[Denseling]

Hi all,

Thanks for bringing this gem available here as well as a whole plethora of others. You're doing such a great job with all the enjoyable reviews and extras as well.

I'm currently living through severe WoE related woes similar to ones Ratpizza has reported here not so long ago. The icy environment of the fifth level has proven quite a showstopper for me so far. I'm playing on Difficult and it seems I'm in for quite a lesson on the definition of 'difficult'.

I have of course already scouted the level pretty thoroughly by now using the cheat codes and have figured out the route I think I should be running to acquire all the seismic devices as energy efficiently as I can, properly noting the energy packs and such. Using codes for the god mode or frequent recharges would naturally be the easy ticket to level 6 and the rest of this beautiful life.

The level design in this game, however, so impresses me that I still catch myself trying to do the damn Winterreise all without the cheats. Just to see if all those energy packs really add up even on Difficult. A true Finn should know his way with these things - ice, moons and aliens...

With all those enemies concentrated around the devices I don't feel I can pull this off like my forefathers would. Even if I get to replenish my energy and shields just before a major fight I can't avoid the situation where I'm going against a pack of Mentors with a dysfunctional arsenal. Like running in guns blazing except for that 'blazing' part. And there most certainly is not time or place for repairs out there other than the station far in the south-eastern corner. Or, is there? I think I should try to collect the first three devices in the north-east and north-west regions before dashing to the station and then go after the last two approachable from south. Guided missiles make short work of Ice droids and Subjucators but fighting Mentors with unguided rockets is more time consuming. Maneuvering past them in confined and slippery spaces seems an impossible feat as even a single hit taken in those conditions will easily prove lethal later if not sooner.

The Power saving mode doesn't really seem to make that much of a difference, does it? I kinda think the designers meant it to be a major part of the solution here though. Has someone noticed some other factors affecting the rate of energy consumption or shield and component deterioration? Other than the adverse effect of basking in incoming enemy fire?

It would be nice if someone would share some advice regarding this level - or any other for that matter. And hopefully Ratpizza gets back here soon with a success story too.

Thanks for any hints in advance!

And sorry for my lenghty and inconcise ramblings, it's been a long and inconcise night...