Vexx - Strategy Guide (Page 04)

Below are the cheat codes, hints and help for Vexx - Strategy Guide (Page 04).

Climb up to the top of the mountain at the right of the mill or use the wind
draught. Cross the windy ledge (when the mill's propeller blocks the wind, 
do Long Jumps). Enter the small cave at the end. Inside is a long slide that 
brings you to a Heart below. You have 45 seconds to slide down that slope and
you'll have to avoid the icicles that fall into your way. You can do it the
right way if you wish, but here is a little trick to get the Heart in 5 sec.:
After the third curve, slide off the right edge of the slide and you should 
fall right on top of the arrival! Enter the cavern at the end and you'll find
the Heart.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #3


"Within the igloo's walls 
a heart awaits three keys
if assailed by snowballs
perhaps they'll gain release"


Climb to the the very top of the mountain at the right of the entrance. At
the top is an igloo. Enter it. Inside, you'll note several platforms at 
different heights and you'll notice big snowballs falling from the ceiling. 
On a platform in the center of the room is a big chest. The goal is to unlock 
it by throwing snowballs at the 3 frozen keys disposed around the igloo. I 
don't need to tell you where the keys are, they are in plain view. These 
big keys, however, are frozen into ice blocks. You'll need to pick up large 
snowballs (stand next to them and press the attack button) and throw these 
snowballs at the ice blocks so the keys will be released and will go into the
chest. Once the 3 keys are unfrozen, the treasure chest will unlock, revealing
a Heart. Sometimes, you'll have to carry over the snowballs to higher 
platforms since the snowballs don't always fall next to the keys. Oh, and 
watch out for the Floppers hiding underground...


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #4


"A chamber unexpected 
lies deep beneath the ice
if you are not deflected
a heart will be your vice"


Go left from the entrance, in the area with the wind gusts. Below you
should be a breakable part of the ice. Do a Ground Pound to break the
ice under you and reveal the entrance to a cave. Enter that cavern.
I'll guide through it with some helpful shortcuts I found that make it 
really easy. Right from the start, do a pulse jump and a flare kick to 
reach the short wall in front of you. You're now above the room and can 
avoid the traps and enemies. Do a Long Jump to get over the door on the 
opposite side of the room. You're now in the main lava room. Jump at the
right on a platform below. But don't jump on the yellow pole! Go at the 
left and do a Long Jump to reach a similar platform below with an extra 
life on. You just skipped a hard part. Now continue to the 5 spinning 
circular platforms further ahead and you'll end up on a platform with 2 
Shadowminions on. But don't go straight ahead on the path with the spiky 
balls swinging over your head! Instead, skip that hard part by going at 
the right, and doing a Long Jump, to reach a ledge by the wall on the 
other side. Follow the wall (watch out for the gaps) to reach the Heart 
in the center of the room.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #5


"Spilling 'cross the sky
perilous platforms float
near icy gusts they fly 
in fact, above them note"


This Heart can be quite hard. At the left of the mill are some wind gusts 
coming out from the ice. If you get caught in one of them, you should be 
able to reach a platform above. There begins the pain. The Heart is located
high above in the sky and you have to reach it using various platforms that 
lead to it. This task will really test your platforming skills. Most of the 
platforms consist of annoying platforms that reverse themselves at each 5 
seconds. Very annoying. When the platform makes a little "pop" sound, 
quickly jump and you should land safely on it after it reverses. You have 
to well time your jumps to reach the other popping and moving platforms. 
If you fall down, you'll have to start back. If you manage to reach the top 
platform, you'll get the Heart. Good luck.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #6


"A labyrinth of ice
a prize within its walls
if fit to pulverize 
your obstacles may fall"


