Conan: Hall of Volta Action game for the Apple IIe FAQ/Walkthrough version 1.0.0.1 by Andrew Schultz Conan:Hall of Volta is copyright 1984 DataSoft, Eric Parker and Eric Robinson. This is its name on the title screen, NOT "Conan the Barbarian" as I'd originally thought. This walkthrough is copyright 2000 Andrew Schultz and is not affiliated with DataSoft in any way. Please do not reproduce or redistribute without my prior consent. This is part of my effort to help preserve the memory of Apple IIe games, and although it was enjoyable, it involved considerable work. However, a pleasant and specific request for this FAQ will almost certainly be honored. Check for other FAQs and info on classic Apple IIe games at http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/2762/games/other.htm --------------------------------- Brief summary: You, Conan the Barbarian, must enter a castle and defeat the evil Volta. You are armed with ten boomerang swords, the ability to jump, and your own cunning. Along the way magic gems and keys and even an Avian Ally will help you through seven levels of the castle, but there will be many monsters to hinder you as well. --------------------------------- OUTLINE: Controls Boomerang Swords Pre-Game Text Scoring Brief map of the levels Walkthrough by level(1-7) Death Messages Utter miscellany --------------------------------- Controls I imagine a joystick is available but do not know how to toggle controls. The keyboard controls are more than adequate and are listed as follows: Up/down/momentum left/momentum right: AZ <- -> Throw boomerang sword: space Jump(somersault): Q Toggle Sound: S (caps lock must be set to capitalized) Useful tips about controls: 1)Most important: "momentum left" and "momentum right" mean that they're not just used to go left and right. You have five states: Running left/Walking left/Standing/Walking right/Running right Depending on what state you're in, hitting the left/right arrow will move you to the left/right on this spectrum. Running also allows you to jump further, which is critical in just about every level in the game. 2)Q or the arrows stops you when you are climbing. This is very useful on level 3 or 4, when it's best to stop near the top/bottom of a ladder. 3)Using A or Z when walking will cause you to climb the next available ladder. It will not stop you. 4)If you jump while running, you go farther than if you jump while walking. If you jump while standing still, you land where you jumped. 5)Any non-movement key will stop you as long as you are not in midair. Boomerang Swords As you start the game with only 10, you probably want to conserve them as much as possible. Here are ways to lose boomerang swords that are best avoided: Throwing the swords into walls/trees Throwing the swords into a platform slightly above yours(level 3) Throwing the swords and running away(they eventually sink to the ground) Throwing the swords into dragon breath(level 5) Throwing the swords into the power generator(level 6) You may be able to save an sword if you hit a monster just as your sword is about to turn around; for instance, on level 5, if you hit the dragon from a distance, the sword is returned to you. Although running out of boomerang swords does not bar you from finishing the game, it is very hard to start collecting them again. Below is a brief list of levels where you can pick up new swords: Level 4: At various spots on the ledges Level 5: On the bottom portion, between two of the fire pools Level 6: On the bottom floor, in the center. **NOTE**: Level 7: None on level 7 proper, but you can re-trace your steps to level 6. Pre-Game Text Introduction Conan: Hall of Volta Destroy Volta. Beware of his minions and other dangers which lie ahead. Use gems and keys to your advantage. (screen 2) Characters Conan Volta Avian Ally (screen 3) Objects Key Locked Door Unlocked Door Gem Gem Holder Extra Sword Scoring Action Score Staying in bubble(3) 10 per "tick" Killing the bird(1) 750 Getting a key(2,4) 1000 Unlocking a door(2,4,5) 2500 Putting gem in holder 5000 Killing a mushroom(4) 750 Killing a dragon(5) 2500 Killing dragon-breath(5) 0 Hitting green star(7) 750 Hitting purple star(7) 750 Killing a huge wasp(7) 15050 Touching your avian ally(3) free life Completing a level 1000 * (level #) Endgame bonus 20000 * (men left) Brief map of the levels(for fun): 3<-2<-1 | v 4->5->6->7->(8) Walkthrough by level Level 1: this is the easiest of the levels, not surprisingly. In fact, it's not too tough to get by without killing the bird, which is a good idea since you'll probably want to save the swords for later(alternatively you can practice killing him without wasting an axe.) Go left and climb up the stairs. Wait for the bird to fly by you(he'll come close but won't touch you!) Then run left, jump onto the platform(if you don't run, you may be obstructed by the chandelier), climb up, go left, climb up, go right as fast as you can, jump over the chasm, and climb up. Now that you are on the roof of the castle just go left and jump to get on to the turret that will lead you to... Level 2: You don't even have to face any monsters on this level, but it is still tricky. It is pretty much a one-way deal; two trees separate you from level 3, and they have branches on each side. To get to the ground, first hit left once until you fall to a branch, then hit right. Go right to pick up the key and then run left(two quick lefts) to jump over the pond. Climb up the tree stairs and go through the door at the top. Standing at the right of the platform run left(two quick lefts) and jump. Then climb down and go all the way left. Run right(two quick rights) and you will fall down to another branch. Starting from the far right run left(two quick lefts) and jump--but