Hadouken is a late cleanup reward, not a prize for simply reaching Sigma Stage 1. You need completed Maverick stages, enough chips to pay for the capsule, and a repeatable platform route. Once those pieces are ready, the secret is much less mysterious. If the capsule stays hidden, check the prerequisites before changing your jump timing again.
Hadouken Unlock Checklist
Treat this as a gate before you spend another attempt on Sigma 1. Clearing every Boss is only part of the job; the current route also expects the collection state and the upgrades that sit behind those stages to be complete.
- Every Maverick stage shows Mission Complete in Stage Select.
- All required upgrades and collection items are finished, not only the Boss clears.
- You have 40 chips in the menu after buying the upgrades you actually need.
- You know whether this save has zero deaths or an earlier death, so you use the correct loop.
- You can reach the final drop at full health when you are ready to test the input.
Verify the Current Route on Video
Use the embedded player-recorded collection run to confirm the outside-fortress landmarks and the platform loop. The full video is about 47:56; its Hadouken route begins around 40:49. Video is useful for recognizing the vertical floating platform and the high ledge above the spawn area, but it is not a replacement for your own Stage Select checklist.
Current Build and Completion Notes
At the time of this guide review, the official release listing identifies version 1.00.92 as current, while the embedded run records version 1.00.9. Use the video for room landmarks rather than assuming every older route detail still matches the current build.
A Speedrun.com community discussion reports that Hadouken is saved and contributes to the completion percentage in versions from 1.00.4 onward. Treat that as version-aware player evidence and use the current game's Stage Select and completion display as the final check.
Get Ready Before the Run
Finish the collection state across every Maverick stage and keep 40 chips available after buying the upgrades you actually want. The stage image should show its completed state. If one stage is incomplete, use the 100% Collection Guide to find the missing return route before entering Sigma 1 again.
Practice dash-jumping in a quiet room and keep a recovery save if the run matters to you. The repeated fall is part of the route on a save with an earlier death, so there is no advantage in treating every drop as a mistake.
Before You Start Sigma 1
- Every Maverick stage shows its completion state.
- You have 40 chips remaining.
- You can dash-jump without hesitating over the timing.
- You are prepared to repeat a short loop several times.
- You can begin the final approach at full health.
Choose the Right Sigma 1 Loop
The save state changes the amount of repetition, not the location of the route. Use the shortest row that matches your save, then stop changing conditions one at a time.
| Save state | What to do | When to stop |
|---|---|---|
| No recorded death | Reach the high platform once and inspect the ledge above the spawn area. | Check the capsule location before starting a fall-and-respawn loop. |
| Death already recorded | Drop into the pit, respawn, climb back, and repeat the same platform landing. | Community runs often show the capsule around the fourth loop; make one clean extra loop before leaving. |
| Final capsule approach | Keep the route calm and test the move from full health. | Remember that full health supports the input check; it is not the capsule-spawn condition. |
Reach the Hadouken Route
In Sigma Stage 1, climb the outside of the fortress until two large green gunners appear in sequence. Stand on the vertical floating platform, dash-jump left, and land on the high platform above the stage’s spawn area.
The jump is the route. Start from a deliberate position, commit to the dash, and aim for the broad upper platform instead of trying to correct at the final instant. Practice the landing before worrying about whether the capsule has appeared.
Use the No-Death Shortcut
If the save has no recorded game deaths, take the platform route once and inspect the ledge. The shortcut avoids the repeated fall loop. If a death already exists, nothing is broken; use the normal loop and keep the good collection save.
Read the Platform Loop
On a save with a death, jump from the high platform into the pit and let X respawn. Climb back to the same platform and repeat the same landing. Think of the first pass as rehearsal, then keep the rhythm consistent instead of exploring a new route after each respawn.
Community runs often show the capsule after the fourth loop. Count the drops so the attempts do not blur together, and make one additional clean loop before assuming the route has failed.
Trigger the Capsule
When the capsule appears, slow down. Full health is useful because the route already asks you to count repeats, and rushing the final approach adds risk without adding progress. If it is still absent after the extra loop, recheck Stage Select and your chip total before trying to invent a new timing trick.
Hadouken Input and Controller Checks
Use Hadouken Reliably
The player-facing notation for the familiar X1-style motion is Down → Down-Right or Down-Left → Shoot. Test it at full health in a quiet room, stand still, and give yourself space to see the result before trying it in a Boss arena. Hadoken is an alternate spelling for the same move.
Controller layouts can make the diagonal step feel different, so confirm your directional input before blaming the capsule route. This guide does not assume a one-button remap is available in the current build. Use the move to remove one threat or simplify a platform section, not as a reason to stop reading the room. The Boss Order Guide remains the better reference for weapon timing and arena habits.
Full health is a controlled firing check, not a substitute for the unlock checklist. If the input fails, return to the quiet-room test before changing the Sigma 1 loop.
Separate Unlock Problems from Input Problems
A missing capsule is an unlock problem: check completed stages, 40 chips, and the platform loop. A collected capsule that will not fire is an input problem: check health, standing position, controller layout, and timing. Keeping those diagnoses separate prevents you from practicing an input that cannot make a hidden capsule appear.
When It Does Not Work
Symptom-to-Check Guide
| Symptom | Likely cause | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| No capsule appears | Unlock state is incomplete. | Check all required upgrades, Mission Complete, 40 chips, save-death state, and the loop count. |
| Capsule collected but no Hadouken | Input state is wrong. | Heal to full, stand still, and repeat Down → Down-Right/Down-Left → Shoot. |
| It works once, then stops | X may no longer be at full health or the controller input changed. | Return to the quiet-room test before attempting another Boss. |
| Video and game do not match | The video is from 1.00.9 and the current release is newer. | Check the build number, back up the save, and trust the current Stage Select state. |
Prove one condition at a time. First land the platform jump. Then count the loops. Finally leave Sigma 1 and inspect Stage Select if the capsule is still missing. A forgotten chip or incomplete stage is more likely than an extra secret condition.
If the move itself fails, heal to full and test from a standing position with no enemies nearby. If it works once and stops later, check health before changing the input. The simplest controlled test usually finds the real cause faster than a live Boss attempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chips are needed?
Keep 40 chips available for the Hadouken capsule after purchasing the upgrades you want.
Do I need a death for the platform loop?
No. A save with zero deaths can use the shorter check. A save with a death uses the repeated fall-and-respawn route.
Why does Hadouken not fire?
Test at full health from a standing position in a quiet room. That separates input timing from damage taken during a fight.
Does Hadouken count toward 100% completion?
Community reports for newer builds say it contributes to the completion percentage. Verify the result in your current game version instead of relying on an older save or speedrun category name.
Do I need every upgrade or only clear every stage?
Plan around 100% item completion and all required upgrades, not only the eight Boss clears. Use the Collection Guide when a Stage Select image is still incomplete.
Does full health make the capsule appear?
No. Full health is for a reliable Hadouken input and final approach; the capsule unlock depends on the collection, chip, save-state, and Sigma 1 route conditions.