Crystal Castles FAQ(Atari 2600) version 1.0.0 copyright 2002 by Andrew Schultz schultza@earthlink.net Please do not reproduce for profit without my consent. If you wish to do so then please write to me asking for specific games and addressing my by my first name. Thanks! **** AD SPACE **** My web page: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/2762 ================================ 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. FLUFF AND STUFF 1.2. IN-FAQ TERMINOLOGY AND MEA CULPA 2. CONTROLS 3. POINTS 4. YOUR ENEMIES AND SLOWING THEM DOWN 4.1. TREES 4.2. GEM EATERS 4.3. CRYSTAL BALLS 4.4. THE UNDEAD 4.5. BEES 4.6. BERTHILDA 5. STRATEGIES FOR MOVING AROUND 6. LEVEL BY LEVEL 6.1. LEVEL 1 6.1.1. LEVEL 1-1 6.1.2. LEVEL 1-2 6.1.3. LEVEL 1-3 6.1.4. LEVEL 1-4 6.2. LEVEL 2 6.2.1. LEVEL 2-1 6.2.2. LEVEL 2-2 6.2.3. LEVEL 2-3 6.2.4. LEVEL 2-4 6.3. LEVEL 3 6.3.1. LEVEL 3-1 6.3.2. LEVEL 3-2 6.3.3. LEVEL 3-3 6.3.4. LEVEL 3-4 6.4. LEVEL 4 6.4.1. LEVEL 4-1 6.4.2. LEVEL 4-2 6.4.3. LEVEL 4-3 6.4.4. LEVEL 4-4 6.5. LEVEL 5 6.5.1. LEVEL 5-1 6.5.2. LEVEL 5-2 6.5.3. LEVEL 5-3 6.5.4. LEVEL 5-4 6.6. LEVEL 6 6.6.1. LEVEL 6-1 6.6.2. LEVEL 6-2 6.6.3. LEVEL 6-3 6.6.4. LEVEL 6-4 6.7. LEVEL 7 6.7.1. LEVEL 7-1 6.7.2. LEVEL 7-2 6.7.3. LEVEL 7-3 6.7.4. LEVEL 7-4 6.8. LEVEL 8 6.8.1. LEVEL 8-1 6.8.2. LEVEL 8-2 6.8.3. LEVEL 8-3 6.8.4. LEVEL 8-4 6.9. LEVEL 9 6.9.1. LEVEL 9-1 6.9.2. LEVEL 9-2 7. LEVEL DUPLICATION CHART 8. VERSIONS 9. CREDITS ================================ 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. FLUFF AND STUFF Crystal Castles was originally a quirky--if a bit unfair--video game. It did so many things right and had so many good ideas, but it also had super-monsters which could wipe you out and hellish controls where you used a trak-ball to move in a 2-d grid. The Atari 2600 version is a bit toned down; a lot of the special effects(between-level and dying pyrotechnics as well as the cool titles) were well beyond its capacity, and the 3-d view is gone. In place are reasonable controls, fair rules, and some surprisingly thought-provoking puzzles. You still have some nice geometric shapes for levels and although there is a bit more level repetition here in terms of maze design, the repeated levels often add new and tougher monsters, requiring a substantially different approach. Add this to your ability to start on a very easy to very hard level and the game's quite good. Even the controls' quirkiness worked in its favor in the long term; it brands this game as a genuine original and forces considerable non-linear thought. Often I found myself saying 'This level is impossible to win without tanking a life or two.' Most of the time I was proved wrong. I think this is one of the best Atari games out there although I'm a bit biased towards maze games. I'm honestly not sure quite how many levels there are; if I can find a way to hack to get infinite lives, I'll definitely give it a shot. However there seem to be 12 maps up to wave 9-1 as opposed to 15 maps total in Crystal Castles(arcade.) With a few more maps this would have been a wonderful game and I would have cared even less about some of the game's nuisances. But you can only do so much with 8k and the ones that are there are quite clever. 1.2. IN-FAQ TERMINOLOGY AND MEA CULPA I use several terms interchangeably, which the reader may find annoying. Sorry, but I can only warn you. wave/level: technically a level in general is a scene that disappears when you've picked everything up. Here the levels are divided into four waves as in the video game. Usually when I say level I mean wave. crystal ball/bowling ball: gem eater/centipede: --both of these are my names for the original monsters in the Arcade version. Blissfully unaware of the demo screen, I just called them what I thought they looked like and never have kicked the habit. 2. CONTROLS Controlling Bentley is a bit odd. He can go in any eight of the standard directions and jump as well, but you need to be aware of a few of the game's nuances. Moving up/down: It's easier for Bentley to pick up gems in the general vicinity since they are wide and he takes out a good horizontal span too, but Bentley's vertical movements are slow. He can still outrun monsters on the lower levels this way, but by level six it's pretty much curtains if he tries this. He'll need to get used to moving diagonally. Moving left/right: Bentley moves quickly this way, but it can be irritating to pick up a bunch of gems at once. If he walks just above a gem or a bit below, he misses it. Moving diagonally: this is the best way for Bentley to move. Of course it is not obvious to the beginner, and Bentley doesn't even move at a 45 degree angle. It's more like 30 degrees from the horizontal. However, most gems are aligned at this queer angle as well, and with a bit of faith you can learn to control Bentley through them. Some are aligned at 60 degrees though and for them you may need to jiggle between up/down and the appropriate diagonal to run through them. This is a good strategy for vertical walking as well. Jumping: There are quirks in this that help and hurt Bentley. First of all, he cannot jump over an obstacle that blocks him or an enemy from walking. This is a problem if an enemy is at the edge and Bentley tried to jump over it. Oops! The best trick Bentley has at his disposal is when he is on an elevator or about to board one. If a monster is coming for him and he really wants to catch the elevator, he can jump to freeze the monster and give himself an easier ride. Also if a monster is waiting at the bottom of an elevator ride, Bentley can jump just before he touches ground and over the monster. Be warned that Bentley can never change direction in mid- jump, though. Beware of jumping vertically. It doesn't get you far as Bentley jumps vertically as slowly as he moves. 3. POINTS Tallying points is pretty simple. 