From the start, go straight ahead, but a little to your right, behind the 
ice formation. There you should find a small white platform on the ground.
Stand on it and it'll bring you in a cave under the ice. This cave is a 
kind of small labyrinth. Don't go straight ahead when you arrive there, 
turn around instead and go behind the white platform. Stand near the wall 
and perform a Pulse Jump to reach a ledge above. Advance in that tunnel 
until you come to a 3 paths intersection. Take the left path and you'll 
find a Rock Suit pad (See section 3.e if you don't have the Rock Suit 
upgrade). Transform and you'll have 5 sec. from now. Hurry through the 
tunnel you just came from. At the end of the tunnel you'll rush into an 
ice wall, breaking it. In that alcove is another Rock Suit pad. Transform 
and this time, you have 7 sec. Continue in that same tunnel, jump over the 
pit and you'll end up back in the first room where the white platform is. 
In that room is another breakable ice wall, but this time, behind it is 
the Heart. Hurry and smash down that wall to get the Heart. You'll need to
be fast for this one.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #7


"Upon a mooring dock
employ your skills of flight 
and soar against the clock
to a heart that's out of sight"


Normally, you would have to climb to the top of the mountain at the right 
of the mill and past the windy ledge, drop down before the cave with the 
slide where you'll find the Air Suit pad to use the wings. While you're
flying, you'd have to go under FrostBlight Mill's island and you'd find a
Heart under the island. But that's very hard, so here's a little trick
to get the Heart without having to use the wings: From the entrance, go to
the left and stand at the very edge of the island. You should see the Heart
under the island from there (if you don't, well, walk along the edge until 
you see it). Then, jump off the island and press forward on the control 
stick in direction of the Heart. Perform a Ground Pound followed by a
Flare Kick while holding forward and you should reach the Heart if done 
correctly. If not, practice it again, or use the wings.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #8


"These soul jars are encased
a vessel holds the key
to free them from their space 
command artillery"


You have surely already noticed the Soul Jars scattered around the 
mountains, behind ice veils. To release them, you'll have to go in the 
ghost ship and fly around the island while using the cannon to break the 
ice veils. Climb to the top of the mountain at the right of the mill and 
past the windy ledge, drop down before the cave with the slide. There you 
should find the Air Suit pad, but you won't be using it this time. You 
should also find a black switch around there somewhere. Press it and the 
ghost ship will appear in front of you. Jump on the platforms floating in 
the air at the left to reach the ghost ship. Jump on the green wing of 
the ship and then do a pulse jump to reach the bridge and hop into the 
cannon. You can now use the cannon to fire cannonballs with the attack 
button. There is one Soul Jar right from the start in front of you. Then, 
there are 4 Soul Jars located around the mountain with the igloo on top. 
The last Soul Jar is in plain view around the mountain right next to the 
mill. Once all the ice veils are broken, you can get off the ghost ship 
and climb around the mountains to collect the Soul Jars. Use all your skills 
to get them. Once you get all 6 Soul Jars, you'll be rewarded a Heart.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #9


"When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder 
one hundred's all that matters"


Start by collecting the Shards scattered all around FrostBlight Mill and then
collect the rest around and inside the Igloo at the top of the mountain. 
There are also some Shards in the fire cavern. You should have 100 by now and 
you'll get the Heart.


____________
EXTRA LIVES


1) In the ice labyrinth cave, don't go in front of you, go to the back, 
   behind the white platform. Stand near the wall and perform a Pulse Jump 
   to reach a ledge above you. Advance in that tunnel until you come to a 3 
   paths intersection. Take the right path to find the life.

2) In the fire cavern, on your way to the Heart, you can't miss it.

3) On the thin ledge behind the igloo on top of the mountain.

4) When getting Heart #5, there is a life above one of the popping platforms
   near the top.





