Sequence Breaking (SPOILERS)

[Timo]

I've been playing Steamworld Dig 2 for a while now, and I've been experimenting with sequence breaks. I'm currently attempting a "low%" run (no cogs, minimum necessary upgrades), here are a few things I've noticed.

Before I start, I'd like to say that I believe that these sequence breaks are intentional, and that the developers took effort in making these sequence breaks difficult but still possible

1. Entering the temple of guidance early

Using a very tricky wall jump, you can enter the temple area through the upper part of Yarrow (right after obtaining the pressure launcher). This allows you to get the grenade launcher early. It is even possible to enter the temple and clear both trials, but it seems that you need the grapping hook to get to the doomsday device.

Necessary upgrades: Sprint boots, Pressure Launcher

2. Reaching the bottom of Yarrow early

After getting the grenade launcher, you can access the lower part of Yarrow. You can then continue to the doomsday device at the bottom of Yarrow, along the way you'll encounter 2 obstacles.

The first obstacle is Aeronautics station. To proceed you need to clear a group of regenerating blocks. You can get through this with creative use of the Pressure Launcher. Clear both blocks on the right of the lower and middle row. Wall jump to the middle row and wait until the lower block regenerates. (Frustratingly, this requires an upgrade for the pressure launcher, otherwise the block on the middle row will be out of reach)

The second obstacle is the pool of acid that you need to traverse to reach the doomsday device. This requires either the grappling hook OR 2 armor upgrades (for a total of 5 hearts).

Using this, you can destroy a doomsday device before you actually reach the temple of destruction!

Necessary upgrades: Sprint Boots, Pressure Launcher (+1 upgrade), grenade launcher and Grappling hook OR +2 armor upgrades

3. Entering the lower temple of destruction early

The lower temple of destruction is usually accessed through use of the jet pack or the upgraded grappling hook, but using a corner jump, followed by a tricky grappling section, you should be able to enter the lower temple of destruction using the normal grappling hook.

Required items: everything needed to reach the temple of destruction boss fight, Grappling hook (no upgrades).

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I'm fairly sure that you can clear the game without.the jet pack AND the extended grappling hook, but I'm still verifying this.

Feel free to share your thoughts and/or experiences!

[Iglum]

Did you beat the game yet? i did good challange

[Timo]

Originally posted by Iglum:

Did you beat the game yet? i did :goldsmile: good challange

I beat the game about a day ago, the trial of skillness was probably the biggest reason that I went looking for sequence breaks, since I was curious about the things you could do with creative use of corner jumps and (with lack of better name) momentum-conserving wall jumps. :D

[syvkal]

Just beat the game without ever getting the hookshot. I present this as a new challenge for you :D

[Timo]

Originally posted by syvkal:

Just beat the game without ever getting the hookshot. I present this as a new challenge for you :D

Oooh, nice, I didn't even think of that.

I assume this requires going to vectron and acquiring the jetpack?

This challenge run has several implications, you could route it so that you never have to talk to Rosie. It would also allow for an easier final boss and a faster run through the Temple of the Destroyer. For the sake of a low% speedrun, I wonder if the detour to [spoler]vectron[/spoiler] is worth the timesave iater areas?

[syvkal]

I might try a speedrun using this method, but unless I'm misremembering the depth, the detour to vectron shouldn't take too long... right?

I actually did this run because a bug stopped me from getting the hookshot altogether. I completed the first part of the Temple of the Destroyer without ever finding Rosie and without ever getting the hookshot or jetpack. And this triggered the next Rosie dialogue and skipped the hookshot.

[Timo]

Originally posted by syvkal:

I might try a speedrun using this method, but unless I'm misremembering the depth, the detour to vectron shouldn't take too long... right?

That would depend on the type of speedrun, a low% speed run requires you to dig from Oasis to Vectron using only a level 1 pick, which takes a fair bit of time (at least, I think). I'm pretty sure the vectrondetour would be viable in any%, though.

Another thing I'm wondering about now, would it be possible to reach the long-range hook shot without the hook shot?

[Mr.J]

That's very nice actually.
Is there a possibility for you to showcase this in a video by any chance?

[syvkal]

Yes, you can reach the long-range hook shot if you have the jetpack. However, this doesn't actually do anything. Since it's only an upgrade, not an item by itself.

As for a video, I don't really have any good capture software. What did you have in mind? I guess I could just use Fraps to get a clip of the route I took to get to the Temple of the Destroyer?

[Mr.J]

Originally posted by syvkal:

Yes, you can reach the long-range hook shot if you have the jetpack. However, this doesn't actually do anything. Since it's only an upgrade, not an item by itself.

As for a video, I don't really have any good capture software. What did you have in mind? I guess I could just use Fraps to get a clip of the route I took to get to the Temple of the Destroyer?

I was thinking on the general route to get from point A to B to C, without having to enter Vectron.

Since most posts I've seen regarding this has me more confused then usual. So an illustration of some sort would be nice.

Sorry if it's too much to ask, it's your choice after all whether you're up for it or not.