Trapped in a cave! Gotta get out of there fast. There are flying jellyfish monsters, falling rocks, spikes, and other lovely bits of danger, but if you're fast enough, you can escape without harm. Connor Ullmann's Hollow is a platform game that's high on the challenge with a healthy injection of creative design on almost every level. You'll meet an untimely end dozens of times in this game, but you'll keep plugging away at it all the same. Practice leads to perfection!
Initially created as a Ludum Dare entry, and then fleshed out a bit more for a commercial release, Hollow keeps everything very simple, which is part of the game's strong appeal. Use the [arrow] keys to move, [X] to jump and [C] to do an insane forward head dive. Those are your only moves, but you'll learn to use them creatively to navigate the cave's terrain. Your dive can carry you across small gaps and give you an extra boost in height. It can also defeat enemies, though not all of these creepy cave alien things are vulnerable to your pearly white noggin bumps.
You can't play Hollow by running around hitting keys at random. The levels are carefully designed to make you take your time, measure your movements, and act only when it's time. That being said, don't think you'll be doing a lot of standing around admiring the scenery. Hollow also encourages you to keep the gas pedal down, charging through areas because taking a break is just the wrong thing to do (and rocks will probably fall on your head). In the end, you'll play each level a dozen or so times, dying at different points and slowly learning how to make it to the exit in one piece.
Analysis: Hollow is the kind of game you'll play until you complete no matter how many times you groan in exasperation over another pointless demise. The short levels keep you motivated to work through each one regardless of how frequently you restart. After all, the exit is just up ahead, so why give up now? The creativity of the enemies is another motivating factor. The world of Hollow feels like an alien planet, and dealing with the squishy baddies is both rewarding and fun.
Achievements are a semi-invisible part of Hollow, and nabbing all ten of them is something you'll have to work towards. Most can be earned with one good play-through, but a few you'll have to go back to get after you've obtained a certain level of mastery. Press [A] to bring up a list of the achievements to see what you've got left to do.
Although Hollow is mostly an action-oriented game, there are a few secrets to be found. The biggest is a hidden exit that shortens the game, allowing you to finish early. Where is it? How do you reach it? Is there a leprechaun there? You'll have to find out!
A short, challenging game with great level design and an art style that's sure to please, Hollow is exactly the sort of game you want to occupy a lazy afternoon.
Walkthrough Guide
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Hollow Walkthrough
Controls
Press the [Arrow] keys to move up(jump), down(enter doorway), left, and right.
Press [X] to jump.
Press [C] to dive attack.
Press [M] to mute the music.
Press [O] to overwrite your save file
Press [R] to return to the menu screen.
Press [A] to view your achievements.
Press [P] to play more games.
Press [W] to access the walkthrough.
Monster Compendium
Patrolling enemies are small, non-flying creatures that will pace the ground left and right. These can be killed with a dive attack, but dive cautiously, as they often come in pairs or groups.
Floating enemies are flying creatures with long, thin bodies and tentacles. They will not move to attack you, but instead hover up and down. These can also be killed with a dive attack.
Flying enemies have large, circular bodies and spike legs which they use to fly with like a helicopter. They will hover over you then drop down with their spike legs to impale you. Wait for a flying enemy to position itself over you, then quickly move right or left to avoid its drop. Dive attack to kill it while it is momentarily grounded.
Faller enemies are huge creatures with a round body with multiple tentacles at the bottom. Like flying enemies they will position themselves over you and drop down to crush you. They cannot be killed and once they fall they will remain stationairy. Wait for them to float above you, then quickly run away to avoid their attack.
Crusher Enemies are very similar to faller enemies except that they have a round head and a body and they can attack multiple times. Wait for them to fly over you, then quickly run out of the way before they smash down to the ground.
Devouring enemies have a square-shaped body and four stretching arms. They are stationary and will not move to attack you, but they cannot be killed and touching one means instant death. Avoid these wherever you see them.
