Hardcore is nuts

[Spinney]

Just died in the first area about 10 times, and I've gotten every achievement, and the two speedruns in one run... but this is crazy.

And yeah, don't touch the basic red enemies in the second level.

[Jei T]

Just cleared it, it's not that bad but very questionably balanced.

HUGE difficulty spikes when starting Mermaid Falls another at the end of the game, where some attacks do 32 damage (8 hearts).
Everything else is much more tolerable, challenging but still fair.

[Cannonaire]

I was elated to find Hardcore mode when I logged into Steam yesterday. I knew the moment I died in my first attempt at the first level that it was what the game needed.

But I binged it and now it's over. =(

Good luck with the tower chase. I think it might be impossible on first attempt because you need to push the blocks.

[Spinney]

Thanks for the tips guys!

[BROLY 32]

I think it was smartly balanced and fun. Magic and potions are actually usefull now.
It's a challenge while not beeing rage inducing at all.

[Cannonaire]

Originally posted by BROLY 32:

I think it was smartly balanced and fun. Magic and potions are actually usefull now.
It's a challenge while not beeing rage inducing at all.

I got frustrated at a few parts, but I agree. I feel like the game made me work for it.

At the end of the last boss fight, I was almost completely out of healing items.

[BROLY 32]

Originally posted by Cannonaire:

I got frustrated at a few parts, but I agree. I feel like the game made me work for it.

At the end of the last boss fight, I was almost completely out of healing items.

Only annoying part imo was the race, especially the boss fight. Making me restart from the start for falling down once during the boss was kinda harsh.
As for the last boss fight... I did it first try. But total restoration was used. Many times xD

[BlueAura]

Just finished tinkerslug, giga mermaid, Wilbur, and Twitch & Vinegar with no damage taken or magic used. Ammo Baron seems doable too with good use of the crab's protective shell without the use of pikeball/scimitar. I'm enjoying hardcore mode a lot, the game was in desperate need for this.

[Spinney]

Originally posted by BlueAura:

Just finished tinkerslug, giga mermaid, Wilbur, and Twitch & Vinegar with no damage taken or magic used. Ammo Baron seems doable too with good use of the crab's protective shell without the use of pikeball/scimitar. I'm enjoying hardcore mode a lot, the game was in desperate need for this. :shantae::rotty::shantae_sky:

Any tips for giga mermaid? been stuck for a while.

[Logi]

I freaking LOVE this mode.

I love that the enemies and bosses now actually try to kill you and even do a good job with that.
I love that you now have to fight stronger enemies and more of them.
I love how even with the Bikini Armor you still have to be careful about what you actually do
I love that you can no longer break the game so easily as you could in Normal Mode

My thoughts so far:
The constant backtracking is still annoying.
Level 1 = Holy moly, no more unless I get Shantae the Bikini Armor first and the first damage upgrade. Three hits and you're done and Tinkerbats take two hits to kill. OUCH
Also, congratz Risky, that's the most times you'll kill me
Level 2 = Good for me that I got the Shield spell to deal with the mermaids.Giga Mermaid was a pain though
Level 3 = Wilbur, you are a worm. Stop going so fast!
Level 4 = So many canons...
Also, Ammo Baron actually aims where Shantae is. How good I got the Scimitar spell
Level 5 = My favorite Barons can actually kill Shantae. Especially Hypno Baron surprised me after I dealt with Squid Baron. I mean, he actually throws his fireball where Shantae is?
Level 6 = the swimming level was kind of the hardest part, the rest was decent.
About the bosses:
Oh Ris Ris Ris, oh ky ky ky, oh Boots Boots Boots. Risky takes so much punishment. She must have more thann 1000 HP since even with Scimitar and constantly being on her, I only managed to take her down after the beginning of the third cycle? Also congratz for actually aiming where Shantae actually is
The Dynamo: Wow, I never thought that thing had an instant kill attack. Still easy with the transformations
Final boss: the easiest of the bosses. Still some nasty parts like the shield being faster
Final final boss (the sliding level): thanks to the thunder spell that was quite easy

[BlueAura]

Depends which part you're stuck with, the first phase is much easier than the second.

In the first phase she only has three attacks, the electric beam, large energy ball, and small energy balls.

For the electric attack it should start facing the top left or top right and travel in the opposite direction, just head to the highest spot of the stage opposite to where it spawns and you should be fine.

For the large energy ball head high into the stage to lead it there and then run to the opposite side of the stage, repeat if it it's still chasing.

For the small chasing energy balls do the same strategy but focus more on running away rather than getting hits on locks until they despawn.

[BlueAura]

In the second phase she sways up and down, when she reaches the lowest of the animation you can get a free hit off without needing to wait for a platform/hook cycle, as for the Lightning bolt storm just wait until the first wave hits and then run in that direction once it clears to avoid the 2nd wave.

I'll be uploading a video with these sometime this weekend if you're still struggling

[BROLY 32]

Hardest boss was easily the double barons.
Good luck doing that without magic and getting touched xDDD

[Melodia]

Originally posted by Spinney:

Any tips for giga mermaid? been stuck for a while.

Kill it with fire.

On top of which, you can kill the gators (with fire) to get gator steaks. Or just buy potions of course.

[BROLY 32]

Originally posted by Melodia:

Originally posted by BROLY 32:

Any tips for giga mermaid? been stuck for a while.

Kill it with fire.

On top of which, you can kill the gators (with fire) to get gator steaks. Or just buy potions of course.

I didn't say that

[Melodia]

Sorry, Steam quote silliness. Will fix.

x.x