Gameplay Mechanics

## General rules and tips

**Game rules**

* Gadiel can level up while inside the dungeon by using the Goddess statue. Using it will destroy it!
* If you hit an enemy from below it will jump up, and possibly over the edge onto your level and hit you. To prevent this, try hitting enemies from above or hit them once they're moving away from you.
* The STR stat directly adds damage to melee, but not to guns.
* The DEF stat directly reduces damage taken from touching enemies and projectiles. It maxes out at 6. It is heavily recommended to put this stat at 5 as soon as you can, or even at 6 if you cannot obtain Silver Armor (see Equipment or Characters on how to obtain this).
* No matter how high your defense stat is, projectiles will hurt you, as will spiked floors.
* Some enemies explode upon death. This does 4 damage (DEF 0), but can be completely ignored with a high enough DEF (4). This includes Eloens time-bomb explosion.
* Walking through spikes (from the side) will not damage you.
* Abilities and guns are disabled during bossfights. High melee damage is therefor a must have to keep these fights short.
* The experience used during a level up does not go to the next level.

**Tips**

* Every character starts out with their default sword and gun, and a various amount of ammo. This ammo can only be restocked in the Space Shop, by spending TP on WPA, or by finding Ammo Packs in the dungeon.
Unless you're facing a fast and jumping enemy, keep the ammo for the turrets in BlackStorm Lab and Prime Reactor.
* The starting swords are the weakest in the game. Getting a strong weapon from the first Weapon Chest you find can save you from spending TP on STR to make up for the lack of melee damage. See Equipment for the list of weapons.
* Ceiling mounted turrets have 1 HP and are best shot down with a gun.
* The fire/poison blasters also have only 1 HP and can kill enemies.
* Ignore the timer at the top of the screen; it does absolutely nothing and has no impact on gameplay. Take your time getting used to the controls, enemy patterns, and character mobility.
* Unlocking teleporters between dungeon blocks sounds nice, but you will still be level 1 (albeit with some TP to spend), have the starting weapons, and no armor or items. That said, getting used to new enemies is easier with these active.
* Use Teamerite to unlock better weapons. Getting a powerful weapon from the first chest can make a playthrough incredibly easy.
* Be mindful of your XP bar when fighting a mini-boss. Chances are you won't benefit from all their XP

## Cells

The currency that is used to buy items in the Space Shop and that various NPCs ask for is found in four different values throughout the dungeons.

## Space Shop

They're located in the safe areas between each dungeon area (with the exception of secret locations), and before each boss (with the exception of the final boss).
Each shop sells three random items and when bought are replaced by a SOLD sign. Shops can sell the same item more than once with the exception of Teamerite.

## Teamerite

Besides Cells as currency there is Teamerite. It is mostly rewarded for defeating a boss and between 1 and 5 Teamerite is found in the chest after each boss.

The Space Shop occasionally sells Teamerite too, and the asteroids en route to the AI Mothership boss fight leave these upon destruction.

Teamerite is mainly used to unlock weapons in the Commander Shop, NPCs may request it in order to make your life easier, and 1 is required if you want to fight the true final boss.

## Commander Shop

In Gadiels castle on the surface is a shop maintained by a giant soldier called The Commander.

He sells weapons that, once purchased, can be found in the white chests throughout the game.

Once a set of three is sold, a new set appears. There are (estimated) 18 weapons for sale.

On the Equipment page is a list of weapons. The ones that are 'unlocked with xx Teamerite' are purchased here.

## Chests and other containers

Throughout the dungeon you can find small containers that you can destroy to open. These can contain Cells, health, or ammo.

The larger chests have a weapon or special item. The weapon chests require 1 or three Golden Keys to open. Keys are dropped by mini-bosses: see Enemies.

**Restorative items**

These are the only items that can restore your health and ammo while you're in a dungeon area. You can find them in breakable containers.

## Experience and Talent points

Defeating enemies and bosses yield experience points. Eloen, Renna, and Nue initially require 50 points to level up, while Gadiel requires 80.

Each level requires 5 more points. You do not level up when you're at exactly 0 XP left, rather you need 1 more point.
When you level up, any excess points are lost so it's best to try to minimize the losses. This is especially important in the first few levels as mini-bosses are often worth more XP than you require to level up.
IE: with 5 exp to go (4 on screen) you kill an enemy and gain 12, but 7 points are lost.

You gain one Talent point (TP) when you level up, and start with one at level 1.
They can be spent at a Talent Tablet in safe areas.

 WPA
 STR
 DEF

**Gadiel**

This unlockable character has a different method of spending TP. The Tablets are destroyed, but the white chests are replaced by a statue of the Goddess.
Activating this statue will destroy it in the process, but also spends all of Gadiels TP with the following increments *per TP spent*:

* +1 HP
* +1 WPA
* +1 STR