COGEN: Sword of Rewind

Hints and Tips:
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Submitted by: David K.

-= Ouroboros rewind system =-
Kohaku has no HP bar. Any hit from enemies, hazards, or pits is lethal unless you
rewind. The gauge in the upper-left holds three segments. Each manual or automatic
rewind consumes at least one segment and can roll back up to one second per segment,
for three seconds total when fully spent. After a rewind, Kohaku, enemies, and most
stage gimmicks return to their prior state, so you can undo a death or experiment with
a different approach. The gauge refills over time and refills faster while you stand
still. If the gauge is light blue or red, rewinds are disabled; the next hit sends you
to the last checkpoint. Save at least one segment before rewind-platform sections so
you still have death insurance after spawning temporary floors.

-= Movement and combat basics =-
Standard toolkit from the start: run, jump, double jump, dash, three-hit sword combo,
dash attack, and upward strikes by holding up while attacking. The third combo hit
launches foes; chain into other enemies for quick clears and score. Wall jumps work
off slow wall slides, which forces vertical play in magma and bullet-heavy rooms.
Reflect enemy shots by swinging as bullets overlap your blade; some projectiles cannot
be reflected, so learn by trial and error. Backstep grants brief invulnerability but
moves opposite your facing direction, which feels awkward during boss fights where
Kohaku auto-faces the target. Dash often beats backstep for dodging telegraphed beams.

-= Rewind-linked platforms =-
Several stages spawn platforms only while rewinding or for as long as rewind runs.
Some blocks appear the instant rewind starts; others exist only for the duration of
the rewind and vanish when time catches up. Plan routes that use one segment to create
a bridge, then cross before it collapses while keeping a spare segment for mistakes.
Rushing a rewind bridge often means sprinting into waiting enemy packs, so identify
which foes you can skip instead of fighting every wave.

-= Boss fights and checkpoints =-
Each of the five main stages ends in a pattern-based boss. Study attack order first;
most become short once you know safe windows. Checkpoints are sparse, so treat each
new room as a mini gauntlet. When the gauge is empty, one stray bullet ends the run
until the checkpoint reload.

-= Challenge tree and stage bonuses =-
The Challenge Tree in the menu tracks optional feats per stage: no dash, no wall grab,
no crouch, no pit or hazard deaths, limited checkpoint recharge time, finishing with
no rewind charges left, and similar constraints. End-of-stage bonus popups and tree
nodes are separate systems; clearing a stage with a bonus banner does not always mark
the matching tree node. For tree goals named "Beat Stage X," stack every listed rule
in a single run. The node "Achieve 6 stage bonuses" counts six distinct tree bonuses,
not ordinary stage rewards.

-= Score ranks and replay =-
Stages grade you on combat and speed. S rank or higher on one stage unlocks
Transcendent; S rank on every stage unlocks Completionist. Replay stages from the
stage select to chase ranks after you learn layouts.

-= Post-game SP campaign =-
Beating Stage 5 unlocks a harder SP remix of the campaign with rearranged layouts and
stricter routing. SP has its own no-rewind-to-boss challenges (Rewind Me Not, Factory
Chief, Beat the Heat, Explorer in the Dark, Cogen City Master). Finish the main story
before tackling SP if you want the narrative in order.

-= Event archives and bonuses =-
Data terminals hidden in stages unlock lore logs. Every log you find is replayable
from the Options menu. Collecting every stage bonus item feeds Bonus Collector and
related tree nodes. Search off-path rooms and break suspicious walls when exploring.

-= Stage bonus constraints =-
Challenge Tree nodes often stack rules in one run. Common Stage 1 constraints include
beating the stage without dashing, without wall grabs, without crouching, without pit
or hazard deaths, finishing with no rewind gauge left, and spending less than five
seconds total recharging at checkpoints. Read every node on the tree before attempting
a stacked run; partial runs do not credit the combined node even if individual feats
pop up as end-of-stage banners.

-= PC controls =-
Default keyboard bindings are awkward for many players; remap in Options or use Steam
Input before serious attempts. Controller is supported and usually smoother for dash,
reflect, and rewind on the same thumb rhythm. The game targets 1080p on PC; cap frame
rate in Options if inputs feel sluggish on low-end hardware.


Secrets:
--------
-= Stage 2 shortcut =-
Stage 2 hides a bypass route that skips part of EL-Bird Heavy Industries. Explore
upper scaffolding and alternate shafts instead of following the obvious factory path.
Clearing through the shortcut triggers the Shortcut secret achievement.

