=============================================================================== I. Table of Contents =============================================================================== I. Table of Contents II. Purpose of this Guide III. Disclaimer IV. Accessing the Secret Levels V. Maps and Walkthrough for the Secret Levels VI. Notes VII. Contact Information =============================================================================== II. Purpose of this Guide =============================================================================== Lode Runner Online: The Mad Monk's Revenge contains a not very well known easter egg in the very first level that will warp the player to five hidden levels. These levels are marked as ??? in the level display, and cannot even be accessed by using the level select cheat. I noticed that they weren't in the full FAQ hosted on GameFAQs, so I thought I'd put together a quick guide showing how to get to them, as well as how to beat them. I hope that someone will get some use out of this. :) =============================================================================== III. Disclaimer =============================================================================== This Guide was written in full by Brian Ryals, 2006. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. =============================================================================== IV. Accessing the Secret Levels =============================================================================== Here's a map of the first level: /----------------------------\ |E | |I GGGG | |I LTTTTTTTTTTT | |I GGGGL G TTTTTTTT | |I LTTTTTTTT TTTT | |I L TTTTT TTT I I III | |I L I I I | |I TTTTTL IIII I | |I TTTTTL I I I | |I GGG L X I I III | |I LTTTTTTTL | |I LGG L GGG | |ITTTTTTTT L LTTTTT | |I TTTTT L L T| |I S L L TT| |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| \----------------------------/ -|\/ = Map boundaries S = Starting Position T = Turf (Laser works) G = Gold L = Ladder I = Invisible Ladder E = Default Exit X = Hidden location to the Secret Levels Basically, you have to go to the top of the level (where the highest four pieces of gold are) and dig through the turf to drop down on top of where the X is. Unlike the normal exit, you do not need to collect all of the gold before doing so. Once you fall through that space, you will immediately warp to level ???, gain 1 million points, and have an additional 20 lives added to your total. Pretty simple, but it's easily missed, as there's no indication that there is anything there, and it is counterintuitive to dig down from the top. =============================================================================== V. Maps and Walkthrough for the Secret Levels =============================================================================== -------------- Secret Level 1 -------------- /----------------------------\ | E | | G I | |TUTUTUTLTTTTTTT I | | LPPPPPPPPPPI G | | L TTL TTTTTTTLTT| | L TTL L | | M L TTL GM L | |TTLTTTTT TTTTTTTTLTTTTTTT| | L L | | L M L | |TTTTTTTTTLTTTTTTTTTTL | | L L | | G LPPPPPPPPPPL G | | LTTTTTT TTTTTTTL| | L S G L| |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| \----------------------------/ -|\/ = Map boundaries S = Starting Position T = Turf (Laser works) U = Unbreakable Turf (Laser does not work) G = Gold L = Ladder I = Invisible Ladder P = Pole R = Mad Monk Start Location E = Exit The first thing you'll notice is the rather plain background and no background music; this is because it is supposed to imitate the original Lode Runner style. This level is just a standard action level without any real tricks. Grab the six pieces of gold while dodging the mad monks, shooting the turf as necessary. The quickest path is to grab the one to your right, then head left, up the ladder, moving to the right to grab the next two pieces. Then go up the long ladder, grab the piece there, head to the right, up and to the left to snag the last two. -------------- Secret Level 2 -------------- /----------------------------\ |EPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPE| |L L| |L G G GGGG G G GG L| |L G G G G G G G L| |L GGGG GGG G G G G L| |L G G G G G G G L| |L G G GGGG GGGG GGGG GG L| |L M ML| |LPPLLLPPPLLLPPPLLLPPLLLLPPPL| |LSI I I I I I I I L| |LTLT I I I I I LTTL| |LTI TLL I I I I ITTTI TL| |LTI ITLT I I