_____ _ ______ _
/ _ /(_) _ __ _ __ ___ _ __ /_ _/(_) _ __ ___
\// / | || '_ \ | '_ \ / _ \| '__| | | | || '_ \ / __|
/ //\| || |_) || |_) || __/| | | | | || |_) |\__ \
/____/|_|| .__/ | .__/ \___||_| |_| |_|| .__/ |___/
|_| |_| |_|
===============================================================================
Zipper (Playdate)
https://play.date/games/zipper/
Version 1.2 - Last Revised on Jan 2, 2023
By Kyle (https://xoxo.zone/@kylerimkus)
===============================================================================
Legal Disclaimer
This document is not copyrighted in any way, and may be reproduced or
retransmitted in any form without advance permission from the author. It may
be altered, edited, sold, given as an incentive to buy, published, etc.
without prior consent from the author. If the above terms are broken, no
legal action will take place on account of Copyright Infringement. However,
you might one day walk into a room and be face-to-face with a samurai dressed
in all black. Do not, under any circumstances, make any sudden movements. This
document is unofficial and is in no way affiliated with any company.
===============================================================================
Revision History
----------------
v1.0 (5/23/2022): Initial Release.
v1.1 (5/24/2022): Added enemy aliases. Thanks to @gingerbeardman for the help.
v1.2 (1/2/2023): Converted map to make north point up. Thanks to @gruber.
===============================================================================
Table of Contents
I. About the Game
II. Gameplay
III. Enemies
IV. Items
V. Game Map
VI. Strategy
VII. Castle Map
VIII. Information
===============================================================================
I. About the Game
===============================================================================
Game Description
----------------
Zipper is a tactics puzzle that recalls 8-bit isometric classics on the ZX
Spectrum and MSX. A ridiculously swift swordsman seeks revenge on a castle
full of enemies.
Game Information
----------------
Title: Zipper
Platform: Playdate
Genre: Turn-based dungeon crawler game
Players: One
Introduction
------------
Zipper begins with no explanation, and the controls and purpose of the game
must be deduced as you explore the map. This walkthrough is naturally full of
spoilers, and may reduce the enjoyment of surprise as you play the game. The
information is presented in the order you might discover it in the game, so you
can avoid major spoilers while still finding tips about how to play the game
and progress through earlier obstacles. Do not read all the way through if
you'd rather leave some elements of the game as a surprise.
===============================================================================
II. Gameplay
===============================================================================
Moves in Zipper are turn-based. You can move the character any number of spaces
within the room in one single direction. Once you complete the move, enemies
are able to complete the same number of moves, so be careful how many spaces
you move at once. Attacking an enemy counts as an extra move, so other enemies
will be able to move an extra space after you've attacked.
The goal of the game is to invade the castle. You don't have to kill all
enemies that you encounter, but you can rarely make it to a different exit
without them catching up to you.
Your score is decreased by one point for every move you make that does not kill
an enemy. Try to get to the end of the game having made the fewest moves.
If you are killed, you start from the beginning.
Controls
--------
D-pad: Prepare to move the character in a particular direction
A: Complete the move
B: Cancel the move
Crank: Show the results of the move before completing it
===============================================================================
III. Enemies
===============================================================================
There are two main attacks that will defeat an enemy: attacking from the front
by landing on a tile directly in front of the enemy, moving towards them. And
two, a passing attack, where you pass by an enemy while completing a move. Note
that you must move at least one tile past the enemy, if you land on a tile
right next to an enemy, you will not defeat them, and they will most likely
kill you with their next move.
Each enemy has different behaviors, and must be attacked or defended against
differently. You can kill multiple enemies in one passing move, so look for
opportunities to clear an entire room with one movement. If two enemies are
right next to each other, killing one with a passing attack will spray blood
in the eyes of the other, temporarily stunning them and preventing them from
chasing you down with their next movement.
Note that the crank will show you what would happen if you executed a move.
When it detects that an enemy would be able to attack you, it makes a sound.
However, sometimes it can be wrong, especially if you make a passing attack
that would spray blood in another enemy's face.
Swordsman
---------
Also known as 'henchmen', 'simple swordsman', or 'sellswords'.
Basic swordsmen have little defense. They can be defeated by attacking straight
on, or by passing by them. If you stop your movement next to them, they will
attack. You must move at least one space past them.