-= Stage 4 Leap of Faith =-
Stage 4 (Rundown Planning Center) has a drop shortcut that skips a long maintenance
loop. Look for a shaft that commits you to a long fall with no rewind safety net once
you commit. Surviving the drop and finishing the stage unlocks Leap of Faith.

-= Destructible walls =-
Certain cracked walls break with a slash or bomb blast. Breaking one unlocks Not In
This Castle. Walls sometimes hide bonus pickups or archive terminals rather than
routes.

-= Stage 3 radio silence =-
Stage 3 lets Kohaku call for backup in some rooms. Ignore every call-for-help prompt
for the entire stage to earn Infiltrator. Treat the stage as a solo infiltration run.


Solutions:
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-= Saphed Sher unlock =-
1. Clear all five main story stages and finish the ending sequence.
2. Open character select from the title menu or stage select.
3. Choose the Saphed Sher form to replay stages with alternate presentation.

-= Pacifist Route (Stage 1) =-
1. Start Stage 1 on a fresh run.
2. Skip every optional enemy group; dash and jump past patrols where possible.
3. Reach the Stage 1 boss without killing any non-boss robot.
4. Defeat only the boss to finish the stage and unlock Pacifist Route.

-= No Need For Time (Stage 1 boss, no rewind) =-
1. Practice the Stage 1 layout until you can reach the boss door from memory.
2. Do not press rewind at any point before the boss arena.
3. Enter the boss fight with a full three-segment gauge so accidental rewinds are
   optional, not required for survival.
4. Clear the boss without ever activating Ouroboros on the way.

-= Freestyle Juggler =-
1. Find bomb-type enemies or throwable explosives in any stage.
2. Launch the bomb upward with an up-attack.
3. Strike it vertically again before it lands; repeat until you have three juggles in
   one sequence without the bomb detonating on the ground.

-= Observer (all event archives) =-
1. During each stage, detour into side rooms with glowing data terminals.
2. Activate every terminal you find; logs save automatically.
3. After Stage 5, open Options and scroll the archive list for missing entries.
4. Revisit stages from select until every archive slot is filled.

-= Bonus Collector =-
1. Open the Challenge Tree and note uncleared bonus nodes per stage.
2. Replay stages with stage maps in mind; bonuses sit on off-main-path ledges and
   behind breakable walls.
3. Collect every bonus pickup once; the game tracks totals globally.
4. Confirm Bonus Collector when no bonus nodes remain on the tree.

-= Alternative character mode =-
1. Clear the game by finishing all five main story stages and the ending.
2. Return to the title menu and open character select.
3. Choose the Saphed Sher form as a selectable character for replays.


Unlockables:
------------
* Saphed Sher form - Clear the game to unlock the Saphed Sher form as a selectable
  character.
* SP campaign - Clear Stage 5 to unlock remixed Super Play stages with harder enemy
  placement and SP-only achievements.
* Akasha (DLC) - Paid story pack with three EXTRA stages and Akasha as a shoot-em-up
  style heroine who cannot rewind time.
* Yuji Otori (DLC) - Paid pack with additional story and Yuji as a playable character.
* Copen (DLC) - Crossover playable character from Luminous Avenger iX 2; multi-hit
  health instead of one-hit deaths, no EX Weapons, stronger Razor Wheel.


Reference:
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* Rewind gauge - Three segments; one second rollback per segment; regen faster while
  idle; light blue or red states block rewind and force checkpoint respawns on hit.
* Main stages - Stage 1 opening ruins; Stage 2 EL-Bird factory; Stage 3 magma bunker;
  Stage 4 planning center; Stage 5 finale toward Cogen City truth.
* Rank targets - D through S per stage; S on all stages required for Completionist.
* Notable achievements - Time Traveler (rewind often); Scrap Dealer (100 kills); True
  Destroyer (1,000 kills); Bullet to Bat (100 reflects); Three Bots With One Stone
  (triple kill with one explosion); Cogen City Veteran (reach Akasha without rewind).
* Secret stage feats - Shortcut (Stage 2 bypass); Leap of Faith (Stage 4 drop skip);
  Pacifist Route (Stage 1 boss-only kills); Infiltrator (Stage 3 no call for help); No
  Accidents (Stage 5 no lights on, no trap hits); Rewind Me Not (Stage 1 SP boss
  without rewind).
* SP no-rewind bosses - Factory Chief (Stage 2 SP); Beat the Heat (Stage 3 SP);
  Explorer in the Dark (Stage 4 SP); Cogen City Master (Stage 5 SP).

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