3000 for capturing Berthilda while you have the hat 1000 for the honey 500 for getting the hat of invisibility 500 for each gem eater you nail while they are eating 1 points for the first gem you eat 2 for the 2nd and so on up to 99. In the arcade game the maximum per gem is 99 but the boards aren't big enough on the Atari to verify this. 1000 + (wave # -1)*100 for getting the last gem. You should usually be able to do this. You get an extra Bentley at every 20000 points, and one thing to note is that you should get at least 20000 points per level cycle after the first. Approximate point totals for level 1: (1500 for the board + 500 for a gem eater you walk over while eating it) * 4 = 8000 Berthilda = 3000 Some honey and the hat = 3000(increases during later levels) 1000+1100+1200+1300 for solving the waves = 4600 Total=18600 The final gem bonus increases by 1600 per level on each successive wave. These are all conservative estimates. 4. YOUR ENEMIES AND SLOWING THEM DOWN In general enemies get faster on higher levels, forcing your strategies to become more precise. But you can still always outrun them 4.1. TREES Trees eat gems they walk over with no delay. You can jump back and forth over these characters to pause them, especially handy if you're waiting for an elevator. As they head for you, you can often freeze them and maneuver behind an obstacle; they'll try to run at you and get stuck. Often with several trees you can dupe all but one of them. If you still need to wait for an elevator, just jump back and forth over the lone straggler. It's best to line up a tree horizontally to jump over it as it's a bit tricky to judge things diagonally. Also be careful about jumping over a tree when it is near an edge. You will freeze it, drop on it...and die. Trees also wait by elevators and you may need to use the jump timing trick to get past them. It's possible to jump over a tree diagonally but the Atari doesn't lend itself to 3-d vision too well so I prefer to line them up horizontally(vertically? Forget it, too slow and jumps don't cover enough ground.) Jumping over trees while wearing the hat of invisibility does not slow them down. 4.2. GEM EATERS Try to get rid of these guys as early as you can. That's right, get rid of them. When a gem eater digests a gem you can walk over it, kill it, and get 500 points in the process. The risk is of course that if you are too late Berthilda may be able to make herself a new bearskin rug, and you will probably need practice with diagonal movement to reduce this possibility. Since the gem eaters move randomly but generally gravitate towards you slowly, the beginning of the level is the best time to try to nail one--the most gems are still around. They eat gems more quickly on later levels so beware. You can also freeze them by jumping over them. Note that, the earlier in the level it is, the more likely gem eaters may find gems, and the easier it is to get to them. Plus once they find a gem they seem to develop a scent for others. Don't waste time getting settled in, but if the monster is going through a row of gems, don't be ashamed to time your run for your own safety. Also note that if you have the hat of invincibility you cannot eat gem eaters. Another reason to save it. 4.3. CRYSTAL BALLS Crystal balls eat gems they walk across but are swayed by the laws of momentum and are much slower than everyone else. They chase after you rather slowly and screech a bit to a halt. So although you don't freeze them jumping over them, they still need a lot of time to recover. They are not particularly common or dangerous although they can get to be nuisances in tandem with other monsters. Best thing to do is to get them to follow you behind a barrier and run to the other side. They'll then run into the barrier trying to chase you. 4.4. THE UNDEAD These guys move randomly and don't seem to follow you. They don't eat gems either. They're the least annoying of the monsters; you have skeletons or ghosts. 4.5. BEES Bees start off not coming down much and staying for a short time before temporarily disappearing. If you take too long on the level, though, they will start to move around and even appear in different spots. Often they will start off confined or near the honey, which you can pick up to discourage later appearances as well. They are rather fast and cannot be slowed down although they don't eat gems. Jumping tends to shoo them. On one castle level they are a particular annoyance as they move around a honey pot over a sole gem at the top of a tower--a bit of timing luck may be required. 4.6. BERTHILDA Berthilda only appears on the fourth wave of a level and always moves in a predictable cyclic pattern. She's easy to nab in the first few levels; you can destroy her by wearing the hat and touching her. Later on you'll need to time an elevator so you can climb down and get to her before invincibility wears off. 5. STRATEGIES FOR MOVING AROUND Beware monsters as they drop down to start the level. Don't move around unless you know where they'll drop. You're relatively safe where you land, but if you move, the Atari is merciless. Note that if a gem eater is eating below you, or you need to get to an eleavtor above, a straight line is not the quickest distance between two points. Judicious zigzagging should cut down the time needed. Pure diagonal zigzagging(i.e. downright/downleft/etc.) is good for experts but down/diagonal works OK as well. Don't ever feel you have to clear the whole board on your own or even touch every region. Often monsters will clear a certain part by the elevators leaving you with less of a job to do. Remember you're not graded on how many gems you get as much as on if you got the last one. Higher levels have annoying graphic flicker. Monsters can seem to vanish. Keep track of roughly where all of them are to avoid nasty surprises. Elevators are the TOUGHEST PART OF THE GAME TO JUDGE. Obviously it's a bit easier to go down than up as the elevator appears at the bottom and goes up shortly thereafter. However when more become operational they can move around randomly on some levels. You'll often have to wait a bit or even sucker monsters away and return later. Crystal balls should be suckered to a place where they'll be blocked from you. You'll also want to time jumping back and forth over any trees chasing you so that you are at the foot of the elevator when it might be going up(i.e. the same time another elevator seems to be going down.) Caterpillars are actually the toughest; on an elevator-heavy level you'll want to get rid of them ASAP. It's also tough to land from an elevator with a monster waiting, but remember you can jump before you land. Once the elevator lands, the game will allow your jump to have direction. I'm not sure if this is a bug but it is a handy and elegant solution to some problems this game poses. 