FAQ And Guide - Guide for Vertigo

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                        A guide to Vertigo for the Wii
                     Written by Adam King (aka Terotrous)
                      With a lot of help from PackAttack

                               Version 1.0


This FAQ is intended for personal use only.  You are free to save or print this
guide for your own use in playing the game, but it is not to be reproduced or
redistributed without the express permission of Adam King.  

This guide is best viewed using a fixed-width font, with at least 79 characters
per row.

The most up to date version of this guide may always be found at
http://www.gamefaqs.com

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Table of Contents:

You can search using the code listed before the titles to jump right to that
section.  Just press Ctrl-F and type in the code.

F-0   FAQ information
   F-1   Version History
   F-2   Preface


G-0   Game Basics
   G-1   About Vertigo
   G-2   Controls
   G-3   Xorb Customization


W-0   Career Mode Hidden Icons
   W-1   Metropolis
   W-2   Rocky Canyon
   W-3   Reaktor Town
   W-4   Ecos Orbit
   W-5   Ecos
   W-6   Wolf666
   W-7   Olympia
   W-8   Mystic


Z-0   Contact and Credits
   Z-1   Contacting Me
   Z-2   Credits
   Z-3   Closing Information


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F-0

FAQ Information:

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F-1

Version History:

1.0 - Apr 18, 2012
First draft.  93/94 icons accounted for.


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F-2

Preface:


This guide originates from a forum post about finding all of the hidden icons
in this game, which to the best of my knowledge no one has done yet.  This is
not a simple task, and despite our best efforts, PackAttack and I have not been
able to complete it.  So I have compiled our work into this guide in the hope
that someone will read it and find the missing icon.

As such, the areas of this guide other than the descriptions of where to find
the icons are fairly brief, but this game is fairly straightforward and you
shouldn't need a lot of help just to clear the levels themselves.

You can probably also use this guide for the PSP version of the game, but I
haven't played it so I can't confirm if there are any differences.


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G-0

Game Basics:

This sections goes over the basics of the game.  


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G-1

About Vertigo:

Vertigo is a ball rolling game similar to Kororinpa or Monkey Ball, except with
a science fiction atmosphere and generally more free-flowing course design.
Your goal on each stage is to roll your ball (which this game calls a "Xorb")
through the checkpoints and into the goal area without falling off the course
(or running out of time in Arcade mode).  Beyond this, you can take any route
to complete the courses that you wish.

You also have the ability to brake, immediately halting any momentum, which
allows you to take much more aggressive shortcuts than could ever be possible
in Monkey Ball or Kororinpa, and this is where the majority of the game's
replay value comes from.  The capacity to find new and faster routes in this
game is almost endless, so I won't bother documenting shortcuts here.  Once
you get a hang of the game mechanics you can do almost anything you want.



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G-2

Controls:


This game is controlled using the Wiimote alone, held in pointer formation.
There is no need for any extension controllers while playing the game.

Tilt the Wiimote to move the Xorb in that direction.  You can tilt farther to
move faster, to a certain point.

Hold down the A button to boost.  This allows you to move faster and is key to
making big jumps.

Hold down the B button to brake.  This will stop your Xorb in its tracks.

Use the Wiimote Dpad to turn the camera.  Pressing Up will allow you a bird-eye
view of your immediate location.

Press + to pause.  On menus, A is confirm and B is cancel.


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G-3

Xorb Customization:


In Career mode, you can earn upgrade points by completing levels fast enough to
earn medals.  These points can be spent to customize your Xorb's abilities.
This is a description of the abilities of your Xorb and what happens when you
increase them.


Acceleration:

This stat affects how quickly your Xorb picks up speed when not using the
boost.  If this value is very high, precision movement may become difficult.


Braking:

This stat determines the effectiveness of your brake.  When maxed out, the Xorb
can stop on a dime even after a huge jump.


Air Control:

This stat determines your ability to adjust your Xorb's forward momentum while
in the air.  If it is high, you can tilt the wiimote forward or back to extend
your jump or cut it short.