                         =---------------------------=
                         |                           |
=========================    i) CITADEL OF SHADOWS    =========================
                         |                           |
                         =---------------------------=





Number of Shadowraith Hearts : 8
Number of Extra Lives        : 9


______________
REIA'S SCROLL


From the start, get past Yabu's guard and go left. Go through the part with
the spinning rings and when you're at the part with the platforms surrounded 
by 3 huge rings, it's on the third one.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #1


"Use all the skills you've honed
while gathering precious things
to get this one dethroned 
and best the engine rings"


From the entrance, get past Yabu's guard and go on the path on the left side. 
The obstacles from now on can be a little hard. To get past the huge rings 
that spin around the platforms, wait for them to pass in front of you and as 
soon as they're out of your way, long jump to the next platform and repeat. 
To get past the platforms surrounded by 3 big rings, do a pulse jump to get 
over them and safely land on the platform. After you climb up the pole, 
continue to the left and get past the serie of platforms there to reach the 
Heart at the end.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #2


"Along another track 
a WraithHeart you will find
just survive attack
by gruesome wraith design"


Go straight ahead past Yabu's guard and go to the left on the moving 
walkway. Then, jump on the moving platforms (wait until the first one moves
and then get past all the other ones before they reverse). Now you have to 
climb up on narrow paths. After that, watch out for the Blast Bugs and do 
long jumps to get past the crushing platforms. Then, jump on the small moving 
platforms into the wall and keep jumping on the next one above until you 
reach the top. Now do some long jumps to jump past the gaps and jump on the 
poles to reach the next section. Run and jump to get past the rotating 
cylinders and after this, watch out for the Hulks below. The last obstacle 
is to jump from one spoon-looking platform to another one until you reach 
the other side. Then, go on the narrow path and be careful, there are some 
Shadowminions guarding the Heart.. Get past them and grab the Heart.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #3


"Across the deadly run
the corner of the keep 
hides another one
where the reactors sweep"


Go straight ahead past Yabu's guard and go to the right this time. Jump
from one moving pole to the other until you reach the other side. Stand on
the black switch here to get lifted up to the ledge above. Cross the narrow
path, then the moving narrow path... This part is pretty hard if you don't
know what you're doing so here is a little nice shortcut I found: right
before the moving narrow path, stand on the platform there and perform
a Pulse Jump followed by a Flare Kick to reach the ledge above, by the
wall. That way you can skip that hard part! Then drop down below and climb
up the wall there and jump on the platforms avoiding the metal bars that 
move between the platforms. Then, jump between the 2 walls to reach the 
top (just jump towards one of the walls and press the jump button as soon 
as you hit the wall to bounce back to the opposite wall and quickly press 
the jump button on that wall and repeat until you reach the top of the 
wall). Go on the circular platform then and perform some pulse jumps to get
over the things that move around the platform. Once you reach the other 
side, the last obstacle is to get past the reversible narrow platforms. Go 
on them and when they reverse, jump on the next one and repeat. There are 
3 Shadowminions guarding the Heart, so be careful and get past them to
collect the Heart.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #4


"The fortress' vile heart
holds its grisly namesake
its glow will help, in part 
if directions you can take"


From the start, get past Yabu's guard and go on the path at the left side.
Get past the part with the annoying huge rings that spin around the 
platforms and you'll eventually make it to to the yellow pole. Climb to the 
top and jump from it in direction of the platform next to it. Under that 
platform is a metal square on another platform below. Jump into that square.

You'll be inside the square. This part can be pretty tricky. You are 
standing a red platform and are surrounded by many other platforms.
The square is moving so the platform you are standing on will start
tilting. So you have to jump on another platform or you'll fall. Continue
like that -changing platform when the square tilts- and eventually you'll
see the Heart on one of the platforms. Jump on that platform when you can
to get the Heart.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #5


"Above the smoldering mound
a time is out of joint
a reward can be found 
nearby a compass point"


Go behind the entrance and down the path there, but don't enter the door
in front of you. Instead, go to your left or right on a ledge below. Follow
that path to another door that leads to an area with ruins. Here is a little 
shortcut instead of the real path. Get past the Shadowminion and go to the 
left. Jump over the pit and reach the other side. Stand on the platform there 
to go up. The Sundial Portal should be right in front of you. Go at the left 
of it and do a long jump to reach a platform there. Cross the wooden bridge
(watch out, it'll fall) and slide down the yellow pole. Jump on the moving 
circular platform and do a pulse jump to land on one of the arrows of this 
big clock shaped platform. Do a long jump to reach the other side. Don't go 
at the edge of the lava pool, you don't need to. A platform will come down 
near it soon so jump on it and let it bring you on the path above. Walk 
along that path to find the Heart at the end, on a platform surrounded by 
lava.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #6


