Message-ID: <1994Jan27.095358.61341@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: David_Reevely@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com
Distribution: na
Organization: M A G I C
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 1994 09:53:58 EST
Subject: PiD FAQ
Lines: 772
Following several recent requests, and a profusion of FAQ-style questions in
c.s.m.g, here is a slightly updated version of the PiD FAQ. I've added
some combat tips at the end, which are primarily for the rookie, and
modified some of the hints that are relevant to the later stages of the
game.
Pathways into Darkness FAQ Sheet/Walkthrough
Last Update: January 24, 1994
This is by no means intended as a complete FAQ list. These
are questions I've seen in comp.sys.mac.games and other
places online and that probably belong here to avoid being
asked repeatedly. There are undoubtedly lots of things I've
left out. Send me suggestions at
david_reevely@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com, and they'll be
included in a more complete version, should it be warranted.
These follow a rough chronological order within the game.
Of course, because there are several different ways of
working your way through, some might not apply to you or may
be out of order.
This list is packed with spoilers, which is, after all, the
point. Read it at your own risk.
1. The manual talks about talking to dead people. Why
can't I talk to the German soldier?
You don't have the yellow crystal yet. It's behind a
locked door on the level above, "Never Stop Firing." When
you find it, double-click on it to activate it, then press
TAB while standing on the body.
2. What's the point of that blue rune? Why can't I open
the doors at each side of the hall?
You need to play the Alien Pipes while standing on the blue
rune in order for the doors to open. The Alien Pipes are
found on the Ascension level.
3. What do the chains do?
They open doors in other parts of the pyramid. Pull each
chain you run across once, then forget about them. Check
the map of the level you're on before and after you pull it,
paying special attention to the doors that are closed before
you pull.
4. The manual makes such a big deal about conserving
ammunition, but I haven't had any problems. Why should I
pay attention to that?
In the earlier levels, you're fighting the easiest monsters
in the game. Use the survival knife whenever you're dealing
with two or fewer zombies or headlesses. It'll force you
into learning some battle tactics that will prove useful
when you move up in weaponry. Furthermore, there's a very
limited supply of Walther ammuntion, and there are two
occasions when you'll need a lot of it; on the Ascension
level, fighting your way to the Alien Pipes; and after
you've used the Pipes on the ground floor and monsters are
revealed beyond the doors.
5. I keep getting killed on that level where I come down
the ladder and am immediately surrounded by zombies.
What's the best way to get past them?
Once you've killed one zombie, start moving. Get out of
the starting chamber as soon as you can, and move down into
one of the corners of the hallway surrounding that room, so
you've got walls on two sides. The zombies can only come
after you two at a time and from one-fourth of your viewing
area, instead of four at a time from all sides. Use the
Walther here, picking your shots carefully.
6. How do I kill those black spirits that don't seem to get
damaged by weapons?
Use the blue crystal, in the same way you'd use the yellow
crystal.
7. Where's the blue crystal?
There's a two-square hidden chamber just to the south of
one of the dead German soldiers on They May be Slow. He'll
direct you to it, if you question him closely enough. Enter
the chamber by walking south from the soldier's body and
through the wall. Pick up the blue crystal by stepping on
it, just like any other item.
8. After I've used the crystal a few times, it recharges
more and more slowly. How come?
All crystals but the yellow one will run out of power
eventually. After you've used them a few times, they'll
slow down. Eventually, they shatter. There is no way of
preventing this, besides not using the crystal unless you
absolutely have to. Don't use the blue crystal on regular
creatures, if you can possibly help it.
9. Can I do anything useful with the silver bowl?
No. Its only purpose is as treasure. There are several
such items in the game, and they should all be kept, since
they increase your point totals at the end of the game.
They're heavy, but they don't affect your performance in any
significant way, besides cluttering your inventory.
10. What's the best way of dealing with the roomfuls of
monsters on Ascension?
