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Driller
DRILLER WALKTHROUGH - For the Commodore 64
By Rio Baan, 2007
While not a precise walkthrough to the game, I will point out the solution to all the puzzles in each of the 18 sectors of the game. You can solve the areas in any order, although the order I present here is the order in which I placed rigs to finish the game. A fair bit of work condensing and correcting a number of walkthroughs for the Spectrum, combined with playtesting on the C64, results in this game solution.
The aim of the game is to place rigs in correct locations across all 18 sectors of the moon Mitral. You start in the Amethyst sector.
Some general tips
- Don't fall off the mining platforms and onto Mitral's moon surface. If you do, you're game is as good as over. Welcome to restart city - population: you.
- Save often. Even with this guide, you will probably make little mistakes and mess up your game. I know I did. A lot.
- Certain areas of the game have lasers that shoot at you as soon as you enter them. (Notably Obsidian, Malachite, and Quartz, and K4 complex) Be quick on the draw, or you'll lose a lot of shields.
- You will need to make a few trips to places where energy reserves are located during the game (The Amethyst stores are a good location - don't shoot it!) Placing all those rigs tends to drain your energy considerably. Plan these trips ahead of time to ensure that you aren't "caught with your pants down" after travelling to a distant sector and trying to place a rig with no energy, or having no shields to withstand a random skanner attack. Use up the energy logically. Don't bite off more than you can chew for your energy and shields, or you'll waste the excess.
- When discovered by that blasted Ketar Skanner satellite, try running out of the sector. If this is hard to do, you stand a better chance of surviving an encounter by hiding from it behind a wall. Failing that, shoot at it as much as possible until it eventually disappears. Ignoring the the thing will give it a license to destroy your shields and end the game.
SUMMARY OF DRILLING COORDINATES
With the exception of Beryl and Ruby, these coordinates give you 100% gas. Trachyte won't tell you what percentage you get, just as long as you get more than 50%.
In many sectors, there are puzzles which need to be accomplished before you can correctly place your rig. You will need to carefully adjust the number of steps your probe takes to get exact coordinates. Remember to face the correct direction to place your rig.
AMETHYST - X-6400, Y-6050 (N)
OBSIDIAN - X-6400, Y-6050 (N)
NICCOLITE - X-0512, Y-1698 (N)
TOPAZ - X-3077, Y-1390 (S)
BERYL - X-7134, Y-4332 (W) * 69%
BASALT - X-0930, Y-2240 (E)
QUARTZ - X-2768, Y-1792 (W)
AQUAMARINE - X-5124, Y-2905 (S)
LAPIS LAZULI - X-4096, Y-3746 (N)
EMERALD - X-3746, Y-4096 (E)
ALABASTER - X-4496, Y-4096 (W)
GRAPHITE - X-1680, Y-6336 (W)
MALACHITE - X-5952, Y-5026 (N)
OPAL - X-7423, Y-7741 (E)
DIAMOND - X-4096, Y-3472 (Back wall)
OCHRE - X-1808, Y-6740 (W)
RUBY - X-3744, Y-2550 (E) * 98%
TRACHYTE - X-4496, Y-6954 (Left Wall) * % unknownMAP OF MITRAL
[A]
(OCHRE)
( )
[B](BASALT) (TRACHYTE) (GRAPH )[C]
( ) ( ) (ITE )
|
(OBSIDIAN)
( )
[C] [A] [B] |
[D](EMERALD)-(MALACHITE)-(RUBY)-(AQUA )-(BERYL)-(TOPAZ)-(AMETHYST)-(LAPIS )[D]
( ) ( ) ( ) (MARINE) ( ) ( ) ( ) (LAZULI)
[E] | [F] |
(OPAL) (NICCOLITE)
( ) ( )
[G]
[F](QUARTZ) (DIAMOND) (ALA )[E]
( ) ( ) (BASTER)
[G]SECTOR WALKTHROUGH
AMETHYST
- Shoot the green arched wall for extra points (worth more points if shot in the right order, starting with the arch).
- Inside the hut, if you shoot the shield crystals on the floor first, then the shield crystals in the air, you will gain maximum shield and more points. (ie. the shield crystals on the floor will re-appear).
- Outside is a platform raised up on a pole. Land on the slab in the jet for full replenishment. Don't shoot the platform, or it disappears for good. And that's a real waste.