A high value will also allow you to jump much farther than you could otherwise,
and when maxed out, you can run straight into walls to make huge jumps.


Traction:

This determines how well the Xorb turns.  If low, the Xorb turns very 
sluggishly, if high it can be a bit jerky.


Max Speed:

This determines the max speed of the Xorb when not using boost.


Max Boost:

This affects how powerful your boost is.  If this is high, the boost will give
you an extreme amount of speed.


I personally recommend maxing out Brake and Air Control and leaving the other 
stats in the middle.  This will still make you more than fast enough.


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W-0

Career Mode Hidden Icons:

The main challenge of this game lies in the Career Mode.  Obtaining all gold
medals is one goal, but it is fairly straightforward and doesn't really require
a guide.  Far more difficult is finding the 94 secret icons that are hidden
throughout the levels.  Most of them are located in relatively plain sight,
so if the description is fairly vague, that probably means it's right out in
the open.  Ones that are more complex to find will have longer descriptions.


A couple important notes about collecting the icons: there is no indication of
how many icons you have found in a stage, or how many there are, so you'll just
have to keep track yourself.  And more importantly, the game will not save
unless you better your previous time on a stage.  This is not a big deal when
clearing stages for the first time, but if you go back to a previous stage and
find more icons, you must make sure to beat your best time on some level before
you quit the game.


Your reward for finding the hidden icons is special skins for your Xorb,
one is unlocked at 11, 21, 32, 42, 53, 63, 74, 84, and presumably also at 94,
though we haven't found the last icon yet.


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W-1

Metroscape:


Level 1:

- Directly in front of you at the start
- Just before the first checkpoint
- Immediately after the warp, take the thin path to the left
- Immediately after the second check point


Level 2:

- On the winding path at the start
- Immediately before the first checkpoint
- On a thin path immediately to the left of the third checkpoint


Level 3:

- By an arrow, straight in front of the start.
- Immediately before the first checkpoint, in the air.  You'll have to fly
  off the incline to the left and grab this one while airborne, which takes
  some luck.
- On the thin path after the first warp
- On the side wall of the tunnel by the end


Level 4:

- Straight ahead from the start
- In the air after the second checkpoint
- On the final path that leads to the goal


Level 5:

- Straight ahead from the start, slightly in the air over the down ramp.  Just
  build up a little speed and fly off.
- After the first checkpoint, take the ramp down to the right and go the long
  way around the catwalk in front of you
- Immediately after the second checkpoint, in the air over the hole you have
  to fall through
- In the air before the third checkpoint


Level 6:

- To the right side of the first oval-shaped platform
- In the air after the first checkpoint
- In the air above the rings after exiting the tube
- Hidden under some crates at the end of the stage


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W-2

Rocky Canyon:


Level 1:

- Straight in front of you at the start, in the air.
- Behind the final statue before the end


Level 2:

- After the first ramp upwards, it's hidden behind the second pillar on the
  right
- Hidden behind a pillar to the right on the last platform before the first
  checkpoint
- Right before the goal


Level 3:

- Immediately under the starting platform, requires you to turn around after
  dropping onto the main track
- Just after the second checkpoint, it's hidden on the far right of the tiled
  area inside a little hook.


Level 4:

- Take the path down to the right after the first checkpoint, it's behind some
  crates.
- After the warp that takes you to the big ramp down, it's hidden behind a
  piece of wood lying on the ramp.  Go slow and turn around to get it.


Level 5:

- Take the ramp down and to the right at the start, then go right at the fork.
  It's between the first two rocks you see
- Take the ramp down in front of you at the start, it's in the air over the
  third ramp down (right after the first right turn)
- Further on the path from the ramp in front of you, just before dropping down
  to the first checkpoint there will be a rickety bridge below and to your
  left.  Slow down and drop down onto it.  The icon is on the bridge.


Level 6:

- Go around the little structure in front of you at the start to find an icon
- Underneath the carpeted ramp right after the first checkpoint.


