PHOA: I beat the Zero Trial!
Jun. 25th, 2022 11:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkAs a reward after my exams were over, only a little over a month after getting to 100% in Phoenotopia: Awakening, I started my attempt to get the Zero Trial achievement: finishing the game without any health or stamina upgrades or combat accessibility options. Quite a big change, since the first time I played with all the combat perks. But I did it!
The beginning went very well, the entire Panselo region was surprisingly easy. It got harder in the Atai region, and the Trial of Combat for the third Ouroboros Proof took what felt like forever. After a while I even took a break and tried doing the Ouroboros Skip but that too was frustrating and also less fun, so I went back and finally made it past rooms two and three to reach Atri. I was still too used to tanking, I had to remind myself to approach it like I did Hollow Knight boss fights: first, learn to avoid taking damage, and don't get impatient trying to get a hit in. Atri herself I defeated in two tries, and Birdy and Bubbles also only took two attempts. The Wrecker took three tries.
Saturday: Beating Katash took a long time… but I managed in the end. I also managed to get the Kobold Blaster early! Thomas fixed it already, I'm curious how useful it will be. I think it might be slightly stronger than the Spear Bomb, even, but with the drawback of the knockback and potential damage to Gail. I could easily get the Spear Bomb now, I even considered it before facing Katash, but decided not to because after all this run is also practice for my attempt at the speedrunning achievement and I won't have time to get the Spear Bomb then.
Sidenote, I tried out what happens if when Bart and Leo ask Gail to save the world she says no three times. Instead of Gail, Leo goes together with Max and other soldiers, and then it immediately cuts to the "a few days later ships arrived and the Earth was destroyed" scene.
Next, get the Geo Jacket. I won't have that during the speedrun either but for now I can afford that luxury.
Sunday: I decided not to get the Geo Jacket yet after all: better practice for later this way. I made it through all three windmill towers and most of the Royal Archives (that third security room was a pain), I haven't beaten the Mainframe yet but also haven't tried very often yet.
Monday: this time I beat the Mainframe on my second attempt. Then I collected some more moonstones and went back to Panselo to get the Double Crossbow – I got the Treble Shot first and it was useful sometimes especially because I suck at aiming with the crossbow, but having it is still very useful. I also got the techniques from Aella and Truff the troll, and then made it through the Scorched Lands (the Kobold Blaster was indeed very useful) and the Mul Caves. The Mul Caves were annoying, but not even as bad as I feared they would be, in part thanks to a shortcut I got from this All Badges guide. Then I made it through the Megalith field and through E.D.E.N. to Adam's Final Rest, and I also learned Ava's Lullaby. (I had a lot of time to play because I had another day off from work.) A couple attempts at Mother Computer so far, but not many. Definitely doable! Just needs more practice. Also, it occurred to me that the fight against Mother Computer is not necessary for the Speed Runner badge, so I could just get the Spear Bomb now…
Tuesday: I went back to get the Spear Bomb (with the Ouroboros scrolls from beneath the Cupid Fountain and the one in the Sand Drifts – that one was especially easy with the rocket boots) and the Concentrate technique. Then I fought Mother Computer a few more times, I even got her shield down twice, and then realized that I should have stocked up on candy *sighs*
Wednesday: I did some fishing, signed up for the Geo Club, made it through all the Geo Dungeons in the Daea and Cosette regions and got the Geo Jacket, did some more fishing and bought ten strawberry macaroons. Then about half an hour practice to beat the final bosses: I managed to defeat Mother Computer once, but then unfortunately died to Shadow Gail pretty quickly. (Had to stop there because my wrist said so.) I don't much mind trying many times, reminds me of practicing fighting the Radiance and that was totally worth it when I managed to beat her (though I might feel differently in a few days.)
Btw, I have over 100 hours played in PHOA now according to Steam.
Thursday: I beat Mother Computer again! And then died to Shadow Gail again, but I did a little better this time. I have a strategy for the Mother Computer fight by now, a combination of tips from this video and this one, though it does depend on luck a bit, e.g. that the smaller summoned robots don't start flying. I didn't practice for very long today, too tired. Maybe I could try practicing fighting Shadow Gail on my 100% save file.
Friday: I did it! I got the Zero Trial badge! \o/
I beat Shadow Gail twice in my 100% save file for practice, and then I went back to the Zero Trial save file. It took me iirc four tries to beat Mother Computer and this time I beat Shadow Gail afterwards :D
The bonus artwork at the end with very fancy clothes and lightsabers is fun.
It took me almost 21 hours (according to Steam; about 16 hours in-game) to get the Zero Trial achievement. I have all badges except Speed Runner now, and I will definitely attempt that soon, but I think I will watch a few speedruns first to plan my route. Maybe I will even try and practice the Ouroboros Skip first, not sure yet, but probably not because it's not necessary.
