English
FrenchCAVERNS OF TITAN
A dangerous spatial mission
In the year 2040, the NASA has lost a spaceship while entering atmosphere of Titan, the biggest moon of Saturn. Actually, a big asteroid has touched the ship, destroyed the main computer and hurled an important part of the repair material. 5 years later, you are part of an European mission to recover the lost material. Attention ! Your oxygene reserve is limited !
So, it is the theme of this platform Manic Miner alike game, created by José Luis Tur in 2005 for the MSXdev contest. It contains 20 stages where you can refill your oxygen reserve and recover 5 electronic chips. Once all the chips in your own, the access to the next stage becomes visible.
The game (ROM + manual + sticker) :
Caverns Of Titan - MSXdev'05 version
Caverns Of Titan - Final version
To make your task harder, many enemies and some deadly items are on your way. You don’t have any weapon to kill them, so you need to jump at the good moment. Besides, some platforms collapse under your weight. Fortunaly, superb PSG musics will give you much courage and luck, at least we hope that !
MP3 Files :
Caverns Of Titan - End Of Mission
Caverns Of Titan - Game Over
Caverns Of Titan - Starbust (Faraon Steevis)
Caverns Of Titan - Stripes 1
Caverns Of Titan - Welcome To Hell (Vodoley)
There are also secret codes, but they are unusable on emulators, as the PC keyboards have some limitations :
- JEDI pressed down 2 seconds : 1 extra life
- ICED pressed down 2 seconds : the enemies are frozen, but their contact remains deadly
- CHIEF pressed down 2 seconds : go to next stage
The walkthrough
Here’s a walthrough with the exact visualization of the exit, so you will be able to better refine your strategy.
In the first five stages, you are in an universe of ice.
Stage 1 – The landing on Titan
From the landing, the problems begin : 3 horizontal enemies and 3 skulls to avoid, also seeing the ground disappear under the feet is really scaring.
The exit is on the left top.
Stage 2 – Methane frozen falls
The difficulties increase fast : 1 horizontal enemy, 2 vertical enemies and 1 skull to avoid; besides, the first mobile platform is waiting for you.
The exit is on the middle bottom.
Stage 3 – The isostatic chamber
The 2 first lifts for a stage with 1 horizontal enemy, 1 vertical enemy and 2 items to avoid.
The exit is on the top left platform.
Stage 4 – Lifeforms in the ice
Things are getting more serious : 1 lift, 3 horizontal enemies, 2 vertical enemies, 1 skull to avoid. Besides, the low part of the screen is divided into 2 parts by a frozen human statue.
The exit is on the left top.
Stage 5 – An infernal melting
Flows of frozen methane are falling into ebullient lava ! Don’t let distract by the beauty from the scene, as you need also to avoid 3 horizontal enemies, 1 vertical enemy and 1 skull.
The exit is on the right top.
In the five following stages, you are in a volcanic universe.
Stage 6 – Fire and ice
A mainly symmetrical nice stage with 2 horizontal enemies, 2 vertical enemies et 2 skulls to avoid.
The exit is on the middle top.
Stage 7 – The central cavern
We are temporarily protected from the lava! 3 horizontal enemies et 2 items to avoid, without not forgetting the 2 top spikes. Go by the left side to access to the top platform.
The exit is on the right bottom.
Stage 8 – The lava falls
Back to the volcanic with an accumulation of small platforms and the presence of 1 horizontal enemy, 2 vertical enemies et 1 skull to avoid.
The exit is on the same place as the starting point of this stage(on the right bottom).
Stage 9 – The metamorphic rocks
In stead of a lift, you find here a kind of piston : to be used carefully ! 2 horizontal enemies, 2 vertical enemies, 3 items to avoid, that’s all for the difficulties of this stage.
The exit is on the same place as the starting point of this stage(on the left top).
Stage 10 – Over the abyss
A very difficult stage, as you must avoid to fall in the void and there are so many traps, especially 1 horizontal enemy, 2 vertical enemies, 1 item to avoid. Use the mobile platforms at the good moment !
The exit is on the middle top, on the right metal platform.
In the five following stages, you are in a strange laboratory.
Stage 11 – The LAVATRON
We are here before a strange machinery, which uses the energy from the volcanic lava ! 2 horizontal enemies, 1 vertical enemy, 2 items to avoid, all is conceived to irritate you.
The exit is on the middle bottom, not far from the place where you start this stage.
Stage 12 – The alien complex
But what is manufactured in this factory ? Be careful with the crushing pistons … and of course the other perils : 2 horizontal enemies, 2 vertical enemies et 1 skull to avoid.
The exit is on the left bottom.
Stage 13 – The power core
In this stage, rapidity and dexterity need to be combined, as this core is very instable and falling in the microparticles should be a very bad idea ! 2 horizontal enemies, 1 vertical enemy et 2 skulls will take care to disturb you.
The exit is on the left top.
Stage 14 – The processing plant
A factory where 2 horizontal enemies and 2 vertical enemies don’t stop the work, there’s also one item to avoid.
The exit is on the right top.
Stage 15 – The inner entrance
Be careful with the 2 crushing pistons and avoid the other nasty guys : 3 horizontal enemies and 2 undesirable items. The access to the low part is very difficult, you should not miss the mobile platform.
The exit is on the right bottom.
In the five last stages, you are in an oniric universe.
Stage 16 – The crew of the NASA mission
Another screen divided in the middle with a mobile platform above the void ! 2 horizontal enemies, 1 vertical enemy, 4 items to avoid, that’s the programme !
The exit is on the left bottom.
Stage 17 – Extrem extra-sensorial perception
2 horizontal enemies and 3 vertical enemies in a stage mixing symmetry and subtle differences with all these conveyors, they are not there just to help you.
The exit is in the low part, on the right platform.
Stage 18 – The kingdom of the shades
The game becomes still darker ! 1 horizontal enemy, 3 vertical enemies and 1 skull will disturb you in the middle of the shades.
The exit is on the left top.
Stage 19 – The dead Willy’s tree
The game becomes still harder …. it’s not evident to find his way with the branchs of this strange tree without being catched by 2 horizontal enemies, 2 vertical enemies and 4 undesirable items, you need to be very strong.
The exit is in the low part of this tree, on the middle platform..
Stage 20 – The Elevaction madness
You arrived until there ? Still a serious effort (jump, jump, always jump !) and you will come to the end ! A screen with extreme mobility, a beautiful finale with 3 horizontal enemies, 1 mobile platform and 3 lifts … the madness !!!
The exit is on the right top.
The end
Your mission is finished, you have repaired the MSX of the first mission.
There’s only one problem : your great spaceship has become ridiculously small and flies away without you.
It happens because the coder lacks memory … even the imposing music of this splendid game has vanished !!!
You can only walk, walk, walk (that changes from jump !) to the planet Earth.
We can call that an unexpected and fully humorous end !!!
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