WINTER CHOICE

Level by Tifa Nazah

Walkthrough by DJ Full, who made a half English version, then got stuck, so read eTux/Ward Dragon’s review to solve the apple puzzle, wrote the second half and finally combined his text (and a map) with Scottie’s screenshots (and a map) to make a complete guide. It may seem sophisticated, but it worked.

FOR NOT TO GET LOST:

BACK IN TIME (PREAMBLE) 1

GENERAL INFO.. 2

SHORTCUTS USED.. 3

Moves: 3

Items: 3

WALKTHROUGH.. 3

1. Apple. 4

1.1. Knight 4

1.1.1. Blue Crystals: ZIP. 4

1.1.2. Pink Crystals: WOLF. 5

1.2. Bishop. 5

1.2.1. River 5

1.2.1.1. Unicorn: ANAYA.. 5

1.2.1.2. Fish: WOLF. 5

1.2.2. Monkey Swing. 5

1.2.2.1. Upper Corridor: WOLF. 6

1.2.2.2. Lower Corridor: DOPPELGANGER.. 6

2. Truffle. 7

2.1. Griffon Valley. 8

2.1.1. Underwater Levers. 8

2.1.1.1. Right light: WOLF. 8

2.1.1.2. Left light: AMANDA.. 9

2.1.2. Griffon Ride. 9

2.1.2.1. Right crystal: WOLF. 9

2.1.2.2. Left crystal: WINSTON.. 9

2.2. Valley of the Snowman. 10

2.2.1. Extinguish: WOLF. 10

2.2.2. Burn: Transgenic Cabbage Field, KURTIS. 10

BACK IN TIME (PREAMBLE)

OK, so it's 05:34, 22 Dec 2010, what means exactly 66 hours and 36 minutes left to the TRForge Adventskalendar Contest deadline. Just after finishing baking vegan cookies from Day 13, right before using Caribbean object set from Day 19, I decided to play Tifa's level and make a walkthru for her, hoping I won't get stuck anywhere and will have enough time to do remaining 7 days in those upcoming 3 days. If You wanna know what I am talking about, take a part in TRForge Advent Calendar Contest next year. EDIT: It already IS the next year, 02 Jan … what makes You assume I got stuck anyway. You’re right and I’ll tell You more: this level appeared to be the most difficult one I’ve ever played. According to what eTux wrote, his review was actually a team project, shared with Ward Dragon, and these guys, even if experienced in custom levels, spent most of their playtime searching for correct angles to activate certain switches. My biggest mistake was apparently treating the initial apple tree like a normal animating. Actually, it hides a switch, being a part of the first Choice. If I found this one, I would probably have finished the whole level on my own.
Today, over 2 weeks after the release, “Winter Choice” there are still only 7 reviews on this game. I think it will once become one of the most out-of-mainstream, alternative-thought levels ever.

GENERAL INFO

 

1. There are 12 paths, leading 6 times to the wolf valley, and to 6 different TR Characters endings. All of them are shown on the MAP:

2. When You make a CHOICE, the walkthrough splits in two, telling You what to read next. The chapters are always named the same as the parts of the MAP. What is more, it seems me and Scottie had an identical idea of numbering them. For not to get lost, refer to For not to get lost.

 

3. For now it doesn’t work for me, but when I learn how to do it, I’ll put some [spoiler2]s inside other [spoiler2]s, for You to be able to unfold and read only what is necessary, depending on a path You follow.

 

4. You can't save, but don't worry - there are no traps or enemies in this game, so You can run around safely as long as You wish (unless You wanna do a speedrun). EDIT: Tifa has updated the download package – now You don’t need to mind the last phrase.

 

5. Don’t shoot the animals. (Of course I did - I wanted to check if they are immortal. And they are indeed.)

 

6. Whoever this background musician is, he can’t play the violin at all.

SHORTCUTS USED

Moves:

RJ – runjump

JG – jump/grab

CP – climb/pull up

RJG – runjump/grab

RJGP – runjump/grab/pull up

JGP – jump/grab/pull up

GP – grab/pull up

SJ – slide/jump

MS – monkey swing

MR – midair roll (or "midroll")

BMR – bounce off with a midroll

SD – safety drop

Items:

SM - small medipack

LM - large medipack

F – flares (unfortunately not included)

WALKTHROUGH

Get up and make the first CHOICE: either go around the apple-tree and press the hidden switch mentioned in the preamble (do it facing SW and NOTE: as soon as You obtain the Apple this way and – as a result – realize what kind of a level this one is, it may happen You will not need a walkthrough anymore), or pick up the Truffle. If You choose the Truffle path, go to “Truffle” chapter. If You follow the Apple route, refer to the “Apple” part. The chapters are always named the same as the parts of the MAP (above). TIP: You can hit the end of graphics by entering the forest on the left of the big tree.

