Post by Sunflora Azumarill on Oct 29, 2014 20:46:18 GMT -5
WARNING: Spoilers for the end of the game present here.
Easy Mode: Selectable from the main menu. A difficulty mode for beginners. The game is made considerably easier and allows newcomers to prepare for the higher difficulties. Here is a list of the things affected by Easy Mode:
-First and foremost, enemies, both human and robotic, are reduced in number and what's left is easier.
-Some objectives in stages have been tweaked to be easier and others have been removed entirely.
-In the third stages of each Episode, you only fight one admin/equivalent (ex: only David in Plasma Simulator). This also applies to other stages with midbosses. There are some other midbosses that remain unfought in this mode.
-Powerups are more common than they normally would be. Dragon Shields happen to be plentiful when playing in this mode (in fact, every shield found in the game are these on Easy).
-If a stage or part of a stage normally has a time limit, the time limit has been increased by about one-half of what it normally is. Ex: A time limit of 5:00 has been increased to 7:30.
-However, playing on Easy Mode has a drawback. When the cutscene that plays after defeating Giovanni plays, there is one big difference, and that is that Freonia succeeds in freezing the chosen character, his or her group, and their friends, and states that they've served their purpose. With that, her plan can get underway without interruption. The game ends here, locking you out of the True Final Episode and the message "Clear Normal Mode" appears on the screen.
Expert Mode: Selectable from the main menu. Must be unlocked. Another special challenge mode. The stages themselves have been upped in difficulty in every aspect there is. Here is a list of the things affected by Expert Mode:
-First and foremost, the Tank upgrades, the Mega Ring, and whatever other upgrades you have are in play from the get-go.
-Enemies, both human and robotic, have increased in number, naturally meaning more of them will impede your progress. In addition to that, they're also tougher and smarter than before, plus their attacks do more damage.
-Human enemies (ex: Grunts) come equipped with better weapons, including some that you wouldn't see until later in the Episode or game. Ex: Team Magma guards in Molten Lake are equipped with Magma Cannons, which aren't used by them until Magma Tower. Additionally, generic enemies that come in multiple ranks (i.e. guards and Grunts) boost the rank for the second stage of the episode in the Expert Mode, whereas the boost wouldn't take place until the third stage of the episode in normal gameplay.
-Robotic enemies sometimes have higher tiers and kinds that normally don't appear in that stage are present. Ex: A set of Tier 1 Cacturne Sentries in Machine Jungle are now Tier 2; Barbaracle Towers and Heavy Walreins, which don't appear until Coral Cascade, now appear in Citrus Coast.
-In some cases, destroying a higher tiered robot in a group of robots destroys the whole group (ex: Destroying a Tier 2 Bisharp Blade amidst a group of Tier 1 variations destroys the whole group). In Expert Mode, destroying a central robot no longer destroys the whole group.
-As you may expect, the terrain in each stage has been retooled at various points, making traversing tougher. Precise usage of jumps, rail grinding, homing attacks, and more, is further tested.
-Some elements introduced as the campaign goes on may occur in earlier episodes in Expert Mode. For example, punishing wind, which starts to come into factor in Skyward Road in the main campaign, starts to come into factor as early as Piranha Grove in Expert Mode.
-Powerups are fewer and farther between. In some cases, a powerup has been downgraded. Ex: What is normally a Super Potion may now be just a Potion, an X Attack may be removed entirely.
-If a stage or part of a stage normally has a time limit, the time limit has been reduced by about one-quarter of what it normally is. Ex: A time limit of 5:00 has been reduced to 3:45.
-The Stage E's are played in Expert Mode, occurring after the Stage 2's and before the Stage 3's.
-When it comes to stages with multiple parts where only one of the three parts is played (Citrus Coast, Molten Lake, and Skyward Road), you must now get through each area of those stages in succession (ex: For Citrus Coast, you must do Juicy Geysers, Gigantic Fruit Tree, and Tangy Lagoon in that order).
-The biggest thing about Expert Mode is that instead of just tackling a single stage, you now clear a whole Episode without failing the mission and without quitting at any point. Ex: If you play Episode 1 and make it to Plasma Simulator, but get killed there, you'll go all the way back to the start of Network Highway. This is especially harrowing when it comes to the Final Episode, with the multiple areas of Rocket Spire, since if you make it to Rocket Spire Area 3, but fail the mission, you go all the way back to the start of Chrome Highway.
Master Mode: Selectable from the main menu. Must be unlocked. Another special challenge mode. This one is for those who have mastered the game. Everything from Expert Mode is present in this mode, except there are also these changes:
-Unlike in Expert Mode, you're reduced to having Chaos Drives, and the Upgrade Shop is closed, meaning you won't be able to purchase any others throughout the course of the game.
-Any gender and type-related bonuses (ex: 1.5 Speed for female; +2 Power for Fighting, Ground, or Rock) are not applied in this mode.
-Instead of equipping two Pokémon, you can now only equip one (this Pokémon's attack is used by pressing either of the L or R buttons). Characters with alternate R button actions (ex: Liza's superjump) can no longer use them.
-If you have a Pokémon that can enter a Mega form, you will not to be able to use such a form at any time.
-All stationary powerups (except for any needed to progress through the stage, such as a Fire Shield in Molten Lake) have been removed. The only way to get powerups is from defeated enemies.
-Healing items don't appear at all, meaning you need to get through each stage with whatever health you got. (You still start each stage with full health.)
-What money you have upon clearing the game is what money you start off with when you begin Master Mode, meaning you can easily purchase items from the shops early on. Especially good considering you can't purchase any upgrades.