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W-3

Reaktor Town:


Level 1:

- Right from the start, you'll land on the roof of an L-shaped building.  Roll
  off the edge of the roof towards the missing corner (which will be to your
  left when you first land there) and a hidden icon will be near where you
  land.
- After the second checkpoint, go straight and fall off the edge of the pipe
  rather than turning left.  The hidden icon will be to your right, behind 
  some shipping containers


Level 2:

- Immediately after exiting the half tube at the start, turn around, the hidden
  icon is underneath the end of the tube.
- In the air above the down ramp that follows the first checkpoint.  Don't
  go too fast or you'll fly right over it.


Level 3:

- After the first checkpoint, head right.  Follow the path to the second
  checkpoint and you'll reach an area with 3 holes.  Fall into either the
  first or third hole and you'll end up in a sink-like structure, fall into
  the drain and the icon will be in the tube below.


Level 4:

- After crossing the first catwalk, you'll find yourself on a building that
  has two small ramps down to the next building.  The icon is at the base of
  the ramp to the right.


Level 5:

- Keep going from the start until you reach a plank going up, the hidden icon
  is on a red crossbar to your left.
- To the right of the warp, just barely over the edge.


Level 6:

- The moment you enter the tube at the start, turn around, it will be right
  behind you.
- In the air over the big jump that immediately precedes the first checkpoint


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W-4

Ecos Orbit:


Level 1:

- Behind some barrels on a turn just ahead of the start.
- After the first checkpoint, go straight, you'll come to a series of ramps 
  with holes in the middle.  This one is on the second ramp to the right.


Level 2:

- Immediately to the right after the tunnel at the beginning, before going
  down the ramp.


Level 3:

- In the air to the right of the arrow just after the second checkpoint


Level 4:

- At the very start, go around the ring to the right
- After going over the jump and through the wall, turn right.  Rather than 
  going left and though the first checkpoint, instead climb the wall in front
  of you.  There will be a little platform with a hole, fall in there to find
  a hidden icon inside a tube.
- Right after the second checkpoint between some bumpers


Level 5:

- Right beneath the start platform, turn around after falling off of it.
- On the right lip of the half-pipe right before the first checkpoint


Level 6:

- On the left side of the initial ramp downwards
- Immediately in front of the first checkpoint
- After the second checkpoint are some ringed structures.  Go around the first
  to the right, then there will be a plank on the right hand side.  Drop onto
  it and collect the hidden icon.


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W-5

Ecos:


Level 1:

- Go straight ahead from the start, and keep going until you reach the end of
  the hedges.  An icon is there.
- Just after the first area with the hedges, you'll reach a round are with two
  large stumps coming out of the ground.  The icon is to the right of the
  first one.


Level 2:

- Right behind where you start, near a log
- From the start, head left down the ramp, then turn right.  You should see a
  pile of lumber below you.  Roll slowly onto the top piece, then roll along
  it until the first piece ends.  There should be a little gap between the
  two pieces of lumber to your left, drop down and collect the hidden icon 
  between the logs.


Level 3:

- After the first checkpoint, you'll come to a hut with a warp inside.  Go
  around the hut to the left for this item.
- On the right side of the little bowl that contains the second checkpoint.


Level 4:

- To the left and below of the starting platform is a pale grey wooden path,
  fall onto it and follow it to the end for a hidden icon.
- The tube at the start splits you onto one of two different paths depending
  on which side you fall down.  Take the one on the right.  Just past the
  first checkpoint is a little building with the hidden icon inside, on the
  left.


Level 5:

- Halfway through the level is a big loop.  Halfway up the near side is a
  hidden icon.  Don't roll too fast or you'll just fly right off.


Level 6:

- Shortly after the first checkpoint you'll see a hole with a flag nearby,
  fall into it and there will be an icon where you land.
- From the first checkpoint again, skip the hole this time, and you'll reach
  a windmill.  The icon is inside.


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W-6

Wolf666:


Level 1:

- After crossing the first bridge, stick to the left edge of the next area.
  There will be a hidden icon in a little depression near the cliff.
- Just before the first checkpoint, turn left instead of right into a little
  pentagon-shaped enclosure.
- Also just before the first checkpoint, after going down the stairs before
  the checkpoint go around and to the left for another hidden icon.


