There are a lot of mechanics that are unexplained in Hyper Light Breaker, adding to the sense of mystery the game emanates as players slowly figure out what to prioritize and how to play it effectively. One of the most important mechanics is the lock-on system, Hyper Light Breaker‘s targeting mechanic.
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Locking onto a target is a great way to keep focused on a single enemy, but you shouldn’t default to it. If anything, the Hyper Light Breaker lock-on mechanic is best used only in certain one-on-one situations. This guide explains how to target an enemy and offers some tips on when you should lock on to a target vs when you should use the default free camera mode in this Synthwave roguelite.
How To Target Enemies In Hyper Light Breaker
To target a specific enemy, center your view on your target, then press in the right analog stick on your controller (R3). The game should automatically recognize the correct target unless it is inside of a large group of enemies. Your view will zoom in slightly and a reticle will appear around your target.
You do not need to have line of sight on a target to lock onto them. As long as the enemy is visible on-screen and close enough to be targeted, you can lock-onto it.
When you lock on, Hyper Light Breaker will change the way your character moves while the camera focuses and follows your target. Because the camera stays locked with your target in the center of the screen, your movements will tend to circle your target, and fast-moving enemies can rapidly change the camera perspective – if you’re in the middle of moving, your inputs may change the direction of your character when the camera whips around.
If you are locked onto a target and want to change your target, simply move the right analog stick left or right. The targeting reticle will automatically jump to the enemy closest to your current target, if it is within range.
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To cancel your lock-on target, and go back to the default third-person camera mode, simply press in the right analog stick again. This binding can be changed in the game’s settings menu. If you get far enough away from your target, the lock-on will be automatically canceled, too.
When Should I Lock On vs Use Free Cam?
Locking on is great for certain situations, but can be very dangerous and limiting in others. You should lock onto targets if you are in a one-on-one fight, like against bosses or strong enemies with yellow health bars – but only once you’ve eliminated all other mobs. Because your camera will focus on one target exclusively, other mobs can easily hit you in your blind spots and it becomes much more difficult to deal with groups.
Generally, free cam is more useful for most of the game. When taking on more than one enemy, or weak enemies you can kill quickly, there’s really no reason to lock on. It can inhibit your ability to see and react to other enemies around you.
But if you are going up against a mini-boss or boss, and have cleared out all minor enemies that could interrupt, keep the boss in the center of your screen by locking on. Cancel the lock-on if other enemies arrive, then swap back to focus them down when they are alone.
For example, whenever you Extract, you will have to face down a few waves of regular enemies followed by a mini-boss. The mini-boss can spawn while minor enemies are active, though. In this situation, it’s better to keep free cam on until you have cleared all the waves of regular enemies, then focus down the miniboss when there are no other enemies to distract you.
- Franchise
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Hyper Light
- Developer(s)
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Heart Machine
- Publisher(s)
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Arc Games