LTL I TL| |LT IIII ILLTGGLLL IIII TL| |LT TL| |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| \----------------------------/ -|\/ = Map boundaries S = Starting Position T = Turf (Laser works) G = Gold L = Ladder I = Invisible Ladder P = Pole R = Mad Monk Start Location E = Exit Well, if it isn't a remake of the infamous opening level to the Championship edition of Lode Runner! I hate this level, simply because it's so tedious. The first thing you need to do is position the mad monks right under the two bottom gold pieces. To do this, climb up the ladder to your left to line yourself up with the poles. Once the mad monks get to the second row of ladders drop all the way down to the bottom of the ladder. The mad monks will utilize their terrible AI and fall straight down into the pit. Move back up once they are under the two gold pieces, as marked by the Xs in the map below. /----------------------------\ | PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP | |L L| |L G G GGGG G G GG L| |L G G G G G G G L| |L GGGG GGG G G G G L| |L G G G G G G G L| |L G G GGGG GGGG GGGG GG L| |L L| |LPPLLLPPPLLLPPPLLLPPLLLLPPPL| |L L| |LTLT LTTL| |LT TLL TTT TL| |LT TLT LTL TL| |LT LLTGGLLL TL| |LT XX TL| |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| \----------------------------/ I took out all the things you can't see yet from the map to hopefully make it a bit more readable. If the mad monks aren't next to each other, you can lure them all the way over and then switching to the ladder on the right side to bring them back. Once they are in the appropriate position, the boring part of the level begins. Jam on your F6 key to maximize the game speed, and then climb to the top of the level and drop down to get the gold that makes up the "HELLO." Repeat until all are collected. Now drop down to get the last two gold pieces, and use the now revealed invisible ladders (which spell "GOOD") to make your way to one of the two exits at the top of the screen. -------------- Secret Level 3 -------------- /----------------------------\ | E | | G PP GI GPP R G GPP | |LTTTTTTTTI TTTTTT ITTTTTT L| |LTTTTTTTTITTTTTTTTITTTTTTT L| |L TT ITTT TTTITT TTTL| |L TT ITT TTITT TTL| |L TT G ITT TTITT TTL| |L TT GRITTGGGGTTITT TTL| |L TT ITTTTTTTTITT TTL| |L R TT G ITTTTTTTTITT TTL| |L TT ITT TTITT TTL| |L TT ITT RTTITT GTTL| |L TT ITT TTITTGGGTTTL| |L TT ITT TTI TFTTTTTL| |L TT ITT TTI TFTTTT L| |L SI I L| \----------------------------/ -|\/ = Map boundaries S = Starting Position T = Turf (Laser works) F = Fake turf (fall through) G = Gold L = Ladder I = Invisible Ladder P = Pole R = Mad Monk Start Location E = Exit Appearances can be deceiving. "TAD" can be rather tricky if you try to rush, primarily due to the inability to use your laser on the bottom. The trick is to manipulate the AI and get all the mad monks bunched together on the right ladder. To do this, immediately run to the left and climb up part way on the ladder (but not the entire way) until all of the mad monks are together on the right ladder. It is then trivial to get all the gold pieces contained within the "T" and "A" turf letters. To get the "D" gold, climb all the way to the top and make a long line of holes until all the mad monks have regenerated below the top of the letters. You will want to dig on the D so that you land on top of the rightmost gold piece. To do this, dig three holes on the top right, then dig the rightmost two on the next row, and then simply dig above the gold. When you grab the last piece you will fall through the D, and you can simply climb up the new revealed ladder to the exit. -------------- Secret Level 4 -------------- /----------------------------\ |PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP| |LEGG GG GGGGGG GGGGGGEL| |LRTTGGGGGTTRTTTTTTGRTTTTTTRL| |L TTTGGGTTT TTTTTTT TTTTTT L| |L TTTTGTTTT TT TT TT L| |L TTTTFTTTT TTGGGTT TTGGG L| |L TTTTFTTTT TTTTTT TTTTT L| |L TT TFT TT TTTTTT TTTTT L| |L TT F TT TT TT L| |L TT TT TT TT L| |L TT TT TT TT L| |L TT TT TT TT L| |LG G G GL| |LG G G GL| |LGS G G GL| |UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU| \----------------------------/ -|\/ = Map boundaries S = Starting Position T = Turf (Laser works) U = Unbreakable Turf (Laser does not work) F = Fake turf (fall through) G = Gold L = Ladder P = Pole R = Mad Monk Start Location E = Exit