- There's a brown box on the north wall, shoot it to open a door to Obsidian
- X marks to spot for the rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-6400, Y-6050, facing north.]
OBSIDIAN
- Shoot the laser beacons on the arched structure. They are dangerous as soon as you enter the area, so work quickly.
- Knock over the slab to create a bridge over the crevass. You can shoot it down, but knocking it down gives you more points.
- The front entrance of the hut is guarded by a nasty laser cannon just inside the door. First, locate the rear entrance to the hut (have a look around the back of it). The back door is a light blue colour, so enter from here. Sneak up from behind and destroy the laser cannon guarding the front door. Shoot the crystals in here for energy and shields. Shoot the lights in here for points (just make sure you can see your way out again)
- The "17" on the wall won't disappear until you have successfully placed 17 drilling rigs. Once you have done this, a switch appears. Used in conjunction with the other dark side switches (Ochre, Basalt, and Graphite), the wall falls away and allows you access to the 18th sector Trachyte, the dark side and final sector.
[Drilling co-ords: X-6656, Y-6306, facing north.]
NICCOLITE
- Shoot the switch on the wall (in conjunction with the ones in Alabaster, Quartz and Opal), to gain access to the Light Side.
- The skull and crossbones here alerts you to a minefield in the middle of this sector. You need to cross over it in order place the rig in the correct position. To get through the minefield with minimum damage move fast (increase step size to 250), close to one of the large blocks. Personally I prefer to stick close to the block on the right.
[Drilling co-ords: X-0512, Y-1698, facing north]
TOPAZ
- The turret gun here is a pain, and will shoot you as soon as you enter from Amethyst for the first time. Make sure you shoot it with your lasers quickly. If you hit it, you'll swing it 90 degress around clockwise. You will have to keep an eye on it as you go about moving around this sector, so you don't walk into it's field of sight again. Fortunately it's power is weak, and won't do you too much damage if you are hit a few times.
- Stand on the small platform under the door to the overhead complex, and shoot one of the boxes near the stairs to make the lift rise. Once the lift has risen, turn until you find the door and move into the K2 complex. Be a good person and don't fall off the lift on the way down!
- The drilling area is actually on the top of the wall dividing to the south in this area.
[Drilling co-ords: X-3077, Y-1390, facing south.]
K2 COMPLEX
- To enter K1, go behind the computer bank opposite the entrance. This bank also happens to dispense energy crystals. Keep shooting the top of the bank till an energy crystal permanently materialises (it takes about four shots). Then shoot it for energy.
K1 COMPLEX
- To make the teleports appear, make the blocks disappear by shooting them from right to left in order. Four teleports will now appear across the moon. You will recognise them as large "T" shaped objects.
- Teleports are located in four places, and teleport between the following locations:-
- Beryl <-> Emerald
- Amethyst <-> Ruby
BERYL
- Shoot all the wires on the pylons to disable the vicious downward pointing laser beam in front of the building. The building houses the K3 Complex.
- I couldn't seem to tap 100% gas in this area. The pylon and building kept getting it the way. Best I could manage is 69%. Can anyone do better?
[Drilling co-ords: X-7134, Y-4332, facing west]
K3 COMPLEX
- Look out - scanners can enter here (apparently).
- Inside the room, on the north wall, there are three symbols. Shoot one and it changes shape. They are responsible for controlling the doors to and from the Beryl sector. If you find the exit from the complex has disappeared, shoot the wall.
- To open the north door (to Basalt) set all the symbols to triangles.
- To open the south door (to Quartz) set all the symbols to hexagons.
- To open the west door (to Aquamarine) set all the symbols to squares.
BASALT
- Shoot the pagoda from top to bottom to gain maximum points.
- The arrow points to a hidden tunnel inside the left L-shaped block -- which you enter at the "gate" section between left and right L-shaped blocks. At the end of the tunnel, you will find a switch which (used in combination with switches at Obsidian, Ochre, and Graphite) opens up the dark side.
- There is an invisible step to the top of the large square block here (where the drill is supposed to go) on the western edge of the north face of the block. Face south to climb the block. Try not to miss the step and fall off the block on the way down.
[Drilling co-ords: X-0930, Y-2240, facing east.]
