Basics

VI (Vitality): This is your life meter, which is displayed in the lowerleft-hand corner. It increases after you complete the stages. If it runs out, you die. If you happen to be holding a holy cup, your life will be refilled.

SP (Special points): These are the red diamonds directly below your life meter. These are used up whenever your partner uses a special move. Those are done by pressing X.

MP: This is displayed next to your life meter. When you start to acquire the guardians, you can summon them with the B button. Press L or R to select between the guardians while in battle.

Charge Meter: Below the MP. Hold Y until the meter is flashing to do a special attack. This varies with the guardian blade you have selected.

EXP: Gain a certain amount of points to gain an extra continue.

Continues (the little blue guy with a number next to it): Once you die, you will have a choice of continuing from the room you died in (except bosses) or go back to the title screen. When these run out, and select continue, you will start back at the beginning of the stage, and lose all your stage items.