1. Apple

Give the apple to the deer and it teleports towards the just pressed tree, allowing You to enter the forest. Follow the path to the tree blocking it. Press Action and THEN Action + Up to turn the branch and proceed to shatter the crystal several steps further. Advance to reach the chessboard.

 

CHOICE: Checkmate the black king with the white knight (move it 2N and 1W) or bishop (2N, 2W).

1.1. Knight

If You follow the white knight route, the left grate is lowered and You can proceed through the green passage to go through the crawlspace at the end. Enter the valley. On the ESE of the pit, there is a block. Pull it out of the wall to reveal a cave with the Pickaxe. Get it and throw all 5 crowbar switches in the valley. The last of them is in the pit - hop on the pillar in there and SD to the bottom to throw the lever. Search the crawlspace for Precision Shooting Instruction. Get out and climb the ladder to reach the valley again. Go inside the W cave to find 10 x Bow Normal Ammo inside.

 

WARNING! Don’t touch the frozen waterfall or You’re doomed (optionally shatter it). Throwing the switches has lowered the icicles further in the cave. Get behind them and go up the ramp to shatter the ice cage and free the wraith. Don’t worry about it but quickly run across the created bridge for the Bow. Picking it up destroys the ghost. Now You can shatter all the crystals in the valley. ANTI-TIP: You can destroy all of them without using the bow. To do so, stand on the top of the slope in front of the E icicle portal. From the highest point, jump NE. Wandering over the rocks, You can shatter almost all the crystals in this valley. However, doing so doesn’t change anything yet. To open the S passage, You need to climb the rocks in the SW part of the valley and destroy the remaining crystals (according to what is said, breaking the blue opens the S passage, and eliminating the pink reveals the E one). After that, You can make the Extra Choice.

 

EXTRA CHOICE: in the case described above, taking the E path is safe, but following the S corridor results in getting stuck permanently. So, if You wanna finish the level – the point is to either follow the E passage, or find the Pickaxe before You enter the S portal, no matter if You use the bow or not.

 

Following the intended way, You make the intended Choice.

 

CHOICE: Follow either the blue or pink route.

1.1.1. Blue Crystals: ZIP

Behind the S one, slide the floor. Shatter the ice in front of You, then the wall on Your left and the ice cage surrounding a SM. Get the pickup and RJ back over the sliding floor. Slide/shatter the following walls till You have one on the E. After destroying it, jump across the junction to avoid being thrown back to the maze center. Shatter several more walls and slide out. You’re in the last forest. On Your way through it, from the place where the path turns right, pick up the Crowbar hidden on the left side. A tree allows You to pass it by. Use the Pickaxe to open the last door, and make another Extra Choice.


EXTRA CHOICE: Either get in the car using the Crowbar and drive out of the level to see Zip ending, or get to the finish trigger on foot (works the same way).

1.1.2. Pink Crystals: WOLF

If You enter the passage behind the E icicles, SD twice into the lower corridor. Shatter the following icicles and another ice piece covering the crawlspace. Get through, destroy some more icicles and the last ice blockade, crawl again and climb the 3 ladders (on the top of the 2nd one, optionally destroy the last crystal behind You) to get on the ledge. Slide down and pick up the gift for the last wolf ending.

1.2. Bishop

If You chose to checkmate the king with the bishop, the right passage is unlocked. Follow it to the end, where You need to perform another Choice.

 

CHOICE: either jump into the water, or follow the MS to the other bank.

1.2.1. River

If You jumped in the water, swim to reach the lake. Throw all 5 underwater pulleys (this lowers a grate behind the underwater door on the W. Reach a dry place behind it to find Scissors Part 1. Get back outside and throw all 5 branch levers. A pink crystal behind the slope on the E part of the N bank  is now revealed. Shatter it to find Scissors Part 2 and combine the item with Scissors Part 1 to make the Scissors.

 

CHOICE: Either use the Scissors to cut the rope and free the unicorn, or cut the net to free the fish.

1.2.1.1. Unicorn: ANAYA

If You released the unicorn, it reveals a field of crystals, where You can (not necessarily) shatter some of them and need to pick up the Anaya Gift. A trapdoor opens behind the grass – hop in and climb the ladder for Anaya ending.

1.2.1.2. Fish: WOLF

If You freed the fish, it opens the underwater trapdoor covering a maze. Swim through it ascending, and under the icicles, to resurface above the wolf place. Get out of the water and slide down into the valley to pick up the Wolf Gift and watch its ending.

1.2.2. Monkey Swing

Go down the slope and platform using the ice floats to get on yet another bank. (From here, You can still change Your mind and jump into the river to visit the part 1.2.1.)

