Level 6: Mercury Solar Lab |
Autolycus: "My traffic is sheets; when the kite builds,
look to lesser linen. My father nam'd me Autolycus; who, being, I as am,
litter'd under Mercury, was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles." The Winter's Tale, Act IV, Scene 3 |
The difficulty has just gone up a notch. This level is the first to have Class 1 Drillers and Spider Processing Robots. If you saved up on your homing missiles, then it will pay off in this level. The briefing was right when they said that there was "heavy" infestation in this level.
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This is considered the opening room. There are two robot
generators in this room creating Class 1 Drones. Although the drones themselves
are not considered dangerous, they could pose a problem if you are surrounded. Let
the generators activate, and take out the drones from outside the room.
The hostages may be accessed through a ramp and a door indicated on the map. You will have to enter Cross Junction to proceed through the level. |
I call this room Cross Junction because it is in the shape of a cross. This is the main junction which you will have to cross to get to all vital areas of the mine.
As indicated on the map, there is an alternate route to the room with the hostages. However, it is much more dangerous since it is guarded by two Class 2 Drillers, and one of them always seems to be camouflaged in a corner...it almost looks cloaked...
Also indicated is a room with a quad laser powerup, if you were unable to get the powerup in level 5. However, this quad laser powerup is guarded by a Class 1 Driller and a Medium Hulk.
You can gain access to a very rich weapons cache by accessing the corridor indicated on the map.
To obtain the blue key, follow the corridor indicated on the map.
This hostage room is guarded by two Spider Processing Robots. Destroy them before attempting to rescue the hostages.
The hostages are locked in by a grate...how does one rescue them?
To rescue them, you must fire at the wall at the point indicated on the map. A secret door will open, which will lead you to the hostage cell door.
You may want to return by the way in which you came if you entered from the Robot Generator Room. The hidden driller also seems to be hidden when you approach from the other side as well.
This weapons cache is guarded mainly by Class 1 Drillers(here's where saving up on homing missiles really benefits you) and an occasional Class 1 Drone, Class 2 Drone or Medium Hulk. Just destroy them as you go along, picking up the various items. Use your homing missiles sparingly...there are almost as much drillers here as your capacity of homing missiles.
This area is divided into two layers. The energy generator is on the top layer, while your entrance is from the bottom layer.
This area has a energy generator, many shield powerups, vulcan ammo
and tons of concussion missiles. This area also contains several laser
powerups.
The Blue key is guarded by two Medium Hulks, one Spider Processing Robot, and several Class 2 Drones. All enemies should be destroyed before obtaining the key. You must attack the enemies indirectly to avoid taking damage from the blast radiuses.
Before entering the room, there is a Class 1 Driller located in a chamber across this area. It should be destroyed before it becomes more than a minor nuisance.
You will have to return to Cross Junction to access the Blue Door.
I don't know what this area reminds me of...:-(
This area is guarded by several Class 1 Drillers and a Spider Processing Robot. You may not be able to use homing missiles in here due to the tightness of the space here. Be sure you destroy all enemies in this area before entering any of the doors, since you will return here later.
The lava pit under the bridge hides a cloaking device, a shield powerup, and a pack of proximity mines. Do not pick any of those powerups yet...you will need them later.
All three colored doors may be accessed via this area.
There is only one way to the yellow key(the apparent shortcut is not a shortcut) and you will have to destroy every enemy in this room to get it. This room is guarded by a Spider Processing Robot, Class 2 Drones, three Class 1 Drillers, and three Medium Hulks. You will have to destroy them as fast as possible to prevent yourself from being a target for the Class 1 Drillers.
This room also has a great number of shield and energy powerups and homing missiles. Their locations are indicated in the map.
Once you grab the yellow key from the niche, you will need to check if you have enough shields to grab the red key. If you do not have enough(you need about 50% shields), you may have to lose a life in the next room.
(Thanks to David Worthington for telling me how to get past this room.)
You will need at least 50% shields to pass this room. If you do not, you may lose a life in this room.
This room is one of the worst traps in the whole game. It is extremely deceptive that the key should be hanging around isolated with no one guarding it. However, it is EXTREMELY well guarded.
Once you go over the lava pool, the secret doors will immediately open, releasing six Class 1 Drillers and two Class 1 Drones on all sides. You will probably lose at least 30% of your shields before you realize that it is a trap and another 20% to get out of the room.
The secret to passing the room is a invulnerability powerup located in the floor of the entry corridor. It will not open unless you go over the lava pool. Locate two secret doors at the sides of the room on your side of the lava pool and drop proximity bombs in front of the doors. Next, drop two proximity bombs on either side of you on your side of the lava pool while turning around towards the red door. Once you have done this, go over the lava pool between the proximity bombs. Once you go over the lava pool and you hear the doors open, get back to the entry corridor and pick up the invulnerability. Then, just attack all the enemies with your lasers as quickly as possible.
If you are unable to destroy them all by the time the invulnerability runs out, go to the other end of the corridor and shoot the floor. A secret door should open, leading you to a cache of weapons with a cloaking device. Behind the cloaking device is a secret door leading to an Extra Life orb.
Return to the junction and grab the three powerups located in the lava pit. Then, immediately go into the red door.
Note the position of the exit.
The reactor is guarded by two Class 1 Drillers and three Super Hulks. Use homing missiles to destroy the drillers.
When you reach the area in which the reactor is housed, you have two choices. You may either attempt to destroy the reactor with your current weapons, or you may attempt to destroy the reactor from outside the room.
If you choose to destroy the Super Hulks first, you will have to do it QUICKLY before the cloaking device that you picked up in the lava pool runs out. If it does run out before you can destroy them, get out of the room and destroy the reactor from outside the room.
Once you destroy the reactor, if you left any Super Hulk untouched, you will have to slide and accelerate to the exit, since the room is big enough for a homing missile's turning radius.
Previous Level - Level 5: Venus Nickel-Iron Mine | Current Level - Level 6: Mercury Solar Lab | Next Level - Level 7: Mercury Core |
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