Level 1: Holes

Back in 1999, this level was meant to be a tutorial-like level and introduce the main game play elements to the player. While there is now a proper tutorial set of levels, that set of levels was created for the release of the construction set. It is obviously recommended that you familiarize yourself with the game by going through the tutorial levels. This level is strictly a puzzle based level as there are no slimes present in the level. It is fairly easy to solve, but for the sake of completeness I will run through my solution.

You start the level in the bottom left corner of the level. Move over to the rope and climb up to the brick platform that has a chain strung across it. Move along the chain until you are over the gap in the bricks. Push down to fall to the bricks below. From there you are able to grab the four energy crystals that are on that platform. I usually grab the crystals on the right then run to the left so that I have less grass to walk over. Climb back up the rope and cross over the entire chain and drop down over the three crystals in the bottom right corner.

Now it is time to deal with the metal platforms. Climb up to the brick platform just below the metal platforms. Move to the ladder to the right and climb the ladder up to the first metal platform. Get the crystals on either side of you then climb to the top metal platform. Here I usually grab the crystal on the right then the one on the left and simply walk off the metal platform as falling doesn’t hurt you. For those of you who are squeamish and don’t mind taking longer, you can simply go back to the ladder and climb down.

The top left of the level has a box-like area which happens to have holes in both the top and bottom. Inside this box-like portion is a group of four portable holes. Getting the holes is a simple matter of climbing to the top of the rope and moving to the left.

Once you have the four holes, it is time to get the last four crystals. Stand on the column that is separating the two boxes on the bottom left. Drop a hole to the left. As you have learned by playing through the tutorial, this is done with the “z” key and causes brick or grass to be passed through. Walking over the hole drops you down. As the hole is right above one of the energy crystals, you will grab one of the two crystals that were in this box. Walk over the other crystal to get it and then dig a hole to the right (“x” key digs to the right, remember) and walk over it to get out of the box.

Climb back up the rope to the last gem box. Move so you are one space to the left or right of the remaining floating crystal. Drop a hole so that it is over the crystal then walk over the hole to get the floating crystal then walk to the right to grab the last crystal on this level and reveal the exit. Use the last hole to get out of the box and go to the exit.