Lode Runner Arcade FAQ version 1.0.1 copyright 2006 by Andrew Schultz schultz.andrew@sbcglobal.net Please do not reproduce this FAQ for profit without my prior consent. However, if you write a polite e-mail to me referring to me(and this FAQ) by name, then I will probably say OK. But if I ignore you that means no--and I am bad about answering e-mail. Sorry. **** AD SPACE: **** My home page: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/2762 ================================ OUTLINE 1. INTRODUCTION 1-1. BASIC LODE RUNNER 1-2. DIFFERENCES FOR THE ARCADE GAME VS EARLY PC 2. CONTROLS 3. SCORING AND LEVEL DIVISIONS 4. WALKTHROUGH (search for 4-(level #) for a particular walkthrough) 5. VERSIONS 6. CREDITS ================================ 1. INTRODUCTION 1-1. BASIC LODE RUNNER Lode Runner's a simple old game. You are equipped with a gun that can dig holes in soft ground, which allow you to fall through them or trap enemies who chase you albeit at a slower pace. If the hole closes over the enemy, he regenerates at the top. Your object is to pick up all the gold in a level full of ladders and ropes and hard ground and even false ground and climb to the top of the level(a flashing ladder in the Arcade case.) If the bad guys catch you or you fall into your own trap and get swallowed up, you lose. The game is grid based so there are only exact spots where you can dig. It was originally created by Doug Smith and has gone through several incarnations on different platforms. Some feature very similar levels across platforms; for instance the NES version takes 50 levels, most of which map to an Apple II level(where the game was originally ported) minus a few rows. The SNES and Turbografx appear to pretty up some old levels without offering new challenges. All ports that maintain the grid structure and basic icons have slightly different AIs and some have completely different levels or neat new power-ups(the PSX version-- LR and LR extra--has bombs which permanently destroy part of a level, or a stun gun), some are wickedly tough(GBA Lode Runner, Apple Championship Lode Runner--not a port, but just a shifting of levels) and some go off in different directions entirely(Lode Runner 2(PC) is 3-d isometric and looks like Q*Bert; Nintendo 64's has you walking almost on wire structures and has some vicious plants that attack you. But it works.) The arcade versions have some old levels and some new ones, but given that the monsters are faster and smarter there's enough fresh air that many that were trivial in old versions of Lode Runner are challenging--especially when you get point bonuses for efficient form. 1-2. DIFFERENCES FOR THE ARCADE GAME VS EARLY PC Of course the arcade version doesn't allow you to create levels, sadly. It's there to eat your money. So it has a selection of pretty tough levels. Lode Runner I has 24 of them; II-IV have 30. Each group of 3 levels has a different set of monsters but the only difference is visual. They don't work together, and they all have the same AI, so they do tend to clump together for your advantage. First thing you'll notice is that your enemies are much faster than in the PC version. Also, aren't stupid. They try to get horizontally level with you and run at you. If you climb up the bottom of the ladder, they won't run away. Hey, it was an arcade game, they needed as many quick deaths as they could get. The icons are arranged a bit differently. The board is 24x32, with people and gold being 1x2 icons. The result is that some platforms that look like they are level with each other, aren't. This means that sometimes when you dig you will have a pit half your size. You can't jump out of it. You have to avoid it. This gets sticky but on the other hand you can grab gold while on a rope if the gold is right below the rope--and you can dig under a rope, although enemies won't fall into the holes you dig. It's more for escape. ~ $ $ 5000 ticks left. This level gets finished in three parts. First, go right to get the gold chest and then back left. Dig on each side and then go to the left and keep digging right. Make enough holes/wait long enough to kill every enemy. Then go up to the cement level and clear everything there. When your enemies are all on the level above, drop to the right. Then dig 8 holes to get rid of them, on the bottom level. Now run to the DL and wait for everyone to regenerate and fall off the right. Once the last enemy has, you have a straight shot up to get the gold chests. Well, you have to zigzag a bit, but your path is unimpeded. The ladder to level 6 is on the right. 