+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ The Old Guy's Gaming Guide To: +
+ VESSEL +
+ COMPLETE WALKTHROUGH +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello all, and welcome to another Old Guy's Gaming Guide. My name is John
Duecker, and I'm an Old Guy. Usually by the time I get around to playing a
game, all you kids out there have written some nice, complete guides to help me
through. If I get to one that doesn't have a gamefaqs guide yet, I usually go
ahead and write one. When I saw that there wasn't a comprehensive guide for
this one, I decided to give it a shot. I hope you like it!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ TABLE OF CONTENTS +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Use Ctrl+F to find the appropriate section using the numbers on the left...
SECTION A: PRELIMINARY STUFF
A1)................................................About the Game
A2).............................................Fluros and Fluids
A3)......................................................Trophies
A4)......................................................Glossary
A5)....................................................Your Tools
SECTION B: UNDER THE WORKSHOP
B1).................................................The Beginning
B2)................................Trophy Alert - Water Recycling
B3)................................Trophy Alert - Perfect Dry Run
B4)....................................................The Middle
B5)...................................................The Sampler
B6).....................................................The "End"
B7).............................Trophy Alert - Running With Water
B8)...................................................Boss Battle
B9).......................................................The Gun
B10)...................................................Protoplasm
B11)................................................Your Workshop
SECTION C: THE FACTORY
C1).................................................The Beginning
C2)...................................................Furnace One
C3)................................................Protoplasm One
C4)...................................................Furnace Two
C5)................................................Protoplasm Two
C6)..............................................Protoplasm Three
C7).................................................Furnace Three
C8)...............................................Protoplasm Four
C9)..................................................Furnace Four
C10)...................................................The Middle
C11).................................................Furnace Five
C12)..................................................Furnace Six
C13)..................................................The Sampler
C14)..............................................Protoplasm Five
C15)................................................Furnace Seven
C16)................................................Furnace Eight
C17).................................................Furnace Nine
C18)...............................................Protoplasm Six
C19)..................................................Boss Battle
C20)......................................................The End
SECTION D: THE ORCHARD
D1)....................Trophy Alert - Liquid Propellant Rocketman
D2).................................................The Beginning
D3)..................................................Windmill One
D4)................................................Protoplasm One
D5)..................................................Windmill Two
D6)...................................................The sampler
D7)................................................Windmill Three
D8).................................................Windmill Four
D9).................................................Windmill Five
D10)...............................................Protoplasm Two
D11).................................................Windmill Six
D12).............................................Protoplasm Three
D13)..................................................Boss Battle
D14).....................................Protoplasm Four and Five
SECTION E: THE MINES
E1).................................Trophy Alert - Going Spelunky
E2)................................................Protoplasm One
E3)................................................A Little Break
E4)................................................Protoplasm Two
E5).................................................Extractor One
E6).................................................Extractor Two
E7)...............................................Extractor Three
E8)..............................................Protoplasm Three
E9)................................................Extractor Four
E10)..................................................The Sampler
E11)...............................................Extractor Five
E12)..............................................Protoplasm Four
E13)................................................Extractor Six
E14)..............................................Protoplasm Five
E15)..................................................Boss Battle
SECTION F: THE ACCELERATOR
F1)...............................Trophy Alert - The Rest of Them
F2)...................................................Boss Battle
SECTION G: FINAL STUFF
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION A) PRELIMINARY STUFF ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In a puzzle game, writing and using a guide are tricky things. There are a few
video walkthroughs out there, and I used them twice while going through my
first playthrough. The problem with video guides in puzzle games, though, is
that actually watching someone solve the puzzle kind of defeats the purpose of
playing the game myself. Written guides are tricky too, as I can usually nail
the harder puzzles, but get stuck on something stupid (like not seeing a
switch) that a guide writer might not even think worth mentioning. As such, my
goal will be to be quick enough that you can read it easily and find what
you're looking for, while being thorough enough to include every significant
act in each puzzle. It looks like this thing is going to be about 30 pages,
which I think is about the right length for a game that will take you 10-15
hours. In that span, I'll cover every puzzle, trophy and scene in the game.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ A1) ABOUT THE GAME +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The story is pretty simple: you're an inventor named Arkwright, and you have
revolutionized society by inventing the “Fluro.” I think fluro is short for
fluid robot, as these guys are supposed to be docile, amoeba-like automatons
that are made out of fluid. Unfortunately, your inventions have begun to
evolve on their own, and are wreaking havoc in the places they were designed to
run. It’s your job to figure out what’s happening and set everything back to
normal. That’s pretty much it for the story: there is no dialogue, and the
only story points come from journal entries that will pop up as you progress in
the game. You can read them by using the “select” button.
Vessel can be frustrating at times, as the puzzles get increasingly complex and
usually involve creating Fluros and hoping like crazy that they go where you
want them to. They don't always do this, but they are controlled by pretty
smart programming rules, so at least they do the same thing every time. There
are three main glitchy-type things to watch out for, but two of them can be
used to your advantage. First, the fluros will sometimes run into walls and
destroy themselves on their way to their goal. I haven't found any way around
this, so you'll just have to make another one if this happens. The second is
this: if you stick a Fluro on a grate on the floor and shoot liquid UNDER the
grate instead of on the Fluro, you can form one on the level below you. I know
the game isn't supposed to do this, but it works for me every time and can save
a bunch of drama on some of the puzzles, so remember it. Third, if you jump
into a corner that's too high for you to reach, you can press "x" again to do a
weird double jump kind of thing. There are a few spots where this can save you
a bunch of walking around, and one spot that allows you to completely bypass
the whole puzzle. I'll mention the latter spot in this guide, but keep it in
mind if you're having trouble in other spots as well.
All in all, it turns to be a pretty fun game once you get a feel for it. I
encourage you to try the puzzles yourself before consulting the guide, as
you'll probably only really need it 10 or so times. Since I don't know which
10 times that will be, I'll include everything. I played the first time in
about 20 hours, and I only had to look up 2 things (thanks to AnnMaRou for
showing me those two things, by the way). The second playthrough took about 9
hours while I was writing a guide, then I did a speed run once I knew all the
puzzles. This took 3 hours and 27 minutes, so you can certainly burn through
it if you're in a hurry. Heck, you'll probably spend more time reading than
playing!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ A2) FLUROS AND FLUIDS +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The heart of this game lies in learning to create and manipulate fluros to
solve the puzzles. There are 5 kinds of fluros: regular, chaser, drinker,
light and dark. You'll meet them all and learn their properties as you
progress through the game. There are also six fluids in the game: water, lava,
protoplasm, red, blue and green. Again, each of these has certain properties
that will be explained as you get through the game.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ A3) TROPHIES +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There are 19 trophies in the game, and I will include the full names of each
one and how to get it in the walkthrough. This way you can find it by name
using Ctrl + F without needing a separate section. They're pretty easy anyway:
4 of them are for collecting protoplasm. 4 of them are for fixing all the
machines. 5 of them are for making specific types of fluros, which can all be
done in the same room just before the end of the game. One trophy is for
solving the final puzzle, which only leaves 5 trophies that require special
focus. I'll put a TROPHY ALERT to let you know when to pay attention to each
of these five, as some of them ARE missable unless you want to play through
again.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ A4) GLOSSARY +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'll be using made up terms to describe these puzzles, so it makes sense to
include the terms so you'll know what the heck I'm talking about.
PUZZLE ELEMENTS
GATE: This is the striped thing that you usually have to open to move to the
next area.
GRATE: These are the slotted things in the game that fluros and fluid can get
through, but you can't (even though people are 70% water).
SWITCH: These are anything that you grab onto that move something left/right
or up/down. Press square to grab the switch, then move it where you want it
to go, then press square again to let go.
BUTTON: These are things you jump on or jump up under, and usually have a
light with them. Also, regular fluros are attracted to buttons, so they can
stand on them for you. Buttons can operate all kinds of things, and so can
switches. If you don't know what a button or a switch does, I suggest you push
it and find out. You probably won't die, but even if you do there are at least
a thousand checkpoints in the game.
ROPE: This refers to anything that you pull on. You'll have to jump and then
press square to pull it, then press square again when you want to let go.
WHEEL: These refer to anything that you have to turn to make things happen.
There are two types of wheels: ones that are set into a floor or ceiling that
have to be flipped to open something, and those that look more like machinery
and have to be grabbed with sqare to turn.
Though these are the main elements in every puzzle, there are a few other
elements that show up as well. I'll just make up a name for them when I get
there.
ROOM ELEMENTS
MACHINE: These refer to the machines that have to be fixed to clear each
section, whether they're extractors, windmills, or furnaces. Each machine will
have its separate section.
PROTOPLASM: Protoplasm is the only fluid in the game that is available in
limited quantities. If you want all the trophies, you'll have to get all the
blobs of protoplasm (I think there are 21), so I'll make a separate section for
these as well.
SAMPLER: This is the stabby machine that you use to make seeds. Though you'll
be making 5 seeds, there will only be 4 samplers in the game. They get their
own section as well, since they are their own puzzles.
BOSS BATTLE: These are predictably towards the end of each level, and are
usually more comlex than the other rooms. If you got through all the gates in
a level and came to an area with enough going on to start dropping frames,
you're probably at the boss battle.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ A5) YOUR TOOLS +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SEEDS: Each level will introduce you to a new type of fluro for a while, then
give you the opportunity to make them yourself by creating a seed with the
sampler. Change your seeds with triangle, take them out with circle, and drop
them down with square. Once you drop a seed, water it for about 3 seconds to
make a fluro. Seeds also attract any fluid that they're close to, so you can
drop a seed and not water it to get fluid to move where you want it.
GUN: Right at the end of the first level, you'll get to make a little squirt
gun so you can carry fluid with you and shoot it out wherever you want. Use
R1 to aim your nozzle, R2 to shoot fluid, and L2 to suck up fluid.
NOZZLES: Once you get protoplasm, you can use the machine in your lab to make
different nozzles for your gun. You don't need any of them to finish the game,
but there is one that makes getting a trophy easier. Plus, you can at least
get two levels of capacity increases to your tank, which is the best thing to
do with that machine. I'll mention these upgrades at the proper time.
TANKS: Your gun will end up with tanks for water, blue goo, green goo and
protoplasm. You will get the tanks during the game, and I don't think you
can miss them. You can NOT collect lava or red goo, but you can still make
fluros from these fluids if they're laying around.
Okay, I think that covers the preliminaries. Let's get started, shall we?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION B) UNDER THE WORKSHOP ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B1) THE BEGINNING +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Haha, you just got locked out of your own workshop! Just keep going the only
way you can until you’re blocked by a gate. A nice fluro will run by and open
the gate for you. Thanks Fluro! Keep going until you come to a room with a
gate in the floor and a switch to your right. Press square to grab the
switch, then move the analog stick left or right to open or close the gate.
Open it, press square again to let go, then drop down. I know it’s basic, but
it is the first puzzle!
In the next room, the gate will open by turning the big water wheel attached
to it. There’s a bucket of water on top of the screen. Just jump on the
right handle of the bucket to tip it over, which will send water through the
grate and onto the wheel. Go left, and get ready to make use of your first
fluro. These types of fluros love those little buttons with the lights on
top, so if you give them a clear path, they’ll run up and jump on the button.
To solve this, go down the only ladder you can reach and turn the crank.
This will open a gate that lets the fluro jump up and open the gate for you.
Now, go down the second ladder and turn the next crank which will lower the
elevator. Your fluro will make a bridge for you, so take it to the ladder on
the left.
The next room will have a red light on the left and two blue lights in the
upper part of the area. There’s a little rope dangling by the red light where
you start. Jump up and press square to grab it, and you’ll make a fluro up
there by the switches. He’ll start jumping around, which will raise little
platforms to help you get across. In the next room, a fluro will come in and
step on an inaccessible switch, pushing a gate down and blocking your way. The
little area at the top with the small ladder has a switch and a button. See
that little spiky thing just below you? The switch moves it left and right,
and the button drops it down. Move it until you’re over the fluro, then
squish him with the button. This will open the gate for you, and will take you
to the next area.