"A one-way portal calls 
sundial tells the time
hidden gateway opens halls
missed chance would be a crime"


The Sundial is situated in a room you can access if you follow the path that
goes straight down behind the entrance. It's in a snowy area full of enemies. 
Move the pointer of the Sundial between the 2 little marks on it. The Sundial 
Portal is now open, but not for long so hurry. To find the Sundial Portal, 
leave the snowy area and go to your left or right on a ledge below right next 
to the door. Follow this path to arrive in the other area (the one where you 
got Heart #5). Get past the Shadowminion and go to the left. Jump over the 
pit and reach the other side. Stand on the platform there to go up. The 
Sundial Portal is right in front of you, so enter it.

Now there's a new type of platform in that rift. You can stand on these 
white and red platforms, but if you want to make them move forward, you'll
have to walk by yourself or you'll fall. On the first one, you'll have to
do Long Jumps to stay on it because this one moves pretty fast. Then, you'll
have to get past some rotating platforms. Perform some Long Jumps to land
on them when they aren't moving. The rest of the obstacles are all the moving
white and red platforms but you know how to handle them. For the last moving
platform, don't stay on it too long because this one moves fast and in all
directions and you have big chances of falling. As soon as the platform is
close enough to the Heart, do a long jump to reach the platform the Heart
is on.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #7


"Among the engine rings 
the six soul jars you'll find
to gain these precious things
your moves must be well timed"


This is the Heart I got last. It was pretty difficult... You have to
collect the 6 Soul Jars placed at some difficult locations without
dying once.

1) Go on the path with the big rings rotating around the platforms.
On the last platform of that path is a Soul Jar.

2) After getting Soul Jar #1, continue on that path to the yellow pole.
Climb up and jump on the platform with the metal square (Heart #4).
Behind the pillar there is another Soul Jar.

3) This time, go on the path with the moving walkway (left path). When
you arrive to the part with the 2 yellow poles, slide down the second
pole. You'll see a Soul Jar below. Do a Long Jump to reach it.

4) On the same path as Soul Jar #3, when you arrive to the part with
a lot of Hulks and Shadowminions, jump on their heads and do a pulse
jump followed by a flare kick to reach the ledge above. The Soul Jar is 
on it.

5) This time, go on the path with the moving yellow poles (right path).
When you arrive to the part where you have to climb between the 2 walls,
the Soul Jar is on top of the highest wall.

6) On the same path as Soul Jar #5, the last Soul Jar is in the middle of
the big moving circular platform.

Go collect the Heart that will appear at the start of the level.


_____________________
SHADOWRAITH HEART #8


"When hearts did burst asunder
much energy did scatter
to return this heart its thunder 
one hundred's all that matters"


It's really hard to get 100 Shards in that world. I would say, first collect
the Shards in the ruins area (Heart #5) and then the other Shards are
scattered on many platforms around the main room. There are enough Shards for
you to collect, but the hard thing is that if you fall or die, you'll loose
all the shards you had collected until now... So you have to collect 100 
Shards around that room without dying a single time to get the final Heart.


____________
EXTRA LIVES


1) Go straight ahead from the entrance and on the left way (moving walkway).
   When you're climbing up the narrow paths, there is a life near the wall, 
   do a pulse jump to reach it.

2 to 7) There are 6 lives a little further from the first life, where there
        are a lot of Hulks and Shadowminions. Jump on the head of an enemy 
        to reach the ledge above. The lives are over that ledge.

8) Go straight ahead from the start and there is a life floating in the air
   above. Do a Long Jump to reach it.

9) In the ruins area (Heart #5), where the sundial portal is, there's a life
   above the big clock shaped platform.





                         =---------------------------=
                         |                           |
=========================       j) SHADOWREALM        =========================
                         |                           |
                         =---------------------------=





It's finally time to beat Dark Yabu... the final boss.

