Special World wrote:Nah, that would probably help things since I feel like each character has one totally worthless shot type. They always seem to have one great one, one that's okay, and one I hate. And I think they're all different shots, too. So if I could mix and match I'd probably enjoy things more. I assume I just have to complete the game, regardless of how many credits I used or where I started?
Yep - loads of detail here in this forum's strategy discussion/guide
here, where you can also learn about scoring big.
You can credit feed and start your run at the game's final* stage (using the settings in the the first Story mode screen) for all this, I'm sure. To unlock Caladrius, you must finish the game with the three main characters. To open customisable weapons, you must clear the game with each character (I can't remember if customisation unlocks individually for each character, or for all three once you complete it with all of them).
And you can use
this forum's high-score board for the game to get an impression of the best weapons arrangement to use (and to post a score!).
* By final stage, I mean stage 5. If you 1-credit the game from the start to defeating the stage 5 boss, a sixth stage is opened, but I believe you can do the unlocks just by completing stage 5.
One more note - 'cut-in break' and 'shame break essentially always refers to the same thing. When it happens (defeating a phase of the boss in limited time), the player succeeds in delivering a cut-in break, and the boss is the victim of a shame break. At least, that's how I understand it.