platform. Either:
- Jump up and claw to the bottom of the long narrow platform. This is
really hard and you're likely to drop. Inch your way along with the
move stick until you reach the window. OR:
- Do a Pulse Jump - Flare Kick (Crouch + Jump + Attack) to get back
onto the main platform. Make your way to above the window. Inch back
to the edge of the platform until you're hanging from the edge.
Align Vexx and the camera with the window, drop and quickly Flare
Kick. (Down + Jump, then Attack button). You need good timing with
your flare kick, but you should hang onto the edge of the window.
Walk into the next room. Now you're back in Dragonreach. This is a
nearly complete replica of the last room, with slightly bigger gaps,
different enemies, faster-moving platforms, and different decorations
(note the shells don't do anything, they can be distracting). If you
go back through the exit, you will be teleported back to Dragonreach,
instead of Timberdale's Castle Tower. Luckily, where you are is a
restart point, just make sure you have some lives to spare. You will
need to use Pulse Jump + Flare Kick (Crouch + Jump + Attack) and
Long Jump + Flare Kick (Move + Crouch + Jump + Attack) a lot to get
across some of the platforms. Start by doing a Long Jump + Flare Kick
to get to the elevator platform without touching any of the hexagons
on the ground. When the elevator arrives, do a Long Jump + Flare Kick
again quickly to get to safe ground. Continue up, this is what you'll
encounter:
ENEMIES:
Giant Hobbletrods - Easy, as you'll be on solid land when you
encounter them. Shake them off, or go up to them and attack them
if you need health.
Giant Flembossoms: Easy. One of them is facing away from you, and
they go down in one hit.
PLATFORMS/DEVICES:
Bottom Platforms - At the bottom of the area. Don't jump on them
unless you land on them from above.
Air Blowers - Fairly easy to avoid, except when they're grouped up.
They make the invisible platforms visible, but they also do damage.
In the big group of them, you will have to take damage, but simply
try to keep from falling off!
Invisible Platforms - They're always there, the air blowers only help
you see them. Jump on them when the blowers stop. Some of them are
hard to see in this level, but you should remember where they are.
Rock Back and Forth Platforms - There's only one of these. Start on
near end to make the far end go the highest (don't worry, it has a
limit) then go to the other side and do a Pulse Jump + Flare Kick.
Very Skinny Platforms - Be careful on these. They're a little
harder this time. Like the invisible platforms, there's a section
that only shows up when grains are dropped on it (it's always
there.) Inch along slowly so Vexx will catch the side if you start
to fall. Once again, there's a midway gap you have to jump.
Gray Rectangle Platforms - Jump to the next one before the one
you're on falls down and disappears. Use a Pulse Jump + Flare Kick.
Crushing Statues - LETHAL but easy to dodge. They crush downward.
Hiding Statues - These ones crush towards the wall, but they don't
deal damage. There is one extra life behind the second one.
Rotating Wall Cubes - Jump onto the next one as they start turning.
This time they turn fast. Get REALLY HYPER with Pulse Jumps to
survive.
Gray Square Platforms - Jump to the next one before the one you're
on falls down and disappears. One of them is a little higher up,
do a Pulse Jump to get to it.
Revolving Platforms - At the top of the level. You're almost there...
be careful jumping onto the pole, use a Flare Kick in your Jump if
you don't think you're aligned right.
ONCE (or IF) you reach the top of the main chamber through the pole,
just jump off the pole (Watch out for the Air Blower, climb up the
spiraling platforms into the center, and finally a very-well-earned
Heart for you. Now go take a break from the game!
==HEART #8 Soul Jars==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: The spirits of the damned
trapped in eternal pain
can be found throughout this land
among earthly remains
Objective: Find the six Soul Jars in the level for a heart.
Location on the map: All jars around the Whirlpool area.
Find the six soul jars, they're all around the Whirlpool area, look
around all the bone bridges. (One's a little far away, near the start
of the big Bone Bridge, on a claw-bone.)
==HEART #9 Shards==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder
one hundred's all that matters
Objective: Collect 100 Shards for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Everywhere, in the main section.
I recommend doing this challenge after you've done some of the other
hearts, such as #1 and #5 and #8 especially.
Just explore all around the main section of the map to get 100 of
these. Revisit everywhere you've been, especially the route to the
Haunted House, the entire bone bridge, the high plateau with the
Rune, the area around all the wells, and all the little places you
haven't noticed before, that you can see by going to a high point
like the bone bridge.
\/-----------------------\/
/\ D-05 The Neverglades /\
Hearts Required to Enter: 5
This level isn't too hard. Spirit Stones come back. This level pretty
much has three areas - A large temple in front of you, a castle area
behind you, and a very watery area to the left. The sundial is at an
upper area above the temple. And, once again, there is another Inner
Demon minigame.
ENEMIES: Flemblossoms, Goobeasts, Krunks, Skinxes, Shadowcreeps
(Citadel area), Shocking Sharks
______________________
==MAP OF NEVERGLADES==/****************#*****\
/*********/TEMP\********|^^^^
/****/~| |________| |\***|~~~~>
____________/wp**/~~|____________|~\**|~~~~~>
h2| |~~~~~~~~<\**\~~~~~~|____|~~~~~/**|~~~/h3\
| | |~~~~~~~~<<\**\~~~~~|____|~~~~~\**|~~~\___\
|_| |~~~~~~~~<</***\~~~~h1 rs|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
|6 |~(tc)~()<|*****\~~~|____|~~~~~~~~~~~~/ |
_____| /~~~~~~~~~<<\*****************\~~~~~~~~\___|
/ ______/~~~~~~/ 2 \<<|**\**************\~~~~~~~~~~~>
|_/~~~~~~~~~~~~~\___/<<|**|~~~~| |~\***|~~~~~~/ |
|_|7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</|****|~~~| |~|***|~~~~~~\___|
|_|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|#|****|___| |_|***|_\^^^^~~~>
|__________|~|_|~|__ 1 ________ ________)^^(__/
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\_/******\ | | /*su*\^^^^^^/
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(************/_| | \****/^^^^^/ --CITA area--
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~<<<<<<<<<<<<<~~ ~~>>>>^^^^^/ to main
| | _______/ s1 \
--TEMP area-- /| rh |\ / s2 \_||__\
_C_____D_ __/ |____| \__ | \
B/ 8 \ | | | [ 3 4 ] \
/ ___ \E | __\ /__ | | ___ /
| / 5 \ | | | CITA | | \_______/ _____/
A|___ ____|F \ \______/ / \ \
\main/ \__________/ \__s3/
** = High elevation area (can sometimes be passed under, accessed
from top of temple stairs or climbing behind Rift Hub)
~~ = Calm water
<< ^^ >> = Water with currents (Left, Up, and Right, respectively)
TEMP = Temple area (has its own map)
CITA = Citadel area (has its own map)
1-9 = Shadowraith Hearts A-F = Soul Jars
h1 h2 h3 = Heart #1 Heads s1 s2 s3 = Heart #4 Head Switches
rh = Rift Hub (ENTRANCE) # = Spirit Stone
rs = Reia's Scroll su = Sundial
wp = Wind Elemental Powerup tc = Talon Charger Platform
==REIA'S SCROLL LOCATION==
In this level, Reia's scroll is located along the path straight
from the Rift Hub to the temple, at the base of the stairs.
==HEART #1 Stone Head Assembly==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: Relics wrecked lay in rot
What mystery transpired?
