For those having trouble, use your skills to best effect. In early levels charge from one side of the gate to the other to clear out breakers. Use lightning to stun siege weps or take out reapers. I mostly reserved stomp for breakers since they seem to be the only ones to be one-hit by it. Traps are your friends, lay them any time you can if you are within cast range of the gate. If you pause you should be able to lay them where an enemy is about to step. Of course, fireball is just as good and a bit easier to use. The cast with the arc area of effect doesn't have much use except against breakers, but stun a group with them then follow up with another skill like charge that wouldn't normally kill them completely and maybe you'll see some results. Don't get too far from the wall unless there are siege weapons, try to set up traps at the wall before you attack them. Upgrade early, especially your weapon!
My god, some people are silly. When you are in battle, that's your normal speed. When you are outside battle, travel speeds are increased so that you don't take so long between ports. You can control the camera by pressing the up arrow. You buy a new ship by clicking the second option then the third option in a port. Mute music and effects from options menu. Then there is no music so you should be able to watch something else, even if there are still cannon sounds. If you are having trouble saving money and actually need the quest rewards then you must be a bit fail at fighting.
As far as things that aren't so good, I would suggest holding space to go to slow speed to attack trading ships if you want to, instead of slowing down too much. Other than that (and it's true I only have a caravel so far) it's a really good game.
omg, I got two more references to anime this time through. Absolutely loved it this time through, rather than just thinking it was a good challenge. Good stuff
It's easy to get the nothing to live for achievement. You just need about 3 or 4 upgrades to jump, and a lucky spawn where you can jump to the initial top of the screen in two jumps. This should only take about 2 or 3 restarts. You just jump to the top of the screen, then fall back down.
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Somebody noticed.