6. LEVEL BY LEVEL Monsters get faster each level, bees drop down more quickly, trees recover in less time, and gem eaters eat faster in each subsequent level. Note: I often don't map out elevators that don't work. There's no real cohesion among waves in any one level, and from what I know there are 12 unique maps. LEDGER FOR MAPS + = gem /\* = wall ^v = working elevator (honey, hat not shown yet) 6.1. LEVEL 1 6.1.1. LEVEL 1-1 *** *** * + *** + * * +*+ +*+ * * +*** ***+ * * +**** ****+ * * +***** *****+ * * +***** *****+ * * +*** + + ***+ * * +**+ +**+ * * ++ + + ++ * * +**+ +**+ * * +****+ +****+ * * +*****+ +*****+ * * +*****+ +*****+ * * +***+ *** +***+ * * +*+ ***** +*+ * * + ******* + * * + ***** + * * + *** + * * * ******* Enemies: 3 crystal balls Background: blue This level is easy enough to muddle your way through as the crystal balls are very slow and get stuck a lot; however, you can learn some important strategies here. The first one is to try to get as many gems as you can with an obstacle between you and the crystal balls. This is a good place to practice diagonal movement as you can often move halfway around an obstacle to avoid a chasing ball. Frequently you can block out all three crystal balls. As for picking up the gems the ones on the edge are pretty easy. You may have a small problem with the ones in the center as the crystal balls may be trapped there, but you can sucker the crystal balls to come chasing after you by coming out from behind your barrier. Jump over them and less around in the middle. You may also have to pick up a gem on one of the paths to the center; you should be able to cut in and pick up a gem and go back to the edge, or you can jump any ball that decides to chase you. 6.1.2. LEVEL 1-2 Enemies: 4 trees Background: grey *** *+ +* *+ +* *+ + + +* *+ + + +* *+ + + + + +* *+ + + + + +* *+ + + + + +* *+ + + +* *+ + + +* *+ +* *+ + + +* * + ^ + * * + *^* + * * + * ^ * + * * + * + + * + * * + * + + * + * * + * + + + + * + * * +* + + + + * + * * + * + + + + * + * * ++* + + *++ * * + * + + * + * * + * * + * * ++* *++ * * + + * * + + * ***** The corridors provide free points and a great way to perfect your diagonal movements picking up a lot of gems in a row, especially timing the zig-zags. You'll also want to see if you can trap the trees; they are a bit tougher than the caterpillars, and you may want to practice jumping back and forth over a tree to paralyze it, picking up some gems, and repeating the process. There's a lot of gems diagonally from each other in a row at the top and bottom of the elevator, so try diagonal moves there as well. Just to get through the level you may want to clear out the top, go around a corridor to the bottom, get all the gems, and go around the other corridor back to the top to complete the level. Don't worry about trees coming down the elevator. They'll try to line up vertically and most of the time you won't be under the elevator. 6.1.3. LEVEL 1-3 * * * * * * * + * * + * * + + * * + + * * + + + *** + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + * * + + + + * * + + **v** + + * * + + ***v*** + + * * + + ****v**** + + * * + *** *** + * *v***+ +***v* v**+ + + +**v **v*+ + *** + +*v** * + + + * * + + + * * + + * * + + * * + * * + * * * * * * * Background: blue Enemies: 1 skeleton, 3 gem eaters Here is the first level where you have to use the elevators. It's also the first one where you'll face a skeleton. It's a good idea here to try to wipe out the caterpillars as they eat stuff. You can then have a free ride through the top part except for a few seconds where a skeleton might be too close to you. Learn to combine 1)timing when the gem eaters eat the gem(they tend to go after gems in a row) with 2)taking the right diagonal movement towards them. If you don't have this down try the following. For instance, if you see one eating a gem, go and take a gem that is diagonal(as you move) from them. Then wait for them to eat the next gem and run diagonally at them; if you think you'll wind up a bit above or below then switch your diagonal movement accordingly. The elevator pattern is left/center/right/center/etc. If the gem eater below is hanging around too much, jump before you are about to leave and direct yourself away. You'll land with lots of breathing space. Obviously if you wipe out the gem eaters above you should have no problem getting down(be sure to have cleared the gems first as well) but if they're still around, wait 'til they're on one side and run all the way to the other. First, go where the caterpillars ain't--to the lower right. This will give them something to eat easily, and you'll be more likely to eliminate them quickly. Note this level is something of a regular grid, but rotated 45 degrees and stretched horizontally. So if you change your diagonal direction when you step on a gem, you'll probably still run into a place where a gem is(or was) for a bit. 6.1.4. LEVEL 1-4 * * * * * * * + * * + * * + + * + + * * + + + + + + * * + * + + * + * * + + + + + + * * + * * + * * **+ +** * ***+ +*** *+*v*+* *+ *v* +* *+ *v* +* *+ **v** +* *+ **v** +* *+ ***v*** +* *+ *** *** +* *+ ** ** +* *+ + + +* *+ + + + + +* * * ** + + ** * + + * ************* Background: darkish blue Enemies: Berthilda, 2 caterpillars This is actually an easy level compared to the other three once you have some familiarity with diagonal movement. Avoiding the hat of invincibility right away may maximize ease and total points; Berthilda's not up to much, so focus on getting rid of the caterpillars. The rows of gems on the sides of the elevator are the toughest bit. You'll need to stagger between down and down/right(or down/left) to pick them up in one swoop. It's not too bad and there is more room for error than you might think. For the rest of the gems below you can probably just move straight left/right. Once that's done just get the hat and anticipate where Berthilda will wind up. 