GETTING STARTED

To begin a game, select Begin New Game from the main menu.  You're off to the first stage! 

Playing the Game

The object of each level, at its simplest, is to change all of the blocks in that level to a target color by jumping on them.  Players guide Otto around the level, and as he touches a block, the color switches.  On some levels, blocks may have to be touched multiple times to change their color. 

Critters of various types and behaviors patrol the levels.  If Otto touches a critter, he ‘dies’ and loses one of his lives.  Some critters are aimless, while others will hunt Otto.  Still others have specific functions, such as turning blocks back to their original color.

Be careful!  Otto can also lose a life by jumping off the edge of the level. 

One element of the game that you will discover is sequential jumping.  When you jump from unturned block to unturned block, this constitutes a sequential jump.  Scores increase based upon how many sequential jumps  you make.  If you jumps on a block after completing 2 sequential jumps, for a total of 3 blocks, you will receive 30 points for that block.  A total of 5 blocks would receive 50 points, and so on.  For every 10 blocks in a row that you turn, you receive an additional 1000 point bonus. You may also receive a 1-UP bonus for completing a ‘perfect run’ – this means that you completed the entire level without ever touching a previously turned block!

Otto can also ‘double-jump’.  Pressing the double-jump key during the first half of a jump causes Otto to jump again in midair, leaping over a block.  Otto can use the double-jump to maintain a sequential jump, and to leap over gaps.  The double-jump is very important in attaining a high score, and in some cases, is required to complete a level.  

Powerups also appear from time to time on the levels.  Powerups have many different functions - they are described a little later on.

King FrixFrax appears every 20 levels.  He’s big and bad, and has pet storm clouds that he sends to zap you.  He can also pound the ground, shaking the level apart beneath you!  In these guardian stages, you damage the boss by jumping on a ‘star block’ which fires a jet of sparks that damages the King. Repeated zappings will destroy him.

Otto can also catch flying keys to enter secret stages.  Every five levels, a key will appear for a short period of time.  By collecting the key Otto is transported to a secret bonus stage.  In a bonus stage, the world is comprised of golden blocks, and is littered with jewels.  Otto moves extra fast, and must collect as many jewels as possible before the level unravels beneath him.

Extra Lives and Game Over

The player can collect an extra Otto every 50,000 points.  If the you run out of lives, you are prompted to continue or quit.  If you choose to continue, the game will restart on the current level and your score will be reset to 0.  If you quit, you will return to the main menu.  As you completes every 10 levels, a save point is automatically established.  The save point allows you to replay the game at some future time and skip ahead past completed levels. 

Critters

• Fuzzabound – With a spring for a body, this critter aimlessly wanders the level
• Mad Fuzzabound – Just like a Fuzzabound, but if he sees you, he’ll charge!
• Hoverbug – Watch out! The Hoverbug will follow you if you get too close. He's slow, however, and loses interest easily
• SlugBug – SlugBug is nasty - he'll turn blocks back to their original color!
• Octomok – Octomok drifts in a straight line, and does not have to stay on solid ground.
• Grumnik – The Grumnik is blue and mean - he'll hunt you down mercilessly if you get too close. Much more tenacious than the Hoverbug
• FrixFrax – The evil Storm King himself! Watch out for his pet lightning clouds