In the next area, you’ll see 4 wheels in all, and two buttons with blue lights.
I don’t think the buttons have anything to do with this. It’s all about the 4
wheels. At first glance, it seems that running past the first one closes the
gate, and you’ll be tempted to think about how you can run through it without
spinning it. I’ll save you some trouble: you can’t. What you do is run over
it so you’re on the right, then run back just enough to push the lever. Turn
right back around quickly enough, and the green side will come up, leaving you
on the correct side with the gate open. Once you figure the first one out,
then, the next three shouldn’t be a problem. In the next room, grab the switch
right where you start, and you’ll find that it moves the water stream up and
down. Move it up gently enough to flip the red/green wheel, and the gate will
open for you. Moving on will take you to a room with a new journal entry
(Mass Production) and your first fluro turbine.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B2) FIRST TROPHY ALERT +
+ WATER RECYCLING +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Technically, you can get this trophy in any place with a turbine, but this one
is safe from other distractions. Also, the turbines will go away after you
finish this level, and you can't come back here once you do, making this one
technically missable. The trophy is for “stomping a fluro into the turbine
that created it.” The turbine has an intake pipe and a pan that makes the
fluro. To get the trophy, you’ve got to squish him so he goes back into the
intake pipe. Mess around to get your timing and the trophy will pop for you.
The crank on the top of the screen will drop water into the intake pipe below.
Drop enough to activate the blue button down there, then jump on the button.
Voila, fluro! If you leave him alone, he’ll go up there and open the gate for
you. Congratulations on your first trophy! Only 18 to go…
The next two rooms involve the fluro you made to solve the last puzzle: he'll
keep running with you for a while in this area. Jump under the blue button to
send the fluro down and turn the wheel on the left. Turn the one on the right
with your head. Both gates below will open, so move right along. You still
have your little friend from a few puzzles ago. The exit is at the bottom, but
you’ll need to turn the big gear twice in the same direction to open a hole.
The orange wheel turns the gear, and you’ll need to move your fluro around to
move the wheel. Start with the blue button on the left to get your guy on
screen, then bump the right, middle, left, and right in that order to open the
gate. You'll come to what is either a really inefficient mining cart or a
really inefficient zip line. Make a manual save here and read the whole next
paragraph before continuing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B3) SECOND TROPHY ALERT +
+ PERFECT DRY RUN +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In order to get this trophy, you need to ride this contraption all the way to
the bottom without any water touching your light. This includes water from
squished fluros. It’s not particularly hard, but make a save file before you
jump on the cart because it can be really annoying. It took me about 15
minutes. This is the ONLY place in the game to get this trophy, and once you
leave the area, you won’t be able to come back unless you want to play the
whole game again. The first tricky spot is fairly close to the beginning.
You’ll see some water dripping down from the ceiling, then a fluro standing
there, then you’ll have to pass through the same water again going right.
Wait for the top stream to stop, kick the fluro gently then stop while he
drips down, then go around the bend and wait for the second stream to stop.
The next spot is when your path is blocked by the gate. Make sure you stop
your cart directly next to the gate, so when you squish the fluro it doesn’t
drip on the light. The third spot is right after the first big drop. There
will be 3 or 4 jets of water squirting at you. While you can go slowly and
wait for each stream to stop, I've found that the most successful way is to
wait for the first one then go as fast as you can and hope for the best. That
should be the last spot you have to worry about: once you get to the bottom
and cross into the next puzzle, the trophy should pop. Two other notes about
this trophy: first, it won’t do any good to save your file halfway down the
track: the game will just start you at the beginning. Second, it’s the LIGHT
that matters, so don’t give up if the water accidentally hits you or the cart.
You may still get it if the light stayed dry. Okay, I think that’s enough for
this one. Good luck, and congratulations on your second trophy!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B4) THE MIDDLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The gate you need to open next is on the left at ground level. The 4 other
gates are attached to the blue buttons on the left and right of the room, and
the water jet at the left will activate the main gate if all of the other
switches are opened. The big wheel in the center can be turned to dump water
in the turbine below. So, just make 4 fluros by turning the wheel then
pressing the button. Try to avoid them as they jump around. Once you have 4,
run to the left and grab the rope that turns the water fountain on.
Eventually, the 4 fluros will hit a switch at the same time, allowing the water
you’re shooting to get to the main switch. In the next room, the wheels are
inaccessible by you, but filling the two tanks in the room then hitting the
button will move each wheel, opening the gate and letting you through. Do
this by grabbing the water pipe and sliding it around, then jumping on the
buttons to flush them.
Well, what do we have here? A fluro turbine, so we know we’re going to be
making some of those. 4 tanks with corresponding switches, two red/orange
wheels, and 2 toggle gates? Sounds like a mess. Again, it’s not, once you
know what to do. First off, you’re trying to get up to the top using the gates
on the right, then over to the left, then down using the gates on the left.
Start by moving the wheel on the right so that the bottom right gate is open.
Move the wheel on the left so the top left gate is open. Then, jump up and
grab the water hose and pull it left to fill the fluro turbine. Now, swing it
over to the well on the far right, which will fill and light the button on the
bottom right. Got it? Good. Let go of the water hose and jump on the middle
blue button to make yourself a fluro. Now run through the gate to the right
and wait at the top of the ladder. Your little buddy will run to the button,
turning the wheel for you and getting you to the top. From here, you can grab
the water hose as well, so slide it left to the far tank and let go. Your
fluro will run left, moving the wheel and allowing you out of this room.
You’ll come to an area with a water fountain and 3 red buttons, suggesting that
you want to go to the right. You can’t do this just yet, so head all the way
left and down the ladder. You’ll get another journal entry (The Sampler),
which will explain the gruesome process you’re going to have to perform to
move on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B5) THE SAMPLER +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You'll notice a scary looking needle right in the middle of the screen, as well
as a blue button on the left and the right. Your ultimate goal is to make a
fluro and stab him with the needle, which can be done by pulling the rope just
under it. Start by activating the blue button on the right, then climb the
ladder on the left all the way to the top. Make yourself a fluro using the
turbine then go stand right under the blue button on the left. Once your
buddy (soon to be ex-buddy) hits the first button, jump up and activate the
second one to get him running across the screen. Run to the rope and as soon
as he’s under the needle clench your teeth and pull the rope. Yech. Anyway,
once you have him good and impaled, a little wheel will pop out by the big
crank. Turn that for a bit and a little rope will pop out. Pull that, wait a
few seconds, go down and collect your first seed!
ABOUT SEEDS: There’s a journal entry for this as well as a tutorial, but the
basic idea of seeds is that they make turbines obsolete. Now, you can carry
seeds with you and make fluros wherever there’s fluid. Just get one out with
the circle button and let go of it with the square button. Stick it near water
and the water will make it grow into a fluro! Also, seeds attract water like a
magnet, which will be very handy down the road. So, even if you don’t want to
make a fluro, you can use your infinite supply of seeds to move water wherever
you want it to go. These things will be put to good use very shortly, but
will also start to make the puzzles more challenging. Oh well, that’s how
puzzle games are supposed to work, I guess.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B6) THE "END" +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Go back to the water fountain chuck a seed or two in there, and go stand by the
gate. Eventually, they’ll form and start jumping on buttons, allowing you to
get through the gates into the next area. Here, our goal is to go down. We
have two gates at the bottom, as well as two buttons that control the gates,
but we can’t get to them. Do you see the little gray channels on each side?
Those are tubes that you can drop a seed into. So, drop one down the tube on
each side, then go down to the bottom and pull the rope in the middle. This
will water the seeds, they will form, and each one will open a gate for you.
You'd think this next one would be easy, but it took me a good 30 minutes to
figure out what to do. Of course once you know, it only takes about 20
seconds. The button way at the top is your first goal. See the elevator? If
you try to get on it, I promise you that no amount of jumping will get you high
enough. Go ahead and try a few times, I’ll wait. What you really want to do
is stand right next to the elevator and drop a seed on it. If you’re not on
the elevator with it, it will launch the seed up into the area with the switch,
which will drop a rope down for you to swing on. Get the swing going nice and
fast, then throw a seed into the tube that goes to the other blue button.
Boom, next puzzle!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B7) THIRD TROPHY ALERT +
+ RUNNING WITH WATER +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This one is really two rooms, but they’re kind of connected so we’ll call it
one puzzle. This is also “The Waterfall” if you’re looking at the trophy list,
so save your game before you do this. This will also be the last missable
trophy in the game, so make a save file in case you mess up a few times. The
trophy says to find a use for the waterfall, and this is the waterfall they’re
talking about. First, make a fluro and let him jump up to open the first gate.
See the water dripping to your left? That’s the waterfall, though it’s more
like a trickle if you ask me. What you want to do is stand under the waterfall
and press circle to take out a seed. Don’t drop him though. Just let him
collect a bunch of water for a second and start walking left. You and your
glob of unformed goo will come to a ledge, and you want to stand right on the
edge of the ledge and drop the whole mess down there. Hopefully, the seed will
form into a fluro, who will run off screen while you wait. You’ll hear a gate
open, and about 5 seconds later the trophy will be yours. If you don’t hear
it, you can either go back and try again or run over and see what went wrong.
Just be aware, though, that once you fall off that ledge you’ll have to load
your save file to get back up there. Or, one of the 50 autosaves that are
hanging out on your HDD by now. The gate that he opens for you allows you to
bypass the next puzzle: I can't assume that you chose to do this, so the
solution is below if you need it.
See the tube in the middle? Climb the ladder to the right all the way to the
top of the tube. Take out a seed and walk towards the middle tube, and watch
the falling water react. It bends, and it bends away from the pipe that was
catching it. Now, just place seeds strategically so you can get a stream of
water to the bottom of the tube. Make a fluro, let him open the gate for you,
and move on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B8) BOSS BATTLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You would expect this to be really complicated, but most of what you see going
on has nothing to do with completing the puzzle. So, figuring it out is
really more about eliminating the elements that don’t matter. For the first
time you will also see fluros that don’t like you. They won’t be the last.
Knowing a few little things might help you greatly with this scary looking
room. First, there are fluro turbines up there on either side of the room.
The fluros may look mean, but they’re really just trying to make more of
themselves. The water jets that feed the turbines can be turned in any
direction you’d like, and you’ll need to turn them both to get out of here.
Second, the green switch that you can’t get to controls a little cart at the
very top of the room that will take you all the way across, so when you get up
there don’t try jumping across the hammers unless you feel like dying. So,
jump across the first few rails until you get to the first turbine. Turn the
wheel so it shoots water up into the grate above it. Then, get above it and
drop a seed in the little tube to the left. Hit the blue button, make a
fluro, and you’ll activate the cart on the ceiling. Then, take the cart across
the room and rotate the wheel to open the gate below you. From here, you can
get to the second water wheel, which you will want to rotate until it’s
pointing straight up. The water will turn the ferris wheel above you, which
will raise the elevator on the right and get you out of here. If there are
still fluros running around, you can stand on the elevator and wait for it to
go. If not, you’ll have to make your own using the water at your disposal.
If the fluros get there before you and the elevator take off, just stand in
the stream to get it to come back down.
There’s one final puzzle here before you get back to your shop: I’m amazed at
how much easier it was the second time around, now that I know what I’m doing.
The green switch controls the gate, and none of the fluros can get there from
the ground. What you want to do then, is turn the water wheel towards the
green gate, then go up top to the tunnel and drop a seed or two in. Then, and
this is the big difference between my first and second playthroughs, drop
another seed at the base of the highest ladder. Run down and start the water
using the yellow button. The water will be kept in the air by the last seed
you dropped and will shoot right into the alcove with your other seed. Boom,
fluro. Boom, gate! Boom, level complete!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B9) THE GUN +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You’re now back under the workshop, and you’re going to make a little squirt
gun. You’ll need 3 pieces, which means you’ll need to solve 3 puzzles. Each
puzzle can be reached from the main area with the ramps, and the paths are
marked with chalkboards. Let’s do the top one on the right first, though you
can go in any order.