Easy Mode: Selectable from the main menu. A difficulty mode for beginners. The game is made considerably easier and allows newcomers to prepare for the higher difficulties. Here is a list of the things affected by Easy Mode:
-First and foremost, enemies, both human and robotic, are reduced in number and what's left is easier.
-Some objectives in stages have been tweaked to be easier and others have been removed entirely.
-In the third stages of each Episode, you only fight one admin/equivalent (ex: only David in Plasma Simulator). This also applies to other stages with midbosses. There are some other midbosses that remain unfought in this mode.
-Powerups are more common than they normally would be. Dragon Shields happen to be plentiful when playing in this mode (in fact, every shield found in the game are these on Easy).
-If a stage or part of a stage normally has a time limit, the time limit has been increased by about one-half of what it normally is. Ex: A time limit of 5:00 has been increased to 7:30.
-However, playing on Easy Mode has a drawback. When the cutscene that plays after defeating Giovanni plays, there is one big difference, and that is that Freonia succeeds in freezing the chosen character, his or her group, and their friends, and states that they've served their purpose. With that, her plan can get underway without interruption. The game ends here, locking you out of the True Final Episode and the message "Clear Normal Mode" appears on the screen.
Expert Mode: Selectable from the main menu. Must be unlocked. Another special challenge mode. The stages themselves have been upped in difficulty in every aspect there is. Here is a list of the things affected by Expert Mode:
-First and foremost, the Tank upgrades, the Mega Ring, and whatever other upgrades you have are in play from the get-go.
-Enemies, both human and robotic, have increased in number, naturally meaning more of them will impede your progress. In addition to that, they're also tougher and smarter than before, plus their attacks do more damage.
-Human enemies (ex: Grunts) come equipped with better weapons, including some that you wouldn't see until later in the Episode or game. Ex: Team Magma guards in Molten Lake are equipped with Magma Cannons, which aren't used by them until Magma Tower. Additionally, generic enemies that come in multiple ranks (i.e. guards and Grunts) boost the rank for the second stage of the episode in the Expert Mode, whereas the boost wouldn't take place until the third stage of the episode in normal gameplay.
-Robotic enemies sometimes have higher tiers and kinds that normally don't appear in that stage are present. Ex: A set of Tier 1 Cacturne Sentries in Machine Jungle are now Tier 2; Barbaracle Towers and Heavy Walreins, which don't appear until Coral Cascade, now appear in Citrus Coast.
-In some cases, destroying a higher tiered robot in a group of robots destroys the whole group (ex: Destroying a Tier 2 Bisharp Blade amidst a group of Tier 1 variations destroys the whole group). In Expert Mode, destroying a central robot no longer destroys the whole group.
-As you may expect, the terrain in each stage has been retooled at various points, making traversing tougher. Precise usage of jumps, rail grinding, homing attacks, and more, is further tested.
-Some elements introduced as the campaign goes on may occur in earlier episodes in Expert Mode. For example, punishing wind, which starts to come into factor in Skyward Road in the main campaign, starts to come into factor as early as Piranha Grove in Expert Mode.
-Powerups are fewer and farther between. In some cases, a powerup has been downgraded. Ex: What is normally a Super Potion may now be just a Potion, an X Attack may be removed entirely.
-If a stage or part of a stage normally has a time limit, the time limit has been reduced by about one-quarter of what it normally is. Ex: A time limit of 5:00 has been reduced to 3:45.
-The Stage E's are played in Expert Mode, occurring after the Stage 2's and before the Stage 3's.
-When it comes to stages with multiple parts where only one of the three parts is played (Citrus Coast, Molten Lake, and Skyward Road), you must now get through each area of those stages in succession (ex: For Citrus Coast, you must do Juicy Geysers, Gigantic Fruit Tree, and Tangy Lagoon in that order).
-The biggest thing about Expert Mode is that instead of just tackling a single stage, you now clear a whole Episode without failing the mission and without quitting at any point. Ex: If you play Episode 1 and make it to Plasma Simulator, but get killed there, you'll go all the way back to the start of Network Highway. This is especially harrowing when it comes to the Final Episode, with the multiple areas of Rocket Spire, since if you make it to Rocket Spire Area 3, but fail the mission, you go all the way back to the start of Chrome Highway.
Master Mode: Selectable from the main menu. Must be unlocked. Another special challenge mode. This one is for those who have mastered the game. Everything from Expert Mode is present in this mode, except there are also these changes:
-Unlike in Expert Mode, you're reduced to having Chaos Drives, and the Upgrade Shop is closed, meaning you won't be able to purchase any others throughout the course of the game.
-Any gender and type-related bonuses (ex: 1.5 Speed for female; +2 Power for Fighting, Ground, or Rock) are not applied in this mode.
-Instead of equipping two Pokémon, you can now only equip one (this Pokémon's attack is used by pressing either of the L or R buttons). Characters with alternate R button actions (ex: Liza's superjump) can no longer use them.
-If you have a Pokémon that can enter a Mega form, you will not to be able to use such a form at any time.
-All stationary powerups (except for any needed to progress through the stage, such as a Fire Shield in Molten Lake) have been removed. The only way to get powerups is from defeated enemies.
-Healing items don't appear at all, meaning you need to get through each stage with whatever health you got. (You still start each stage with full health.)
-What money you have upon clearing the game is what money you start off with when you begin Master Mode, meaning you can easily purchase items from the shops early on. Especially good considering you can't purchase any upgrades.