Commander Keen Episode B: The Patchatron.
Thanks for downloading; now you can see how to play.
Click one of these links to read more:
Getting Started
Controls
How to Play
Story
Creatures
Items
Hazards
Credits
Getting Started
Simply
extract this zip file. [Oh, you’ve already done that haven’t you?
Oh well.] Just run the BAT file and you’re away!
Controls
The default
controls are as follows:
Move left and right: left and right arrows
Jump: Ctrl
Toggle pogo: Alt
Spit a laser: Ctrl + Alt
Toggle sound: F2
Save (only on the map): F5
Status Screen: Space
On the map world, use the arrow keys to navigate, and press Ctrl to enter a
level.
Some of these keys can be redefined in the game.
How to Play
As Commander
Keen, you must save several planets from destruction by destroying the eight miniature QED that are aimed at each planet. You may even
come across Mortimer McMire himself. In each level you enter, there is an
exit to be reached some levels will contain to be destroyed. After completing a
level you can pass it on the world map, note however that some levels open
gates at other places on the map.
Story
Commander Keen has previously had many adventures
involving Mortimer McMire (see Episode X or Norp the Yorp games for
details.) but things have been quiet lately.
Upon reaching Mortimers ship
however, Keen was immediately 'patched'-the molecules of his body were
completely reformed. This caused him to crash onto Mortimers ship. Coming to Keen knew something wasn't
right. 'Gah! What happened
to my body?! Yelled Keen.
Acting quickly, Keen looked up his new body in the
Encyclopaedia Universa. Mortimer had turned him into
a Lilb, a bubble based lifeform.
'Well, my Pogo's useless then' said Keen 'Time to try
out my new pea shooter.' So, looking totally ridiculous, Keen
set out to destroy the Patchotron, find an antidote
for his patching, and clobber Mortimer.
Now in order to be successful, Keen must destroy eight miniature QED's Mortimer obtained
at a discount. (Only for our first 50 orders!) when buying the Omegamatic. These are aimed at eight different
planets, and their is a decoy as well. Keen must also
rescue Xky Rauh and Andrew Durdin, two scientists enslaved by Mort in order to build
his orbiting fortress. Keen will have to search each area of the Patchotron separately, and be wary of switches, false walls
and enemies. He has his work cut out for him!
Creatures ‘n’ stuff
The patchatron has many defences, so Keen had better be on his
toes.
|
Creatures and things |
||
|
Scouter |
These intriguing robots spend their time cleaning up any messes or fixing anything broken. Harmless and easily disposed of, they could become useful in some cases... |
|
|
Hoverboards |
Found only later on in the game, these are useful for carrying Keen places he can’t normally go, such as far away ledges or over pits of acid. |
|
|
Bobble |
These annoying little pests spend their time rolling around looking for someone to stun. One shot to kill, best avoided. |
|
|
Enemies |
|
|
|
Drel |
Strange twisted creatures patched out of nothingness by Morimer, these weird looking things jump around looking for things to bite. One shot to kill. |
|
|
Byrd |
Yet another odd creature created by Mortimer, these harmless looking fliers shoot multiple firball streams that are almost impossible to avoid. Always try to be behind them. |
|
|
Fireball |
Shot by the Byrd, Guns and Monks, Keens Rail gun should take care of it, IF you can hit it in time! |
|
|
Monk |
Shadowy creatures, but surprisingly athletic, often jumping several times their height to sneak up and blast you with a deadly fireball. Four shots to kill, very pesky. |
|
|
Gun |
Found embedded in walls, these turrets fire fireballs randomly. If you find yourself in front of one and it fires, shoot the bullet. Guns cannot be destroyed. |
|
Commanders
There are three
people Keen must get past in order to destroy the Patchotron.
They are:
Mortimer McMire, evil genius and in complete control of the Patchotron.
He’s made it impossible to reach him. Impossible that is unless Keen can
rescue:
Andrew Durdin, top nuclear physicist and in charge of the Patchotrons
power core. Rescue him and he’ll destroy the source of all the
electricity helping Mort, thereby crippling the Patchotron.
Andy’s area is full of electrical hazards. To get to him though,
you’ll need to free:
Xkylyr Rauh, eminent
structural engineer and in charge of the Patchotrons
security. Free him
and Keen will never have to puzzle over which switch to flick or door to open
again! Xky’s area is packed full of puzzles and
traps, so look before you leap.
