I beat mom, now what?

[PurpleMage_Claire]

I managed to beat mom for the first time this morning. I ended up using the combo of Guppy's Paw + Dead Cat to keep replenishing myself to 3 spirit hearts each death. Eventually, I managed to also get Brimstone and Guppy's Head to transform me into Guppy.

Thing is, I thought there was supposed to be more to the game after beating mom. The ending didn't seem all that conclusive, but the credits rolled. After they were done, I was returned to the title screen. Do I have to beat the game multiple times to see the true ending or is there something else that I missed having to do to go on?

[Pantheon]

Originally posted by xXKaizo_KlayrXx:

Thing is, I thought there was supposed to be more to the game after beating mom.

There is, but only after starting a new game.

[PurpleMage_Claire]

I've tried a few more games. I noticed that it is showing more floors to complete now when I get the cutscene after boss battles. I seem to be having terrible luck now with getting crappy items from the first few floors.

I guess my next question is this: Do you ever quit a game early over getting terrible items from the first floors? I'm starting to strategize where I have to have a decent combination of items from rooms and boss battles before completing the basement or else I start over.

[Pantheon]

Nah, I see a run through to the end, no matter to what kind of end.

[RocNessMonster]

When you quit game and restart it seems to give you the sameish run.

Take a look at the achievement list, you'll be killing Mom quite a bit.

[Misery]

Originally posted by xXKaizo_KlayrXx:

I guess my next question is this: Do you ever quit a game early over getting terrible items from the first floors? I'm starting to strategize where I have to have a decent combination of items from rooms and boss battles before completing the basement or else I start over.

Playing every game of Isaac to the end makes you a better player overall because you play better and use all strategies/advantages you have—so yes, much more efficient practice.

[Sergent H]

item isn't all: look at the challenge "purist" : no item all the game, which unlock one of the item ;)

[Krushak]

You have the challenges, you also have to beat mom/mom's heart like 10 times to get everything then you get the chest/shoal things you have to beat too.

[bronze_aged]

I used to play every run to the end no matter what, but now...when I get lemon mishap in the first treasure room, I usually just restart out of spite.

[Jill Stingray]

once you beat mom the first time you unlock the womb, beat the womb i think either once for every character or 9 times, and you unlock an alternate final boss, beating it unlocks sheol (and maybe the cathedral, i can't remember if you have to beat sheol to unlock it) then once you beat the cathedral with every character you unlock the chest

[PurpleMage_Claire]

So, basically I have to beat it a bunch more times. Well, I should get better considering that I did it once.

Maybe learning how to use what I'm given is important. I originally dismissed Guppy's paw as being a terrible item until I discovered the combo with it plus 9 lives. The whole becoming Guppy thing was an accidental discovery. Now I'm wondering what other item combos give you something special like that.

[KlaatuNaatu]

After the first time I beat Mom, I just bought Wrath of the Lamb. Most people would probably say that was a mistake, but Wrath of the Lamb isn't as hard as everyone says it is. I killed Mom and almost beat the next floor on my first run. I think Wrath of the Lamb would be a good choice for you, but only after you stop restarting the game. That probably kills some of the fun.

[PowerHaus930]

If you're not sure what items do what check out this "Cheat Sheet". It has every item and you can also select more than one item to see what the effect will be if you get two items at once. It is a very helpful site. http://www.platinumgod.co.uk/

[Pink]

Don't worry about the items, better run with what you get.
I sometimes let my wife pick a character for me besides Cain (her Isaac doesn't have D6 yet), and I just play with whatever I get, I even make nonsense deal with the devil just to increase the difficulty and still finish flawlessly with whatever setup I end up with.
The game becomes pretty easy once you know the mechanics inside out.

[nabbed]

Originally posted by Demon1198:

After the first time I beat Mom, I just bought Wrath of the Lamb. Most people would probably say that was a mistake, but Wrath of the Lamb isn't as hard as everyone says it is. I killed Mom and almost beat the next floor on my first run. I think Wrath of the Lamb would be a good choice for you, but only after you stop restarting the game. That probably kills some of the fun.

On the very first floor, if you are not satisfied with the items that you get from the Item Room and/or from the boss, hold "r" for 3 seconds to quick-restart the game. There's no penalty to restarting.

And take it from a guy with over 1,000 hours of Isaac, there's no shame in restaring either.
Once you get Platinum God, you can play "challenge runs", or "random runs", or any kind of special rule runs you desire.

[Butz]

Beat Mom's Teart enough and you'll permanently unlock Sheol and The Cathedral. Then kill Isaac (the boss) enough times to unlock the polaroid and the chest. If you're having trouble with early items then try to unlock the dice. I found it easier to just die on mom's heart and respawn with the Ahnk