Deadworld

Deadworld is a 2D metroidvania/roguelike developed by indie studio Frogworks for the Nintendo Switch and PC. It follows Jin, a young adventurer seeking to make a name for herself, delving into the depths of the forgotten planet Xylen V on a mission to uncover the truth of the virus sweeping her solar system and find her father, who dissapeared on a similar voyage 25 years ago. It was released in November 19th, 2021 onto Steam, GOG and the Nintendo eShop. The game draws upon Hollow Knight and Dead Cells as it's primary inspirations but also takes inspiration from many other sources.
Lead developer of Deadworld and founder of Frogworks, Piper, has confirmed that a port for consoles is in the works. Since it's release, Deadworld has gathered a large online following and is generally regarded as one of the best metroidvanias in recent memory. Its protagonist, Jin, appeared as a Mii Costume in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and she is slated to appear in Frogworks' Fantendo's Showdown Spectacularas part of the starting roster.
==Gameplay==
Deadworld is a fusion between traditional metroidvanias such as Hollow Knight or Super Metroid and roguelikes such as Dead Cells or Enter the Gungeon, with the player controlling Jin as she adventures through a series of semi-randomly generated worlds, losing all gear and health upgrades when she dies, although retaining her traditional metroidvania upgrades. Compared to other protagonists, Jin is rather weak, and thus must focus on ranged combat, with many puzzles and bosses focusing on using Jin's array of guns and other weapons.
Jin will always start with 3 Health Canisters and the Auto Rifle, and be dropped onto the first area of the Sandsteppe Plateau. The connections between areas will always be the same, as will the boss arenas and the rooms where permanent upgrades can be obtained, but all other rooms in the world will be chosen from a variety of pre-generated rooms arranged in a random order.
Jin is a fairly fast character, able to outrun most of her foes, and is considerably more agile than them, with her ever-expanding arsenal of movement accessories giving her the edge over more sluggish foes. However, Jin dies in a couple hits and thus her combat relies almost entirely on guns and ranged weaponry, of which she can have two equipped at once. As she progresses through the game, Jin can find a variety of weapons that she can equip and use, although this will be lost when she is killed.
Deadworld pays homage to the traditional metroidvania formula through its large variety of upgrades, with ten total available in the game, each of which unlocks at least two new segments of areas to explore, along with being a useful platforming tool in a variety of situations, and sometimes even has combat utility. For example, the Grappling Hook gives the player access to a large part of Snowpeak along with the far south of Ironcrag Pass, can be used to get around quickly and swing over large gaps along with being able to be used as a makeshift harpoon, pulling enemies to Jin so she can shoot them at point blank. All upgrades stay with the player after death.
The game's nine worlds each feature a variety of enemies, which have a wide range of different attacks and functions, with some serving as heavily aggressive fighters who try and take down Jin as fast as possible, others attack her from a distance and some serve a supporting role, distracting Jin or empowering her foes. As opposed to Jin's fairly simple Health Canister system, akin to Hollow Knights masks, enemies have internal health and defense stats, which are depleted as Jin deals damage.
Most of Jin's weapons consume ammunition, which is depleted over time from an internal counter of "Multi-Use Weapon Fodder", which is a fairly limited resource and must be managed carefully, although it becomes more plentiful the further you explore, and a late-game shopkeeper will even sell it to Jin, allowing her to have a theoretically infinite supply of the stuff. 
==Lore==
For more specific lore regarding characters/worlds please check out the appropriate sections
Deadworld is set on the east continent of the planet Xylen V, one of eight planets orbiting the dual stars Xylen A and B, known as the Xylen System. Five of the eight planets are inhabited by life, primarily the Bladikori, native to Xylen III, and the Arkanji, native to Xylen VII, although the system is regarded as a melting pot of different species and cultures, and thus life is fairly diverse.
However, about 60 years ago an archaeological discovery in Xylen V's largest mountain, Snowpeak, changed the face of the system forever. An ancient temple buried beneath kilometres of ice, snow and rock was found, still intact after thousands of years. The temple was soon breached by explorers, and it became a major hotspot for scientific research in the region, especially regarding the seemingly impossible growth around and in the Temple.
The deepest of the temple's secrets was a strange, extraterrestrial artifact that would come to be known as the Heart of Decay, a pulsing object embedded in the centre of the temple that would wither and rot any living thing that came near it unprotected. The Heart was put under extreme quarantine, and was studied profusely, with scientists unable to discern it's power source or how it's effects came about. Despite the menacing presence of the Heart, excavations continued and soon the temple was fully mapped out.
In an attempt to understand the Heart, a priest of Rhalin, the primordial god of Life, was brought in to bring a different perspective to the investigation. The priest reached into the Heart, and attempted to pull it from the wall and to present the Heart to their god, only for this attempt to tear the Heart and allow the energy trapped within to spill out, corrupting the priest and killing the nearby researchers, feeding on their corpses and slowly spreading outward.
The government's response to this advancement was slow, and this proved to be one of the biggest factors in the fall of Xylen V. The energy, soon dubbed The Decay, began to spread through the temple, feeding off life and growing stronger. Soon the energy began to "evolve", eventually transforming into a virus-like entity as it spread out of the temple and into the mines of Snowpeak. Despite quarantine efforts, the maze of tunnels spiralling through the mountain after over one hundred years of mining proved too much to contain and the Decay began to spread rapidly, corrupting and consuming more and more of the planet.
