Sweeper
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Time sweepers, often referred to as simply sweepers, are the primary weapons of the Time Sweepers (note the difference in capitalization), the highest trained employees of the Time Factory. Their primary functionalities are acting as a projectile weapon and allowing the user to manipulate the time of the environment.
Only Time Sweepers carry them, and they are never seen on missions without one or potentially two. Time Sweepers are initially given a basic model (which has changed over time), though they may buy others at the Time Factory shop.
Both of a sweeper's functionalities rely upon resources common in the worlds in which a Sweeper's missions take place. Time sweepers can fire nearly any object (the sweeper's power permitting), up to and including massive 16T weights, which is loaded beforehand by sweeping the object as with a vacuum. This eliminates the need to carry ammunition, as any object in the mission world can be used as a projectile, though Sweepers may also buy specialized ammunition (bombs, missiles, thorn balls, etc.) from the Time Factory shop. Sweepers are capable of containing a vastly greater volume than they occupy, allowing for a large number of such large objects to be inside the sweeper at once. This capacity is further upgraded by installing sweeper packs of greater capacity, though low-level sweepers cannot utilize the largest sweeper packs (Lv1 can only use M, Lv2 can only use L, and Lv3 can only use XL, each with increasing capacity). A sweeper's performance as a weapon is in no way affected by submersion in water or other substances. |
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Time controls are triggered through the use of time crystals, most of which are not sold in the Time Factory and must be acquired in the field (the exception being retries). Multiple crystals of a given type are required to use a time control, and these crystals are stored in the sweeper itself rather than on-hand by the user (and can even be swept in a manner similar to trash). The maximum capacity of time controls of a sweeper varies by model, although it can be upgraded through the use of time bowls available at the Time Factory shop. The time controls can then be activated by the user at will, with the exception of the retry control. Multiple time controls may also be used simultaneously if the sweeper has a combo cartridge installed, which attaches to the ventral side of the neck and body. A Sweeper must also be properly trained before being allowed to use a combo cartridge.
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Details of the TS-5000X
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Finally, a Time Sweeper may use their sweeper as a blunt force weapon, though such an approach does relatively little damage and has a negligible effect on time monsters beyond potential stunning. When not in use, the sweeper's neck and handle can be retracted for more compact storage, usually on the user's back.
The internals of a sweeper (visible from the TS-16000-S).
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Which sweepers continue to be used and in what ways they differ has changed between the World B1Q64 and Big Crystal incidents. The TS-1000, for example, fell out of use, and modern sweepers have built-in lock-on systems. They have mostly retained their naming scheme (“TS-” followed a model number) and are still categorized by level (ranging from Lv.1 to Lv.3), though the distinctions between levels have changed. Whereas higher levels used to only be capable of sweeping larger trash, later models also have increased maximum trash and time bowl capacity, which can be further upgraded. Additionally, a small number of models have a + following their level to indicate unique abilities, such as sweeping water or fire.
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Sweepers in Blinx: The Time Sweeper
All first generation sweepers automatically lock on to targets (though with varied results depending on the wielder's direction). When sweeping up trash, the user is pivoted to the ground and cannot run and sweep at the same time like in MOTAS. Aesthetic features include the Time Factory insignia on the back of the sweeper body and a colour tinted area of sweeping effect. These sweepers have a watch motif.
Level 1
These sweepers are the basic models, they can only sweep up Lv.1 trash.
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Level 2
Lv.2 sweepers can suck up all types of trash, excluding the 16T weights.
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Level 3
Lv.3 sweepers can suck up all types of trash and also have a larger sweeping range.
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Sweepers in Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space
The second generation of sweepers has a few notable differences from the first generation. By the Big Crystal incident, sweepers no longer produce a tinted area of effect while sweeping and the Time Factory insignia on the back has been removed. The sweeping speed has also increased dramatically and are now capable of locking onto opponents. The level of sweepers is now denoted by "LV". These sweepers have a guitar motif, as the designer Masamichi Harada had a love for guitars.
Level 1
Sweepers that can sweep only certain kinds of trash.
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Level 2
Sweepers that can sweep all kinds of trash.
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Level 3
Sweepers that can sweep all kinds of trash. Shooting and sweeping speeds are very fast.
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Specialist Models
The TSX-1AT and TSX-2TC is a special pair of sweepers that must be used in conjunction with each other by two Time Sweepers. They are exclusive to 2P Specialist Mode and are not purchasable.
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Perfect Guide Graphics
Early Designs
Last updated on 17 Apr 2021