 

 

 

SHORTCUT: the whole right bank is accessible.

 

No matter how You reach the destination, notice a spiky switch. Pull it and go up the revealed ramp into the stone corridor. Follow it until You hear a rumble.

 

CHOICE: Either SD to a hole behind You, or proceed to the end of the corridor.

1.2.2.1. Upper Corridor: WOLF

If You choose to proceed further, pull the ceiling trapdoor at the end of the ramp and get outside to find Yourself in the Wolf Valley. Grab the Wolf Gift and behold its ending.

1.2.2.2. Lower Corridor: DOPPELGANGER

If You SD, follow the another corridor and push the blocks to reveal the next passage. Go up the ramp, throw the switch and the following 4 levers in the corners. This allows You to shatter the basket in the next room for a LM, go around the ladder and climb it to the very top. BMR, land on the shelf, go along the cornice, up the ramps and in the cave of statues. Press all the dragon balls to cast some criss-crossing shadows and spawn the Doppelganger Gift by the grates. Pick it up to lower one of them. Exit to the following corridor and find a torch on the pedestal behind the crawlspace on Your left. Throw the torch into the corridor through the crawlspace and pick it up once again. The torch, not the crawlspace. Light it with the nearby fireplace and proceed to the next cave. Drop the torch by the pit and hop in to find a niche N wall, with a Pickaxe inside. Get it and hop on the blocks to get back on the edge. Use the Pickaxe (a modified Crowbar) to rip the Ice Crystals off the walls and move the cube under the W wall torch. Place the Ice Crystals on their pedestals and watch Tifa’s version of crystal dynamics. Grab Your torch and hop on the pushed block to light the wall one. Go around the pit, get 2 more Ice Crystals, put them You know where and move the pushable cube across the created bridge. On the NE, there is another wall torch. Light it just like the previous one to raise the grate and access the outside area with a leafless tree. Go around or inside it to spot the Doppelganger and give her… him… it… his… her… its… whatever... gift.

2. Truffle

Notice a Truffle under the apple-tree. Wild boars like them, and one of them is standing near the N crawlspace, blocking the way in (I called this guy Chester). Give him a Truffle or just swan dive over him to access the hole. (Before I noticed that mushroom, I tried to pull Chester out of his niche :D). On the other side, shatter the icicles and make it inside the next crawlspace by kicking the ice out of the entrance. Go through and into the Rabbit Burrow. There are some levers to pull here. This is how it looks like in Scottie’s map:

Three switches are necessary to unlock either left, or right path. So either follow the left wall, go back to the entrance and follow the right wall, or reverse this path, as order of pressing these first two levers doesn’t matter. Even if You pull all 4 switches, You can still make the Choice.

 

CHOICE: either go N and find this crystal, captured on another picture by Scottie:

to locate a way to the Griffon Valley near it, or check the S part of the Rabbit Burrow to go behind THIS crystal (also from Scottie’s screenshot):

and enter the Valley of the Snowman.

2.1. Griffon Valley

Hop in the water.

 

CHOICE: Either pull the underwater levers or swim for the Griffon’s Egg.

2.1.1. Underwater Levers

If you pull the levers, the exit door opens. Climb the ladder back on the starting ledge, RJGP (refer to the SHORTCUTS USED if you need to) on the closest pillar and RJ on the lowest one, with a tree. No need to use the zipline. You can just RJ into the revealed cavern and slide down. Shatter a barrel in the corner for Light Crystal. Can’t use it on the nearby door yet – first you need to get another one from the SW, press the 4 “hemisnowballs” to raise a statue of some kind of a mirror god, and move it to make the CHOICE.

 

CHOICE:  Move this guy to illuminate either the N slot, or the S one. These puzzle holes are modified Poseidon statues, and the crystals are replaced tridents, so you need to climb one of these portals to place a key item.

2.1.1.1. Right light: WOLF

If you choose the S door, climb the wall. NOTE: near the top of the second one, keep to the left side to avoid being pushed off ledge when you pull up. Get on the top of 2 more ladders and emerge on the top of the slope. TIP: From here, You can get through the opening on Your left to visit the ending of Chapter 1.2.1.2.! If You wanna follow the intended way, just slide down and grab the gift to see the wolf again.

2.1.1.2. Left light: AMANDA

If you follow the N passage, throw the jumpswitch, climb through the open trapdoor and backflip into the alcove containing Amanda Gift. Continue up the ladder, to the top. Backflip in the passage and follow it into the open space. Move the rock towards the N wall and use this cube as a base for a jump to grab the crevice. Shimmy right, till you can pull up in the niche. Crawl through the hole and stand up on the other side. Climb the ladder, go along the cornice, grab the MS (face SE to do it) and get across the pit. On the top of the following ramp, move another block, get on it to jump on the other ledge from there and STOP. Don’t run or you’ll fall. Get on the W blocks and hop on the highest ledge to see Amanda and the final stats for her ending.

