Catacombs

Games for Spectrum, C64, Amstrad, Amiga, Apple ][ and the rest of the 8-bit and 16-bit platforms. Pleas for help, puzzles, bug reports etc.

Moderator: Alastair

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Alastair
Posts: 1174
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:21 am

Re: Catacombs

#106 Post by Alastair »

I've spent some time with the original PET version. I now know what you need to get past the web (LanHawk was right), it then took me ages to realise that in this version the silver throne itself is the treasure and is not part of an additional puzzle.

The dark hooded figure on horseback turns up, but no present has been left behind. From looking through the disc image I cannot see any "whoopsie" message so perhaps the object turns up elsewhere. I have yet to visit the castle area so there is a chance the object is there.
Alastair
Posts: 1174
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:21 am

Re: Catacombs

#107 Post by Alastair »

Update.

The manure is in the castle area. Unfortunately all of the castle area seems to be dark which makes extensive exploration difficult as the lamp keeps going out.
jdyer
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: Catacombs

#108 Post by jdyer »

The Commodore PET version is now available.

https://www.commodoregames.net/catacombs.asp
Alastair
Posts: 1174
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:21 am

Re: Catacombs

#109 Post by Alastair »

Collecting the sphere gives you points in the PET version and although there is a clue on how to deal with the zombie there does not seem to be any reason why you should deal with him as he causes little hindrance.

I am now stuck at our old friend the plug. So far the only way I have managed to dislodge it is by first dropping everything and then getting the plug, but this then leaves me without a lamp which prevents further progress.
Alastair
Posts: 1174
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:21 am

Re: Catacombs

#110 Post by Alastair »

I've completed the original PET version. For anyone who wishes to play I suggest using the same machine settings that I used.

I used VICE PET.
Under Preferences > Settings

Machine > Model
choose "Model" = PET 4032B (since it is a British game)
and "Display width" = 40 Columns

Peripheral devices > Drive
choose for "Drive 8" "Drive model" = CBM 4040 (the 4040 seems to be faster than the 2031)
and "True drive emulation" is ticked

Attach the disc image to Drive 8 and before clicking "Attach / Load" make sure that the selection requester states Unit # = 8 and Drive # = 0 (these are the default values).

Type
LOAD"*",8
then
RUN

When using snapshots I found that selecting "Save attached disks" caused an error when I attempted to reload the snapshot. If this happens to you then do not select "Save attached disks" and instead attach the disc image before or after you load the snapshot.


Warning! There is a potentially game locking bug. Do no GET CLOAK ... WEAR CLOAK ... DROP CLOAK because this messes up the inventory limit (see post above). Instead, just WEAR CLOAK ... DROP CLOAK, if you did pick up the cloak you must drop it before attempting to wear it. This bug may also apply to other items you can wear.
jdyer
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: Catacombs

#111 Post by jdyer »

Some questions:

a.) I was able to pull the plug while holding the scissors and the lamp. What were the conditions you had where you couldn't pull it?

b.) There's lots of other oddities, like the laundry bag seems to not serve any purpose at all (the crown is still at the dead end but out in the open); I also have never seen the manure get left behind by the rider. There's also a rug and bust in the palace and it seems you can't take the bust but can take the rug (which wasn't in the original). Is the bust used for anything now? Are there any other oddities I might not have spotted?
Alastair
Posts: 1174
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:21 am

Re: Catacombs

#112 Post by Alastair »

Jason,
a. I had previously taken the cloak before wearing it and done the same for another item you can wear thus causing the inventory limit problem. It was this bug that prevented me from getting the plug.

b. The laundry bag and a few other items don't serve any purpose (for example the rug doesn't give you any points though I take it anyway). The manure is not linked to the rider, this is something that was implemented in the later version. Thinking about some of the unused items in the original game and how they became parts of puzzles later on, I do wonder if they were originally intended as puzzle pieces but for whatever reason those puzzles weren't implemented in the original version. The bust is like the hooded rider/figure and the silver throne in that you have to refer to it using a non obvious part of the description, in this case use "attila".
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