You should see 4 water jets in the room that are currently turned off, two
trampoline thingies at the bottom of the screen, and one red button on the
right. Hop over to the right side and throw a seed on the ground, then press
the button to shoot water from the lower right jet. You need to make a seed
with that water, who will take your place on the button and keep the water on
permanently while you mess around with the jets. Start with the lower right
one and turn the jet until it shoots into the intake valve of the upper left
jet. This will cause water to shoot out of that jet. Go up there and aim the
jet to the intake of the upper right jet. Now rotate that one so it’s
shooting into the lower left jet. All of this will take a little patience,
since the crank will keep going sometimes when you let go, so just mess with
each one until you get a good stream coming from each jet. Now go down to the
final jet (lower left), and crank it around so it shoots up at the blue light
on the top of the screen. This will release your nozzle for your new toy.
When you get it, head back to the main area and go to the second chalkboard.
For this one, you’ll see the item in a little tank in the middle with 3 blue
buttons scattered around in an arc above it. You obviously can’t push all 3 at
the same time, so make some fluros to help you. Just drop 3 seeds on the
ground in the middle of the area, go up the ladder to the right, and push the
button a few times. Now, walk left as far as you can on that same platform (so
you don’t accidentally kill the fluros you made) and wait for them to bounce
around and blow up the machine. That’s it, time for the third part of this
one.
You’ll notice a red button at the bottom, which is all that really matters at
first. Drop a seed on one of the grates, then jump on the button to shoot some
water at it. As soon as your fluro is made, get off the button and let him
replace you. Now, your goal is to place seeds on the platforms in such a way
that the water flows up through the pipe to the top of the puzzle. Go up the
left side to do this, and put one next to the pipe on each level. Watch the
flow as you go and adjust your seeds until you get it going the way you want.
The last seed will have to go on the right side, but once you get them all,
you’ll be able to shoot your own fluid from here on out.
NOTES ABOUT THE GUN: With the completion of this little contraption comes
some additional controls, so take a minute and get used to them. The right
analog stick will aim your nozzle wherever you want it to go. L2 will suck up
any fluid around you, and R2 will spit it back out. That’s really all there
is to it, but remember that your tank is only so big so you’ll need to fill up
periodically by going to some fluid and sucking it up.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B10) PROTOPLASM +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once you get used to the mechanics a bit, head up to the top where the red
arrow is. Shoot some water right up into the receptacle by the rope, then pull
on the rope to bring down an elevator. Take the elevator up until a gate
blocks your path, then go back down a smidge and take the path on the left to
another short puzzle. Just shoot water in the receptacle to open the gate on
the top, then use the bouncy pad to get up through the gate. This may take a
few tries, so be patient. Once you’re up there, you’ll get a protoplasm
canister, and you’ll be able to pull the rope that will clear the gate that
was blocking your path.
Before we continue, let’s talk about protoplasm and the other fluids for a
second. This is your first fluid other than water, but we’re going to talk
about it last. The other fluids in the game are lava, red goo, blue goo and
green goo, and you’ll discover them as you play through. You won’t be able to
collect lava or red goo in your tanks, but the other three will be available.
To switch between them, use up or down on your directional pad when you get
it, and you’ll change what type of goo you squirt. The exception to this is
protoplasm. Protoplasm has a very limited use in Vessel. It’s used for making
upgrades to your tanks and nozzles, getting one protoplasm blob later in the
game, and getting one trophy, and that’s all. This is good, because it’s also
the only fluid that is not available in infinite quantities. There are little
blobs of it hidden throughout the game, and these blobs are the only way to
collect protoplasm. You will get a trophy if you collect every single blob in
the game, and I’ll point them out in PROTOPLASM sections when we come to it.
Also, Strange Loop did us a favor in handling protoplasm by making some of the
properties different from all of the other fluids. First, if you shoot out
protoplasm it will not dissipate the way the rest of the fluids do. Second,
you can carry as many tanks of it as you want, not just one. Third, and most
importantly, you have to HOLD the down button on the D-Pad to dispense
protoplasm. If you let go, it will switch immediately to whatever fluid is
above it in your list, which will keep you from accidentally losing all of
your protoplasm. I think that covers all of the intricacies of protoplasm,
so let’s get back to the game.
As you get back on the elevator and go up, there will be a path on your right.
Fill up on water if you need it, then jump on TOP of the lift at the far right.
From there, you can use your gun to shoot the water wheel, which will raise you
to the ledge above you. Go left, collect the protoplasm, then pull the rope to
open the gate. Climb the ladder, and you’ll FINALLY be back in your workshop!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ B11) YOUR WORKSHOP +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our next goal is going to be to get to the factory, but let’s explore the
workshop a little first. When you first enter the area, there’s a big giant
machine to your right that has one purpose: upgrading your gun. Step one is to
pull on the rope and select what you want to make with the left stick. Once
you’ve chosen, go up the lift on the left and fill the tank with protoplasm.
There will be a bar there to let you know when it’s full, and any excess will
drop out so you can collect it again. Then, grab the big wheel in the center
and turn it until it’s done cooking. Now, go up the ladder to the right and
grab the red switch to drop your new invention down to where you can reach it.
Congratulations, you’ve invented something!
Okay, now that you know how it’s done, the question becomes what should you
invent? Honestly, you don’t need anything from this machine to do everything
in the game. You’ll have enough protoplasm to invent what you need by the time
you’re done, so you might as well get some of the nozzles if you want, but you
certainly don’t need to. I only have two recommendations, and you can’t get
either of them with the little bit of protoplasm you have right now. First are
the two tank size upgrades, because running out of fluid sucks. Second is the
mini launcher, which is about the sixth option over and looks like a little
pointing finger. If you tap R2 with this nozzle, you’ll shoot a big blob of
goo wherever you need it. However, if you hold down R2 for a second or two,
then release it, you’ll shoot an entire fluro, seed and all! This comes in
really handy when you need to drop one down a grate, and will save you much
frustration in the coming levels. However, each one requires 3 tanks of
protoplasm, and you only have 2 right now. So, we’ll skip the inventing and
climb the ladder to the accelerator.
Welcome to the accelerator! This is the main machine in the game, and is
actually where the game will end. It’s the final puzzle, so I’m going to make
this really clear and shout it out: YOU CAN’T SOLVE THIS PUZZLE RIGHT NOW! I
must have spent at least an hour trying to figure this damn thing out so I
could move on, and it finally occurred to me that we need to finish all the
other levels to get the thing going. #facepalm. Don’t waste your time. There
are only two things to do here right now. First, climb up the right side until
you come to the second chalk board. You’ll do some writing then get a journal
entry (Fixing the Accelerator). Then, Go all the way left until you come to a
gate. Shoot some water up there to open it, and you’ll be ready to enter the
Factory.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION C) THE FACTORY ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your goal in the factory is to fix furnaces. If you want all the trophies,
you’ll have to fix all 9 furnaces and get all the protoplasm in here as well.
You can return to an area by selecting the thumbnail on the pause screen, so
don’t freak out if you miss something and need to go back. Missable things
are officially a thing of the past for the rest of the game.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C1) THE BEGINNING +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The first little area is designed to teach you about lava, so go ahead and mess
around on your way through the linear map. You’ll learn 3 things: first, if
you touch lava too long, you die. Second, if you hit it with water, the lava
will cool down enough for you to run through it. Third, hitting lava with
water makes steam. Fourth, there are a gagillion checkpoints in this game
(like every 10 feet). These things will all be important, so commit them to
memory and move along. I’ll give you one little tip for handling conveyor
belts filled with lava: squirt a big gloppy mess of water (like half a tank)
in a spot, then push the glob across the conveyor. This will get you across
most places without dying.
You’ll eventually come to a gate that shouldn’t be too hard to figure out,
then an area with some lava and stompy things. Dodge those, than grab the
rope and make a giant pile of water. Push it onto the next elevator and get
ready for some sideways stompy things. They’ll fake you out first, making you
jump too early and crushing you right as you come down, so it will probably
take a few times to get the timing right. Once you get up there, head on over
to the spinning buckets that look like leg lamps (it’s a major award). Dodge
those, then catapault yourself to the next area.
Well, well, well, it looks like we’ll have to solve some puzzles after all.
I’m going to break my rule of being concise for a minute and tell you a little
story to illustrate that there are multiple ways to solve the puzzles in this
game. On my first playthrough I said “Oh, this is gonna be easy!” I smugly
made a fluro and ran to the gate, only to watch him melt as he ran through the
lava. Oops! So I thought about it a bit, and decided that I would have to
give him some cover fire as he ran the gauntlet. He still melted. I
stubbornly continued this pattern for about 50 tries, and finally my little
buddy, barely alive and still smoking, made it to the other side and hit the
button. I thought I was something special, and was vaguely worried about the
rest of the game if a puzzle this annoying was already popping up. On my
second playthrough, this puzzle took me 10 seconds. Why? Because I now know
something very important: you can make a fluro out of lava! Just drop a seed
down there and he’ll do the rest. Don’t hold him very long, though, or the
lava will be attracted to you and you’ll find your last checkpoint very
quickly. Anyway, keep this in mind: none of the puzzles are really hard once
you know what you’re doing. If you get stuck on something for a long time,
you’re probably doing it wrong. Even then, what you’re trying may still work
if you’re willing to try it 50 times. Okay, thanks for listening: back to
the guide.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C2) FURNACE ONE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Again, all of these are “optional,” but we’re going to do them as they come up.
If you get lost, you can always come back and do them again, and they’re
pretty much right in a row. You can see the machine as you go up the ladder,
but you’ll have to do a little work to get it started. First, grab the rope
that’s hanging in the middle of your screen. This will shoot a big blob of
lava out to the right. Now that you know what that does, climb the ladder and
grab the switch above the rope. This will allow you to move the lava shooter
up and down. Move it all the way down. Now, make yourself a fluro and let
him get to the button, lowering the first gate. Jump to the rope again, then
immediately let go and run through the gate. When the lava shoots, it should
melt the fluro, switching the gate back and allowing you down to the machine.
Kill the two fluros that are down there messing up your stuff, and you’ll have
fixed your first furnace! To get back out, just use the gate on the left,
then climb the ladder again and follow the arrow to the right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C3) PROTOPLASM ONE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Right after you fix the first machine, you’ll activate an elevator that will
take you up to the next one. Before you do that, however, ride the elevator
just a little bit and look for a secret passage to your right. If you see a
puzzle and a blob of protoplasm, you’re in the right area. Solving this puzzle
is another pain in the butt, but if you want the good stuff you have to pay the
price. The gate is activated by filling the tank, but the intake is in the
most inaccessible part of the level. There is a little tunnel, however, to
the right of the screen. What you want to do, then, is shoot a bunch of water
through the tunnel and into the pan that’s below it. Then, hit L2 to suck it
all up to the wall right below your feet. Run left all the way to the corner,
dragging the water with you. The trick is to do this in one smooth motion, so
your water doesn’t slosh around and fall into the lava. At some point while
you’re running across, switch the right stick from right to left, keeping the
water ahead of you and holding R2 all the way. When you hit the corner, the
water that’s left should bend around and go up into the tank. Eventually,
you’ll fill it and be able to suck out your protoplasm. Be patient, though,
this one’s a little rough.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C4) FURNACE TWO +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After the protoplasm, ride the elevator all the way up, go left, then go down
the ladder. You’ll see some water shooting on the left and some lava on the
right. There’s a big empty area in the middle up there, and you need to make
some steam in there. Of course, the only way to do this will be to shoot some
lava and some water in there at the same time. So, go to the grate on the
left and drop a seed right next to it, then run over to the grate on the right
and drop another seed. If you’re quick enough, you’ll form two fluros that
can survive the trip to their respective buttons, and you’ll have steam in no
time. Now that the gate is open, go up and left to furnace 2 and squish the
troublemakers to get it going again.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C5) PROTOPLASM TWO +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Right after the second machine, you’ll come to a leg lamp that’s spinning
really fast. You’ll die if you try to jump through it, but you’ll see a
suspicious looking mess of water and lava below it. Those four streams are
hitting each other, making steam, and messing up your day. The way to get
through it is to stand at the bottom of the ladder, start sucking, and aim your
nozzle so that you stop both water streams at the same time. Do this until the
leg lamp stops spinning, then climb the ladder as fast as you can to get
across. Before you do this, however, there’s some protoplasm down there to
collect. Go all the way to where the bottom two streams are connecting, then
walk back to the right and let a bunch of water pile up behind you. When
you’re ready, jump right to get behind the pile, start spraying as much as you
can, and run/jump as fast as you can through the stream of lava. If you’re
lucky, you’ll make it to the protoplasm without dying. If you’re really
lucky, you’ll make it back. If you’re unlucky, you’ll have to try again.