If there are multiple swordsmen in a room, try attacking them one-by-one,
making sure that your movement doesn't give another swordsman enough moves to
catch up to you.
Pikeman
---------
Also known as 'pole swords' or 'pole-wielding cowards'.
Pikemen can attack from two spaces away. They also cannot be attacked straight
on. They do require an extra move to turn, so it is possible to get behind them
and attack from the side before they have a chance to turn and face you with
their pike. When there are multiple pikemen in a room, try to do a passing
attack that sprays blood in the eyes of the other pikemen, temporarily stunning
them. That will let you complete the passing attack without the other pikemen
catching up that turn.
Ninja
---------
Also known as 'assassins'.
Ninjas throw stars from any distance, so you can't let them get inline with
you. They do require a move to turn, so you can move past their row or column
and they must spend two moves to turn all the way around.
They are susceptible to front-on attacks, but it is rare since they probably
used their throwing stars the previous turn if you are in line with them. They
block passing attacks, but they must jump back to do so. Then they must use a
turn to stand back up. Trapping them against a wall is the best way to defeat
them, and they can be backed against a wall with multiple moves passing back
and forth in front of them, and stepping closer with each turn that they spend
standing back up.
When there are two ninjas, the trick is to get them lined up, and passing
attacks can get them to both dodge at the same time, and you can back them up
just like a single ninja, but each passing attack must pass across both of
them.
Double Swordsman
----------
Also known as 'bodyguards' or 'elite guards'.
Double Swordsmen block straight-on attacks. They also can block passing attacks
if they are facing the direction of your pass. But blocking your attack means
they can't move or turn, so two passing attacks in a row, one just past them
and the next 90 degrees to the first, should defeat them.
Demon
----------
Demons do not attack. They can be easily killed, but they come back to life if
you move without killing one.
The King
----------
He's like a normal swordsman, but talks more.
===============================================================================
IV. Items
===============================================================================
Information box �
---------------
There are information boxes where a character will tell you which direction the
key to the castle can be found. These are located in A7, C8, E8, I2 and I7.
These recharge your remaining move counter.
Key 🗝
-------
In a chest in either B5, C1, C8, D6, F10, I4, I7, or J8.
Castle Doors 🔒
---------------
The north exit of D7 and the east exit of D8 are locked gates to the castle.
===============================================================================
V. Game Map
===============================================================================
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░┌─────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
10 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░├─ ─┤░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
9 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────┐ ┌─┬─────┼─ ─┼─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐░
8 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│? │ ║ ? │░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │ ║ │░
░┌─────┬─────┼ ┼═══┤ ├─────┼─ ─┼─ ─┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─ ─┤░
7 ░│? ┌───┴─┘░░░░░│ │ │░░░░░│? │░░░░░│ │░
░│ │░░░░░░░║░░░│ │ │░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │░
░├─ ─┼─────┼ │ ┼─────┬─ ───┼─ ─┼─ ─┤░░░░░├─ ─┤░░░░░├─ ─┤░
6 ░│ ___| │ │ │░░░░░│ │░░░┌─┘ │░
░│ │ │ │░░░░░│ │░░┌┘ │░
░├─ ─┼┬─ ─┼─────┼─ ─┴─ ─┼─────┼─ ─┤░░░░░├─ ─┼──┘ ┼─────┘░
5 ░│ ││ └┐░░░░└──┐ │░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░
░│ ││ │░░░░░░░└──┐ │░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░
░├─ ─┤└─────┘░░░░░░░░░░├─ ─┤░░░░░├─ ─┼─────┼─ ─┼─ ─┤░░░░░░░
4 ░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │ │ │░░░░░░░
░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │ │ │░░░░░░░
░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░├─ ─┼─ ─┼─────┼─ ─┤░░░░░░░
3 ░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │ │░░░░░░░
░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░│ │ │░░░░░░░
░├─ ─┼─────┬───────────┼─ ─┼─────┼─ ─┼─ ─┴─ ─┼─────┘░░░░░░░
2 ░│ │ ? │░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░│ │ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░└─────┴─────┼─ ─┬─────┴─────┴─────┼─ ─┼───────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░
1 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ P1 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░└─────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░└─────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
A B C D E F G H I J K
Individual Rooms
----------------
┼─ ─┼
│ C1 │ Enemies: 1 Ninja
│ │
└──────┘
┼─ ─┼
│ G1 │ Enemies: None
│ │ Special features: The starting area
└──────┘
├─ ─┼
│ A2 Enemies: 1 Ninja
│
└──────┼
┼──────┬
B2 Enemies: 1-4 Swordsmen or Pikemen
┴──────┼
┬──────┼
C2 Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen
┼─ ─┬┴
┼─ ─┼
D-E2 Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen
┴──────┴
┼──────┼
F2 Enemies: 1-2 Swordsmen or Pikemen
┴──────┼
┼─ ─┼
G2 │ Enemies: 1 Swordsman
│ Special features: This is the first enemy you encounter, and he
┼─ ─┼ is sometimes called a henchman.