QUARTZ
- Shoot wire supporting the block which hangs above laser beacon. The block will fall and flatten the cannon under it. You'd better hurry and shoot the wire quickly as soon as you enter the room because the laser packs a punch. Walk down the side of the fallen block to get to the other side of the wall.
- Shoot the switch on the south wall (as well as the ones in Niccolite, Alabaster and Opal) to allow you to enter the Light Side.
- X marks the spot for the rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-2768, Y-1792, facing west.]
AQUAMARINE
- Shoot the right hanger doors to get to the reconnaissance jet. You enter the jet by raising your probe from under the jet. Your front panel will indicate when you have entered the jet by displaying the red jet symbol. Similarly, you can land the jet on top of the probe to re-enter your excavation probe.
- The jet has two important uses in the game (including one which is optional)
- Fly to Malachine and enter the K4 complex (the jet is the only way in). There is a block in the complex that needs to be taken out to progress in the game.
- Fly to Graphite and land on the flat platform to make it disappear. A rig will be placed in that area eventually, and the platform covering the drill site is in the way.
- Entirely optional: Fly to Amethyst and land on the platform situated at the top of the pole (gives you full energy and shields). Much better than shooting it off, eh?
- Be careful entering Ruby from here. Your Y co-ordinate should be approx. 2500 to land correctly on Ruby's catwalk.
- The intersection of runway arrows points the location of the drilling rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-5124, Y-2905, facing south.]
LAPIS LAZULI
- Shoot pyramids for extra points and to create a path through the sector.
- Rise to maximum extent in the probe and look over the small wall here. Locate and destroy small cube (switch) over the wall, and the wall and door will disappear. Go past where the wall was, and shoot the cube again to make door visible, but mind because the wall will reappear too.
[Drilling co-ords: X-4096, Y-3746, facing north.]
EMERALD
- To escape the notice of the laser beacons at each door, you can move around the the perimeter very close to the outside walls. If you are in the jet, elevate yourself as high as possible and you'll be able to move over the sector freely.
- The south facing laser has a block near it. It is impossible to get round it without being seen, so be careful.
- To place the drill, make sure you enter from Lapis Lazuli, because the gun at that exit doesn't work, and the other guns' firing ranges are too small to reach you. Now you shoot the floating emerald in the centre of this sector to get extra shields and energy. Finally, drill in the centre of the room. Go back to the perimeter the way you came, or you'll get shot.
[Drilling co-ords: X-3746, Y-4096, facing east.]
ALABASTER
- Shoot the switch on the wall (like the ones in Niccolite, Quartz and Opal.) to open up the light side.
- Shoot the water in the pool to make it evaporate. You must place a rig in the bottom of the pool. To get safely in the pool, wait until the water has evaporated and a set of steps will appear. Use them to get into the pool and place the rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-4496, Y-4096, facing west.]
GRAPHITE
- To cross the acid river you must use the tiny walkway on the far right of this sector. Set the angle to 90 and step to 50 on your probe, and look 90 degrees at the ground to make sure you don't go off the path. Moving over the acid river hurts your probe.
- On the other side, walk into the small switch-box. In conjunction with the slab in the K4 complex in Malachite, it turns off the force-field in Ochre.
- Extend up to 2 in your excavation probe (Don't try this in the jet), and look through the U-shaped block at the top of the triangular block (as if they were a gunsight) at square angles. Shoot the wall just above the triangle shape to make a switch appear on the wall. Shoot the switch to activate it. (The switch works in conjuction with the Basalt, Obsidian, and Ochre switches to open up the dark side)
- The only way to plce the rig is to get rid of the hovering flat platform. Land on it with the reconnaisance jet to make it disappear. You're better off doing this first before coming here with the excavation probe to place the rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-1680, Y-6336, facing west.]
MALACHITE
- If you enter this sector from Emerald, you will be looking at what seems to be a face. Shoot the "eyes" (look up) to stop them shooting you. You need to do this quickly because the lasers here are quite powerful. A word of warning - once you've shot the eyes, DON'T shoot the "nose" or you'll get shot to pieces.
- You can shoot the "teeth" out of the "mouth" for points too.
- To access the hovering K4 station, you need to use the Jet to fly into the hole on it's underside.
- On the other side of the "face" are a bunch of slabs which are covering the drilling area. Blast them away, and place your rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-5952, Y-5026, facing north.]
K4 COMPLEX
- Quickly shoot the four lasers on the wall, which are destructible. They'll be firing as soon as you enter, so you have to be a fast draw with your laser.
