Arcade Mode

**Arcade Mode** is one of the single-player modes available in **Worldlauncher**. The player in this mode must fight through a set of rounds with a majority involving CPU-controlled opponents. In these fights, the player also follows their selected character’s individual story during the events of **The Collision**. If another controller is attached to the game, the player in this mode can be challenged by another player in the middle of the current fight, redirecting both players to play in Versus Mode. This mode can also be played while waiting for a match in online play. If someone connects to the session, the player will be sent to the character selection screen. After that match is complete, the players will return to the arcade route on the fighter they left off at.

In this mode, each fighter faces their own predetermined set of opponents and stages. A character’s route usually consists of standard fights, bonus mini-games, and a boss battle. Each route is also given a unique title, and its fights may be modified by special rules and other additional conditions. For example, **Kaya**’s route references *Entropy* by using only **Singularity**-form stages and stamina health. Players can select a difficulty level from **Novice [1]** to **Hellish [6]**. Additionally, this mode also displays an arcade score alongside the player's overall Launch points.

Players by default have three **acts** which can be carried over rounds. Upon continuing from a loss, the difficulty will be lowered by a level and the match will start from where the player left off. Using a continue at any point locks the player out of Hellish difficulty for the rest of the run. However, using a pass when already at Hellish will preserve the run’s difficulty level. Continuing will cause the player's score to go down.

If the player was able to go through Arcade Mode in Hellish difficulty and with no acts lost, they will be greeted with a special round where they will face off against a unique fighter called **MoM**. This entity will prove to be an immense challenge, but if one can manage to defeat them then they’ll be rewarded as a playable fighter.

After clearing Arcade Mode, the player is rewarded with ATP and unlocks certain cosmetic options for their current fighter, as well as new **Gallery** images. An image and song related to the fighter is shown and played during the end credits.

## Arcade Story

An unknown cosmic entity (apparently named **Daughter**) was able to manipulate a certain other cosmic being and its seemingly distorted plot for her own plans. By doing so, she now has access to other universes via a feminine humanoid avatar. Using this form, the cosmic entity steals trinkets, artifacts, and other abstractions that are important from each impacted continuity. She then uses these to create **The Wishmaker**, a microphone that can grant wishes, and everything else in **The Final Stage**. With everything she needs on hand, Daughter was able to successfully contort every universe she invaded and merge them together. This event is known by many as **The Collision**. After some time, the cosmic entity makes an announcement to every continuity that gives details about the tournament and its rules. She also states that whoever is its victor will be granted a wish. A select few characters from each universe, who are referred to as **Fighters**, scramble around trying to figure out what they should do. They are forced by Daughter to fight each other until one emerges as the tournament's champion. As the victor attempts to access her domain to claim their prize, they are interrupted by a **BOSS** (an entity that is infected by a **Black Archetype**). Only after is the winner allowed to enter Daughter's domain and have their wish granted. If that said Fighter does not state what they wish for, The Wishmaker will rip their deepest desire out of them and make it true. Unfortunately, these wishes will often come at the price of destroying every other continuity and the victor facing an unforeseen consequence.

## Fighter Routes

The structure of each route of every fighter has them go through 18 rounds in order to attain their wish and win. The typical format for a route involves a series of normal fights with randomized opponents, with certain rounds being a bonus mini-game, and special rivalry and boss fights after that. The penultimate round will almost always take place in **The Podium**. The route is entirely catered to that fighter’s thematics. Certain fighters appear at specific spots during a route, rather than being randomly chosen or not picked at all. For example, in most 2nd round battles, a fighter will always face off with the same fighter no matter how many times this route is played. It will also cause special dialogue to occur before the fight. This can vary for certain fighters.

### Base Game [Stories Retold]

The following are the fighter routes that are available in the base game. Click on the icon or name to see more details of a chosen fighter's route.

### Planned Expansions

*More information about this will be provided when the time comes.*