Very well, folks, I've got news for ya
The Tristania 3D project is going smoothly. I'm not entirely sure, but I might publish the game in this year.
I would like to say a few words about the levels, the special items, and the whereabouts of the environments Einar Moen has to encounter.
- Levels
The game's levels - regardless of their location - will constantly change, as your progress is going on. While you may find the first few levels quite easy, or perhaps even boring, the situation will change dramatically in later stages. Don't you expect that a strategy which have worked on level 2 will also get you out of trouble in level 23. Of course, there are lots of useful strategies exist, which will always be effective during your journey, be well prepared for the increasing size and difficulty. Do not underestimate your enemy - they can outsmart you if you're not aware.
- Secret areas
Hidden areas are an essential part of every location you visit. There are a number of secret areas hidden in each level. Sometimes the entrance to such an area may appear obvious, but often it is not! Finding such areas can be time consuming, but it may be well worth the while, after all, you can't expect your enemies to just leave all the goodies lying around in the open for you! Moreover, findig hidden items and equipment is one thing - taking possession of them is another! It can be really frustating if you notice a Dark Matter Gun, or a Crucifix behind a fence or perhaps up high on a ledge, you desperately need it, but no matter how hard you try to find a way to get them, it's impossible. Some levels may have a "super secret" area that is especially difficult or tricky to find. These areas generally contain something special, such as a huge load of military supplies, a variety of holy icons, or perhaps access to some other kind of special area such as a secret level.
Before you would start to worry, let me remind you that it's absolutely not necessary to look for secrets. If you find yourself really low on ammo, or your soul strength is lower than Marianas Trench, spend your time looking for secret areas which will hold the badly needed munitions and health restores. Fighting off hordes of enemies with a knife may be very heroic, but pointless nonetheless. It's no good bravely wielding only your knife against dozens of enemies, when there may be a Dark Matter Gun hidden behind the wall next to you!
Also keep in mind that necessary items are never hidden at secret areas. Hallways and rooms which are mandatory to complete the stage can be reached through normal routes. This does NOT mean that it will always be crystal clear where should you go next (getting from point A to point B in a straight line would be ridiculously easy), the increasing difficulty of the game will surely effect the levels, but the necessary route to finish the level shall never be hidden so well that you're going to stuck on that location forever. However, small short-cuts between two points of the area may be hidden, and since these are considered as secret areas, you may expect that they shall not be empty.
- Deadly fluids
You will encounter this environmental hazard frequently, particulary at industrial levels. While roaming in clean water is absolutely safe, oozing pools of green slime, brown toxic mud, hot molten lava, or blobby black tar could do terrible things with your feet, and your soul strength. Of course, not all streaming fluids are dangerous, which - judged by their colour - cannot be fresh water, it's unimaginibly wise to try it before crossing over that green/red/black pool for the goodies in the next room.
There will be, however, many many cases where you must cross that oozing pool of disease to continue your way to the exit. Facing this problem, start looking for a pair of special brogues, which should be stored somewhere nearby. These brogues will protect your feet, irregardless what kind of toxic fluid you need to walk in. If you find and obtain these footwear, the monitor screen will turn to slightly green, meaning you can harmlessly wander through any type of chemical, mud, and slime. Instead of your pure feet, these brogues will take the damage, and sooner or later they'll be decimated. If the green colouring on the monitor screen starts to flash, it means the brogues have been damaged seriously, and the ooze has managed to chew its way through them. If you see this, quickly run out of the blob to the nearest piece of land, and take a deep breath. Picking up multiple heavy leather brogues will extend their lifetime nonetheless, but always keep a sharp lookout for safe landing spot in case the brogues' effect starts to wear off!
Heavy leather brogues are capable of absorbing dangerous radiation as well.
- Darkness is the kingdom?
Since you're a goth, darkness is your best friend. Is it? This time it's not entirely true! When darkness embraces you, it means you become an easy target for enemies all around, who know their territory very well, thus they will know where you are. You shall have an extremely hard duty to fight in rooms and hallways dressed entirely in darkness, since you can't see a thing. Being nearly blind in these areas will make you much more vulnerable. The flash of gun blasts may chase away the darkness for a second, but then the room will be entirely dark again.
Obviously, you're not a cat. You don't even need to be one to see perfectly in the dark. All you need to do is find a Lantern somewhere in the level (if there is one provided). Just pick up the Lantern, and there! Problem solved! Wherever you go, the entire area will be engulfed by the light of your Lantern, and you will be able to see perfectly. Hussle up though, as your Lantern burns up its oil, first it will start to flicker, then goes off. Getting hold of multiple Lanterns will ensure the perfect lighting for a longer period of time. These Lanterns consume their oil quickly, therefore watch carefully - while you can!
- Suddenly I feel much better!
Wherever you will roam - our reality or the gothic realm - you may stumble across special areas, where spending some time will regenerate your lost soul strength. These are very valuable and important. You don't need to desperately secure every drop of absinthe you find. If you feel weak, return to that healing spot (if you can, that is), and spend some time with relaxing - your lost soul strength will be back on 100% shortly. In every second, your health will increase with 2%, up to 100%. Sure you have to relax for a short time to feel completely revitalized, but it will never run out.
- Keys
Although they look different, oridinary keys and special gothic keys are opening the same doors, if their colour matches.
- Death-traps
This is the newest addition. While looking for secrets, experienced adventurers also take death-traps into account. These nasty little surprises are scattered throughout the levels - and once you're in, you're as good as dead. Getting out such death-traps is not an easy task, and perhaps it will only delay the inevitable - you'll get out alive just to fall in yet another death-trap! Of course if you're on 200% soul strength, or you're invulnerable of the moment, you will survive...who knows. This does not mean you can take these death-traps lightly.
Where are they? First thing's first: You can only evade a trap, if you KNOW it's there. Pay extreme attention for anything unusual. Large heaps of dead bodies? Suspicious looking switch? Oddly coloured floor panel? They ALL could be death-traps. Maybe there is a deep pit under that brightly coloured floor panel, and if you step on it, you shall fall into a bottomless chasm filled with bloodthirsty hordes of monsters, who'll down you in one bite?
Keep yourself away from areas where you suspect that something is fishy about them.
I shall keep you informed if I reached another stage of the game making!