4-6. LEVEL 6 Time: 8000 ~~ h h h XXXH XXXXXXh XXXH~~~~~~ XXXH XXXXXXh XXXH H H H H H H H~~~~~H H H H H H H H H H H X XX H H X XX HXXXXXXXXHX H XÿÿX HXXXXXXXXHX H XXXX H H H XXXX H H H X H H H H X H XXXXH HXXXH H X H XXXXH HXXXH H XXXXH H H~~~H XXXXH H H H H H H H H XXXXXXXH H H XXXXXXXH H H H H H H H H H H H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX If you just want to win the level, then you can head to the UR, fall in and dig a hole to get out when some bad guys get close. A bunch of them will fall into the restricted area. One will get trapped in the hole you dug. You can repeat this to clear the area of everyone and get a 10000 sealing bonus and then take care of the rest. Otherwise go right and wait at the base of the long stairs. Three guys should come to follow you. Lead them up to the top and fall left. Then go right and up and right and dig to get the gold in the U-shaped pit. Dig to get to the bottom and this time go up the long ladder and all the way right and wait. Fall down when three guys are on the rope and at least two should fall in. Now you can probably lead anyone else with gold on a merry chase so he'll eventually get rid of it, and you can get whoever's left to fall in the pit easily enough too. That gets you 10000 points. You may be a bit pressed for time now, so I recommend a quick way through to be digging over the suspended gold(L of the tall ladder, center square) and falling to the ground and going up and collecting each gold. When you get the final one(UL) you can walk right and then up the ladder that appeared to advance. 4-7. LEVEL 7: Time: 10000 for this and all subsequent levels h h h HXXXXXXXXH h HXXXXXXXXH $ h$ $ H HXXXXXH XXHXXX H HXXXXXH $XXHXXX H $ $ H XH H H XXXXXX H XH H H XXXXXX H $$ XH H $ H H ** XXXXXXXXXX H H ** XXXXXXXXXX H H * X H H *~~~~~~ X H H * X$ H XXX X H *$ $ XH H XXX X H ** XXXHXH H XXX XX H ** XXXHXH H XXX$XX H ** H H H XXXXXX H ** H H H XXXXXX H ** H H H H ** $ HXX H H ** XXXXX HXX H H ** XXXXX H H****X******* H H****X******* H H H H H H H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX You can try for the 20k bonus but it is a bit of a gamble. What you need to do to start out is, clear the right. Get the gold on the edge, then D-L-U-L across the rope. Drop onto the next gold and wait for the enemies to lump at the center top ladder. Go to the UL and wait. If you want to be sure of getting the gold, go 4E and dig R, left, dig R, left, dig R. You don't want to dig the final hole next to the ladder because enemies will get stuck. Not only will this lose you the bonus, but it will lose you the ability to get back to the top clearly as well. You want to stick the bad guys in the bottom bit for as long as possible. You may have to get them to loop around to follow you if you're trying for 20k. But when you get the gold, loop back to the left and go up. Pause when you're 1/2-level with the block to the right, with the gold in the pit. The bad guys will turn to the right. When they're going up the ladder, tap up and the ones that can go right into the corner, will. Go back down and repeat, and everyone will be trapped away. Clear out the gold on the center cement bit--dig over them and fall in. One bad guy may escape, but he'll never catch up to you. Dig in the UL to fall onto the beam with two gold. Below there you need a bit of good digging. X21 X XX3$XX XXX4XX Then you can go to the UL where you can fall for one gold, pick up the two others, and take the stairs out of this level. 4-8. LEVEL 8: h $ h H*X*H $ h H*X*H HXXXXXXXXH h H H HXXXXXXXXH $ h H H H HXXXXH H$ -H H HXXXXH HXXXH~~~~H~~~~ H H HXXXH H H H H H H -H H H $ H H HXXXXXXXXH H H H HXXXXXXXXH H H H H H H -H $ H $ H H *XXX**XX*HXXXXH H *XXX**XX*HXXXXH H *XXX* H H *XXX* H H *XXX* H HXXHXX *XXX* H HXXHXX * * H ~~~~~H H * * H H H *$ *$ H H H $ XXXXXXXHXXXXX H XXXX XXXXXXXHXXXXX H XXXX H H H H $ H H $ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX The bad guys swarm enough in this level that you don't even want to worry too much about the 10000 bonus. Basically if you can sucker everyone over to one side and then run to the left for the big dig, more power to you. But trying to force it will probably get you killed. You're probably better off going for the halftime bonus. I advise L-U-L to get the gold there and then going back to the left. If an enemy follows you, let him. Clear out the DR by getting the top of the golds first then digging down. Dig on each side of the ladder before going up, and when you do you can clear out the top. If you managed to lump the enemies together, now might be a good time to perform the dig in the DL, for the entombed gold. If not, you can probably dig the enemies up and let them regenerate anyway. 321 X54 XX6 $ Once you've gotten the entombed gold, sit and wait. The bad guys will go over to the right and you can get the DL gold. You can fend them off with digging to get the suspended gold in the UL--just dig over it and drop in. You can probably scramble for everything else. The exit is in the UR. 4-9. LEVEL 9: h H~~h ~~~~~~ H h H h $ $ - H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXH H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXH H X X H H X X H H $ * $ * $ H- $ XHXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHXXX XHXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHXXX H X X H H X X H H * $ * $ H $ H XXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXXX H XXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXXX H$ X X X H XXXHXXX X X H XXXHXX* * $ * $ H - H * *XXXXXXXXXXXXXH H * *XXXXXXXXXXXXXH $ H * X H HXXXXXX X H HXXXXXX $ $ * $ H H XXXXXXX*XXXXHXXXXX H XXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXX H X H H X H H $+ - $ * $ H XXXXXXXXXXXXX*XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX This doesn't look like a level where you can get the no-kill bonus in such close quarters, but in fact you can. With a bit of precision you can get the double-time bonus too. The first thing to do is go up to get the third gold piece, then dig right and fall and repeat that. The two enemies on the left should be close together. Now dig two squares to the left for them to fall in--they should be 4-5 blocks away. Then you can run all the way back up. Grab the gold that's just below the overhang, and dig in the center. Now you can keep digging straight down to pick up more gold. Don't forget the piece in the DR part of the left side. Back up again using the same trick you did as before. You may have to dig in the center but this time, after digging again, dig at the right edge. This'll take you to the right side. Dig to the bottom to get the chest there and work your way back up. You may have to dig right, go across a ladder and dig right to get rid of enemies for the moment but it should work. You may have to repeat this at the top to pick up the stray gold pieces but then you can wait for the enemies at the top, dig holes to get by them and walk up the flashing ladder to level 10. 4-*. LEVEL 10: h H~~~ h H h H $ $ h H~~H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXH h H H -XXXXXXXXXXXXXXH h H XXX XH H~~H XXX XH H H X $ $ XH H X XXXXXXXXXXHXH H X $-XXXXXXXXXXHXH H $ X XXX XHXH H XX X XXX XHXH H XX $ X X $ XHXH H XXX X X XXXXXXHXHXH H XXX X X -$XXXXXXHXHXH H $ X X XXX XHXHXH H XX X X XXX XHXHXH H XX $ X X X $ XHXHXH H X X X X XXHXHXHXH H X X X X $-XXHXHXHXH H X X X XXXXHXHXHXH H X X X XXXXHXHXHXH H $ $ X X X X XHXHXHXH H X XX X X X X XHXHXHXH H X XX X X X X$ XHXHXHXH H X X XXXXHXHXHXH H X X XXXXHXHXHXH H $ $ H H H H XXXXXXXX H H H H XXXXXXXX H H H H ************************ I decided not to worry about not getting a dig bonus here. While the only remotely esoteric gold-grab is on the left, where you have the following dilemma: $ X1 2XX $ 3X $ The rest is not too bad except for lining your enemies up. Remember you can wait at the very bottom for any monsters in the UL to drop and follow, leaving you to climb up the UL. You can work your way around the enemy that gets in the left, and then you'll want to go to the top and immediately dig a bunch of holes to catch any stray enemies that go along the top. They tend to regenerate in the UL where they will be harmless. From there you just have to watch that any drops you make won't put you to the left of a descending enemy. Also, you can save a bit of time by digging as follows in the platform just below the top: $ 1XX XX2 You'll still have to backtrack up after you fall, but you can dig through in just two trips, which is not too bad. Dig your enemies into oblivion so that when they are all regenerated in the UL, you can wait in the DR and they will fall to the right, leaving you a clear path up and left. If one still has a gold chest(for whatever reason) you can probably drop in to the DL and dig the appropriate number of holes on each side of you. 4-*. LEVEL 11: h h h h h - h HXXXXXHXH HXXXXXHXH - HX XHXH HXXXXX XHXH HXXXXX XHXH - HX X$ $XHXH HXXXXX XXXXXHXH HXXXXX XXXXXHXH HX X$ $X HXH HXXXXX XXXXX HXH HXXXXX XXXXX $HXH HX X$ $X HXXXXH XXXXX XXXXX HXXXXH XXXXX XXXXX $ HX XH X X$ $X HXXXXX XH X XXXXX HXXXXX XH X XXXXX HX X+ XH X X $ HX XXXXH X$ $X HXXXX XXXXH XXXXX HXXXX$ $ H XXXXX HXXXXXXX H $ $HXXXXXXX$ $ H hXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - hXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ************************ This level seems complex, but really you just need to do the same thing over and over a few times. You can lump the enemies together eventually and then take care of them. You can only take out one of the squares of two gold pieces at a time, and there's a real risk of getting trapped or impeded at the bottom. But for each of the linked squares, you get the gold the same way. At the start you need to dig right, collect the gold(don't worry about to the left--you'll get it later,) go up and dig left. You can dig into the UR of the boxes. You may have to wait a bit in this box but if you do, the enemies will lump together. Dig again and they'll actually retreat to the left. Climb up and go left. Dig three holes to the left, wait, and when they fall in, run over them. You may want to get the second-left of the boxes here. That allows a climb back UR where you can also dig right to get the gold in the DR box and the gold you passed by at the start. The bad guys should congeal back where they started but if not you may want to climb partially up on one of the ladders in the middle UR-moving corridor when you know an enemy is trapped and killed. You will need to repeat the trick of digging 3 holes in a row and running over 2 more times--once for the center box and once for the one right of that. Finally you can dig for the left box. You'd have gotten yourself killed before that, trapped in the DL with an enemy, but now you can wait for it to go up the second stairs. Dig right and walk up and dig right and you can go UR to the next level. 