'Greet' her for an extra 3000 points. Oh yeah, and get the honey too. 6.2. LEVEL 2 6.2.1. LEVEL 2-1 *** * * * * * + + * * + *^* + * * + **^** + * * + * + + * + * * + * + + * + * * * + + + + * * * + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + * * + * * + ***^*** + * * + ****^**** + * * + *****^***** + * * + *****^***** + * * + ** + ^ + ** + * * + + + + + + * * ++ + + ++ * * + + + + * * + + * * + + * ******* Enemies: 3 caterpillars First of all note how the elevators go: top one, bottom one, top one, bottom one. Nothing random yet. Watch for picking up the invincibility hat too soon. I suggest going right and then down/right and trying to pick off both the caterpillars in the lower part before taking it. You should be able to clear all the gems on the bottom away with the caterpillars nowhere near you(if indeed you don't just walk over them--but they are a bit quicker now) although you may have to dodge a few times to make this happen. If you've passed through the first level it should be no problem to get the corridors of gem. Getting the last gem here may be a bit of a nuisance. The caterpillar at the top may eat all of his before you can get there--if so, great. If not, and it has one or two left, you may wish to leave one below especially if the caterpillars below are wiped out. If you must go upstairs, try to jump over the caterpillar to get the gems on his side first before going to the other--that clears you for the last-gem bonus and you'll have to face him anyway. Also be sure you get the invincibility hat before all gems are gone. 6.2.2. LEVEL 2-2 *** * * * + + * * ++ ++ * * * + + * * * + * * + * * + + *^* + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + * * + + * * + ^ + * * + *^* + * * + * ^ * + * * + * + + * + * * + * + + * + * *+ * + + + + * +* *+ *+ + + +* +* *+ * + + + + * +* * + * + + * + * * + * + + * + * * + * * + * *+ * * +* *+ +* *+ +* *+ +* *** Enemies: 5 caterpillars. The corridors here are a bit odd and although this seems similar to 2- 1 or 1-2 the number of caterpillars can be annoying. However one seems to come diagonally up each corridor, making it easy picking if you time things right. The main thing about this level is that if you compartmentalize it seems a bit easier, e.g.: --clear out bottom enclosed part --clear out corridors --clear out left upper --clear out right upper --clear out 'top' i.e. small part accessible only by elevator Since these areas are relatively compartmentalized you shouldn't have caterpillars chasing you around too much, although even if you're not an expert at killing them, you have some responsibility to go after the greediest one(there's always one, often two, at the start of the level) and kill it while it's eating so your life isn't too hectic. The honey at the top of the bottom part is worth getting of course. That will also stop the bees from mucking about in that area. They can get annoying. The top part should be left to last as in such tight quarters the caterpillar may walk over you while you're waiting for an elevator down. This may cause you to miss the last-gem bonus but it seems the safest way. 6.2.3. LEVEL 2-3 * * * * * * * + ***** + * * + + + + * * + * +*^*+ * + * * + **+ *^* +** + * * + ** +**^**+ ** + * * ** + * ^ * + ** * * * +* + + *+ * * * + *+ * +* + * * + + *** + + * * + + *** + + * * + * + * + * + * * + *+* + + *+* + * * + +* *+ + * * + +*^*+ + * * + +^+ + * * + + * * + + * ******* Enemies: 4 caterpillars The hat of invisibility at the base of the elevator should be avoided while starting out. Try to knock off caterpillars in the bottom corridors. There's another long line of gems on a diagonal that you can't quite move through. Again, move down half the time and down- diagonally the other half. There should be no need to use the central elevator(the others don't work.) Early on you may be able to catch caterpillars in the upper diagonal parts as they are eating gems as well. You'll need to loop around the bottom middle a bit but the hat is great for cleaning up random gems if caterpillars seem to be hanging around. 6.2.4. LEVEL 2-4 *** *** * + *** + * * +*+ +*+ * * +*** ***+ * * +**** ****+ * * +***** *****+ * * +***** *****+ * * +*** + + ***+ * * +**+ +**+ * * ++ + + ++ * * +**+ +**+ * * +****+ +****+ * * +*****+ +*****+ * * +*****+ +*****+ * * +***+ *** +***+ * * +*+ ***** +*+ * * + ******* + * * + ***** + * * + *** + * * * ******* Enemies: 2 crystal balls, 1 caterpillar, Berthilda This level is structurally equivalent to level 1-1 but the appearance of Berthilda makes it a bit more lucrative, and the different monsters allow a different approach. Save her 'til last, memorizing her regular pattern and anticipating it after you sucker the bowling balls well away; in the meantime the caterpillar should have found a corridor where you can run it down for 500 points. You may want to save the middle 'til last because Berthilda is there, but in the meantime you can duck into the side corridors and out to clear all of them. Again practice your diagonal movements on the side corridors. 