| Map Name | Initial Coordinates |
|---|---|
| mintro | (-191 -2679 658) : -180° (facing south) |
Armament[edit]
Starting the Mines unit, you should have the Blaster, Shotgun, Machine Gun, Super Shotgun, Chain Gun, Grenades, Grenade Launcher and the HyperBlaster. In this unit you will add the Rocket Launcher to your collection of weapons.
Unit objective[edit]
The primary objective for the Mines unit is to navigate the mines and find the entrance to the Factory, which is the next unit.
Level objective[edit]
The objective for this level is to make your way to the mine entrance.
Strategy[edit]
This is an easy level with an easy objective and very few surprises. Shooting from cover works well, as always, but you won't get into much trouble rushing out with guns blazing. You've met all the enemy types before and know how to deal with them. You won't run out of ammunition, health or armor unless you are careless. In fact, forget the Walkthrough, just go and play the level. If there's any advice to give it's just a repetition of the basics ... watch out for the sudden appearance of new enemies where there were none before and keep a lookout in all directions, up and down as well as all around you.
Walkthrough[edit]
You come first to an outdoor area where you have to deal with some Guards and Berserkers. Either take the HyperBlaster and Cells from the lava lake or come back for them when you need the ammunition. Taking the Power Shield results in damage, so leave it alone unless a) you really need one, b) you can't resist a challenge or c) you want to make all the enemy kills. From the walkway nearby, jump over to the Power Shield but as soon as you have it move carefully along the edge of the lake until you are tucked into the narrow inlet. Over at the other side of the area, three Flyers have appeared. Equip the HyperBlaster and wait for them. Using the walkway as cover, take them out one by one. Your ability to maneuver is severely limited by a strong desire not to fall into the lava, so try to kill each of them before it can open fire on you. When this is done, you have to deal with the problem of returning to safety. Go back to where the Power Shield was. Facing the small islands, move back as far as you can and then run forward, jumping at the very edge before you drop into the lava. As soon as you hit the lava, jump again, still running. Your scream is horrible, but if your jump timing is good you will lose only one heath point and two armor points (assuming you have Combat Armor). From the islands, you can easily get back to the main path.
Leave the lava lake area by the only available route. If you approach the large door, you get the message "Main factory door impassable", so go to the right. Deal with some Strogg on the way to a passage into a rock face (see Secrets, below, at this point). There is a cave below and to the left where there are Guards to kill. You can jump down there if you like, but the only advantage is two packs of Cells to collect. Inside the rock cavern, you will need to get up to a higher level area to continue. There are three alternate ways to do this, so skip the rest of this paragraph (and the image at right) unless you are unable to figure out any of them. The first way is to go back out and drop down to the cave because that will bring you out of a wall panel at the higher level. The second way is to push a barrel over and use it to climb up, although this won't work if both barrels exploded in the fighting. The third way is to shoot the glow button which deploys a set of stairs. Now don't you wish you'd tried that by yourself?
Beyond the cave is another open area with a (water) lake and curved walls. There's nothing to do here but fight the Strogg and pick up items. You can swim around in the lake, but rewards are sparse. Exploding the barrels and crates is better use of your time. A long flight of steps leads down to the mine entrance where, no big surprise, there are a few more Strogg to fight. If you end up short of the 40 enemy kills, check that you have found the secret and collected the Power Shield from the lava lake where you entered the level. If you're still one short and you don't recall fighting a Mutant, check the lake because in his eagerness to get at you he has a tendency to fall in.
Secrets[edit]
This level has one (1) easy secret:
- On your way from the first open area with the lava lake to the second where you enter the passage into the rock face, you will see Jacket Armor on your left. Behind it is a machine of some sort with a red/orange face that from time-to-time emits sparks at the upper-left corner and makes a crackling sound. There are two lights above it and the left one flashes steadily. Shoot the machine twice with your Blaster. It will break up with a small explosion and you will receive the message "You have found a secret". Behind the now broken machine is a cave and near the back of the cave is a Rocket Launcher. Take it (naturally) but be ready for an attack by three Flyers that appear from along the canyon on the opposite side to the cave. If you can't find the machine, you may have already destroyed it as you fought the Strogg in the area, so just look for the cave.