4-12. LEVEL 12 h h h h h h h h h h HXh hXH $ - HXh hXH - $ HXXXXH~~HXh hXH~~HXXXXH HXXXXH HXh hXH HXXXXH HX XH HXh hXH HX XH HX XH Xh hX HX XH HX XH Xh hX HX XH HX XH Xh hX HX XH HX $XH Xh hX HX$ XH HXXXXH Xh hX HXXXXH HXXXXH Xh hX HXXXXH HX XH Xh hX HX XH HX XH XHXXHX HX XH HX XH~~~XHXXHX~~~HX XH HX XH XH HX HX XH HX X XH HX X XH HX X HXH HXH X XH HX X HXH HXH X XH HX$ X HXH$-HXH X $XH HXXXXX HXX**XXH XXXXXH HXXXXX HXX**XXH XXXXXH H X H H X H H X H H X H H X-H + H X H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A little snake oil should get you this with a 10000 bonus. You need to get a good start, and you can accomplish this by digging left immediately. You can dig right after passing over the enemy but it's not necessary. Go to the top, dig left to enter the 8, and get the gold there. Head to the bottom if you like--you need to synchronize the enemies--and go back up top and dig right twice to walk over the enemies and fall to the right. The other enemy should come falling down a rope, which is your cue to run UR past him. Clear out the right side of the 8 and go back up when the enemy on the right falls down again. That leaves only the center. Fall into the center. The enemy there will shift right. Push left and hold near the end of your fall. Lead the enemy counterclockwise a cycle. Eventually he'll get far enough behind he'll reverse course--when you're in the UR. Dig left, get his gold and run up the stairs. 4-*. LEVEL h h h XXXXXXXXXXXXHX h XXXXXXXXXXXXHXÿÿÿÿÿ h X X HXXXXXX h X X HXXXXXX h X X HXX X h XXXXX X XHXXX X h XXXXX XÿÿÿXHXXX X h X XXXXXXXXXH XXXXX h X XXXXXXXXXH XXXXX h X X XH ~ X hXXXXXXX XH X hXXXXXXX XH X hX X HXXXXXXXX HX hX X HXXXXXXXX HX hX X HX HX hX XXXX HX HX hX XXXX HX HX hX X X XHXXX HXH HXXX hXXXX XÿÿXHXXX HXH HXXX hXXXX XXXXH X HXXXXX h X XXXXH X HXXXXX h XXXX XH XXXX h XXXX XH XXXX h H h H h H X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X* X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X* You can probably get a seal bonus or a no-kill bonus here. Given how much easier the first is, and how tricky it may be to get the second, you can guess my recommended course of action for the first try even though the instructions below spell out how to get both bonuses. Basically, to get through quickly, kill enemies with impunity. Killed enemies appear in the UR and so it may be worth it just to pack them off right away. However, you can start with a relatively easy pickoff of the UL bad guy by getting the gold to the left, going up the stairs, digging left and getting the gold, and going RURUR and digging right. Fall right twice. The enemy will fall into the 2-pit to the left. Now to get the next bad guy by climbing up the stairs and digging right. You may have to time things a bit so that you don't meet him right at the top, and you may have to go down and up after digging the hole. However, once you've gotten him in the hole there are lots of ways to kill him off. You can run right and dig left and go up the ladder a bit and down to delay him long enough to fall in. You may also be able to stand in the DR after this, dig left, let him fall in and then climb UR and he will follow you. In this case you can dispose of him as you disposed of the other enemy. While this is time-consuming, it allows you to take care of the rest of the level with relative ease. And since you can only get the seal bonus once there's no point in sealing a few guys in the UR and shifting them to the DL. The best bet now is to clear out most of the UL. Note the following structure: $ X1 2$ XX Dig 1 and 2 to pick off one more gold chest than you thought you would--AND avoid getting kicked back to the bottom of the structure and/or falling on top of the one enemy. From there you can dig again. One gold chest will remain. Leave it 'til the end. If you need to, drop the enemy into the 2-pit. Also if you need to, get the gold in the DR. Now for the UR. You can dig the enemy out of there and let him follow you where you can trap him with the others, or you can just dig him out, dig another hole at the top and sneak in to dig a hole over the UR gold piece. That leaves the final DL gold piece, and once you get it stairs will appear to the left. Of course you can shorten this process by just killing the bad guys you find but I wanted to spell out how to do things without errors. 