________
PHASE 1

Dark Yabu will start the fight by sending hordes of creatures after you.
The easiest and safest way to exterminate them is to prepare a Pulse Jump
when they're about to attack you and while you're in the air, do a Ground
Pound to hit them. After being hit 2 times, they'll disappear. Sometimes,
when destroyed, some of the creatures will drop health. Dark Yabu will send
4 hordes of creature after you so repeat the process until all the creatures
are destroyed. Once that's done, Yabu will start throwing fireballs at you. 
Avoid them with the Long Jumps. Then, he'll throw the fireballs but the 
hordes of enemies too! So you have to destroy the enemies while you avoid 
Yabu's fireballs... And never approach Dark Yabu or you'll be under his 
power and start moving really slowly.. Once all the creatures are destroyed, 
you'll enter phase 2.

________
PHASE 2

Dark Yabu will now turn himself into a giant mantis. He'll jump and try to 
attack you. Avoid his attacks with the Long Jumps. When Yabu raises his foot 
and smash the ground, it'll produce waves on the ground, you can avoid that 
with a well-timed Pulse Jump. When Yabu will bend down his head, attack his 
head with a Pulse Jump followed by a Flare Kick. The first time, you'll have 
enough time but the 4th and 5th time, you'll have to be pretty quick. Then, 
attack him by behind with an Uppercut Attack. After that, Yabu will reveal 
his stomach. When this happens, he'll jump into the air and you have to hit 
his back. So you have to hit his head, his stomach and then his back. You'll 
have to be really fast to hit him, especially the 5th time.

________
PHASE 3

The final phase. Dark Yabu will start by sending hordes of creatures after 
you, like in the first phase. You know how to deal with them. Then, Yabu will 
raise some columns and throw you energy balls. When he throws you the energy 
balls, return them to him by hitting them with your fist (Ganondorf anyone?).
Your punch must be well-timed in order to hit the power balls. Only hit Yabu,
if you hit the columns, they will collapse and pieces of them will fall on 
you, hurting you. So be careful. Repeat the process until Yabu throws his 
ultimate power, return it to him and Dark Yabu's no more.


---


Or you can use Aaron Johnson's strategy for beating Yabu:


"On Dark Yabu,  We found our own pattern to be easy to
beat him.  

First stage: The two waves of shadow
wraiths, Just crouch and do upper cuts followed by a
ground blast and then a flare kick left or right.  If
you keep moving back and fourth like that you really
kill them off fast. When the fire balls start coming,
stay calm and count them.  Yabu uses volleys of four
balls at a time. Keeping that in mind keeps your
nerves calm and using the same combo of attacks on the
shadow wraiths makes short work of them.

Stage two: Mantis Yabu, crouch in the center of the
platform and just do high jumps to avoid the pounds
Yabu does. If you avoid running around he is quicker
to try his slap making the fight shorter. After the
slap, attack his head, followed by an
upper cut to the underside.  If you can squeeze in a
high jump you can avoid getting tangled in the legs
and be right in position to do a ground blast in the
gem in his tail. 
 
Final stage: Great balls of fire, The gem powers you
up and this makes short work of the shadow wraiths. 
Try to kill the last one when you are in the center of
the platform. Stay there and it is nothing more than
"batters up". Knock the fire balls right back at the
tower Yabu is on and it will crash down taking part of
the platform with it. Six towers in all will raise
and Yabu will finally be on your level where you get
to hit him.  

End of game after a way cool cinematic. 
Poor Vexx Trapped in the shadow realm."





=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
4.                            G A M E   B A S I C S
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Most of the stuff here is from the Vexx Instruction Booklet except the
location of the upgrades and some of the descriptions.


                           =-------------------------=
===========================         a) STORY          =======================
                           =-------------------------=
 _____
 () |  
    |he terror in Astara began when the powerful and sinister forces of the 
  (/ Shadowraith Dark Yabu and his devoted minions came from the skies. They 
descended upon the peaceful village of Overwood and wreaked havoc and 
destruction.