Heads up, mind this caveat:
Some Assembly Required
Objective: Find the three stone heads around the level and place them
on the stone bodies to unlock a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Locked heart and stone bodies located at the 1.
Three heads located at the h1, h2, and h3 in the
main section of the map.
First, follow the level's default arrows to the little altar with the
three stone bodies, and the Heart encased in stone. To get there, pass
across the water at the beginning, and take a left turn at the stone
intersection. Now it's time to get the three colored heads, and put
them on their corresponding bodies.
Note - Carrying Heads: To carry a head, simply walk up to it and press
the Attack button. You should grab onto the head and hold it above Vexx
with your claws. To let go of the head, press Attack again. This will
make Vexx throw the head. Vexx can do powerful throws by moving, and
even jumping during a throw. You'll need to use this method to get the
heads above several gaps. If you leave the heads alone for about 10
seconds, they will disappear in a blue burst and return to their
original position.
Head 1 (Yellow): Simply go back to the Rift Hub, and take the path
straight forward, to the base of the Temple stairs. You should see the
Reia's scroll, and on a rock to the left, you should see a Yellow Stone
Head. Go up to it and pick it up. Bring it back to the Altar by walking
back along the path to there. To get the head up a high stair, just
jump in front of the stair, throw, and the head should land at the top
if you did it right. Go up and get the head again. When you reach the
Altar, just go up to the Yellow Body and press Attack.
Head 2 (Green): From the Altar, keep going forward into the water
cave area. Simply follow the path lining the wall until you get to a
slightly raised area with the Green Stone Head. Kill all the enemies
along the way so you don't have to fight them on your way back with
the head. Pick up the head. Heading back should be fairly easy. At
the stairs, just Jump, Throw, Climb Up, Pick Up, repeat. At the
circular revolving platforms, just jump onto the rotating platform
when it comes, without Throwing the head, and jump off on the other
side. At the large gap above the spirit stone: Jump up, but not out.
Throw at the top of your jump, and go across. The Altar should
be right in front of you, deliver the head.
Head 3 (Red): From the Altar, turn around to the path back to the
Rift Hub, but go straight until you reach a series of large platforms
over open water. Jump across these with Long Jumps + Flare Kicks.
At the end of the series is the last Head, which is red. Pick it
up and Jump up (not in any direction) and throw to get the Head
across all the gaps, follow it, and repeat.
==HEART #2 Electric Sharks==
Difficulty: 5/5
Riddle: A drop into a well
is followed by a splash
Beware the fish are fell
electric is their lash
Objective: Go down into the well and use the electric sharks to charge
up a platform that leads to a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: The well is located at the 2.
This is an odd, kind of glitchy task that involves charging up a
platform using electric sharks in a separate area. To get to this
"Well" area, follow the arrows for Heart #2, or go to the Altar for
Heart #1, continue to the cavern area, and take a right turn by the
spirit stone, and look around in the water for the well. Go down.
In the well area, you'll notice a ring in the water. This has nothing
to do with you swimming through it. Also, in the center of the area,
there's a little whirlywindy thing that will take you back to the
main area, and a sunken underwater platform under it. You should
also notice three bright sharks swimming around in different parts
of the water. Be careful around these. They're what make this
challenge difficult and scary. (If you're down to 1 or 2 pieces of
health, warp out and fight a Goobeast to regain all your health.)
What you need to do is swim around, fairly slowly but not too slow,
and attract the sharks to you and make them follow you to the ring.
If you think you can do this fairly easily, just go around in a
circle around the center of the area, making all the sharks follow
you, and swim through the ring. This will make all the sharks shock
the ring with their electricity and will make the large sunken
platform rise. You need all three sharks shocking at the same time.
It's harder than it sounds. Just attract them all to the area with
the ring. Try not to get shocked yourself in the process! Once the
platform rises, climb up it and step on the switch to reveal the
well-earned Shadowraith Heart.
==HEART #3 Open the Citadel==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: This age old citadel
did time and sand devour
Its hazards you must quell
to scale its inner tower
Objective: Unlock the door to the Citadel area in back of the level, and
go into the Citadel for an easy Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: The Citadel entrance is located at the "CITA".
In the area, the Heart is located at the 3.
The first task here is to unlock the door to the Citadel. Go to the
wall of vines behind the Rift Hub gate and climb up. This is the door
to the Citadel. You need to find three glowing relics around the
castle wall to open up the door. Just go to the side of the tower and
you'll see platforms along the side. Explore the area around there
for three glowing relic things. Touch them to deactivate them and see
a cutscene with a section of the door opening. Once you get all three
of them the Citadel Door opens. Go inside.
Now, go up to the structure in the middle of this dark, sandy area
(Watch out for Shadowcreeps!) and look around it for a ramp going up
onto it. There should be a ramp on the opposite side of the entrance
to this area. From there, climb up the odd structure to the top, and
jump down into the middle (Do a Flare Kick when you're at the same
level as the Heart) to get a Shadowraith Heart floating in the
middle of this structure.
==HEART #4 Nanyk Temple==
Difficulty: 4/5
Do this Heart first: Heart #3 Open the Citadel
Riddle: The temple of Nanyk
lies buried in the sand
Head up to make three clicks
and try for one last stand
Objective: Get another heart in the Citadel area by exploring the large
heads surrounding the buried ruins.
Location on the map: The Citadel entrance is located at the "CITA".
In the area, the three heads are located at the
s1, s2, and s3, and the Heart is at the 4.
You should do Heart #3 before this. Go back into the Citadel area.
You need to turn on the eyes of three "head switches" at different
sides of this area to raise the tower in the middle out of the sand.
Head Switch 1: From near the entrance, you should see a Bounce Pad
on the ground on a slightly raised area. Go up to a bridge, cross
the bridge to a switch on the ground that lowers another bridge.
Cross the next bridge and climb up the wall to the Head Switch.
Step on the ground switch to activate it.
Head Switch 2: From Switch 1, go around to the right side of the
structure in the middle to find another raised area. This time,
there's a bunch of "temporary support" platforms that activate when
you pass through from under them. Go up the series of these
platforms to reach another Head Switch. Activate it.
Head Switch 3: Go to the back corner of the room, and climb up
the ramp of sand. There should be a series of platforms going up
and down. This is easy as long as you don't fall off, walk along
until you reach the last Head Switch, and activate. To get back
to the main area quickly drop down from the platform with the Head,
you should see a teleport pad which will return you to the tower
in the center.
==HEART #5 Temple Rings==
Difficulty: 2/5
Do this Heart first: Dragonreach Heart #2 Drop and Hop
Riddle: Shadowed alcove through
a game of gatherings
Collect more than a few
to win at Temple Rings
Objective: Participate in another Inner Demon minigame in the temple
and win three rounds for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: The Temple entrance is located at the "TEMP".
In the area, the Heart is located at the 5.
From the Rift Hub, just go straight. Straight ahead, across the
bridge, up the stairs, up the ramps, and into the temple, and
into the door straight ahead when you get into the temple. You just
entered another "inner demon" minigame. Remember the last one?
The second Inner Demon minigame is Ring Collecting, with you and
three computer players. Each ring you collect is a point. A good
way to do this is to run to where there's a lot of rings, and where
your enemy could easily get them, but make sure he doesn't get them
before you can! Your Inner Demons should be slightly slower than
collecting the rings, but this time they can do attacks. By
attacking or juggling your Inner Demons you can make them spill
rings. But watch out, since they'll do the same to you. Make sure
you don't lose control when you're near them. If you go near an
enemy, attack it before it attacks you, even if you don't pick up
what he drops, at least you'll stall him. There is no penalty for
falling out of the arena, and you will be regenerated in a few
seconds. A new bunch of rings falls about every 5 seconds, too.
