0-S: Something Wicked (2024)

0-S: SOMETHING WICKED is Prelude's secret level, accessed through a secret exit in 0-2: The Meatgrinder. Based off of the style of early chaser horror games, 0-S revolves around the player navigating a pitch black labyrinth while being chased by the incredibly dangerous Something Wicked, all while finding Skull Keys to light up and unlock the path forward.

Level

Start

The level starts off in a small room enveloped in darkness, with a Blue Skull Key acting as the only source of light outside of the entrance lights. To the left and right sides of the room lie each a set of corridors, with the right side being the path forward and the left corridor blocked by a pile of rubble.

Inside 0-S, the player will only have the default Piercer Revolver along with any Arms that the player has equipped, even if the player has collected more Weapons or Variants.

Picking up the skull from the pedestal will cause an ominous hiss to appear after collecting it, signalling the presence of Something Wicked. A message will then appear below:

Something wicked this way comes.

Mechanics

For more information on the enemy, see Something Wicked.

Something Wicked is the main threat and only enemy within 0-S, roaming around the level and chasing after the player if it gets too close. Its main behavior consists of patrolling around the level in an attempt to chase the player, with two main patrol points in the level that it will travel to. Something Wicked will emit a droning noise which signals the player if it is getting close towards them or not. If it has direct line of sight at the player it will then chase towards them until it is broken, with the chase being signalled by a loud hiss.

Something Wicked is unable to be killed by any means, however any damage that it takes will cause it to teleport to the furthest patrol point from the player. If the player gets hit by Something Wicked, the player will instantly be killed and then forced back to the beginning of the level due to the lack of checkpoints.

The Maze

To progress through the level, the player has to find a set of Skull Pedestals that are found throughout the level, starting off with finding a Blue Pedestal to unlock with the starting Key, then acquiring a Red Skull Key to then find its corresponding pedestal.

Inside the maze lies a series of dark corridors, rooms, and vent tunnels for the player to wander through, with various landmarks and structures stationed throughout for a sense of positioning, shortcuts, or key objectives. These landmarks include:

• Tunnels: A small network of vents and tunnels located nearby the start of the level to the south east, acting as shortcuts to regions in the maze and as a cover from Something Wicked, as its height makes it unable to reach the player while inside.
• Cerberus Statue: A lone inactive Cerberus statue located nearby the Red Skull Key, with its room connecting to one of the tunnel exits.
• Blue and Red Pedestals: Located by the north eastern section of the level, within a large room housing a set of stairs and a pool of water to the left of the room. The Pedestals themselves are located to the top right of the room with the Blue Pedestal visible. A large door sits behind the pedestal, which opens to reveal the Red Skull Key once the Blue Pedestal has been activated with the starting Skull Key.
• Exit Room: Located at the south-western end of the level, consisting of a long hallway with pillars lining the sides of the room. The Exit Elevator and Red Pedestal lie at the end of the room.

Guide

Starting from the beginning, the player is recommended to head through the starting corridor until they reach a large room. The player can then either head left into the hallway, or right into a small tunnel. Heading to the left will require the player to take a right turn and head forward through the hallway until the player reaches a large room to the right. Heading through the vents, the player should take a left turn into the room with an inactive Cerberus statue, which connects to the large room from before.

The player then should head to the far right corner of the room where the Blue Pedestal sits. Placing the Skull Key onto it will then open a large set of stone doors to reveal a Red Skull Key.

To reach the Red Skull Key's pedestal, the player should then head forward to the far end of the Blue Skull room, where an opening on the left-hand wall leads into a long hallway with rows of pillars, with the Red Pedestal at the far end of the room. Placing the skull will unlock the end of the level, and cause Something Wicked to despawn.

Tips

• Punching while holding a Skull Key will briefly increase its luminosity before fading to its default brightness, making it easier to see through the dark.
• The Whiplash can be used to light up places farther away than the player's reach, along with being able to hit Something Wicked far easier than the Revolver.
• Utilizing the small tunnels and low ceiling regions can ensure a safe hiding spot from Something Wicked, as it cannot reach or the player within small spaces due to its height.
• If eventually closed in by Something Wicked, moving to a dead end with a single opening can help ensure Something Wicked does not try to flank the player and allow for the player to shoot forward in order to hit it effectively. Staying above Something Wicked within larger rooms can also help avoid it.
• Listening to the volume of Something Wicked's audible droning noise can help with tracking its distance away from the player.

End

After completing the level and unlocking the exit, a Testament Terminal lies before the pit, housing the entry for Testament I.

Completing the level will send the player to the next level, 0-3: Double Down.

Trivia

• "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is originally a line from Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare. It has been referenced numerous times in pop-culture. The title of the level may be a reference to either the base material, or to one of the works referencing it.