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There are four playable characters in RWBY: Arrowfell that fans of the anime will instantly recognize. It’s a simple game based on the property, but there are still plenty of things worth noting before starting the journey. Be prepared for a challenging adventure because this latest indie game from WayForward will not pull any punches.
8 What To Upgrade
There are four categories that can be upgraded for each party member. Players can increase attack power, defensive capabilities, how much health regenerates, and the attack power of ranged weapons. The first thing players should focus on is healing. Max out all four crystals as fast as possible for one chosen character and then balance out the rest of the skill points moving forward between the other categories. Since there are no difficulty options or assist features in RWBY: Arrowfell, healing can be tricky which is why this advice is important.
7 What To Buy
There is a merchant that pops up in hub worlds as the game progresses. This mysterious traveling salesman will have different items depending on where players meet him. Don’t waste money on disposable items such as healing potions. Buy heart upgrades or skill points because those are far better investments in the long run. The stronger a character is in an action game the better, but that probably goes without saying.
6 Stick With Ruby
Ruby is the best character among her magical gal pals in the game for several reasons. Her scythe gives her the best reach and its attack power is second to Blake. She is also the only character with a dodge ability as she can dash through enemies without getting hurt.
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It’s strange for an action game to lack a dodge ability for everyone, but that is beside the point. Even though she may not be the player’s favorite character from the anime, they should stick with her. Upgrade her entire tree first before even thinking about trying anyone else out beyond puzzle challenges.
5 Combo Abilities To Reach New Heights
RWBY: Arrowfell is a cross between a classic 2D action game like Mega Man X and a Metroidvania. Players will hop into dozens of levels via a world map and these stages can be replayed. There is a reason to go back to these areas too once items or new abilities get unlocked, again, like a Metroidvania.
It’s important to take notes, like through screenshots, if a path is blocked the first time around. Also, experimenting with obstacles is a good idea as some can be overcome by combining character abilities like Weiss’ ability to create platforms and Ruby’s ability to dash.
4 Take Advantage Of Heights
Most enemies have very fixed paths of movement. Players can encounter flying enemies like bats which can hurt them in higher locations. If they’re not around, players should take advantage of ledges to get away from the action. This is important if players are about to die as they can regain health by sitting still. That’s why the healing upgrade is so important. This is a good strategy for boss fights, like the first against the elephant-like monster.
3 Use Exit Location
One of the best things about RWBY: Arrowfell is that players can retreat from maps without suffering any consequences. They don’t even need items or spells like the Escape Rope from the Pokemon games or the Evac spell from the Dragon Quest series. All players have to do is go into the menu, select the option, and then they are back on the world map.
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If players are on the verge of death, and can’t heal that much automatically, a full exit strategy is sound. This is just a good tip to know that this option exists as it is rare to see in action games.
2 Talk To Everyone
The first town players will come across is Essen. It’s here where players can encounter their first merchant to purchase those aforementioned upgrade materials. This is also where two quests can be unlocked which is mandatory for completing the story.
It’s a good idea to talk to everyone moving forward though as not all quests are required. NPCs can offer more than quests too, like helpful advice for missions, which is a common trait for NPCs in most RPGs.
1 Almost No Reason To Attack Enemies
Characters do not level up like in a typical action RPG by slaying monsters. Skill points can be found in dungeons via chests or they can be purchased from merchants. Money, to buy said upgrades, can be awarded randomly from drops if players vanquish enemies.
However, objects such as torches, crates, and barrels will often reward players with money too. So, there is almost no reason to fight monsters in dungeons unless necessary. Avoiding them is a sound strategy even though that may go against natural video game instincts.
RWBY: Arrowfell was released on November 15, 2022, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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