Community teamwork solves Shadow Complex speed run mystery

I played Hardcore my first go around and got to level 31. Second time I played on Insane and got to 41 (gained ten levels, not the entire 41). I was surprised I gained almost two full levels when playing on Normal for a 90 minute minimalist run too.

For starters, definitely play on Hardcore and get as many items as possible and explore every part of the map as possible memorizing key item locations for playing on Insane (location maps take away the fun!). Go crazy with melee attacks, especially in pools of enemies, stopping when you are putting yourself at too much risk. If you have the golden guns, play with the last assault rifle as it is nearly impossible to get headshots with the rail gun.

I ended up whittling away at the last few levels playing the first half of the game repeatedly on insane mode, gathering all items and exploring the map as best as possible. Use the Rail Gun for this as it deals a lot of damage to the bosses. Stopping right before the factory, I'd gain a level and a half each time before getting to 50. Only takes about 20 minutes each go. That's the best I've got anyways.

In an interview during this week's upcoming Xbox 360 Fancast, Chair's Don Mustard told us to crank up the difficulty and go for headshots. That builds your experience meter the most.

Thank you, and thank you.
Also, I just beat it 5 minutes ago, so I'm going to try your ideas tommorow.

If you start on Hardcore, your map still has question marks and item locations on it if you need them, but then you can switch to Insane and they stay on the map. If you start on Insane (or die and load on Insane), the map doesn't have question marks. I used that trick to boost my experience, but still keep track of what I needed on my first run through of it.

And the exp boost from higher difficulties is really significant. If you're struggling for health, you can also drop down to normal before picking up a bunch of health boxes and they recharge you quite a bit more than they do on Insane.

nvn I triggered the cutscene in the gold gun room. Now I gotta figure out how to get the foam.

I have a missile door. What gives?

I'm not positive, but I think you have to do this really fast. Just saying this cause in the article it says "If a certain number of tasks are completed within a short time frame, gamers are able to bypass..."

So I figure you have to do it fairly quickly in order to arrive at that spot to a opened door.

I don't own Shadow Complex, so not exactly sure about this, haha.

No not that door. Beat it though. I failed to activate the double spider tank fight that lowers the bridge.

Go back and start a new game and don't skip through that part. The whole game is actually worth playing. This is more for people trying to accomplish speed runs or have already played through the game once.

Stone, I have finished the game. I mean im in a later area with out the double jump, powerups, or hookshot. I dont know where to go to get out with my current abilities.

I'm pretty sure you need to use your foam gun in creative ways since you won't be able to rely on your double jump, hookshot, etc.

yeah, you build towers and bridges out of the foam to make up for the lack of multi-jump and the grapple.