Alter Echo - Strategy Guide (Page 01)
Below are the cheat codes, hints and help for Alter Echo - Strategy Guide (Page 01).
ALTER ECHO WALKTHROUGH
Version 1.00 – June 2nd 2004
Written by Rupert Breheny
Copyright 2004 (all rights reserved)
www.breheny.com gamefaqs@breheny.com
assisted by squall82003 and Chris Young (aka DocTabasco)
Happy for you to use this for your personal use but don’t pass this off as your
own. We do not give permission for any commercial reproduction. We request that
if you want to host this file then please keep our credit and contact details
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which will maintain the current version.
00 CONTENTS====================================================================
01 INTRODUCTION
02 BACKGROUND
03 REVIEW
04 WALKTHROUGH
Rebirth
Surface
Hunted
Power
Transit
Spaceport
Brain
Rescue
Breach
Citadel
05 BOSS GUIDE
Gunship
Paavo clone
Gherran
Kess
Paavo clones
Shield generator defence system
Guardian
Paavo
06 POWER UPS
07 NODE TYPES
Spawn nodes
Trap nodes
Health nodes
Gun nodes
Synch nodes
Switches
08 UPGRADES
Sword Form
Gun Form
Stealth Form
Suit strength
Weapons upgrades
09 COMBAT STRATEGY
10 COMBO LEVEL BONUSES
11 MOVIE TRANSCRIPT
12 CREDITS
01 INTRODUCTION================================================================
I was intrigued by this game when I first heard about it and was rather
dismayed to read some lack-lustre reviews. Still it didn’t take long for me to
pick it up at budget price and get stuck in.
My initial response was one of disappointment as I immediately found the
controls, in particular the camera stick, counter-intuitive. I struggled
through only to find that the combat was quite repetitive, but as I progressed
through the game I just fell head over heels in love with this beautiful world,
the like of which I had not seen before. And when you’re in love you can
forgive an awful lot.
From an early age I had been fascinated with the idea of biomechanics. I adored
the Henry Moore sculptures I saw in our botanical gardens and loved those
illicitly glimpsed stills from the Alien film. I wound up studying biology and
concurrently spending a fortune on H.R.Giger portfolios. I particularly enjoyed
the dissections that formed the backbone of our anatomy course.
At some point I was inspired to develop the idea of a living planet, where all
the biomass cooperated together rather than competed with one another. I loved
the idea of a consciously directed evolutionary process and made some drawings
of these enormous organic structures that I imagined would purify the air and
spawn exploration units. I reckoned that one day it would make a great animated
film.
10 years on and I had done nothing with it, but here we are in the realms of
video games, the perfect medium for just such a world. What an excitement - to
visit the world I had always dreamed of.
02 BACKGROUND==================================================================
In the future, the most powerful substance ever created can control time and
physics. Only a chosen few can control it. But only one can save us from it.
In Alter Echo players assume the role of Nevin, a reluctant hero with the
ability to alter time and morph his PolySuit between three unique combat forms.
Nevin must fight for survival against an entire planet that has gone mad-the
actual surface of the planet is alive, and uses its bio-mechanical properties
to spawn enemy after enemy, ensuring relentless action.
Developed by THQ studio Outrage Games, Alter Echo features innovative action
gameplay and a groundbreaking visual style based on pioneering technology. Time
Dilation and real-time morphing between three combat modes add tactical depth,
and the revolutionary PostFX camera system intensifies the action with
spectacular visual effects that heighten the drama of every combo and special
attack.
Using an advanced real-time skeletal morphing system, players can changes forms
during combat: Sword Form - the default mode, used for rapid movement and hand-
to-hand fighting, cutting foes down with whirling blades Gun Form - transforms
the player into a huge cannon- and grenade carrying giant. Annihilate enemies
with torrents of gunfire and grenades Stealth Form - an exceedingly agile form
that allows the player to climb walls and assassinate foes while invisible.
Time Dilation technology allows players to manipulate time, freezing the action
in order to cue up a series of moves and attacks to unleash an unstoppable
flurry of attacks with.
A totally original world - Alter Echo is set on a complex world whose very
surface is alive. It knows you're there, and it wants you dead.
Advanced PostFX camera system - Mind-blowing visual effects intensify every
action with dynamic camera filters and screen distortions.
03 REVIEW======================================================================
SUMMARY
Ambitious but flawed genre piece in a fascinating new setting.
THE GOOD
The living, organic world you explore is both artistically breathtaking and
conceptually fascinating. A great deal of the pleasure of this game can be
derived from simply walking around and admiring the scenery.
