Question for getting A/S rank rewards (NG+? possible?)

[thejuiceweasel]

I'm not great at the game but still really enjoy it, and I want to give it a try to unlock at least the A rank on Hardcore, after my very casual Standard playthrough.

From what I've found, you can do the unlocks on NG+, EXCEPT getting the S+ rewards.

Can anyone confirm that?

[Lord Brio]

for the most part yes

[Harris]

This is getting asked here every 30 minutes. When in doubt, check in-game requirements tab. When something is not specifically listed - it's not a requirement.

All S+ runs require a fresh save - so by the extension their unlocks too.

Handcannon requires Professional completion without using bonus weapons - but can still sell them.

Chicago requires Professional A, since it's not S+ you can do it as NG+. Same goes for Armor and for Gas Mask.

[Strike]

Thats correct,I believe the only unlock that you cant get using NG+ or using extra weapons is the Handcannon which requires you to beat professional on New Game without using any unlockable weapons/items

[Zer0]

Correct, I thiiiiink the only requirement for the ranks is time but if someone could confirm for me that'd be great.

Time requirements for S being to beat the game in under the time threshold;
Assisted - under 4hrs
Standard - under 5hrs
Hardcore - under 5hrs & 30 minutes
Professional - under 5hrs & 30 minutes (and I believe for S+ either you need to make sure you don't save 15+ times or there's a hard limit of 15 saves allowed on this mode I think).

I also believe the DLC weapons and special weapons unlocked in the content shop are allowed for S+.

[DilTinman]

Any A rank rewards can be done on NG+

There are no S rank rewards, only S+, and S+ cannot be done on NG+ but you can use bonus weapons to get S+, so it would honestly be better for you to do the A rank Professional run in NG+ for the Chicago Sweeper to use for the S+ run.

As a side note, the Handcannon also cannot be unlocked on NG+ and you cannot use bonus weapons. You can, however, use the accessories such as Chicken Hat and Cat Ears as well as Ashley's knight costume to get it. There is also no rank requirement for this.

[Ceceli Δ]

Originally posted by Harris:

This is getting asked here every 30 minutes. When in doubt, check in-game requirements tab. When something is not specifically listed - it's not a requirement.

All S+ runs require a fresh save - so by the extension their unlocks too.

Handcannon requires Professional completion without using bonus weapons - but can still sell them.

Chicago requires Professional A, since it's not S+ you can do it as NG+. Same goes for Armor and for Gas Mask.

And yet I still don't get it. Could you explain it to me? If you can only get the handcannon by beating the game on Professional, why did they feel the need to tell us that we can't use special weapons? We don't have speacial weapons in the first place. It's a brand new game file. You have nothing in it. So... WTF is this? I'm so confused.

Also, a side question: after unlocking the handcannon (on professional, ofc), can you use it in a Standard or Hardcore new/old save file?

[ggAkatsukiP]

Originally posted by Ceceli ♠:

Originally posted by Harris:

This is getting asked here every 30 minutes. When in doubt, check in-game requirements tab. When something is not specifically listed - it's not a requirement.

All S+ runs require a fresh save - so by the extension their unlocks too.

Handcannon requires Professional completion without using bonus weapons - but can still sell them.

Chicago requires Professional A, since it's not S+ you can do it as NG+. Same goes for Armor and for Gas Mask.

And yet I still don't get it. Could you explain it to me? If you can only get the handcannon by beating the game on Professional, why did they feel the need to tell us that we can't use special weapons? We don't have speacial weapons in the first place. It's a brand new game file. You have nothing in it. So... WTF is this? I'm so confused.

Also, a side question: after unlocking the handcannon (on professional, ofc), can you use it in a Standard or Hardcore new/old save file?

Bonus weapons unlocked from challenge are carry over through system save, not playthrough save. You can find them even in new game Assisted at typewriter storage box.

[DilTinman]

Originally posted by Ceceli ♠:

Originally posted by Harris:

This is getting asked here every 30 minutes. When in doubt, check in-game requirements tab. When something is not specifically listed - it's not a requirement.

All S+ runs require a fresh save - so by the extension their unlocks too.

Handcannon requires Professional completion without using bonus weapons - but can still sell them.

Chicago requires Professional A, since it's not S+ you can do it as NG+. Same goes for Armor and for Gas Mask.

And yet I still don't get it. Could you explain it to me? If you can only get the handcannon by beating the game on Professional, why did they feel the need to tell us that we can't use special weapons? We don't have speacial weapons in the first place. It's a brand new game file. You have nothing in it. So... WTF is this? I'm so confused.

Also, a side question: after unlocking the handcannon (on professional, ofc), can you use it in a Standard or Hardcore new/old save file?

Because that's not true at all. Unlocking the bonus weapons puts them in your storage which you can access on a fresh save file. The only weapon that doesn't work this way is the Infinite Rocket Launcher, that one is NG+ only.

As for your side question, I believe so.