While the government tried to contain it at first, sealing off the western edge of Xylen V and closing entry to the sprawling Magmanest, this proved futile as "zombies" raised by the virus began to break through the lines, and the Decay continued to spread. Eventually, in one last attempt to save the populace, mass evacuation begun, with the governments of other planets in the system aiding the relocation efforts and the planet being abandoned for good.
For about five years it seemed that The Decay had been successfully contained, as despite its constant spread across Xylen V it was unable to reach the rest of the system. However, a misguided humanitarian aid group sent a mission down to the planet to rescue any survivors, unaware of how much the Decay had taken over. Fleeing after delving into the planet's capital, Zardozia, and discovering the extent of the infection, the group returned with only three survivors, landing illegally on Xylen II. One of these three was infected, and from there the hell began all over again.
This time, the response was faster, and the disease was contained in the planet's far northern landmass, which had been ravaged completely. Attempts to find a cure proved unsuccessful, and the government of Xylen II set in for the long haul, with the planet fighting a constant battle against the spread of the Decay. During the initial stages of the "second wave", evacuees landed on other planets and the virus spread from there, leaving almost the entire system in a constant state of war against the pandemic.
About 25 years ago, an expedition was mounted by a joint federation between several of the system's governments, led by Bladikori war veteran Ja'h Urzen, the group was ordered to not return without either a cure or proof the heart had been destroyed. One by one the members of the expedition were claimed by the dangers of the planet, and by the time they reached the temple on Ja'h survived, claimed by the Decay as he first entered the ancient complex. The expedition was deemed a failure, and no further have been mounted since.
However, recently a new adventurer has set out to explore the ruined planet and hopefully find a cure to the virus sweeping her system. Jin, daughter of the long missing Ja'h Urzen, has come to the planet seeking to make a name for herself and to find her father, putting her own life at risk in the process.
==Characters==
JinBold Adventurer 	Jin is a Bladikori adventurer and the main protagonist of Deadworld, being the single character players control throughout their journey into the depths of Xylen V. Brash and headstrong, Jin is young and eager to prove herself, often not thinking out her actions and words beforehand. She lives off the feeling of discovery, and after being trapped in The Citadel, the capital of Xylen II, for all her life, she felt the overwhelming need to escape. Stealing a spaceship and setting out, Jin made the pivotal choice to go to Xylen V, to investigate what happened to the father who dissapeared before she was born.
Jin is the playable character of Deadworld, and players must adapt to her unique toolset. As opposed to other metroidvania characters such as Hollow Knight's The Knight, Jin cannot tank blows and heal away damage, with a very limited pool of hitpoints and cannot heal except at rest points, meaning that she must stay back and use her ranged arsenal to take out enemies from afar, as getting into close quarters risks taking damage, which can end a run easily. Overall her gameplay encourages staying back and not rushing into battle, which reflects Jin's emotional journey as she grows from a brash young woman who never truly matured past her teens to an experienced adventurer who has been tempered by hardship.
OmosLone Wanderer 	Omos is an Arkanji, originally hailing from Xylen VII, who came to the ruined planet in search of meaning and purpose, feeling lost on his own world and yearning for adventure. That was 30 years ago, and Omos has been traversing the planet alone ever since, keeping himself sane through devoting his life to stopping others from becoming trapped like he is, wandering the hallways and rooms of Fallen Zardozia and Snowpeak, warning adventurers to leave before it is too late. Omos is a tenuous ally of Jin, dueling with her but also aiding her as she journeys across the forbidden planet.
Omos serves as a guide to the player as they journey across Xylen V, dueling them on the first encounter to try and ward them off, and later on in Snowpeak to test their might before delving into the Temple of Decay, but when he recognises that Jin will not budge, and insists on going into the depths of the planet, he helps her in any way that he can, while still keeping his own secrets. Omos can be found tucked away in every world, where he will offer cryptic hints on the best ways to traverse said area, along with talking about the lore of where he is. If the player attempts to harm Omos in any way he will dash away, disappearing into the maze of tunnels and corridors. Omos is the closet analogy Deadworld has to Hornet or Quirrel from Hollow Knight, although Omos differs from both of them in a variety of ways.
Tevos SteelshellIroncrag General	Tevos Steelshell is the leader of the Ironcrag Marauders, a mercenary group based in the Ironcrag Pass before the fall of the planet. When the Decay began to spread, Tevos and his men began to fortify the pass, responding a lot faster than others and creating a "clean spot" in the world, where extensive quarantine measures were put in place to stop anyone from getting it without testing and purification. After the evacuation the group settled in for the long one, occasionally mounting expeditions and letting in adventurers.
