Lunacy Star/How to Play

This is a guide page for how to play Lunacy Star, written by the creator himself.

The guide goes over how to play, the stages, and scoring advice.

Glossary of terms

 * Bomb: A powerful attack that deletes bullets and deals very large damage to areas on the screen, also makes you invincible. Press "X" to use.
 * Capture: When a boss initiates a named attack, and you deplete the lifebar it represents without getting hit, or using a bomb.
 * Charge: The amount of energy stored, which is replenished by collecting Point Items, or by shooting enemies.
 * Extend: Collecting point items grants "extend" points in the HUD. Collect enough for extra lives.
 * Focus: A slowed movement speed which allows precision dodges. Also let's you see your collision hit-box.
 * Graze: When you have a bullet get close, without running into it.
 * Overdrive: A super-powerful state you can initiate which amplifies the power in your shot 120%. Initiate with "C." Requires 60 Charge to initiate.
 * POC: "Point of Collection." See below.

Controls
Move around the Main Menu with the arrow keys, "Z" is confirm and "X" is return. In the ship selection screen, use up and down to switch between choosing ships and choosing shot style, and use left and right to change them.

Move in the game with the arrow keys. "Shift" is Focus, and "Z" is to shoot. Use bombs with the "X" key and Overdrive with the "C" key. Use Escape to pause, and any key when paused to resume. Pressing Escape again terminates the game session and returns to the menu.

If you made a high score entry, type in a name and hit "Enter" on the scoreboard. Then hit Z, X, or Enter to return to the menu. Wait for it to save your file if you made a high score.

Tactics to use

 * Streaming is when a lot of bullets are aimed directly at you, and you tap the arrows to make minute movements in one direction. This helps control where the bullets fly and prevents filling the screen with them.
 * Misdirection is when a burst of some bullets are loosely aimed at you, and you fly far to the side to direct them all elsewhere.
 * Death-bombing involves pressing the Bomb button within milliseconds of being hit. You will expend a bomb, rather than a life.
 * The Point of Collection is a line about halfway up the screen where all items will zoom towards you. Collecting an item above the collection point awards 2 Charge Points rather than one.

Scoring
Outside of Overdrive, your Point Item value is based on your Charge Points.

charge * (stage + 3) * 10

Be sure to use the POC so you can increase your Charge to Maximum faster. You collect charge by shooting down enemies and collecting Point Items. Point Items above the POC award 2 Charge.

Inside Overdrive, your Point Item value is based on your Graze points.

Stages 1 - 5:

((1500+(stage*500)) + ((graze/5)*10)) * 10 * (stage + 4)

Stage 6:

(4000 + ((graze/5) * 10)) * 10 * (stage + 4)

Graze is reset at the end of every stage, but if you graze a lot, Overdrive Point Items can rapidly outpace the standard Point Items.

Overdrive also rewards a bonus after expiring based on the extra Charge you collected while in it. All Point Items are worth 1, but enemies remain the same value. The bonus for Overdrive is as follows:

Charge * Max Charge * Stage * 10

Enemies' point values multiply during Overdrive, as well. The more Charge invested into an Overdrive, the longer it lasts, and the higher the enemy multiplier is. 20 points of Charge is equivalent to 1 second of Overdrive is equivalent to a 0.33x addition to the multiplier. Enemies' point values in Overdrive are as follows:

Base Value * Stage * (1 + (Time(sec) / 3))

After expiring, the charge you collected will halve. If you collected at least 120 charge during Overdrive, you will be capable of using it again immediately.

The last benefit to Overdrive is that all Point Items reward 2 Extend Points rather than 1, allowing you to reach extra life thresholds earlier.

The main drawback to Overdrive is the inability to bomb until it ends, risking your life for the duration of it.

Due to all of the Point and Enemy-centric notions of Overdrive, and it's time-limited nature, it is advised only to use it on stages, but it can be used on bosses to hasten their defeat.

You can raise the Max Charge value by shooting enemies, grazing bullets, capturing attacks, and by progressing stages. A potential majority of your added Max Charge comes from attack captures, the added values being worth more on higher difficulties.

There are 59 attacks to capture in any one playthrough of Lunacy Star, which means a potiental 180 - 360 Max Charge points to earn. This promotes playing well.

You also receive large bonuses at the end of stages and after clearing the game for any extra resources, Charge, and Graze you have.

On gaining extra lives:
The two ways to gain extends in the game is through Extend Points collected with Point Items and dropped Life Items.

The Extend levels are 250, 750, 1500, 2500, 4000, and 8000.

Life items are dropped by the Idiot Box, Nategasa Kumanichi, the 6D4, and Sousuke Kumanichi.

Please note that the 8,000 point extend may be impossible to attain without extensive use of Overdrive.

The player rank system:
There's an exponential curve in the game called "rank," which is entirely based on your score. The rank starts at 0 and ends at 100.

It exists for cosmetic purposes, and has no effect on gameplay. You attain rank 1 at 1,000 points and rank 100 at 500,000,000 points.

Good luck and have fun!