[Harris]

Originally posted by Ceceli ♠:

And yet I still don't get it. Could you explain it to me? If you can only get the handcannon by beating the game on Professional, why did they feel the need to tell us that we can't use special weapons? We don't have speacial weapons in the first place. It's a brand new game file. You have nothing in it. So... WTF is this? I'm so confused.

Also, a side question: after unlocking the handcannon (on professional, ofc), can you use it in a Standard or Hardcore new/old save file?

Okay...

Bonus weapons are account-wide. Unlock Primal Knife or Chicago or Handcannon once and you'll see them in typewriter storage with any run, NG+ or fresh save.

Unlocking Chicago is intrinsically not hard. Professional A means you can do it on NG+, means you can cheese it with upgraded guns let alone infinite launcher.

Once you unlocked Chicago you can get infinite ammo on it as soon as you set foot into the castle area (~2 hours into the game) - provided you did all side quests and got 30 spinels for the Exclusive ticket.

An infinite weapon of such power as Chicago 2 hours into the run cheeses every S+ run short of Hardcore and Professional where the enemies are too bullet spongy (though it's viable there too, some people do it).

Therefore, the only way to make Handcannon not cheese-able is by BOTH requiring fresh save and forbidding bonus weapons.

With that being said, even with those limitations there are enough ways to cheese the "Handcannon run":
- you can still sell your Primal Knife and Chicago for a total of 50k which is a lot early game
- you can upgrade your guns all the way from the start, so use 50k to to crank your pistol's power and fire rate all the way and then cheese cabin siege with it thank to infinite ammo from Luis
- you can use all your accessories, Wolf Tail help early on when you lack ammo, and Deer Antlers makes El Gigante and Krauser fights that much easier
- last not the least you can equip Armor for Ashley and save yourself the headache of keeping her alive.

Side question - Handcannon is a bonus weapon, so it behaves in the same manner as Primal Knife and Chicago - you will see it on every save after you've unlocked it. You can likewise use it to cheese S+ ranks with it.

In fact, I literally did my Professional S+ by saving 30 spinels, getting infinite ammo for Handcannon after Mendez fight and then the rest of the run was a breeze.

[Ceceli Δ]

Originally posted by Harris:

Originally posted by Ceceli ♠:

And yet I still don't get it. Could you explain it to me? If you can only get the handcannon by beating the game on Professional, why did they feel the need to tell us that we can't use special weapons? We don't have speacial weapons in the first place. It's a brand new game file. You have nothing in it. So... WTF is this? I'm so confused.

Also, a side question: after unlocking the handcannon (on professional, ofc), can you use it in a Standard or Hardcore new/old save file?

Okay...

Bonus weapons are account-wide. Unlock Primal Knife or Chicago or Handcannon once and you'll see them in typewriter storage with any run, NG+ or fresh save.

Unlocking Chicago is intrinsically not hard. Professional A means you can do it on NG+, means you can cheese it with upgraded guns let alone infinite launcher.

Once you unlocked Chicago you can get infinite ammo on it as soon as you set foot into the castle area (~2 hours into the game) - provided you did all side quests and got 30 spinels for the Exclusive ticket.

An infinite weapon of such power as Chicago 2 hours into the run cheeses every S+ run short of Hardcore and Professional where the enemies are too bullet spongy (though it's viable there too, some people do it).

Therefore, the only way to make Handcannon not cheese-able is by BOTH requiring fresh save and forbidding bonus weapons.

With that being said, even with those limitations there are enough ways to cheese the "Handcannon run":
- you can still sell your Primal Knife and Chicago for a total of 50k which is a lot early game
- you can upgrade your guns all the way from the start, so use 50k to to crank your pistol's power and fire rate all the way and then cheese cabin siege with it thank to infinite ammo from Luis
- you can use all your accessories, Wolf Tail help early on when you lack ammo, and Deer Antlers makes El Gigante and Krauser fights that much easier
- last not the least you can equip Armor for Ashley and save yourself the headache of keeping her alive.

Side question - Handcannon is a bonus weapon, so it behaves in the same manner as Primal Knife and Chicago - you will see it on every save after you've unlocked it. You can likewise use it to cheese S+ ranks with it.

In fact, I literally did my Professional S+ by saving 30 spinels, getting infinite ammo for Handcannon after Mendez fight and then the rest of the run was a breeze.

Thanks for the very thourough explanation! I'm even gonna save it in a notepad before some mod gets any bright ideas.

And that 'permitted cheese' kinda makes sense. Getting rank S+ on lower difficulty saves is already some kind of investment/effort and you can use its rewards to help you on Professional S+.

I played it taking it my time, looking everything and walking through the game in Hardcore mode and I got a Rank B. I did enjoy myself, but in the end, only rank B ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I think the next logical step to make it all smooth as possible is to finish Hardcore again getting Rank A for the Ashley armor. Then I'm not sure if I go for the Wolf Tail (Assisted) or Deer Antlers (Standard). What do you think? Then Professional rank A so I can use your tip to start a clean Professional new game and sell Chicago Sweeper and Primal Knife. And after all of that, I get to use Cat Ears and Handcannon on the other difficulties I haven't beaten yet.