Still Life Hints

How do I get through the partially-lighted maze?

  • 1 of 11: This is quite a well-conceived maze puzzle -- and one that is not as difficult as it might at first appear.
  • 2 of 11: The most basic explanation is that Gus (the very small pinpoint in the lighted area at the lower left of the screen) needs to find his way out the other end of the sewer -- which is the lighted door at the top middle of the screen.
  • 3 of 11: It is recommended that you save your game before entering the maze, though.  Then, if you should feel hopelessly lost, you can always restore the saved game and try again.  (You cannot save a game once you are in the maze.  However, if you move Gus off the bottom of the maze screen, he will return to the sewer room where you can save the game.)
  • 4 of 11: Navigation is done using the symbol at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.  Click (and hold) the top arrow of the compass to have Gus travel up.  He will only continue to move as long as you hold the arrow down.
  • 5 of 11: Click (and hold) any of the other three arrows to move Gus in those directions.  (And no, the arrow keys on the keyboard will not duplicate this movement.  Wouldn't that have been a good design?)
  • 6 of 11: As Gus moves, there will continue to be a small lighted area around him.
  • 7 of 11: This is the only clue as to what is nearby, and in which direction Gus can move.
  • 8 of 11: You may wish to draw out a map of the sewers, as you move Gus around the screen.  It will make it easier to retrace your steps, should the need arise.  (And it probably will.)
  • 9 of 11: Perhaps one of the simplest methods to use, to navigate this maze, is the classic "right-hand rule".
  • 10 of 11: While this method will undoubtedly lead the user into frequent dead ends -- and possibly even require returning via the same passageway, to once again bear off in another direction -- it will most always eventually allow the user to navigate the entire maze, and ultimately reach any point in the maze -- including, of course, the end-point, or exit from the maze.
  • 11 of 11: If you become frustrated by the inability to work Gus through the maze, you might wish to refer to the following: