Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I've been working on a challenge I call the ultra low-level game, or ULLG. The rules are as follows:
* Don't gain experience.
* Don't use capsules.
* Don't use Magus.
* Don't use Arena items other than the Workman's Wallet.
* Don't use the Elemental Aegis.
* Don't use the Apocalypse Arm except against inner Lavos.
* Don't use the HP overflow glitch.
* Play in a new game +, but don't use any equipment or gain any stat boosts beyond what you can get in a single playthrough. For example, you can only get two Red Plates in one playthrough, so don't use any more than that. The easiest way to follow this rule is to start a new game, then immediately use the same file to start a new game +.
* Don't complete any Dimensional Vortexes or use any equipment from one (other than the Apocalypse Arm) until after beating Lost Sanctum, the Black Omen, all of Gaspar's sidequests, and Lavos.
The primary rule in a regular low-level game (LLG) is to not gain experience. It's also common to include some of the rules I listed above, like not using Magus and not using extra Arena items. The main difference between a ULLG and a basic LLG is that the ULLG does not allow the use of capsules. In a basic LLG, even though you can't level up, you can use capsules to massively increase your strength and speed. The inability to do this in a ULLG increases the difficulty considerably.
For my reasoning behind the last two rules in the list and behind allowing the Apocalypse Arm against inner Lavos, see my inner Lavos video:
youtube.com/watch?v=jQks0WMDJos
There are three "Mutant" bosses in the Black Omen. Strangely, the first battle (Mega Mutant) is the hardest, the second (Giga Mutant) is easier, and the third (Tera Mutant) is a cakewalk. The Mega Mutant battle alone seems to make it worth choosing the Prismatic Dress instead of the Prismatic Helms at the end of the Rainbow Shell quest. Both Barrier (i.e. protection from magic) and Protect (i.e. protection from physical attacks) are useful for Ayla. The combination of keeping both statuses active, maintaining your HP, reviving your party members, and dealing damage is hard to juggle, so it helps to have Auto-Barrier from the Prismatic Dress. The dress also has a high defense value.
Although Mega Mutant doesn't have much health, he's both fast and powerful. The top and bottom part like to attack one after the other, leaving no time for healing in between. Ayla is the only one with enough HP to survive such an onslaught, and even then she needs to keep her health nearly full. She is mostly relegated to a support role, while Crono and Robo deal some damage when they get the chance. Once the bottom part of the boss dies, the battle gets much easier.
Party and equipment:
Crono: Swallow, Haste Helm, Dragon Armor, Workman's Wallet
Robo: Dragon Arm, Vigilant's Hat, Moonbeam Armor, Speed Ring
Ayla: Fist, Vigilant's Hat, Prismatic Dress, Golden Earring
I've been working on a challenge I call the ultra low-level game, or ULLG. The rules are as follows:
* Don't gain experience.
* Don't use capsules.
* Don't use Magus.
* Don't use Arena items other than the Workman's Wallet.
* Don't use the Elemental Aegis.
* Don't use the Apocalypse Arm except against inner Lavos.
* Don't use the HP overflow glitch.
* Play in a new game +, but don't use any equipment or gain any stat boosts beyond what you can get in a single playthrough. For example, you can only get two Red Plates in one playthrough, so don't use any more than that. The easiest way to follow this rule is to start a new game, then immediately use the same file to start a new game +.
* Don't complete any Dimensional Vortexes or use any equipment from one (other than the Apocalypse Arm) until after beating Lost Sanctum, the Black Omen, all of Gaspar's sidequests, and Lavos.
The primary rule in a regular low-level game (LLG) is to not gain experience. It's also common to include some of the rules I listed above, like not using Magus and not using extra Arena items. The main difference between a ULLG and a basic LLG is that the ULLG does not allow the use of capsules. In a basic LLG, even though you can't level up, you can use capsules to massively increase your strength and speed. The inability to do this in a ULLG increases the difficulty considerably.
For my reasoning behind the last two rules in the list and behind allowing the Apocalypse Arm against inner Lavos, see my inner Lavos video:
youtube.com/watch?v=jQks0WMDJos
There are three "Mutant" bosses in the Black Omen. Strangely, the first battle (Mega Mutant) is the hardest, the second (Giga Mutant) is easier, and the third (Tera Mutant) is a cakewalk. The Mega Mutant battle alone seems to make it worth choosing the Prismatic Dress instead of the Prismatic Helms at the end of the Rainbow Shell quest. Both Barrier (i.e. protection from magic) and Protect (i.e. protection from physical attacks) are useful for Ayla. The combination of keeping both statuses active, maintaining your HP, reviving your party members, and dealing damage is hard to juggle, so it helps to have Auto-Barrier from the Prismatic Dress. The dress also has a high defense value.
Although Mega Mutant doesn't have much health, he's both fast and powerful. The top and bottom part like to attack one after the other, leaving no time for healing in between. Ayla is the only one with enough HP to survive such an onslaught, and even then she needs to keep her health nearly full. She is mostly relegated to a support role, while Crono and Robo deal some damage when they get the chance. Once the bottom part of the boss dies, the battle gets much easier.
Party and equipment:
Crono: Swallow, Haste Helm, Dragon Armor, Workman's Wallet
Robo: Dragon Arm, Vigilant's Hat, Moonbeam Armor, Speed Ring
Ayla: Fist, Vigilant's Hat, Prismatic Dress, Golden Earring