Vexx is represented by a blue circle under him, so you can tell him
apart from the demons. Each character's score appears above their
head.
Each round lasts 30 seconds. There are three rounds, and whoever has
the LEAST amount of rings at the end of a round gets disqualified for
the next round. In the last round, there are only two participants.
Survive three rounds in a row to be declared winner and receive the
Heart.
==HEART #6 Fear of Flying==
Difficulty: 2/5
Do this Heart first: Dragonreach Heart #5 Flying Lessons
Riddle: Above dark cavern floats
Heart teasingly so near
To get high above the moats
hope flying's not your fear
Objective: Use the Wind Elemental Powerup to glide to a floating
Shadowraith Heart over the wet area to the left of the level.
Location on the map: Flying powerup located at "wp".
Heart located at the 6.
Make your way up the temple stairs ahead and jump up past the temple.
Follow the path to the left, and you should soon see the level's
Wind Elemental Powerup. Your objective is simple: Glide to one of the
level's hearts floating in the air, above the water cavern section.
The heart shines brightly, so you should be able to see it when you
start gliding. If you can get good control of your glide, this should
be easy. Simply touch the Shadowraith Heart to collect it.
==HEART #7 Talon Charger==
Difficulty: 0/5 (so easy it should have been in the tutorial)
Riddle: Over shadowed pools in gloom
Lifeless eyes are dark
In sockets fire will bloom
If lightning there does arc
Objective: Use the Talon Charging Platform to activate a large head
relic and make it release a Shadowraith Heart
Location on the map: The Talon Charger is located at the TC.
The Heart is located at the 7.
Make your way up the temple stairs ahead and jump up past the temple.
Follow the path to the left, then take the right fork in the upper
path. You should see a bunch of odd-sized platforms descending to
the right. Climb down them to the bottom to get to the Talon Charger.
Charge your Talons with the Attack button if they're not fully
charged already, and Power Up. Face the large stone head that should
be directly ahead of the camera and fire away with attack. A heart
should quickly appear in the head if you hit the right places.
Charge up again, but don't use the charge, and jump down into the
pool and swim up to the Heart that you freed.
==HEART #8 Soul Jars==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: An ancient temple wall
contains a mystery
return before the fall
and join its history
Objective: Go into the Temple area and check out the beautiful
tapestries to find the six Soul Jars.
Location on the map: The Temple entrance is located at the "TEMP".
The six Jars are marked with letters A-F.
Getting the Jars is interesting this time. Start from the Rift Hub by
going straight into the Temple area. Once you're in the inside area of
the Temple, don't go into the Inner Demon Minigame, instead turn left
by the Shattersphere and go into the other hallway.
This is the temple wall with the Jars. Like getting the Fire-
Elemental Rune, you must go in a series of tapestries to get this
Shadowraith Heart.
The tapestries are separated but the design is continuous, so jumping
or running from one tapestry will immediately place you on the next
one. Surfaces you can run on are usually marked with bright lines.
There is no penalty for falling off.
Enter the tapestry puzzle by going into the at the dark doorway at the
left of the room.
Soul Jar A: Far Left Tapestry. Get to the top branch of the tree by
climbing the pole.
Soul Jar B: Center Left Tapestry. Top of watchtower in the middle,
just jump to it.
Soul Jar C: Center Tapestry. Top of second pole-ship. Just jump to
it and climb if necessary.
Soul Jar D: Center Tapestry. Top of Brick Tower to the right, to get
over there do a Pulse Jump + Flare Kick while holding
Right, with good timing, from Jar #C.
Soul Jar E: Center Right Tapestry. Under the bird, just jump to it.
Soul Jar F: Far Right Tapestry. End of the line, you have to use
the "dangle surface" of the spaceship to get there.
Get all of the Soul Jars and the Heart will appear in the middle
of the room.
==HEART #9 Shards==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder
one hundred's all that matters
Objective: Collect 100 Shards for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Everywhere.
I recommend doing this challenge after you've done some of the other
hearts, such as easy ones #6 and #7.
Just explore all around the main section of the map to get 100 of
these. Revisit everywhere you've been, especially the upper area with
the Sundial and the Wind Powerup and all the paths to the stone heads
for the relics in Heart #1. Also swim around underwater in the cavern
area for some, and revisit the Citadel area if you need to.
\/--------------------------\/
/\ D-06 Tempest Peak Manor /\
Hearts Required to Enter: 11
This level is harder, but is a lot of fun. There are no spirit stones
this time. This level is a whole different setup than the last three...
the level's just a single room, but Vexx is tiny. Don't drop on the
floor, since Rex (see enemies section) rampages around, and will eat
you if he catches you. The game recommends using a Vent or a Cushion
to get back to safe ground, but I recommend simply standing still,
going to the pause menu, and Returning to Hub. You're out of danger
like that. Skinxes (flies) are very common in this level, but it's
mostly easy enemies.
ENEMIES: Puggles, Grimkins, Skinxes, Hobbletrods, Blast Bugs, Krunks,
Shreeks, Hulks
==MAPS OF TEMPEST PEAK MANOR==
FLOOR LEVEL (REX'S AREA)
___________________
_/ /******\******_$_*| ==LEGEND==
_/ /********\ V ||_________
_/ /**PIANO***\ |********| | 1-6 = Shadowraith Hearts
/_ /************\ |***TV***| | A-F = Soul Jars
|S*| (*) ___ __(*) |********| |
|H*| /*$*\ |CU| _|________| | ELEVATION
|E*| \***/ -- |CU| /*$*\ | [**] = Higher Elevation (Wall)
|L*| -- \***/ | [ ] = Current Elevation
|F*| |-|-------|-| [^^] = Lower Elevation (Fall)
\ _ |***********|
\V _/*\ |***COUCH***| PLATFORMS/SURFACES
\/$***\ __ \********$/| V = Vent
\SINK*\ |CU| ____ V | CU = Cushion (bouncy)
\****/ -- /$***| lamp| $ = Ideal landing spot from a
\*/ ___________ |CHAIR ___ | Vent or Cushion
\ |***********| (***/ __ \| @ = Moving platform comes here
\ |**TABLE***| ( CLOCK)
\_|**********|________\____/ LEVEL LOCATIONS
PIANO = Large Piano
MIDDLE LEVEL (RIFT HUB) TV = Television
______________rh___ COUCH = Couch for the TV
_/^_/ _su\________$_ | SHELF = Bookshelf
_/^_// / 2 \\@^^^^^ V ||_________ SINK = Kitchen Sink
_/^^/ / /_rs__\\ \^^^^^^| ______ |^| TABLE = Kitchen Table
/_^^/ /___$______\ \^^^^^||**TV**||^| CHAIR = Small Chair
|6 | ( )^^___^^^^^( )^^^^^||******||^| CLOCK = Grandfather Clock
| 5|^^^^^/CU \^^^^^^^^^^^^|___$_cons^|
| |^^^^^\___/^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^/CU \^^_| USUAL THINGS
radio^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\___/^|*| rh = Rift Hub (ENTRANCE)
|__|@^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^rem---$---avs su = Sundial
\^^^^^@^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| |cont | | rs = Reia's Scroll
\V _/ \^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| \_|_____/ | (note that there are no
\/$ \^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\________$/| elemental powerups in
\ 4 \^^^^^^^^^^^^^^____^^^^^ V | this level)
\ _/^^^^^^^^^^^^^/CU| |^^^^^^^|
\_/^^__^________^^|__/$/^^____^| TV EQUIPMENT
\^^|__|_ |^(___/^^/ __ \| rem = Remote Control
\^^| ( )ooo _ |@^^^^^@( gc) ) cons = Game Console
