Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 100 total - Pro target 550k)
Some concentric circles in the top left where the sun is, a curved line for the horizon, and loose pegs beneath. It doesn't look the easiest of starting levels, but we'll see.
Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 429,000
- I could have finished that, as I had the last red peg available for several shots, but I wanted the pro score so I was trying to build my score off the remaining blues.
Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 698,500
- Found a good first ball that time to knock a hole in the right hand side of the sun that went on to take out most of the horizon line for a big bonus. I enlarged the hole slightly with the second ball, then I could shoot the third ball round the loop of the sun for another big bonus. I still had to make quite a few catches to reach the pro target, although a 100k bonus at the end boosted my score more than I needed.
Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 103 total - Pro target 575k)
We have what are presumably three snakes flanked by some curvy lines which might be grass, altough no grass is apparent in the picture. Still, we have lots of curves to work with which may make scoring bonuses easier.
Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 275,010
- Five red pegs left at the end. I only made one bucket catch, which wouldn't generally be considered enough to get through any level. There are some early bonuses available, but the pegs soon become disconnected and the level is then full of odd angles, making catches tricky to come by.
Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 356,520
- Three red pegs left that time. A lot more catches that time, as the game ran to 21 shots, but not much closer to the pro target.
Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 791,640
- Much easier with the laser ball. It took out a lot of pegs ans earned a lot of points. I went on to make a total clearance just for the hell of it.
Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 88 total - Pro target 525k)
This design features a circle for the sun, a bunch of horizontal lines to each side, three short angled lines, and an arc of single round pegs. Horizontal lines, close together like these can be awkward to get into, so there may be problems here.
Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 310,202
- A couple of red pegs left at the end as I was still trying to build a score. It might be useful to clear one side first, as it would probably make catches easier off the other side.
Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 288,590
- I concentrated on trying to take out one side first, but it took too many balls to do it. By the time I had, I didn't have enough left to finish the level. Plus the score wasn't high enough.
Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 349,480
- Very similar story to the last attempt. I tried to take out one side first, but ran out of balls still with quite a few pegs left.
Attempt #4 - No power ups. Score: 173,230
- That one went wrong from the word go. I normally manage to take out the sun in a few balls, but made a mess of it this time. One more go before I resort to power ups.
Attempt #5 - No power ups. Score: 664,530
- Tried to attack it with massive patience that time by constantly firing the ball straight into the bucket until the purple peg was in the right place, then take a careful glance off its leading edge into the bucket. This was working great until I made a silly mistake right at the end. I had cleared all but four pegs, thought I could see a way of taking out two at once and made a mess of it. It was my 63rd shot which may well be a personal record for a single game.
Attempt #6 - No power ups. Score: 304,220
- Cleared the right hand side, but still had lots of pegs left on the left when I ran out of balls. It's undoubtedly possible without a power up, but I think the time has come to give up and use one.
Attempt #7 - Laser Ball. Score: 318,930
- The laser ball seemed to get rid of all the wrong pegs, leaving a really awkward selection for gauging rebounds. As a result there was no real improvement on previous goes.
Attempt #8 - Laser Ball. Score: 574,800
- A bit better this time. I concentrated on taking out the sun before I worried about the yellow peg, which I didn't do last time. This left me with a much better selection of pegs after the laser. Good enough to make the total clearance and reach the pro target.
Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 93 total - Pro target 500k)
This design is that of a lizard. This provides lots of curves, but also lots of odd angles.
Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 691,960
- It didn't look particularly promising half way through, but it got better as it went on. I got some decent bounces and fortunate rebounds.
Level 5 (Clear 25 red pegs from 99 total - Pro target 475k)
This design consists of a number of jagged interconnecting lines, reminiscent of crazy paving. These lines look like they'll make this a tricky level. I'll give it a go without power ups first but I imagine I'll be turning to them soon enough.
Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 213,240
- Lots of tricky angles makes for a difficult level. I'll go straight for the laser ball.
Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 549,220
- Once the laser ball had removed a good chunk of the pegs. The angles were easier to judge and it was easy enough to make rebounds until the pro target was reached.
Level 6 (Score 475k with 40 red pegs and 63 blue - Pro target 775k)
The same design as level 2, which I only got past by using a laser ball, so I'll do the same here.
Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 676,560
- The last three pegs were all in a U-shape in the middle at the bottom of the screen, so I tried to take them all out together with my final shot. However the ball skipped over the middle one, so I missed the 100% clearance by a single peg.
Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 731,750
- I thought I'd have another try before I moved on. I got closer, but not quite there. I cleared all the red pegs that time, but not quite all the blue ones. I only got a 10k bonus at the end, but even a 50k wouldn't quite have been enough.
Level 7 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 75 blue - Pro target 700k)
The same design as level 1, but a total clearance is needed this time.
Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 743,800
- I remembered the first shot that worked so well on level 1, and concentrated on the sun first. I didn't actually activate the laser ball for several balls, which isn't normally a good idea, but this time I think it worked for the best.
Level 8 (Clear 40 red pegs from 88 total, with only 7 balls - Pro target 725k)
The same design as level 3, which I eventually resorted to the laser ball to get through. Straight for it this time.
Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 336,020
- The yellow peg was buried near the bottom on the left, so it took far too long to activate. I still could probably have done it, but made a couple of clumsy attempt at catches.
Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 796,350
- The yellow peg was in the sun this time, which simplified things a lot. It meant I could take out the sun first, then use the laser ball to wipe out a large chunk of the horizontal lines, then use carefully taken catches to finish off. Took the total clearance just to be sure.
Level 9 (Clear ALL pegs - 30 red and 63 blue - Pro target 800k)
The same design as level 4, but looking to clear blues as well as reds.
Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 703,180
- Only 84% clearance, so not a very good attempt. Too many missed catches.
Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 846,820
- Ouch! One peg left. Just missed the very last catch by a whisker. Otherwise everything was going to plan.
Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,035,660
- Did well with the laser ball that time, and triggered the triple score bucket for a big bonus which took a lot of the pressure off to build a big score. Very quickly got into a position where I only needed between 2 and 3 pegs per ball, and that figure kept coming down.
Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 74 blue - Pro target 625k)
The same design as level 5, but all pegs required. Clearly this will need a power up.
Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 495,850
- Two pegs left. The score was getting there. Close, but no cigar.
Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 691,020
- Much the same as the previous attempt, but just that little bit better. I judged the rebounds slightly better and caught a few more of them.
Level 6 (Score 475k with 40 red pegs and 63 blue - Pro target 775k)
Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 854,170
- Got it that time with a total clearance. And that completes the Ace for this level.
SUMMARY
Level | Reds | Pegs | Target | Balls | Clock | Pro | Attempts | Record | Average | Video |
1 | 25 | 100 | Reds | 10 | - | 550k | 2 | 698,500 | 563,750 | |
2 | 25 | 103 | Reds | 10 | - | 575k | 3 | 791,640 | 474,390 | |
3 | 25 | 88 | Reds | 10 | - | 525k | 8 | 664,530 | 372,997 | |
4 | 25 | 93 | Reds | 10 | - | 500k | 1 | 691,960 | 691,960 | |
5 | 25 | 99 | Reds | 10 | - | 475k | 2 | 549,220 | 381,230 | |
6 | 40 | 103 | 475k | 10 | - | 775k | 3 | 854,170 | 754,160 | |
7 | 25 | 100 | All | 10 | - | 700k | 1 | 743,800 | 743,800 | |
8 | 40 | 88 | Reds | 7 | - | 725k | 2 | 796,350 | 566,185 | |
9 | 30 | 93 | All | 10 | - | 800k | 3 | 1,035,660 | 861,886 | |
10 | 25 | 99 | All | 10 | - | 625k | 2 | 691,020 | 593,435 |
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