Caverns of Mars - questions

[+cmadruga]

Been curious about this game and trying to understand what changes from one cave to another, and also as a function of each skill level.

 

Unfortunately I suck at this game and can't get very far. Videos out there do not help much.

 

Anyone would care to summarize?

 

Thanks in advance

 

[Rybags]

The number of levels you get will vary depending on level and how many times you've gone through.

 

This video seems to show everything though it's not a very good capture.

 

 

 

 

[+cmadruga]

@Rybags

 

Thanks! I was reading the manual and it seems like skill levels affect the fuel allocation for escape, and the number of caverns to clear before base.

 

About the layout of each cavern, is there a single universal layout? Do certain sections only appear in later caverns, or when playing at higher skill?

I noticed the video was shot while playing in Commander skill. Does that mean that's the "complete" cave with all possible gameplay elements?

 

[Rybags]

It's a long time since I've played it.

Possibly the difficulty increments each time you finish the mission so that starting on Novice could see you do more levels each time.

Personally, I don't much like the game - too easy and predictable and not much repeat value.

[devwebcl]

 

https://manillismo.blogspot.com/2010/06/mapa.html

 

 

[devwebcl]

5 hours ago, cmadruga said:

@Rybags

 

 

About the layout of each cavern, is there a single universal layout? Do certain sections only appear in later caverns, or when playing at higher skill?

I noticed the video was shot while playing in Commander skill. Does that mean that's the "complete" cave with all possible gameplay elements?

 

 

Yes, the Commander level has all the elements (AFAIR).

I love this game.

 

[+cmadruga]

I found a patched version of the game with infinite lives and was able to figure out how the sections get added (after I died many, many times...)

 

Thanks for all the help, folks!

[_The Doctor__]

umm share all you learned, that's the payoff for the helpers. That's what makes interesting reading as well.

Edited February 6, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[+cmadruga]

Fair enough.

 

Remember the screen has that progress indicator: "12345 Base".

That indicates the levels within the cavern.

 

Those cavern levels correspond to the following:

 

Level 1: starting portion of the cavern, up to the start of the "barrage" section

2: barrage

3: laser gates

4: space mines

5: "pre-Base"

Base: bottom of the cave, where you find the bomb

 

So this is what you face when descending the cavern, depending on skill.

 

Novice: 1,2,Base

Pilot: 1,2,3,Base

Warrior: 1,2,3,4,Base

Commander: 1,2,3,4,5,Base

 

Now when escaping the cave you will follow the reverse path - except you always skip level 2 (barrage).

 

The manual is not well written when it comes to explaining all the above.

 

Personally, I would not have included the cavern level indicator as part of the dashboard.

It reminds me of another game (Vanguard), in which that cavern progress indicator is just as useless for the player.

 

Still... even though I did not grow up playing Caverns of Mars, I can see why people like it.

The design is simple and somewhat clever.

 

There you go, let me know if you have any questions 🙂