Overview:
- Estimated achievement difficulty: 10/10 (7/10 with a second controller)
- Offline - 12
- Online - 0
- Approximate amount of time to 200/200 - 15-25 hours
- Minimum number of playthroughs needed - 3 (2 Story, 1 Arcade)
- Number of missable achievements - None
- Glitched achievements - None
- Do cheat codes disable achievements? - No
- Does difficulty affect achievements? - No
Introduction:
The purpose of this guide is to provide in-depth, detailed strategies for earning each of the games 12 achievements. You're going to need a minimum of three playthroughs - two on Story mode (Normal and Samurai) and one on Arcade. I recommend playing the game on easy as well to collect upgrades and spirals to spend on maxing out your inventory of uberfishes, continue hearts, and nutribread. Depending on your attention to detail, there are achievements that can be overlooked, but if you follow the guide, you shouldn't have any problems.
Step #1: Easy/Normal Difficulty Story Mode - The first 8 achievements listed below are best earned on Easy or Normal Story mode. There are a few reasons I'd suggest playing on Easy to start. First, you can pick up all the weapons, items, and upgrades (psycho picks) on easy and they all carry over to higher difficulties. This means you could buy 5 uberfishes on Easy, and then have them on Normal, Ninja, or Samurai. This also cuts down on the number of enemies you face at higher difficulties because when you beat the challenges that award items and picks, you don't have to beat them again.
Step #2: Arcade Mode - Once you've beat the game on Easy/Normal, I'd suggest heading to Arcade mode. By the time you've beaten the story, you'll have a pretty good idea of how the game works and, more importantly, which combos are most effective against which enemies. Arcade mode is not easy. Make no mistake. It's made easier by the fact that you can do all but the final level (The Final Confrontation) with a friend over Xbox Live. So partner up because there will be times when you need help.
Step #3: Samurai Difficulty Story Mode - Save the worst for last. Only players completely in tune with the game, and their inner selves, should attempt this difficulty. It's very challenging. It's very frustrating. And you will die. Several times. To make it easier, collect all weapon upgrades at lower difficulties. Farm Spirals at easy difficulty to spend on uberfishes, continue hearts, and nutribread because you will need them. Another thing you will need is patience. Lots of it. Samurai is better approached with a level head. Because charging in, guns blazing will get you nowhere fast. So, take your time. Evade as much as possible. Try to hold off your attacks until you can land them without putting yourself at too much risk.
Step #3 Alternate: Samurai Difficulty with a 2nd Controller - With the second controller, you can simply press the at any time during the game to drop in and play as the shadow. The best part about this is that the Shadow/Guitar characters can die, but they respawn infinitely. So, all you really need to do is keep the dishwasher shifting constantly at the top of the screen to stay out of harm's way while using the Shadow to kill all of the enemies and bosses you come across. Yes, before you even ask, it is that easy.
Psycho Pick Locations - There are a total of 19 psycho picks to be found throughout the game. 16 of these can be found on Easy, Normal, and Ninja difficulty. The final 3 can only be earned by completing guitar solo mini-games exclusive to Samurai difficulty. The locations are as follows:
Foghorn Cafe:
- At the start of the level, head into the next room. This is where you'll encounter your first enemies in the form of 3 agents. Kill them and head back to the start. Keep heading left for your first timed challenge. Beat it to earn to earn a psycho pick.
Ivy Trail:
- At the start of the level keep heading right until you come across a timed challenge. Beat it to earn to earn a psycho pick.
Gray Fortress:
- At the start of the level just keep heading right until you're in a large room where you first encounter the jetpack cyborgs. On the lower, far right side of the room you'll see a ledge. Jump up and continue right into the next room where you find your third psycho pick.
St. Crux Cemetary:
- Earned by finishing the guitar solo mini-game with a score of 70% or better.
Nord Trainyard:
- Upon entering the first warehouse of the level, you'll start a timed challenge. Kill the enemies in the allotted time to earn a psycho pick.
Drome Rail:
- After your first encounter with the assassins (when you earn crusher magic) exit the train car to the right. Beat the timed challenge to earn a psycho pick.
- (Samurai Difficulty Only) The guitar appears after finishing a mandatory battle on the second screen after meeting the assassins. Beat the Guitar Solo mini-game with a score of 70% or better to earn a psycho pick.
L'Opera Dramatique:
- At the start of the level, head right until you're right outside of the Opera House. Kill the enemies and jump to the roof of the building. Finish the Guitar Solo mini-game with a score of 70% or better to earn a psycho pick.
- While still near the guitar, switch to your Shift Blade and go up. Head through the opening to find a psycho pick.
- (Samurai Difficulty Only) After the chainsaw boss, head right two screens. Kill all of the zombies and a C.A.T.S. will appear. Destroy it, and the guitar will appear. Beat the mini-game with a score of 70% or better to earn a psycho pick.
Metatron District:
- After your first Boss battle, head right to the next screen. Defeat the timed challenge to earn a psycho pick.
Grace Chapel:
- Right outside the Chapel Entrance (in an alleyway) you'll be ambushed by freaks, swat, and jetpackers. Kill them all to earn a psycho pick.
Mono Catacombs:
- In the lower levels of the catacombs, you'll be trapped in a room with a heap of skeletons in the middle. It's the second fight of the level. Kill all of the enemies to earn a psycho pick.
Cam Rooftops:
- Head to the right from the start. Kill the enemies that ambsuh you to earn a psycho pick.
- Beat the guitar solo mini-game (right before the level boss) with a score of 70% or better to earn a psycho pick.
Cam Lobby:
- At the very start of the level, you're falling. Fall through the first screen, then immediately on the second screen, shift to a small ledge on the left side. Destory the container for a psycho pick.
In Processing:
- After the room with the vendor, you'll enter a stairwell with a times challenge. Beat it to earn a psycho pick.
- (Samurai Difficulty Only) The guitar appears after finishing a mandatory battle. Beat the Guitar Solo mini-game with a score of 70% or better to earn a psycho pick.
Cam Core:
- At the start of the level, shift up until you find a hole in the ceiling. Enter the room above to find a psycho pick.
Conclusion:
This game is very difficult. If you want to earn the full 200, you will have to work very hard at it. With the help of this guide, the task ahead of you should be made slightly less difficult. This is a great game worthy of being played. So even if you don't feel like finishing Samurai, hopefully you'll enjoy the hell out of the time you spend with the game.
x360a would like to thank ThePumpkinKing for this Road Map