Goo enemies are green jelly-like enemies that alternately lie flat on the ground then raise their bodies up into the air. Like devouring enemies, they can't be killed and must be avoided. Move over them while they are flat on the ground, but be sure not to touch them when their full body is raised. Run through them cautiously, as goo enemies often come in pairs.
Blob enemies are very small bouncing balls. Chase them down when they flee from you and kill them quickly, or they will start a rock avalanche.
Achievements
Two Birds, One Diving Maniac: Kill 2+ enemies in one dive. There are many places to get this achievement but an early area is at Level 8. Run right and wait for the two patrolling enemies to cross eachother, then dive at both to get a double-kill.
C-C-C-Combo!: Kill 3+ enemies in one dive. The easiest place to get this achievement is Level 18. Wait behind the wall for all of the flying creatures to approach you. Before long, they'll all get stuck behind the wall and stack up into a pile. Dive through the pile to kill them all at once.
Avalanchier: Kill a blob after it starts an avalanche. Go to level 5. Run right, avoiding all the falling boulders. Drop down to the lower platform and run left. You will see two small floating blobs near the end of the left platform. Chase the blobs down, then dive to kill them after they start another rock avalanche.
Lay Waste: Kill the floating enemies in Level #4. Consult the walkthrough for instructions on how to kill each enemy in Level 4.
So Pro: Finish the game with fewer than 20 deaths.
Dare to Live: Finish the game with fewer than 5 deaths.
Geronimo! : Dive into a pit and die. Use your dive ability to fall to your death in any pit of the game.
Impaled: Get stabbed to death by a flying monster. Wait for a flying creature to hover over you and either jump up into its spikes, or stand still while it falls into you.
Close Call: Dodge a faller. Consult Level 3 of the walkthrough for instructions on this achievement.
Lucky Charms: Find the leprechaun. Go to Level 9. Jump+dive over the devouring creature, then jump onto the ledge at the right. Jump up to the next ledge on the left, then jump left to the slightly higher level of the platform. Note that this part of the wall is not covered in spines like the rest of the wall. Walk left through the secret tunnel to the leprechaun's room. Exit left to complete the game early.
Level 1
Drop right off the first and second platforms to land on the small ledge to the right of the narrow pit.
Jump up the steps, then drop over the right edge. Exit to the left.
Level 2
Stand still while you wait for the flying enemy to hover over you. Quickly move out of the way as it falls. As soon as it lands, dive attack to kill it.
Jump and dive to make it across the large pit to the right. Continue right to the small ledge left of the narrow pit. Wait for the first patrolling creature to approach then dive to simultaneously cross the pit and kill the creature. Continue right and kill the second patrolling enemy. Hop across the second narrow pit and exit right.
Level 3
Jump and dive to make it over the large pit of spikes. Quickly continue to rapidly dive right to avoid the large faller enemy. If the faller drops in front of you, jump+dive to pass over it.
Drop down and continue left. Kill the first patrolling creature away from the spikes, then step back a bit and kill the second patrolling creature. Walk (don't jump!) through the pit of spikes. Exit to the left.
Level 4
Go right. Jump over the first pit, jump+dive over the second pit, and use dive over the third pit. Wait for the first floating creature to be low, then dive through to kill it and go over the fourth pit. Jump forward then dive midair through the second floating creature to kill it and reach the fifth pit. Wait for the third floating creature on the far right to down, then jump+dive through to kill it(by the time you reach it, it should be floating up) and cross the sixth pit to reach the exit.
Level 5
Quickly dive right continuously to avoid the falling boulders, then drop down to the platform below.
Move left and drop down to the next level, then quickly dive over the pit to the right to avoid the incoming falling boulder. Continue diving to the right, avoiding the flying creature and falling boulders. Exit to the right.
Level 6
Move left onto the small pile of rocks in the corner. Wait for the flying creature to drop, then jump+dive through the creature and onto the platform. Repeat the process with the second flying enemy, then continue right.
