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That’s because Archvale is very similar to The Legend of Zelda in terms of gameplay and graphics. There’s also not a lot of story to it. Players wake up in a cave with a mysterious voice telling them to find and collect seven magic stones. That’s it for the premise but what else should players know before jumping into this game?
6 Difficulty Options And Multiplayer
There are three difficulty options at the start of the game: Easy, Normal, and Hardcore. Unlike most games, these settings can’t be changed once they are selected. It’s up to players to decide which mode fits their play style best.
There is another option at the start that will lock players into a certain setting: multiplayer. There is local couch co-op. For solo players, check out Easy. For gamers that are planning to play with a friend or loved one, check out Normal or Hardcore. The game is much easier with a partner which is why the higher difficulties are recommended. Normal alone is doable as well but Hardcore is something else.
5 What To Focus Money On
Monsters drop a variety of things upon death from gold to materials to health drops. For gold, there are a variety of uses for it but it is most valuable when upgrading weapons. There is a blacksmith that can boost weapons in some of the towns by adding modifiers.
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There is also an anvil in towns wherein players can craft armor and weapons from monster materials. Rather than buy weapons or armor, craft them instead. Focus primarily on armor as weapons are plentiful in drops around the world. Some shopkeepers may have rare relics or heart pieces to disclose so don’t completely blow all the money on upgrades. The overall tip is to be smart about spending any of the game’s currencies.
4 Explore Thoroughly Before Leaving Areas
Archvale is like an open-world game except that transitions between areas aren’t seamless. The world is divided into segments that lead to other regions. There are plains, deserts, frozen tundras, and so forth. Some dungeons have their maps but they can’t be accessed the same way on the overworld map.
Before moving on from a dungeon or region, make sure to explore every nook and cranny. There are treasures hidden everywhere from stats boosts to health upgrades to weapons. Completing areas before moving on to the next adventure should help prevent backtracking.
3 What Death Means
There is a punishment for death but it is lax compared to other games of this nature. Players will be sent back to the last save point with all progress recorded. However, a portion of gold is also lost in the process. This is the better outcome since it prevents players from fully losing progress in the game. Additionally, players can store gold in town banks to lessen this burn.
Even on Easy, Archvale can be tricky. Part of the reason might be that healing is not automatic. Potions must be consumed which operate on a timed animation. If a player gets hit while trying to drink a potion, that might be it for them. Before drinking, make sure to get far away from enemies. Back into a corner if possible.
2 Short-Range Vs Long-Range Weapons
There are traditional weapons for an action RPG in Archvale including swords, spears, axes, and so on. However, all weapons are ranged in some capacity. This is a twin-stick shooter. The more melee-focused a weapon is in its natural state, the weaker the range will be. The upside to this is that these weapons are far stronger.
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Longe-range weapons, like magic books, rods, and bows are weaker but have the advantage of safe distance. In rooms where enemies are overwhelming, stick to long-ranged attacks and keep moving. Short-ranged weapons should be saved for solo encounters like bosses. Make sure to test every weapon too. For weapons/items that are taking up space, don’t forget to use the storage box in town.
1 You Can Warp At Statues
Players will primarily be able to save the game at angelic statues throughout the campaign. All players have to do is touch the statue, the game will save, and health will be restored along with potion inventory. It’s like how checkpoints work in the many Souls-like games. After unlocking them, players will receive defense boosts as well.
Be warned though. Discovering statues will not save the game automatically. Players must select the statue again after the bonus boost is acquired. Only then will the game save. Another secret to be aware of is that players can hold down the prompt button on the statue which will eventually open up the fast travel menu. All statues unlocked can be traveled back and forth.
Archvale was released on December 2, 2021, and is available on PC and Switch.
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