Tevos will initially be friendly to Jin, assuming she agrees to be purified and tested for The Decay first, but she will soon learn of his unforgiving leadership and corrupt ways. Conflict will build as Jin ventures through the pass, and eventually as she prepares to leave for Snowpeak Tevos will attack, piloting his mecha, Steelshell Prime, into battle against Jin. After he is defeated, Jin will see that he had been corrupted by The Decay, his mind being tainted and turning him into an evil dictator
AlanaThe Stranded 	
Alana is a human, contrary to most of the game's cast, hailing from Earth. Originally an agent of the CIA, Alana was abducted after an investigation into an Eastern European drug trafficking organisation turned paranormal, and was taken to the planet of Zelsana. Resisting questioning by her alien opressors, Alana managed to hijack a spaceship and escape the planet, drifting through space for about a year before crashlanding on Xylen V. Way in over her head, Alana will latch onto Jin as a friend, offering her limited knowledge in return for protection and a way off Xylen.
Alana can first be found stranded in Shadowheath Swamp. but after she is first saved she can be found across Xylen V, offering her services, even after Jin dies. While Alana has only a limited knowledge of the world, if Jin brings her various materials and items from across the planet she can upgrade the adventurer's current weapons and forge new ones for her to use.
ZeltavanFalse Warlord 	
Tavan was a member of the ancient civilization that created the Heart of Decay, a cruel warlord known as "The Unforgiving", who ruled over what is now Magmanest, his throne located in the depths of the world. Tavan himself is long dead, his skeleton rotting in the ancient throne room, However, a strange parasite known as Zel has taken residence in the dead king's skull, and posing as him, attempting to ressurect his empire and seize power for himself, unaware of the nature of the outside world.
The fusion, known as Zeltavan, cannot move, and will attempt to intimidate Jin at first, but when found out will offer Jin services in return for keeping his secret. Zeltavan has unique access to the lavaforge in the depths of Magmanest, and he can use this to create a near-infinite supply of Multi-Use Weapon Fodder, which he will sell to Jin for a fairly cheap price, as well as buying old and unused weapons off of her to grind down and repurpose.
==Locations==
Sandsteppe GateDusty Plateau 	
The Sandsteppe Gate is the second highest peak in the east continent of Xylen V, a great plateau that stands high above the surrounding scenery. The plateau itself is fairly small, with only a few rooms located on the surface, but the maze of tunnels and caverns within the gate are the main bulk of the area, eventually leading down to the great gate that leads to Fallen Zardozia.
The Sandsteppe Gate is the first area in the game, and by extension it's the smallest and easiest of them all. Despite this, it is still sizeable, with many rooms to explore and some extra difficulty hidden within, especially in the west of the plateau, which is gated behind a wall that can only be phased through with the Blackstar Cloak.
The Sandsteppe Gate connects to four distinct areas. Immediately below Sandsteppe is Fallen Zardozia, which is gated behind the game's first boss, the Sandstone Colossus, who is also the only boss of the area. To the east there are two potentially paths - a zipline to Snowpeak, which can only be used with the Grappling Hook, and a secret passage to Ironcrag Pass that can be accessed with the Seismic Slam. To the west, gated behind a phasable wall is a pathway leading down to the Shadowheath Swamp.
There is one ability located in the Sandsteppe Gate, the Grappling Hook, which is hidden behind a puzzle in a secret room past the first boss. This is intended to be missed by most players on their first playthrough, but it can theoretically be foumd before the player ventures into any other area.
Fallen ZardoziaDestroyed City 	
Fallen Zardozia is the capital city of Xylen V, built above the expansive caverns beneath the surface of the planet. Located inside the mountain topped by the Sandsteppe Gate, Zardozia was a flourishing paradise of knowledge and industry, a pinnacle of the solar system and a major hub of trade within it's galactic quadrant. When the plague began, the city was hit the hardest, and some of it's lower tunnels are almost entirely infected by it.
Zardozia is the closest thing the game has to a hub, stretching across the center of the map and having a variety of segments - the initially accessible areas going upward, areas to the west that are gated behind the Blackstar Cloak and by extension the first boss, the Shade Knight, areas to the bottom which are only accessible with the Seismic Slam and finally areas to the east accessible via the Plasmic Coating. There is one sub-area, the Scholar's Archives in the lower parts of East Zardozia.
Zardozia connects to every area except Magmanest, Snowpeak and the Temple of Decay, with initial entrances open to Lushwood and the Sandsteppe Gate, paths to Ironcrag Pass to the west, locked behind the Blackstar Cloak and Soulfire Lantern respectively, tunnels leading to the Shadowheath Swamp and outer edges on Lushwood locked behind the Plasmic Coating and areas to the south, specifically the Coral Caverns, locked behind the Seismic Slam and Spider's Legs.
There are two abilities available in Fallen Zardozia, the Blackstar Cloak and the Antique Lens. The Blackstar Cloak is located on the corpse of the Shade Knight, accessible once said corpse is created, which is at the boundary between "Upper" and "Lower" Zardozia, intended to be the first ability unlocked. The Antique Lens can be found in the depths of East Zardozia, in the Scholar's Archives sub-area, where it can be found on the corpse of a historian.
LushwoodCorrupt Jungle 	
Lushwood is a great jungle that sprawls the west of the continent, it's verdant caverns sprawling beneath the Shadowheath Swamp and down to Magmanest. Almost completely taken over by the Decay, Lushwood's beautiful corridors and rooms are a trap, as the area can be incredibly deadly to the unprepared. Lushwood is divided into three main sections, and is the game's fourth largest area, taking up the bulk of the western part of the map.