\^|_______(_)|^^^^^^^^\____/ cont = Game Controller
HIGHEST LEVEL (RAFTERS, ETC) WAYS TO GET TO THE RAFTERS
___________________ avs = Air Vent Switches
_/^/ \^^^^^^^^^^| (Step and get blown upward,
_/^^/ \^^^^^^^^^|_________ located at COUCH armrest)
_/^^^/ PIANO \^^^^^^^^^______^^^| radio = Radio Antenna
/_^^^/____________\^^^^^^^| TV |^^| (Step on radio button
| |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^|______|^_| on radio on SHELF to raise
| |^^^^^^^^^^\A\|B|/C/^^^^^^^^^^^^| | radio antenna to climb)
|__|___________\__@__/_____________|_| lamp = Lamp Elevator
|____________________________________| (Goes straight from floor
|__|^^^^^^^^^^^/ \^^^|^^^^^^^^^__| to high level by rafters)
\^@^^^^^^^^^^/D/|E|\F\^^|^^COUCH^^| |
\^^_/^\^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^|^^^^^^^^^| | OTHER AREAS
\/^^^^\^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\^^^^^^^^| | 2 = Piano World for Heart #2
\SINK^\^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^|_| gc = inside Grandfather Clock
\^^^^/^^^^^^^^^^^^^/^^^^|^^lamp_| (go out at top for H #3)
\^/^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^|CHAIR^^____^| sp = Sundial Portal (inside
\^^|^^^^^^^^^^^|^(^^^/^^/3_/ \| (gc area, not on map)
\^^|^^TABLE^^^|^^^^^^^( (/gc ) 4 = Drain Area for Heart #4
\^|^^^^^^^^^^|^^^^^^^^\/___/ 6 = Inner Demon Minigame for H #6
==REIA'S SCROLL LOCATION==
Reia's scroll is a little harder to find, go up to the part of the
piano, at the front of it, that would normally hold a book (and I
guess it does in a way). You should get it on your way to Heart #2.
==HEART #1 Console Gaming==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: If you play it clear
Despite your lack of size
You'll break out of the screen
A console-action prize
Objective: Play a minigame on the level's TV, similar to "Breakout,"
and earn a Shadowraith Heart by destroying all blocks.
Location on the map: All on Middle Level: Console located at "cons",
Remote Control located at "rem", Controller
located at "cont".
This is an interesting task requiring three objects around the TV
area. Follow the arrows to the front of the TV, and go to the game
console. Turn it on by standing in front of it next to the controller
wire and pressing Attack. Use the cushion on the footstool to get to
the couch nearby. Get on the armrest of the couch where the remote
control is hanging off the end. Stand on the remote and do a
Ground Pound to turn on the TV. With the TV and console on, you
should see an image of a video game. If you win the game, the Heart
will pop out of the screen and land on the couch. If you get "Game
Over, simply turn on the console again and return to the controller.
Here is the game:
There are nine blocks at the top of the screen. There is a pong-like
paddle that you control at the bottom of the screen. A Shadowraith
Heart will act as the ball. The ball needs to bounce off of you (the
paddle) or you lose a "life" (one of them on the console game,
marked with Vexx's head in the corner of the TV's screen.) You win
when the ball bounces off all of the blocks at the top and makes
them disappear. The ball (and music) get faster the more blocks
you destroy. Have fun with this! Since the ball follows a geometric
pattern, and the same pattern each time you play, you should win
in no time.
==HEART #2 Piano World==
Difficulty: 5/5
Riddle: Ebony, Ivory
and each color between
Dissonance, Harmony
'neath the piano strings
Objective: Go into the challenging "Piano World" by going into the
piano, and make your way to the top for a Heart.
Location on the map: To get into the piano, go into the piano's
strings, located at the 2 on the Middle Level.
This is a pretty tough task involving a side area. To get to the
side area, follow the arrows, or go right from the start of the
level, until you're in the strings of the piano (get Reia's scroll
on the side of the piano now). If you touch the strings you get
transported to the side area. This new area is just music and
instruments. You have to stay stepping on them or you fall and
die. There are sufficient extra lives in the area, though. Here's
what you'll run into on this adventure, in order:
Music Notes - This is the safe area with no properties. However,
this is where all the enemies will appear. Be careful and go
slowly since the camera can get annoying.
Drums - These platforms are bouncy and pretty fun. Don't fly off!
Xylophone - Don't let the stick moving back and forth push you
off. Otherwise a safe platform.
Cymbals - Normal rotating platforms, often associated with poles.
Bass - Large thick string that "vibrates" and pushes you away
from where the keys strike it. Don't get crushed by the keys nor
fall off the strings, and watch out for the circular platforms
at the ends which are hollow in the middle.
Trumpet - Simple lift at the end of the first bass.
Piano - Press all three keys to get the cover to act as a lift.
Saxophone - Normal platform after the piano. Get inside it from
the piano and go all the way in for two extra lives!
Horns - Above Saxophone. Wait for them to stop blowing before
passing them, one at a time.
Violin - Watch out for the bow and the Hobbletrod at first. Once
you defeat the Hobbletrod, use the bow to get to the next areas
by doing a Pulse Jump straight up standing on the strings when
the bow will appear under you. To one side is an extra life in
a bass drum, to another side is the path ahead.
Large Note Platforms - The first set of these stay in place, but
they sag down just a little when you step on them. The second
set of them do not sag, but they move around.
At the end of the line, on a drum, bounce up to get a well-earned
Shadowraith heart.
==HEART #3 Climb the Clock==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: Time as it waits for no one
The works of peril spin
Face glowing like a sun
Hides a reward within
Objective: Climb the inside of the grandfather clock to get a
Shadowraith Heart at the top.
Location on the map: Grandfather clock located at the "CLOCK".
Go to the "gc" in the Middle Level to enter.
Exit the clock at the Top Level to get the
Heart located at the 3.
This task is similar to the last one, but not nearly as hard.
Go to the Grandfather Clock by making your way across the TV and
couch to the kitchen table, waiting on the edge of the table
nearest the clock for the platform to come, and taking a moving
platform to the base of the clock. Climb up the notches in the
clock's table until you reach as high as you can go, and then go
into the mouse hole into the clock. Here's what you'll find
inside the clock:
Large spinning gear - Harmless, at the bottom of the area. This
gear comes in handy, so you don't die every time you fall. But
it's kind of badly textured, ya?
Wall pushers - Watch out for them as you approach, don't let
them push you off the wall.
Small spinning gears - Harmless moving and spinning platforms.
Don't get dizzy!
Large yellow platform that rocks back and forth - self-explanatory.
You can't fall off, and note the sundial platform to the right
side of it.
Up and Down pendulum - Normal platform after the back+forth one.
Ferris wheel gear - Yay! Ride this gear at any point, try getting
all the shards, and use it to get across the clock.
Air Vent Switches - Stand on them and they blow you upward.
Wire surface - Normal dangle surface, drop onto the small gear
under it.
After the last small gear, jump onto the wooden circular platform
that leads back out of the clock. Go back into the main Tempest
Peak Manor area, take a look around from so high up in the level,
and get the heart waiting right there.
