Uploaded July 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Switching forms during the normal form's AOE attack lets you float above the ground temporarily. Additionally, you switching rapidly to Rock form in mid-air gives you a short window to throw a Rock Punch that doesn't immobilize you.
After jumping and falling relatively close to the ground, you can perform an AOE attack that will slam Zack into the floor. Once the attack is triggered, though, you can change to Ice, Fire, or Rock form to stop the animation and the fall, giving you a little bit of time to move horizontally in the direction you want. The float lasts for the duration of the full AOE attack animation, which is about 1.2 seconds.
The mid-air Rock Punch on the other hand involves jumping into the air -- preferably with the Fire form -- and pressing the attack button a split-second before Zack begins falling. This trick may in fact require frame-perfect timing, but while it's easiest to perform using the Fire form's Surf, it can be done with any other forms as well.
The Rock Lock isn't supremely useful, but it has potential. The easiest option is that you could simply Infinite Jump out of it, and the floating buys you a bit of time to prepare. But it's important to note that the AOE attack doesn't properly slam into the ground if you move over a cliff once it's activated, meaning that it could potentially take you further than a simple double jump could. Lastly, it's decently useful for avoiding Zack's stunned animation from long falls, instantly giving you another avenue to Infinite Jump.
Theoretically the mid-air Rock Punch allows you to deal heavy damage and instantly drop to the ground to move into another attack, defeating bosses even faster. (Of note, you can't use the Rock Punch for a little while after landing.) Unfortunately, I haven't gotten this to actually work on any bosses. Likely, the sad reality of this move is that Zack must be in place and performing the animation to deal damage, and dropping out of it like this simply leaves the particle effects. Regardless, I felt it might be useful to document.
Overall, these are two tricks that likely don't have much consequence on their own, but it's useful knowledge for someone interested in speedrunning the game.
Switching forms during the normal form's AOE attack lets you float above the ground temporarily. Additionally, you switching rapidly to Rock form in mid-air gives you a short window to throw a Rock Punch that doesn't immobilize you.
After jumping and falling relatively close to the ground, you can perform an AOE attack that will slam Zack into the floor. Once the attack is triggered, though, you can change to Ice, Fire, or Rock form to stop the animation and the fall, giving you a little bit of time to move horizontally in the direction you want. The float lasts for the duration of the full AOE attack animation, which is about 1.2 seconds.
The mid-air Rock Punch on the other hand involves jumping into the air -- preferably with the Fire form -- and pressing the attack button a split-second before Zack begins falling. This trick may in fact require frame-perfect timing, but while it's easiest to perform using the Fire form's Surf, it can be done with any other forms as well.
The Rock Lock isn't supremely useful, but it has potential. The easiest option is that you could simply Infinite Jump out of it, and the floating buys you a bit of time to prepare. But it's important to note that the AOE attack doesn't properly slam into the ground if you move over a cliff once it's activated, meaning that it could potentially take you further than a simple double jump could. Lastly, it's decently useful for avoiding Zack's stunned animation from long falls, instantly giving you another avenue to Infinite Jump.
Theoretically the mid-air Rock Punch allows you to deal heavy damage and instantly drop to the ground to move into another attack, defeating bosses even faster. (Of note, you can't use the Rock Punch for a little while after landing.) Unfortunately, I haven't gotten this to actually work on any bosses. Likely, the sad reality of this move is that Zack must be in place and performing the animation to deal damage, and dropping out of it like this simply leaves the particle effects. Regardless, I felt it might be useful to document.
Overall, these are two tricks that likely don't have much consequence on their own, but it's useful knowledge for someone interested in speedrunning the game.
![Floor Assassin [glitch] - Dark Storm VR Missions](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SUTlA6qJOuA/mqdefault.jpg "Floor Assassin [glitch] - Dark Storm VR Missions
Tactical Underground Stealth Action. This crazy-looking glitch lets you drop yourself down into the floor and sneak up on unsuspecting land-based mammals.
On any flat surface, cycle rapidly between crouching and prone. (Sometimes you may need to move a bit as well.) If done correctly, youll sink into the floor and end up in a crouching position with just your head cresting above the tiles. When you stop moving, youll drop back down into the depths from which you inserted yourself. You can also easily perform Physics Crushes while in the ground, since its incredibly confusing for the game.
Physics Crush: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3BqWrZqf0 ]
This likely happens because of confused hitboxes, with the crouch position not placing Amber quite right when switching to prone. Repeated switching exacerbates the problem and pushes her into the ground. I believe she doesnt fall straight through because the tiles are actually cube-shaped assets that appear invisible from the inside, feeding into the illusion that Ambers walking on nothing sometimes.
The glitch isnt supremely useful because the ground doesnt act to impair the vision of guards, meaning you get caught out even when they shouldnt be able to see you. Additionally, cover doesnt help you either, because it typically doesnt extend through the floor. The soldiers will see you at the bottom of their cone of vision, underneath any wall or pillar. Still, its a funny glitch thats simple to pull off even if its far too slow for any speedruns or time trials.
Otherwise, its important to point out that you cant do this on stairs and sloped surfaces, at least as I can gather from my testing.
These clips were recorded in Prototype 0.6.7.
Despite the video, I actually enjoy this game a lot even in this pretty glitchy state, and Id love to see it finished. If it looks interesting to you, be sure to check out the Kickstarter or download the demo on Steam and try it yourself.
Kickstarter: [ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1201252455/dark-storm-ascension ]
Steam: [ http://store.steampowered.com/app/395150/ ]")
