Board 32: Treetop Town

This picture is of a wooden house perched in a tree, connected to other treehouses in the background via rope bridges. A couple of monkeys clamber over it.

Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 90 total - Pro target 475k)

The first design follows the lines in the picture of various handrails, monkey tails, vines & branches, and has single round pegs scattered everywhere else.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 517,960

• I had one red peg left at the end, but I really should have finished it. I should have made sure that I had a clear shot at the last red peg instead of playing the purple peg until I had one ball left. I'm always doing that, and it's a really bad habit.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 634,410 

• I got some better early sweeps and ricochets that time, and probably more catches as well. It all seemed a lot easier anyway, and I got a comfortable total clearance.

Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 105 total - Pro target 600k)

The second design is three sets of two curves, each pair connected in the centre. There are also similar curves of single round pegs between and above the solid ones.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 652,930 

• The curves offer plenty of scope for early sweep bonuses, and once they're gone some distance bonuses ought to be available. I only got a 97% clearance which equates to about 4 pegs left, but I did enough to secure the pro score.

Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 101 total - Pro target 575k)

The third design is of a monkey's face.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 521,450

• I painted myself into a corner at the end, leaving myself with a blue peg that was completely hidden beneath the last red one. It was central and medium height, so I couldn't even reach it off the side wall. I really needed a total clearance to get the pro score but all I could do was take the final red and hope for a 100k final bonus, which I didn't get.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 357,730

• I didn't do so well that time. I got most of the catches I went for, but I didn't get the bonuses I did previously, so I was always struggling for points towards the end.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 641,060 

• I didn't pick up many early catches, but I did get quite a few good size bonuses in the early part of the game, which meant at least I didn't have too many points to score in the endgame, it was more about getting rid of the remaining red pegs.

Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 100 total - Pro target 425k)

The fourth design follows the straight lines of the picture, specifically the straight edges of the buildings, plus lots of single round pegs sprinkled about.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 462,250 

• I didn't seem to take many early catches so I had a reasonable amount to do in the endgame, but catches and bonuses started to come my way and I managed to muddle through. I needed to avoid the 10k bucket at the end, but managed that as well.

Level 5 (Clear 25 red pegs from 121 total - Pro target 525k)

The fifth design looks like a door, flanked by two windows. So mainly straight lines, plus a few diamonds and small circles.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 798,740 

• I picked off a lot of red and purple pegs off the side wall which boosted my score quite a bit. All those horizontal and vertical pegs makes for quite a lot of opportunities for easy catches, and I took them whenever I could.

Level 6 (Score 425k with 25 red pegs and 76 blue - Pro target 775k)

The same design as level 3, but with 200k on the pro target, and just a score to go for.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 587,120

• I cleared all the reds but got nowhere near the pro target. This was mainly due to it taking most of my balls to get through to the yellow peg which was right down the bottom of the face.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 914,770 

• I was going for a clearance, but caught the last red by mistake with a couple of blue pegs left. But it didn't matter as I was already well over the pro target. I managed to drop the first ball straight through the centre of the design which got me the yellow peg. I found a good line for the laser ball, helped by a Split Ball. I didn't have too much to do after that.

Level 7 (Clear 40 red pegs from 121 total, with a 5s shot-clock - Pro target 750k)

The same design as level 5, but with 15 more red pegs, 225k on the pro target, and a five second shot-clock.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 341,640

• I didn't get much luck there, and the red pegs didn't seem very favourably positioned. I'll try it with a laser ball.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 719,990

• I should have had that. One red peg left, and I missed a simple catch off the purple peg because I rushed it when I really didn't need to.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 528,530

• Too many missed catches in the endgame, but then I was struggling for points so I had to go for adventurous shots. I only had one red and one blue peg left at the end, so it would have been extremely doubtful whether I could have made a pro score even if I hadn't run out of balls.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 738,060

• I thought I'd make sure I had a path through to the last red before I played any more purple pegs, and I accidentally hit the red on a ricochet, and then finished in the 10k bucket to end just short of the pro target. How annoying!