==HEART #4 Down the Drain==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: A Heart is held a captive
to free it is a pain
Your goal is adaptive
Your work is down the drain
Objective: Go down the drain with the water in the Sink Area
for a Shadowraith Heart trapped in another level.
Location on the map: Go to the SINK area at the Middle Level.
The drain is located at the 4.
This is a generally easy task. Make your way to the SINK from
the SHELF or from the TABLE. Just go around the level following
the arrows. Once you're at the sink, first go to the bottom of
the sink bowl and blow off the drain cover by doing a Ground
Pound (Jump + Crouch). Now go up to the button next to the
faucet tap and do another Ground Pound to turn on the water.
Jumping back into the drain will now take you to the drain
world, a new area will load.
I'm not sure if you're supposed to do anything in this new
area, you're just sliding down a tube. You can move side to
side and jump. You may need to jump over a gap in the piping.
After about 10 seconds, you will be forced into a new area,
the game will load again. Now, for some reason, you're in
Summit of the Sages in a small suspended cage, but you can get
your Heart, which you're sharing the cage with.
==HEART #5 Heart Hiding in Box==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: It's in plain sight to find
But not without some luck
In the interest of being kind
Through top of box you duck
Objective: Find a certain shoebox on the shelf and drop through
the top for an easy Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Go to the SHELF area at the Middle Level,
the Heart is located at the 5.
This task is easy, easy, easy. Go to the Shelf area from by
the piano. As soon as you're on the shelf, you should hear the
beating of a heart that you can't see. The box to your left,
a green one that looks like a shoebox, should have writing on
it. (I think it's Vexx writing for "Do Not Open.") Stand on the
writing and do a Ground Pound (Jump + Crouch button) to open
up the top of the box and get the Heart inside.
==HEART #6 Tower Rings==
Difficulty: 2/5
Do this Heart first: The Neverglades Heart #5 Temple Rings
Riddle: This tower's tiny clone
is sleeping with the fishes
catch the rings as they're thrown
defeat yourself for wishes.
Objective: Play a Inner Demon minigame very similar to the last
one for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Go to the SHELF area at the Middle Level,
the aquarium is at the 6.
Another Inner Demon minigame! To get to it, go to the bookshelf
area (go across the Piano), and climb up, using the Radio, to the
top area. (Use the button on the radio to raise the antenna to
climb.) Move the camera so you can see the fish tank under you.
Jump down into the tank and swim into the tiny tower to start
the game.
This time the game is almost identical to the last one. Once
again you're collecting rings with three inner demons, one
eliminated after each round. See The Neverglades Heart #5 for
more.
==HEART #7 Sundial Portal==
Difficulty: 3/5
Do this Heart first: Timberdale Heart #7 Sundial Portal
Riddle: A one-way portal calls
Sundial tells the time
Hidden gateway opens halls
missed chance would be a crime
Objective: Go through another platforming challenge in a new
Sundial Portal for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Sundial in the PIANO area at the "su".
Sundial Portal in the CLOCK area, go in
at the "gc". (Both in Middle Level)
First, go to the sundial. You can get there by going to the Piano,
going to where you would drop into the Piano World (the strings),
but walk along the edge of the piano until you're at the back of
it to find the sundial. You should see two notches at the "dawn"
part of the day, so set the clock at exactly the one that's still
at night. Now pause the game and select Return to Hub. (It's quicker
to get to the next area).
Now, go into the Grandfather Clock, like for Heart #3. Go up through
the first few parts of the clock until you meet the large yellow
platform that rocks back and forth. Quickly jump to the right, under
the large yellow lift, and you should see the Sundial Portal. You
have to go through the correct side of it if it is active. Go ahead.
You're in the Sundial World now. This place is pretty easy. Like the
last one, there are enemies, moving platforms, and a cool sky. This
time, the moving platforms are poles (no different than normal
platforms, just climb up to the top and jump), and there's an added
enemy: Hulks. They're not that hard, just keep hitting them and they
won't attack you, and they'll be down in no time.
==HEART #8 Soul Jars==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: Upon a chandelier
Are trapped these poor spirits
To make a heart appear
Allow your steps to steer it
Objective: Climb up to the level's rafters and get all the Soul Jars
on all ends of the unstable chandelier.
Location on the map: In the center of the Highest Level is the rafter
and the chandelier with the Soul Jars (A-F).
The main challenge here is getting to the rafters. There are three
ways:
-Use the radio. Go to the SHELF area in the level (past the piano)
and climb up until you reach a radio on the shelf. Press the button
on the radio (jump on it or use a Ground Pound) to raise the antenna.
Climb up the antenna, and after clearing the enemies there, look
around to see the books you climb to get to the rafters. Go up to
the beam and walk toward the center. There is a Shreek here. Be
careful, just pass by it, and more importantly, don't fall off the
rafters.
-Use the air vent switches. Make your way to the armrest of the
couch with the remote control. Go around the backrest until you're
on the armrest closer to the wall. At the end you should see a
switch on the ground. Step on it to be blown up to a small shelf on
the wall with a flower pot. First, look around the back of the pot
for an extra life. Then, blow up with a second switch and land in
the pot. This causes the flowers to grow. Go back down to the
switch, and blow up + flare kick to the flower leaf closer to you.
Jump to the next leaf and then to the ledge on the wall. Simply
use the final air switch to get up to the rafters, and walk to the
center.
-Use the lamp. Go to the Grandfather clock, you'll notice on the
floor towards the chair there is a lamp/coat rack/something that
has a section that can be used as a lift from the floor to near
the rafters. Use the nearby Vent to get on, and be lifted up.
Get over to the Air Vent Switch on the part of the wall to get
up to the rafters.
Once you're at the center of the rafters, time for business.
This is fairly easy as long as you're slow. Look for a platform
that will take you down to the chandelier. As unstable as the
chandelier is and as annoying as the camera is, you won't fall
off. Just walk slightly towards each Soul Jar, wait for the
camera and chandelier to adjust, and walk slowly the rest of
the way to each. Get all six and the Heart appears at the top
of the rafters. Take the platform back up and enjoy.
==HEART #9 Shards==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder
one hundred's all that matters
Objective: Collect 100 Shards for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Everywhere.
I recommend doing this challenge after you've done some of the other
hearts, such as easy ones #4 and #5.
Just explore all around the main section of the map to get 100 of
these. Revisit everywhere you've been, especially the entire piano,
all of the shelf, and around the rafters. If you fall on the floor,
be sure to use Warp To Hub, since if you die, it's all the Shards
down the drain. (speaking of down the drain, you won't find any down
the sink's drain.) This time it's harder since you need to go to more
places to get the Shards. You probably need to visit the Grandfather
Clock area (get all the shards on the Ferris Wheel platform!) and
the Piano World (be careful, easy to die in there!) Get in the
Sundial Portal area if you can.
\/-----------------\/
/\ D-07 The Below /\
Hearts Required to Enter: 11
This level is full of a lot of difficult tasks. The level is a large
underwater dome, but fortunately, none of the tasks in the level take
place fully underwater. That would be scary. Most of the hearts in
this level have their own little section. Overall, this is a well-
designed level that's a step up from the last few. By the way, there
are quite a few new tough enemies. There is one spirit stone in the
level, and several rocks scattered on the land which you can also hit
to gain health.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a very easy way to get a lot of extra lives
in this level. See Heart #3, and the FAQ's section.