Level 2:

- Immediately behind you at the starting point.
- Right ahead of the starting point is a ramp that coils downwards.  There's
  a hidden icon in midair that you can reach by falling off the top part
  towards the lower level.


Level 3:

- Past the first checkpoint, the path splits.  Take the right path to find
  an icon on a nearby pedestal.


Level 4:

- Right behind you at the start
- Instead of turning right to reach the first checkpoint, keep going to fall
  into a huge bowl.  The hidden icon is at the bottom of the bowl.


Level 5:

- Head straight from the start and turn right when the path splits.  You'll 
  find a dead end with a hidden icon at the end.
- Prior to the first checkpoint, you'll take a U-shaped brown ramp down onto a
  brick-like block, there will be a gutter to your left immediately after you
  get off of it.  The hidden icon is inside the gutter.


Level 6:

- After the first checkpoint, the path splits 3 ways, a left path, a right
  path, and a hole.  Take the path on the left.  You'll make your way down
  the side of a cliff, when you finally reach the first checkpoint, there's a
  hidden icon right behind it.
- This time, take the path on the right and there will be an icon right at the
  end of it.
- This time, fall in the hole instead.  There's an icon floating in midair
  inside the hole, which may take some luck to get.


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W-7

Olympia:


Level 1:

- Near the start, after you go up the half loop and land onto the the next
  platform, you'll go over a little ramp that has the same texture as the loop.
  The icon is behind it, so turn around when you land.


Level 2:

- Near the beginning, after you roll up the side of the wall, there's one
  where it flattens out again.


Level 3:

- After rolling up the first ramp, turn right, but instead of going up the next
  ramp go around it to the left for a hidden icon.
- You'll soon reach a long bend that you can traverse at three different
  heights.  The highest one (on the left) has an icon on the top.
- Head straight past the first checkpoint to find a hidden icon hidden to the
  left behind some ruins.


Level 4:

- Near the start, turn left to fall onto a platform that leads you onto a roof.
  Keep following it to find a hidden icon.
- Past the two half loops, the path splits.  Head right for an icon.


Level 5:

- Proceeding from the start, you'll quickly end up on the wall behind the
  starting area There's a hidden icon to your left in a little dead end before
  the ramp that goes upwards.
- After the first checkpoint you'll go down a huge ramp and then up a massive
  wall.  The icon is along the wall, to the left.


Level 6:

- Behind the last box at the base of the starting ramp


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W-8

Mystic:


Level 1:

- After rolling off the UFOs near the start, you'll come to a long flat area
  with some dips along the edges.  The hidden icon is on the edge opposite
  where you landed on the platform.


Level 2:

No icons have been found on this level.


Level 3:

No icons have been found on this level.


Level 4:

No icons have been found on this level.


Level 5:

No icons have been found on this level.


Level 6:

No icons have been found on this level.


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Z-0

Contact and Credits:


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Z-1

Contacting Me:

You can reach me via email at  terotrous at yahoo dot com.
Include Vertigo in the topic title so I know it isn't spam.  If you find out 
anything I add to the guide, you'll be appropriately credited.


Of course, the main thing I'd like to hear about is if anyone knows the
location of that final icon.


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Z-2

Special Thanks:


Icon Games / Playlogic - For making this game.

Ascgen - http://ascgendotnet.jmsoftware.co.uk/
         This program helped me create that ascii logo I used here.


PackAttack - For helping to find a ton of the hidden icons and motivating me to
             try to find them all.

That's it for now.  If you submit information, your name could be here!


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Z-3

Closing Information:


Thanks for reading this guide.  I hope you found it helpful.  Tero out.


Vertigo Guide copyright Adam King, 2012.  Do not reproduce or redistribute.

Vertigo the game, and all related copyrights and trademarks are held by their
original owners.  This guide is not intended to infringe upon said copyrights
in any way.