Again, you can't use your laser on the bottom, but it shouldn't be a big deal in this relatively straightforward level. The only thing to note is that you don't need to do anything fancy for the gold in the "M" portion, as the very middle column of the M is a fake turf that you will fall right through. It can be a mild nuisance to get the mad monks to drop a gold piece if they pick one up; I feel that the best way to get it back is to force them to walk back and forth on the bottom until they drop it. Other than that, the level is pretty simple, if a bit tedious (you'll need to make at least six trips to the top to grab all the gold pieces). The mad monks won't typically bother you while you're getting the gold, as the AI isn't smart enough for them to stay on the poles until they reach your location before dropping down. Just make sure that when you drop down you don't drop between two mad monks (since you can't use your laser) and you'll be fine. -------------- Secret Level 5 -------------- /----------------------------\ |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| |TTTTTTTTTTT S TTTTTTTTTTT| |TTTTTTTT TTTTI TTTTTTT| |TTTTT TTTTTTTTTTTI TTTTT| |TTT TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTI TTT| |T TTTTTTT TTTTTTI TT| |E TTTTTT PP TTTTTTI T| |TTTTTT LTTT TT RTTTTTTIRT| |TTTT LTTTTT TTTTTT ITT| |TTT LTTTTTTTTGGGGTTTTTT ITTT| |TTTTL TTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ITTTT| |TTTTTTL TTTTTTTTTTT ITTTTT| |TTTTTTTTL TTTTTTT ITTTTTTT| |TTTTTTTTTTL ITTTTTTTTT| |TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT| \----------------------------/ -|\/ = Map boundaries S = Starting Position T = Turf (Laser works) P = Pit (lava) G = Gold L = Ladder I = Invisible Ladder R = Mad Monk Start Location E = Exit Hey, it's the Sierra eye symbol! The last level is probably the quickest of them all once you know how to beat it. You'll want to dig down to the four gold pieces so that you can get blast the tile to their immediate left. The easiest way to do this is to walk to the left and blast through those blocks, then blast rows underneath you all the way to the top ladder. This will give you plenty of room to trap the mad monk that's with the four gold pieces. Keep killing this mad monk until he reappears somewhere not within the eye. Then you only need to make a 3-2-1 row hole to get to the bottom and climb the new ladders counterclockwise to the exit. You may need to use one of the first few rows to make another hole to trap the mad monk. That's it! You're done with the secret levels. You will now be warped to level 151 (the first of the new levels included with Lode Runner Online that weren't in The Legend Returns) with plenty of lives and a score far higher than you would have gotten playing through levels 1-150. =============================================================================== VI. Notes =============================================================================== All of the secret levels are labeled as "???" and have no name associated with them. I have simply called them "Secret Level X" with X being the order that the player will encounter them in. If you save your game within these levels, when you load your game back up it will have the Jungle Tileset instead of the Classic Tileset. If you try to use the standard cheat that lets you move forward one level, you will get an error informing you that you are on the last level in the set (no matter which level you try to use the cheat on). If you use the YOG cheat and then use ctrl + F8 to advance a level, it will work. The F11 and F12 advances will not work. The cheat that lets you move back one level works unless you try to use it on the first secret level. If you do, the game will take you back to the title screen. =============================================================================== VII. Contact Information =============================================================================== The author of this FAQ goes online by the alias "LordOfDabu" and can be contacted by e-mail at the following address: LordOfDabu@gmail.com E-mail about this guide (or other Lode Runner Online questions or even the Lode Runner series in general) is encouraged, and the only request is that a relevant subject title be included with the e-mail so that it is not mistakenly discarded.