ENEMIES: Puggles, Grimkins, Skinxes, Hobbletrods, Slyphs, Floppers,
Yabu's Guards, Shadowminions, Sharks
_________________
==MAP OF THE BELOW== /F ' __ \_
_______/\__/____(__)_D_____ \_
_/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ /~~~~~\_ \ \
/~~~~~___~~~~~~~~~(_)~___~~~~\ \_\ \
_ /~~~~~/ \~~~~~~~~~~~/rs \~~~~\ \E__\
/#\__/~bub~~| 3 _~~~~~~~~~~~| 4 |~~~~~\
/(_)_/~~~~~~~\___/~~~~~~~~~~~\| |/~bub~~\ __
| \ |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|/B \
\ \|~~~~~~~~___~~~~@ 5 @~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| |
\ C \~~~~~~~/ \~~~~@@@~~~~/| |\~~~~~~/su |
\__/\~~~~~~/ 1 |~~~~~~~~~~~| 2 |~~~~~/\ |
\~~~~~~/__/~~~~~~~~~~~\___/~~~~/ / /
\_~~~~~~~~~bub~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_/ / /
/ \________________________/__/ /
\_ |_| _/
\____ (___) ______/
\________________/
\ rh /
\_______/
rh = Rift Hub (ENTRANCE) # = Spirit Stone
su = Sundial ~ = Water in Dome
rs = Reia's Scroll (_) = Access to dome from land
A - F = Soul Jars bub = Air Bubble in Dome
1 - 5 = Shadowraith Heart Side Areas:
1 = Dome with Inverted Area/Sundial Portal (Hearts 1 and 7)
2 = Dome with Statuary Area (Heart 2)
3 = Dome with Hydro-Charger Area (Heart 3)
4 = Dome with Sumo Arena (Heart 4)
5 = Underground area with Hell (Hearts 5 and 6)
==REIA'S SCROLL LOCATION==
Reia's scroll is located under Tower #4, in a little alcove. Go for
a swim and dig it up from the bottom of the dome.
==HEART #1 Inverted==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: In the slightest bubble
You may be alerted
To some running trouble
When you are inverted
Objective: Activate six pads while the camera is upside-down, in a
certain time limit, to free a Heart in a side area.
Location on the map: Inverted Challenge Area located at the 1.
From the Rift Hub, dive into the large pool, and once you swim into
the dome, go to the large underwater tower to the left of you, which
should be the closest one. Look on the left side of this tower to
find a beam of light shining out the side of it, towards the bottom
of the tower. Swim into the beam of light to get to the Inverted
area.
You'll find yourself in a new area, with a shallow pool of water
below you, and some walkways in front of you. The circular pads are
what you need to step on once the camera flips over. The button
right in front of you flips the camera. All you need to do here
is step on all of the pads while the camera is flipped over (there
are six of them) and the force field around the Heart on the ledge
above you will deactivate.
Once you step on the button and flip the camera, you need to stay
on the walkways and press the buttons. You can do this as many
times as you want...the button-pads never deactivate themselves.
So either stand on your head, or say "I'm too cool to do that, I
want to take the challenge," and walk the plank to each pad. It's
not that hard once you get used to it. The last pad can be hard to
get, since you have to run to it before the "inverted timer" runs
out. Once you activate all of the pads, go up and get the Heart on
the nearby ledge.
==HEART #2 Statuary==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: A shocking task exists
Through an estuary
Match your wits against
This puzzling statuary
Objective: Go into a side area and step on a series of switches
for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Statuary Area located at the 2.
__ __
I /3 \ /11\ II This Statuary area can be tough.
\ v<\ /~/~/ You emerge in the middle, there
\>^ \/~/~/ are six outer areas.
_____\ 4 8 /_____ I = Gazebo with Shreeks
/9 # 6 /\ 10|| 1\ III II = Lake with Cutting Things
VI \__#__ \/ _||___/ III = Narrow Platforms with Puggle
/ 12 2 \~~~~ IV = Platforms with Poles
/// /\ o \~~ V = Mechanic Area with Boxes
/ ///~~\ o \ VI = Arches with Climbing Surfaces
V \7_/~~~~\_5/ IV (~ = water, o = poles)
This task can be very hard if you don't know what you're doing. I
had to do a lot of trial-and-error to get all the switches in order.
Anyway, to get to this area, from the Rift Hub, swim into the dome,
and go to the tower to your right this time. Look at the back of it
for the beam-of-light-entrance. You'll find yourself underwater, in
a well. Swim up. A strange camera-bot will join you. You can't defeat
it, so let it just follow you around.
Take a look around and try to find all the areas mentioned on the
mini-map above. There are six statues surrounding the fountain in
the middle, and six more that are further out, past small challenges.
You need to press these twelve switches in the right order,
alternating between an outer one, and one near the fountain. If you
press the wrong switch the camera-bot will zap you and take away
health, but you don't need to go back and press any previous switches.
Here are the six outer areas in more detail (clockwise):
Area I: There's a structure with Shreeks around. They're easy to avoid
if you along the outer edge of the area. This is how you regain
health if you've been zapped too many times.
Area II: This area has those weird spinning disc enemies. To get past
them, go up to the middle platform, get the attention of the spinning
disc there, make it come towards you, then quickly go to a side
platform, and jump into the middle platform, past the first disc.
Area III: This area has a single Puggle and some orange-colored
narrow platforms. Just Long Jump + Flare Kick to get across and
don't let the naughty camera get to you.
Area IV: This has a three poles, one of them moving up and down.
Climb and jump to get to the top.
Area V: This area has three boxes which you can push. Move the lower-
left one first, then the lower-center one, then the small box on top
of them, and push it in to clear the statue switch.
Area VI: This area has a few arches and an extra life behind them.
Look for the climbing surface, you'll have to do some climb-jumping.
The order you do them in is (shown on the map):
1: Area III exterior 5: Area IV exterior
2: Area IV interior 6: Area VI interior
3: Area I exterior
4: Area 1 interior
Exterior means the one that requires the challenge. Activating this
one correctly gives out a cool green spark.
Interior means the one next to the fountain. This one should have
a statue identical to the last one, and has a vivid yellow burst
when activated correctly.
Activate all of them to see that annoying camera-bot turn into a
valuable Shadowraith heart!
==HEART #3 Hydro-Charger==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: A massive structure looms
'neath the Hydro-Charger
One wrong step spells your doom
unless your skill is larger
Objective: Deactivate the Hydro-Charger in a side area and get the
Heart inside.
Location on the map: Hydro-Charger area is at the 3.
Swim into the dome from the Hub, and go into the tower to the
middle-left. The beam-entrance is on the right side. You'll love
the area that you come in, it's full of waterfalls and palm trees
(behind you.) This is a simple platform challenge, with few
enemies, except the Slyphs. Watch out for the Hobbletrod and Grimkin
to you left. Here's what you'll run into:
Pole at the bottom - You'll see this at the end of the solid platform
you're on at the beginning. You can jump down and get 2 extra lives.
For more on collecting extra lives here, see the FAQs section.
Purple Square Platforms - They sink down a little.
Waterfall Water - When you're standing on the water, it moves you
slowly towards the cliff edge. Run towards the cliff-wall to stay
on it. (The water at the falls' bottom runs you off and kills you).
Giant Crusher - Easy to avoid. Just go into the little ditches when
it comes down on you.