4-14. LEVEL 14: h H H h H~~~~~~~~~~~~~~H h H H h H H~~~~~~~H H H H H H H XXXXXXXXXXXHXXXX$ $ $ H XXXXXXXXXXXHXXXX H XXXXXXXXXXHH H XXXXXXXXXXH H XXXXXXXXXXH - - H XXXXXXXXXXHXXXXXXXXXXXXH XXXXXXXXXHHXXXXXXXXXXXXH XXXXXXXXXH H XX XXXXH H XX XXXXH~~~~~~~ H XX XXXHH H XX$ $XXXH - H XXXXXXXXH XXXXXXH XXXXXXXXH XXXXXXH H H $ H XXXXXXHXXXXXHX H XXXXXXHXXXXXHX H XH H H XH H X H ..... H + H X - H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX It's possible to get the full 20k bonus although you may just settle for 10. The key is the order in which you get things. Go left. Wait for the firecracker to fall from the rope and wait another second. Then get the gold piece to the left and go back down. If all goes well the firecrackers should be on their way to congregating in the DR corner. Let them. Stand 1R of the top of the right ladder. Let your enemies fall, fall right, and let the rest fall. R-U-L-U(the ladder that doesn't reach the ground. You actually can climb it.) Now dig over the 3x2 cave: XX1234 XX567X XX89XX XXaXXX XXX $ $XXX Fall to the bottom and again egg your enemies over. Now you should be able to fall and get one of the gold pieces. It doesn't matter which. The hunt will probably be on now as some enemy will probably grab a chest. You may have to give these guys a good chase--but again, drop from the lower rope, wait, go to the DR and pick off any remaining suspended gold chest. Eventually the enemies will let go of their gold, you can take it, and you can advance with the 20000 bonus. There's no sin of course in trapping an enemy or killing one in order to survive though of course. 4-15. LEVEL 15: ~~~~~ h h h XXXXXHXXXXXX H XXXH XXXXXHXXXXXX H XXXH H H H H H H H H H HXXXXXXXXXXH HXXXXH H*** HXXXXXXXXXXH HXXXXH H*** H**********H H H H H* *H H H H H* *H H H H H* *H H HX XXXH H*H******H*H H HX XXXH H*H******H*H H H H H*H* H*H H H H H*H* H*H H H H H*H* H*H H HX H*** H*H********H H HX H*** H*H********H H H H H*H H H H H H*H H H H H H*H H HHXX XXXH HXXXXXXXXXXX HHXX XXXH HXXXXXXXXXXX HH h H HH h H HH h H XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I'm having trouble getting either bonus here as the UR is too well guarded. But you can still make it through quickly enough. For the first part you need to push left. Get on the corkscrew structure and climb to the top to get all the gold there. Fall left to clear out that side- -climb up and fall right at the second ladder(upper bit) to get the gold that seems suspended, but not quite. Dig left as you go right, and when in the DR you may want to dig left too to get rid of enemies. Enemies regenerate at the very top and fall left instead of taking the stairs down, and in this way you can get around them. Just wait for them to fall off and then after cleaning out the top in their absence(go left, then right, then dig to avoid the guys climbing back up,) take the spiral to the center. Work your way out by digging to get to the bottom. You may need to get the DR-most gold chest. Dig your way to get to the middle structure and the snaking stairs to level 16. 4-16. LEVEL 16: h h h h H~ H~ H~ ~H h H H H H h H H$ $ H H H~~H ~ ~H ~ H~H ~ ~ H H H H H H H H H H $ ~ H ~ H $ ~ $H H H H H H H - H H H ~H ~ H $ ~ H~H ~ H H H H H H H H $ H H H H~ H ~ ~H ~ ~ H ~ ~H H H H H $ H ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ H ~ ~ H H H H H~ H~ ~ ~ $~H~ H H H H H H- H ~H ~ ~ H ~ ~ H - - H H $ H $ H H H H H + H ************************ Guess that 20k bonus is sort of forced on you here, eh? This looks sparse and forbidding but it's really not a bad level at all. Go left immediately, up and fall right so you're near the one gold piece. Wait around, fall right when everyone's on the ladder, and go up the right ladder. Level with the ropes on each side. This will always kick the enemies back left. Go up and fall right and drop down to get the gold just out of your reach now. You have a few smash-and-grab missions from this location, which is your base. 1. Up, left, fall down and go right. 2. U-L-U(gold)-right and fall onto the gold in space-L. 3. U-L-U-R-U-fall all the way right to the edge, U-L-fall down-R-U-fall left 2x and fall down onto 2 gold pieces. Wait for the enemies to come by and then climb the ladder. Fall left when everyone's on it. Now on the left ladder, where the top rung is where to stay to fake the enemies out after falling down. Make sure everyone's on the right ladder before continuing.The suspended UL gold is not hard to get. Then go L U R U and fall right 3x. Then fall left and work your way to the center ladder. You'll get one gold chest at the top. Fall right and fall down. You should be able to run left and work your way falling down ropes and climbing up ladders easily enough(R-R-U-L-L-U.) 4-17. LEVEL 17: H H ~~~~~~~H ***h********** ***h********** H H~~~ H H H - XH *XH $XH *XH~~~~~~H XXXH H $**H H XXXH H **H H XH~~~~~H~~~**H$ HH XH H **** HH $ XH $ $H $ **** HH XXXX H H*~~~~ XXXXH XXXX H H* XXXXH X H H* H X H H*H H X$ - H H*H H XXXXX H HXH -$ H XXXXX + H HXH XXXXXXXH XH~~~ HXXXXXXXH XXXXXXXH XH HXXXXXXXH X X H XH H HXH X X H XH XH H H $ $X $H XH XXH H H XXXXXXX XH $XXH$ - $H H XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I found this to be such a hodgepodge that I just plowed my way through although I can detail how to get by some narrow scrapes below. You will probably need a dig or two due to the tight quarters in the DL but at the start a no-dig policy works well. So if something seems to have bad timing, just dig a bit to but breathing space. R-U-R and get the gold, then go back left. Climb up and fall left. Dig left as the enemy approaches and as he is about to drop on