Time Controls are what Time Sweepers use to control time which can be activated from their sweepers. Each time control has its own unique effect which can be used to solve puzzles, navigate obstacles or assist in combat. Time Controls are normally written in all-caps.

Manual Descriptions

Blinx: The Time Sweeper Manual

"When a glitch occurs in the making of time, precious seconds can condense into solid form. Such glitches appear as crystalline hearts, crosses, triangles, moons, diamonds, and stars. Collect four of these time crystals to make a combination. Correct time crystal combinations give you the power to change the flow of time or a RETRY. Incorrect crystal combinations vanish. Collect only time crystals that build toward a valid combination. Sweeping up all time crystals you find does not make many valid combinations."

Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space Manual

"Time Sweepers have one big advantage in facing challenges and overcoming obstacles: the ability to control time. Has the bridge fallen down? No problem—REWIND time to restore the bridge, then cross it. Lots of enemies coming at you? Use PAUSE to stop them in their tracks while you keep going! Sweeping up time crystals lets you use the following controls and combinations to alter the flow of time for brief periods."

List of Time Controls

Rewind

"Time flows rapidly backwards for everyone except you."

REWIND, or REW, reverses the flow of time and is used to repair broken bridges or statues. In Versus Mode, REW is used to make opponents vulnerable and tiny, unable to double jump or use weapons. They are thrown further when shot by most weapons (excluding energy weapons, the Slingshot, TS-3000I LV2, TS-3000F LV2 and Crossbow).

Fast Forward

"Time for you flows rapidly forward, giving you great speed."

FAST FORWARD, or simply FF, is used to speed up the flow of time at double speed. In TTS, FF speeds up not only the player but the entire world as well. A protective barrier is placed around the player during the duration of FF, so when Blinx is hit, instead of using up a retry, it stops the time control instead. In MOTAS, FF speeds up only the player. The player is also able to perform extra long jumps, which is extremely helpful at certain levels. FF is also the only way to activate FF rings, which may reward the player with either gold or a cat medal.

Pause

“Everything stops except for you.”

PAUSE basically stops the flow of time. In the second game, when the player attacks a pause time barrier while a PAUSE is active, the barrier disappears, but the time control stops. When hitting a pause barrier monster, the time control still continues for its full duration. In Versus Mode, enemies still can move around, however, their weaponry's projectiles become suspended in mid-air as soon they are fired. (The player who activate the PAUSE control can take advantage of this and sweep up the suspended trash.) After the PAUSE has ended, however, the projectiles will continue on their intended path, so caution must be used.

Record

“Your actions are recorded for a few seconds and then replayed. During playback, you will see a copy of yourself repeating what you just did.”

RECORD, or REC, copies the player's actions for a set amount of time, rewinds, then plays backs the player’s actions via a glowing green copy of themselves. The player is invincible while they are being recorded, and enemies only see the copy. If the player tries to pick up coins, time crystals or cat medals, it will NOT go to the player. In MOTAS, coins, time crystals or medals cannot be obtained by the player during recording at all. In Versus Mode, REC makes an invincible copy of the player and their teammates who chase after the opponents. If the player is hit during the REC, the time control will stop.

Slow

“Time slows to a crawl for everything but you.”

SLOW slows down the flow of time at half speed. If the player uses a time control combo, with SLOW in the combo, the time combo will last 20 seconds instead of 10.

Retry

A RETRY rewinds time, including the player, to a point in which they were seconds away from incapacitation. It basically acts as an extra life. In MOTAS, it still works the same way, but additionally, your character uses a RETRY when their health bar is depleted. Another change in the second game is that it prompts the player to use the RETRY within 10 seconds, rather than automatically activating, else they can choose to be restarted back to the last checkpoint.

Upgrades

In Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Blinx can hold up to three time controls at the beginning. Each shop each sell one time holder, allowing Blinx to hold an extra time control. If all the time holders are purchased, Blinx can hold up to ten time controls.

The retry has a special holder called a retry holder. Blinx can hold up to three retries at the beginning of the first game. If all the retry holders are purchased, Blinx can hold nine retries (based on the myth that cats have nine lives).

In Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space, each sweeper can hold two of each time control, which can be increased by purchasing time bowls. The max number of each time control is determined by the sweeper's level:

  • LV1 sweepers can hold up to 3 of each Time Control.
  • LV2 sweepers can hold up to 4 of each Time Control.
  • LV3 sweepers can hold up to 5 of each Time Control.

Time Combos

Time Combos were introduced in Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space. The player can only use it after they have earned a Rank 4 Badge. Combo Cartridges can be bought for 1000G from Jimmy at the Shop then added to sweepers as an upgrade so that they can utilise time combos. Time combos cannot be used in Versus Mode.

  • REW + FF (The entire world is rewinded, while the player is at double speed or just simply FF'ed.)
  • REW + PAUSE (Unusual. The entire world is rewinded, while the time at the upper left corner stands still, paused.)
  • REW + REC (The entire world is rewinded, while the player is recorded and played back.)
  • REW + SLOW (The entire world is Rewinded slowly instead of rapidly. Not very useful, but it lasts 20 seconds.)
  • FF + PAUSE (The player moves at double speed, while the entire world is paused.)
  • FF + REC (The player is FF'ed and recorded, then played back. Both the player and the record copy is FF'ed.)
  • FF + SLOW (The player is FF'ed, while the entire world is slowed down.)
  • PAUSE + REW (Again, unusual but unlike REW + PAUSE, the entire world is paused, while the time at the upper left corner is rewinded instead.)
  • PAUSE + REC (The player's actions are recorded and played back, while the entire world is paused.)
  • PAUSE + SLOW (The entire world is paused, while the time at the corner is slowed down.)
  • REC + SLOW (The player's actions are recorded and played back, while the world is at half speed.)
  • SLOW+ PAUSE​ (Unlike PAUSE + SLOW, the world around the player slows down, while the time is being paused.)

Reactives

Reactives are special Time Controls which are only used when a split-second decision is needed. For example, if a barrage of cluster missiles or flaming arrows have been fired at the player. Reactives aren't activated by the player themselves; instead, it is the supervisors (specifically the Operator for the player) that provides the reactive.

Reactives only exist in either the PAUSE or SLOW variety. When a PAUSE Reactive is used, players can simply walk out of the way of the danger, sweep up the missiles or arrows, or said missiles or arrows can be knocked down.

When a SLOW Reactive is used, there will be a series of arrows pointing left, right, or down as the missiles/arrows fly towards the player. Players must use the left thumbstick and point in the same direction of the arrows fast enough and in order to dodge the missiles or arrows.

Notes

Credit to Fox Chaotica for creating the Time Control images and Time Factory font.

Last updated on 05 Feb 2023