Items
The patchatron is packed with candy and such hoarded by Mortimer.
Some objects may be impossible to get so don’t let greed blind you.
Keen managed to
pick up one of Mortimer LEG Rail guns.It shoots a
small electrical discharge that will fry an enemy at sixty feet. The gun is more
accurate than the neural stunner.
Rail gun: 5 shots 
Mortimer
hasn’t changed his style of access doors, still relying on gem-circuit
technology. Match the gem and door colours to pass. WARNING: not every door can
be opened, and Keen can’t carry two of the same colour gems!
Hazards
Sludge: 
A thick black gunk that will
clean the meat off Keens bones
Flare:
A hot ball of plasma that will fry
you to a crisp.
Glo-tube: 
Yet another way to fry.
These are not
the only things to watch out for so be on your guard.
How to Play- Level hints.
The Map
Red levels are standard;
the green and grey ones are optional. Each of the arms will open after another
one is done. There is a secret level lying around…
Tips are given for the large red levels only; 1-4 are
in the bottom right arm, 5-8 in the bottom left, 9-12 in the top right and
13-16 in the top left arms.
Level 1
Click the switch
down the bottom twice to open the bridge blocking the end.
Levels 2,3&4
Both are trainer
levels, 4 will open the bottom left arm on the map, 3 is one of several decoy
machines…
Level 5
Don’t
stand where the globe things are, the floor is false. Look out for little hints
that a wall or floor is fake. When you get to the area
where you appear trapped, go left through a wall and get a green key, then go
right and jump through the ceiling. Once you appear trapped again, the spikes
are false and you can fall through the floor. After destroying the machine you
follow the arrows through the left wall.
Level 6
One hell of a
maze, this level isn’t vital.
Level 7
At the beginning
you can go either way, if going right, use the top switch, when you fall down
click the rightmost switch. If going left, click the middle switch. After
falling through the floor, go left and click the second switch, you shouldn’t
see a bridge, wait ten seconds the carefully fall down. At the level bottom,
don’t click any of the switches. The top exit is fake,
avoid it.
Level 8: Xky Rauth [On hard only]
There is a sign
by the left set of doors telling you what colour doors to open, and in what
order. The first line will get you the first grey gem, the next lines the
second.
Getting four
blue gems [after getting first grey gem above.] Click the leftmost switch
twice.
Getting
the second red gem. [After getting
second grey gem] You can walk over the tarpit without a bridge.
Click all the switches
at the end once, them switch them all once more. This
will open the blocks leading to Xky.
Level 9: Gun
Turret
Just run through
this one and hope you’re not shot. You can shoot any bullets at head height though.
Level 10
Simple enough,
just wander around until you find two gems and you’re out.
Level 11: Andrew
Durdin
Stay on you’re
toes near cannons, a brief search will show you all the gems, one of which you’ll
need to get to get the gem at the beginning of the level.At
the end click the switch. You can shoot any bullets heading in your direction,
or jump over some.
Level 12, 13,14&15
12.) Just wander
around until you find the gems. Then head toward the bottom right of the level
and go left. 13 is easy enough. You should recognise
14, don’t let the paralysers faze you, just get
the gems and try to ignore them. 15.) Head down, goings pretty easy. Mind the paralyser at the start though, he could get you killed.
Level 16:
Mortimer. [On hard only]
Yes you can get
through it easily enough, but can you get Mort’s
candy stash?
Arrgh! All these doors look the
same! Or do they? Open the doors that look a little different… In the
green door area, get the four different coloured gems on the right.
Now think, do
you want to try and get the candy, or just Mortimer? Mort will be a lot easier.
You’ll
need an IQ of 315 to get the candy, it needs the solving of the the toughest switch puzzles ever invented! If you think you
can beat it, send the solution to six_different_people@hotmail.com.
Credits
Very big thanks to all
those whose graphics were so perfect that I ripped them, (See ant familiar
tiles?) Remember, forgery is the sincerest praise and you’re welcome to rip
my graphics anytime!
Thanks to Andrew Durdin for
the fantastic programs he's made: Modkeen, KeenEdit, Fin2Bmp, and TileInfo.
Thanks also to Bryan Rodgers (Admiral Bob) for CKPatch,
an excellent tool that helped make my mod what it is.
Finally, thanks to Christian Maas who
wrote the hex editor I used for patching, and Captain Keen for spotting over 97
mistakes in the finished game.
Thanks for downloading, now play!