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 688,710

• Another really close one. I only had about three or four blue pegs left and I was closing in on the pro target. I took a dodgy blue just because it happened to be purple, knowing that I might glance off another on the way to the bucket, and of course it did. I should has shot straight into the bucket and waited for a better opportunity.

Attempt #6 - Laser Ball. Score: 846,160 

• I felt I had to reflect the path of the laser ball, so I aimed it right instead of left. Luckily this is a symmetrical level and there are plenty of pegs near the side wall to use as aiming aids. I got a pretty good rim bounce with it, so that helped a lot. After that I just had to pick off the reds, mainly with side wall bounces to keep the bonuses coming.

Level 8 (Clear 45 red pegs from 100 total - Pro target 625k)

The same design as level 4, but with 20 more red pegs, and 200k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 467,760

• I felt I should have done more damage with the laser ball, as I seemed to have a lot of work left to do afterwards. Plus I didn't take enough early catches, so I was into the endgame very early.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 679,720 

• It took me ages to break through to the yellow peg, and I didn't earn many points while I was doing it, so I assumed the game would be a write-off. But I did quite well with the laser ball, considering how few pegs were left by the time I'd activated it, getting a good rim bounce with it despite taking an unorthodox line. After that my catching was up to the mark as I picked off the remaining red pegs and quite a few purple ones.

Level 9 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 65 blue - Pro target 800k)

The same design as level 1, but with 325k on the pro target and a total clearance now needed.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 618,470

• A 96% clearance, so only 4 pegs left. Not bad for a first attempt.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 680,540

• Just one peg left that time, but I was having to take chances on side wall bounces to try and get up to the pro target. It is quite a big target, so perhaps I'd better use a laser ball after all.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 910,310 

• Despite having the yellow peg to go for, I still took the top two curves first, as I thought the laser ball would probably ruin them. It meant that the laser ball didn't score as much as it might have, so it may not have been a good decision. Having said that, I still managed to go on to make a total clearance, although it needed some good catching at times. I did need 100k off the final buckets, but I managed to get both balls in the centre bucket.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 30 red and 75 blue - Pro target 850k)

The same design as level 2, but with 250k on the pro target, and a total clearance now needed.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 865,780 

• I felt this one was worth a go without power ups, despite not making a total clearance last time around, or even approaching this huge pro target, because I only had one attempt at level 2, and that I could improve on my tactics quite a lot this time around. I clearly must have learned something, because my decision was vindicated when I did indeed make a total clearance at the first attempt. I needed 100k off the final buckets again, but this time I managed to leave an angle off the final peg that I could get into the centre bucket from.

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	25	90	Reds	10	-	475k	2	634,410	576,185
2	25	105	Reds	10	-	600k	1	652,930	652,930
3	25	101	Reds	10	-	575k	3	641,060	506,746
4	25	100	Reds	10	-	425k	1	462,250	462,250
5	25	121	Reds	10	-	525k	1	798,740	798,740
6	25	101	425k	10	-	775k	2	914,770	750,945
7	40	121	Reds	10	5s	750k	6	846,160	643,848
8	45	100	Reds	10	-	625k	2	679,720	573,740
9	25	90	All	10	-	800k	3	910,310	736,440
10	30	105	All	10	-	850k	1	865,780	865,780

Board 33: Epic Artifice

This picture is of a huge wooden horse, such as the Greeks gave to the Trojans to end the Siege of Troy.

Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 95 total - Pro target 625k)

The first design follows the lines in the picture. There are curved lines on the ropes that tether the wooden horse, and more over the bands on its neck. There are single round pegs around the horse and shining from the sun.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 344,330

• 625k is a pretty big target for a first level, and these pegs don't seem particularly well arranged for big scoring. I'll give it one more go.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 278,530

• No catches or extra balls of any kind there. This will definitely need a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 582,560

• One red peg left. I thought I could take a rebound off the purple peg for a bonus that would put the pro score beyond doubt, but I missed it and didn't take the catch.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 445,670

• One red peg left again, but I would have needed most of the remaining blue pegs just to get my score up to pro levels. I'm very reluctant to resort to a second power up for level 1, but at this rate I may have to.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 385,970

• Again well short of the pro target. I'll add a second power up, I suppose.

