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Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets Gumby
Posted By: Mark LevinDate: 1/27/04 10:42 a.m.

Taking a page from the original SONK, your shuttle goes off course and crashes before reaching the alien ship (I missed this reference the first time through). You've landed in a set of ruins surrounding yet another crashed Mystic spaceship, except this time it's infested with Devlins as well as Pfhor.

This level involves quite a lot of backtracking. On the level's main path this isn't so bad, as you're usually forced to take an alternate route out of wherever you've gotten yourself into. However, there are a few places where a misstep will dump you back quite earlier in the level, which is more of an irritation.

The second terminal on this level demonstrates why checkpoint terminals should not be used in Marathon Infinity, and then we're off to explore the ruins. This opening area is important as it contains the key to a pretty major secret, in the mysterious room with the 3 sliding platforms hanging down from the ceiling. If these 3 platforms are moved so that they are just touching the point where the texture on the inner column changes, then you will be able to get this secret much later in the level.

I've never been a big fan of the Sewage set, but the mapmaking and texturing here is generally impeccable. The map twists over and back on itself all the time, leading to new views of old areas and new ways to reach previously unreachable ledges, and features some neat tricks like a freestanding 4-stop elevator and a working airlock (which was also present in SONK). Eventually, you reach the spaceship to the north and activate the device at the bottom level while several Mystics meditate or something. Getting back out of the ship is harder, since you have to make your way through a Devlin nest (including several tiny juveniles which can be very hard to hit, and some sort of completely invisible monster that kept damaging me even after all the Devlins were dead). Also, when you emerge from the Mystic room, do not go all the way to the back of the Cyborg room; you will trigger a pair of gun turrets covering the door out. Another rude surprise comes if you swim directly over the alien ship; a group of Fighters will teleport in who are able to fire underwater, a break with the original game which is never really explained.

This level also makes heavy use of gun turrets, featuring several types. Most of them fire simple S'pht bolts (an interesting choice, given that the S'pht will appear later in the scenario), but there are a couple that fire a very large, slow-moving white projectile.

Don't forget to visit the surprising number of secrets on your way through. When you reach the small outdoor area after the room with the invisible Devlin, there's a small ledge to the south which will give you some ammo if you grenade jump to it (although I've never been able to pull this off). The aforementioned 3-platform puzzle opens a secret available from a side room after you climb around the northern outdoor area; tab the slotted column to be able to jump to a door high on the wall and gain some ammo, health canisters of every grade, and 2 invisibility powerups- may as well grab them both, you won't be able to come back up here anytime soon. But before you take the plunge, jump down to the ledge to the left of the door and grab the rocket launcher. Then, before running all the way back up, jump across the ledges on the left wall and find a small "map" of the alien ship you're investigating. Apparently there's also a secret terminal somewhere on the level, although it's not in the spoiler guide and I was unable to find it with Forge.

Story-wise, this level contains a lot of information. The appearance of the Mystic Drones are foreshadowed, along with a hint that we'll be going quite far into the future. The humans have taken over the ancient Mystic ship and started exploring the technology found there. The ship is preparing to follow the Mystics, essentially ending the first part of Evil and preparing us up for a change of setting.

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Pre-2004 Posts

Replies:

Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbyMark Levin 1/27/04 10:42 a.m.
     Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbyDr. John Sumner 1/27/04 11:38 a.m.
           Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbyMark Levin 1/27/04 11:57 a.m.
                 Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbySteve Levinson 1/27/04 12:49 p.m.
           Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbyD-M.A. 1/28/04 1:12 a.m.
                 Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbySteve Levinson 1/28/04 5:59 a.m.
     Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbySteve Levinson 1/27/04 1:19 p.m.
           Re: Evil Volunteers: Mr. Bill Meets GumbyMark Levin 1/27/04 3:04 p.m.

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Pre-2004 Posts

 

 

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