not too late, or you'll hit your head on the branch above and fall into the spikes between the second two trees. Since you have the key, you'll unlock the door. Try to jump when you land and then go left(there is a slight ledge) but if that doesn't work, just go all the way right, run left, and jump. Hit left if Conan has stalled. On to level 3. Level 3: Let's look at the right-hand side of the board first. There are the middle, upper, and lower sections, and you start in the middle. Climb down the ladder until you are just out of reach of where the ants may cross. You will need to wait while the gates that pop up on the top and bottom(and teleport you to the bottom and top respectively) do so. It may take a while before a)both ants are on the bottom and out of sight and b)a gate opens on the bottom. When this happens run down and to the left, then go sharply to the right. Pick up the gem and then move left from under the tree. Something that looks like a buzzard and more your enemy than ally will come flying by. Jump up to touch it--it is the avian ally described in the instructions. You'll get a free life. Now, wait until a teleportal appears on top and the ants are down below(and away from the location of the teleportal below.) While you can follow the ants just after they go through the portal, keep in mind it could be a quick death for you if you are not careful. Once you are able to get back to the middle level, go just left of the ladder(but make sure you can still move left) and wait for the scorpion to be around the middle of his platform and moving to the right. Go left and jump, then go left so you are running. Jump over the scorpion(you should make it even if he turns unexpectedly) and run past the gem-holder--don't jump. A bubble will have formed on the water, and you must jump in it. Wait until you are two-thirds of the way up and then just walk left. You will fall down to level 4. Movement information to be aware of: You cannot jump into a teleport door. You will land just short of it. Also, your avian ally is not an ally if you are on the top platform andjumping away from the ants. If you jump into him, he will hinder you and you won't get an extra life. You must be under him. Level 4: This level has a lot of random factors. On the far left is a platform that drops down, followed by a platform in the center that shoots up, followed by the platform on the left, etc. Your main object is to put two gems in the holders in the lower right corner, pick up the key that drops, and go through the locked door to level 5. However, if you just wander around you will get killed quickly by those annoying mushrooms-with-stalks-that-have-turned-to-legs. So here is a map with explanation. ...^-! Sv---^ 5 .=where random sword/gem may appear v. H^.. H- *=where to put gems(i.e. gem holders) v!--^-- -L-H H=ladders, -=where you can walk, !=you'll fall through v...^.H v,^=platforms that move up/down v---^-- ---H k=where to get the key, L=locked door to use it on k**H S=where you start, 5=on to level 5 My preferred walkthrough is to run right and climb down the upper left ladder. I wait, so that I can't be touched by mushrooms walking overhead, until a gem is accessible. Note: if it's over the place where you'll fall through you can pick it up when you fall through. I also pick up any swords I can--they're needed in later levels! Once I get a gem, I go and put the first gem in the gem holder. To jump between platforms you must be running, or you will fall in the hot water below, so be warned! When I'm leaving the gem room, I like to walk after I've gotten off the stairs then run once I've crossed the door and jump. Two quick right arrows after I jump make sure I don't land in the drink. For the second gem I stand on the stairs below the center platform. I'm untouchable there and can wait for a gem as I please. Once I get it, back to the holder room. The key will fall and I pick it up. Now it is certainly possible to complete the level, but perhaps it is more advisable to stay to pick up another gem to facilitate level 5. This level may require patience as due to random factors you may not see a gem for a while and may be faced with a lot of monsters for longer than you'd like. One particularly annoying random happening is when the monsters get stuck in the doors to the right, going back and forth one square. Fortunately, if you wait, they will jump off to the right where it looks like they're stuck again, but really, they'll fall out of sight with their next jump(one bug makes up for the other!) Movements: If you jump and touch a monster that is falling/jumping, you will bounce off, but once you are on the ground, you will be fair game. Also, if you jump and acquire a gem, your lateral momentum is wiped out. Level 5: If you have gotten an extra gem from level 4, the task is considerably easier. In any case, you still need to kill a bunch of dragons. To do so you want to walk until you are just right of the candle. When a dragon is on the level above you, on the left, and going to the left, throw an sword. He'll have a rude surprise when he comes through the teleportal! If your timing is right, you may be able to get the sword back. Repeat until the first of the locked doors on top opens. Then go right through the portals and be sure to run when you are on the top level just before the unlocked door. Jump across the chasm(or you'll be killed) and put the gem in the gem holder. Then jump back, go left(teleporters are disabled now), pick up the key, go right and into level 6. If you didn't get a gem on level 4, you have a tough task on your hands. You should probably kill the dragons first and then go down below your starting point to pick up the gem. You'll have to get a running start to jump