STEP BY STEP

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Song Info

STEP BY STEP		Hi-Tech
Tanchiky		BPM: 174
Easy	Normal	Hard	Overload
3.0	6.0	9.5	10.5
Rate: Normal	Verses: 3	Boss: Remora	Length: 3:42

Base Pattern by Valex
Character by fruitsrabbit and Yotty Kim

Story Context

Stornel and the main character intend to get into the basement portal in the Antiphon headquarters. They split up, and while the main character walks past the labs, they notice something familiar in one. They fail to enter the passcode, leading Remora to confront them.

Gimmicks

At the start and end of the song, bullets spawn in randomly at the bottom of the field. There are also sets of disappearing large bullets that alternate.

Strategies

Intro/Outro is infamously random, probably the most luck-based attack in the whole game, as it is a minefield with occasionally Remora spitting red bullets. On Easy, Normal, and Hard, bullets spawn anywhere on the 2 bottom third. They either vanish if they're big, or remain on screen and stack if they're small. On Overload, those micro-bullets home at you. Big bullets pop up alongside small bullets within a close radius. The homing bullets can make the Overload difficulty especially challenging.

Below Overload, you'll simply have to camp and do some clean up in your surroundings at times. Harmonic is super effective there, but Crash Style can be a solid alternative.

If you don't feel confident in dodging the patterns, avoid entering Overflow as long as possible, especially on Hard. On Overload, always be on the move, and do not hesitate using the left and right edges to take a break a few beats. Using Harmonic, there is no shame in only shielding as well if scoring is not on the menu. The last third of V1 is much simpler to read and dodge on the other hand, you can chill out a bit.

For V2's first attack, don't stay at the bottom, you'll get crushed by the giant balls if you do since they converge there. Nothing else but basic horizontal dodging here in a narrow oval-shaped area.

The second attack involves red walls closing in and out, those cannot be absorbed at all. Remora shoots rings of average-sized bullets coupled with stray smaller red and blue ones that bounce off the sides. Those red bullets only bounce on the sides while about 1/3 of the blue ones also bounce off the bottom, watch your back. Eventually one or two pairs of blue lasers are summoned, hold your shield.

In the third attack, the unusual movement pattern can be hard to keep track of. Keeping your shield would be wise. Try to imagine a spot between the first and second thirds of the ENEMY bar for the first gap. From there, travel one third of the bar to the left for the next gap(s). Then, go back to the initial spot and repeat the process, the blue bullets are a distraction. Another thing to note is that the pattern isn't exactly static, the whole set of trajectories is slowly directed towards the right, you'll have to adjust to it.

A style that can absorb red bullets is the best option, not only here but also for the upcoming first attack of V3. Without this, you'll either find yourself try to phase through the red kunai waves in those oval-shaped areas or engage in wide movements to avoid both giant balls and waves, in which case you'll be hoping to not get walled down the line. Past that is the second attack of V1 again, another break before the Outro. If using Crash style, hopefully you've built enough Combo to Crash your way through. Near the end, Remora shoots two rings of red micro bullets, and again when the song ends, risk of losing an SS-Rank there is very high. Although the bullet density of the Outro is reduced past the first rings, keep your eyes peeled.

Chart Comparison

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x652yS_bD5A}}

Flavor Text

Beyond: Apparently, the middle head can talk! Do you think I could get it to say Edward?

Arietta: Hope you're not too rusty. Lots of attacks with strange trajectories here. Listen for cues and it'll be simple enough.

Stornel: Absorb material is plentiful here... recommend counter or Combo-greedy equipment types.

Trivia

• In Version 2.4, STEP BY STEP Hard was re-rated from 9.0 to 9.5 and Overload from 10.0 to 10.5.

Official Sound

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