The red targets are the key to maxing a level. First hit clears the target and reveals a tiny target behind it - for accuracy use scope (space key) and double or triple tap rather than holding a spray. As much as possible hit both chest and head with either double tap or a short hold-sweep across both.
Hard badge: Max out weapon damage first (18 points), any further points go in fire rate. When surrounded use the cheap mines to clear your route forward, and occasionally use them to blast the swarm chasing you. Get top 5 flags as fast as you reasonably can. The bottom section is a death trap - never go there, do NOT get bottom flag. Do not bother healing - it is worthlessly slow and it will get you surrounded.
NEEDS QUALITY OPTION!! On a fast computer maybe all the running back and forth is merely annoying, but if your framerate is poor it takes OVER AN HOUR to reach just 21%. FRUSTRATION/BOREDOM QUIT.
WARNING: The game is impossible on slower computers. The enemies shoot faster if you have a lower framerate. This can make level 1 is abnormally hard, and the problem snowballs on level 2. The enemy's abnormally fast fire rate floods the screen with bullets which kills the framerate more, which results in the enemies shooting even more rapidly. The problem can snowball to the point that there is zero gap between each enemy bullet and the next.
Tips for the hard badge: Take the smallest hull and the engine with THRUST 15. (Lower thrust means lower speed and it's easier to avoid stuff). Avoid speedup gates. Play with the keyboard instead of the mouse, and use the down-arrow key to get around nasty obstacles. NOTE: To reach the required altitude using the thrust 15 engine you will need to grab as much fuel as you can on the way up, and you'll probably need to have most of the achievement bonuses already.
Hard badge: Step 1 amputate both feet. Step 2 amputate both hands. Stand up and stay still as long as you can. A *gentle* tap to the side and a gentle tapping up can do a small dodge while still standing. For larger dodges hold down and slide around on the bottom so that you don't spin. Keep bottom-sliding until you have time and space to stand up again.
Kongregate chat room Echo Hall has become an unofficial meeting place to discuss this game. There are about 5 Kohc players (including me) of various knowledge levels who usually hang out there. I am the most knowledgeable and I'm best person to ask for help, when I am not available you can try mentioning Kohc in chat there. There's a good chance someone else may respond.
HOW TO EARN EACH TITLE, TITLE BONUS
At death check list IN ORDER, gain LAST title you don't already have:
No helm armor boots, +8armor if nude. FREEBIE, +2Sta. Empty inventory, +1 all stat if inventory empty. DIE FIRST FLOOR, +2Will. 1 kill, +1Str/Int. Full inventory, +2armor when inventory full. Floor 2, +1Sta/Will. Walk 5000 distance, +5% speed. Taken 5000 dmg, +1armor. EVER chased by 5 enemies at once, +1 armor per enemy over 2. EVER chased by 10 enemies at once, +2 armor per enemy. 20 kills, +2Str/Int. Kill 20 skeletons, +50% Dmg to skels. 30 Str, +3Str. 30 Sta, +3Sta. 30 Will, +3Will. 30 Int, +3Int. Taken 10000 dmg, +2armor. Floor 5, +2Sta/Will. Level 5, +1 all stat. Walk 10000 distance, +10% speed. Taken 20000 dmg, +3armor. Level 10, +2 all stat. 50 Str, +5Str. 50 Sta, +5 Sta. 50 Will, +5Will. 50 Int, +5Int. 100 kills, +3Str/Int. Kill 50 skeletons, 20% charm skel. Floor 10, +3Sta/Will. Level 10, +3 all stat. 200 kills, +5Str/Int.
For those without sound, the sniper mission kills must be in order. 1 Top-Center 2 Far-Left 3 Down-left 4 Far-Right 5 Down-Right. The next mission you must shoot the gun out of the last guy's had. Final mission you must pop up to take ONE shot during the short pauses in machine gun fire.
Sniper Challenger is not very hard - make your first shot fast at any target. After each shot quickly PRE-AIM on another target. If you don't move the mouse during the reload and you will automatically return to the pre-aimed target for your next shot. In fact you can check the wind during reload and shift the mouse a pixel or two left or right to pre-adjust for the wind on your pre-aimed target.
Killer combo:
In the first and last columns put 2 piercing blocks with 3 booster blocks above them. 10 blocks, quick and cheap to put out. The pierce and boost combine to deal multiple damage. If there are ghosts swap the bottom boost on one or both sides for an eye. This slaughters on the final level, and will probably be very effective on any level once the boost is available.
Amazing advanced level 1 solution - only uses TWO lines to connect left to right!
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BAD BUG: Fliers sometimes somehow get above the roof and get stuck. No way to kill them, and the next wave never comes. Happened to me two games in a row. I quit.
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