Jump+dive over the large pit, move right, then jump up to the left platform. Dive through all three of the floating enemies to either kill or avoid them. Exit to the left.
Level 7
Wait for the moving platform to arrive, then drop onto it, making sure to stand on the far left side. Wait for the huge crusher enemy to approach you, then as it prepares to drop, quickly run to the right side of the moving platform. Jump to right platform to the exit.
Level 8
Continuously dive right through the patrolling enemies, avoiding falling boulders. Quickly exit to the right.
Level 9
Stand just beside the devouring creature, then jump straight up and dive over to avoid it. Continue up the ledge to the right, then jump to the higher step on the left.
Wait for the patrolling enemy on the right platform to approach then jump+dive to simultaneously kill it and reach the platform. Drop down and continue right.
Wait for the floating creature to rise before jumping up to the small square stone on the right. Jump+dive left to kill the floating creature and land on the left platform. Jump up to stand on the wooden platform. Kill the second floating creature, then stand on the small square step to the right. Jump+dive left to the exit.
Level 10
Jump forward and just as you're in the middle the two devouring creatures, dive to pass through the gap between them. Quickly dive continuously right to avoid the crusher enemy and the falling boulders.
Press down to drop through the wooden platform. You can kill or avoid the enemy at the bottom level, then exit to the left.
Level 11
Wait for the moving platform to arrive, then drop onto it. Place yourself on the left side of the platform, wait for the huge enemy to approach and position itself over you, then quickly move to the right side of the platform to avoid its attack. Jump across the spikes to the landing on the right.
Drop down to the right then quickly dive continuously left to kill the four patrolling enemies. Continue left, then drop down to the lower level.
Stand behind the small square stone, then move right to push it along. Stay ground level and do not jump to avoid the hovering creatures. If the large dropping enemies are grounded when you approach them, wait for them to lift into the air, then quickly move right to avoid their drop. Push the block to the right edge, then quickly hop up and exit to the right.
Level 12
Move right, then jump up to land on the wooden platform. Wait for the goo enemy to lie flat, then jump+dive to pass it. Run to the right wall, then jump up onto the wooden platform. Make sure the patrolling enemy above isn't approaching, then jump up onto the second wooden platform. Kill the patrolling enemy, then continue left.
Jump up onto the wooden platform, then jump right onto the ledge. Wait for the first goo creature to lie flat, then run over it. Wait again for the second goo creature to flatten, then run over it. Continue right, jump up both wooden platforms, move left, and jump up the next pair of wooden platforms.
Jump onto the ledge above the pit of spikes. Wait for the floating enemies to lower and jump over them to the ledges on the right. Jump up and right to the high ledge on the right wall, then jump directly up to the wooden platform. Go left and jump over the large gap. Exit to the left.
Level 13
Jump up onto the wooden platform. Jump+dive right over the large pit. Wait for the two goo enemies to flatten, then run over them. Jump up onto the lower left platform, then jump left to the middle platform, next jump right to the highest platform. Drop right over the devouring creature to the lower right platform, then jump right to the platform next to the floating creature. Wait for the floating creature to lower, then jump over it to the next platform.
Wait for the boulder to fall, then drop right. Jump right to the next small platform. Stand on the edge, then dive right(don't jump!) to the long, lower platform. Jump up to the small, higher platform. Wait for the two goo creatures to flatten on the ground, then jump+dive through them. Quickly move right to the exit.
Level 14
Run right to slide on the ice, then drop down to the ground below. Quickly jump right to land on the next platform, then jump right again to reach the third. Dive forward past the lower ceiling to the fourth icy landing. Dive through the floating enemies to the fifth icy landing. Run right, then jump+dive to the sixth landing. Jump right off the platform to reach the exit.
