Backing
up levels:
Find the data file sv_arcade_1 and save it at each level attained to
prevent being sent back to the beginning. If you lose, copy the back-up
into the profiles folder and keep doing this until success then replace
the back-up with the higher level attained. The score keeps building up
as well. I actually am up to stage 13_6 and have kept each stage attained in a
separate folder thus: Stage 13_4, Stage 13_5 etc with the relevant copy of the back-up
sv_arcade_1 file in each folder.
Hint:
If you
have a small segment all but inside the pyramid separated by a gap,
placing the color of the ball closest to the gap on the other side of
the gap will pull the segment out of the pyramid. Eliminating the
balls next to the pusher dude will cause the line to retreat a little
bit.
Spheres:
When your spheres get really close to the pyramid, the launch spheres
from your scarab will be the colors that are closest to the pyramid.
Use these spheres wisely to keep the chain from entering the pyramid.
Tips:
1. The faster you shoot, the more power ups fall down. The slower, the less.
2. If you get the lighting power up, you can reserve it (right click) till
you get a chance to shoot a long line of marbles. In the last level 13-10,
if you shoot the lighting where the balls come out right at the time they
start coming out, you kill many "unborn" balls in one shot.
3. Overall strategy is to just keep on shooting with no pause - that means
don't pause and do nothing while waiting to catch a power up or coin. - Submitted
by Pinoy
Hints:
My first breakthrough on this level is when I took the time to catch ALL
power-ups symbols. This helped tremendously. My next step
forward was to continually watch the scarab for the next color. This
not only helps to rapidly position the scarab for the next shot, but also
helps to know when to switch the ball for an easier, more available shot.
Continually watching for the scarab's next ball took practice, but it
definitely paid off.
Also, unlike other levels, you may have noticed that the scarab stops
providing the right color ball when the chain is approaching the pyramid, so
I had to use a different strategy just for the pyramid row. Lastly, I
am convinced that it is more difficult to recover from a misplaced ball,
than it is to wait for a good shot.
The strategy below is what I generally use, but there are many occasions
when I stray from my own guideline to pick off obviously easy shots.
First Chain:
When the first chain comes out of the shoot, they will be going fast, so
unless there is an easy shot (like 3 or more of the same color in a row)
wait for the chain to slow down.
Go for the easy shots first. For instance, if you have 2 choices where
to place a blue ball, always pick the one that has the most colors in a row.
Watch the scarab for the next color so that you can rapidly position the
scarab for the next ball. Catch as many power ups as possible. Forget
about the coins and gems. they are not worth the effort. When the
front-end of the chain rounds the second curve and is rolling down
vertically, keep shooting at the horizontal balls, even if you can match the
vertical leading ball. Do not go for the vertical balls until the horizontal
balls are out of shooting range. When shooting vertical balls, watch
the next color on the scarab and switch colors as necessary so that you can
shoot the closest ball first.
Second Chain:
The second chain will be released when all the balls have passed the
vertical position. Start shooting the second chain when it slows down
(regardless of how many balls are remaining from the first chain). If
there are a lot remaining from the first chain, you may have to position the
scarab towards the left side of the screen to shoot at the second chain as
they are rounding the curve. When I place the scarab in that spot, I
notice that the scarab will typically supply me with the right color ball to
repeatedly hit the second chain. When the scarab gives an odd color, I
immediately look for an opportunity to shot at the first chain. Then
immediately go back to shooting the second chain again. Do not worry
too much about the first chain until it reaches the pyramid row.
Pyramid Row:
It is best to clear out anything on the pyramid row before the leading ball
is halfway down the row. Otherwise it is very unlikely that scarab will give
you the correct color ball. Watch for the next color on the scarab and
switch colors if necessary to eliminate these balls on the pyramid row.
Once the balls have passed the halfway point on the pyramid row, either
match the leading ball, or shoot at two or more like colors on the pyramid
row. The only exception is when the scarab ball and next scarab ball
are the same color. If none of those colors are available, then shoot
at the longest color sequence on any row within shooting range.
Third Chain:
Hopefully you only have to deal with two chains at a time, but if a third
chain is released, the first priority is the pyramid row. The next
priority is the third chain with the scarab positioned on the far left side
of the screen.
Row Priority:
When the balls get out of control and start filling up all the rows, the
first priority is to match the leading ball on the pyramid row first.
If that color is not available, then go for the top horizontal row as they
round the curve because you might get lucky and score a lightning bolt or
reverse. If that color is not available, the go for the longest color
sequence anywhere within shooting range.
Bottom Row:
When shooting a long color sequence on the bottom row, it will open a gap in
the chain so that row above is within shooting range. There are many times
when scarab will immediately supply the color for that row above. - Submitted
by Ponder
Coins
& Gems:
Your submitter Ponder states that coins and gems are not worthwhile.
This is not accurate. The gems are the largest scoring items you can
catch. Most of the time they are not difficult to catch, although
sometimes you may have to miss catching a gem for a shot. The coins
are very much worthwhile because they are the way you gain more lives.
It takes 30 coins to get a new life. Of course, more lives will help
you survive longer in the game. - Submitted
by locomom
Please
select the first letter of the game's title below. If the word
"The" appears at the start of a title, ignore it and search for
the second word in the title:
