Primal
This walkthrough for Primal contains enough to get you through all of the realms and complete the game. I haven't found every single tarot card in the game though, and in addition I didn't pay attention to what they were when I picked up those that I found. If you have found one that I have missed, let me know and I'll add it in (with appropriate credit of course).
The plot line and controls are explained very well by the game's introduction and manual, so I won't go into that sort of detail here. Before you start reading how to solve every little puzzle in the game, here's a quick list of the puzzle solving functions that each of the characters can perform; check this if you are stuck, it may save you from reading ahead too much. Also remember that if you aren't sure what to do, you can ask Scree for a hint (triangle button). And pay attention to the cut scenes; the story indicates what you are supposed to do. If you skip (or forget) these, you will probably find yourself wandering around aimlessly. The game lets you do this! You can backtrack to all areas if you like, but it is rarely necessary to backtrack far, usually clearly indicated, and a rift gate is often provided for speedy travel.
Puzzle Solving
Jen:
- Edge around ledges
- Squeeze through small gaps
- Fetch Scree using summoning stones
- Jump or drop long distances (Ferai form) - usually indicated with 'it's too high for me'
- Run through doors that close quickly, or energy fields with time gaps (Wraith form, hold down O to slow down time)
- Swim (Undine form)
- Kill things (any form). Some characters in Aetha drop keys, this shine -- be sure to check and pick them up.
Scree:
- Climb up *some* surfaces. Generally these are ones with largish bricks, and no border at the top or bottom. If in doubt, try it. Generally part of the puzzle is finding your way around the obstacles encountered during climbing.
- Turn to stone. I've found no use for this, except that it looks like he is squatting for a dump, so you can amuse yourself at any time :)
- Carry heavy objects. Hint: they don't have to go far, so don't carry them all the way across the level unless you want to irritate yourself.
- Drop a rope for Jen. This comes in handy in many places, especially in Volca. The game can be a bit touchy about doing this, wander around near the edge and press X a lot if you are unsure.
- Possess statues, if you have enough lodestones. Sometimes this is for combat, usually it's to pull levers, knock the statue over, or whatever.
- Sink. This is important in some water puzzles; currents mean that Jen can't pass and Scree can.
- Carry torches. Torches are important both in seeing where you are (they are often handy to light fire pots if they are around) and in solving puzzles that require fire. If you see a torch, pick it up. Sometimes they will go out (wind or water), but there are usually plenty around.
- Recover Jen, if she dies, by running to the nearest rift gate.
Both:
- Pull levers and open doors. Sometimes levers or doors need both characters to pull them, usually indicated with 'it's too heavy for me' or 'i can't do this on my own'.
- Vandalise pots, barrels, etc or open chests. Lots of useful stuff is hidden in side, and sometimes they simply block the way. Vandalise everything, not only is it satisfying it's often rewarding.
- Use keys or key items. If one character has picked up a key or item, oddly enough they both have access to it.
Combat
Combat is a frequent aspect of the game. General tips:
- Learn to block. Blocking immediately after attacking can be helpful, as that way you will take less damage if an enemy launches an attack whilst you are in the middle of one. - Learn to block on time. If a block is timed just right, you will automatically parry. This effectively gives you a free hit.
- Use combos. If you must get in close (or you just want to), don't just mash buttons. If you time the presses carefully you can queue up sequences of powerful attacks. The Screen will glow slightly when you get this a little bit correct, or a lot if your timing is perfect. The more moves you string together, the more powerful the attacks.
- Use hard attacks (hold the button in longer). These do more damage, but are slower. - Use ranged attacks where available. Wraith (the whip) and Djinn (the huge sword - switch with O) forms have ranged attacks, which can make combat very easy. Just keep ducking out of the way and hitting with a ranged attack.
- Hard attacks have more range. This can help with staying out of the way.
- Move! You can avoid attacks simply by not being there. Additionally, if you hit an enemy from the side or back more damage is done. Running around the back of the door guards (the ones with shields) can help a lot.
- If you have a helper in combat (as sometimes you do), then let them attack first. The enemy will concentrate on them, and you can hit them in the side or back for more damage (plus they won't be attacking you so you won't take any).
- Use the Wraith dodge when in Wraith form. Especially good when there are large numbers of opponents.
- Use the spin attack if you get stuck in the middle of a group.
- Make sure that you finish enemies off if required. Nothing is more annoying than having them recover 50% health. Get in close towards the end, and practise actually executing the move -- it can be tricky. Other enemies will just watch you finish someone off, so you're pretty safe doing it in a group if you can get in close enough :)
- Kill enemies that fire at you first (you may have to run around others to get to them), or fight out of their line of site. This reduces the damage that you will take during combat.
- Run away if your energy is low (square to disengage combat), and charge up from Scree.
- Taunt (triangle) never worked for me - has anyone found a use for it?
- Finally, you can avoid combat completely in a lot of cases. Just run away,using the Wraith run can be particularly helpful here. Not as fun, but easy as anything :)
Niggles
The game has a number of niggles. The most serious of these is the 'falling out of the world' bug. This is quite entertaining for a while, as you wander around peeking into all those interesting places you shouldn't be :) However, you can't get back in the world! If this happens to you, the options are:
- If it is Scree, then find a summoning stone if possible and pull him back.- If it is Jen, or there is no summoning stone, then you must reload the game or use scene select. Don't save it, you will still be stuck outside the world when you reload.
Save frequently to save yourself from becoming very annoyed when this happens to you. Other niggles are graphical glitches (disappearing textures and the like), sounds that cut off half way through, and the fact that many actions take a hugely ponderous amount of time (e.g. opening doors, draining energy). The following algorithm (Jen follows Scree or vice versa) is sometimes quite poor. It's not unusual to have to go and fetch one or other character. I've been promised that these will be addressed for the next one.
Lodestones, lodestones, lodestones. Why did I finish with 18 of these? Did I miss something?