over the pools, and the fire-spark that moves about can't be killed by swords. However, you may be able to pick up an sword or two along the way, which will help in future levels. Level 6: This level is tough until you find a place where you can't be killed and you can "snipe" the eyes, which appear one at a time. The shocks are invincible(except when they "walk" over the moving platforms on the second floor), and even if one is destroyed, the power generator spits another one out so there are six shocks. NOTE: if you die, all shocks disappear. The places the shocks cannot reach are the torches on the left-hand walls. Run left into the torch just below the door you entered by. Hit the right arrow and then quickly hit the left arrow. You should be facing right, protected by the torch. Now all you have to do is wait for the eyes to come your way. There are about four pre-set patterns for the eyes, and in at least half of them, the eyes will fly by you. Since your sword passes through the sparks, the eyes are easy targets. When you have killed six eyes, the partial ladder in the upper left hand corner will be complete. Climb it and throw an sword. You will cause the chandelier to fall from the ceiling and take out the power generator, killing the sparks as well. The exit on the right, originally blocked by a stream of static, is also accessible; it will teleport you to level 7. As an added bonus, if you have under ten swords left, the bottom floor will replenish your swords up to the original ten if you can wait. Level 7: This level has some nasty and seemingly random traps. Basically, Volta, in the upper left corner, puts gems into a machine. They turn into whirling stars that will kill you on contact. The green ones, when hit with an sword, turn into gems, and even if you already have a gem and kill a green one, you can come back for the gem later. The purple ones simply change direction. Stars may also release the bee/mosquito in the lower right corner. In addition, stars are "smart--" there are only a few patterns, but they will chase you into the chamber of gem holders if you stay there too long. The best way to avoid the stars is to be near a stair and climb down and up to avoid the rounds they make. The most annoying pitfall in level 7 may be the drop back to level 6. While it's handy if you've run out of swords, you'll want to remember to run and not walk when you cross the gap at all other times. My recommendation is to cross once and hang out around the leftmost ladder--you can avoid most of the stars that come at you by briefly climbing down and then up the ladders. When you place a gem, beware. The "smart" stars Volta produces may go to the gem chamber instead of out and around as usual. The second most annoying pitfall is the small thing in the lower right that will kick you back up if you fall off the platform and run left--you must instead walk and jump immediately. You can tell how long the vanishing platform will be up by its tone--the lower it is, the longer before it disappears, and the safer it will be for you to cross. To win the level, place three gems in the gem holders. The avian ally will then be released from the cage. He'll pick Volta up and drop him in the pool of fire. Then he'll pick you up and fly you through the open door. Rough map: DOOR ------ VO AA| | -- | -----+ | | H | | +-- | ***|POOL| | -----+----+ | H ^| .----- -------+ H H H H |Bee PL-----v6-------- ^=kicks you back up v6=down to level 6 .=occasional platform VO=Volta & machine *=gem holders AA=Avian Ally P(OO)L=pool Bee: can be released by stars Level 8: This is just a victory message, but "level 8" appears on the screen. It awards you a bonus for each man you have left. Thus, Volta was destroyed and Conan continued in search of high adventure. Death Messages When you die in Conan the Barbarian, several death messages are printed on the screen. The choice of messages depends on the level, but the message is randomly chosen from them. Here are the ones I have been able to find. Some are inappropriate to your mode of death so it does seem to be truly random, but the messages are appropriate to specific parts of the level. Pictures shown are in parentheses. 1: Your odyssey has ended before it had begun (torch) And so the story ended Bats in your belfry (moon) Back to Cimmeria barbarian!!!! 2: (blank) 3: You beat a heated retreat... Life from above (ants) Only a cleric can help you now (cleric) You Succumb to Lassitude(cavern outline) 4: You sink slowly into a peaceful bliss (vase) Conan's Bane! (mushroom-thing) The End (crossed swords) Your Struggles are in Vain 5: To be continued... (tombstone) The glow from the pyre lights the room (candle) You shuffle off defeated for now 6: Crom awaits (eye) The eyes have it (eye) A Shocking End (static) 7: Volta's minions take you to the Lokh-Pa slave pits (horse) The Crimson Orb recedes on your horizon (sun) You retire more dead than alive Utter miscellany You can rack up a million points pretty easily(but not quickly) once you get to level 6. Just complete the level and fall back down from level 7 immediately. Each time you solve it you get 6*4000+10000(generator)+6000=40000 points. So if you solve level 6 25 times, you score a million and this will flip the scoreboard. I'm a bit curious as to what would happen but don't have the time to find out. -------------------------------------------- Credits: the inimitable apple.asimov.net for having this game Versions: 5/29/2000 1.0.0: completed Conan the Barbarian(5/12) and its walkthrough along with interesting/useful info. 5/30/2000 1.0.0.1: modified end-of-game info as well as some silly typos. Removed unverified tip. Changed name of FAQ to reflect game's actual name. Send comments, etc. to schultza@earthlink.net