Tackle them one room at a time. Use the knife whenever
possible, and try to keep headlesses and zombies in rows so
they can only attack you one at a time. Another neat aspect
of this strategy is that the headlesses with fire their goo
at you but will hit one another in the back instead, causing
damage to one another. Have the blue crystal ready when you
enter the northwestern room; there's a banshee that's going
to come after you.
11. What do I do with the Alien Pipes?
Use them on the first level while standing on the blue
rune. The doors to the east and west will open, releasing
some monsters. You'll want the Walther for this one.
12. How do I best deal with the grey things?
They're ghouls. If there are only one or two of them and
your vitality is relatively high, you can attack with the
survival knife. It will take about five hits, but the blows
will keep the ghouls off-balance and unable to retaliate.
13. Which ladder down should I take the one to the west
or the one to the east?
It doesn't *really* matter. The western ladder will take
you down to Wrong Way, which it isn't. The entry chamber in
that level is packed with ghouls, but nothing more serious
than that. The eastern ladder will take you down to Feel
the Power, which is filled with marauding packs of three
oozes, which are nasty. With your firepower, you're
probably better off taking the western ladder, since ghouls
are much easier to deal with than oozes. Come back to Feel
the Power later, when your weaponry is more impressive.
14. How should I deal with all the ghouls in Wrong Way?
It'll probably take a few tries to get past them. Use
similar tactics to those given in question #5, and never
stop moving, except to shoot.
15. Why can't I get those doors to open?
They're locked. You need the Silver Key, found on the
level below, Welcome Tasty Primate. It's near the northeast
corner of that level.
16. What can the orange crystal do?
It's basically a more powerful version of the blue crystal.
It takes only one blast from the orange crystal to kill a
banshee, instead of two. Of course, the same use
limitations apply use it too often, and it'll shatter.
That is definitely something to avoid.
17. Where should I go from here?
It would probably be a good idea to go back up to the
Ground Floor and then take the other ladder down. Fight
your way past the oozes up to the northwest corner, then
take the ladder down to A Plague of Demons.
18. What keeps hitting me?
There are invisible wraiths that will do you damage, if
only slightly. The major danger here is when more than two
set upon you, and you have trouble finding one or more of
them. Regular weapons are effective against them. Around
the north-center section of the level, you'll find a dead
American soldier. A search will reveal a pair of infra-red
goggles. Put them on and you'll be able to see the wraiths
just fine. Don't forget to turn off your flashlight to
conserve the batteries.
19. What's the point of this level?
In the southeastern section, there's a silver door (you
have to pass another door that will open to reveal a small
horde of creatures, so make sure you're fully rested).
Beyond the door, there's a cedar box, the inside of which is
"slightly warm to the touch."
20. What does the cedar box do?
It will duplicate any ammunition you put into it. It will
work once per minute, assuming you remember to remove the
second clip or magazine. It is probably the most useful
item in the game.
21. Now what?
Go back up through the Ground Floor and down through
Welcome Tasty Primate. Take a ladder down from near the
north center to We Can See in the Dark, Can You? Turn out
your flashlight to make the bugs go away. Use your
infra-red goggles to see well. Find your way down to Happy
Happy Carnage Carnage.
22. What do I do on Happy Happy Carnage Carnage?
Use your Walther and all the ammunition you've generate
using the cedar box to fight your way up to either the
northeast or northwest corners. Go through the door just to
the east or the west, depending on which corner you're in.
You've found the remains of the German expedition.
23. How do I deal with all the monsters?
Maneuver yourself so that you're facing parallel to the
wall with the three doors, with your back to the rune. Back
over it and go until your back hits the wall. Never stop
shooting once the monsters start to come through. Use the
red potion to speed yourself up so you can dodge missile
attacks, and a blue potion if you need one. Be prepared to
try this level a few times.
24. What does the Red Cloak do?
It slows down your metabolism. The world around you passes
more quickly than your body moves, so wearing the red cloak
*except at particular moments* is something to be avoided.
