Solutions to The Odyssey (Odyssey.pzl), a Lode Runner file by Thorin N. Tatge

This puzzle file presents a blend of puzzle-oriented, action-oriented, and dramatic levels.  See OdysseyStory.txt for the backstory that connects it.  Solutions (or in some cases, hints) to the levels with puzzle aspects are presented here level by level.

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The Prison (1):

You have to wait on top of the highest ladder for a while, then your savior will come and fall into the pit.  From there, its a sixth order dig to freedom.

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The Jailors Quarters (2):

The skull requires a sixth order dig to get to it.  Score the four bombs.  A little waiting is in order to get the treasure at lower right.  The yellow door represents a warp to Level 7, the beginning of the second leg of your journey.  The key is hidden at the end of the line of bombs.

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The Outside World (3):

To get the two treasures in the O, dig slowly down to where youre level with the lower treasure for an escape route, then go up and dig down through the top.  To get the other treasure, dig out the spot left of the trapped monk, and run to the ladder at left to lure him over.  Keep reforming him until he gets the treasure and carries it down.  Dig three holes to trap him, and run up the ladders so you can be there when he reforms and run over his head.

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Home Sweet Home (6):

Get the right hidden treasure first.  Dig the left hole then, lure the guy over, and wait on his head.

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The Foothills (8):

There is a hidden bomb.  It goes at the very upper right corner of the screen.

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The Hermits Cache (9):

Again, the hidden bomb goes at the highest spot on the ladder.  You want to only free one guy and run over his head.

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The Peak (10):

Theres a bomb hidden deep on the right side of the mountain.  Actually, theres a lot more than that, but you can only get one.  Bomb right next to the mountain and carefully move through.

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The Freezer (11):

This one is hard.  Trap the monks.  Jackhammer the spot just right of the floor of the right ladder.  Jackhammer for two bombs and a treasure, and dig for two more bombs.  Bomb the spot at upper right, grab the other treasure, and jackhammer down the right edge of your prison.  Jackhammer the leftmost spot on the little ledge on the floor.  Use two more bombs to get at the other two spots.

Once the whole lower right area is bedrock-free, dig four holes at right, then bomb on the right.  Dig a hole and jump in.  Dig holes and then jackhammer.  Bomb twice more to get to the door.

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The Vein (12):

Take the time to jackhammer a shortcut under the large block with the pickaxe.  Grab the pickaxe, then take the treasures and run to the key, using the pickaxe to slow the monk down.  You won't make it in time unless you've created a path for yourself.

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The Oracle (16):

Your problem is that you don't have the time to dig a hole, get the treasure, and leave before it closes.  Free the monk by digging two holes at upper left.  Run around the perimeter of the level, the force the monk to bring the treasure closer and kill him.  Dig the hole to escape the pit before you get the treasure.

The Oracle is telling you what you will need to know later, when the time comes to make a decision.

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The Hot Tub (18):

Once you get the bombs, kill a monk.  Drop onto the left top of the tub and trap the monk beside you.  Dig out the other hole and jump in.  When the monk jumps out, dig the hole below you and place a bomb.  Run back up and place another bomb two spaces lower.  Go back a third time and the last treasure will be yours.

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Stairway to Hell (20)

An exercise in pinpoint timing.  Get the bomb, bomb in the upper left, and wait on the upper left segment for the turf to reclose.  Move right just at the instant it does.  How can anyone time it that carefully?  One way is to count the beats of the music.

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The Inverted Catacombs (24)

This is the hardest level in the file.  You have six main problems to figure out.  How do you get the green key?  The upper three gold bars?  The gold coin in the lower left?  The gold coin in the upper right?  The slime can in the middle right?

The three upper gold bars are fairly simple.  Just place a bomb such that it starts a chain of bombs that will eventually destroy the turf at the bottom of the section leading down from the top.  Go through the transporter and dig your way down.

