Rockfall

Rockfall is a game based on the classics Boulderdash and the Repton series. Therefore, you should have a fairly good idea of what the game involves, but there are some differences.

The basic idea of the game is to collect all of the diamonds in each level. You do this by simply walking over them with your character.

The first hazard you will come across comes from the boulders. They fall whenever they are unsupported, and they can also roll off other objects which aren't level. If a boulder falls on your head, then it's bye-bye to one of your lives. Boulders are also they key to finishing the levels. It will be necessary to move them to strategic positions within the levels. You move them by pushing them from either the left or the right side. You can't push them up or down.

Some of them may be hidden in safes. You must first collect a key which will open ALL of the safes which will then reveal the diamonds allowing you to collect them.

No game is complete without some nasties. There are two nasties in Rockfall, which are monsters and Pulsators. I will deal with the monsters first.

There can be up to four monsters on a level. They start off as eggs, and must be pushed so that they fall and break. After a few seconds the monster will emerge, and start running about the level. In order to complete the level you must also kill all of the monsters. This is done by pushing a boulder onto them.

Unlike monsters, Pulsators are running about the level from the time you enter it. They are strange creatures which find their way around by keeping the wall (or other object which gets in their way) to their left. Somewhere around the level will be a trap for each one of the Pulsators. It is your job to guide them to the traps. This is done by leaving objects or moving boulders in their path. When a Pulsator enters a trap it will turn into a diamond. Therefore, to complete the level you must trap all of the Pulsators. It isn't possible to kill them by dropping boulders onto them. In fact, you could 'daze' them instead, which means that they start to travel in a small circle (stopping you from finishing the level as they will never enter a trap!). It is possible to undaze them, but that's for you to find out.

When you have done all that, you must make your way to the exit, which should now be showing the word 'OUT'. This will take you to the next level.

Did I mention the time limit? No. Well, you start off with 3 minutes (180 seconds) to complete the first level. For following levels, you get an extra two minutes (120 seconds) in addition to what you have left from the previous level. If this time should happen to reach zero, then I'm afraid it's the immortal words 'GAME OVER'!