6.3. LEVEL 3 6.3.1. LEVEL 3-1 * * * * * * * + * * + * * + + * * + + * * + + + *** + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + * * + + + + * * + + **v** + + * * + + ***v*** + + * * + + ****v**** + + * * + *** *** + * *v***+ +***v* v**+ + + +**v **v*+ + *** + +*v** * + + + * * + + + * * + + * * + + * * + * * + * * * * * * * Enemies: 4 caterpillars, 1 tree Elevator pattern: Left, Center, Right, Center, etc. This level's map is equivalent to 1-3. The second 'crossroad' level features a tree, and this is the first time a new monster definitely changes a level's complexion for the harder. The tree actively chases you, and as you must once wait for an elevator where it waits at the bottom, this can be a drag. As in level 1-3 you will want to look for caterpillars who are moving from gem to gem and eating constantly. Wipe them out. Once the top is done, you have three ways to get past the tree. (The caterpillar below may be wandering around too any you'll want to avoid that, and a similar strategy works.) 1. take the hat of invincibility before going down an elevator. Be sure it's coming up soon first. This is the first case where use of a hat of invincibility may be judicious. 2. Pin the tree by the center elevator. Since it tries to run after you as if there were no barriers, it will usually gravitate towards the center. You can then move to a side elevator. If it follows you too much, go to the center, pin it there, and go to the sides. It won't follow. 3. Climb down the elevator the tree is next to and jump before you hit the ground. You can jump over the tree to freeze it or jump away. 4. Let the tree up(move back and forth at the top of the elevator while it's at the bottom.) All three of these methods may be worth trying just so you get the hang of them as they can come in handy Expert players may forget to pick up the hat before they drop to the bottom, thus not maximizing their score. 6.3.2. LEVEL 3-2 Enemies: 1 tree, 3 caterpillars This level is a map duplicate of 2-1. Not much to add to 2-1. The tree adds a sense of urgency and in fact when you go to clear out the top, or even after you've cleared out the bottom sectioned off part, you may want to stick the tree in the bottom part. Lure it in, jump over it, and run out. 6.3.3. LEVEL 3-3 * * * * *+ +* * * * *+ +* * * * + *+ + + +* + * *^** + + **^* * ^ * + + * ^ * * + + * * + + * * + + *^* + + * * + + ^ + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + ** ** + * * + **** **** + * * + ** + + ** + * * +* + + *+ * * ++ + + ++ * * + + * * + + * ******* Enemies: 1 ghost, 1 bowling ball, 2 caterpillars Your first experience with 'the two towers' may be a daunting one. But there are ways of making it even more daunting, and the programmers/designers exploit them on later waves. You'll probably expend the most mental energy on how to get to the top of the towers and back without getting killed. The bowling ball comes after you to prevent you from an easy wait for the things, and the caterpillars can chase you randomly as well. The bowling ball is best disposed of by running to the bottom, letting it follow, and running to the top. You may have to do this a few times so be prepared. The first order of business is to clear the main part. The caterpillars are particularly unpredictable here so try to nail them quickly as they eat gems--of which there aren't many, and that works against you. Try not to touch the hat at the start or your work may be more difficult. 6.3.4. LEVEL 3-4 Enemies: 3 caterpillars, Berthilda This level's map is a duplicate of 1-2. This level presents a nice challenge in the form of getting Berthilda. Obviously it's quite a trek to run around the horn and get her after you've picked up the hat. It's a bit easier to pick up the hat, take the elevator down(don't go straight down--zigzag,) and knock her out. Of course first you may wish to clear the top part and get the caterpillar there too(watch out--you start close to the hat so if you pick it up, zigzag down to the elevator immediately.) Other than that you should know how to deal with caterpillars, so there is no further challenge. If you don't get Berthilda, just follow her at a safe distance to get the gems she walks over. Her cyclical path is big enough that this shouldn't be a problem. 6.4. LEVEL 4 Not only are the monsters getting faster, but the hat of invincibility is now more elusive! It bounces around which means you may need to time a run to get it. Fortunately you don't have to do anything too drastic but it is just another distraction to throw into the mix. Around this level it becomes virtually impossible to get the gem eaters while they're eating if you travel vertically. You should already have a grasp of diagonals if you've completed the first three levels, but they are very important now. Trees are becoming more prominent in these levels but when there is only one you can frequently trap it somewhere for a good portion of the level. 6.4.1. LEVEL 4-1 Duplicate map of 2-3. Enemies: 1 tree, 3 caterpillars This is a very easy level if you take steps to block the tree right away. Go left, up and around. The upper part of the level is now all yours and chances are a caterpillar will be hogging gems where you can get him easily. You can then go to the right(make sure you catch the tree again--maybe by the elevator--before moving further, as it may get loose.) 6.4.2. LEVEL 4-2 Duplicate map of 1-1 and 2-4. Enemies: 4 caterpillars, tree This is the first level where the flickering really gets annoying. I think the flickering is caused by the enemies going faster AND the number of them as this was not the case in previous waves with five or in 4-1. Going upper right is a good way to start. Nailing caterpillars is particularly nice here as it kills the flicker. You'll have to duck in and out even more than in 2-4 and 1-1. The tree is nastier at chasing you than the bowling ball, and you probably won't get all the caterpillars either. Jump to freeze them if you get in a bit of trouble. 