Attempt #6 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 483,120

• Even with the second power up, I'm still struggling to get near this target. I don't know what I'm going to do when this board comes round again.

Attempt #7 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 846,180 

• I finally got it after seven attempts and the same number of power ups. It took a few balls to get to the yellow peg, but when I did, I got the green peg in the same shot for an extra bonus. I went a different way with the laser ball and got a double rim bounce, then the Big Bounce did pretty well as well. After that I could pick the blue pegs off one at a time without worrying about running out of balls as I had plenty in hand. In that way I made a total clearance.

Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 94 total - Pro target 400k)

The second design is of a Greek helmet, with some loose round pegs to either side.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 278,750

• I still had a few red pegs left at the end, but this one seems much more attainable without power ups.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 367,590

• An improved score, but I'm still not really managing to penetrate into the centre of the helmet design. I'll have one more go.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 502,300 

• A bit more luck with the catches and probably a bit more skill, and I got it that time. Nowhere near the clearance, of course, but that didn't matter. I was comfortably over the pro target at least.

Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 101 total - Pro target 625k)

The third design consists of five triangles arranged in a curve, with thirty or so diamond-shaped pegs beneath.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 527,320

• Another tricky layout. There are only 101 pegs but it seems like a lot more. I find the diamond-shaped ones the hardest to negotiate catches off, particularly in the early part of the game. I suspect I'll need a laser ball here, but I wasn't actually that far off with my first attempt, so I'll give it another go.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 229,620

• I'm getting no luck at this level at all. So many balls are glancing off the sides of the bucket and not going in. I'll use a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 660,610 

• I used a standard path for the laser ball, but I probably could have picked a better one. I had to make quite a lot of catches afterwards to get to the pro target, but I made it.

Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 73 total - Pro target 450k)

The fourth design has a teleport bottom right that comes out in the top left. The pegs are arranged in lines set at 45° to the left and right.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 367,610

• A little short of points, but only two pegs left at the end, and only one of them red. Worth another try.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 217,700

• Further away that time. It looks like I'm going to need a laser ball again.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 333,470

• The teleports in these levels often don't get in the way that much, but this one really does. Because the pegs against the left wall seem to automatically want to push the ball towards the bottom right-hand corner, I'm never sure whether the ball is going to hit the teleport or not.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 159,950

• The laser ball doesn't actually seem to be making it any easier. It just adds an extra complication. I might try replacing it with a Big Bounce.

Attempt #5 - Big Bounce. Score: 626,360 

• I'm not sure that the Big Bounce did any better for me than the laser ball, would have done. I think I just got a bit luckier with catches and particularly bonuses.

Level 5 (Clear 20 red pegs from 48 total - Pro target 450k)

The fifth design is just a vertical lines against each side wall, and a double thickness horizontal line near the bottom, and nothing else at all.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 1,035,050 

• Well it looked pretty easy, and it turned out to be so. Lengthy ricochets and big distance bonuses are quite easy to start with, as you just let the ball bounce back and forth across the horizontal bar. Once you have a few gaps in the side walls, then catches off the side wall become quite straightforward. I didn't need power ups to get a total clearance and a seven figure score.

Level 6 (Clear 35 red pegs from 94 total - Pro target 775k)

The same design as level 2, but with 10 more red pegs, and 375k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 561,490

• Not far off, but I was starting to get very drowsy in there, so my attention was wandering. I could probably improve on that with another go.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 586,430

• Too many missed catches at the start left me too much to do in the endgame. Plus a Big Bucket during the laser ball robbed me of a rim bounce.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,139,470 

• The catching was much better that time, plus I got a decent rim bounce with the laser ball. I took a complete clearance with balls to spare.

Level 7 (Score 450k with 35 red pegs and 60 blue - Pro target 850k)

The same design as level 1, but with 10 more red pegs, 225k on the pro target, and just a score to go for.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 635,020

• I was down to two pegs, but still short of points so had to attempt a catch off the side wall and missed it.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 904,200 

• I picked up some big bonuses with the Big Bounce which gave my score a big boost. My catches were working well, and I picked up a few lucky ones as well. I got the total clearance with balls to spare, and bonus from those spare balls carries me over the line.

