Magnus: Operation Hard Drive www.MagnusOHD.com is a game that will test your timing, patience and desire to overcome the impossible. These are basic guidelines that can help steer the player away from frustration and to the gratifying feeling of completing one of the most challenging indie games ever made. That’s right, un-squint your eyes and take a gander below:
1.) When navigating, keep your fingers rested over the Action Keys. (W, A, S, D). MOHD is a game that constantly test your ability to react quickly and be completely aware of your surroundings. Keeping your eyes trained on Magnus and being prepared to act, execute and move with precision is key to saving you from being defeated by your own frustration.
2.) The obvious route isn’t always the best route. Looks can be deceiving. It’s safe to say, that heading in the furthest direction first, will get you closer to your ultimate destination; Considering the fact that the collectible items in MOHD are strategically placed in each maze. Disregarding the difficulty of each maze and not properly planning your route, will cause you to be defeated by your own frustration.
3.) Take the time to read; Story Mode isn’t there for just entertainment purposes. Besides detailing the events that are taking place on planet Move and at Towers Edge, Magnus gives his Armor Bearer,Damon Foster, clues as to how to approach each puzzle and the best tactics to use on each enemy. Reading what potential threats lie ahead before facing them head on is vital to solving puzzles in MOHD. Skipping through or not ingesting what Magnus is saying, will cause you to be defeated by your own frustration.
4.) Whenever possible, take the time and let your Magna replenish. There is nothing more frustrating than to be 90% through a maze to have to restart due to exhausting your Magna; this is how you successfully become your own opponent in MOHD. This can be challenging in Time Attack (Arcade Mode) at first but learning how to micro-manage your only resource in the game will carry you far in both modes. Trying to rush through the ending of a maze, will cause you to be defeated by your own frustration.
5.) Observe and learn the patterns and behavior for each enemy. Yes, each enemy class is the same and relatively does not change but their position and area of coverage in each maze does. Movement is key inMOHD and studying how your roving obstacles inhabit and patrol their territory gives you an instant advantage. Attempting to run through the enemies without a organized strategy, will cause you to be defeated by your own frustration.
6.) Take it slow. Learn when to let go. So you mastered your surroundings, collected all the Hard Drive’s, obtained the final KeyCard and started boogying on towards the exit. Enemies quickly start to converge on you and as your dodging and evading trying to spare the consequence of having to restart the maze, your Magna is quickly draining, Magnus is overheating and you start to lose visibility and vitality; Panicking, you freeze trying to recuperate during all the commotion and suddenly, in disbelief, stop. You are restarting the level. You must choose your resources wisely and at appropriate times. Failure to do so, will cause you to be defeated by your own frustration.
7.) When in doubt, don’t. As simple as it sounds, it’s actually pretty easy to find yourself second guessing your decisions and repeating obvious mistakes. Perhaps that path isn’t the most efficient one. Or maybe that direction is a choke point for roving enemies. And maybe, just maybe, that one particular enemy cant be out maneuvered. If your not sure, avoid it. Yield to curiosity, or will cause you to be defeated by your own frustration.