To get the upper right coin, you'll need to use the pickaxe to fill in the space the pickaxe starts on.  Stand on it and bomb, and slime the turf to your right.  Then pickaxe your way next to the wall, bomb again, and run in to get to the right edge.

To get the slime can on the middle right, bomb next to it, and use the pickaxe to fill the hole, allowing you to run in.

To get the green key, release four bombs in a row, beginning with and going left from the bottom of the first ladder on your right once you get inside the main structure.  Grab another bomb, jump in, and dig four holes, and then three more.  This leaves you room to bomb down to the ledge with the key.

To get the bowl near the lower left, dig two holes under the transporter, place a bomb on the left spot and dig through the right spot, and then go get the treasure once the bomb clears the way.

To get the coin at lower left, first dig out the space above the single piece of bedrock, and turn it to tar turf with a slime can, taking care not to slime the turf on the surface.  Now dig out the two holes above it and to the left, dig out one more, drop a bomb over the tar turf, jump down, and dig your way down to the coin.

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The Grand Dome (25)

The trick here is to place a bomb at exactly the right place to start off a chain.  You must trap exactly one man in the area at right.  Dig to drop down on top of them, drop a bomb by the wall while standing on a man's head, and run.  Go back up to the upper right ledge and get the treasure when you can.

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The Rafters (27)

This one is very tricky.

Hint 1: There is a hidden bomb.
Hint 2: It's hidden under a ladder.
Hint 3: You need that bomb to get through the upper wall.
Hint 4: You can only get it by destroying the ladder above it.
Hint 5: If you boss bomb to destroy the ladder, you also cut the escape ladder.
Hint 6: Unless, that is, the escape ladder hasn't appeared yet.
Solution: Dig a hole under a treasure, let the monk fall in carrying a treasure, and cross over.  Trap him.  Use the boss bomb on the third segment of the middle ladder.  Dig to get the bomb.  Get the last treasure, climb the escape ladder, and bomb through the wall.

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The Rainbow Wall (32)

Perhaps the most beautiful Lode Runner level I've ever made.

Hint 1: You must decide which color of door to go through.  Remember the clue?
Hint 2: There is only one red door you can get through.  To get to it without going through a normal exit door, you will have to arrange to blow up the treasure with the boss bomb and then run to the door.
Hint 3: This means the turf above the door must have been previously dug out.
Hint 4: If you dig it out, dig again to get free, trasnport yourself up, release the bomb, and jump down off the bar before the turf closes, you will fall through the bottom hole as well, instead of stopping by the red door.  How can you fix this?
Hint 5: You can save yourself time by predigging the lower turf piece first.
Solution: Grab the red key and open the red door.  Dig the lower turf.  Hurry back up, dig the upper turf, and drop through before the lower turf closes.  Transport up, drop the boss bomb to destroy the treasure, and drop through the hole before it closes.

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Torture (33)

This level is a place of torment for making the wrong choice.  It is impossible; you might as well start over.

Okay, I didn't have the heart to actually make it impossible.  Dig three holes to the right of the place above the left monk.  Dig one hole left and one right from inside.  Jump right and draw the monk into the turf, closing him up.  Later, run over his head after he reforms to reach the right side.  Get the key and later exit through the yellow door.

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The Endless Fall (34)

You have made the wrong choice.  You must now fall forever.

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The Return Home (39)

Place the bombs on the ladder segments just above the surface on either side of the bedrock.  A hidden treasure is revealed.

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Return to the Entrance (42)

There is a piece of bedrock blocking your earlier strategy.  You can still get the coins through a tiered dig.  Dig the top two turf pieces.  Wait and dig the two below.  Now dig the top two once they close up, followed by the two below on the third level down.  Dig the second and fourth rows, and then the third and fifth rows (the fifth row has three pieces in it).  Jump through to get the coins.

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Final Revenge (43)

Dig the upper piece of turf and wait.  Dig the lower piece.  When the top piece closes, drop a bomb on it, dig it out and drop through.  Now just wait for your enemies to be destroyed.