Xploids - Tips, Tricks and Strategies
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Little Known Game Facts:
It always pays to know your enemy. Here are some facts about the game that will prove useful to any player whether following our recommended strategies or inventing some of your own:

. Xploid Respawning

• Xploids never stop respawning
• Each level has a base number of Xploids that it tries to maintain at all times.
• Every 60 seconds this base is elevated. For example, on level one there will always be an average of one large Xploid for the first minute, two Xploids for the second, three for the third, etc.
• It is wise to move between levels quickly or you may quickly be
  overrun.

. Power-ups Take A Beating

• Once discharged from a Xploid, powerups decay over time eventually disappearing.
• When you shoot a power up you accelerate its decay but you will not immediately destroy it.
• Use more powerful weapons to rapidly clear large fields of Xploids without risking the loss of your powerups.

. Health & Fuel Power Everything

• Shields won't work without fuel or health.
• Keep both charged as much as possible.

. Clearing Levels Scores Xploids!

• When you a clear a level all remaining Xploids are destroyed and are applied to your score.
• Move quickly through levels ignoring Xploids, you'll get credit for destroying them when you advance anyway.

. Borders Both Useful & Deadly

• Borders, especially corners can amplify the power of a gun by virtue of the ricochet effect, but be careful...
• Xploids respawn outside of the play area near borders.

. Brakes Stop Instantly

• Getting bounced around? Hit the brakes!
• It's easy to forget they're available.
• In some controller schemes, holding the brake will help you to remain stationary while firing.

. Shields Are Offensive Weapons

• Don't underestimate your shields!
• Some shields are offensive in nature.
• Here are the shields by name and capability:
  • Basic - Defensive. Prevents collision. No powerup collection.
  • Pulse - Collects powerups while preventing collision.
  • Crush - Rotating spikes. Offensive. Allows powerup collection.
  • Repel - Repels everything. Watch out they will eventually come back!
  • Vortex - Attracts everything. Prevents collision damage. Collects powerups. Highly effective, offensive weapon!
  • Tunnel - When engaged changes the ships flight model. You will automatically be accelerated crushing everything in your path. You can steer your ship to hunt down other powerups, Xploids and waypoints.

. 3-Pronged Xploids Hold Everything

• Break apart the large, 4-pronged, Xploids into smaller Xploids.
• Only the 3-pronged Xploids contain everything of value.
• Smaller Xploids, 2-pronged amber or green, are simply noise.

. Think Like The Enemy

• Enemy ships desire to shoot you every 30 seconds or so.
• Enemy ships prize keys above everything else and mostly want to lock waypoints that you've already opened.
• Enemy ships lock waypoints by collecting a key from Xploids (or by shooting you) and running previously opened waypoints.
• Enemies operate the same way you do. They require health, and fuel and desire more powerful weaponry.

STRATEGIES

Early Level Build Up
One strategy is to build up your ship before advancing levels. You're shooting to get the best guns and shields. Don't wait for health, fuel or other items. Remember, the ambient number of Xploids increases every 60 seconds so you might get clobbered if it's taking to long to advance. You may want to bail onto a larger level with fewer initial Xploids then wait around for that next power up!

Tunnel Shield & Fuel
If you can score a tunnel or vortex shield you can smash your way around a field of Xploids collecting keys and running waypoints. The tricky part here will be monitoring and maintaining your fuel supply. Knowing that only the 3-pronged Xploids carry goodies, and that powerups can take damage can be quite useful in this approach.

Handling Enemy Ships
On early levels this is pretty easy, kill them. Enemy ships don't take much to destroy. On later levels this is a lot tougher since the enemy ships constantly respawn. Since the enemy are constantly trying to reset waypoints you have opened you have two approaches: hoard keys,
or move quickly.

When hoarding keys, you'll need to shoot enemies as soon as you see them otherwise they are likely to dislodge a key from you and run away to lock the waypoint. You can, of course, shoot the key out from them, but it's much easier to simply kill them or shield yourself until they
lose interest.

When moving quickly, don't waste time worrying about the enemy, ignore them in the hopes that they'll have just as much trouble as you getting through the Xploids to reset the waypoints.

You may want to shift your strategy depending on your situation.