Anyway, once you get the protoplasm, stop the spinning thing and move on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C6) PROTOPLASM THREE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Right after the last puzzle, you’ll see the next blob of protoplasm in the top
left corner of the next area. You need to rock the platform back and forth
enough so that you can jump off of it and onto the higher ledge to get it.
Rock it too much, and you’ll fall to your death. Don’t rock it enough, and
you won’t make the jump. There are 7 spots you can grab on to the platform:
I chose the second from the left, but the second from the right would probably
work as well. Rock it back and forth until you know it will be high enough,
then detach yourself early and get a running start at your jump. Once you make
it, get the protoplasm, drop down to the lower ledge, and head left.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C7) FURNACE THREE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The idea here is to get some steam into the big tank in the center of the
screen, allowing you to drop the gate and get to the machine to the upper left.
To do this, start by climbing the ladder to the top. Stand about halfway up
the steps and shoot some water into the steam jet above you. It will push the
water over the hump and into the reservoir on the left, activating the button.
Now, go all the way down and stand next to the lava flow at the bottom. Drop
a seed in there and get out of the way. Your new fluro will run to the
button you activated. Next, climb up the ladder again, but stop to shoot some
water through the grate and into the big tank on your left. About 5 seconds
should be plenty. Continue up the ladder and shoot more water into the
reservoir on the right. This will activate that button and cause your
careless fluro to head straight to it. On his way, he’ll step right in the
water you sprayed and make you some steam to open your gate. Go ahead and
fix the machine – I’m sure you know how by now. Follow the red arrow up to
the next area.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C8) PROTOPLASM FOUR +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once you get to the top of the ladder, if you go left you’ll see the blob
above you. To reach it, go back to the area and jump on the big wheel in the
center of the room. Get it spinning clockwise until you’re going fairly fast,
then let go and aim left to launch yourself onto the ledge. The correct
position to let go is around 7:00 (for those of you with digital watches,
that’s just a little left of the bottom), and it will take a little practice
to get it right. You’ll get some protoplasm, and also learn the secret to the
next machine.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C9) FURNACE FOUR +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There’s an easy way and a hard way to do this. Of course, I chose the hard
way the first time, and I feel kind of dumb about it. I stuck about 9 seeds on
the grate between the two pipes then cranked away, hoping to get enough steam
up there before they all died. I made it, but it’s far easier to do it this
way: get the wheel cranking real fast, then jump off when you’re at 11:00 and
aim right. You’ll launch up to the upper part. Place one lonely seed in the
little pan above the two pipes, but do NOT turn him into a fluro. Now, go
back to the crank and crank away until the gate opens. Launch yourself up
there again and fix the machine, then go back left to the next area.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C10) THE MIDDLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There isn’t another machine for a bit, but there are a few puzzles. The next
area introduces you to a new type of fluro: the chaser. This guy will come
after you until he gets you or dies, hence the name chaser. They can be very
useful, but if they’re made of lava they can also be deadly. Of special note
is the way the AI decides how they will chase you: the computer will
calculate all the routes and choose the one that will get him there the
quickest. This means that if a gate is closed, he’ll go around. If it’s
open, he’l l come straight for you. The benefit of this is that you can
manipulate chasers by opening and closing off their routes. The drawback is
that the puzzles now become somewhat timed, as you have to change the routes
at the correct times to get the correct results. For now, though, just jump
on the yellow button and run to the gate. He’ll open it for you. Drop down
and wait for him to come for you, then spray him to kill him. Once he’s
gone, climb up to the blue button and open the gate to the next area.
The next area looks a little scary as well. A horde of these chaser guys are
going to come at you, and you have to beat them, and get to the top. The
buttons at each end activate a lever that you can use to jump to the next
level, but you’ll need some help to activate them. Just grab the first rope
that you come to and start chucking seeds into the corner. Make your own
legion of fluros (12 or so should do it) and send them on their way. Some will
die, and others will hit the buttons for you. Follow them up, spraying any
lava guys that get close to you, and make some more of your own as you need
them. When you get to the top row, your fluros won’t help you, so it’s
pretty much a mad dash to the left, the crank that opens the gate, and freedom
(sort of).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C11) FURNACE FIVE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Let’s see, five gates and five switches, that sounds straightforward enough.
There’s a rope you can pull all the way to the left of the ladder that will
activate a chaser lava guy, so I’m sure we’ll need him. Then there are two
gates at the bottom that go up with the rope and down with the button. I
think you’re supposed to activate the lava guy first and use him to get all
five gates, but with a little creativity we can actually open four of them
before even messing with him.
Gates two and four can be opened with your head: just jump up and turn them.
Gates one and five can be opened by shooting some water down the grate by the
switch, then sucking it up and sloshing it across the corresponding wheels. I
you have trouble doing this, don’t worry about it: you can get the chaser guy
to flip them for you as well. Remember how I said a while ago that the AI
determines the shortest route? This is where that really comes into play. Go
ahead and open the gate on the right (at the bottom) and leave it open. Now,
go all the way to the left and make your lava guy. As soon as you pull the
rope, run over and stand right by the gate you opened. The lava guy will goo
his way down to the main area eventually and come after you. Right about the
time he gets on screen, however, he’ll decide that it’s quicker to go down
through one of the grates and into the area with the switches instead of just
coming across like you did. Dumb fluro. Once he’s down there, close the
gate. Now that his path is cut off, he only has one way to go: down. This
will activate the center switch, but there is a pipe down there that will
take him back up to you. So, run him all over the map until all 5 gates are
open, then kill him before he melts you. Climb the ladder on the right to
start the machine, then go up the ladder on the left to move on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C12) FURNACE SIX +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You’ve now got 3 gates to move, and each one is controlled by getting steam
into the tank below it. Follow the pipes, and you’ll see the three intakes
right above you. Of course, you’ll need water and lava, but we also have a
stompy thing hanging out at the top of the screen. Make your way across the
room, and shoot about 3 seconds of water into each intake on your way. When
you get to the right, you’ll be in a room with a rope, a left/right switch, a
red button and a blue button. The blue button fills your water, the switch
moves the stompy thing left and right, the red button drops the stompy thing,
and the rope makes a lava fluro on the other side of the room. So, move the
stomper above one of the intakes, summon the lava guy, then wait for him to
get under your stomper and hit the red button. It will squish him down into
the tank below the gate, make some steam, and open the gate! Do this three
times and you can finish off the sixth furnace. When you’re done, follow the
red arrow to the right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C13) THE SAMPLER +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Okay, it’s time to make another seed. We’ve been messing with the chasers for
a while, and it’s time we were able to make our own. As soon as you get to the
next area, go down the ladder on the left to find the familiar needle of fluro
dread. There’s a gate and some other stuff, and a really easy way to solve
this. First, open the gate by pulling the rope above the green light. Second,
make your own fluro somewhere and jump down through the gate. Your fluro will
go up and close the gate behind you. Now, go left and pull the rope to make a
lava chaser. That’s it: just go under the needle, wait for him to come by,
then give him the stab. Turn the crank and collect your seed. To get back
out you’ll have to pull the other rope down there and quickly jump up through
the gate before your fluro closes it again. Once you’re out of that room,
head back up the ladder and to the right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C14) PROTOPLASM FIVE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As soon as you get your chaser seed, it’s time to use it. You can select them
by pressing the triangle button, by the way, and there will ultimately be five
different types: normal, chaser, drinker, light and dark. Start by dropping
down to the little alcove as you move right. There’s a tunnel to your left
that leads to a lava pit. Drop about 3 chaser seeds down into the pit, then
immediately move right and down the ladder by the water filling station.
Shoot some water into the pan to the left, then get your nozzle ready. As the
chasers come down, melt them with your gun. This will fill those 3 little
gauges with steam, which will power the “elevator” to get you to the next
level. The triangle takes you right, but you want to pass that, wait for the
mini rocket to get all the way to the top, then jump left to get your
protoplasm. If you miss, just fill the rocket with steam again and try it
again.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C15) FURNACE SEVEN +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The red arrow tells you to go up, but only after you fix the machine. The
machine is to the right, but is locked off by two gates. These gates are
opened by shooting steam into them using the puzzle below. When you get down
there, there will be a blue button on the left that shoots water to the right.
There will be a yellow button on the right that shoots lava to the left.
There will be an elevator that you can crank up and down, but you can’t ride
it yourself. Hmmm, sounds like fun. So, place a chaser seed on the elevator
and crank it all the way up. Then, go right and hit it with lava.
Immediately run left to the water button, wait for him to get under the intake
and fire some water at him. That opens the left gate. Do the same thing for
the right gate, but in reverse. If you’re having trouble getting to the
switch in time, try letting him come the other way a little before turning
around to buy you a few more seconds. Once you start the machine, head on up
the ladder.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C16) FURNACE EIGHT +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This one can be a little tricky, or at least it was for me. Start by making a
regular fluro anywhere down by the machinery. He’ll jump up and open the gate
for you. Easy enough. Now, go down and put a chaser seed on the conveyor
belt, and crank it until it drops in the lava. This is where it gets tricky.
Go back up to the upper area and wait for him to arrive. Theoretically, if
you just run up and stand by the gates, he’ll eventually jump into that area
with the water fluro, causing enough steam to open the gates for you. In my
experience, however, the guy gets stuck trying to get through that grate,
causing him to jump repeatedly against the wall with no success. I was able
to find a way around it, though. Right after the bottom gate, climb the
little ladder then jump to the little ledge on the right. Wait for lava guy
to get close, then drop off the ledge right when he’s making his jump to get
you. When I did this, he got stuck on the ledge and stayed there while I ran
all the way up to the top two gates. As soon as I did this, he jumped
through the grate, hit the water and opened the gates for me. Hopefully this
is a strategy and not a glitch, but if you’re having trouble it’s definitely
worth trying. Fix the machine and I’ll see you at furnace nine!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C17) FURNACE NINE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As you might expect by now, the gate that blocks your path needs to be opened
by steam. As you might not expect, the final furnace is pretty easy to unlock.
Run down and use the red switch to open the gate below you. Pull the rope all
the way to the left to pop up a yellow button at the bottom of the room. Jump
over that button if you can without activating it, and drop a chaser seed in
the little pan underneath the button. Now press the yellow button. This
should drop some lava on your seed, making a chaser for you. Immediately go
up and close the gate again, and you’ll get him moving to the right to come
get you. Before he gets there, drop another chaser seed right where you are
and hit it with a few seconds of water. Immediately climb the ladder and
stand by the gate that’s blocking your path. The two chasers should
congregate right below you and when they both get there it will open. Free
up the machine and drop down the main ladder. You should also get your fourth
trophy (Factory Line Repair) for fixing all nine machines. Woohoo, only 15 to
go!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C18) PROTOPLASM SIX +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dropping down the ladder should take you to an area with a bunch of open gates.