Lushwood is generally split into three sections - Upper Lushwood, Eastern Lushwood and Western Lushwood. Only Eastern Lushwood is immediately accessible to the player, from Fallen Zardozia, which is the smallest part of the area but the most populous, filled with tightly packed rooms and corridors. You can reach Western Lushwood from there, by beating the Sigil Goliath, which also unlocks the Plasmic Coating and grants access to Upper Lushwood. There are two sub-areas, the Great Stump near the entrance to Magmanest and the Ruined Power Plant near the Shadowheath Swamp.
Lushwood links up to Fallen Zardozia, the Coral Caverns, Magmanest and the Shadowheath Swamp, with only access to the first two available at the start of the area. Access to Magmanest is possible once the Sigil Goliath has been defeated, and once the Plasmic Coating is accessible the player can venture through the tunnels of acid and up into the swamp.
The one boss of the area, the Sigil Goliath, found in pretty much the middle of the area, is located directly before the Plasmic Coating, which is accessible in the next room over. The Plasmic Coating is the only ability that is found in Lushwood.
MagmanestInfernal Depths 	
A vast network of molten catacombs that go from the far west of Lushwood all the way to the most eastern points of Snowpeak, stretching the depths of the continent, Magmanest was one of the first places to be consumed by The Decay, the reclusive Spikora that inhabited the caverns becoming twisted into gruesome beasts by the deadly virus. Magmanest is the third largest area in the game, and can be used to access many points on the map. It is split into two parts.
The first of these parts is the Subterranean layer, a network of tunnels suspended above a lake of boiling magma. This is the immediately accessible half of Magmanest, and it's boss, the Magmatic Broodmother, can be found in a sub-area called the Infernal Hive, located in the center of the catacombs. Once the Broodmother is dead, the second half of Magmanest becomes accessible as the player obtains the Fireheart Charm, allowing them to dive into the magma lake and explore the Submagmatic layer, which contains the ruins of a fallen civilization and a place where the player can face it's ancient king, Bonegrinder, in the Throne Of Gods.
Magmanest connects to Lushwood, Coral Caverns, Ironcrag Pass and Snowpeak. The first two are immediately accessible, but the Blackstar Cloak is needed to get into Ironcrag Pass, and one must obtain the Spider's Legs, found in the Submagmatic layer, to get to Snowpeak.
There are two bosses in the area - the Magmatic Broodmother, who guards the Fireheart Charm and by extension entrance into the Submagmatic layer, found in the Infernal Hive directly below the Coral Caverns, and Old King Bonegrinder, who is found in the very bottom of Magmanest, in the Throne Of Gods. The Fireheart Charm can be found in the Infernal Hive, and the Spider's Legs can be found in ruins to the east, in the Submagmatic layer.
Coral CavernsSubmerged Catacombs	
Once a prosperous mining community located beneath the capital, the Coral Caverns was home to the Boiler, a massive steam engine that provided power to most of the continent. However, when the Decay came the community was ruined, and although they held out for a short time the destruction of the supply chain and the infection of their leader, the Boilermaster, lead to their eventual starvation. Without the community to maintain it, the roof of the cavern collapsed and a great lake in the bottom of the city above flooded the mining town, which is now covered in coral like structures made of the Decay.
The Coral Caverns are a fairly hectic area, as Jin must constantly keep an eye on her Oxygen levels, as if she stays underwater for too long she will drown. The Caverns have only a single sub-area, the Faulty Boiler, which is where the boss, Amari, can be fought. In the depths
The Coral Caverns link up immediately to Fallen Zardozia and Lushwood, and there is a one way entrance from Magmanest into the caverns, although the Seismic Slam must be unlocked to make it accessible in both directions. Ironcrag Pass can also be accessed with the use of the Spider's Legs and the Grenade Launcher.
There is only one boss in the Coral Caverns, Amari, who can be found in the Faulty Boiler, endlessly tinkering away in her madness. Once she is defeated the player will gain access to the Seismic Slam ability, which is located in her workshop and used during the fight.
Ironcrag PassBastion of Purity 	
Near the bottom of the world, riddled with traps, treasure and a band of germophobic mercenaries that are rotten from within, Ironcrag Pass is one of the few locations in the hostile planet of Xylen V where Jin can find safe rest and room to recover, along with plentiful ammo and even some weaponry, assuming she goes along with the intense testing procedures necessitated by the Pass's ruthless general, Tevos Steelshell. The sole means of travel between the capital and Snowpeak, Ironcrag Pass was home to a group of mercenaries known as the Ironcrag Marauders, and following the onset of the Decay they barricaded the pass and protected it from all outside intrusion.
Ironcrag Pass is divided into three subsections, the Outpost, the Drop and the Fortress. Located at the top of the pass is the Outpost, the first bastion of purity within the continent and where Jin will be initially tested. Beyond that is the Drop, the only part of the pass that the Marauders were unable to protect, and is thus a Decay-ridden wasteland that Jin must traverse down before reaching the Fortress, the purest location in the Pass, and unfortunately where Jin will have to confront Tevos.
Ironcrag Pass links up to a large number of areas, namely Fallen Zardozia and Snowpeak accessible from the beginning, although to get very far in Snowpeak one will need the Grappling Hook and the Soulfire Lantern, but paths are also located to and from the Coral Caverns and Magmanest.
