Marble Blast Gold: Hideously difficult!
by John Waymouth · in Marble Blast · 05/11/2003 (5:30 pm) · 18 replies
I'm really liking the extra 28 levels, but WOW, some of them are difficult. I just beat whirl after something like 30 or 40 tries. Now I'm up to scaffold, and jeez, this is hard. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting past the trapdoor platforms? I can get past the first set by holding down space with my right hand, and using the W/S keys to adjust my spin to land square in the center. But right at the end the trapdoors aren't in a line, and it's prohibitively difficult. Anyone have any pointers?
Other than that, good work, level designers!
And while I'm posting, a feature request: can you make the ball "skinnable"? I see that I can change the ball texture by changing one of the graphic files, but it might be nice to see it in-game. I think I understand why "blah.jpg" is named as such. :) Anyway, I'm somewhat interested in creating my own ball image to see if I can avoid the scrunching that happens at the north and south pole of the ball.
Other than that, good work, level designers!
And while I'm posting, a feature request: can you make the ball "skinnable"? I see that I can change the ball texture by changing one of the graphic files, but it might be nice to see it in-game. I think I understand why "blah.jpg" is named as such. :) Anyway, I'm somewhat interested in creating my own ball image to see if I can avoid the scrunching that happens at the north and south pole of the ball.
#2
First off, point your ball towards the duo of Time Travel bonus', and rev up the ball, once the level starts, jump off the end of the start platform, land on the beam, and grab the two Time Travel Bonus' -- do it in such a way that you survive. next, cross the duo of beams, but don't bother going for that Time Travel bonus (I haven't been able to grab it quickly without dying). Now, practice the following technique on the ladder, and use the same (or a variation) of this technique to beat the level. Remember Tribes/Tribes2? Well, this game resembles them in that with the spacebar held down, your ball will jump each time it hits a surface. Combine that with the ability to speed up and slow down the ball with 'W' and 'S' respectively, and you can beat it. Still confused? Read on.
Alright, you are now on the platform before the first set of ladder (the ones that do not have the trapdoor). Jump up, hold down spacebar, and bounce there for a second (keep the spacebar held down), now hit 'W', you'll notice that you'll go forward, if you hit 'S', you'll slow down your forward motion, allowing you to jump each rung of the step without hitting it and getting bounced back. Do the same for the first set of trap doors. now, you will come up to another set of trapdoors, but these will not be a straight shot, you'll have to rotate/jump all in one fell swoop, but the technique is still the same -- keep the spacebar held down, and use the mouse/w/s to move. enjoy!
05/12/2003 (2:05 pm)
Yup, I know how to beat Scaffold (in fact, I'm on Advanced Level 40, but no matter how hard I try, it won't let me open Level 41). Here's how to beat scaffold, and its actually really easy once you get the hang of it.First off, point your ball towards the duo of Time Travel bonus', and rev up the ball, once the level starts, jump off the end of the start platform, land on the beam, and grab the two Time Travel Bonus' -- do it in such a way that you survive. next, cross the duo of beams, but don't bother going for that Time Travel bonus (I haven't been able to grab it quickly without dying). Now, practice the following technique on the ladder, and use the same (or a variation) of this technique to beat the level. Remember Tribes/Tribes2? Well, this game resembles them in that with the spacebar held down, your ball will jump each time it hits a surface. Combine that with the ability to speed up and slow down the ball with 'W' and 'S' respectively, and you can beat it. Still confused? Read on.
Alright, you are now on the platform before the first set of ladder (the ones that do not have the trapdoor). Jump up, hold down spacebar, and bounce there for a second (keep the spacebar held down), now hit 'W', you'll notice that you'll go forward, if you hit 'S', you'll slow down your forward motion, allowing you to jump each rung of the step without hitting it and getting bounced back. Do the same for the first set of trap doors. now, you will come up to another set of trapdoors, but these will not be a straight shot, you'll have to rotate/jump all in one fell swoop, but the technique is still the same -- keep the spacebar held down, and use the mouse/w/s to move. enjoy!
#3
05/12/2003 (5:32 pm)
Well, I didn't play Tribes, but I already figured out the technique you're talking about (see my original post). I just couldn't make it work for the ending part. I used the level-skip mini-cheat I found in the support forums. On the level select screen, move to level 41 (the one it won't unlock for you) and click in the absolute lower right corner. It'll unlock for you. I think there's a bug in the game that prevents level 41 (and 43, I think) from unlocking, ever.
#4
05/13/2003 (5:18 am)
Quote: I just couldn't make it work for the ending part.It will work, trust me -- it just takes more patience and rehersal of action. That's key, rehearsing how you are going to jump.
#5
05/13/2003 (10:50 am)
If it helps anyone, the last set of trapdoors is the mirror image (in terms of placement) of the set of wooden platforms before it. Also, has anyone besides Mark managed to get that Time Travel under the first set of trap doors? I think that is probably one of the most difficult tricks in MB Gold...