Level 8 (Clear 30 red pegs from 48 total, with a 3s shot-clock - Pro target 825k)

The same design as level 5, but with 10 more red pegs, 400k on the pro target, and a three second shot-clock. Three seconds is not enough time to let the bucket make a full side-to-side sweep, so shots will have to be selected very quickly and yet carefully.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 616,230

• I was caught out by the shot-clock on a few occasions, and several balls were wasted in shots that were never going to be caught. A bit more thought required, I think, but in less time.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 866,060 

• That was better. The trick with this one is not to panic and to keep alternating directions. So if you shoot to the left and catch on the right with one shot, then the next should be shot to the right and caught on the left, etc. That way, you shouldn't get caught out by the shot clock. If you can do that, then this should be an easy level as the catches are all very straightforward.

Level 9 (Clear 45 red pegs from 73 total, with only 8 balls and a 5s shot-clock - Pro target 825k)

The same design as level 4, but with 20 more red pegs, two less balls, 375k on the pro target, and a five second shot-clock.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 1,069,500 

• It took a couple of balls to get to the yellow peg, but I concentrated the laser ball on the left-hand side where the bulk of the pegs are, also avoiding the teleport bottom right, and that worked much better, especially as I picked up a couple of rim bounces before catching it. The Big Bounce worked pretty well as well and I took a total clearance for a seven figure score.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 76 blue, with a 5s shot-clock - Pro target 775k)

The same design as level 3, but with 150k on the pro target, a five second shot-clock, and a total clearance now required.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 1,077,520 

• As long as you can think fairly quickly, then a five second shot-clock on a level without moving obstructions shouldn't be too much of a problem. You have time to let the bucket do a complete sweep left to right and back again, before the shot-clock runs out. I picked a much better path for the laser ball that followed the sides of the triangles better. I also got a rather useful rim bounce off it as well. The Big Bounce took out quite a few pegs and I was left with a fairly straightforward endgame.

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	25	95	Reds	10	-	625k	7	846,180	480,908
2	25	94	Reds	10	-	400k	3	502,300	382,880
3	25	101	Reds	10	-	625k	3	660,610	472,516
4	25	73	Reds	10	-	450k	5	626,360	341,018
5	20	48	Reds	10	-	450k	1	1,035,050	1,035,050
6	35	94	Reds	10	-	775k	3	1,139,470	762,463
7	35	95	450k	10	-	850k	2	904,200	769,610
8	30	48	Reds	10	3s	825k	2	866,060	741,145
9	45	73	Reds	8	5s	825k	1	1,069,500	1,069,500
10	25	101	All	10	5s	775k	1	1,077,520	1,077,520

Board 34: Viscount's Vineyard

This picture is of a field of vines. A Mediterranean style villa stands at the back of the vineyard, and beyond that there are more rolling hills to the distant craggy mountains on the horizon. In the foreground are three barrels, and vine on the edge of the picture, heavy with fruit.

Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 93 total - Pro target 500k)

The first design has lines that mark the fields in the foreground, and the tops of the barrels. The hills and mountains in the background are outlines with single round pegs. More round pegs cover the vines at the bottom and up the left side of the picture.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 445,400

• I still had four red pegs left, but I was closer than that sounds. I was looking for a fine cut on one of those reds but missed it altogether. The other three were all together and could have been taken out with a single shot.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 403,480

• Three red pegs left that time, but it wasn't as close as the last one. I didn't make enough catches. I'll give it one more go.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 616,050 

• I got the hang of the catches much better that time. I made enough to get to the pro target. I kept going on the purple pegs for another shot or two, then took the last red when I got down to my last ball.

Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 118 total - Pro target 550k)

The second design is all single round pegs, arranged in zigzag lines coming down the screen looking a bit like vines.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 314,230

• This is a hideous layout as the path of the ball is almost impossible to predict. I don’t see any point continuing without power ups, so I'll ad a laser ball straightaway.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 382,440

• Even with a laser ball this is still quite hard. I had two red pegs left at the end, but I couldn't take them as I was nowhere near the pro target. I dread to think what this level will be like second time around!