- Now shoot the large slab. In combination with the switch from Graphite, the force field in Ochre is now disabled.
OPAL
- Shoot the switch on the south wall (along with the switches in Niccolite, Quartz and Alabaster) to gain access to Diamond, the Light Side. With all the switches flipped, the rear wall falls away here allowing you to progress into Diamond from this sector.
- The ever-so-helpful sign here gives you the Y co-ordinate and points you along the X-axis to drill your rig.
[Drilling co-ords: X-7423, Y-7741, facing east.]
DIAMOND (The Light Side)
- Shoot the laser turret on top of the tunnel and then make your entry into it. When in the tunnel, shoot the dark hole 25 times or so and then walk into it. The hole will disappear along with the entire building, leaving only the tunnel.
- With the building gone, you can now place the drilling rig, the only problem is that your compass goes haywire here, making positioning difficult -- but not impossible. That's what you get for being on one of the moon's poles.
- Note the energy and shield crystals in the corners of the sector. Walk into them for energy and shield. The crystals are quite powerful (due to the light from the sun), so you can walk into them about 50 times or so before you drain them.
[Drilling co-ords: X-4096, Y-3472, facing towards back wall.]
OCHRE
- To get past the force field you must destroy the slab in Malachite's K4 complex and acivate the switch-box on Graphite's surface.
- As you cross the sector to the rear wall, you will be attacked by a tiny laser cannon on the floor. You should shoot the laser to stop it attacking you but you've got to be a good shot because of it's size. Trying to sneak past it is not recommended.
- Shoot the switch on the wall here to activate it (combined with the switches from Basalt, Obsidian, and Graphite, they open up the dark side).
- A strange shadow lies in the vicinity of the drill site, although the rig is not placed on it.
[Drilling co-ords: X-1808, Y-6740, facing west.]
RUBY
- Set your excavation probe's angle to 90 and be exactly in line when you turn. Obviously in this sector, NOT falling off the platform is key. Good news is that the reconnasaince jet doesn't have to worry about platforms here. It can just fly anywhere over the whole area.
- Whatever you do, DON'T shoot the ruby satellite floating in this room or it will retaliate and start shooting back at you with powerful lasers should you get close to it. Good luck trying to switch it off again. (a shot to it is supposed to switch it off, but it never worked for me. Just don't taunt the thing in the first place!)
- You'll make it harder to move around this sector if you've got a rig here. It will be even harder to move with the teleport activated here. Keep that in mind, and make the drill placement here your 17th, before using the teleport to escape to Amethyst.
- It's incredibly hard to get 100% gas tapped here, almost impossible I think. Somebody please prove me wrong. Best I could do was 98%.
[Drilling co-ords: X-3744, Y-2550, facing east.]
TRACHYTE (The Dark Side)
- In the final sector, we face a giant square generator. You will notice that as you move, the left and upper crystal toggle themselves on the generator. When you first enter the room, the spark and top and bottom crystals will be visible. Move forward one step, and notice that the spark stays while the left and bottom crystals are now visible. Shoot the bottom crystal now. Now all crystals including the spark appear. Shoot the spark. Now the spark will stay and only the right crystal will remain. Shoot the right crystal, and now the spark disappears. Now shoot the floor of this sector under the generator. The entire generator will vanish allowing you to place the final rig -- but not so fast. You now have an invisible force-field maze to navigate.
- From the entrace to this sector, stick as close as you can to the right-hand wall and walk forward towards the back wall until you hit an invisible force-field. Turn left 45 degrees and shimmy along the force-field in front of you until you hit another force-field wall blocking your movement to the left. Turn right to face the back wall and walk forward. You'll find yourself in the area where the generator once was.
- Once through, you must attempt to place the rig, but since you're at the pole of the moon, you instruments won't make this easy. Placing the rig anywhere near more than 50% of the gas tapping area will simply complete the game without scoring you a percentage of gas tapped it seems.
[Drilling co-ords: X-4496, Y-6954, facing the left wall.]
ENDING
After that you get a few flick-screen views of the places on the moon you visited, (Obsidian, Malachite, Aquamarine, Beryl, Stores, Basalt, and Alabaster to be precise) followed by the familiar END screen with the message "TASK COMPLETED 18 CLEARED"
Congratulations you HUGE cheat!
