08-02-2011, 05:01 AM
Nightmare Mansion HARD
* Keys: 11 red
* Doors: 12 red
Like the Easy version of this mansion, the key imbalance is in the first section, which begins at the starting room, and ends at room 16894 or 16899 through the pole in either room. Within this section, there are 5 red keys, and 6 red doors. Like the other version of Nightmare mansion, getting all or most of the treasure requires some lengthy (and mildly annoying) back and forth in this area. Jack really has to work for the treasure. This can be annoying, but I don't think it's out of line for a mansion. Adding another red key to this mansion is not the way to go - it's already too easy to end up with a lot of extra keys, which can make the bottom portion of the mansion a real pain. Additional keys would exasperate the situation further.
The main issue here is that there are two red doors in room 16692 that block access to a ladder which leads to one of this section's exit poles. Neither of these two doors have to be opened for Jack to finish the game. They can both be circumvented by taking the ladder in room 16691, just as in the Easy version. I believe the intent is that if Jack circumvents these doors, then he'll be able to open the red door in room 16500 in the same general section, though it's a bit of a walk to get here. He doesn't need two red keys to do this though, but if he circumvents one door, he may as well circumvent both.
Knowing that an abundance of keys can be a real issue in this mansion, I'd be more inclined to remove one of the red doors in 16692, and one of the keys from 16691 to reduce the number of keys that might go unused by one. I think I'd remove the red key in the upper right portion of 16691, and replace it with a lever. I'd add a gray door to the upper left passage and have the new lever open it. That would add a bit more challenge to this room (hey, it is Hard after all), and give Jack a reason to have to go that right hand corner where the red key was.
I'm OK with forcing Jack to choose between convenience and an extra money bag. Having the imbalance doesn't bother me. When I play this level I actually choose to sacrifice a Jack in room 16302, taking a death plunge to get the gold and key rather than open the red door. That way I get convenience *and* the extra money bag. The key imbalance here is very similar to the optional red door(s) in Falcon Manor.
I suppose you *could* fix it simply by removing one of the doors in 16692, and leaving both red keys in 16691. It's still a bit of a hike for Jack to get back to the bonus room in 16500. I'm more inclined to leave this mansion alone OR remove a red key AND door as I described.
Two mansions left to document... NM Normal, and FM Hard.
* Keys: 11 red
* Doors: 12 red
Like the Easy version of this mansion, the key imbalance is in the first section, which begins at the starting room, and ends at room 16894 or 16899 through the pole in either room. Within this section, there are 5 red keys, and 6 red doors. Like the other version of Nightmare mansion, getting all or most of the treasure requires some lengthy (and mildly annoying) back and forth in this area. Jack really has to work for the treasure. This can be annoying, but I don't think it's out of line for a mansion. Adding another red key to this mansion is not the way to go - it's already too easy to end up with a lot of extra keys, which can make the bottom portion of the mansion a real pain. Additional keys would exasperate the situation further.
The main issue here is that there are two red doors in room 16692 that block access to a ladder which leads to one of this section's exit poles. Neither of these two doors have to be opened for Jack to finish the game. They can both be circumvented by taking the ladder in room 16691, just as in the Easy version. I believe the intent is that if Jack circumvents these doors, then he'll be able to open the red door in room 16500 in the same general section, though it's a bit of a walk to get here. He doesn't need two red keys to do this though, but if he circumvents one door, he may as well circumvent both.
Knowing that an abundance of keys can be a real issue in this mansion, I'd be more inclined to remove one of the red doors in 16692, and one of the keys from 16691 to reduce the number of keys that might go unused by one. I think I'd remove the red key in the upper right portion of 16691, and replace it with a lever. I'd add a gray door to the upper left passage and have the new lever open it. That would add a bit more challenge to this room (hey, it is Hard after all), and give Jack a reason to have to go that right hand corner where the red key was.
I'm OK with forcing Jack to choose between convenience and an extra money bag. Having the imbalance doesn't bother me. When I play this level I actually choose to sacrifice a Jack in room 16302, taking a death plunge to get the gold and key rather than open the red door. That way I get convenience *and* the extra money bag. The key imbalance here is very similar to the optional red door(s) in Falcon Manor.
I suppose you *could* fix it simply by removing one of the doors in 16692, and leaving both red keys in 16691. It's still a bit of a hike for Jack to get back to the bonus room in 16500. I'm more inclined to leave this mansion alone OR remove a red key AND door as I described.
Two mansions left to document... NM Normal, and FM Hard.