THE BAD
The gameplay itself becomes repetitious, comprising of close combat button
mashing interspersed with switch flicking in relatively linear environments.
There may be 50 levels but they tend to be quite short and easily completed.
Boss battles can also get quite laborious.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you have ever been inspired by sci-fi bio-mechanics, but tire of H.R.Giger
rip offs then this is for you. An average game raised to a compelling
adventure, by dint of its superb art direction and atmospheric sound effects.
I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the detractors and decided to visit Proteus for
myself.
04 WALKTHROUGH=================================================================
Here we have a tourist's guide to the planet Proteus. Rather than hold your
hand with step by step instructions for every eventuality I’d rather just give
you some rough guidance. The levels play out fairly linearly and it is almost
impossible to get stuck or paint yourself into a corner, so really the
walkthrough may work better as a memory jogger and give you an idea of how far
through you are if you are feeling frustrated.
I include a description of the LOCATION to help you get your bearings. I also
list the TASKS you have to complete in order to move on. I then include a BIO
RATING to give you an idea of which the best levels are for showing to your
friends. There are a few tedious levels in there, but those rated with a 5
represent some of the most remarkable and breathtaking scenes ever created in a
video game as far as I am concerned.
As the game does not allow you to replay levels at will I recommend that you
leave the save games on the levels that best represent the world so you can
revisit some of the greatest beauty spots at a later date. The highlights to
save are as follows :
SURFACE – SEARCH
POWER – TRANSMIT
TRANSIT – OBSTACLES
CITADEL – ALONE
CITADEL – ENDING
You may want to do what I did, and replay the game with the music turned off.
The pace is somewhat slower and you can concentrate on racking up those combo
bonuses and just enjoying the scenery without a sense of hurry. I amassed over
173,000 excess Plast on my second, more relaxed trip through.
REBIRTH+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++REBIRTH
A nice easy training level in warm oranges and reds set in cushioned caves just
below the surface.
NEVIN__________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Quilted interior caverns.
TASKS : Complete training objectives.
BIO RATING : 3
ECHO___________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Open cradle with raised starfish arms, chamber with armed arches,
high ceilinged red room.
TASKS : Complete training objectives.
BIO RATING : 5
GUNPLAY________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Room with a dais, then a gun corridor and an arched bowl for
shooting.
TASKS : Complete training objectives.
BIO RATING : 4
STEALTH________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A loop around a cliff then a room with stalagmites then a jump pad
chasm followed by a gun corridor then a chamber with glowing tendrils and jump
pads then a room you have to sync a bridge across.
TASKS : Complete training objectives.
BIO RATING : 2
TIME___________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A bridge to a round chamber for time dilation and then some more
stalagmite rooms.
TASKS : Complete training objectives.
BIO RATING : 1
MASTER_________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A tall room with an alcove with sticky path and an exposed nerve and
master node dais.
TASKS : You lose both Gun and Stealth forms and must defeat two waves of
enemies.
BIO RATING : 4
SURFACE+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++SURFACE
Open orange and tan humps of rock with a conical pyramid repeating motif.
SEARCH_________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An open area with twisted conical pyramids and sausage link walls
TASKS : Kill some spawn nodes and then click a couple of switches
BIO RATING : 5
ARANA__________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A path leading to an open area with a cave in a cone mound.
TASKS : Jump over energy beams and then assist Arana fighting enemies.
BIO RATING : 3
MASTER_________________________________________________________________________
TASKS : Defeat two waves of enemies - reclaim Gun Form.
HUNTED+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++HUNTED
A dark and dingy level, soaked in rain with predominantly blue and grey hunks
of rock.
REUNION________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Raining from the start, a gully with glowing tendrils above, and
open area with pyramid sentry towers amongst huddled mounds, some interesting
looping pathways to a series of stepping stones and then a sync node in a bowl
with horns dipping into it then backtrack through a gate and a beautiful looped
archway.
TASKS : Assist Arana, find a switch, cross the stepping stones, back and
through the gateway to kill a trap node.
BIO RATING : 4
GUNSHIP________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Loops by the path like glowing anglerfish lures, stacked hills with
snipers at the top, twisted hills all around.
TASKS : Clear the hilltop, dodge the gunship barrage, clear a trap node, start
a sync node and split up.
BIO RATING : 3
PURSUIT________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An open plateau then into a cave and then a bridge that crumbles
into a pond, then another cave and then a pillowed area with a tentacle coming
out the ground.
TASKS : Clear the cave, cross the bridge, fight out of the new cave, dodge
passed the tentacle.