Move left, and all nine should be open. The protoplasm is behind the ninth
gate (hopefully with Johnny Depp and some rare books).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C19) BOSS BATTLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well, Vessel’s equivalent of it, anyway. This is a multipart arena involving
this scary looking fire monster that keeps launching lava fluros at you. There
is a water filling station on both sides, a bunch of swinging platforms, and 5
gates to open to get to the second part. The ladder to reach the gates is at
the top right of the room. Your first goal is to open each gate by shooting
the lava chasers with water while under the steam intakes above you. To get
the two on the right, climb the ladder at the beginning until you’re at the
water station. Jump to the platform on your left and swing it until you can
get one more platform to the left. Then, swing that until you can get to the
one on the top right. Get it swinging and then jump back by the water station.
Once the platform is moving, you can just stand by the water station and shoot
fluros until both steam intakes are full. To get the middle one, ride the
platforms to the one just above the fire monster and get it swinging. Jump to
your favorite side and douse him with water. The steam should be enough to
finish the middle gate. The left two can be filled from the water station on
the left by just waiting for the fluros to come to you.
Once all five gates are open, ride the platforms to the right and climb the
ladder. You’ll drop down into an area with a water filling station, a switch
to open the door back to the main room, and what looks like a great big cannon.
Don’t touch anything else yet, unless you need water, but grab onto the cannon
and rotate it up to your left. There’s a little alcove there and you want to
aim for that. The fluros will shoot themselves down the cannon and into the
alcove, and you’ll then shoot them with some water to steam release the gate
just above your head. This gate gets you to a switch that will finally shoot
some water up into that fire monster!
Now that the fire monster is a little soaked, things will get quite a bit
easier. Open the door back to the main room, fill up on water if you need it,
and head straight for the monster. You should be able to walk right on him,
but I think he gradually is turning to water so if he kills you just hit him
with some more and wait a bit. As soon as you can, jump right straight in the
middle of the fire monster and press square. There’s a well-hidden switch that
will flush him right down the pipe. The factory is now almost done, and the
exit is directly below you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ C20) THE END +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PROTOPLASM SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE AND TEN: You can’t miss them: they’re on the way
out. When you get your 10th blob, you should hear the blee-donk of your fifth
trophy (Protoplasm Survey: The Factory). If you don’t it’s because you missed
a blob somewhere. Oh well, it’s easy to get back to any place in here, so
figure out which one you missed and I’ll see you back at the workshop.
You’ll be going into the orchard next, but there are a few things we need to
do before we get into more puzzles. The first thing is to upgrade your gun.
Go on down to the upgrade machine and select the nozzle that looks like the
pointy finger. Fill the tube with protoplasm, turn the crank, and get the
nozzle. There are also two tank capacity upgrades, so get those as well. As
for the rest, I don’t really care if you get stuff or don’t. Getting a bunch
of nozzles makes it harder to find the one you want, and none of them are
necessary (not even the ones we just got). In fact, I’m going to be doing the
rest of the guide with the original equipment, so feel free to experiment:
sometimes those nozzles will make the puzzles a little easier.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION D) THE ORCHARD ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once you’re done upgrading, head up the ladder to the accelerator. You’ll
need to open the gate that will let you into the orchard, and to do this
you’ll need to create a fluro. The third button you come to should be
green, so place a chaser seed right next to the pipe to the right of the
button. Jump on the button and stay there while some lava flows down and onto
your seed. Once he’s formed, run left and stand by the gate that blocks your
path. Spray some water on the ground right below the tube, then get ready to
shower the chaser with more water when he gets close to you. If you do this
correctly, you’ll make enough steam to open the gate. Go left and press square
to enter the orchard.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D1) TROPHY ALERT +
+ LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKETMAN +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The first area is devoid of puzzles and is only designed for you to mess around
with the new fluro that’s here. Jump on the tree and then the ledge to get to
the next area. You’ll eventually come to what looks like a fire hose that’s
shooting water into the air, with a tree on either side of the stream. Go down
the ladder and kill the fluro that keeps making the hose move, then click the
button to make it point to the right. Go up and stand just to the right of the
stream and then jump into it. You should be able to ride the water up to the
ledge with the tree on it. From here, jump back into the stream and carefully
stay in the stream until you get higher than the trees in the area. This
should make your sixth trophy pop for you. If it doesn’t, just keep messing
around with it until it does, as this is the only place you can get this
trophy. Jump across the higher platforms to the right to continue.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D2) THE BEGINNING +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your first puzzle will come up as you carry on to the right, when you come to
an area with a blue button, a yellow button, a tree and an intake tank to the
left. To make fluros in this level, you must water the tree to make them grow,
then shake the tree to make them fall. Water it with the blue button, shake it
with the yellow button, then wait for the fluros to walk across the intake pipe
and crush them. Once you fill the tank with blue goo, you’ll be able to spring
up to the top platform and move on. The next area has a tree, a ladder, some
water, and a gate. Water the tree, then shake it gently so the top branch
drops a fluro. He’ll open the gate for you and get you to the next area.
Your next puzzle is one I’d like to call “the tree in the dome.” Use the
ladder to climb to the other side of the dome, then drop down until a gate
blocks your path. Drop a regular seed in the tunnel to your left and water
it. He’ll jump on the button. Now, drop a chaser seed down there and walk
left to the grate that blocks you. Your chaser should hit the green wheel and
allow you access under the dome. Once you’re under there, pull the rope to
open the gate, then water the tree and shake it. Stay on the tree and watch
the fluro run to the blue goo and drink it until he explodes. This will be
your next type of fluro: the drinker fluro. These guys will run towards their
own kind of fluid, then drink it until they explode. While you’re learning
this, he’ll also turn the wheel under there and open the door to the next
area.
So you have a tree, two green wheels, two red buttons, and a some gates. Make
the fluro by watering and shaking the tree, then climb down and hit the button
on the right. Don’t stand on it too long, though: just enough for him to come
down and drink a little. Then, climb back around to the button on the left.
He’ll run across the bottom and open the gates for you. Climb down the ladder
to reach the next area.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D3) WINDMILL ONE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You’ve finally arrived at your first windmill. There’s a tree on the right
with some blue fluros hanging from it. Make one. Climb down the ladder on the
right and use the switch to pull the hose to the right. Use the rope to drop
just a little bit of blue goo down there, which should get your fluro to come
to the goo. If not, put a little bit just under the hole that will let him
down there. Now, pull the hose to the left and drop some more goo, making him
turn the wheel once. Drop a little more in the middle, then the right, then
the left, and he’ll turn the wheel again and let you through to fix the
machine. When you’re done, the next area is back up by the tree and to the
right.
The next area is a little hard to figure out, because it involves more than
one screen. You’ll come to an area with a fire hose and a fluro that keeps
switching the hose left and right. Kill him right away and make the hose
point to the right. Now climb up to the left platform and shake the tree to
drop some fluros. You want to get to the right of one and run into him to
squish him. Then, push the blue goo to the left all the way until it falls
into the receptacle by the water filling station. This will cause the hose to
shoot goo instead of water. Now, go back to the tree and quickly make another
fluro. He’ll see the goo up there and run to it, flipping the switch and
allowing you to get a new kind of fluid for your gun: blue goo. Getting out
of here is no picnic, either, but I’ll save you a little drama. Knock some
fluros off the tree and suck them up to fill up your blue fluid. Run right
and shoot some over the grate and into the little dish on the other side. Run
back to the tree and knock one off. He should run right and open the gate for
you.
Once you reach the next area, you’ll have to stop the fluros from tripping the
switch that keeps the leg lamps spinning. Do this by standing at the top of
the ladder, turning on your suction, then pressing down and left on the analog
stick to stop the flow of the blue goo. Hold it there for about 30 seconds
then run through the wheel before it starts again.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D4) PROTOPLASM ONE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When you come to a little rope bridge with a waterfall falling down on it, do
NOT go to the right just yet. Jump up on the platform, then over to the
waterfall, and follow it up to a secret area. What you’re supposed to do is
shake the tree on the platform by the rope bridge, then get the fluro to come
all the way up there by spraying blue goo and sucking it back in. Drop some
down the grate until he’s between the two gates, then drop some to the right
of the button. He’ll jump on the button and raise the elevator below you,
allowing you to get the protoplasm. If you’re lazy, though, and feel lucky,
you can try a little trick that I’ve learned. Just take a a regular seed and
drop it directly on one of the grates by the button. Now, shoot water BELOW
the seed and onto the ground. As he forms, he’ll hopefully glop himself down
and form on the level below you, instantly jumping to the button without all
that messing around. Either way, get the protoplasm, go back out to the
footbridge, and go right to continue.
The next area has another little drinker type puzzle. The tree to make one is
all the way on the right. You may have to lure him to the left a little by
shooting some goo and then sucking it up. Once he gets close to the gates,
shoot a bunch of blue goo into the big hole just above the gates. You can
either do this from the top or from the left side, but make sure you don’t let
him kill himself by running into you. Once he gets above the gates, feed him
until he explodes, which should open the gates.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D5) WINDMILL TWO +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh yeah, we were supposed to be fixing windmills! I forgot there for a second.
Go ahead and jump on the button to make a blue drinker, then start shooting
blue stuff into the channel between the second and third wheel. Your guy will
run over, opening the first one but closing the second one. Keep shooting
until he explodes. Theoretically, the explosion should open wheels two and
three. Sometimes, though, the game won’t cooperate, so you’ll have to deal
with whatever configuration is left on your own. Once all 3 valves are open,
you can drop a regular seed down the tunnel to the right and he’ll jump on the
button for you. Suck up the fluros that are clogging the machine and move
along to the right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D6) THE SAMPLER +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Time to stab some more fluros and get another seed. Before you start
climbing, water the base of the giant tree for about 7 seconds or so. Now
climb all the way to the roof of the treehouse and jump on the branch that goes
to the right. When you’re above the big blue blob, jump again to release the
fluro. Now, switch to your blue goo and climb down so you’re just left of the
needle. Shoot some goo, then suck it back up. Keep doing this to lure the
fluro under the needle. The nice part about these guys is that they’ll stop
when you suck up the fluid, so as soon as you get him there, climb down the
ladder at your feet and jump over to pull the rope and stab him. If you miss,
you can just go back up and keep trying without having to make another fluro.
Once you stab him, turn the crank then pull the rope and collect your new
drinker seed. Getting out of here, though, is not so easy. Instead of
dropping down, go back up to the branch on top of the tree house and walk
across it all the way to a little alcove on the right. Drop your new drinker
seed down the tunnel and water it until it forms. Keep pumping water down
below him and he’ll run around and open the gate for you. Drop straight down
and climb the ladder to the next area.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D7) WINDMILL THREE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think you can do this with just one fluro, but I used two just to be sure.
Drop a regular seed anywhere on the level and stand by the first gate. He’ll
open it, but close the second one. Now, drop a drinker seed and water it.
Shoot some water into the pan by your other fluro and let your second guy get
down there. Give him enough water to explode, and he’ll take the first fluro
with him, allowing you in to fix the windmill. There’s a rope in the room with
the machinery that will open the first gate again and let you back out.
Continue to the right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D8) WINDMILL FOUR +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As you’re walking right, you’ll come to an area with three ladders below you.
If you are at the pipes with the blue and red goo coming out, you went too far.
Pulling the orange switch on either side down here should give you a pretty
good clue, as it dispenses lava. So, we’ll probably need some steam in that
little receptacle in the middle in order to open the gate. The easiest way to
do this is to climb down the left ladder and make a chaser fluro out of water
first. Go back up and stand right above the receptacle. Wait for him to get
under you, then go back over to the ladder on the left. Throw another chaser
seed down there, but this time pull the rope so you make him out of lava. Go
back up to where you were and let them collide. The water guy should stay up
in the top area while you do this, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
Free up the machine, climb back out, and head right.