6.4.3. LEVEL 4-3 Duplicate map of 1-4 Enemies: 2 trees, 2 caterpillars Going quickly to the left traps the trees. That leaves almost all of the bottom part open for you to hunt the caterpillars and so forth. Even when you must go to the top you can duck down quickly in the upper right area to get the trees stuck. You can go back to the left, jump over the trees to freeze them, and hide in the bottom of the upper left area to goad them into another dead end. Pick up the stray gems at will and you are done. 6.4.4. LEVEL 4-4 ***** * * * + + * * + + * * + + * *v* *v* * v**^**v * * + **^** + * * + * + + * + * * * + + * * *** + + + + *** * + + * + + * * + *** + * **^***^** * ^ ^ * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + * + + * + * * + * + + * + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + * * + + * ***** Enemies: 2 caterpillars, Berthilda, ghost This is the first genuinely nasty level and that is largely due to the design. There's a lot of stuff you need to do to get just a few gems. 'This puzzle is its own reward.' The first thing you must realize is that knocking off the caterpillars is in your best interest. Avoid the hat as you prey on the caterpillar in the middle level. It will be a nuisance if you can't kill it off. Then wait for an elevator down. This is not easy because you don't know which will pop up, so stand in the middle and when one starts to rise, get on it(if the caterpillar's there do the usual jump back and forth over it to freeze it.) Descend. Get the caterpillar there and go back up. Now with an elevator halfway down pick up the hat and wait for an elevator to the top. Hopefully you'll get lucky and get to Berthilda before the hat wears off. If not you need to tiptoe around her a bit to get all the gems. It's especially tricky to climb down the elevator with her waiting around. Here I suggest moving horizontally and quickly between the two elevators to get out of her way. Try to wait for the one on the left as the area on the right poses more problems, but if this takes too long(bees get really nasty here with ability to track you,) move to whichever one starts to go up first- -should have no problem catching it. Jump if you have to avoid Berthilda. Now there's a bit of chance involved in waiting to climb back up--you may again need to jump over her before you've reached the top, and it may also be necessary to jump over the ghost as you finish descending the elevator. If you are unfortunate and finish the right side of the top before the left, the ghost may be tough to tiptoe around in general and you may need to diagonal jump down-right and back if it gets too close to where you're waiting for the elevator back. 6.5. LEVEL 5 Again these levels are mostly copies of before but with emphasis on technique. You may find that since the monsters move around so quickly it is not so easy to get the end-of-level last-gem bonus. Watch concealed areas carefully for this. 6.5.1. LEVEL 5-1 This is a duplicate map of 2-2. Enemies: 5 caterpillars The bouncing hat may bug you. I think it's a good idea here to go diagonally down immediately and save the hat for if you need to go up to the top part; you may not. Other than that you can follow the advice in 2-2. Just be sure to time your runs at the gem eaters well and check the very top part to see if there is one gem left(you don't want to lose the last gem bonus.) 6.5.2. LEVEL 5-2 This is a duplicate map of 2-1 and 3-2. Enemies: 1 tree, 3 gem eaters Again, you just need to sharpen your technique here, using the barriers to block the tree out. Also you want to watch the very top-- don't clear the bottom out if there is just one gem on the top. That may forfeit your bonus. The elevators still move the same way too: left, center, right, center, repeat. 6.5.3. LEVEL 5-3 ***** * * * + + * * + *** + * * + * * + * * + * * + * * + * * + * *^** + + **^* *^* + *** + *^* *^* + * * + *^* * + * * + * * + * + + * + * *^* + + *^* *^*+ + + +*^* *^* + + *^* * * + + * * * + * * + * * + **^** + * * + *^* + * * + + * * + + * * + + * ******* Enemies: 1 tree, 4 gem eaters The first new level design in a few. First note the elevator paths: Near right, far right, center, near left, far left, center, repeat. Note the center top elevator is non-operational. This will help you decide when to go where. You probably don't need to clear the top out and it is a bit of a risk as well. In fact if you proceed through the bottom slowly, the top will be cleared and you should have the last-gem bonus easily without having to go anywhere much. If you go down/right quickly you'll make it to the bottom level. This should be easy to clear if you wait for the first center elevator; worry about the center area first, then clean out the bottom. Use the rule above to figure out the first elevators that will come up. Jump before you get off the first elevator and you might be able to get to the second(i.e. near right connecting to far right.) Getting the last gem is nontrivial here but if there is only one gem left in an area(i.e. the narrow strip where you access all of the elevators but one) you may want to head for that; if you get most of the other gems you may watch helplessly waiting for an elevator as the monsters get theirs. Judicious use of the hat here can work wonders. It can help you out of a jam as you take the elevator to the top, so you don't want to use it right away. Also when waiting for the far right elevator, don't wait under it, as the tree may follow you there. 