BIO RATING : 3
SHOWDOWN_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An open area with squat plinths picked out with luminous traceries.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 1 : Gunship
BIO RATING : 4
MASTER_________________________________________________________________________
TASKS : Defeat three waves of enemies - reclaim Stealth Form.
POWER+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++POWER
A violet and cyan region midst a sea of purple liquid.
TRANSMIT_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A large bowl around a body of water, many sticky paths weaving
around the outside right wall. Lugs project from the side and an interesting
hump of mushroom gills towards the end of the path. A series of floating
platforms are suspended over the liquid.
TASKS : Flick three switches. the first two switches are on islands reached by
pounce nubs, the final switch reached by switching to Gun Form and then
clearing wall then platforms and then following pounce nubs again.
BIO RATING : 5
KESS___________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A long causeway with T-shaped lugs ranged along the left side. A
pleasing ocean swell sounds with the occasional spray crashing on the sea wall.
Two bladed gates hold shields and the power transformer at the end like a giant
peeled Satsuma.
TASKS : Negotiate Stealth Form in invisible mode over pounce nubs and through
electrically guarded hoops. Once for the first two platforms then three times
at the final one. Sometimes Kess fails to push you off the second time you
flick the switch, making things easier but less fun.
BIO RATING : 2
MASTER_________________________________________________________________________
TASKS : Defeat three waves of enemies - introduction of Hydra.
TRANSIT+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++TRANSIT
A fantastic looking level with the characteristic fern leaf twirl growing out
of clifftop paths around a sea stretching to the horizon. The most confidently
organic of the levels so far and a place I would really like to visit.
STOME__________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An open starting location with a serried range of segmented spires
around the margins. A path gives off and follows around the flank of a hill
under the jutting fern like coils that grow out of the hill flank. Past a cave
and around the shoulder of the hill to a passage of energy beams for the
Stealth Form to cross leading to an open area with a ceilinged bunker giving
views all around. A cave sits opposite with bud like nodules which shield the
horn like doors that drop down to prevent egress.
TASKS : Kill the first titans then negotiate the energy beams, see off a trap
node onslaught then shoot nodules to exit.
BIO RATING : 5
AMBUSH_________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A trench passing through thick lipped doorways with swirling
textures into an open topped cave. A ledge overlooked by a series of stacked
columns with snipers. A large chamber with a cluster of egg pods and two large
mounds on the left.
TASKS : A new gargoyle, clear the cave trap node, shoot sniper towers, clear
drones, trip the switch and get to sync node in time limit.
BIO RATING : 4
SEEDLINGS______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Through a doorway onto a sinuous pathway that winds around two
sprouting seedlings overlooked by alcoves in the rumpled walls, ending in a
downward invagination into the Cliffside.
TASKS : Turn around to find two plasm spores, onwards to jump lasers and then
flick a switch, shoot the stone column opposite to clobber the drones and then
jump across revolving Stealth platforms to sync node to build bridge to exit.
BIO RATING : 4
OBSTACLES______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A breathtakingly gorgeous track clinging to a wave lashed cliff
above the sea. The whole cliffside shot through with whirls and loops and
fringed with more fern fronds on the seaward side. A beautiful set of sticky
topped columns to hop back up from some lone standing columns in the sea. A
thick cabled tunnel used by Stome loops back to an alcove with spores.
TASKS : Follow the path disposing of trap nodes and flicking switches, remember
to backtrack through the tunnel Stome used for pickups and finally using the
Gun Form to pick up a monster chain bonus at the end of the cliff walk.
BIO RATING : 5
COOPERATION____________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Another great cliff level with the grooved pathway passing under
arches and then half-twisted tongues on either flank, not quite grown across
into loops yet. A buttressed cave in the cliffside opens into a dark chamber
with long, black fungus like tendrils and a chasm with a roof supported by rib
like spans between floor and ceiling. Out to an arena with lobes off the side
containing switches and spores
TASKS : Kill trap node, hit power switch, kill spawn node, shoot over chasm,
shoot rocks, kill trap node, flick switches.
BIO RATING : 5
MASTER_________________________________________________________________________
TASKS : Defeat four waves of enemies.
SPACEPORT+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++SPACEPORT
Some attractive tan and blue rockscapes still around water to begin with. Less
organic that some of the other levels but nicely featured and atmospheric. Come
across more real world than the previous areas.