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 727,560 

• I picked a different route for the laser ball which seemed to follow the lines of the pegs much better. It still didn't score huge points, but it did clear the pegs more efficiently. It meant I then had more space to make catches through, and I managed to use that space to my advantage, taking a complete clearance.

Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 133 total - Pro target 550k)

The third design features two dangling vines, plus three bunches of single round pegs which look like bunches of grapes.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 373,680

• Another tough one. There are an awful lot of pegs to negotiate the balls around. Again, I think I'd better use a laser ball to thin down the numbers a bit.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 748,240 

• It looked like it might still be a tough finish, but it turned out easier than expected. The clearance was only 79%, so I hope I don’t have to make a total clearance later on this layout as it might be tricky.

Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 97 total - Pro target 450k)

The fourth design is modelled on the vintner's house in the background.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 511,950 

• Lots of rectangular pegs makes the angles a little more predictable, so I was able to make more catches and eke out my ball supply until I had the pro target and cleared the red pegs.

Level 5 (Clear 20 red pegs from 108 total - Pro target 450k)

The fifth design looks like three bunches of grapes. Each grape is a small circle of four pegs, with a fifth peg inside.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 132,620

• I've got no chance here without power ups. This will definitely need a laser ball.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 956,980 

• I got a lucky yellow peg location and then a particularly good rim bounce off the laser ball which put me over the pro target after just two balls. After that, it was just a matter of going through the motions to finish it off. I could easily have made a total clearance if I'd needed to to as I only had three pegs left at the end and seven balls to spare.

Level 6 (Score 375k with 25 red pegs and 108 blue - Pro target 825k)

The same design as level 3, but 275k on the pro target, and just a target score to go for. The target score itself seems ridiculously low, although the pro score is more what I would expect.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 807,220

• Oooh, so close! One more catch and I would have had it. I'd been picking off purple pegs for a while as the last red was buried in a cluster of blues. I didn't need it, of course, just the score. But I didn't quite manage it.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 916,640 

• I couldn't actually see the yellow peg at the start that time, but it was still well placed somewhere I knew I could run the ball down to. I followed that up with another good rim bounce with the laser ball, and it was all over bar the shouting.

Level 7 (Clear 35 red pegs from 97 total - Pro target 725k)

The same design as level 4, but with 10 more red pegs, and 275k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 759,050

• Another silly mistake due to lack of concentration. I'd past the pro score and had just relaxed, thinking I was still playing the previous board which just had a points target, but I still had two red pegs left. I went for a risky purple peg which I clearly shouldn't have, and missed it.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 823,700 

• No problem that time. I completed a total clearance with balls and points to spare.

Level 8 (Clear 35 red pegs from 108 total - Pro target 725k)

The same design as level 5, but with 15 more red pegs, and 275k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 927,580 

• Just like level 5, I could get the yellow peg with the first shot (although I needed a deflection to get it this time), and like before I got a good rim bounce with the laser ball. That gave me plenty of points so I just had to make sure I took out all the red pegs. I managed it comfortably with a few balls to spare.

Level 9 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 68 blue - Pro target 800k)

The same design as level 1, but with 300k on the pro target, and a total clearance now required.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 675,280

• A 96% clearance, so a pretty good first attempt. I just couldn't quite keep the catches going all the way to the end. I had to go for the odd adventurous shot just to keep the score ticking over.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,201,830 

• It took a few balls to get through to the yellow peg, but I caught some of them, and still managed a good score from the laser ball. I got rid of the red pegs quite early on and found I didn't actually need too many points from the remaining blues, so I could stick with relatively safe catches and not take unnecessary risks. I cleared with balls to spare.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 35 red and 83 blue - Pro target 800k)

The same design as level 2, but with 10 more red pegs, and all pegs now required.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 592,190

• I left myself far too much to do in the endgame. I need to have a quick look at my video for level 2 to remind myself of the laser ball path I chose, because I seem to remember it worked quite well.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 582,110

• Only a 90% clearance, so again I left myself too much to do at the end. I think I'll add a Big Bounce next time. IT has the potential to score well on a level like this one.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 604,190

• Up to a 94% clerarance with the Big Bounce, but I realised halfway through that I hadn't started the recorder. So even if I did it, I wouldn't have a video of it. My heart kind of went out of it at that point, as a significant part of me wanted to fail so it wouldn't matter.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 423,700

• Only an 88% clearance that time. The ball just kept finding the gaps between the pegs and the ricochets wouldn't come.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 800,780 

• Normally when I'm this close to a pro target it's because I've just missed out. It makes a nice change to actually hit a target by such a small amount. When the last ball bobbled over the wide open 50k bucket to find its way into the 10k I thought I'd fallen short. I took 32 shots over that and a lot of those were single peg catches, so it wasn't an easy one by any means. The laser ball did quite well, but the Big Bounce less so.