The next puzzle, as the journal entry (binary liquids) would suggest, brings
red goo into the mix. You’ll find out pretty quickly that mixing blue goo and
red goo will cause an explosion that will kill you like lava if you’re too
close. The pipes have no bearing on any puzzles, so move on to the actual
puzzle. The two cranks in here turn the flow of fluids on and off like a
screw. Go ahead and crank the top one open so it’s dispensing blue fluid,
then make yourself a drinker fluro from blue goo. He’ll happily go marching to
his death, but he’ll open the gate to let you shut off the flow of red goo.
Make another blue drinker fluro and he’ll open the other gate for you before he
gluttons himself to death. Might as well fill your tank with his ashes, as
long as you’re there.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D9) WINDMILL FIVE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Initially, this seems pretty easy, right? Just hit the yellow button and fill
the thing with steam. Unfortunately, hitting the yellow button will also
dispense a red fluro, who will jump on his own button before you’re done. The
way to do this is to make a blue drinker fluro. Make him right next to the
grate on the right, then run over and shoot some goo by the grate on the left.
When he gets right about to the middle of the screen, suck up the goo to make
him stop. He should block your red guy from ever reaching the switch, and
you’ll be good to clear out the fifth windmill.
Pretty soon you’ll come to something that looks a little like a ski lift that’s
not running. Our next goal is to get that sucker moving, and the key is the
machine underneath and the tree all the way to the right. I’m going to save
you a little trouble here and suggest that you squirt about half of your blue
fluid onto the ground and wait for it to disappear. I know it sounds weird,
but you want to be able to suck up blue fluid in a minute, and this is one of
the few times where having a full tank will hurt you. Go over to the tree and
water it. You’ll get both blue and red fluros, so when you shake it you’re
basically making it rain nitroglycerin. If you’re smart, you’ll suck up all
the blue ones before they blow you up, leaving only red guys. The red ones
are regular fluros, so they’ll immediately head for the blue light way back to
the left of the room. Stay to the left of him and squish him when he’s right
over the receptacle that drains into the machine. Now head down to the
machinery below. Squirt some blue stuff into the little tunnel at the right,
then jump up and turn the crank to release the red stuff you just collected.
The explosion will start the lift.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D10) PROTOPLASM TWO +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh yeah, I forgot. We’re supposed to get these as well. When you get on the
lift you just started, jump off early and land on the tree that you were using
to make your red fluros. Jump right to reach a secret alcove with the blob in
it. Then, get on the lift and ride it to the end.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D11) WINDMILL SIX +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The solution for this may not seem very apparent at first, because it’s easy
not to notice one key thing: if you shoot fluid through the grate into the
pipe on the right or left of the screen, it will travel up and drop into the
pan on the top on the opposite side. This knowledge helps you get the idea
pretty quickly. Go over to the right and drop a regular seed into the pan by
the rope. Pull it to dispense red goo and make a fluro. Then, jump into the
upper right button to activate the light and send your red fluro up there.
Stay out of his way so you don’t kill him on the way. Then, go over to the
grate on the right. Make a drinker fluro from blue goo anywhere you want.
Shoot some more blue goo through the grate on the right, and this will send
your drinker to the top left of the screen. Again, don’t shoot too much or
he’ll blow himself up. Once both fluros are in place, head to the left grate.
Shoot some blue goo into the pipe until you see the drinker start to move
right. Run right about three paces and bump your head on the blue button to
send your red fluro left. Uh oh, I smell an explosion! This will release the
gate below you and let you fix the last machine. This should give you trophy
number seven (Windmill Repair Consultant) as well. Wow, six machines done and
only one blob of protoplasm? I feel like I missed one somewhere, so let me
check some things before we move on… Oops, I did forget one. Let me go add
it and I’ll see you in the next paragraph.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D12) PROTOPLASM THREE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As you go up the big ladder, you’ll go through all the gates you opened by
fixing the windmills. If you fixed all six, the blob will be just above the
sixth gate. Head right to move on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D13) BOSS BATTLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wait, fluro mitosis? Oh crap, they learned how to multiply! This puzzle looks
immensely complicated, but it’s actually simple if you take some time to see
what’s going on. For the first part of this, all those fluros are not
desirable, so kill them any time you get the chance. The first goal is to get
the two gates open at the bottom by mixing red and blue fluids in the tanks on
the bottom corners of the screen. To do this, you’ll have to move the switches
to change the flow of the fluids until they drop down where you want them to.
Start by going left to where the blue goo is coming out and hit the switch just
to the left of it. Go left and hit the next switch and the blue will be
flowing into the correct place. This is the LAST time you have to mess with
the blue fluid (because we’re going to be a little sneaky). Now, make your way
back to where the red fluid is coming out, and switch the flow so it goes left
as well. Follow it left to the next switch and move that one as well. Drop
down to the third switch and get the flow moving even further left. That
actually should do it: the red should be dropping into the tank and the gate
should open. Now make the long trek back to the first red switch and make it
go right again. Grab the one right below it if it’s not flowing out the right
side as well, then switch the next one to the right. This should make red goo
drop into the tank on the right. Here’s where we’re going to get a little
sneaky. Rather than mess with the flow of the blue fluid, just go to the
switch directly above the tank and switch it to the right. Now climb up the
ladder next to the switch and jump the little gap to the left. Use your gun
and shoot some blue fluid into the pipe to your right. If you hit this, the
fluid you shoot in will run into the tank, blow up, and release the gate!
By now, you may be having some flow issues, as fluros have probably run over to
the inlets and are drinking all your fluid. Have no fear, the next part of the
puzzle will make use of these guys. First, grab the switch that’s shooting the
red goo into the tank and switch it back to the left. This should divert the
red stuff down to a pipe directly below you, on the right side of the green
wheel down there. You’re now done moving fluid, and it’s time to play a little
waiting game. First, go up and follow the red path back to its source and kill
any red fluros along the way. Then, go down by the green switch and wait. You
can walk around a bit if you want, making sure there are no blue guys roaming
around. You’re waiting for a red fluro to get born and see all the red stuff
dropping down there. He’ll say “mmm, that looks tasty” and make a path for the
flow, which will eventually trip the wheel and let you through the gate at the
very bottom. Congratulations, you’re on to the next room!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ D14) PROTOPLASM FOUR AND FIVE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next puzzle has two jets, one for red and one for blue. I have had trouble
with this in both playthroughs: both times I got it by accident. So I took
some time to figure out what was actually happening, and on my speed run I
knocked it out in about 15 seconds. First, turn the tube on the right so it
lines up with the hole in the chamber on top. Next, turn the tube on the left
so it’s aimed directly at the rock holding up the other tube. Shoot some water
down under both tubes, and they’ll be changed into their respective colored
fluids as they fill their tubes. Now, just hit the left button to shoot a
bunch of red goo into the other tube. Instead of filling with red, it will
fill with purple. Push the other button and shoot all that nitro right into
the chamber above. For solving this you’ll get two globs of protoplasm, your
eighth trophy (Protoplasm Survey: The Orchard), and the way out of this mess!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION E) THE MINES ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There really isn’t anything to do in the workshop here, unless you want to
spend some protoplasm and get some more nozzles to play with. You’ll notice
that all the stuff you’re acquiring is being transferred to the pipes in the
accelerator. There is now only one empty slot, which we’ll get to in a minute.
For now, we have to get ourselves into the mines. Start by filling up your
tank with blue goo (the furthest button to the right). Now, let the extra
fluid dissipate and go over to the next button to the left, the one that
controls the red goo. Place a chaser seed to the left of the pipe and stand
on the button for a little bit. It will be tricky to get him formed and
chasing you, as you’ll have to get to the left of him just before he forms.
Once he’s alive and following, head all the way to the left until you are
blocked by another gate. Stand just to the left of the receptacle, directly
under the right wall of the pressure plate above you. Wait for red guy to
come your way. He will jump into the wall and kill himself, and his fluid
will fall into the receptacle. At the same time, shoot some blue goo into
the same receptacle and get the hell out of the way. It will be messy, there
will be all kinds of explosions, and you may die. However, the gate should
open and you’ll be ready for the mines.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E1) TROPHY ALERT +
+ GOING SPELUNKY +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As soon as you enter the mines, make a manual save. The elevator you see when
you start this level is the one referenced in the trophy description, so you
want to avoid it. Walk over it and jump over the right edge. You’ll fall
quite a ways, but keep your left stick pointed left and you should make it
without dying. You don’t have to make the descent in one pass: if you land on
one of the ledges on the way down you can simply fall off and keep going.
Once you get your ninth trophy, reload your save file and grab on to the
elevator. There’s some stuff to get on the way down.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E2) PROTOPLASM ONE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
While going down on the elevator, you’ll come to a cave on the left with a
bunch of glowing green goo. Ignore this: it’s the path on the right we want
to go down. Unfortunately, this path is blocked by a gate. Take the elevator
down a little further to another path on the right. This one has a red
button, so make a regular fluro from water and let him stand on it for you.
Take the elevator back up to the higher path, go right and get your
protoplasm. You can now jump straight down to the bottom or take the
elevator: you’re done collecting things in here.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E3) A LITTLE BREAK +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next area is mostly puzzle free, and is designed to get you acquainted with
your next (and last) fluid, green goo. It is really sticky, it glows, and if
you combine it with lava you get green steam. The mines are dark, so a lot of
these puzzles are going to be all about manipulating light. When you come to
the area with the green goo jet, jump up on the crank and spin it around
covering the lower area with as much goo as you can. As it drips, you’ll be
able to see the platforms at the bottom and the path will light up to get you
across. Be generous with the goo, as it does stop glowing after a while. As
an alternative, you could probably shoot some protoplasm ahead, then collect
it behind you as you go. I’m not sure if this would work, but it’s an idea.
The next area has some green goo shooting out on the left, and a ladder with a
blue button on the right. Go activate the blue button first, then drop a
regular seed next to the green goo. You’ll make a fluro that will light the
way across for you. Follow him over, then push the sideways pressure plate
above the button to open the first gate on your right. The other gate is
opened by solving the puzzle to the right of it, and you’ll need a drinker
fluro for this one. The switch at the top moves the flow of green goo from
the left pipe to the right pipe. Move it right, then go down and stick a
drinker seed next to it. As soon as it forms, change the switch to the left.
If you’re too slow, he’ll drink too much from the right pipe and explode. If
you’re too fast, he’ll never form. Anyway, that should do it for both gates,
so drop down the ladder and get your glow goo canister. Man, am I glad we got
that early in the level!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E4) PROTOPLASM TWO +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Before you leave this area, go back to the puzzle with the left and right jets
of green fluid. Switch to the right one and fill your tank. Now take the
ladder on the right down to the bottom and start spraying the floor as you walk
left. You’ll see a ladder that was hidden in the dark. Take it down and get
your second protoplasm. Woohoo, only three more!
The next area is where you’ll get to play with your glowing stuff from your
backpack. Spray around you to light up the platforms and ladders: there’s
only one path to take that won’t kill you, so find it and take it. When you
get to the end, squirt a little goo in the receptacle on top to open the gate.
The fluro in the next area is there to help you. The first button will summon
a cart. The second one will drop some rock into it. The third one will
release the cart. Wait until the rocks fall then jump into the cart. Ride it
down until right after the second big drop, then jump out of it before it
crashes. Walk right and avoid the gears, and jump to the other side to
continue.