PLANS 1________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A tumbled rock parade leads down from hooped doorways to a cove on a
sea inlet. A beautiful sky gives a warm haze to the mist on the horizon. A
lovely sunset vibe. At the middle of the cove is a tall island which in fact is
hollowed out and has ledges running around it. A gulley towards the right has a
series of fat, glowing, power pipes running beneath it into little alcoves
beneath the walkway. Notice a crack on the opposite side that reveals glowing
nervous system, not only is the whole planet alive, it seems to all have a
sense of touch too. A tunnel at the end loops back and brings you to cross a
pipe to get to a pass between two rock walls, also access to a crack at the top
of the closed cave below.
TASKS : Follow the path remembering to jump onto the glowing power pipes to
investigate the little caves, engage synch nodes, crack open cave ceiling from
above.
BIO RATING : 4
PLANS 2________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A curved gully roles downhill to a cluster of tall hills, the whole
area with a great sense of altitude. Nice looking power couplings feed a
gravity lift inside the hollow mountain. Some lovely cave interiors,
particularly one at the top of a sticky Stealth loop.
TASKS : Solve synch nodes to give access to higher levels.
BIO RATING : 3
SHUTTLE________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A high altitude bridge to the space port. A nice vaginal opening
into the growth node on the landing platform. Interesting looking docking
bridge also.
TASKS : Shape space craft and defeat Boss 2 : Paavo Clone
BIO RATING : 2
BRAIN+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++BRAIN
The mood gets darker and more claustrophobic with these purple levels set in
underground caves.
PLEA___________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A linear walkway around a purple hill flanked by established
seedlings.
TASKS : New Melters and Burrowers appear, kill spawn node, teleport, kill trap
node, synch.
BIO RATING : 2
UNDERNEATH_____________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : AN underground cave with huge curved walls, and floating platforms
above the ribbed groins at the base of the cave. Nice deep level corridors with
spike everting nubs set in the floor by the doorways.
TASKS : New Plast Wraith appears, smash floor, outrun water level.
BIO RATING : 3
GHERRAN________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An enormous stomach like chamber with a drop off filled with glowing
yellow nerve fibres. Leads to a large rocky shaft stuck round with Stealth
strips to high platforms overlooking the arena.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 3 : Gherran
BIO RATING : 3
TOXIC 1________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Opens with a spiral staircase leading down to an intestine like
floor. A large underground cavern filled with toxic sludge. Pads with spiked
undersides float like lily pads and allow movement across the level. Lots of
switches to raise and lower the liquid.
TASKS : Flick switch, jump across pads, pause then flick switch, kill drones
and flick switch, jump across room, flick switch 1 then switch 2 then run to
synch node.
BIO RATING : 2
TOXIC 2________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A winding, transparent tunnel spirals down under the water. Lots of
shock orbs line the route which ends in a nicely twisted lift platform.
TASKS : Lots of Plast to be earned in Gun Form.
BIO RATING : 3
KESS___________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A tall chamber above a twisting pit of yellow nerve fibres. A spiral
of floating discs wind up to a giant platform at the top of the vault.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 4 : Kess
BIO RATING : 2
RESCUE+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++RESCUE
A return to the rocky looking levels seen previously in the Spaceport section.
ARANA__________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Return to the base of the spaceport again.
TASKS : Kill 2 trap nodes.
BIO RATING : 3
FORCEFIELD_____________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Same level, just spent inside the gravity lift room.
TASKS : 3 synch nodes, lift up and one synch then back to outside cave at top
of stealth path, then back to complete other synch nodes and return outside to
lift.
BIO RATING : 3
SACRIFICE______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : The spaceport again.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 5 : Paavo Clones
BIO RATING : 2
BREACH+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++BREACH
A darker, purple and pink series of levels that set quite a sombre mood. Again,
less overtly biological than previous levels.
LANDING________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A mountain top walk in deep purple and orange. Quite craggy looking
with some rocky overhangs at one juncture. Spurs jut out along the side of the
drop.
TASKS : A new Melter Elite, kill spawn node, watch out for two hidden alcoves
in the wall just after this point containing health and plast pickups. Kill
spawn node, hit synch node, Kill trap node, hit switch, hit switch.
BIO RATING : 2
BARRIERS 1_____________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A series of interconnected gullies all quite rounded and
compartmentalised. Pink and purple with some nice pillow shaped walls.
TASKS : Jump wall, new Titan Elite, switch, synch node, gun node, shoot wall,
dodge lasers, hit switch, kill spawn node, avoid guns, hit switch, switch,
switch.
BIO RATING : 3
BARRIERS 2_____________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Another clifftop path with a shattered ledge near the beginning.
Looking down we see a rounded lip sticking out of an alcove below. A small
tunnel leads under the path and then to the rocks above the starting position.
