HIGH SCORING GAME PATTERNS AND
STRATEGIES: PART I
This is probably the
part of this booklet that you are most interested in. I am
assuming that you are capable of at least an 850,000 game, or
these patterns will be too difficult, or frustrating. Try to
first master the patterns given in my Top Score article,
and you'll then have good success with these.
Note that, because of time bonus, it is 'best'
to start at level 8, as opposed to a lower level. While starting
at a lower level will give you more points accumulated by the end
of the game, it is generally not worth it, because you lose more points in
time bonus than you gain. The only exceptions are games starting
at level 7, or level 2. With level 7, you can, though it's hard, have a slight net gain in
points, even considering the time bonus 'lost'. BUT, you would then have four more
screens to mess up on, and the game is already frustrating
enough!
FGS has proven
that level 2 is the way to go, even with the much longer game time, and the
difficulty of mastering so many extra screens. Still, the one perk is the fact
that you don't have to worry about your time bonus (tho Frank once told me he
had a 6000 on one of his games; I didn't catch the net score, however, and
believe that he never had a time bonus on any of his 900,000+ games that were
started at level 2).
Try to master only one screen at a time, and don't give
up. While a pattern may seem impossible, it can probably be
basically learned in 10 to 20 games. Then, refine your technique
so that it becomes second nature. And, most of all, don't be
afraid to experiment with your own patterns, or modifications of
mine. After all, a pattern that you're comfortable with is the
best one for you.
1/1: 'Ball Wave'
Though the strategy for this screen would seem to be
obvious, there are a few helpful things that can be mentioned. Of
course, you will go to the warp tunnel and press jump, but the
best path to take is along the right side of the maze, rather
than cutting through the middle. Position Bentley in the back of
the tunnel, and wait until you see the balls coming down onto the
maze. Right before they land, hit jump, and then immediately
bring Bentley out of the tunnel. Move left, and then down the
left wall. After you've gotten the line of gems along the wall,
cut a hard right, and you may get a few more along the next line.
It's possible to get 18 gems, though most of the time you will
get from 15 to 17. At 99 points each, try to get every one that
you can.
Sometimes, you will find that even though you jumped in
the tunnel, and came out, the warp didn't work. That is because
you were not in the 'proper' warp position, which is at the back
of the tunnel. This situation is when the line of gems that are
positioned down the middle comes in handy. Simply go back in the
warp tunnel, try the warp again, and get the gems down the
center. This way, you will still get your extra points after
warping.
8/1: Staircase
Start by moving Bentley to the gem just in front of
where the line of five gemeaters lands on the right side of the
board. Wait for them to land, and, as they do, move into them to
get the first three, and then stop. Back up one or two gem
spaces, and then, almost immediately, swing into the remaining
two as they eat their next two gems. Now, wait until the gemeater
in the front right of the maze starts to eat gems around the
board's perimeter. When he does, move into him. Hopefully, while
you were doing this, the hat blocked the final gemeater from
getting out. If so, move towards the hat, while collecting most
of the gems between Bentley and it. Now, get the hat, while being
careful to leave one gem (try to leave the one next to the
elevator) for the gemeater to eat, and therefore slow down on, as
he moves out of his corner. However, if the hat moved out, get it
immediately, and clear gems before the gemeater can. In either
case, next move across the lower stairs, and then go down and
clear the right side of the maze. Move back up the stairs to the
top, and go to the dead end section on the left, and then the
right, while getting all of the gems on the middle walkways
in-between. Now, being careful of any gemeaters left, take an
elevator up to the final back section, and clear it.
8/2: Cross Maze
The timing with this
pattern is critical, though it doesn't really take that long to
learn. Begin by moving at a steady, though not fast, speed
towards the area where the gemeaters land. When you are about 10
gems from the back, jump the remaining line of gems. Now, when
the group of enemies lands, move back into the first gemeater.
Then, after a very short pause, move into the next gemeater,
which will be eating the gem that no enemy in the group lands on.
