» Press START on the title screen and the following options pop up:

Game Start - Begin a new game and choose the order of the first three stages (Jungle, Flame, and Ocean)
Ranking - View high scores - upon starting the game, they're prefilled with the name "Styx"
Game Setting - Choose difficulty, player stock, and revert to default
Button Setting - Configure controller and toggle Dual Shock vibration
Sound Setting - Select Stereo/Mono and adjust BGM and SE volume levels
Save/Load - Store or Restore data to memory card

» The default controller settings are as follows:

Circle: Over Weapon
Cross: Shot
Triangle: Speed Up
Square: Weapon Up
L1-Trigger: Speed Up
L2-Trigger: Speed Down
R1-Trigger: Weapon Up
R2-Trigger: Weapon Down

Either the d-pad or analog thumbstick may be used to control the fighter

» The first three bosses in the game are:

• First level end boss: Gargoyle Perfect - a fire breathing monstrosity that's preceded by a junior Gargoyle
• Second level end boss: Flame Maiden - a horned insect with wings who jumps around to make fireballs rise up from the lava
• Third level end boss: Cherub Purple - a massive starfish that creates a vortes that makes the ship tough to control

» Five weapon systems are available for the choosing at any time and may be toggled on the fly so that the Hunter, Wave, Twin Shot, etc may be used to suit the occasion.

» When enemy forces are destroyed, they'll release slivers of energy that are automatically collected by the player's ship if they're close enough. The energy fills up the Over-Weapon gauge which is a powerful offensive blast.