25. What does the brown potion do?
It's a poison. Don't discard it you'll need it later.
26. Why can't I open the gold door on Beware of Low-Flying
Nightmares?
You don't have the gold key. You won't run across it for
several levels, so don't worry about it now.
27. How can I navigate the Labyrinth?
Although its exact layout changes every time you enter it,
the essential features remain the same. There is a ladder
in each corner. The one in the northwest corner leads up to
Happy Happy Carnage Carnage, the northeast corner leads up
to Beware of Low-Flying Nightmares, the southwest corner
leads to Need a Light, and the southeast corner leads to
Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate, which isn't a typo.
Most importantly, there's a violet crystal in the
approximate center of the maze, which you absolutely *must*
get. Take the ladder in the southwest corner to Need a
Light.
28. What was it that killed all those soldiers?
A very nasty flamethrowing monster. Have the orange
crystal and a lot of ammunition ready, because it'll start
moving towards you as soon as the door shuts behind you.
Fire at it continuously with your machine gun, and when it
gets ready to fire, run around a corner so that its missile
attack hits a wall instead of you. As always, be ready to
try this level several times. Make sure you question all of
the soldiers about the bomb and search them.
29. Why can't I get past the little cross-legged guys?
They're generating force fields that prevent you from
passing or firing through them. You need to use the green
crystal (located a level below, on Watch Your Steps) to
quake down their barriers.
30. What are the jumping lizards?
Just what they seem unshootable annoyances. If you walk
over enough exploding purple pods, you'll kill them all.
31. How do I get out of the chamber that locks me in?
Put on the red cloak and wait for three hours until the
doors open again. As long as you're there, make sure you
use the cedar box to mass-produce munitions of all kinds.
32. How can I get past the green oozes?
They'll leave you alone if you're already poisoned, which
is where that brown potion comes in. Make sure you use it
in a place where they won't be trapping you when they stop
moving they won't move, but you can't walk through them.
33. How do I kill the purple monster?
You can't. Put on the gas mask and it can't hurt you, but
it will block your path. You just have to maneuver around
it.
34. Why don't my shots harm the blue greater nightmares?
They're resistant to regular ammunition, including HE (High
Explosive). Use armour-piercing (SABOT) rounds for the
AK-47 (ideal) or projectile grenades (wasteful and
inefficient due to the long reloading time).
35. How do I get through all those teleporters on Don't Get
Poisoned, Please Excuse Our Dust and But Wait! That's Not
All!
Patience. On Don't Get Poisoned, take the south teleporter
in the first room, the east teleporter in the following
room, and then the teleporter in the southern section of
that area to get to Please Excuse Our Dust. On PEOD, take
the south-center teleporter in the first room, then the
northernmost teleporter you find there, then the easternmost
teleporter, then a teleporter in the southwest corner to
move onto BW TNA. On this level, you have to use every
teleporter before you can move on.
36. What about the teleporter rooms on Where Only Fools
Dare Tread?
You have to use every single teleporter in those rooms
before you get teleported out, and you should wear the red
robe while you do it, but don't forget to take it off when
you get teleported out. It's a very good idea to mark the
teleporters you've used by dropping debris that you've
accumulated along the way such as Colt magazines, surplus
AK-47s, bent M-16s and dead soldiers' dead flashlights just
before you walk through. You'll get very used to this maze
before you finish the game. (Apparently this is untrue. It seems that
you only need to use all the teleporters *in one room*. Which room this
is, I don't know. Trying to use every teleporter works nearly as well, and
takes a negligible amount of game time, so it's safe. If anyone develops a
plain-English explanation of the route, please let me know.)
37. Is there any quick way of getting rid of all those
monsters?