There is one boss in the Pass, Steelshell Prime, and once defeated it will yield the Grenade Launcher to the player. The Soulfire Lantern can be located earlier on in the area, near one of the multitude of entrances to Snowpeak.
SnowpeakFrozen Mines 	
The second largest area in the game, Snowpeak is a maze of dark, shadowy tunnels, frozen spikefields and abandoned mining facilities in the east side of the map, with the area incredibly hard to manuveur around without the help of tools such as the Grappling Hook and Soulfire Lantern. Once the hub of mining and trade in the continent, Snowpeak houses ancient ruins at it's core and within those ruins was the Temple of Decay, where the deadly pandemic rose up and began to consume the world. Because of this, Snowpeak is a hotspot of infection and is incredibly dangerous, with deadly enemies, frosty spikes rising from the ground as the bones of fallen adventurers and explorers lie dead on the floor, ready to rise up and attack at a moment's notice.
Snowpeak is all accessible as soon as you get into it, assuming one has access to the Soulfire Lantern and the Grappling Hook, but the maze of tunnels can be unintelligible to get around at first, and it is often easier for players to use one of the more direct routes towards the few important locations within the mines, namely the Giant's Graveyard, the Lupine Shrine and the entrance to the Temple, all of which have somewhat more direct access.
Snowpeak links up to only three areas, Magmanest, Ironcrag Pass and the Sandsteppe Gate, and once accessible these are double sided pathways and can be used with ease. The game's last upgrade, the Phantom Shroud, is also located in Snowpeak, in the lair of one of the area's three bosses, Fenris. The giant wolf can be found in the depths of the area, to the far east, while The Giant can be found in the upper regions of Snowpeak, near the surface, and Omos can be found guarding the entrance to the Temple of Decay, ready to test Jin's might.
Shadowheath SwampNoxious Marshes	
A noxious wasteland filled with toxic gas that can be barely survived without the aid of the Plasmic Coating, the Shadowheath Swamp is a brutal yet ultimately optional endgame level found at the edge of the world, although there is some utility to rushing it early in order to gain access to Alana, the game's weapon upgrade system. Always somewhat inhospitable to sentient life, the Shadowheath Swamp has been reduced to a feral, poisonous bog following the onset of the Decay, leaving it as a deadly wastes that only the most hardened of adventurers and explorers can survive in - enter with caution.
The Swamp is accessible via the Sandsteppe Gate, Fallen Zardozia and Lushwood, although all paths need at least the Plasmic Coating and even then the enemies and hazarrds located in the Swamp will often be too inhospitable for a lot of players to handle until they have better weapons, gear and upgrades. The Swamp is one of the game's smaller areas, and only contains one subarea, the Crashed Ship where Alana takes refuge.
There is one boss in the Shadowheath Swamp, the deadly larvmother Eklek, a mutated mass found near the center of the Swamp, who rules over all the corrupted beings that crawl the muddy pathways and infected trees of the bog. The Shadowheath Swamp is deadly, but the rewards it offers can be invaluable in Jin's final showdown with the Heart of the Decay.
Temple Of DecayAncient Evil 	
The Temple of Decay is Jin's final challenge, and it is a hectic, monster ridden labyrinth she must explore to destroy the Heart of Decay and save her father. It is tough, but with her abilities Jin will eventually prevail and make it through. In the Heart of Decay Jin unlocks her final, hidden ability, to manipulate the earth itself, learning it in a vision from her 'mother', the earth god Dayza. This makes the Temple easier once unlocked, although it is still very challenging.
The Temple has no sub areas and is only accessible via Snowpeak, with the use of all the abilities in a difficult platforming gauntlet. There are two bosses, Ja'h Urzen and the Priest of Decay.
Once The Priest of Decay is felled, Jin is able to shatter the Heart of Decay and free the world from its corruption, and with a blessing from her 'mother' is able to save her father from certain death, instead placing him in a coma. Jin then leaves to take her father to be healed, celebrated as a hero by the System.
==Upgrades==
Grappling HookSwingin Around 	
The Grappling Hook is the first upgrade available to Jin, although most players will miss it until later playthroughs of the first area. The Grappling Hook has two main functionalities - the launching of a hook to a platform within the radius, and zooming towards said platform at high speeds. The other functionality is launching a hook to a ceiling, then using momentum to swing to another area. The Grappling Hook can also be used to operate ziplines.
The Hook grants you access to two main areas - the link between Sandsteppe Gate and Snowpeak, and by extension most of Snowpeak, as traversing the area requires using both of the Hook's main functionalities; and the far south of Ironcrag Peak, which requires the hook to access, meaning that it is almost a necessity to obtain the Hook before travelling to Snowpeak, as two of the three primary entrances are impossible.
Blackstar CloakPhasing Dash 	
The Blackstar Cloak is usually going to be the first upgrade players find, as unless they find the Grappling Hook or go straight into Lushwood, the Shade Knight that guards the Cloak will usually be the second boss fought. The Blackstar Cloak allows the player to phase through certain thin walls, and can also be used as an evasive tool, serving as a dodge roll of sorts.
Collecting the Cloak allows the player access to Ironcrag Pass, which is blocked off by several of these gates, and some of the additional areas in the upper parts of the Sandsteppe Gate, which gives that area more depth in later playthroughs, and can also be used to access the Shadowheath Swamp and by extension Alana earlier than usual.
