Double Edged

Double Edged is an adventure-multiplayer game released on June 22, 2009. Both players are Spartan soldiers who are invading enemy territory.

Controls
Player 1

up down right left Arrow keys - Move

< (comma key) - Attack

> (period key) - Jump

Player 2

A W S D - Move

G - Attack

H - Jump

Levels
The levels in Double Edged are set in a certain pattern. The pattern goes by a normal level, followed by a half boss level, followed by another normal level, followed by a hard boss level. The pattern continually repeats throughout the game.

Stage 1-1
In the first level your first enemies will be the soldiers of the enemy army. Hitting them with your sword, or one sword combo, will eventually defeat an enemy soldier. After a while you will find your first Treasure Chest containing enemy spoils. Pick it up by using the attack key and throw it to collect the spoils hidden inside. Continue onward and a group of enemy soldiers, including an commander will appear. The enemy commander is stronger than the usual soliders, and will become unconcious after being attacked, instead of dying. Pressing on, you will eventually come across some boars. Hitting one with your sword will stun them, allowing you to pick one up and, oddly, throw it. Soon, enemies will come at you from both sides. More boars will be encountered as well as a chicken, which can be weilded as a weapon. Soon a enemy commander along with a gladiator will appear. Gladiators have more stamina than soldiers and are best dealt with these two methods: The first is jump and hit them while in midair. The second is hit them from behind. Continuing on, you will soon come to three saytars at the end of the level. Hitting them gives you coins or (if at low health) a turkey or drumstick.

Stage 1-2
In this level go forward and a soldier with Axe will appear. Jump and hit him and it is suggested to take his Axe for it is a powerful weapon. Continue onward and four soldiers will appear. Defeat them and keep going. Next are two enemy commanders and one is holding a Axe. Go forward four soldiers and a chest will be encountered. Once the soldiers are defeated pick up the chest and throw it forward (the reason for this is because if you throw it behind you some coins will go into the other stage and you will not be able to collect them). Up ahead are two enemy commanders and one gladiator. Next are some soldiers that come out from both ends of the screen. Up ahead more soldiers attack in the same way. Keep going and some soldiers,a chest,and a gold statue resembling a soldier appear. Pick up the gold soldier and continue onward. More gold statues appear. Some soldiers will attack throw the statue at one of them. Once they are defeated pick up another statue of a chicken or soldier. Up ahead are soldiers and many statues of chickens, boars, soldiers, and satyrs (Have a favorite?). Don't feel shy, instead pick one up and get ready to throw it!) The boss of this stage is Midas. Look below for how to defeat him.

Stage 1-3
In this level the player will first find a few stones. Pick one up and move forward. Soon a enemy commander and two soldiers will appear. Throw the rock at whoever and defeat them. Pick up the Axe and move forward. Up ahead are three enemy soldiers and a spiked pit. Next are two pits and three soldiers as well as a chest. If you continue further you will find five pits. Move around them. Next, there are three soldiers, a gladiator, and another one with a helmet. Continue on ahead and you'll meet up with many pits, soldiers, tigers(Which are very powerful), stones, enemy commanders, and a few gladiators. At the end of the level are three saytars.

Stage 1-4
Go forward and there will be a enemy commander, soldiers and stones. Proceed forward and there will be four enemy commanders at once. Continue and there will be a gladiator and many chickens. To defeat them easily, jump and attack in midair. When the gladiator gets stunned keep jumping till he comes back then hit him. Continue onward. Next are some boars and chickens as well as three gladiator. Once again jump and hit or hit them from behind. continue onward and soon you'll encounter enemy soldiers and two chests. Next are more soldiers and an enemy commander telling you about the boss Talos. If there is need to find out how to defeat him look below in the bosses section of this article.

Stage 2-1
In this level move forward and there will be two tigers. Take one and soon enemy soldiers will appear. Go through the level on the tiger defeating any enemies and make sure to take their weapons. Soon you'll find the lizard men and some more soldiers. Defeat them and It's best to stick with a Axe instesad of a trident. Continue onward and soon you'll encounter a red lizardmen. Continue and soon you'll encounter more enemies,chest,and four saytars at the end of the level.

Stage 2-2
Your main enemies will now be lizardmen, both red and green, and a small number of soldiers. Soon you'll encounter soldiers with the new powerful weapon, the hammer. Pick it up and smash enemies to pieces. Beware! The boss of this level is The Minotaur. Look below in the boss section for how to defeat him.

Stage 2-3
In this level both lizardmen and soldiers are your main enemies. Go forward and there will be soldiers and some lizardmen. A new weapon is the bow. Even if the player jumps the bows arrow will still hit you. One soldier holds a hammer choose either to take the bow or the arrow and proceed forward. Soon a chest will be found. Continue onward but be careful for there are soldiers with hammers that come out from front and back. Another chest can be found after they are defeated. Up ahead is a soldier and after him two come out with arrows from behind.Up ahead lizardmen will attack. Going father there is a pile of rocks. Pick on up and get ready to throw it for many red lizardmen appear. After that will be seven saytars.