And maybe in-between I will play a few more rounds of Hades, idk. For many reasons I currently need plenty of escapism.
The beginning went very well, the entire Panselo region was surprisingly easy. It got harder in the Atai region, and the Trial of Combat for the third Ouroboros Proof took what felt like forever. After a while I even took a break and tried doing the Ouroboros Skip but that too was frustrating and also less fun, so I went back and finally made it past rooms two and three to reach Atri. I was still too used to tanking, I had to remind myself to approach it like I did Hollow Knight boss fights: first, learn to avoid taking damage, and don't get impatient trying to get a hit in. Atri herself I defeated in two tries, and Birdy and Bubbles also only took two attempts. The Wrecker took three tries.
Saturday: Beating Katash took a long time… but I managed in the end. I also managed to get the Kobold Blaster early! Thomas fixed it already, I'm curious how useful it will be. I think it might be slightly stronger than the Spear Bomb, even, but with the drawback of the knockback and potential damage to Gail. I could easily get the Spear Bomb now, I even considered it before facing Katash, but decided not to because after all this run is also practice for my attempt at the speedrunning achievement and I won't have time to get the Spear Bomb then.
Sidenote, I tried out what happens if when Bart and Leo ask Gail to save the world she says no three times. Instead of Gail, Leo goes together with Max and other soldiers, and then it immediately cuts to the "a few days later ships arrived and the Earth was destroyed" scene.
Next, get the Geo Jacket. I won't have that during the speedrun either but for now I can afford that luxury.
Sunday: I decided not to get the Geo Jacket yet after all: better practice for later this way. I made it through all three windmill towers and most of the Royal Archives (that third security room was a pain), I haven't beaten the Mainframe yet but also haven't tried very often yet.
Monday: this time I beat the Mainframe on my second attempt. Then I collected some more moonstones and went back to Panselo to get the Double Crossbow – I got the Treble Shot first and it was useful sometimes especially because I suck at aiming with the crossbow, but having it is still very useful. I also got the techniques from Aella and Truff the troll, and then made it through the Scorched Lands (the Kobold Blaster was indeed very useful) and the Mul Caves. The Mul Caves were annoying, but not even as bad as I feared they would be, in part thanks to a shortcut I got from this All Badges guide. Then I made it through the Megalith field and through E.D.E.N. to Adam's Final Rest, and I also learned Ava's Lullaby. (I had a lot of time to play because I had another day off from work.) A couple attempts at Mother Computer so far, but not many. Definitely doable! Just needs more practice. Also, it occurred to me that the fight against Mother Computer is not necessary for the Speed Runner badge, so I could just get the Spear Bomb now…
Tuesday: I went back to get the Spear Bomb (with the Ouroboros scrolls from beneath the Cupid Fountain and the one in the Sand Drifts – that one was especially easy with the rocket boots) and the Concentrate technique. Then I fought Mother Computer a few more times, I even got her shield down twice, and then realized that I should have stocked up on candy *sighs*
Wednesday: I did some fishing, signed up for the Geo Club, made it through all the Geo Dungeons in the Daea and Cosette regions and got the Geo Jacket, did some more fishing and bought ten strawberry macaroons. Then about half an hour practice to beat the final bosses: I managed to defeat Mother Computer once, but then unfortunately died to Shadow Gail pretty quickly. (Had to stop there because my wrist said so.) I don't much mind trying many times, reminds me of practicing fighting the Radiance and that was totally worth it when I managed to beat her (though I might feel differently in a few days.)
Btw, I have over 100 hours played in PHOA now according to Steam.
Thursday: I beat Mother Computer again! And then died to Shadow Gail again, but I did a little better this time. I have a strategy for the Mother Computer fight by now, a combination of tips from this video and this one, though it does depend on luck a bit, e.g. that the smaller summoned robots don't start flying. I didn't practice for very long today, too tired. Maybe I could try practicing fighting Shadow Gail on my 100% save file.
Friday: I did it! I got the Zero Trial badge! \o/
I beat Shadow Gail twice in my 100% save file for practice, and then I went back to the Zero Trial save file. It took me iirc four tries to beat Mother Computer and this time I beat Shadow Gail afterwards :D
The bonus artwork at the end with very fancy clothes and lightsabers is fun.
It took me almost 21 hours (according to Steam; about 16 hours in-game) to get the Zero Trial achievement. I have all badges except Speed Runner now, and I will definitely attempt that soon, but I think I will watch a few speedruns first to plan my route. Maybe I will even try and practice the Ouroboros Skip first, not sure yet, but probably not because it's not necessary.
And maybe in-between I will play a few more rounds of Hades, idk. For many reasons I currently need plenty of escapism.
