**This is a SPOILER FREE guide, so no worries about a character's purpose or story being ruined for you!!**

Featured below are the playable characters that are found throughout Calvino Noir; each one is able to run, walk/sneak, hide, and use a flashlight.

But, each character also has a unique trait that makes the game even more interesting - and easier, more creative to traverse.

Wilt

Wilt is the first (and main) character you will play as in Calvino Noir.

His unique ability is to Take Down Guards.
Which means that, if your timing is right, Wilt can sneak up - or dash up to - just about any guard in the immediate area. Getting close to a guard (preferably from behind!) will reveal a [Fist] icon, this means that Wilt can use a harmless choke-hold on a guard and knock them out, allowing him and his teammates to move about more freely without the worry of being detected.

But, be careful!

-If Wilt runs up to a guard head-on, and isn't fast enough, he'll be shot on the spot.

-If Wilt grapples with a guard on a ladder (either he, or the guard is on one), there's a good chance that he'll be overpowered and shot dead.

-If Wilt lets go of the guard while they are still alerted (if you click on a door, or double-click the [Fist] icon) to him, he'll be shot dead.

-If Wilt takes down one guard, and alerts another due to the noise, they'll come down to investigate and they will shoot him dead. However, and this is a matter of timing, there's a couple of ways to take down one guard and then the other once they're down - all without dying!
(Taking the first guard down and running away, hiding behind a hiding spot, or closing a door and waiting for a guard to come close to the door before slamming through and taking them down that way, etc.)

Safest Ways To Take Down Guards

-Have Wilt stand in front of a closed door (if it opens when he walks/runs up to it, click on the door icon to close it again), and see if a nearby guard is within sight/hearing range; then you can open and close a door/hatch or turn on/off your flashlight to get their attention. Once they're close, and a [Fist] icon is visible, you can click on the icon and run up to them and take them down. (But be sure your Speed stats are leveled up decently, otherwise Wilt will be too slow to get to them - and will be shot)

-Have Wilt sneak up behind a guard by walking, don't run!
When the [Fist] icon is visible, that's your time to react, and do it quickly!

**I personally find that it's almost always best to have Wilt scout ahead and take down all the guards first before exploring for coins with the flashlight, or joining up with his teammates. This will prevent confusion or excessive noise that could attract a guard's attention!

Siska

Siska is the second playable character you will encounter, almost immediately after you start the game.

Siska's unique ability is Lock Picking.
Siska can pick locks on doors, which can open up hiding places, secret spots to find hidden coins, or open up another path to help make the mission easier to progress. Look for a [Picked Lock] icon, this is a door that is locked and only she can open!

In addition to her lock-picking skills, Siska can also Peek Through Keyholes.
Siska is one of the few characters that can sneak up close to a door and peek through a keyhole, this reveals the layout of the room inside and any guards, as well. This is the safest approach when exploring, because this won't alert guards since the door isn't being opened/slammed closed!

The downside to her ability is that her lock-picking skills do take a bit of time to work, it takes roughly twenty to thirty seconds for her to open a lock.
But, don't worry, she's as silent as a mouse and her work won't alert any guards!

**Just be sure that Wilt has taken down any nearby guards so that Siska can open locks without the risk of detection. If she and/or Wilt is spotted by a guard, they'll both be shot dead and it's Game Over!

"The Mole"

The Mole is the third character you encounter.

The Mole's unique ability is Being Invisible To Guards.
This means that, as a "Mole", he has a legitamate cover and is able to walk by - and through - guards without alerting them. For most of the game, he will be safe amongst them...

Although, there is a slight flaw in this ability.
If The Mole is seen with any other character who doesn't share his ability (Wilt, Siska, etc.), they'll both be shot dead due to association. He works better alone.

**The Mole is most useful in scouting ahead to open doors (which reveals the layout of each room, previously unseen/unknown to the player), find hidden coins, and help players get a feel for the layout of the area and the location and moving patterns of each guard.

Arno

Arno is the fourth character you encounter in the game.

Arno's unique ability is Operating Machinery.
Arno will sometimes be required to examine certain pieces of equipment and help explain their purpose to his teammates. Also, he can use levers, valves, and switches. Look for a [Valve] icon, this is something that only he can operate!

**Arno's ability really only serves for key events during missions. So, like with Siska, it's best to clear a way through guards - as Wilt - and have Arno do what he does best - which then progresses the story.

The most important tip of all is remembering to Upgrade Your Character's Stats every once in awhile!

You can do this by going into the Main Menu and clicking on Progress, this page displays your most frequent playable characters (Wilt, Siska, and Arno - no other characters can be improved!)


All the coins you collect, upon finding them with the flashlight and picking them up, is what you use to buy upgrades. You can only improve your character's Speed and Sneak traits. Speed allows them to move and run faster (they will get louder if they run, however). Sneak allows them to walk and sneak a bit more quietly, their footsteps are less detectable.

**Be forewarned, if you are continuing a game after accessing the main menu - either to change option preferences, or to work on upgrading characters - you'll be put back in the game at your LAST check point; the game won't pause in place if you go to the menu!!

Various Tips

-The [Chain] icon is a way for the characters to 'link up' as a group and move together.
This is helpful for when you need everyone to investigate [Magnifying Glass Icon] together.
Just be aware, they'll walk and run if you do, and they could be louder than you are.
Also, if you're all together, it's a lot harder to sneak around guards since someone in the group is bound to be spotted. It's better to move one character at a time!!
(Clicking on the icon once will join nearby partner(s), clicking again will disband everyone!)

-Use your flashlight wisely!
Sometimes, a guard can spot a character if their flashlight is on, even if they're on the other side of a door or are standing just one floor below a guard, or if a door or hatch is left open.
It's better to use Wilt to clear nearby guards away first before you use your flashlight to highlight hidden coins!

-Use check points wisely!
Calvino Noir has a check point system. And These are activated if a certain [Magnifying Glass] icon is examined - a key event. Usually, all the characters have to be present to examine it.
I find that it's a lot better to have Wilt clear as many guards as possible BEFORE hitting that check point. This way, if you die, a good portion of the guards will still be gone if you have to restart from the last check point.

-Be careful when running!
The only time you might want to run, is to have characters catch up with their teammates or scale stairs faster to save time. If you run when there's a guard nearby, their Suspicion Meter will go up and there's a risk they'll try searching for you!
This is more useful for The Mole, since he doesn't have to worry about being spotted by guards.
Or, if Wilt has taken care of all the nearby guards in a close proximity of the path you plan to run through, you can run without worrying about being detected.