The Main Road
Gameplay begins on The Main Road, which offers a tutorial sequence if you decide you need it. Basically, advancing the game is the same, but if you opt for the tutorial, the game will stop you periodically to give you a message about the different controls available to you.
The Main Road is pretty straightforward, so there’s not really any exploration to be done at this point. Follow the path until you come across a forced battle against some Shadows, at which point, the game will give you a brief battle tutorial. Defeat all the enemies to continue onward.
A little bit further up the path is another scripted battle against a pack of Shadows. Defeat them and continue up the path until you reach the town.
Turning Back the Clock
Upon reaching the town, Objectives and Wardrobe Pieces are introduced, and you gain access to Aqua’s Magic. You’re now tasked with locating 5 gears scattered throughout the town that, when activated, will reverse the hands on the clock tower and reconstruct the bridge. The first is found for you during the introductory cutscene.
The remaining gears are pointed out to you as you explore the town. The table below will help you find the rest. Each time you locate and activate another gear, a new Ability will be granted to Aqua. While the gears can be found in any order, the order listed below is perhaps the most natural based on how the game directs you.
Gear Image | Location | Ability Learned |
---|---|---|
From the fountain in the center of town, access the path that leads up and to the right by climbing the stairs in the back-right corner of the map. | Shotlock | |
After locating the previous gear, making your way back to the fountain will reveal the location of the next. Head straight across the map to find the next gear. | Doubleflight | |
After locating the previous gear, make your way back toward the center of town, but turn left and climb a staircase along the back wall. As you turn the corner to the right, a split in the road reveals a path leading down to a large underground courtyard. The next gear is down there. | Situation Commands | |
After locating the previous gear, climb the platforms back up to where the road split. This time, take the path that leads up, ascending as series of broken buildings. Aim the camera back down at the ground, and look around, and you should be able to locate the final gear sitting in a small dead-end street. | Air Slide |
Force of Darkness
Locating the final gear completes the bridge leading to the clock tower. Return to the fountain in the center of town and head back down the ramp to the small courtyard where you first entered the town. The game’s first boss battle is waiting for you!
Demon Tower |
---|
The Demon Tower may only be made up of Shadows, but don't underestimate it. When formed together like this, they can really pack a punch! The Demon Tower clearly signals its incoming attacks though, so it can be pretty easy to get its pattern down and Block its advances. Whenever the eyes of the Demon Tower turn red, it's about to strike. For the most part, you can just dish out blow after blow unencumbered, but be ready with a well-timed Block-Counter to avoid taking damage when the Demon Tower charges around the courtyard. It will occasionally leave Shadows behind after it attacks, but these can easily be taken out to provide HP and Focus recovery. The Demon Tower will fall before long, so don't worry too much about this encounter. |
Victory Reward: Max HP +10 |