No. Shoot them, fire grenades at them...generally deal
with them like any regular monsters. On the up side, this
is the last army of monsters of any consequence you have to
fight, so you can deplete your entire arsenal, if you feel
the need. Crystals may be used indiscriminately once you've
eliminated the banshees (the violet crystal is especially
good for this, since it has an area effect). Save a few
clips of ammunition, since you'll have to work your way back
up to ground level and will undoubtedly face a few monsters
in the process. There are also some ghasts to get past just
before you leave.
38. What's that red floating thing in the middle of the
room?
A manifestation of the alien god. You can't get rid of any
of them until you've faced the roomful of Greater
Nightmares, at which point a couple of MP-41 shots will do
in the last one. This is the place to deposit the nuclear
device.
39. How do I stop the Alien Gemstone from hurting me?
Put it in the lead box from Warning:Earthquake Zone. It's
radioactive, and the box will shield you from its effects.
You need it to escape the pyramid.
40. Anything else I should know?
That should about cover it. Don't forget to revisit the
gold door on Beware of Low-Flying Nightmares to retrieve the
gold ingots, now that you have the key.
Some combat tips:
Never put yourself in a position where you have to fight more than two
monsters at a time, especially when you're dealing with skitters and
nightmares. If you can, back yourself into a one-square alcove or short
passage, so only one can attack you at a time. Failing that, back into a
corner, so you at least don't have to worry about your back. If no corners
are available, at least put your back to a wall.
If you can do so safely, back up as you shoot nightmares. Their energy
attacks will take longer to reach you and you won't be hurt by their acidic
juices when they explode. This may seem like a good idea with oozes, but
it's not. There's more advantage to getting an ooze dead quickly than
there is in trying to run away from it, and the best way to do this is to
shoot from up close.
There has been some debate on whether grenades or bullets are more
efficient in terms of damage per second. I prefer even MP-41 bullets to
grenades, but I don't think that it really matters, except to the extent
that you're likely to have more clips of ammunition than you are to have
grenades. To speed up grenade reloading, particularly when facing large
groups of monsters (and most particularly when you're dealing with
skitters, who can shoot "through" each other to get to you), do it manually
by clicking on the inventory window, moving a grenade into the launcher,
then clicking back on the game window. This is a good two to three seconds
faster than waiting for it to happen automatically.
Don't wast ammunition, even once you've got the cedar box. Keep in mind
that when you're firing bullets into the air, you're not firing them into a
creature, and you're just wasting time. Changing clips takes precious
seconds, which you might not have in the middle of a combat. It's also
easy to synthesize a lot of things like grenades, then use them up without
realizing it. If you can't find any more of them lying around (and there
IS a limited supply of everything), you've lost that particular weapon for
good. Finally, when your score is being calculated at the end of the game,
you get points for accurate shooting. Your percentage will be very high
with the survival knife, most likely perfect with grenades, and will
decrease with the advancing quality of your guns, particularly when you've
gotten the cedar box. (I should mention that despite the fact that it says
that you get a point for every 10% accuracy over 40, and mine was 59%, I
didn't get any points. This may be a bug, and possibly a "selective" one,
like the number of times you have to pass the copy protection at the
beginning, which seems to be different from user to user.)
On the subject of secret rooms, you can get through the game having found
only the one with the blue crystal in it. Other rooms, however, contain
things like potions and teleporters that make it easier and quicker. It's
generally fairly obvious where a room would be, particularly to those who
have played games like Ultima and the Bard's Tale series, and you should
also look
for pillars that you can see with your eyes but not on your map. If you
find one, try walking "through" it.
Good luck!
A great deal of credit for this walkthrough/FAQ sheet
belongs to whoever is behind the e-mail address of
st2c9@jetson.uh.edu at the University of Houston, the author
of a more basic "PiD Survival Guide" that helped me get
through PiD myself and provided a little of the source
material, though all errors are, of course, entirely mine.
Also useful is "Pathways into Cheating," a little app
written by Alain Roy that lets you modify your character
considerably. Both files are available via anonymous FTP
from mac.archive.umich.edu, in the game utilities
subdirectory.