you, fall left. One enemy down in the daisies but you can't do the same to others sadly. One enemy will be chasing you. Give him the runaround if he has a gold chest(or just dig if 10k is good enough,) then let him follow you into the niche in the DL. Dig left to fall on the ladder and then go right and down to get the gold. Your enemy will drop. Circle around to get past him and re- entrap him in the DL. Now you may have to shake an enemy(who may have gold) to get further. you may let him keep the gold as you'll be getting guys to follow you again, but in any case you will want to run right along the bottom and up the ladder. Stay level with what's on the other side of the wall to fool an enemy and then let the other one follow you around 'til he loses his gold. Dig to get the two gold in the 3x2(wait until people milling in the DL are against the left wall) and then bring the bad guy back over. Now you can wait at the base of that ladder for the enemy to fall at you. Get a big lead for the DR gold--R, drop D, R, D, L and now go UL and fall onto the suspended gold and you should be able to climb your way out. You probably won't get a double-time bonus without entrapping. 4-18. LEVEL 18: X h X X X h XX XX $ - $XX h X $X *X**XHXX h XXXXXHXX *X**XHX~~~~h~~~~~XHX HX h X XH HX $ h X$ $XH $ $ HXXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXH XXXHXHXXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXH XXXHXH H H H H H H H H + H H H HXXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXX HXXXXHXXXXXXXXXXXXHXXXXX HXXXXHX~~~~~~~~~~XHX H~~~XHX XHX H XHX $ XHX H $XHXX XHXXX H XXH X $ $ XH XX H X H XX XH X$ H XX H X XXH XXX H X H XX XXH XXX HXX H X HXXXXH HX HX X HXXXXH HX XHX XXXHXX H H $XH HHXXHXX H XhX H XXH XHH H H XhX H$-XXH$XHH H XXXH$-XhX XXXXXXXXXH$ H $XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX******XXXXXXXXX A fun level where you can probably either entrap your opponents or not-kill them and the first is much easier. Go to the right to sucker everyone over there and then give them the slip(dig a hole or two if need be) and run back left. You can then leave a couple digs behind you so that you can get into the rope part. Get the gold and immediately dig your way out. Enemies may come in after you--dig to the right and fall through. They can take the rope over the hole. Now if you get out you can just dig as you go to the left, letting enemies drop in. Eventually they'll all get stuck in the center, leaving you to clean out the rest. The only things that should worry you are: drop on the suspended gold in the right, dig right, get out. Now get everything except the two golds near the right edge. For these drop on the upper, dig, and drop onto the lower. A ladder will appear because you got the last gold. You can walk over it but what about the other one that appeared? You'll have to release your enemies again. You can again dig holes for them or just run away to the bottom right as before, before you dig left. Heading left and up the stairs should allow you plenty of time to dig right at the top and get the flashing ladder. 4-19. LEVEL 19: h h~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ h h H X X X H X X X H X X - - X H XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX H XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX X H XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXX X H XXX XXXXX XX XX XXHX H XXX XXXXX XX XX$XXHX H XXX XXXXX$ $XXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXX + XXXXXXHX H XXX XXXXXX XXHXXXXXXHX H XXH~~~~~~H H XXXH H H XX H XXX H XXX H XXX - ************************ A level that's easy once you see it though you don't get a bonus for sealing off all enemies. Dig and drop left twice. Go left but don't fall. When the final enemy hooks onto the rope, drop off to the left. Everyone will try to fall on you. Run left, up and right and fall over the gold pieces. Now to dig to get one(the right gold.) 4321 X765 XX98 Xa This creates a 3-wide hole instead of a 2-wide, so you can dig back to your starting position. Repeat, mirrored, for the left gold. Go to the UR and now for another tricky dig. 1234 X567 XX98 X$ab Now loop to the UL and you're done! 4-20. LEVEL 20: h h H ~ h~~ H~~~~ H h H H h H H H H H * H$ H$ - $H $ -$ H * $ HX HXXXXXX XXXXXXXHXXX HX HXXXXXX XXXXXXXHXXX H HH~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HHXH H H HHXH H H $ $ $ H~H H H H H H H H H - H H XXXXH********XXXXXX H~~ XXXXH********XXXXXX H H ~~~ H H H H H $ $ H H~ XXXXXXXH H H XXXXXXXH H + H XXXXXH**HXXX X XXX XXXXXH**HXXX X$XXX H H XXXXX H H XXXXX $ $ H H XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXH HXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXH$ HXXXXXXXXX Here the initial mess can be sorted out by a few exact moves. Run directly left. UL when past the first ladder. Get the gold on the edge and dig where it was. Fall down when the enemy almost touches you. Run back right. Fall right and stay at the ladder base. U-R-U-R(2 squares) and wait for an enemy to get close. Fall down. Then go LULULU and back right to get one gold, then L-U-R to get more. Fall down to the right and get more gold. R-U-L for 2 more and R-U-R and drop into the pit. Go left, dig right. Now drop onto the 3-rope below. Fall from there onto the 1-rope, dig right, and circle back up around after getting the gold so you are on a level with the platform touching the left edge. Your enemies won't chase you now. With them lumped together you can lure them right, drop, and go off to the left as before. Only this time you go to the UL, at the 1-rope. Fall left and go L-U to get the final gold. Fall down and then wait for everyone to fall after you before going right and U-L-U-R-U onto the flashing stairs. 