Platform above Platform - This is after the crusher, where there's
thin-looking platform above another one. You can either wall-jump
off the waterfall-wall to the left (hard), or just stand on the
edge of the platform, pulse-jump up slightly to the left, and
flare-kick to the right. With this method, if you fail, you'll
just land where you started, instead of dieing.
Slyphs - These mischievous snakes will grab you in their heads and
throw you around to wherever they want, which is usually off the
cliff. Avoid them by attacking them as soon as possible, they go
down in one or two hits.
Jutting Spikes - Easy to tell where they are on the cliffside, so
go when they disappear.
Narrow platform - This platform to the side of the waterfall is for
a fairly pointless extra life.
When you reach the top, defeat the Slyphs and look for the button to
turn off the Hydro-Charger. Jump down and get a well-deserved Heart!
==HEART #4 Sumo Rematch==
Do this Heart first: Timberdale Heart #2 Sumo Match
Difficulty: 5/5
Riddle: Within the furthest dome
a brute demands a rematch
His moves you may have known
now include a detach
Objective: Fight the Sumo again in an interesting arena for a Heart.
Location on the map: Sumo arena located at the 4.
BOSS BATTLE! Time to show the Sumo who's boss. The arena is much
more dangerous this time.
Start by swimming to the Sumo's tower. From the Rift Hub, it's the
tower to the middle-right. Look under it for Reia's Scroll. Enter
towards the front, in the beam of light. In the new area, run
forward until a cutscene starts. It's show time!
> Boss: Sumo-Kin
Needs to be knocked out of the Arena 4 times in a row to be
defeated.
> Arena: Water Arena
Standing in the water very gradually makes you move towards the
edge. Each time you knock the Sumo out of the ring, the arena
gets a little smaller. If you get knocked out of the ring, the
battle starts all over again.
> Boss Attacks
Push: Standard attack. It can be dangerous if you're very close
to the edge, between it and the Sumo, but it's very easy to
avoid, just by running. Long Jump to play it safe. The only
risk of being hit is being knocked off the arena, it doesn't
take away any health.
Meteor Attack: This is a little tougher attack. It's easy to
dodge, but if you get hit it takes away 2 points of health.
This attack happens a lot, the Sumo will do a prayer-type
thing, and you'll see a large green target moving towards
you. You don't need to do anything until you see the target
get really small, and the meteors will then crunch you. If you
just run or jump out of the way at the last second, the attack
will miss. You should just run around to play it safe. This
attack will happen 3-5 times in a row.
Flaming Push: This is the tough attack, that can knock you out
of the arena easily if you're not careful. Usually after a
Meteor Attack, the boss will stand in place with one arm down,
you'll see a small burst of flame, and he will rush at you.
As usual, you can run out of the way or jump at the right time
to avoid it. If you survive this attack, this is when you
strike him.
> When to strike
The way to knock Sumo-Kin out of the arena, which you have to do
four times, is to wait until he's at the edge. There are two ways:
- Survive his attacks until he does the Flaming Push. Make sure he
misses, but stay near him, so you can quickly run up to him and
push him off the edge of the arena.
- Be offensive, and before he starts his Meteor Attack, go up to
him and push him around until he's near an edge. The easiest
place to push him is his butt, otherwise it doesn't affect him.
The boss battle gets harder after time. I had a tough time
surviving the final round when the arena's only so small. I did
a Pulse-Jump over him to dodge his normal push, then frolicked
around, surviving the Meteor Attack, and quickly moved out of
the way for his Flaming Push before giving him a good final
claw in the butt. After you do this, you'll get another good-ole
Shadowraith Heart.
==HEART #5 Hell==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: Deep in a boiling well
above the ghastly steamer
Climb to the peak of hell
A heart there seeks redeemer
Objective: Go to hell (and get a Heart after a lot of climbing.)
Location on the map: Hell is located at the 5.
To go to Hell, swim into the dome as usual, and in the middle of
all the underwater towers should be a large dark crater on the
sea floor. Swim in to this crater to get to the new area.
Hell is full of tough enemies:
Shadowminions - These guys are medium-hard. They sometimes
brandish a knife, a swing mace, or a kind of throwing-star. The
ones in here only have knives or maces, which are easier. Just
attack them, and jump up and do an overhead attack if you want.
The easiest way with these guys is to send them into the air
with an uppercut.
Yabu's Guards - These guys, with their big axes, can be tough.
It's best to Pulse-Jump up, avoid their axe swinging, and give
them a pop on the head a few times.
Floppers - If the floor under you has the lava-ey texture, then
watch out for these guys. If you move around, you may see tiny
orange bursts from the floor following you. If you stand in
place and there's a Flopper around, he'll most likely pop out
from under you, and when you land back on the ground with one
less point of health he'll be long gone, but ready to attack
again. Defeat them simply by preparing to attack them when you
see the little orange bursts under you (attack with a jump +
Ground Pound.)
And quite a few annoying-as-usual Skinxes, and Grimkins.
If you land in the lava it's fatal. You may see some random
switches around. You need to press three switches to get an extra
life in the middle of the area, but it's not really worth it. To
actually go somewhere, find the area with the platforms going up
and down out of the lava.
Go across this area and climb the poles, and go to the left once
you're going along the walls, and it's basically a small spiral
up to the top of the area from here, with simple challenges and
enemies ahead. At the top of the area is the Heart you're wanting.
==HEART #6 Color Puzzle==
Difficulty: 3/5
Riddle: Above a sea of flame
A ghostly vessel drifts
On board you'll find a game
whose colors seem to shift
Objective: Go to hell until you get on the ship with a puzzle-
game in it, in which you can earn a heart.
Location on the map: Hell is located at the 5.
Go back into Hell like you did for the last heart, and cross the
platforms that are going up and down out of lava again. This time,
after climbing the poles, take a RIGHT turn. Shortly along the
path you should see a pirate ship floating in the lave. Jump into
the hole that you can see on the deck to come to a new area.
The puzzle that awaits you is an odd one. It took me a bit of
patience and luck. There are sixty-four squares, like a checkerboard.
When the game starts, all the squares are alternating colors, like a
checkerboard. By stepping on a square, you switch its color. You win
the game once all the squares are the same color (white or black).
The large plate above the board comes down every 25 seconds (there is
a timer in the corner). It switches the color of every plate, which
doesn't really make a difference. Get out of the way before the plate
comes down or you'll get crushed.
The game would be easy to complete if it were not for the bombs that
occasionally bounce across the game board on every other square in a
row. Since that's so hard to correct when this is happening a lot,
my method for completing this minigame was, let the bombs complete
it. By only stepping on the board a few times, I just let the bombs
drop until they made the board all one color, since they correct
their own mistakes.
The only way to lose any health or die from this game is to be
crushed by the large plate. Good luck, this one can be confusing.
You get your Heart out of the treasure box in the front once you
win the puzzle.
==HEART #7 Sundial Portal==
Difficulty: 4/5
Riddle: A one-way portal calls
Sundial tells the time
Hidden gateway opens halls
missed chance would be a crime
Objective: Go through the Sundial Portal for a tough challenge in the
Sundial Rift for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: The Sundial Portal is located inside the 1 area.
Go up to the sundial and turn it to the beginning of the Sundial
Portal section that's marked (remember, turn it to the mark that's
further clockwise, as the clock turns counter-clockwise.)
Now get to the Sundial Portal. This is located in the "inverted"
section, the tower to the far left when you swim into the dome.
To get to the Portal in this area, ignore the "inverted" switch and
climb up to the strange empty room past the heart. Turn around and
look at the doorway you just came from, and right above it should
be a little ledge. Jump up to the ledge, and follow the path that
goes back into the main room, along the wall, until you reach the
portal at the end. Enter.