Antique LensA Glimpse Of The Past	
The Antique Lens is not a mechanical or platforming ability like most of the game's upgrades, but instead serves as a way to provide lore and exposition to the player. The Lens can be used in specific areas, indicated by a small symbol in the bottom right corner of the screen, and will look into the past, allowing Jin to see what has occured in these places many years before she has passed through.
There are no new areas unlocked by the Lens, although it can be helpful in some puzzles.
Plasmic CoatingAcidic Shielding 	
The Plasmic Coating allows Jin to activate at will a small device that coats her in a mysterious goo that slows her down but gives her immunity to acid and other hostile substances in the environment. The Plasmic Coating can be found in the depths of Lushwood, just below where the Sigil Goliath is fought, and can be used as a movement acessory primarily, although in some scenarios it can be used to lure dumber foes into lethal situations.
The Coating allows the player to access the Shadowheath Swamp, which is gated behind acid and noxious gas in every entrance, and is very hard to navigate without the Coating, along with some areas to the far north of Lushwood and the Ruined Power Plant and some of the passageways littered with traps in Ironcrag Pass. It can also be used to avoid the Decay's airborne form in Snowpeak and the Temple.
Fireheart CharmBlazing Heart 	
The Fireheart Charm, located on the corpse of the Magmatic Broodmother in Magmanest's Infenral Hive, grants Jin the ability to resist lava, flame and other boiling hot obstacles for five seconds. This is primarily a way to explore more of the world and bypass previously impossible obstacles with ease, it also gives Jin a weak fireball attack that sets foes alight.
The Charm lets players venture into the lower half of Magmanest, the Submagmatic layer, and explore the lost ruins of a fallen empire. It also grants access to the Faulty Boiler in the Coral Caverns and some areas of Snowpeak, especially in the lower parts of the mines and tunnels.
Spider's LegsCreepy Crawlies 	
Located in the depths of Magmanest, on the decaying body of a spiderlike member of the fallen civilzation found in the Submagmatic Layer, are the Spider's Legs, a grotesque ability that gives Jin the ability to climb up and jump of walls to a limited extent, which opens up many portions of the game to the player. It does only function as a movement ability though.
The Spider's Legs do not fully open up any areas, but they make traversing the world a lot easier and open up new places to explore in pretty much every area, along with making the busted elevator shaft in Ironcrag Pass two way.
Seismic SlamGroundbreaker 	
Found in the laboratory of the corrupted Boilermaster Amari, the Seismic Slam is a cybernetic enhancement installed in Jin's feet, allowing her to jump downwards and ground pound through obstacles, smashing through weak sections of floor, annihilating unstable architecture and even dealing decent amounts of damage to any enemies unfortunate enough to be caught in the small shockwave.
The Seismic Slam allows Jin to go back into Magmanest via the Coral Caverns, and it also opens up several small rooms and tunnel segments in the depths of Snowpeak and in the Submagmatic Layer of the Magmanest.
Soulfire LanternGhostly Flame 	
Fueled by the souls of those claimed by The Decay and found near one of the many entrances to the enormous network of tunnels that is the Snowpeak, the Soulfire Lantern illuminates the area around it when used, revealing treasures and blinding some light-sensitive areas, although it runs on very limited fuel and must often be recharged by killing enemies, whose souls go into the lantern.
The Soulfire Lantern opens up the vast majority of Snowpeak to the player, allowing them to explore it's darkened corridors with the aid of the Grappling Hook, the other upgrade vital to Jin's success in accessing the frozen mines.
Grenade LauncherExplosive Arsenal	
Half utility gun, half deadly weapon, the Grenade Launcher is a feat of engineering found in the possession of one Tevos Steelshell, within the Ironcrag Pass. With the ability to not only deal high damage with the explosive projectiles it lobs across the battlefield, but also to break through weakened walls and ceilings and even destroy the buildings and architecture of the world itself, bringing it all to the ground. Unfortunately, the Launcher does consume ammo, but it is the same ammo that is used for other weapons.
Late game as it is, the Grenade Launcher opens up a multitude of new areas to Jin, with many secrets hidden behind the walls and rock faces of Xylen V, including even a sub area containing a boss, the Lupine Shrine, home of the icy demon Fenris.
Phantom ShroudStealth Suit 	
Located in the lair of the demonic wolf Fenris, the Phantom Shroud allows Jin to briefly go invisible, making enemies unable to target her unless they have specific abilities, as well as allowing her to sneak through traps unnoticed and get stealth attacks on enemies for bonus damage. The Shroud is the last of the game's abilities and one of the most powerful, making traversing through earlier areas considerably easier, although it's utility is lessened when more and more enemies can see through it and gauntlets last for longer than the invisibility time.
The Shroud unlocks the last of the game's areas, allowing Jin to get through impossible challenges in Ironcrag Pass and Shadowheath Swamp and revealing the entirety of the map to her
GeokinesisHidden Power 	
Not a conventional ability in the manner of the game's other discoverable abilities, Jin's Geokinesis is unlocked near the very end of the game and allows her to move around the rocks and stones of Xylen V, to manipulate them and mold them to her will. This ability is very powerful, and allows her to carve paths through the map and alter the terrain to make movement much easier, along with being very helpful in boss battles. The ability is also vital in taking down the game's last two bosses and freeing the planet from The Decay once and for all.
