Cadence of Hyrule has several Modes available, which can be chosen from at file creation.
List of Modes
Story Mode: Play through the story. The intended mode for a first playthrough.
Octavo's Ode: Play through an alternate story, featuring Octavo.
- Octavo is the only playable character in this mode, unless co-op is used. Functionally identical to Single Character Mode as Octavo.
Symphony of the Mask: Play through an alternate story, featuring Skull Kid.
- Takes place in the Kingdom of Hyrule's future. Skull Kid is the only playable character in this mode, unless co-op is used. Functionally identical to Single Character Mode as Skull Kid.
Single-Character Mode: Play the entire game without swapping characters.
- Can choose any one character to play as. Can choose two if starting in co-op.
Dungeon Mode: Replace the overworld with a single large dungeon. For players looking for the classic NecroDancer experience.
- The dungeon contains 21 floors across 5 zones. Can choose a character the same way as in Single Character Mode. Before each boss, a portal is present, which leads back to the start of the zone.
All-Characters Mode: Play through the game in Dungeon Mode with all characters consecutively. Not that the save file will be removed upon completion.
- Since Shadow Link and Shadow Zelda are so similar to their non-shadow counterparts, you can choose between playing as the shadows or their non-shadow counterparts.
- You'll also need to play as Skull Kid.
Daily Challenge: Play in Permadeath Mode with a random character on a new world each day. You get only one chance per day!
Puzzle Mode: Play through a puzzle-centric dungeon.
- This mode is just the Temple of Brainstorms with an additional floor, a boss key to find, and with Pieces of Heart instead of Hearts after clearing an enemy room.
Arena Mode: Play an infinite arena mode, where the enemies get harder and harder. If you're defeated, you'll have to start over!
- An endless version of the Gerudo Arena. Every six floors, a boss (other than Synthrova) will appear.
Fixed-Beat Mode: Play the game without moving to the beat. Enable this if you often find yourself missing beats.
- When on, the game becomes entirely turn-based, and the rhythm aspect is entirely removed. Can be toggled at any time from Options > Gameplay. Not recommended for co-op.
Double-Time Mode: Double the speed of the beat.
- Has very little effect if Fixed-Beat Mode is on.
Permadeath Mode: A more challenging experience. Once you get a game over, the game ends permanently.
- Some additional items, like the Power Glove and Zora's Flippers, are shuffled around like other key items. Enemies and bosses will be harder variations of themselves. For more details, see the main article for Permadeath Mode.
Mystery Mode: The identity of all enemies and items is a mystery!
- The identity of items are revealed when you pick them up.