Slippery Climb

Rewards: Red Gem—smash all 51 boxes without losing a life.

This is one of the most challenging levels in the first game. It’s all about timed jumps, and there are a lot of opportunities to make a mistake and lose a life. The checkpoint is past the middle of the level, so expect to get very good at the first half.

Smash four boxes at the start, then jump up some stairs, timing the metal stairs that retract. The first one is so small that you can jump over it. However, later on you’ll find longer stairs. Jump across to a moving platform, then to a second one. This is all timing. Plan your jump so you land where the platform will be when you come down. Jump into a small alcove to pick up an extra life and a couple of boxes. Wait for the platform to return and drop onto it. Jump across to two more moving platforms, then onto a stationary platform.

This platform holds a prisoner, who reaches out from behind bars. Jump and spin-attack to send him away. If he touches you, you take damage (or lose a life if you don’t have any masks). Jump across two shelves that extend and retract to reach another alcove with two boxes. Continue across another retracting shelf and onto a platform that moves around in a circle.

Ride it to the top, then jump onto a bird. Quickly jump from the bird onto another moving platform. Repeat the process, using a bird to reach another moving platform. From there, enter an alcove to pick up an extra life. From the alcove, jump or drop onto the moving platform, then jump across on a bird to reach an alcove with the first Nitrus Brio icon. Continue left and jump across three retracting shelves to the other side. Move past two prisoners and progress over birds and into alcoves, destroying boxes.

After the last alcove in this lower area, you must jump up some metal stairs to an elevator platform. Wait until the steps extend, then quickly jump up them and onto the platform. Ride it up to another flight of metal stairs. Time this just right so you jump up them and then to some stone steps, which are safe. If you start sliding down the metal steps, aim for the elevator platform. Break boxes and jump across a retracting shelf, onto a bird, then onto another elevator platform.

Jump onto a stone ledge, then watch the next challenge. A shelf extends and retracts, and a metal staircase does the same. The shelf does it twice for each time the stairs extend and retract, so time your movements accordingly. Next, ascend a series of shelves that retract in a faster rhythm than previous shelves. Mount the stone steps and jump across to a platform. Jump to more stone steps and take them up to the platform where the checkpoint is located.

Ride an elevator platform up a bit so you can jump onto some platforms that move in a circuit. As you ride one circuit up, jump across to another and then a third to get onto another elevator platform. Ride it up and jump onto some stone steps. The top two steps are metal, so wait until they extend before jumping onto the top step and, from there, to a platform on the right.

A lab assistant on this platform throws test tubes at you. Watch where they land, then rush in and perform a spin attack to take him down. Now jump across to some metal stairs while they’re extended, and from there, get onto a moving platform. Traverse a series of birds and moving platforms to reach an alcove with an extra life and a Nitrus Brio icon. Jump across a shelf and another bird to reach another alcove containing boxes.

Descend some stairs, then head back up and past three prisoners. Jump across two birds to reach another alcove. This one contains the third Nitrus Brio icon, as well as the portal.

When you return to the level, continue right and make your way across birds and moving platforms. There’s an alcove along the way with an extra life. When you reach the final platform, defeat the lab assistant, then break open the final boxes for even more extra lives. Jump onto the portal to exit the level.

Time Trial

Time Requirements

Sapphire: 3:30:00

Gold: 3:00:47

Platinum: 2:26:08

This level is tough, more so without losing a life, so rushing through for time turns the ordeal into a real hazard. There are several high-number time boxes along the way. You must balance speed with accuracy. Many of the moving platforms and metal stairs can be hit with the proper timing if you don’t stop. However, your jumps need to be near perfect. Practice is key.