You know the Long Jump move, right? This sundial area is focused
a lot on it. Here's what you'll run into.
Giant Crushers - These machines will come down quick on you, but
will take about 10 seconds to raise back up because of their
size. There is one at the beginning of the level. Duck under it
for a split second, move out of the way before it comes down,
and use its delayed ascending time to Long-Jump + Long-Jump +
Long-Jump continuously along the road unharmed until you're
out of danger. There is one at the beginning of the area and
at the end (the last one especially requires the Long-Jump.)
Crusher-Platforms - The series of platforms right after the first
Giant crusher. As soon as you step on it, nearby blocks come
down on the platform and crush it into oblivion, so just keep
running and long-jumping out of the way.
Elevator - board it when the odd door opens.
Stacked Logs - This is a challenging part. Vertical rows of log-
like figures come at you, and you have to dodge them and get
through them. Each time a log hits you, it disappears out of
the way, but you lose. Trust me, you do NOT want to lose health
when you see what you have next. To get through them, look at
this diagram:
( ) (=============) (=============)
(======^======) ( ) (=============)
(=============) (======^======) (======V======)
A. Several logs B. Gap on top of C: No gap in
with a gap on top: a single log: the logs:
Do a Pulse-Jump Simply jump You must attack the
over the first few through the gap. log on the bottom
or do method C. to make it disappear.
Yabu's Guards - This is the really hard part, as it's a step
up in enemies, and you have TWO PAIRS of them to take on. What
I did was keep attacking them until they're both defending with
their axes. Then Pulse-Jump up, and you'll avoid both of them
swinging their axes, and on your way down pop one of them in
the head with a Ground-Pound or a Flare-Kick, or both. Repeat
and you shouldn't lose any health, and they should be gone after
4 to 6 hits.
Spiraling Tower - Climb up to reach the final section of the area.
In the gaps in the platform, watch out for some spinning gears
on the side of the tower.
==HEART #8 Pirates' Treasure==
Difficulty: 1/5
Riddle: In the belly of the beast
Short's chest deserves a look
The key to its release
is hidden in the book
Objective: Open the treasure chest in the belly of the whale with a
certain combination.
Location on the map: The whale is swimming all around the Dome area.
Swim into the Dome, and look around the top of the dome for the
Giant Whale, Leviathan. The whale won't hurt you. Swim in front of
the whale's mouth and be swallowed. Once inside, you'll find yourself
in a tiny boat inside the whale's stomach, with the three pirates,
Nasty, Brutish, and Short. Go up to the treasure chest, and press
Attack to start entering the combination.
The combination for PlayStation2 is (X) (Square) (Circle). I'm not
sure what it is for GameCube or XBox, but look in the game manual
and you should see the possible buttons.
If you get the combination right, the heart is yours! If you get it
wrong, you are simply thrown out of the stomach and back into the
giant Dome.
==HEART #9 Soul Jars==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: Along an outer track
Hide these souls in trouble
To send their spirits back
Free them from their bubbles
Objective: Collect six Soul Jars from around the main section of the
level for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: At the A, B, C, D, E, and F.
The Soul Jars this time are fairly easy. They're all scattered about
the main part of the level in bubbles.
A: To the left of the Rift Hub and pool.
B: In an alcove by the sundial, which is to the right of the Rift
Hub and pool.
C: In a side area to the left of the giant dome. Go into the dome,
and search the left edge for the other small exit. You'll emerge
in a small pool by a spirit stone. Go to the left of the pool to
encounter a weird enemy holding the bubble. Attack it and get
Soul Jar C.
D: There's another "side area" with D, E, and F. To get to this
area, swim around in the dome behind Tower #4 (the Sumo). You
should see on the sea floor an area with air under the water.(?)
Swim down, and climb up the Launch Pads to the new area. The
bubble's right by the entrance.
E: This can be a little hard. From Soul Jar D, go to the right,
and you'll see an enclosed area with a few Skinxes. Defeat the
naughty bugs, climb up the ramp (where you can see the bubble),
and do a Long Jump ahead, and a quick Flare Kick as you're
about to touch the bubble. If you do it right, you'll get the
Soul Jar, but you may fall down a mysterious hole in the level
to your death.
F: From Soul Jar D, go to the left to a weird structure. Go
under the structure, and do an uppercut when you think you're
under the bubble to get it.
When you have all the Soul Jars, the Heart appears at the very
top of the dome, which you have to swim to. This could be a
hard part, swimming right to this Heart. Don't get swallowed
by Leviathan the Whale along the way!
==HEART #10 Shards==
Difficulty: 2/5
Riddle: When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder
one hundred's all that matters
Objective: Collect 100 Shards for a Shadowraith Heart.
Location on the map: Everywhere.
This could be a little harder this time. Most of the Shards in this
level can be got by swimming around the Dome, hidden under the towers
and in their "beams". Happy swimming. This will give you about 70
Shards. To get more, visit Tower 2 (Estuary), which has a few.
If you still need more, you can go to Hell (at the 5) and the
Waterfall area (at the 3), but make sure you don't die in there or
you'll have to start all over.
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/\ FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions /\
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Q: I heard this game is really hard, like Maximo. Is this true?
A: This game is pretty hard, but not in the same way as Maximo.
Maximo was hard because of the enemies and the way you defeat them
and have limited opportunities to save/travel/etc. In this game,
the variety in the gameplay and the difficulty of some platform
jumping make it hard. The enemies are some of the easiest things
in this game.
Q: How big is this game / How long does it take to beat?
A: This game is pretty big. Each world contains several tasks that
can take from two minutes to two hours. Usually the whole game
takes at least 30 hours, plus it has difficult gameplay.
Q: How do I get more extra lives?
A: There are several easy ways to get extra lives. At the beginning
of the game, Timberdale's Castle Tower is the best way.
-In the main area of Timberdale, there is an Extra Life under one
of the waterfall bridges, and one of them up a ledge which you
Wall Jump up.
-In the "Water Tower" to the left of the castle tower in the
Upper Timberdale area, there is an Extra Life floating under the
floating water.
-In the Castle Tower, there is an extra life off of the narrow
platforms, and two extra lives behind the stones that close into
the wall.
Once you reach The Below, there is an even better method.
-Go to the side-area where there's a large cliffside with several
waterfalls, and the heart gets protected by an electrocuting
beam. Go up to the edge of the man-made platform you're on, look
at the waterfalls below you, and you should notice a cave in the
wall with two extra lives. You can either pulse jump and land
there, or notice a pole going down to an island that links to
there. Simply get both extra lives, die, and you'll still have
one extra life left and both lives will be back in the cave.
So just keep collecting them and jumping off the cliff and you
will collect them up quickly.
Q: What is the purpose of Reia's Scrolls?
A: They're just for collecting, there's no reward.
Q: Is there any reward for collecting all 81 Shadowraith Hearts?
A: No.
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\/ Section F \/
/\ HINTS/SECRETS /\
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/\ E-01 Gameplay Tips /\
(Under Construction)
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/\ E-02 Secrets /\
(Under Construction)
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\/ Section G \/
/\ CREDITS /\
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Most of the credit so far is to myself, as I bought the game and had
the idea for this guide, and I've written almost all of it.
Also credit to all the sites that have this guide on it:
www.gamefaqs.com
www.ign.com
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/\ WALKTHROUGH/FAQ /\
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