Stage 2-4
In this level go forward and you will meet up with a multitude of chickens? Why all the chickens you wonder? Now a greater enemy has appeared and it is called the Priest of Hecate. He can turn your spartan into a chicken for a short amount of time as well as warp around the place. If you don't desire to become a chicken jump and hit him. Also a enemy commander is with him. Go forward. Up ahead are some soldiers,one lizard man,and plenty of chickens. Go farther and there will be a chest right before you fight two Priests of Hecate. If you have picked up a hammer from one of the soldiers keep in mind that it is not a good weapon for fighting the priests. Go forward. Again more soldiers and one is holding a bow. Take the bow for it is a very good weapon for defeating the priest and soon one will be encountered. After that more soldiers and another priest. Then more soldiers, chickens, and three gladiators wich can be knocked out by the bow. Continue onward. More soldiers and a multitude of gladiators will attack you. The boss of this stage is Hercules look below for how to defeat him.

Stage 3-1
In this level go forward and a enemy commander will be encountered. He is holding the lion hammer the most powerful hammer encountered but only in this level. A soldier will say that the hammer is cursed and will awake the dead. As he said skeletons are your main enemy. go through the level encountering skeleton and defeating them. At the end of the are four saytars.

Stage 3-2
In this level skeletons are your main enemy. Defeat skeletons and a priest will be encountered. Some stones are near. Pick one up and go forward. After destroying many skeletons spike pits will be encountered. A spike will come out of one pit then after a few seconds it will retract and another will come out. Many are ahead watch there pattern then walk. You will be attacked by skeletons when spikes are still around. Soon a stone statue will appear? Pick it up or the rock and go forward. If you are near the end of the level a skeleton will announce the name of the boss of this level. Also a strange looking cat like figure with a bow appear in the game what could it be. The boss of this level is none other then Medusa.

Stage 3-3
The first enemies that are found are two priests and several skeletons. Ami for the priest for they can bring the skeletons back to life. Once all skeletons and and priest are defeat move forward with caution for this is the second last level. Next is one priest and many skeletons. After that is four enemy commanders armed with bow,hammer, Axe,and sword. After that are many skeletons,soldiers,and gladiators. Soon tigers will be encountered. Take them and your task will b much easier. Proceed forward. At the end of the level are dour saytars.

Stage 3-4
This is the very last level. A large number of skeletons will greet you for making it to the last level. After chopping the welcome party to pieces proceed forward. More skeletons will come out to greet you who sent them? That will soon be found out meanwhile why not respond to this persistent welcome? Going farther the welcome party obviously sees the spartan as a threat and starts to throw giant boulders at you. Move to the side and soon they will stop. More skeletons come to attack and not welcome. After that the giant boulders come back but this time skeletons are around. Avoid the boulders and destroy the skeletons. Soon a bunch of skeletons and a priest will appear telling you of the boss. The boss is none other then a dangerous creature... The Behemoth! The last boss of the game defeat him and the game will be completed and the game ending can be seen. (Note if playing in two player once the boos is defeated one player must kill the other to get the princess)

Enemies
The soldier will have to fight many different types of enemies to progress through the game. Below they are listed.


 * Enemy Soldier - These soldiers come in large numbers (sometimes) . Hit them two times with your sword to destroy them. They will jump on tigers and pick up a sword if they lost one. They wear green armor.
 * Enemy Commander - There is usually one but the largest number they come in is four. They are stronger than the soldier and take three hits to destroy. They have complex helmets and thick red tassels and will pick up hammers and swords.
 * Gladiator - Muscular in size, they have the ability to pick up the soldier and toss them to the ground they take multiple strikes to destroy and pick up no weapons.
 * Lizards - These guys are green and have two attacks.Attacking with their trident or attacking with their tongues. If they lose their trident they will not pick up there trident but not another weapon.
 * Red Lizard Man - These Lizard men are faster then other Lizard. They have the same attacks as the Lizards.
 * Earl of Hecate - Their only weapon is to turn your soldier into a chicken or rise the skeletons that you just defeated.They take three or five hits to destroy and when you hit them they will disappear and reappear somewhere else on the screen the bow is good for hitting them.
 * Skeletons - Skeletons are enemies you fight from level 3-1 to 3-4. They may come with a helmet,or a sword but if they have no weapon they will fight with there fist's or pick up other weapons. They take many hits of the sword to destroy.

Bosses
A boss fight comes every other level,they are marked as a skull or a tiny thin circle around a level circle on the map.


 * Midas: The King with the Gold Touch - He is the first boss. When he is getting close gold statues can be found. When he is fought the player shouldn't get too close or he will turn them into gold. If they are turned to gold, the player's health will slowly begin to go down, and they will have to rapidly press the left and right buttons to become normal again. The only way to harm Midas is to throw the golden statues at him, because any physical attacks will result in the player being turned to gold.