2.1.2. Griffon Ride

Swim around the biggest, furthest rock to find a hole in it. Get in for a Griffon Egg. Picking it up gets rid of all underwater switches.  Use the ladder to climb back on the starting ledge and platform on the highest rock (RJGP, JGP, RJGP, CP, RJGP - refer to the SHORTCUTS USED if you need to). Don’t worry about the griffon – it won’t harm you (and it’s immortal, btw - yep, I’m quite evil guy and of course I tried to shoot it). Retrieve the creature’s egg and you’ll get extra transport to the next level.

No weapons here o.O. So it seems the griffon is a greedy bastard who apparently claimed a payment for the ride. Enter the SW hole and, going through the snowy cave, pass by some blocks. Reach the ice-cold pool, take the Ice Hammer from the pedestal go between some diagonal walls to exit.

 

CHOICE (with a TIP): you don’t need to climb any ladder. Just stand by the wall, aim with the shotgun and destroy either left, or right crystal.

2.1.2.1. Right crystal: WOLF

Choosing the right path results in letting you in some corridors. It looks at least odd, sprinting through them with the hammer raised above your head. I wish there was Lara’s barbarian war cry applied. Anyway, the path ends on the top of the slope. Don’t mind the hole far on your right – it’s another way out. Slide down to the very bottom, to meet the wolf guarding a gift. Just like all other animals (shortcut for “animated pals”) in this game, it is immortal. Pick up the gift and watch the stats for the Wolf ending.

2.1.2.2. Left crystal: WINSTON

Choosing the left crystal leads you to the ice chamber. Go W to find a jumpswitch. Throw it! That lowers a hiding block in the NE corner, and the switch is revealed. Pull it to uncover the one behind the S pillar. Activating that one allows you to move the NW lever. The switch on the WSW follows, then you need to go SW once more to hit the preultimate one. The last lever waits for you near the jumpswitch. Activate it to find Winston Gift behind you. The butler appears in the teleport. Approach him to give him a present.

2.2. Valley of the Snowman

TIP: You can take a trip to the area that was intended to be inaccessible. Climb the wall and jump over the snowball to find a point from which You can walk over the hills, around the place. When You have enough exploring, notice You can take one of the two paths.

 

CHOICE: Slide down the slope to burn something or remain where You are to put the fire off. Detailed description of both tasks lies below.

2.2.1. Extinguish: WOLF

Take a hat off the snowman’s head. Climb the NE ladder, BMR on the ledge and push the snowball off the rock. Falling ball opens the ice trapdoor and makes you able to fill the snowman’s hat (apparently, a Bucket) with water. Take it to the NE fire (it can’t kill you) and extinguish it (facing SE, not getting too close). Enter the accessed passage.

 

WATCH OUT! For the illegal slope and corner bug at the end of the canyon. You’ll need to replay the whole thing if you get stuck here like me.

2.2.2. Burn: Transgenic Cabbage Field, KURTIS

Again, don’t step into the forest – the end of the world and graphics. Watching out for the buggy camera, take the SE, S and N branches (it may seem you can’t pick up the SE stack, but it’s possible – you need to stand in front of it, not above it). Meanwhile, get the torch from the NE corner and bring it closer to the fireplace. Make sure you have all three stacks and put them in the fireplace (each of them from the different side). Push the N stone off its tile and get Fire Stones from under it. Using them is a little bit complicated: you need to approach the fireplace from the S and not to get too close to it or it won’t work (took me nearly half an hour to figure it out). The started fire doesn’t kill Lara. Light the torch and drop it to burn the ice (this fire WILL kill you if you jump over it when it’s not extinguished yet). Jump into the water, swim in the hole and through the passage to resurface in the well. Climb the rope (in the meantime, the well fills with safety water) and backflip to land on the… LOL, a cabbage patch. And caterpillars on some of them… I used the binoculars to take a closer look at it and the game crashed. So don’t draw the binoculars here. I had to replay the whole thing… O, sh… I mean, shed. Get the Pickaxe from the shed. Find a flat piece of the ground, by the N and press Action to realize the Pickaxe acts like a crowbar. Enter the crystal cavern. Shatter lots of crystals on your way through the cave and find Metamorphosis Crystal at the end of the path. Go back and place the item on the pedestal near the well (approach the slot from the S). Watch the caterpillars change into butterflies… Imagine that crystal as a growth hormone medium and the whole Advent magic is gone, mwhahahaha, sunken in biotechnology stuff. Whatever. Use the Pickaxe on the S fence in front of the open door and you can enter the barn! And watch the Kurtis ending.

 

DJ Full