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In order to accomplish many of the solutions in the game, you are required to lift and reposition several L blocks so that you can reach the exit. Lifting a block is possible as long as you are touching some part of the block.
Once Indy picks up a block, the block turns as he does. So if he picks up an L block, and turns around with it, it turn into a "J block" in appearance. This technique is important when you need to build staircases of blocks in one particular direction.
Indy can't lift a block under every circumstance. He must be able to reach the block; that is it must not be higher than his head, or lower than his feet. The block in question must also be free and clear of anything above it. In other words, it may not have a block on top of it.
| Indy cannot grab a block that would collide with an existing block or platform if he were to lift it over his head. | Indy cannot lift up a block that has another block stacked on top of it, even if it is within his reach. | Indy cannot lift up any blocks that are not at the top of a tower. Blocks that are covered are inaccessible. |
You may exit the floor under only one condition: You must be able to stand in front of an unblocked exit. And that means any part of the exit, left or right. If you cannot place one foot even with the bottom of the exit door, you may not leave. The following are all examples of situations when you can not reach the exit.
| The exit must be completely unobstructed in order for Indy to make his escape through it. A block in the way will prevent him from leaving. | It is not enough for Indy's head to touch the exit. He must be able to stand in front of the exit with his feet. Move this block over. | Don't think that Indy is fast enough to grab the exit if he jumps in front of it. He will simply fall down to the ground below. |
It is always important to note the orientation of the blocks around you, as they dictate which ways you may pass through them and which ways you may not. Since the blocks may be used as staircases, you can naturally climb over the step portions of the block, but you may not climb over the wall portion. In the example to the side, you are free to travel over the block to the left, but you will be unable to pass back to the right unless you can lift the block off the ground.
You are not always forced to deal with blocks in their particular orientation. Under the right circumstances, you can rotate blocks so that they are facing a direction that is more convenient for you and your escape from the floor. Typically, you will need to build staircases, which means you need all of the blocks facing the same direction. You can use the base of the staircase to turn a block around, and climb over to the other side of it so that you can lift it back up and stack it. In other cases, you may need blocks in opposite orientations. The operation is similar in this case; using another block to help you reorient the block in question and get around it to the other side. This technique figures heavily into some of the more difficult solutions.
While all of the blocks are subject to gravity, just as you and everything else is, these L blocks have a special property that allow them to balance perfectly at right angles from one another to form staircases. As soon as one block falls exactly one column adjacent to an existing block, it will stop one row higher, allowing Indy to climb up both blocks like a set of stairs.
If Indy falls with a block in his hands, it's usually a deadly proposition for Indy. The block usually ends up squashing him into the floor. However, thanks to the property of block stacking described above, there is one situation in which Indy will survive a fall with a block in his hands. If the block happens to fall down alongside another block, the blocks will stack, and Indy will fall harmlessly below.
As nice as it is to be able to build staircases out of blocks, sometimes you need to take them apart, or use the blocks for some other purpose. If you happen to lift a block that is supporting another block as part of a staircase, all of the blocks above the one you removed will begin to tremble. They will do this for just a few seconds, before they all begin to cascade to the ground. However, if you manage to shove the removed block back in place before the rest begin to tumble, the staircase will be preserved. You can use this technique to remove a threat that is coming down the stairs in your direction.
Knowing how to deal with an enemy is an important part of the game. Some methods are useful for removing a temporary annoyance, while others can be used to completely remove a problem from the floor for good.