4-21. LEVEL 21: H H H XXXhX ~~~ XXXhX h~~ - h XXXXH H - XXXXH +H XXXXXHXXXXXX~ X H HXXX XXXXXHXXXXXX X H HXXX X ~~~H~~~~HX $X H H X H HX XXXHX H X$ $HX XXXHX H XXXX XXXHX X H H X XXXX XXXHX X H H X X~~~~H~~~~HX X H XHXX X H HX X$ H XHX X H HX XXHXX H XXH X H XH HX XXHXX H XXH X H XH HX H H XXXH$X$H$X$ HX H H $X XXXXXXXXXXXX H $ H XX XXXXXXXXXXXX$ HXXX H X X XX HXXX H X X XX H H X H HX X XH $HX $-X $ $ XH $ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Fall right for one gold and all the way left for another. Go back up to the top and head right. Go down the stairs in the center structure all the way-- fall and grab the gold(left and right.) Then go back up and left and fall for another gold. The enemy should have you pinned in, but no fears. Go up the stairs and back down when the enemy is roping over the brick. He'll fall, you can go U-R-D for the final gold piece, and then you can go U-L-R-U to get the remaining gold and get out. Fall right onto the rope. Get the gold to the right. Fall left and right. Dig the square you last fell on and go left immediately, then back right immediately. Collect all the gold as you climb up. Two enemies should be together. Let them follow you to 1U1L of the 1-rope and fall right and drop. They'll fall after you, making the next bit(over to the left) easy. For the final bit release the fellow in the DL. If you like you can lead him on a chase clockwise but it may alert the other enemies so it may just be simpler to dig a hole. However, once you have got the gold, a ladder opens up access to the UL. 4-22. LEVEL 22: h h h ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HXXh HXXh H H H H H H $ HXXHXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXH HXXHXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXH H H X H H H X H H H X $ H XXXHXXXXH X XXXXXXXXX H XXXHXXXXH X XXXXXXXXX H H H X X X H H H X X X H H $ H X$ X $ X H HXXX H XXXX HXXXXHX H HXXX H XXXX HXXXXHX H H X H X H HX H H X H X H HX H H $X H X H$ $HX H XXXXX H XXXXXXXXXXXX H $$XXXXX H XXXXXXXXXXXX H XXXH~~~~H X H XXXH H X H H H H HX XX HXXXXXXXXX $ HX$- XX$ HXXXXXXXXX ************************ You can get a huge bonus with the right moves at the start. Whatever you do, be careful not to let enemies fall in the DL pit with two gold(no way to win) and try not to let a flashing enemy fall in the 3-pit where one bad guy starts. Go left for a gold then fall right. The enemoy will come at you instead of left/right to get gold. L-D-R onto the ladder. Climb down a bit, fall right and go left a square. Dig right and drop right. Wait for the other two guys to fall in. Go to the top here and dig over the top of the golds. Get it, fall left, dig and collect the three other golds. Dig to get out, fall, R U L(fall) L U L Dig- left to get on a gold, dig-left and fall and fall into the left. Dig right. Get another gold. Stand over the final gold, dig left, fall down and go L-U- R. If this maneuver is too risky, dig and climb back up and just pick off the chest that way. 4-23. LEVEL 23: h h ~~~~~~h X h~~~~~~~ $ h X h $ h X h H XXXXXXX H H XXXXXXX H H ~~~~~~~ H XXXXXXH HXXXXXXX XXXXXXH - HXXXXXXX XXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXX XXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXX XXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXX XXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXX X XXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXX X XXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXX X XXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXX X $XXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXX$
XXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXX
XXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXX
XXXX XH XXX XXX HX  XXXX
XXXX$XH XXX$XXX HX$$XXXX
      H         H
      H         H
      H   - -   H
HXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXH
HXXXXXH XXXXXXX HXXXXXXH
H                      H
H                      H
H   $      +       $   H
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OK, forget about the no-kill bonus because you have to get some bad guys to 
regenerate to solve this level. Go to the left, up and right, and dig as your 
enemies come at you. Go to the main UL ledge and wait for enemies to 
regenerate. If one does just UR of you, go to the top of the ladder and fall 
on him. If there's one UL of you, dig left to make sure. Fall on the center 
enemy and go right, so you are in the top center.