==Weapons==
Auto RifleTier 1 Weapon 	
The Auto Rifle is the first weapon accessible to Jin throughout the game, and she will always start off with it. It is a slow firing, accurate weapon that deals moderate damage, which sets the expectation that Jin will have to stay away from foes, as if she is rushed the rifle will simply not be fast enough to defend her.
The Auto Rifle is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, either the Silent Sniper or the Heavy Duty Rifle at the cost of 250 Gold and a Husk Shell.
Slime SpitterTier 1 Weapon 	
The Slime Spitter is one of the easiest weapons to obtain in Deadworld, located in a small grove directly beneath the starting area that always appears, and many runs will pick it up first. The Spitter deals low damage but fires quickly and slows enmies, firing in a lob motion that makes it somewhat harder to aim. It is good for switching to in tricky situations to hold off foes.
The Slime Spitter is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, the Corrosive Cannon, at the cost of 250 Gold and a Slime Husk
BloodfangTier 1 Weapon 	
The Bloodfang can be found randomly spawned somewhere in the ruins on top of the Sandsteppe Gate, almost always guarded by a group of Sandstone Husks. It fires fast moving fangs that pierce through enemies and despite their low damage output make enemies bleed, dealing a small amount of damage over time and making them take extra damage.
The Bloodfang is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, either the Crimson Sigil or the Cursed Orb at the cost of 375 Gold and three Husk Shells.
Hammer of SandsTier 1 Weapon 	
The Hammer of Sands is a potential drop from the first boss, the Sandstone Guardian, one of four that have a chance of dropping. It fires blasts of sand at foes, which pushes them back and can be used to stunlock some weaker enemies, which gives it immense utility in the difficult early game.
The Hammer of Sands is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, the Sandsoul at the cost of 250 Gold and six Sandstone Fragments
Sandstone SkirmisherTier 1 Weapon	
The Sandstone Skirmisher is one of the four weapons that can potentially be dropped by the Sandstone Guardian. It is a high speed assault rifle, firing low damage bullets at insane rates, making it one of the best crowd control weapons in the early game, although it is very imprecise.
The Sandstone Skirmisher is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, the Sandsoul at the cost of 250 Gold and six Sandstone Fragments
Guardian's FistTier 1 Weapon 	
The Guardian's Fist is dropped by the Sandstone Guardian, one of four options, and is a high damage semi-melee weapon. The Guardian's Fist sends out a flail like projectile that is connected to the weapon by a chain, and bounces off walls, dealing heavy damage but having limited range and being hard to control.
The Guardian's Fist is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, the Sandsoul at the cost of 250 Gold and six Sandstone Fragments
Desertdust GrenadesTier 1 Weapon 	
The Desertdust Gremades are an option of one of the weapons dropped by the first boss of the game, and consist of a bag of grenades that can be tossed at foes, dealing minor damage to the environment and heavy damage to foes, but they also hurt Jin and are very unpredictable due to their bouncy nature, making them something to be careful when using.
The Desertdust Grenades are by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade them to a Tier II weapon, the Sandsoul at the cost of 250 Gold and six Sandstone Fragments
NailgunTier 1 Weapon 	
Found as a random drop in the depths of the Lushwood, the Nailgun shoots low damage projectiles at an incredibly fast rate. It has good DPS but it consumes a large amount of ammo, making it a costly weapon to use. However, if you can support it, the Nailgun has solid DPS and is one of the best damage dealers in the mid to late game
The Nailgun is by default a Tier I weapon. Alana can upgrade it to a Tier II weapon, either the Quickshot Nailblaster or the Screw Scissors, at the cost of a Spitter Sac
==Enemies==
Sandstone HuskWasteland Hunters 	
Shambling shells of their former selves, Sandstone Husks are a variety of races, ranging from Bladikori and Arkanji to Siandrall and other exotic races. Corrupted by the Decay after their deaths, these husks now roam the plateau, their bodies littered with sand and dust, hunting down unwary travelers with group mentality. Even as the first enemy in the game, these husks are deadly, rushing down Jin at first sight and calling other nearby husks, easily swarming an unprepared player and ending a run. The trick to defeating them is staying away, sniping them off one by one and exploiting their greatest weaknesses - their bad senses and low health. But beware - if a single one smells you, they are fast, dangerous and will destroy you with ease.
Husks will drop 5-10 Gold each, and have a 25% chance of dropping a Husk Shell, an early game item that can be taken to Alana to forge new weaponry.
Sandstone Spitter<Armed and Dangerous	
Similar to Sandstone Husks in appearance, these infected corpses travel alone, hiding in the plateau's various nooks and crannies and blending in with the sand. Armed with weapons they used in their former lives, Sandstone Spitters shoot high damage chunks of The Decay that will corrode Jin on contact. Sandstone Spitters demand to be dealt with immediately, as they deal high damage and fire quickly, and if they are combined with Sandstone Husks you are in for a beating. The intended strategy for dealing with these beasts is utilising the terrain to block their shots and sniping them down from afar, as they have rather low health. It is always best to deal with them first in group confrontations as if you are hit by one with other enemies nearby the run is almost guaranteed to be over.
