NEXT JUMP: Shmup Tactics: Achievements Guide

NEXT JUMP is a very unique game, and at first it may seem awkward to control. Honestly, the base ship stats are too low for the gameplay to really make sense. Attacks and movements cost energy, and you don’t start with enough energy to start chaining and succeeding, but that’s why I wanted to make this guide. In just a little while, I went from struggling to topping the leader boards, and you can too.

It didn’t take long to unlock some new ships, and by far the best for me is the Dagger ship.

The base Dagger knife is incredibly efficient and actually becomes worse with upgrades.
In a strange twist, melee weapons are very strong in NEXT JUMP. Being close lets you pick up the resources from destroyed ships, and I prioritize battery upgrades and Spiked Hull from the shop.

I didn’t even realize the weapon shop tab existed for a long time, and I had to check over shops before I found this passive Spiked Hull upgrade.
Occupying the same tile as an enemy doesn’t damage you (except for a few later ships) and Spiked Hull does a point of damage for no energy cost. Small 1HP ships will let you sail across the screen and chain kills, and the improved Batteries and Engines will let you travel more consecutive regions on the overview map. Your ship will gain a multiplier for every ship and mine you destroy without a station, so traveling the max 7 regions in a row will reward you with far more scrap and reputation.

Once you complete the mothership battle (even on Easy) you will unlock Reputation Bet mode, which is a straight shot 7 regions, with an upgraded ship and all the money you could need to add on weapons. It doesn’t hurt to have an extra Explosive Hull active to attack at your sides, or a backwards shot.

Most of the achievements are clear and easy, and will come with playing enough. There are a few that aren’t as simple, but easy enough with some tricks.

Kool code is the Konami code, worked for me on the title screen.

Combo Spree will require traveling multiple sectors to build up a proper combo, repeatedly.

The F-Type, FH-Type, and Grandius all count your current Reputation. Despite the description, I believe I got them all in Rep Bet mode after enough loops. New Game+ loops either way make it pretty fair.

I don’t trust banks can pop easy enough if you play well, but you can also just get it from emptying the bank in Rep Bet mode. Be aware the ship scrap doesn’t transfer instantly so the achievement can take a minute to pop.

Do you have skill stickers? is black market ship events from unidentified signals, go in with a little damage to be sure you can get it.

They also love Elixir is for destroying the Mothership batteries in the far wall. It didn’t work for me the first time on Easy mode.

Skillful is a run without upgrading, you can still have upgrades from an earlier loop.

The leaderboards track difficulty, not mode. Rep Bet is easily the fastest, and the best strategy is to skip turns and minimize downtime. The Reputation high score allows for loops with the same pilot so it’s a pure grind.

Be sure to have fun with the game, don’t think of it like a shmup.