┼ ┴ ┼
│ ? │ Enemies: 3 Swordsmen or Double Swordsmen
│ H-I2 │ Items: An information box along the north wall
┼──────┘
├─ ─┤
│ A3 │ Enemies: 2-4 Swordsmen or Pikemen
│ │
├─ ─┼
├─ ─┤
│ E3 │ Enemies: 2-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen
│ │
├─ ─┼
├─ ─┼
│ G3 │ Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or 1 Pikeman
│ │
┼─ ─┼
┼─ ─┼
│ H3 Enemies: 2 Swordsmen or 1-2 Pikemen
│
┼─ ─┼
┼──────┼
I3 Enemies: 2-3 Swordsmen or 2 Pikemen
┼─ ─┼
┼─ ─┤
J3 │ Enemies: 2-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen
│
┼──────┘
├─ ─┼
│ G4 Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or 1 Pikeman
│
├─ ─┼
┼──────┼
H4 │ Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or 1 Pikeman
│
┼─ ─┼
┼─ ─┼
│ I4 │ Enemies: 1 Ninja
│ │ Items: Possible key chest
┼──────┼
┼─ ─┤
│ J4 │ Enemies: 2-3 Swordsmen or Pikeman + a Double Swordsman, or
│ │ 2-3 Double Swordsmen
┼─ ─┤
├─ ─┼
│ A5 │ Enemies: 5 Swordsmen
│ │
├─ ─┤
┬─ ─┼─
│ B5 └┐ Enemies: 1 Ninja + 1 Pikeman
│ │ Items: Possible key chest
└──────┘
┼ ┴ ┼
└─┐D-E5│ Enemies: 2-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen
░░└─┐ │ Special features: Two north exits
░░░░├ ┤
┼─ ─┤
│ G5 │ Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen
│ │
├─ ─┼
├─ ─┼
│ I5 Enemies: 4 Swordsmen or 1 Double Swordsman
│
┼─ ─┼
┼───┘ ┼
J5 │ Enemies: 4 Swordsmen or 1-2 Double Swordsman
│
┼─ ─┤
├─ ─┼
│ A6 Enemies: 5 Swordsmen or 1-3 Double Swordsman or 2-4 Pikemen
│
├─ ─┼
┼──────┼
B6 _ Enemies: 3 Double Swordsmen
Special features: Two west exits, both leading to C6
┼┬─ ─┼
┼ │ ┼
____| Enemies: None
C6 Special features: Two north exits, both leading to C7, and two east
┼──────┼ exits, both leading to B6
┼──────┬
D6 │ Enemies: 2 Ninja
│
┼─ ─┴
┬─ ────┼
│ E6 Enemies: 1 Double Swordsman
│ Special features: A secret exit to the north. You can move around a
┴─ ─┼ post and go off the normal map. You come to a special area with an
information box that gives you unhelpful advice.