Spitters will drop 7-10 Gold each, and have a 50% chance of dropping a Husk Shell and a 15% chance of dropping a Spitter Sac, a rare item that can be used to upgrade mid-game weapons.
Sandstone SamuraiSilent Yet Deadly 	
Strangely disciplined for shambling carcasses, Sandstone Samurai travel in pairs, stalking the silent corridors of the Sandsteppe Gate and ready to strike. Wielding swords fashioned from blood and bone, these ruthless killers are smarter than many other enemies Jin will encounter in the early game, stalking her through silent corridors and dealing heavy damage, although they do not have much health they are able to parry many of Jin's attacks and fend her off, especially when fighting as a duo. The best way to defeat these silent killers is to focus on one and take it out, which will leave the other more open to attack and make them much weaker, with Jin usually having to utilise the terrain and other enemies to take the first one down.
Samurai drop 12-15 Gold each, have a 100% chance of dropping 1-2 Husk Shells and a 20% chance of dropping a Bloodbone Blade, an item used to upgrade some early game weapons.
==Bosses==
Sandstone ColossusStone Guardian 	Originally created as a means of defending Zardozia from those who would seek to destroy it, the Sandstone Colossus stands tall in a great cavern above the entrance to the city. However, as the Decay has spread, the guardian has been corrupted and now it attacks anyone who would seek to enter the city, it's cavernous lair littered with the remains of those who could not escape.
The Colossus is the first boss of the game, and it will be fought in most early runs, only becoming invalidated when the player has the means to enter other areas first. The Colossus is a tough yet beatable boss, with two main attacks. The first is to throw a barrage of rocks upward, which then crash down onto the arena, which Jin must avoid or take lethal damage. The other attack sees the statue charging at Jin, and she must clamber onto the terrain to avoid it. The trick to taking down the colossus is using the environment against it, destroying the roof of the arena to drop stalactites down onto the boss until it is pinned to the ground and can be slain.
Shade KnightStarcloaked Champion 	
The Shade Knight was once a brave adventurer who delved into the planet's capital, but after an unlucky run-in with a group of husks they were reduced to a corpse, eventually becoming corrupted by the Decay and serving as a guard to the depths of the planet, a way for the Heart to prevent unwanted adventuerers from delving further down into Xylen V.
The Shade Knight is actually comparatively easy, especially compared to the devastating foes Jin has been facing on her way down. However, they still pack a punch, and if the player has not learnt to slow down and be cautious the Shade Knight will beat it into them. The Knight dashes around at a very high speed, phasing through Jin's shots and dealing high damage, makind them very hard to hit. The trick to the Shade Knight is simple - take it slow, hide in the arena's various nooks and crannies and wait for the right moment to strike, as a few hits from even a weaker gun can decimate the boss.
OmosWandering Knight 	
A former adventurer who now roams the solemn hallways of the planet, Omos is one of the very few friendly NPCs and will aid Jin several times throughout her journey. However, the first time he meets her, in the depths of Fallen Zardozia, he will attempt to fight her and convince her not to delve into the depths of the planet.
Omos can be quite a brutal boss if not dealt with quickly, as he gets more and more powerful the longer the fight lasts, with the AI picking up on the player's tricks and combating them, making him truly a worthy foe. Omos has a lot of health and deals a lot of damage, and one must use dirty tricks to take him down. There are a number of strategies, but the intended one (confirmed by the devs in an interview about the game) is to drop the ceiling on Omos and knock him out, a task that takes a while to accomplish but will end the fight easily, along with giving Omos extra respect for the player
Sigil GoliathRunebound Titan 	
Lurking in the depths of Lushwood is the Sigil Goliath, a feral beast originally created to serve the inhabitants of the jungle and powered by the magical symbol on it's back, when the Goliath's creator was infected that continued onto the vinebound titan, turning it into a monster that now stalks the Lushwood, preying on those unlucky enough to fall into it's path.
The Sigil Goliath is a change of pace from the game's earlier bosses, as it is slow and hulking, meaning that the fight is not as frantic and fast paced as other fights. Despite this, the Goliath still packs a punch, tossing balls of infected vines and slamming down onto the ground. The Goliath is an endurance challenge, as Jin must wear down it's titanic health bar. The fight is a tricky one but the boss has similar patterns to the Lushwood Titans, enemies found earlier in the area, so it can be practiced on them.
Magmatic BroodmotherLava Tyrant 	Ruling over the Spikora race that inhabits the depths of the Magmanest, the Magmatic Broodmother is a hulking, spiderlike beast that once was the peaceful leader of the reclusive people but now has been corrupted by the infectious might of the Decay, leaving it as a deadly being that hunts travelers unfortunate enough to stumble into it's lair.
The Magmatic Broodmother is unexpectedly agile, with it's hulking form able to nimbly manuveur on the maze of webs that surround it's boss arena and destroy Jin if she's not careful. The main hazard of the fight are the webs that the boss shoots, as they will trap the player and leave them helpless to be hit my the fiery blasts the boss shoots. The trick to beating the boss is taking it slow and focusing on dodging so you can get hits in on it's weakspots while it swings in at Jin and attempts to smash her.
Old King BonegrinderFallen Monarch 	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
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The GiantScourge of Snowpeak 	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
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