UI Hud[edit]
Category Level[edit]
Appearing at the top left of the screen, this indicates the player's tornado size along with a meter that gradually fills up as players destroy more objects in the area. When the meter is filled up all the way, the tornado increases by one size.
Score[edit]
Underneath the Category Level. It keeps track of the player's score determined by the amount of Fire Flyers collected.
Fire Flyer Counter[edit]
Holding down the grab button will reveal you the goal along with the total amount of Fire Flyers hiding within the area. A standard level consists of 100 Fire Flyer, but the minimum amount required to be collected is 50.
L.O.A.D. STARR Timer[edit]
This shows you how much time you have to complete a Zone in the game. By default, the timer will only appear when one minute is remaining but can be enabled at all times by turning on Always Display Timer.
Levels[edit]
Levels in the game are represented by miniature representation of the environment on Earth. A completed level will be demolished. Each level keeps track of the player's score, Fire Flyers collected, Storm Gates missed, along with how many Stone Stompers and Water Whirls the player has rescued.
Moon[edit]
Here, you can adjust the volume, camera controls along with viewing unlocked concept art bonus films.
Gameplay[edit]
Normal Stages[edit]
Start off as a small tornado and pick up various objects around the area ranging from flowers to rocks. As you continue to pick up more objects, the Category Level's meter will fill over time. The more objects you pick up, the larger and more powerful Zephyr can become, allowing him to swiftly capture Fire Flyers. Stay within the shaded area generated by the L.O.A.D. STARR at all times, as the sunlight's radiation is extremely harmful to Zephyr and the Wind Warriors!
Each portion of the level is divided up into sections called Zones. A Zone is completed once players capture the minimum number of Fire Flyers within the area. When all Zones are completed in the level, Zephyr will engage in a Vortex Race to build the perfect vortex to allow him to confront the Totems.
Collecting Fire Flyers[edit]
Various objects within the area contain Fire Flyers that are required to be collected to progress through the game. An object with a glittering sound along with the sparks and smoke coming out from the bottom of an object indicates the presence of a Fire Flyer. Expose the Fire Flyer hiding by destroying the object. Then use the grab button to capture the Fire Flyer. Release the grab button to transport the Flyer to the L.O.A.D. STARR.
When you grab a Fire Flyer, Zephyr will gain a temporary speed boost. Grabbing two or more Fire Flyers is known as Chain Collecting. Chain Collecting allows Zephyr to replenish the L.O.A.D. STARR's timer. Be wary though. If Zephyr comes in contact with sunlight or if he attempts to grab the Fire Flyers for an extended period of time without grabbing another Fire Flyer, his tornado will temporally dissipate, leaving him stunned until the grab button is let go.
While tornado size doesn't technically matter, a larger tornado not only increases the amount of time Zephyr has before his tornado dissipates when a Fire Flyer is grabbed, it also allows him to quickly destroy an object containing a Fire Flyer.
Mission Fail[edit]
As the majority of the game is a race against the clock, failing to capture the minimum number of Fire Flyers within the time limit will trigger a mission fail. Failing a mission in-game will reset any Fire Flyers, Stone Stompers, and Water Whirls that have been retrieved within the specific Zone. A Mission Fail can be triggered in the following methods:
- Failing to replenish the L.O.A.D. STARR's timer
- Purposely missing too many Storm Gates in a Vortex Race: Specifically, missing three Gates back to back at once.
- Using the Retry Zone Option.
Rescuing Elemental species[edit]
Various levels in-game contain hidden Stone Stompers and Water Whirls that can be rescued in-game. Rescuing Stone Stompers requires you to perform a Stone Stomp on top of them repetitively until they are awoken from their slumber. Water Whirls on the other hand are rescued in a completely different manner. Burst the water bubble that contains a Water Whirl in either pair. Then use the dash move to escort her to her sister. Once you reach the second bubble, use the dash move again to burst it and free the other Water Whirl trapped inside.
Scoring[edit]
Scoring in Tornado Outbreak is calculated based on the amount of Fire Flyers a player captures. Each Fire Flyer that is captured grants the player 1000 points. If a player captures three or more Fire Flyers, their score will be multiplied by a varying multiplier. This multiplier starts at 2 and can go as high as 15. Generally speaking, the larger the amount of Fire Flyers chain collected, the higher the multiplier.
Vortex Races[edit]
Follow your Wind Warrior companion through a set of Storm Gates that laps around the track. The race starts off slow, but overtime gradually gets faster when a lap is completed. You will continue to gain speed the longer you stay in the Storm Gate. However, miss a gate, and you'll lose momentum. If you miss too many Storm Gates, you will be instructed to restart the race.
From Military Mayhem and onwards, the Fire Flyers will sneak into the gates. If a Storm Gate's center is orange, use the grab move to pull the Fire Flyer out of the gate. If you forget and hit the tainted Storm Gate, the gate will explode on impact, reducing the amount of Storm Gates you have to complete a lap.
Totem Battles[edit]
Guide Zephyr’s tornado through a maze of moving clouds in a shaded area as you dodge patches of sun-spots. If you are hit by one of the sun-spots, you will lose a Wind Warrior protecting you. As you get closer to the Totems, Zephyr will automatically enter battle mode. This will allow him to pummel and destroy the Totem's arm along with its head in later levels. When one of the Totem's opens up one of its gate, guide Zephyr towards the designated arm or head of the Totem and pummel it until it is destroyed.
In later levels, Totems will begin to launch projectile fireballs directly at Zephyr and his Wind Warriors protecting him. Defend against them by using the grab button to shield the tornado. Zephyr will defend himself, but will be unable to move unless the grab button is let go.
Multiplayer[edit]
In Tornado Outbreak, players have the option of inviting another Wind Warrior to join Zephyr on his mission via multiplayer. This feature becomes available after completing the second level, Chicken Con Carnage. Each player is granted their own tornado and can freely roam the area in search of Fire Flyers. Players can either choose to share a screen and stick together or use the traditional split-screen. Player one controls Zephyr, who controls a blue tornado, while player two controls a Wind Warrior, who controls a red tornado.
In multiplayer, Vortex Races and Totem Battles are played differently in a driver/gunner style. The driver is responsible for controlling the tornado, while the gunner is responsible for protecting the tornado against any Fire Flyers hiding within Storm Gates in Vortex Racing and incoming fireballs in Totem Battles. These roles will switch if either player fails a Vortex Race, successfully demolishes a Totem, or loses all of their Wind Warriors protecting them during Totem Battles.