Let me tell you about my journey through Jili Golden Empire - it's been quite the ride since I first discovered this game last month. I've probably sunk about 80 hours into it already, which is either impressive or concerning depending on who you ask. When I started, I had no idea how the character system worked, and honestly, I wish someone had given me the kind of guide I'm about to share with you. The game does a pretty poor job explaining its mechanics, so consider this your unofficial manual to unlocking everything Jili Golden Empire has to offer.

First things first - you need to understand how character progression works. Throughout your adventure, you'll encounter various allies fighting alongside the Contra forces. Now here's the interesting part that took me way too long to figure out: most of these characters become playable eventually, either through natural story progression or by purchasing them from the in-game shop. I remember meeting Bill early on and thinking he was just an NPC, only to discover three chapters later that I could actually play as him. The shop system is located in the central hub area, though it's somewhat hidden behind the weapon upgrade station - took me about five hours of gameplay to even notice it was there.

When it comes to unlocking characters, I've developed a system that works pretty well. Focus on completing main story missions first, as this naturally unlocks about 60% of the roster. The remaining characters require in-game currency, which brings me to my next point: farming credits efficiently. I found that replaying the "Desert Outpost" mission yields about 500 credits per run if you collect all hidden chests, and it only takes about seven minutes to complete. Do that a few times while watching your favorite show, and you'll have enough to buy those premium characters in no time.

Now let's talk about what makes each character unique - their specialized abilities. Each character has a single special skill available for purchase in the shop, and this is where things get interesting. Bill gets this fantastic short dash that provides invulnerability frames - seriously, it saved me countless times during boss fights. Lance has a higher double jump that opens up new exploration possibilities. These abilities transform what initially appears as identical army-men action figures into distinctly different gameplay experiences. I personally prefer Lance because that extra jump height lets me sequence break and find hidden areas the developers probably didn't intend players to access early.

Here's my controversial take though - while the special abilities introduce some mechanical reasoning for choosing your main character, most players will ultimately pick based on which character model they like looking at the most. I've talked to about twenty other players in Discord communities, and 75% of them admitted they chose their primary character for aesthetic reasons rather than strategic ones. The differences between characters simply aren't substantial enough to provide any true strategic advantage in most situations. That being said, I do think certain characters work better for specific mission types - Bill's dash is incredible for bullet-hell sections, while Lance's jump excels in platform-heavy areas.

What surprised me during my playthrough was how much these small differences affected my enjoyment. Switching from Bill to Lance completely changed how I approached certain sections, even if the core gameplay remained identical. The character abilities add just enough variety to keep things fresh without overwhelming players with complex mechanics. My recommendation? Try out at least three different characters before settling on a main. The game gives you enough starting currency to purchase two shop characters immediately after completing the tutorial section.

One thing I wish I'd known earlier is that character abilities can be upgraded, though the game never explicitly tells you this. After purchasing a character's base ability, return to the shop after reaching level 15 with that character, and you'll find enhanced versions available. Bill's dash goes from 0.3 seconds of invulnerability to 0.7 seconds - a massive improvement that makes later boss fights significantly more manageable. These upgrades cost substantial amounts of currency though, so choose wisely which characters you want to invest in.

Looking back at my time with Jili Golden Empire, unlocking the secrets of its character system fundamentally changed how I experienced the game. What initially seemed like a straightforward action title revealed surprising depth in its approach to player choice and customization. While the differences between characters may not be game-breaking, they provide just enough variety to encourage experimentation and personal expression. After testing all available characters, I've settled on Lance as my personal favorite - though your mileage may vary depending on your playstyle. The true beauty of Jili Golden Empire's system lies in how these small variations create meaningful choices without complicating the core experience, proving that sometimes the smallest secrets unlock the most satisfying discoveries.