Energy beams pass over a nicely humped mound in the path. Later still some
monolithic looking gates and then some interesting mounds and depressions
giving on to some energy cables stretching over gullies.
TASKS : Kill spawn node, jump beams, shoot switch, switch, shoot switches.
BIO RATING : 4
APPROACH_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A high causeway beneath Paavo’s citadel. Bombs rain down on a
shattered road. A floating platform coast around a huge seedling ready to
launch. A final gate passes through a three horned gate with a couple of
plinths either side.
TASKS : Kill trap node, dodge bombs, switch, switch, gun node, switch, kill
spawn node.
BIO RATING : 3
ELEVATOR_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An underground chamber with looping paths around a pool fed by
streams pouring out of cracks in the walls. Dotted around are rocky spindles in
little clusters. A small cave winds into the wall at one point, thickly cabled
and ending in a glowing iris against the rear wall. Later a floating platform
rises up a chimney lined with energy beams and
TASKS : Kill trap node, use synch node, gun node.
BIO RATING : 4
SHIELD 1_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : The top of the elevator leads along a crumbled, craggy path
surrounded water. Interconnecting path and loops and raised walkways with nooks
and switches all around. A final huge door with a sand dollar design blocks the
exit.
TASKS : three switches need to be turned on, the first near the starting point,
the second on a ledge up and to the right that overlooks the first, and the
final in a nook at the back right of the level protected by shock orbs.
BIO RATING : 4
SHIELD 2_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : An industrial looking structure set in a giant pond of water
underneath Paavo’s shielded citadel. Curves pathways flank a central shield
unit. gun nodes at either end and vertically placed barricades afford some
protection.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 6 : Shield generator defence system
BIO RATING : 3
MASTER_________________________________________________________________________
TASKS : Defeat four waves of enemies.
CITADEL+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++CITADEL
A return to more organic looking architecture, this time much of it set inside
and with a fair variety of colour schemes, but focusing on rich, dark purples
and reds.
ALONE__________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A large intro chamber with a great grooved ceiling and vents in the
floor. A curved path leads down to the base of Paavo’s tower. Thick lipped
apertures give access to lift platforms, then up to a new level to change lifts
rising vertically through a cleft shaft affording haunting views into the gloom
where a massing of squat, blunt spires lie slanting off towards the horizon. On
reaching a plateau, a short battle ensues and then off through an armoured
archway towards the tunnel leading into the spine that runs up the backbone of
Paavo’s Citadel.
TASKS : Kill trap node, catch two lifts, kill trap node, lure beetle to gate.
BIO RATING : 5
ASCENT_________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A tall chamber of linked rooms, negotiated by stealth paths running
round the inside of the walls, winding through arches laced with shock orbs. A
rich red in colour with lots of scarlet parts, sliding platforms set into the
walls and topped by a red-lipped barnacle opening for the gravity lift.
TASKS : Kill spawn node, up, kill trap node, up, kill spawn node, up, synch.
BIO RATING : 4
ASSAULT________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Outdoors again at the drop off point of the gravity lift. Another
high altitude causeway leads to a chamber near the very top of the Citadel.
Inside a huge domed space, stealth paths wind up five spurs around the central
cradle. A shielded synch node sits at the middle of all this, with a door to
its front.
TASKS : Fight towards the chamber, hop onto four enemies and Hold Bomb them
into the energy stream on either side of the chamber. Switch each of the five
switches and then destroy the two resulting spawn nodes.
BIO RATING : 3
INSIDE_________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : Twisting cyan tendrils and dendrites wind around gappy, organic
catwalks and sticky stealth paths loop the loop through jellyfish tubes and
narrowed tunnels in this enormous, dark purple chasm. A sensation of the
abyssal deep sea and a constant, throbbing heartbeat.
TASKS : Kill trap node, synch, down, kill trap node, follow path.
BIO RATING : 4
GUARDIAN_______________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : In a deep underground chamber your are set down to face off against
an enormous, flower-like crustacean. A carapaced starfish on a stem, with a
central pearl of a weak spot.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 7 : Guardian
BIO RATING : 3
PAAVO__________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION : A lift drops down through a puckered sphincter and deposits you in
front of Paavo in all his organic glory.
TASKS : Defeat Boss 8 : Paavo
BIO RATING : 2
05 BOSS GUIDE==================================================================
BOSS 1 - Gunship_______________________________________________________________
The first fight! Here we go. First off, you can’t use time dilation. Notice
that when the battle starts, there are several pillars around. To your right is
a health node. This is going to be destroyed pretty soon (and you thought you’d
just heal all through the battle!)
O < first gun node O < health node
O Next Page »