Vargas, the aging guardian of Overwood, and his grandson Vexx were defiant 
yet outnumbered and were enslaved with the other defenseless villagers under 
Yabu's dark power.

Unable to bear it any longer, Vexx launched a futile assault on Dark Yabu.
Before Yabu had a chance to punish the boy, Vargas attacked the Shadowraith,
hoping to distract the evil lord long enough for his grandson to flee. Yabu
turned his powers on Vargas and destroyed him as Vexx helplessly watched.

Stricken with grief, Vexx escaped through the tunnels, vowing to one day
take his revenge. Fate would grant him not to revenge, but fortune... the
legendary Astani War Talons.

Now armed with his war talons and his fearless determination, Astara's slave
turned savior will stop at nothing to overthrow the evil Dark Yabu, avenge 
his grandfather's murder, and bring peace back to his planet!


You can also read the small comic book featuring Vexx's story on Vexx's 
official web site :


                           =-------------------------=
===========================       b) CHARACTERS       =======================
                           =-------------------------=

_____
VEXX

Just a kid filled with enthusiasm and reckless spirit, Vexx's peaceful 
childhood is destroyed by Dark Yabu's vile greed. When Vexx discovers the 
Astani War Talons, his destiny will never be the same. As he grows into a
nimble able combatant, can he harness the power of the Talons and his own
rage to exact his revenge?

_______
VARGAS

Vexx's though old grandfather, Vargas, is the aging guardian of the village 
Of Overwood. Even as the years slow him, he never backs down from a fight, 
and he's taught his grandson to never take anyone else's gaff either.

______
DARBY

This old wanderer serves as Vexx's guide and mentor. Having lost his once
considerable powers, he now must rely on the young Vexx to carry on the
ancient traditions and right the wrongs that have plagued his existence. A
mysterious figure leading Vexx into an even greater mystery? Perhaps.

_____
REIA

The last of a proud and noble race, Reia maintains a lonely watch over 
Astara. A mysterious figure whose ancient powers have waned, Reia moves
through the shadows of Astara's dark history.

__________
DARK YABU

There are none more evil than the Shadowraith Dark Yabu, a creature so vile
and troubling that generations curse his name. He is the cause of much 
misery, and the one Vexx is sworn to vanquish. He will not be conquered 
easily...


                           =-------------------------=
===========================      c) VEXX'S MOVES      =======================
                           =-------------------------=


*The controls mentioned in this section are for the GameCube and PS2 version.

____
RUN

Move the Left Analog stick (PS2).

_____
JUMP

Press Jump button (GC = A button) (PS2 = X button)

__________
LONG JUMP

Crouch while running and press Jump button.

____________
CROUCH/DUCK

Press the L button (GC).
Press the L1 button (PS2).

___________
PULSE JUMP

Crouch while standing and press jump button 
(GC = L button + A button) (PS2 = L1 button + X button)

__________
WALL JUMP

Press Jump just as Vexx strikes a wall after jumping.

_______
ATTACK

Press Attack button. (GC = B button) (PS2 = Square button)

___________________
3 HIT COMBO ATTACK

Press Attack three times.

______________
CHARGED PUNCH

Press Attack twice, hesitate, then hold down Attack to charge the punch.  
Release Attack to deliver the blow.

______________________
ALTERNATE SLASH COMBO

Press Attack twice, hesitate, then Attack twice again.

____________
4 HIT COMBO

Perform the Charged Punch then press Attack again.

____________
RAGE ATTACK

Attack an enemy and continue to rapidly press Attack.

___________________
FLARE KICK(tumble)

Press Attack while airborne.

_____________
GROUND POUND

Press Crouch while in midair.

_________
UPPERCUT

Press Attack while Crouching.

________
RECOVER

Press (GC = Control Stick) (PS2 = Left Analog Stick) rapidly back and 
forth to recover from stun/inhibitor.

_____
GRAB

Press Attack while directly in front of a grabbable object.