PlatinumGames’s cult classic The Wonderful 101: Remastered might already be in your hands if you backed the game’s Kickstarter. But you might be a newcomer to this bombastic super hero adventure that plays very differently to other Platinum titles. There’s a steep learning curve to The Wonderful 101, so here are some tips to help you get started.
The Wonderful 101: Remastered battle system can be quite overwhelming and complicated at first glance. Yet, the more you play, the more the mechanics start to make sense. Once you buy the dodging and blocking abilities (make sure you do right after the intro level), things start to get more interesting. Regardless, there are few things to keep in mind while playing to take full advantage of your… wonderful super powers…
Don’t Focus On Just One Enemy
With so many characters running around on the screen, it can get pretty hectic and hard to focus. But a key tip when fighting is to not focus on specific enemies. The more you decide to wail on one enemy, the more of a chance you’ll get hit from another. The best examples are when fighting two tanks at once. Tanks are very aggressive, so it’s important to block or dodge incoming attacks rather than continue doing damage. You’ll be bouncing between opponents, but it’s the best way to avoid damage and having your Wonder team scattered across the field.
In other words, you’re playing more defensively in The Wonderful 101. The best time to be aggressive is when your enemies are stunned. For the tanks, blocking their projectile can rebound the impact back to them, making them vulnerable. That’s your cue to push in and do some damage. Just keep in mind if another enemy is on the field so they don’t disrupt your combo.
Practice Your Lines in The Wonderful 101
A unique mechanic in the game called Unite Morph includes drawing specific lines or shapes to use action abilities. With the right thumbstick, drawing a circle gives you Wonder Red’s fist for great close-range combat. Drawing a straight line will give you Wonder Blue’s sword. While tricky to pull off at first, practice makes perfect here. The Wonderful 101 has you collecting heroes in stages to stay true to its name. The heroes in your group configure into the shape you draw, which is hard to notice at first. But once you get a rhythm for it, you’ll be tying in combos as easy as pie.
Other shapes can be a little difficult to do on the fly, like the triangle for gliding. The best idea here is to just stay stationary then draw the triangle shape.
Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, And Dodge
Unite Guts and Unite Spring are two absolutely necessary skills to unlock early on because they allow you to block and dodge. You can buy them as soon as you complete the Prologue level. The Spring ability is pretty flexible and can give you a leg up on counterattacks. Just be sure to not dodge too late, or you’ll definitely get smacked by enemies.
Unite Guts, on the other hand, is a great parry tool at a cost. Blocking too early or too late will have you taking damage, so this is where some patience is needed. Study your enemy’s attacks and react promptly. If you successfully parry, you’ll have a window to string some combos and wack away on those defenseless robotics.
The Wonderful 101 Item-Synthesizer Mechanic
In the Wonderful 101, you can mix together galactic Space Carrots, Eggplants, and Peppers, Carrots, and Eggplants for useful items. These items range from healing to even damage-dealing ones, so definitely utilize the Mixer. It can be easy to overlook this, so be sure to check on your inventory to see what you can cook up.
Custom Blocks take things to the next level by equipping a Custom Block. Doing this allows you to augment the team’s abilities, making you tougher to deal with on the battlefield. Double Power, for example, increases the attack power of Unite Morphs, while a Speed Charge boosts the Unite Gauge’s recharge time.
Take Advantage of Custom Blocks
Another easy-to-overlook mechanic is Custom Blocks. Purchased with in-game currency, Custom Blocks augment the Wonder team’s abilities to give them more of an advantage in battles. Some blocks increase your attack power while others add more depth to fights like another counter option. While they do cost a pretty penny, it’s all about investing in your play style. You can head to the Wonderful Mart to see any new ones that come in as you continue playing.
Will you be playing The Wonderful 101: Remastered? If you’re on the fence, check out our review.