Level 15
Slowly move across the ice before you reach the goo creature. Wait for the goo creatures to flatten on the ground, then quickly run left and dive(don't jump!) over the pit, avoiding the devouring monster above you. Dive again to kill the patrolling creature.
Jump up onto the wooden platform. Wait for the floating enemy to lower, then jump+dive to kill it. Wait for the two goo enemies to flatten, then jump+dive through them into the gap. Repeat the process with the two goo enemies on the right. Climb up the hill, then jump left onto the ledge.
Wait for the goo enemy to flatten. The moment it does, stand on top of it and quickly jump over the devouring enemy. Continue jumping over each devouring enemy before the goo creatures raise from the ground. Exit to the left.
Level 16
Jump onto the square ledge on the right, then jump up the two wooden platforms and up onto the ledge on the left. Wait for the patrolling creature to arrive, then jump+dive to kill it and reach the landing. Drop right to the icy ground.
Wait for the floating creature raise and run under it, then jump+dive to go completely over the middle platform with the goo creature. Jump up onto the wooden platform, then jump left onto the first square platform. Jump left onto the second and third square platforms. Stand directly in the middle of the square then jump+dive right onto the fourth square platform. Jump right to the last square platform.
Dive right to the landing, don't jump in order avoid the devouring monster. Quickly move right, dodging the falling boulders, then jump right onto the block. Drop down to the next block under it. Dive right against the wall to reach the exit.
Level 17
Jump onto the left side of the moving platform, then quickly move to the right side as the crusher monster drops down. Jump onto the wooden platform on the right above the two goo creatures, then move to the right side of the platform and wait for the boulder to fall. Drop onto the second moving block and wait for the next two boulders to fall before jumping onto the next wooden platform.
Jump onto the left side third moving platform then quickly over both of the devouring creatures. Jump off the platform to the landing, then exit to the right.
Level 18
Go right to the narrow area with the low ceiling so that all of the flying stack up against the wall. Back up a little to the left, wait for the floating creature to lower, then dive right through them then quickly dive left to return to the safe area. Repeat the process until all the enemies are dead, being careful not to dive too far forward into the devouring creature at ground level.
Jump over the ground level devouring creature, then dive through the floating creature. Continue right, jump up to the ledge and exit.
Level 19
Slowly jump up to the icy ledge and then up again to the wooden platform. Wait for the goo creature to flatten to the ground, then jump carefully onto the icy square and up again to the wooden platform. Wait for the patrolling enemy to start walking away, then quickly jump on to the icy block on the right. Make sure the two goo creatures on the left ledge are flat, then jump to the icy block and quickly jump+dive to avoid the devouring creature and pit of spikes. Exit to the left.
Level 20
Dive across the narrow gap to kill the patrolling enemy. Jump up to the wooden platform, then jump left on top of the block. Wait for the goo creature to flatten, then stand on it and dive left across the narrow gap. Wait for the second goo creature to flatten, then stand on it and jump up onto the wooden platform then very quickly jump and dive to kill the flying creature. This will cause you to fall through the gap, so hold the left arrow while falling to return to the beginning platform.
Return to the ledge where you fell. Wait for the third goo creature to flatten, then dive across and jump up to the wooden platform. Jump up to the ledge, climb the hill. Wait for the two patrolling enemies to approach then jump up to the wooden platform and dive through them to kill both simultaneously.
As soon as you touch the wooden platform, rocks will start to fall from the ceiling. Quickly jump up to the wooden platform under the devouring creature, then carefully jump to the wooden platform on the right. Jump in the air to the middle of the two devouring creatures, then dive to pass between them.
Move left and jump up to the wooden platform, then jump up the ledges and up again onto the wooden platform. Carefully jump up and right to the next to platforms, then up and left to the third wooden platform. Jump+dive left to the fourth platform against the wall, then jump directly up. Jump right to the last wooden platform, then jump+dive right to reach the exit.
The End!
Posted by: Trinn
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September 8, 2011 11:52 AM