┼─ ─┼
F6 │ Enemies: Enemies: 2 Swordsmen or 2 Pikemen
│
┼──────┼
┼─ ─┤
│ G6 │ Enemies: 4 Pikemen
│ │ Strategy: Sometimes looking into the future doesn't warn you
┼─ ─┤
├─ ─┤
│ I6 │ Enemies: 4 Pikemen
│ │
├─ ─┼
├─ ─┤
┘ K6 │ Enemies: 3-4 Pikemen or 2 Blocking Swordsmen
│
┼──────┘
┌──────┬
│? A7 Enemies: 1-2 Swordsmen + 1 Ninja
│ Items: An information box
├─ ─┼
┬──────┼
B7 Enemies: 3 Pikemen or 2 Ninja
┼──────┼
┼ ┼
C7 ┌ Enemies: 3 Pikemen or 2-3 Blocking Swordsmen
│ Special Features: Two south exits to C6
┼ │ ┼
┼════┤ ├
┌────┴─┘ Enemies: 1 Blocking Swordsman
│░░D7░░░ Special Features: A castle entrance door. Key required
┼──────┬
┼─ ─┼
│ F7 │ Enemies: 2 Swordsmen or 2 Pikemen
│ │
┼─ ─┼
┼─ ─┼
│ G7 │ Enemies: 1-3 Swordsmen or Pikemen or Blocking Swordsmen
│ │
┼─ ─┤
┼──────┼
│? I7 │ Enemies: 1 Ninja
│ │ Special Features: An information box
├─ ─┤
┼─ ─┤
│ K7 │ Enemies: 3 Pikemen
│ │
├─ ─┤
┌──────┐
│? C8 │ Enemies: 1 Ninja + 2 Blocking Swordsmen
│ │ Special Features: An information box
┼ ┼
┌──────┬
║ D8 Enemies: None
║ Special Features: A castle entrance door. Key required
├──────┼
┬──────┼
? E8 Enemies: 2 Blocking Swordsmen
Special Features: An information box
├──────┼
┼─ ─┼
F8 Enemies: 2 Swordsmen or 1-2 Blocking Swordsmen
┼─ ─┼
┼──────┬
G8 Enemies: 2-4 Pikemen or 1-2 Blocking Swordsmen
┼─ ─┼
┬──────┬
H8 Enemies: 1 Blocking Swordsmen + 1 Ninja
┼──────┼
┬──────┬
I8 Enemies: 2 Swordsmen
┼──────┼
┬──────┬
J8 Enemies: 3 Swordsmen
┼──────┼
┬──────┐
K8 │ Enemies: 1 Ninja + 4 Swordsmen
│ Special Features: A possible key chest
┼─ ─┤
├─ ─┤
│ F9 │ Enemies: 4 Pikemen or 2 Blocking Swordsmen
│ │
┼─ ─┼
┌──────┐
│ F10 │ Enemies: 2 Blocking Swordsmen + 1 Ninja
│ │
├─ ─┤
===============================================================================
VI. Strategy
===============================================================================
Strategy
--------
Spoiler Alert: You must find the castle key that has randomly spawned in one of
eight locations. To help finding the key, there are a number of information
boxes that will tell you which direction the key is located. Once you have the
key, you can enter the castle through one of two doors. You then proceed
through the castle until you encounter the king. Do that without dying, and you
win. Your score is based on the number of moves it took you to get there.
===============================================================================
VII. Castle Map
===============================================================================
You aren't going to get lost in this castle.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐░░
░░ │░░
░░└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
Room 1
You enter the castle to a room with four columns
Enemies: 3 Pikemen or 2 Swordsmen
Room 2
Enemies: 4 Double Swordsmen
Strategy: Isolate them, pick off the closest first. Plan your attack moves so
you are moving from the inside of the crowd out, so the remaining enemies are
left behind you and can't catch up to you with their response.
Room 3
2 Demons
Strategy: All demons must be defeated for the next exit to open. Remember that
demons come back to life if you move without killing one, so time your
movements so your last kill leaves you on a row that leads to the exit.
Room 4
Enemies: 3 Demons
Room 5
Enemies: 4 Demons
Room 6
Enemies: 4 Swordsmen, but they move while you are planning moves, not after.
You can draw them to you and complete your attack, but be careful because if
you draw them all the way to you, they can attack before you execute your move.
Room 7
Enemies: The King
Room 8
A walkway
Room 9
A gate overlooking water. You get transported back to the beginning and
the game starts over.
===============================================================================
VIII. Information
===============================================================================
Contact Information
-------------------
Have any comments, questions, suggestions, complaints, contributions, praise,
constructive criticism, or anything else about this FAQ (or any of my others?)
Please contact me via one of the following, and I'll get back to you as soon
as I can. All questions asked that have already been answered in the guide
will be ignored:
Mastodon: @kylerimkus@xoxo.zone
===============================================================================
The latest version of this document can always be found at:
https://kylerimk.us/zipper
-EOF-