If this doesn't work, go to the bottom and try again. This is a rather tricky 
dig and the top two rows should be done with precision.

54321
X9876
XabcX
XdeXX
XXfXX
XX$XX

You've got the toughest one. Now fall to the left and take care of what's 
there--kill anyone who gets in the way until they're all on the right. Fall 
onto the UL gold, then dig the 3 rightmost parts of the top platform, the 3 
below that, etc., until just above the first gold. Then dig as follows:

     H
 $12XH
XXX3XH
XXX$XH

Now go to the right, wiping enemies from there as they appear. Again fall on 
the UR gold but now you have a different puzzle. Dig the 5 leftmost on each 
platform, right to left. That gets you:

XX321$
XX4XXXX
X$$XXXX

Then dig the 2 leftmost on each platform until you can dig and just get the 
final gold.

    4-24. LEVEL 24:

                       h
 ~~~~~~~~      ~~~~~~~~h
                       h
                       h
HX~~~~~~~X  X   $    $ H
HX       X  X          H
HX       X$ X     $ -  H
HX       XXXX    XXXX  H
HX $ $  HXXXX    XXXX  H
HX      H~~~~~         H
H       H              H
HXHXXXXXH          -   H
HXHXXXXXH     XXXXXXXXXH
HXH           XXXXXXXXXH
HXH                   XH
HXH  -                XH
HX*******XH           XH
HX*******XH~~~~~~~~~~~XH
H        XH           XH
H        XH           XH
H    +   XH           XH
HXXXXXXX XH  $    $   XH
HXXXXXXX XH           XH
HX     X XH           XH
HX    $X XXXXXXXXXXXXHXH
HX     * XXXXXXXXXXXXHXH
HX     *             HX
HX     *             HX
HX     *     $  -    H
************************
************************

Things get chaotic if you don't keep the enemies bottled up. Eventually 
they'll probably go into the U, but eventually you run out of time.

Go left. Dig the leftmost square. Dig the one below that and the one below 
that. Wait for the first square to fill in. Dig the DL square, go U/R and dig 
above the gold. Fall and go left. Go to the UL.

Dig right, down, dig right. Wait for the UL hole to fill in, dig the final DR 
hole, and come around to get one of the suspended golds. Go immediately back 
up the left side ladder. Repeat, so the enemies stay in place.

Fall into the U for gold and dig right. Run right as you dig left. When 
everyone's in a hole, fall onto the left suspended gold. Be prepared to dig 
more holes and get the right suspended gold or a gold on the platform in the 
air.

When there are two enemies around you can take care of the rest without much 
trouble. Fall down making sure to pass over a gold chest. Dig a couple of 
holes and then dig right to get to the very bottom. Walk back up. Next time 
you dig holes for your enemy, walk L-U-R and drop onto the other gold. If you 
have enough time now you can try to get enemies to regenerate all in the U. 
If they appear a bit left of the U it should happen as well. Though you may 
just want to get through level 24. Once you do, you've pretty much won; the 
other levels just repeat themselves.

End of FAQ proper

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

  5. VERSIONS

1.0.1 sent to GameFAQs 8/6/2006, with maps, descriptions and high score list 
fixed
1.0.0 sent to GameFAQs 6/1/2006, complete if not crystallized

  6. CREDITS

CJayC for having GameFAQs.
For all the people I've gotten to know since the Apple version of this guide 
came out. There are too many to list off the top of my head. Here's a partial 
list: bloomer, Retro, falsehead, Snow Dragon, Masters, Sashanan, Brian 
Sulpher, ZoopSoul, AdamL, War Doc(who sets the pace for arcade guides,) 
lisanne and many others I'm sure.