Solo Mode

"You guys are slowing me down! I'm going solo!"
― Luka running off on his own, Operation 004-B

Solo Mode is a special type of gameplay used in certain parts of The Wonderful 101's story that allows you to control a lone Wonderful One with greater combat abilities, making it possible to fight effectively even without the ability to Unite Morph.

Note that solo mode is distinct from the team leader's ability to perform a weak "backup attack" when unable to use a Unite Morph during normal gameplay.

Overview

Solo Abilities

In solo mode, your lone Wonderful One gains enhanced combat abilities, allowing them to perform techniques that are equivalent to the Unite Morphs that can only be used by a proper team.

• Your Unite Morph attack button becomes a "heavy attack" button. Heavy attacks deal more damage and deplete the Unite Gauge by 1 unit for each attack, however, heavy attacks do not actually require Unite Energy to perform, and can be used even with a fully depleted Unite Gauge.
• Your Team Attack button becomes a "light attack" button. Light attacks are identical to your team leader's normal backup attack, and do not require Unite Energy to use.
• Unite Guts is replaced a burst of Wonder-Energy that can block attacks. This blocking ability requires 1 unit of Unite Energy to use, and is functionally identical to Unite Guts in every way, including the fact that it regains 2 units of Unite Energy per successful block for a net gain of 1, and its inability to defend against piercing melee attacks. Note that this blocking ability requires Unite Guts to be enabled to use, and it also earns a + 200PTS.+ 200PTS. Combo bonus each time an attack is blocked.
• Unite Spring is replaced by an evasive dodge roll. Dodge rolling requires 1 unit of Unite Energy. Notably, dodge rolling does not actually require Unite Spring to be enabled, and it doesn't seem to be possible to earn a + 200PTS.+ 200PTS. Combo bonus from dodge rolling.

heavy attack

light attack

blocking

dodging

Solo Skills

Additionally, using your heavy attack, it's possible to perform Skills, which are even capable of earning the + 50PTS.+ 50PTS. Combo bonus. In addition to having solo versions of the three Unite Morph Skills, there's also a hidden fourth Skill that can only be performed in solo mode. Note that none of these solo Skills require their Unite Morph versions to be enabled (or even unlocked) to use:

• By moving back and forth in the desired direction and attacking, you'll shoot forward in a Wonderful Stinger attack.
• By jumping and attacking at the same time, you'll perform a Wonderful Rising attack capable of launching stunned enemies into the air.
• By spinning at least 360° and attacking, you'll perform a wide range Wonderful Cyclone attack. Notably, the timing for this attack is slightly different in solo mode, requiring a complete 360° rotation before you press the attack button.
• Secretly, if you hold down on the left analog stick or movement keys while attacking in midair, you'll dive down to the ground in an attack. This attack automatically homes in on the nearest enemy when used.

stinger

rising

cyclone

A fantastic aerial diving drop kick.

Other Abilities Usable In Solo Mode

As expected, when in solo mode you are completely unable to use Unite Morphs of any kind or the Wonder-Liner. However, several Custom Blocks notably retain their effects in solo mode:

• Unite Charge: no effect.
• Speed Charge: works as expected.
• Double Power: increases heavy attack damage slightly without increasing the Unite Energy cost
• Energy Converter: works as expected.
• Healing Guts: works with the solo blocking ability.
• Auto-Guts: no effect.
• Item Catcher: works with the solo blocking ability.
• Dodge Mine: no effect.
• Hero Time: no effect.
• Hero Counter: no effect.
• Hero Sense: works as expected.
• Safeguard: works as expected.
• Ukemi: works as expected. (note that Ukemi does not work in the Red vs. Blue fight in Operation 004-B for unrelated reasons)
• Full Automatic: works as expected.
• Infinite Energy: works as expected.

Solo Mode Gameplay Sequences

• Operation 004-A: Wonder-Blue is briefly controlled as a solo character in a mini-boss battle against Vijounne.
• Operation 004-B: Wonder-Red is controlled as a solo character for a large portion of the level, including a mini-boss battle against Wonder-Blue.
• Operation 006-B: Wonder-Blue is briefly controlled as a solo character during the opening dialogue sequence, after which Wonder-Red (Emeritus) is controlled as a solo character in a mini-boss battle against Laambo until you form a team by recruiting Dough-Goos, switching back to normal gameplay during the battle.
• Operation 009-B: Platinum Robo is briefly controlled as a solo character after landing on the GEATHJERK ship, until you form a team using captured Gah-Goojins, switching back to normal gameplay during the Mission.
• Operation 009-B: Platinum Robo is briefly controlled as a solo character at the start of the first Planet Destruction Form Jergingha phase, until you form a team using captured Gah-Goojins, switching back to normal gameplay during the battle.

Wonder-Red and Platinum Robo both use hand attacks, Wonder-Red (Emeritus) uses drill attacks, and Wonder-Blue uses sword attacks. Apart from Wonder-Blue's increased attack range and the varying sword/hand/drill light attacks, however, all four characters control identically in solo mode.

Note that although your team leader fights alone at the start of the Prologue and the Epilogue, and in the Prologue's Kahkoo-regah Secret Mission, these sections are not a form of solo mode: these are normal gameplay sequences played with a team size of 1, with all the restrictions of being unable to Unite Morph in place.

Trivia

• Solo Mode is an unofficial name, as the gameplay mode is never named in any way in-game.
• The hidden dive kick Skill that can only be used in solo mode is a reference to the Rider Kick, a signature finishing move in the Kamen Rider Series. The Rider Kick is also referenced by the Red Hot Kick from the Viewtiful Joe series, and the After Burner Kick technique from the Bayonetta series.