6.5.4. LEVEL 5-4 Enemies: Berthilda, 4 caterpillars These towers are maybe not as bad as the first one. The reason is because the caterpillar on the very top will likely eat the gem on the left tower. This leaves you with one less elevator trip to deal with, and they are very risky. You can probably even afford to be fast and loose with when you pick up the hat although of course it would be nice to nail Berthilda. When using the elevator remember to jump in a direction away from the monsters before you land. I also recommend watching the caterpillar in the top center; if you haven't traveled to the center yet and he is close to eating all the gems you may want to wait in the upper right tower until he does. I'm not sure if you can jump, get the gem, and retreat from the right tower but as I recommend (this time around) going to the right tower last I won't worry about that too much. Recommended pattern: bottom part, get Berthilda, upper center(jump off elevator,) right tower after caterpillar eats gem in left tower, which should be very soon 6.6. LEVEL 6 Although this level seems to Git Tuff with a lot of trees, it is not soo bad. Too many trees gives you an advantage to focus on the trees' weaknesses. 6.6.1. LEVEL 6-1 Duplicate of 1-4 map. Enemies: 1 tree and 4 caterpillars As usual the tree can be goaded to beneath the false elevator. Then you systematically loot the various areas. The tree can always be re- lost and when you clear out the bottom you may want to freeze the tree in the center first to make sure it doesn't creep around. Annoying gem eaters floating around a gem are your biggest concern here if you've gotten this far without selecting level 6 to start. 6.6.2. LEVEL 6-2 Enemies: 5 trees Although trees are overall more annoying than caterpillars it helps the computer to have a blend of monsters to throw against you. Here you can just line up the trees, jump all over them, and run around to get gems for free. Caterpillars would at least force you to go to the 'ground game' to eat them up. Wait for trees to come at you and jump; the main problem here is if you freeze a tree too close to a gem. And be sure to leave a gem or two in a nook where you can pick it up to be the last one. 6.6.3. LEVEL 6-3 Duplicate of 1-3 map. Enemies: 5 trees This level is almost obscenely easy if you can survive the first couple of seconds when the trees are dropped. Hint: go right briefly and then down/right to give yourself some immediate breathing room. Now once all gems are gone from the top, lure all the trees to you. Stand around in the middle of the crossroad if necessary. Jump back and forth until all in the upper portion are frozen. Then head into a corner, lower left or right. Jump over them and head to the lower right or left. Now they won't annoy you as you wait for an elevator down. Once you've got it prepare to jump as you leave. Also watch the elevators above and be sure you don't cross them while they are at their peak; otherwise trees may come down to the bottom area and chase you. One is easy enough to deal with in the cramped quarters, but two can be tricky. You may also need to get back behind the lower tree you jumped to pick up the remaining gems as well. Goad it over to your side, jump, and go down. It's now trapped. 6.6.4. LEVEL 6-4 Duplicate of 2-3 map. Enemies: berthilda, tree, caterpillar, ghost Feel free to take out Berthilda with the hat right away if you'd like or if you're the cautious type, try to remove the caterpillar. There's only one caterpillar anyway and it is a crap shoot as to how dangerous it is. This level is no tougher than the other two like it once you're comfortable with the pace. Again, the tree can be trapped easily; try trapping it below when you're above, and above while you're below. 6.7. LEVEL 7 There's a new level here, but the first two waves are a bit on the easy side. Nevertheless the new one invites some serious strategic planning and wave three is an equally nasty repeat of the chancy 4-4. 6.7.1. LEVEL 7-1 This is a duplicate map of 3-3. This is another level not as tough as the original, although the bowling ball may cause some timing issues, and you don't have Berthilda for an easy 3000 points. You can goad the ball to the south and wrap around for when you want to ascend a tower. Again you should only need to ascend the right. The ball can make timing to climb elevators tricky as if it escapes you may have to jump over it twice to buy some time. Remember it's a bit different from jumping over a tree; let it build momentum so that when you switch positions, it has to slow down. Also you may need to move away from the elevator to time your return to synchronize your arrival to be just enough time before the elevator rises so that you are comfortable getting on and comfortable avoiding the ball. Exercise patience and perseverance to get the timing down. 6.7.2. LEVEL 7-2 Duplicate map of 1-2. Enemies: 1 tree, 3 caterpillars The same strategy applies here as before: swoop down and to the side, take out the bottom enclave, go up the other way, clear the top. With the tree(and bees that protect the honey if your timing is unlucky) your main opposition you should roll through this level. 6.7.3. LEVEL 7-3 Duplicate map of 4-4. Enemies: 2 caterpillars, bowling ball, cauldron Ah, return of the random(it seems to me) ups-and-downs! Now you have a bowling ball in the middle, which gets in your way. After you clear out the center area, you'll need some good timing here to capture the center for your move down. Once you've moved down and cleared the area out, you'll want to goad the bowling ball down(stand beneath an elevator and, as it goes up, cross left and right over it.) Once the bowling ball is down there you'll want to go back up; I recommend trapping it on the left or right side and going to the other. It's usually a safe bet that of the lower left and lower right elevators, neither will go twice before the other has gone once, so you can guess at when they will come up that way and by when the elevator curertly in use is about to come down. Once you're back at the cleared center, wait to go up. Try to get the hat so that you can climb up if you are fortunate enough to have the center elevator move next. This will make it easy around the cauldron, which is lethal to touch without the hat, and if the upper right is the next elevator, you can get the honey without worrying about the bees. Otherwise you must tiptoe around the cauldron and clear out the upper left two gems(you can be careless here) and wait a bit. Then you'll have to jump quite a bit to shoo off the bees guarding the honey--and the two gems in the upper right. This takes longer than it might sound due to the uncooperative elevator system. 