There is one more thing to learn before we start messing with extractors: the
light and dark fluros. Light fluros are so afraid of the dark that they will
chase after the closest light source and stand in it. If they’re in the dark
for too long, they’ll die from fright. Dark fluros are just the opposite:
they’ll run from any light you throw their way, and die if they stand in the
light too long. The green switch at the start of the next area will squirt out
a light fluro on an inaccessible path below you. Grab the lantern off the wall
and walk all the way to the left, with him following you all the way. This guy
has a use that will make the puzzle ahead much easier, so if you can keep him
alive it will help tremendously. His path will drop down some, and you’ll hear
him squeak because he can’t follow you. Go quickly to the ladder and drop down
it, and he should chase you again. At the bottom, run immediately right so
you’re standing next to the green wheel. He’ll jump down and open the gate for
you. If you kill him, you can go all the way back and try another one, but you
CAN solve this without him. I think it involves making a drinker guy up by the
grates, then shooting some water in the bottom right corner. He’ll come around
trying to get the water and open it for you. I think. Regardless of how you
solve it, make sure you take your lantern with you to the next puzzle. Anyway,
when you get through here, move left and you’ll be at your first extractor.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E5) EXTRACTOR ONE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh boy, welcome to what has got to be my least favorite part of this entire
game: solving all of these puzzles IN THE DARK. The first part of the mines
is full of these diabolical ordeals, and you have to be extremely careful where
you spray your green goo, because the fluros you make will be running wherever
you put it. Anyway, the rope turns the lights off, and the blue button summons
a light fluro. Go ahead and turn off the lights, then summon your fluro. If
you have your lantern, you can just run right and climb the ladder to the gate
that’s currently closed. Shoot a little green stuff on the wall to light up
the area a little more. The fluro will make a feeble attempt to get to you,
and will trip all three switches in the process. In order to fix these
extractors, you’ll have to kill the fluros and spin them around to get them
moving again. Once they are moving, they will damage you, so be careful when
you try to get back out. If you go quickly enough, your damage will not be
recorded while the animation of the machine being fixed is going on. Fix the
machine, and leave your lantern in this room. If you take it too far to the
next room, the damn fluros will run all the way back here to bask in the glow
of the lantern. Stupid fluros.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E6) EXTRACTOR TWO +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Is this the one? Yep, this is the one. I almost didn’t write this guide
because of this puzzle right here. I probably spent two hours trying to solve
this thing one night, but I promise that you’ll have it done in less than a
minute. First off, get your lantern as far away from this room as possible.
Even if it’s up in the other room, those damn light fluros will run over there
and hang out by it. I was so frustrated trying to figure out what the hell to
do that I finally looked up a video for the first time in this game.
Unfortunately, the video is what cost me the two hours. He did it with a
chaser fluro, some really quick movements, and a little bit of luck. We’re
not going that route: the way I’m about to describe is much, much easier.
Start by going all the way to the left and down the ladder. Stand on top of
the closed gate and dispense a drinker seed directly on top of the grate
(between the middle two slats). Now, shoot some green goo BELOW the seed, so
that it all congregates below the grate. When he forms, he should be standing
on the floor of the room, waiting for instructions. Don’t do anything else
until this is the case. If it takes a while, go up and to the left to fill up
on some green goo. The next thing you want to do is go back to the right and
open the gate with the switch that’s right there. It seems stupid, but your
dude won’t follow you if you don’t. Got it? Good, step two is complete.
Now, go up by the blue button and spray some green goo directly above the green
wheel you’re trying to turn. With the other gate open, this should make your
glowing drinker fluro come towards you down the bottom path. As soon as he’s a
little to the left of the green switch, suck up all of your goo to make him
stop. Step three is now complete. It’s time to get our light guy going.
First, turn off the lights. Then, hit the blue button. Immediately run to the
right, jump the gap that you now can’t see, climb down the ladder that you also
can’t see, press square to attach to the switch that you can’t see, and push it
left to close the gate. You must do this before your light fluro jumps through
the gate. This is why this puzzle sucks right here: if you close the gate
first, the light fluro sees no path to the light and stays where he is until he
dies. If you leave the gate open, he jumps through it and stands there humping
your drinking fluro. You have to wait until he’s almost at the gate and then
cut off his path. He will then change his mind and go through the grate on the
left, down the dead end path, and into the switch. If he stops just short, try
going back to the ladder on the left and dropping some green goo down the
grate. It just might make your drinker move left, and your light fluro with
him. Anyway, fix the machine and move left for the next puzzle.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E7) EXTRACTOR THREE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
First, you have to solve a little mini puzzle just to get to this room. Summon
your light fluro (I’m sure you know how by now) and let him run to the left.
He’ll be safe, so no rush. He’ll stop at some glowing lanterns. What you need
to do is suck them up, or knock the light out of them with your head, so that
they stop glowing and he moves further left. Eventually, he’ll run out of
lanterns, right after you pass a gate in the floor. When you smash the last
lantern, run over to the gate and shoot some goo right on it, so that your
fluro stands right under you. Then, suck up all the goo and let him die.
He’ll melt and turn the wheel to your advantage. You’ll be clear to head to
the actual machine puzzle.
This one is also a difficult puzzle, so let’s start with what you’re trying to
do. As you walk over to the left, you can see a little grate below you in the
far left alcove. Your goal is to summon a light fluro and walk him over until
he’s on top of that grate and let the lights go out so he dies. While he’s
writhing in the throes of death, you’ll be making a drinker fluro, who will
run over there and drink him up. Though a little morbid, it will open the
gate for you so you can fix your third extractor. Sounds simple enough, but
actually doing it is fraught with issues. I won’t go into each thing that can
go wrong: you’ll figure it out soon enough. There are three places you’ll
need to find in the dark, so take a good look at them before you turn out the
lights. The little pit between the two grates is the first. The ladder in
the center, above the gate is the second. The area right above the “grate of
death” is the third. Got it? Good, now shut off the lights and make your
light fluro. Start running left, but drop a little green goo on the way to
get him coming toward you. The pit is a good place to put some. Get over to
the ladder and climb all the way down. Wait a few seconds, then start
shooting green goo into the bottom right corner of the area you’re in. This
will get your guy down to the lower level, once the old goo you laid on the
way stops glowing. As soon as he’s down there, shoot some more green stuff
along the wall to your left, then turn around and suck up the stuff in the
right corner. Climb the ladder and go left, and lay some more goo on the
ground above the grate. Go back and suck up the stuff you put on the wall,
and he should now be standing where you want him. You may have to adjust a
little to get him exactly where you want him. When you’re comfortable, suck
up all the green goo you have and start running for the alcove with the two
grates to the right. As soon as he dies (not before), quickly switch to your
water tank and make a drinker fluro, then try your best to get out of his way.
You may be able to spray a little shot of the glowing stuff if you’re quick
about it. Once you’re done, stand there and watch him run to his cannibalistic
content, and you should be done. Good luck, and I’ll see you in the next room.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E8) PROTOPLASM THREE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Use the spinning machine to launch yourself over the ledge, then walk up the
conveyor until you come to some dark platforms with spikes below. You will now
get to meet your last type of fluro: the dark fluro. They don’t like the light
so much, which is great because you can shoo them away like flies. Spray some
green goo around you, so you know where the path is: there’s only one way to
get through this. Ignore the first two fluros or kill them if you want.
However, make sure you spray a little green stuff on the platform right above
the spikes. When you get to the third dark fluro,make sure to keep him alive.
Incidentally, he’s on the platform that gets you past this room, so remember to
come back here once you get your protoplasm. Start by spraying a decent amount
of green goo on the platform below him, the one to his left (with the spikes),
and then hit the underside of the one he’s on. If you’re lucky, he’ll jump to
the far left, then straight up to an area that you can’t see. If you’re
unlucky, you’ll have to chase him around for a while. The goal is to get him
up to that area that you can’t see, then get to the platform he was on and
start shooting goo at his feet to move him left. You’ll have to shoot and
jump at the same time, and you’ll waste a lot of green stuff, but eventually
he’ll trip a switch that will drop a blob of protoplasm. When you suck it
up, fill your tank again and move right to the next area.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E9) EXTRACTOR FOUR +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When you leave the room with the protoplasm, pull on the rope to shut the light
off and form the fluro, then pull it again to get him moving and open the gate.
Run past some more conveyors until you come to some stompers. Don’t try to get
past them. Instead, drop down to the left to find a fluro that controls them.
He’s a dark one, so spray the whole underside of his chamber with green goo
until he dies, or at least stops running. Now you can go in peace. Keep going
till you get to more stompers, and climb the ladder to find another fluro.
He’s a light guy, so one shot of goo will stop him in his tracks. Keep going
and you’ll be in a pyramid of platforms with only a light switch and a puddle
of water with an eyeball in it. This is the room you want.
Well, I suppose you could turn off the light and make that guy, then chase him
around all the way to the top. He’ll jump up like in the protoplasm room and
you can shoot goo at him until he moves left and trips the switch. I think I
broke the game instead, though. I just jumped up there and tripped it myself.
If you jump correctly, your chest will hit the side of the ledge. If you hit
x again, you can do like a fake double jump kind of thing, which will get you
up there. I found this trick earlier, but haven’t really had a use for it
until now. Either way, open the gate, climb the ladder, and fix your
extractor.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E10) THE SAMPLER +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well, it’s finally time to make some more seeds. First, though, you have to
deal with the ladders. Climb the big one in the middle, and don’t even worry
about what’s above you just yet. You’ll need to jump from ladder to ladder
until you get to the far right, then climb up and pull the rope to open the
gate up there. Then, do the same thing to the left. The best way I’ve found
to do this is to pick a point about a body length below the ceiling as your
starting point. Hit right (or left) on the analog stick, then press x a little
bit after that. You’ll kind of slide a bit before making your jump, which will
give you more distance. Don’t forget to shift to up on the stick when you’re
over the next ladder, though, or you’ll fail to catch it and have to start over
again. When you have both gates opened, head up the center ladder and fill
your water and green tanks and continue upwards.
Fortunately, that was the hard part of this room. Let’s start with the dark
guy. First, go all the way left and turn off the light to make your fluro.
Now, go up the center ladder and left to the grate. Shoot some green goo
through the grate and into the pipe, which will light the lanterns on this
side and get the fluro moving. Suck up whatever stuck on the grate and run
down by the switch. From here, shoot green stuff on the ceiling until you get
him under the needle. Stab him, crank away, and pull the rope and you’ll have
your first seed.
The light guy is going to be pretty similar to the dark one. Pull on the rope
to summon him, then run back to the grate on the right and shoot some water
through it and into the pipe. It will melt the lanterns and the lights will
go out. As soon as they do, run down by the rope that activates the needle
and hit the ceiling with some green goo. He’ll come running. Move him around
until he’s under the needle and make your last seed. When you’re done, the
exit is below the base of the big ladder.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E11) EXTRACTOR FIVE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now it’s time to put your seeds to good use. You’ll have to solve this puzzle
first to move on before you get to the actual machine puzzle. This area has a
whole bunch of things going on, but take a look at the four lights in the
middle of the area. The three ropes control the lights, but just pull the
right rope for now so that both left lights are on and both right lights are
off. Now, drop a dark seed down the tunnel on the right and water it. Drop a
light seed down the tunnel on the left and water it as well. Drop a regular
seed down the tunnel in the middle so it’s right on top of the gates. Don’t
worry about watering the middle guy. Now, just pull the switch in the middle
and watch the magic happen. The exit is down the ladder and on the right.
In the next area, there will be four tunnels, a ladder and a switch. Drop dark
seeds down the right two tunnels and light seeds down the left two tunnels.
You can try watering them, but the water won’t make it down for some reason.
We’re going to play a little chain game here using the switch. See the grates
by each of the lights? The goal is to kill each fluro above the grate to make
the seed below it grow. Climb down the ladder on the left and drop another
light seed. Water him, then run up to the switch and wait for him to run to
the light. As soon as he gets there, turn off the light. As soon as he dies,
move the switch back to the left. The dark fluro will run to the left, so
pull the switch again when he gets there to kill him off. Keep doing this
until you spin the wheel at the bottom and open the gate. If your fluro dies
at some point, just throw another seed where the puddle is to continue. Once
you’re done, go down the ladder and start the extractor before moving right
to continue.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E12) PROTOPLASM FOUR +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We’ll get to the protoplasm in a minute: first, we have to deal with this
goofy contraption in front of us. You can select which color you want to mess
with for this little mini-factory, and I suggest you choose the red. The
reason is that you have to ride the carts all the way to the top of the area,
and the guys that pop up are going to run for the button to stop you. Shoot a
blue guy and you get – nothing! Shoot a red guy with blue goo and you get a
dead fluro! So, select the red liquid from the selector then climb up by the
blue button. Start the machinery, then start spraying a hefty layer of blue
goo all over the platforms by the switch. Once that’s done, run right and wait
for one of the carts to start coming up the wall. Jump in it, but be careful
as they can fall off easily. If you’re quick, you’ll be able to ride the cart
all the way across the ceiling. If you can, try to shoot the red guys from the
cart you’re in to keep them from stopping the conveyor. This will probably
take a few tries. Also, if you run out of blue goo, you can switch the machine
to blue and suck up all the fluros to fill your tank again. Sooner or later,
you’ll get to the left ladder, so climb it and go right to find the blob of
protoplasm.