Next, move up the staircase to the left, and then back down,
being careful NOT to get the hat. The enemies will still be
blocked from the 500's shown for eliminating the two gemeaters.
Jump the enemies to stun them, and go down and left. Proceed
inside the cross maze section, and move towards the opening near
where the gemeaters are, while picking up the two lines of 16
gems that are furthest from the cross maze section. Wait for a
gemeater to come inside and eat the four gems in the line that's
parallel to the back stairway. As he gets the last one, eliminate
him. Next, pick up the other two lines of gems, and then move
into the cross maze section. Move all the way left in this
section, so that the tree will come in and be trapped on the
outside left cross. Now, quickly clear the gems in the cross maze
that are closest to the upper platform cross maze section (this
way, any gemeaters going into the bottom cross maze won't get
many gems, because they tend to follow the inside edges). Time it
so you reach the last part of the cross maze just before the bees
land, to avoid them riding the elevator down. Move out of this
section, and proceed up the back stairs, and over to clear the
gems on the left stairs. Next, clear as many gems as possible in
the upper cross maze, while being sure the bees don't get down.
Ride the elevator up the second time it descends, and get the
honey. Now, get off and clear any gems left in the top cross
maze. Move right and down to the bottom cross maze, clearing the
few gems remaining while avoiding any gemeaters. Be sure not to
move out, so the tree will stay trapped.
8/3: Hidden Ramp
Start by positioning Bentley next to where the group
of four gemeaters lands. Depending on the number of lives that
you have, choose to either try for eliminating three, or four,
gemeaters. Whatever the case, position Bentley next to the
gemeater in the front of the line you wish to eliminate. When the
enemies land, quickly curve into the first gemeater, and continue
through the rest. If you're lucky, the hat won't move, and you
can continue. If it does move, you will die. If that happens,
simply position Bentley so that the hat lands on him on the next
life, and continue the pattern.
With the hat on, continue moving straight, until you hit
the back of the maze. Then, move to get the section of gems the
tunnel to your left faces. Move back towards the front, and go up
the zigzag staircase on the right. Move through the honey from
right to left, and clear the gems around the elevator. Quickly
get the gems around the short elevator in the front, and then
move down the left zigzag staircase, making sure that you move
fast enough to get the tree stuck. The other tree should be stuck
on the back right part of the maze. Clear any remaining gems at
the front and left, being careful of the trees and any gemeaters.
Next take the left elevator up to the top, and clear it in a
counterclockwise fashion, to end the maze.
8/4: Berthilda's Fortress
The pattern for this maze is quite difficult to learn,
and to execute. But, it is well worth it, because points are
maximized, and time is minimized. You must know where the two
gemeaters on the board land. In front of where that is, there is
an opening that allows you access to their landing spots. Start the board
by moving to the gem next to where the gemeater nearest the back
lands. Now, when the group of enemies lands, move into the
gemeater closest to the front, and then get the next one. The
best way to hit them is to perform a small
counterclockwise loop. The 500's will block the tree and balls
from coming out. Now, get the hat and continue moving towards the
back of the maze. At the back, move left, then move a few gems
forward. The small section of four gems should now be to your
right. Quickly loop in and get them, and then move out to where
you were. Continue until you are adjacent to the honey, and then
stop. The 500's should still be blocking the balls. As soon as
they disappear, move to get on the elevator. The balls will hold
the tree back, and the whole group will remain
'trapped' against the wall for the rest of the maze.
Once you are on the platform, get the witch while Bentley still
has the hat, and get the gem in the back. Now, swing out into the
gem section, and then back against the wall, to the right of
where the honey was. To avoid the balls from swinging out,
collect the gems on this section by moving quickly to the front,
and then back. Now get on the elevator just as it's about ready
to go down, and move quickly towards the back of the maze wall
that faces the remaining gems. Again, this is to avoid releasing
the balls. As before, clear the gems here by moving back and
forth, while avoiding any gemeaters you may have missed at the
start. If there are any, eliminate them as they are eating around
the inside perimeter of the maze. This should help save your
score if you messed up the pattern at the beginning.
