Hyper Light Breaker begins with a gradual pace, but players who invest in upgrades will soon find themselves navigating the game’s cycles more effortlessly. Like many titles in the roguelike genre, this game incorporates a meta-progression system that boosts player capabilities outside regular gameplay loops.
Meta-progression encompasses enhancements that players can achieve away from the typical gaming experience. While these upgrades may seem minor, they are crucial for advancing and can greatly influence gameplay. Below, we explore the primary avenues for progression in Hyper Light Breaker.
Understanding Progression in Hyper Light Breaker
In Hyper Light Breaker, players can pursue their progression primarily through interactions with non-playable characters (NPCs) and various activities at their base. Achieving a level of substantial power takes dedication and time, emphasizing the need for patience. The major paths for enhancing your meta-progression include:
- Vendors and Vendor Affinities
- SyComs
- Exes
- Vault
Vendors
Within the Cursed Outpost, merchants offer valuable items for players to utilize during their adventures into the Overgrowth. Initially, players will only have access to the Blades merchant. However, by gathering resources, they can unlock additional vendors, including the Rail and Holobytes merchants.
Enhancing relationships with these vendors is possible by offering Golden Rations. Building affinity with a vendor unlocks various features and bonuses within their shops, including the ability to upgrade your equipment.
SyComs
SyComs, the robotic companions accompanying each character, are integral to determining a Breaker’s foundational stats and core abilities. For instance, the character Vermillion is paired with the Gunslinger SyCom, which enhances ranged weapon damage and allows for consecutive critical hits.
Players can improve SyCom stats using materials acquired from the Overgrowth and can also unlock new SyComs that provide different passive abilities and stat distributions.
Exes
Exes represent permanent enhancements affecting various elements of a Breaker’s toolkit, such as medkit capacity, hoverboard energy, and glider power. Players can upgrade Exes by interacting with Pherus Bit, an NPC found near the starting point in the outpost.
Though Exe bonuses may appear minor, their influence becomes significantly more pronounced in later stages of the game. Players should note that they can only equip a certain number of these bonuses based on their available Exe Slots.
Vault
The Vault acts as the player’s storage area, wherein players can keep equipment obtained during runs for future use. Given that weapons and Holobytes are susceptible to damage, having additional gear on hand can prove beneficial during challenging encounters in Hyper Light Breaker.
Leave a Reply