Truxton Extreme Mode Unlock Order and Requirements

Truxton Extreme gates several modes behind early progression so players learn fundamentals before chasing score attacks or co-op rescue play. This page consolidates community-verified unlock reports into a single timeline, explains how each gate interacts with your save file, and points to tools when your menu does not match expectations after a patch.

Unlock order is not strictly linear — some modes open in parallel once you hit score thresholds — but fresh saves follow a predictable path from Tutorial and Heart Starter through Story Mode into Arcade Mode, Arena Mode, and Training Mode.

Quick reference unlock table

Mode / feature	Unlock condition (player reports)
Tutorial	Available from boot; recommended before first sortie
Heart Starter	Default — available immediately
Story Mode	Available from boot; main campaign path
Arcade Mode	After completing first Story mission
Arena Mode	~300,000 score on first Story stage
Training Mode	~300,000 score on first Story stage (with Arena)
Team Mode	Progress-gated; appears after early Story/Tutorial flow
Pipiruville hub	Enough cumulative Pipiru rescues from combat sorties
Model Viewer	Defeat enemies to catalogue models (fills as you play)

Thresholds come from player reports at launch — verify on your platform if menus differ. Use the unlock checklist tool to mark confirmed gates on your save.

Heart Starter — default forgiving mode

Heart Starter requires nothing. It exists so new pilots learn patterns without losing lives on every hit. Because it is always available, it is the recommended sandbox before you pursue score-gated modes or Arcade Mode endurance runs.

Heart Starter does not unlock other modes by itself — it teaches mechanics you need to hit Story and score thresholds faster.

Story Mode — campaign baseline

Story Mode is open from the start and should be your first serious progression track. Completing missions unlocks manga episodes for Ash Ricardo, Bergamot Demuro, and Cyrilla while teaching the six-stage mission format every other mode assumes.

First Story mission clear is the critical milestone for Arcade access.

Arcade — first Story mission clear

Arcade Mode unlocks after you complete your first Story mission. Arcade removes manga interludes and presents sequential stage climbing for 1CC-minded players.

If Arcade stays locked:

• Confirm the Story mission registered as cleared — return to title screen.
• Check you finished all six stages, not just a mid-mission save.
• Read how to unlock modes for platform-specific quirks.

Arcade unlock is independent of the 300k Arena gate — you can have Arcade open while Arena remains locked if you cleared Story quickly with modest scoring.

Arena and Training — ~300,000 on stage one

Arena Mode and Training Mode commonly unlock together after earning roughly 300,000 points on the first Story stage. Community reports cluster on that number, but ship choice, weapon route from the weapons guide, and graze consistency affect reachability.

Farming tips for the 300k gate:

• Replay Story stage one rather than advancing episodes if unlock speed matters.
• Maintain chains and graze scoring — speed-clearing alone may fall short.
• Practice patterns in Heart Starter first, then push score in Story.
• Refresh the mode select menu after high-score runs.

Arena opens two-minute score attack; Training opens section loops and speed options — both valuable before Team Mode or serious Arcade 1CC attempts.

Team Mode — co-op access

Team Mode supports local two-player split-screen with shared lives, bombs, and score. Exact menu appearance timing varies, but Team generally follows early Tutorial and Story exposure. If Team is greyed out, continue Story progression and confirm co-op controllers in the co-op guide.

Team does not replace solo unlocks — you still need Story clears for Arcade and score gates for Arena/Training individually.

Pipiruville — rescue threshold

Pipiruville village hub unlocks after enough Pipiru rescues accumulated across combat modes. There is no single score number — rescue eligible defeats during Story, Arcade, Heart Starter, Team, and Arena all contribute.

Farm rescues deliberately on stages with dense enemy counts if the hub delays appearing.

Tutorial — always recommended

Tutorial mode exists separately from Heart Starter and walks basic movement, firing, and bomb usage. It is available early and should precede aggressive score farming. Skipping Tutorial does not block Heart Starter, but it slows your path to 300k if you lack genre fundamentals.

Model Viewer — defeat-based catalogue

Model Viewer fills as you defeat enemies in combat modes. There is no separate unlock minigame — play Story and Arcade, study new entries before retrying failed bosses. Particularly useful before Arena timed runs where learning mid-session costs seconds.

Recommended fresh-save route

1. Complete Tutorial.
2. Run Heart Starter on stage one for pattern comfort.
3. Play Story stage one aiming for 300k to open Arena and Training early.
4. Clear first Story mission for Arcade.
5. Branch to Arena bursts, Training drills, or Team co-op based on preference.
6. Accumulate Pipiruville rescues during regular sorties.

This route minimizes backtracking and aligns with how most players report their menus opening.

Troubleshooting missing unlocks

Score near 300k but Arena locked: Verify the run was Story stage one, not Heart Starter if your platform distinguishes scoring pools. Retry with graze-heavy routing.

Story cleared but no Arcade: Hard return to title screen; check for pending episode dialogues blocking save write.

Team unavailable: Confirm second controller paired per platform docs in how to play co-op.

Pipiruville hub missing: Increase rescue-focused replays on lower Story stages.

When in doubt, log your save state in the unlock checklist and compare against this page after each session.

Patch and platform notes

Tatsujin may adjust scoring tables or unlock thresholds in balance patches. Re-run Story stage one after major updates if modes disappear unexpectedly — rare, but reported on other Tatsujin titles. Platform differences (Steam vs console) occasionally delay menu refreshes until application restart.

For narrative context behind pilots you unlock routes for, see Story characters. For mechanical prep between unlocks, alternate Heart Starter and Training until every mode on this list appears on your title screen.