#6
Anyway, now I'm on icarus. Damn, that's hard. I can't even begin to do the last part. Anyone have any hints? Perhaps I'm going at it wrong, but I try bouncing, and I never aim quite right (always over- or under-shoot) so I'm trying to correct in the air, and that just gives me no time to aim for the next bounce...
05/13/2003 (8:46 pm)
Sure, I've gotten it. Surviving, that's another issue ;)Anyway, now I'm on icarus. Damn, that's hard. I can't even begin to do the last part. Anyone have any hints? Perhaps I'm going at it wrong, but I try bouncing, and I never aim quite right (always over- or under-shoot) so I'm trying to correct in the air, and that just gives me no time to aim for the next bounce...
#7
I figured out how to get it. Do the first two (a smooth looking trick!), and stop so that you're in the middle of the platform. Turn and aim for the time bonus and jump, holding down the spacebar. In the air, manipulate your momentum using W/S just enough to hit that crosspiece. You should be able to bounce off it, grab the time bonus, and end up on the other side. If you can somehow grab that fourth one (perhaps by bouncing in the hinge of the second to last and last platform a few times?) you might be able to beat that gold time. Well, you might, I sure as heck can't ;)
05/13/2003 (10:02 pm)
Finally beat it!! The trick that eventually did it for me was to get all forward momentum before hitting the first trapdoor. Still took a heck of a lot of tries.Quote:next, cross the duo of beams, but don't bother going for that Time Travel bonus (I haven't been able to grab it quickly without dying).
I figured out how to get it. Do the first two (a smooth looking trick!), and stop so that you're in the middle of the platform. Turn and aim for the time bonus and jump, holding down the spacebar. In the air, manipulate your momentum using W/S just enough to hit that crosspiece. You should be able to bounce off it, grab the time bonus, and end up on the other side. If you can somehow grab that fourth one (perhaps by bouncing in the hinge of the second to last and last platform a few times?) you might be able to beat that gold time. Well, you might, I sure as heck can't ;)
#8
It's probably obvious to say this, but having free look on is extremely helpful in this level :)
05/15/2003 (3:48 pm)
Icarus is actually sort of similar to the last section of scaffold, just long distance. The key is to control your spin before you hit the platforms. There are a lot of bounce patterns that involve skipping several of the platforms, so you may want to try that if you are having trouble hitting them all.It's probably obvious to say this, but having free look on is extremely helpful in this level :)
#9
Remember to keep a backup of the file.
05/31/2003 (6:26 am)
A reply to the first question about skinning the marble. The file you need is not blah.jpg. If you go into Marble > data > shapes > balls > base.marble that is the file that skins the marble. It's a png file and opens fine in Paint Shop Pro 5 for editing.Remember to keep a backup of the file.
#10
06/28/2003 (9:14 am)
What does custom mode do? I go in and it says not qualified.
#11
06/29/2003 (10:26 pm)
That level was hideously difficult. But I managed to beat it without holding down the spacebar. Wait until you get to the castle level...
#12
07/04/2003 (2:03 pm)
Custom mode is for any player-made levels that you download and install on your own. Several are available in the forums. No custom levels come with the game (they wouldn't be custom then, eh?)
#13
04/21/2006 (11:51 am)
For the life of me, I can't find the finish for advanced level 42! Where is it?? 
#14
In response, hit the three blue blocks on the right of the pinball level and then go to the left (far left) where the time travels where. Now continue straight forward as but stay on the left side of the board. The exit is there. The three blue blocks just open a path to the finish.
04/21/2006 (2:45 pm)
Thanks for bumping the topic :)In response, hit the three blue blocks on the right of the pinball level and then go to the left (far left) where the time travels where. Now continue straight forward as but stay on the left side of the board. The exit is there. The three blue blocks just open a path to the finish.
#15
04/29/2006 (8:00 am)
Custom levels are levels from other people. Go to the marble blast gold file and then go to missions then make a folder named custom.
#16
04/18/2007 (4:45 pm)
If you ever want to unlock the next level in a difficulty setting, just go to next locked level in the "series", and then click the bottom-right corner of the game screen. Voila! Level unlocked.
#17
Why did you bump a useless topic?
You haven't made a nice impression on me...
04/18/2007 (6:19 pm)
WE ALL KNOW THIS!!!Why did you bump a useless topic?
You haven't made a nice impression on me...
#18
It seems the current marblers are better than the oldies, lol. Now people are going for sub 1 second on Scaffold.
04/19/2007 (6:41 pm)
Lol old players weren't very good, they couldn't even beat scaffold and couldn't at least get the time travel under the trapdoor. LOL!It seems the current marblers are better than the oldies, lol. Now people are going for sub 1 second on Scaffold.
Torque 3D Owner Pat Wilson
Curse you, Alex!!