6.7.4. LEVEL 7-4 ******* * * * + + * * + *v* + * * + *v* + * * + * * + * * + * * + * * + *+ +* + * * *+ + + +* * *^* + + + + *^* *^* + + *^* ****^**** + + ****^**** * + + + **^** + + + * * + + + *^* + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + * * + + * * * ***** A new level! It's a bit more logical than the previous but still by no means easy to the uninitiated. You can probably take out Berthilda easily enough but waiting for the elevators can be a pain...and you will have to go through a few several times. My advice is to proceed as follows: 1. clear out the bottom part 2. take an elevator to the larger middle part 3. go back to the bottom, clear out the top 4. wind up in the middle part with two gems The elevator pattern is up, down, right, left. This should help ease your worries and give you confidence about just how long you'll have to jump over that bowling ball and back anyways. 6.8. LEVEL 8 6.8.1. LEVEL 8-1 Duplicate map of 5-3 Enemies: 4 caterpillars, 1 ghost This level is a bit fast paced and compartmented so it may be tough to get the last gem but the same strategy as in 5-3 works here to get through it painlessly. Go hard down/right, take the stairs down, clear out the part in the center, go back up, clear out the other center if you'd like, get the hat and go to the top, and sweep that area out. While waiting for elevators be sure to jup over caterpillars that are loitering around you. 6.8.2. LEVEL 8-2 Duplicate map of 3-3 Enemies: 3 caterpillars, tree Less is more in this level--as in less monsters, more challenge. There's no-one manning the upper left tower, and in fact there's a jar of honey up there. You'll have to be quick to snatch it and also have good timing. No-one is going to eat that gem for you. So you have two long rides up the tower on the side. You'll also probably have to cope with jumping over a tree unless you manage to get it stuck(lead it down and to a corner, jump over it, run to beneath the stairs.) Instead of just waiting for an elevator, though, be sure to jump a lot while waiting-- and on the elevator. You'll also want to jump just before you get off, say 3 colored rungs. You should land close to the gem there. Pattern: 1. cover bottom part 2. cover upper center, if anything is left 3. go up right tower and back down 4. get gem in left tower Even with the honey gone, the left tower may still be dangerous, and you may be stuck there for a while. You don't need to press your luck twice there. 6.8.3. LEVEL 8-3 Enemies: 2 trees, 2 caterpillars Another less is more paradigm. The monsters are more strategically placed here. The map is the same as 3-1 although the hat bounces around. The combination of trees and caterpillars is also annoying; the dual defense at the bottom makes it so that the top may be easy, but you can't just freeze your opposition on the bottom as before(one tree.) Try to see if you can interrupt a caterpillar's meal, but if not, quickly reverse so that the tree is on the other side, get all the gems you can, reverse and get the gems again. 6.8.4. LEVEL 8-4 * * * * * * * * + * + * * * * *^* *^* * * * + ***^***^*** + * *^** *^* *^* **^* *^* + + + + *^* *^* + + + + *^* * + + + + + + * ** + + + + ** * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + + + * * + + + + * * + + + + * * + + * * + + * ***** Oh, look! A new map! Now this level is very tough for a variety of reasons. First of all, you will need to keep the tree on top contained in its tower for a good long while. In the meantime you'll need to collect as much else as you can. I recommend clearing the right half of the board off first, to keep the tree from stepping in the area where it can descend. Then you may wish to jump over to the left. If the elevator for the tree goes up, try to go into the area between the two middle towers to push the tree back up. This may require a certain amount of timing and luck; you may even have to sacrifice a life to get by the tree as if it does come down you will need to jump over it and back a lot while waiting for elevators to come up and down. If you are lucky perhaps you can trap it in the lower left as you pick up the gem in the left tower but in order to pick up the gem in the tower where the tree was(too bad you can't make the tree do so on its own) you'll need to time the descent of the elevators and delay jumping back and forth over the tree to wait at the foot of the elevator in the one-in-three chance that the next one will be the one you want. 
  It all takes a bit of patience and the bee swarm may come down and 
nail you anyway, but you will feel a sense of accomplishment getting 
through this level.

    6.9. LEVEL 9

      6.9.1. LEVEL 9-1

  This map is similar to level 7-4. However you can goad a bowling ball 
into the critical areas with the two gems, making less work for 
yourself.

Enemies: ?

      6.9.2. LEVEL 9-2+

  Uhh...maybe later. I haven't gotten this far yet! I suspect every 
level after this is a repeat although 9-4 may be something new. If you 
can find it and send me a screenshot to map(if it is indeed different) 
please do mail me!

  7. LEVEL DUPLICATION CHART

1-1: 2-4, 4-2, 6-2
1-2: 3-4, 7-2
1-3: 3-1, 6-3, 8-3
1-4: 4-3, 6-1
2-1: 3-2, 5-2
2-2: 5-1
2-3: 4-1, 6-4
3-3: 5-4, 7-1, 8-2
4-4: 7-3
5-3: 8-1
7-4: 9-1
8-4: [none known]

End of FAQ proper

================================

  8. VERSIONS

1.0.0 submitted to GameFAQs 8/14/2002.

  9. CREDITS

z26 and stella for being awesome emulators even if the sound can conk 
out after a bit
Greg Chance's History of Video Games home page for the manual among 
other stuff and for being a cool site in general
RetroFreak on GameFAQs for encouraging me to finish this FAQ--and 
review.