We have now come to the second and last thing that I had to look up during my
first playthrough. It looks like you should be able to get up to that blob,
but you can’t. I spent at least an hour trying to figure out how to get this
freaking protoplasm with no success. I tried jumping. I tried finding
another entrance from above or to the side. I tried dragging things over to
the hole. All of it was unsuccessful. When I finally looked up how to solve
this, I face palmed myself immediately, and felt like an idiot for at least 4
days. You can make fluros out of protoplasm! This never even occurred to
me! So, stand there, make a drinker fluro out of protoplasm, then watch as he
jumps up and eats all the stuff. Shoot some more on the ground to bring him
back down, then kill him and suck up the whole mess. Wow, I feel sheepish!
The most noticeable part of the next area will be the lava guys running
around. Welcome to green steam! Your goal is to make some, but only in
certain places. The lava guys are light guys, by the way, so they’ll come to
you as you spray your green stuff to see where to go. If they get too close,
hit them with some water to kill them. Follow the only path until you go down
a ladder, up another one, and then up a third ladder. This will take you to a
gate (closed of course), but you’ll see a little light there with an arrow
pointing up. Spray some green goo below that light and wait for a lava guy to
come to you. When he gets there, hit him with the green stuff and the gate
will open. The path goes left, up, right (filling station if you need it),
right some more, then down and right. When you get past the lava, you can get
down the ladder by shooting green stuff on each of the three gates. You can
get up the next ladder by shooting some green stuff into the lava pit (yes,
green steam counts as light). Your travels have now taken you to what may
very well be the hardest puzzle in the game. Since you also followed me this
whole way, I’ll reward you by making it pretty easy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E13) EXTRACTOR SIX +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’ll spare you the commentary: let’s just say this took me a while to figure
out. Step one is to get a dark fluro all the way down that maze so that he’s
standing just right of the green wheel. To do this, start by turning off all
three rows of lights. Make a dark fluro out of water at the bottom of the
short lever, then shoot some green goo just to the left of him to get him
moving right. Go to the top row (by the ropes for the lights) and shoot green
goo on the ground above him to keep him moving right, until he jumps down to
the next level. Now suck up all of your green goo. Go to the rope on the
right and pull it, then the middle, then the left. He should run all the way
down to where you want him to go, but make sure he’s still alive after all
those falls. Once he’s there, leave him alone and drop to the bottom of the
big ladder.
Down here, you’ll see a big open area that you can’t get to, a grate on the
left, and a lava pit and a grate on the right. Your goal is to get a green
guy and a lava guy to meet in the center of this, making steam that scares
your other fluro and causes him to open the gate. Got it? Good. Start on
the left and drop a chaser seed right next to the left grate. Hit him with
some green goo, then drop down and run all the way to the right. Climb the
ladder and quickly drop a seed into the lava pit, then run back down and stand
right under the center of the room. Wow, that seemed a whole lot harder on my
first playthrough. Anyway, go up and fix the machine, taking a moment to savor
your tenth (Mine Machinery Specialist) and eleventh (Master Mechanist)
trophies. When you’re done basking in the glow of your own greatness (I think
it looks a little like green goo, actually), head back up, right, and over to
the ladder on the far right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E14) PROTOPLASM FIVE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As you drop down the ladder through the gates you’ve opened, you’ll land right
next to it. If you got all the blobs so far, you’ll get your twelfth
(Protoplasm Survey: The Mines) and thirteenth (Protoplasm Survey Complete)
trophies, leaving only six to go. Go left, then up the ladder to continue.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ E15) BOSS BATTLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You didn’t think you were getting out of the mines that easily, did you? Well,
let’s make this a little easier. There are a bunch of fluros up there
controlling the giant scary lava monster that’s running around. The one on the
left makes him move left and right. The one on the right makes him squish down
a pipe and re-form on the other side. Got it? Good. The gates on the center
ladder are controlled by green wheels on each side of the room. Your first
goal is to get the lava guy to turn those wheels for you. Start by running all
the way to the left and grabbing the cart on the ceiling. Roll it right until
you’re in between the two pipes that the fluro is jumping between. This guy is
actually a busy little fluro, with three different buttons to manage. The one
on the left makes the monster go left, the one on the right makes him go right,
and the one on top makes him attack. Get right under the switch on the left
and wait until the monster gets close. Then, spray a bunch of green goo right
under the switch. Your happy little fluro will forget his job and just stand
there on the switch, making the monster walk all the way to the switch. Once
that’s done, stay on the cart and slide over to the filling station for some
more green stuff. Now head all the way to the right. See the little drain
there to the left of the switch? Wait a while until your lava monster is
standing over it, then shoot some green goo at the ceiling right above it.
This should move the dark fluro up to the switch, draining the lava guy into
the chamber with the wheel and opening the other gate. Climb the ladder and
pull on the rope at the top, then run left and right and kill the two fluros
that are up there. You are now in control of the lava monster. Your next
step is to walk him over to the grate by the ladder using the two buttons on
the left, then flush him with the button on the right. If you were too fast,
he may still be in the chamber with the second switch, so you’ll have to walk
him right and flush him to get him out of there. Once he’s flushed, you only
have one more somber task. Jump on the left button again and shred him in
the machine. That’s it for the mines, folks!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION F) THE ACCELERATOR ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ F1) TROPHY ALERT +
+ THE REST OF THEM +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You now have only one more puzzle to solve, but first we’re going to knock out
the rest of the trophies. They all involve making certain kinds of fluros, and
your accelerator gives you unlimited access to all the fluids in the game. So,
before we finish the game, let’s get those last five trophies.
(... of the Hydrofluric Sciences). The trophy we’re going to be shooting for
right now is Grand Professor of the Hydrofluric Sciences. I know the name says
“create all combinations,” but even they didn’t account for protoplasm. So,
you really only need 25 different combinations of fluro and liquid types.
Remember, there are five kinds of fluros (regular, chaser, drinker, light and
dark) and six fluids (water, blue, red, green, lava and protoplasm), so this
shouldn’t be a problem. On the way you will also pick up “Doctor of the
Hydrofluric Sciences” (for five combinations) and “Research Fellow of the
Hydrofluric Sciences (for ten combinations), but I bet you already got those
as you were playing through the game. Anyway, stand somewhere and start making
fluros. Make a regular one with protoplasm, a chaser one with protoplasm, a
drinker... you get the idea. Eventually, you’ll hit this trophy, giving you a
total of 16. Woohoo!
(Handle with Care and Internal Rejection). These two are a little bit
different, as they involve making hybrid fluros. Poor mutants. The first one
(Handle with care) needs to be made from both red and blue goo. Apparently,
it has to also be a stable fluro, so you’ll have to introduce some water as
well. The easiest way I’ve found to do this consistently is to drop a seed
(any seed) by the red pipe. Jump on the pipe and wait a second for the red goo
to come down. Right before it drops, shoot your seed with water for about a
second, then immediately switch to blue stuff and hit him with a shot or two.
Try to aim the blue stuff to the left of the seed, while the red stuff is
coming in from the right. After many failed attempts, you should get a stable
water guy with a little blotch of red and blue in it.
Internal Rejection was a really tough one to figure out without a guide,
because all it says is “make a fluro that’s its own worst enemy.” Hmm, that
could be a lot of things. My first thought was to make a dark guy out of green
stuff, which turned out to be only partially correct. He dies immediately, of
course, which I guess isn’t good enough for this trophy. Instead, you need to
make a dark fluro out of half protoplasm and half green goo. They’re pretty
specific on the ratio, too, which is why I had you buy that nozzle that looks
like a pointy finger. If you tap R2, you’ll shoot about a quarter of what you
need to make a fluro, so tap a protoplasm blob twice in a corner, tap two
green blobs in the same corner, then drop a dark seed into the middle. Get out
of the way and watch him jump around trying to outrun himself. It will take a
few tries unless you’re unlucky, but at least you have 30 or so extra
protoplasm tanks. Once this pops, you have only one trophy to go, so let’s
finish this!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ F2) BOSS BATTLE +
+ +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There really is no battle, and there is no boss. In fact, this isn’t very hard
at all. In order to beat the game, you’ll need a red fluro (still alive) in
one of the top chambers, and a blue fluro (also still alive) in the other.
You’ll need to do three things in rapid succession as well: get some green
steam shooting up from below, start the accelerator, and get in the
accelerator. Let’s start with the red and blue guys. Oh, before you do, take
a quick walk around the six chalkboards so they don’t stop you while you’re
trying to do stuff.
First, go up to the top and open the gate on the right. Go back down to the
red pipe and set a dark seed next to it. Jump on the button to make him, then
walk all the way right so you don’t smoosh him. He’ll come to rest on a little
ledge above you, so climb up and hit the bottom of that ledge with some green
goo. His next stop will be a ledge further up, so hit it again and climb some
more. Give the top of this ledge a shot of green stuff as well, so he doesn’t
come back down to it. Once that path is cut off, his next stop will be in the
upper right chamber, which is exactly where you want him to go. Use the switch
to lock him in, and make sure he’s alive before you move on. Also, keep your
green goo away from this chamber so you don’t accidentally kill him.
The blue guy is definitely the easiest part of all of this. Just open the gate
to the chamber on the left and make a dark seed on your level just to the right
of the switch. Spray a shot of green goo to his left and he should jump right
in. Lock him up and drop back to the bottom of the room.
Your next step is to get the green and lava flowing. Drop a regular seed to
the right of the green pipe and water him until he forms. He’ll stand on the
green button for you. Drop a regular seed to the right of the lava pipe and
water him until he forms. He’ll stand on the lava button for you. Run right
and up the first ladder and stand next to the grate that goes to your left.
Drop a drinker seed here and select your green goo. Take a deep breath and
shoot the goo at him.
For the last part of this, you’ve got to be fairly quick. While your last
fluro is forming, you should be climbing the ladder to the crank that starts
the accelerator. Crank it until the red light comes on, then haul ass up the
other ladder and jump into the accelerator itself. The doors will close and it
will start spinning. Jump up to float right in the center and wait to see if
you did all of this right. A number of things can go wrong with this complex
puzzle, the most common of which is that your green guy will die before getting
to the lava. Or, your red or blue guy could die while you’re down there
messing with the others. If any of these happen, restart the puzzle until you
get the timing right. Once you do, you’ll get your nineteenth trophy (It’s
Darwinian), the ending credits, and the last section of this guide.
Congratulations, you’ve officially beaten Vessel!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
++ SECTION G) FINAL STUFF ++
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As always, my first priority is to thank you, the reader, for getting through
this guide. I hope it helped you enjoy the game more, and got you through a
few tricky spots. Personally, I thought it was a cute little game with nice
gameplay, and made a good "gapper" between some of the longer games I play.
As I mentioned before, I only got help twice when going through this, and I
have acknowledged the helper in the appropriate section. Also thanks to my
wife for watching a paused game for hours while I stopped to write something.
The rest of this section will be pretty brief. There is no copyright at all
on this guide. Do whatever you want with it. I understand that there are
many ways to solve the puzzles in this game, and I don't claim to have all the
easiest solutions. The ones above, however, are good enough to get
through without too much trouble, so I won't be taking suggestions for better
solutions. No contact information is necessary, then, and I'm already on to
the next game. Thanks again for reading, and have a great day!
-John