 * Talos - It is so tall that the player can only see its feet. To defeat it run and hit the back of its heel until a piece of metal is destroyed. When it's heel is hit, the Colossus's health will go down. Once the piece of metal is destroyed, Enemy Soldiers will come out. Once both heels are defeated, and Talos's health is all the way gone, he will fall over.


 * Minotaur - If you are very fast, there is a trick. If you go as fast as you can straight towards the boss, and you hit with a hammer him before he starts to talk, he will faint. When he stands up, hit him again. Repeat until he dies. If you dont hit him in time, this will not work and you have to follow the instructions below. It is possible to hit the Minotaur after it stops talking, but when it charges get out of it's way and avoid getting hit. When it's horns get stuck in the wall hit it with your sword, the hammer is a good weapon to fight the Minotaur with.


 * Hercules: Son of Zeus - He may look small but he is powerful, able to able to throw your soldier,able to pick your soldier up by the legs jump up in the air and slam him on the ground. The hammer again is good for fighting him. After your soldier hits him a few times some Gladiators will come to fight your soldier.


 * Medusa - You know when your soldier is getting close to her because of the statue's. She attacks in three ways: shooting arrows at you with her bow ,hitting you with her tale,turning your soldier to stone with her eye site. Remember, look the other way one her hair lifts up.


 * Behemoth - He is the last boss in the game. When your soldier find's him he is trying to reach for the princess, defeat him by hitting his neck and when his head comes down jump and hit his eye, repeat this till his health is gone, and defend yourself from the skeletons that come to attack.

Pickups

 * Coins - An easy way to earn points is to pick up coins. You can obtian them by defeating  enemies, picking up and throwing chests, and when you hit a Saytar.
 * Chest - These chests when thrown, open and coins and sometimes drumsticks or turkey may appear. You can also throw them at enemies.
 * Mutton - Drumsticks are rarely found but when picked  up all your health will be replenished.
 * Turkey - This item is easier to find then the drumstick but it will replenish half of your health.

Interactive Objects

 * Satyrs - The spartan cannot kill saytars. They run around the screen quickly, and will drop coins food when hit. Eventually they will run away off the screen.

Animals
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 * Stripes - Stripes can be used like a vehicle. To mount one tap the jump button when near on to jump on it.  When you come to some enemy press the attack button to when close to them to jump over and destroy them. Stripes can not be killed and enemy can jump on them and attack your soldier . Stripes resemble tigers.
 * Chicken - Your soldier can be turned in to a chicken when you face the Earl of Hecate and also you can also use them as a weapon. Press < when you come up close to them to use them . Chickens also can not be killed.
 * Wild Boar - These animals cannot be killed, but can be picked up and thrown when stunned.

Weapons

 * Dagger - This is your primary weapon it can not be dropped. If you lose your previous weapon this will always be in your hand. Every enemy you face will have this as their primary weapon, except for skeletons.
 * Sword - You start off with this weapon at the start of every level. Some enemies will have this too.
 * Axe - This is a little stronger then the sword, and when you attack someone with it your soldier will stun them.
 * Hammer - This is very powerful. When you attack someone with it, the enemy will be stunned and knocked back towards the edge of the screen. It is good for fighting groups of enemies and bosses.
 * Trident - These are weapons that the Lizard Men attack with.
 * Bow'n'arrow - This is a powerful long range weapon that is able to shoot arrows across the screen and it dishes out large amounts of damage.
 * Lion Hammer - Similar to the Hammer but stronger, the Lion Hammer only appears on level 3-1 but is strong against the skeletons you face.

Hazards

 * Spike pits - These are really small pits with spikes in them. You get stunned if you fall into one.
 * Moving spikes - These spikes come up in two groups. The first group of spikes come up out of half of the holes, then when they retract, group two's spikes come out from the remaining holes. After group two retracts, the process repeats.

Pre-release
Double Edged is the only known Nitrome game to be released as a playable Beta version. During the second week Cosmic Cannon was released, some who played it at a certain time instead played Double Edged. As mentioned above, this game was still being worked on, progress only up to Hercules done. The game looked pretty much how it did in its fully released version. The only noticeable difference was the battle with Hercules was incredibly toned down for the full release. Hercules, for the beta pre-release, inflicted much more damage than he did in the full version.

Trivia

 * In level 3-2 there is a stone statue of one of the Angels from Twin Shot.Twin shot stone.jpg
 * The Hammer is the same hammer used in Ice Breaker: The Red Clan
 * In level 2-2 an enemy commander says "Stop...Hammer time!" and says "Can't Touch This..." when he dies, a reference to the song Can't Touch This by M.C. Hammer. This same quote was used by the Hammerhead Sharks in Mutiny when the player is defeated.
 * There is a glitch in stage 3-1, at the end, if the player has the lion hammer and near to him is a sword, the spartan can grab the sword and the the CLEAR screen will be showed, the lion hammer remains rolling in midair.
 * This is one of a few games, like Nitrome Must Die, that has many weapons to choose from.