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	25	93	Reds	10	-	500k	3	616,050	488,310
2	25	118	Reds	10	-	550k	3	727,560	474,743
3	25	133	Reds	10	-	550k	2	748,240	560,960
4	25	97	Reds	10	-	450k	1	511,950	511,950
5	20	108	Reds	10	-	450k	2	956,980	544,800
6	25	133	375k	10	-	825k	2	916,640	861,930
7	35	97	Reds	10	-	725k	2	823,700	791,375
8	35	108	Reds	10	-	725k	1	927,580	927,580
9	25	93	All	10	-	800k	2	1,201,830	938,555
10	35	118	All	10	-	800k	5	800,780	600,594

Board 117: Grandmother's House

These designers do like their fairy tales. It's Little Red Riding Hood this week. Little Red is approaching her grandmother's cottage deep in the woods, carrying her basket of goodies. The wolf looks on in the foreground.

Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 84 total - Pro target 500k)

The first design has roughly horizontal lines following the lines on the ground and on the house. There are also lines of round pegs on the tree trunks to the left and right, and the wolf's shadow.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 479,500

• I really should have had that one, but I missed too many catches in the endgame. I'll get it next time.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 496,370

• I was going fine then, when suddenly the ball decided it didn't want to play any more and started finding all the awkward bounces and refusing to go in the bucket.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 572,980 

• I got it at the third attempt, although it still wasn't particularly convincing. At least I managed to do better with the endgame catches this time. It was probably the early catches that made the difference, and a lot of them were just lucky.

Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 134 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 475k)

The second design is of a basket with a light scattering of round pegs around the outside.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 538,890

• No problem with the pro target, but I still had a couple of red pegs left at the end. There are an awful lot of blue pegs to work around and they do get in the way.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 175,230

• That was a bit of a disaster. Only two catches and hardly any bonuses. I'll add a laser ball, but how useful it is all depends on where the yellow peg appears.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 525,260

• Still struggling to break through to the red pegs in the bottom corners of the basket. They seem to be the most awkward to get to.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 620,120

• I tried my more traditional laser ball route that time, but I didn't get the rim bounce that I wanted. So I was still left with four red pegs in the bottom right-hand corner at the end.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 880,000 

• The yellow peg was right next to the launcher this time. And I got a fairly good rim bounce with the laser ball. I had the hang of the catching a little better this time as well, and it was enough to see me comfortably through.

Level 3 (Clear 30 red pegs from 115 total - Pro target 400k)

The third design is of a couple of wolf's paw prints.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 139,730

• Not even remotely close. Catches were very hard to judge, and red pegs were dreadfully positioned for earning bonuses.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 692,660 

• It took a few shots to get to the yellow peg, but I caught most of them so it wasn't such a problem. I had to pick an alternative route for the laser ball because of this, and it seemed to work quite well. The pro score wasn't difficult to get to, and I had enough balls to clear the remaining reds.

Level 4 (Clear 30 red pegs from 123 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 475k)

The fourth design has wavy lines following the trunks of the trees to the left and right, and then some more similar waxy lines running parallel to them. Another line runs over the wolf's back. The grass is covered with single round pegs.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 251,780

• I had one red peg left but I couldn't take it until I'd scored quite a few more points. It looks like it'll be tricky without power ups, but it's worth another try.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 284,800

• One red peg left again, and again well short of points. I'll use a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,087,160 

• Easy enough with the laser ball. I could take the yellow peg with the first ball. The rim bounce with the laser ball could have gone better, but it didn't matter. I still made a comfortable total clearance for a seven figure total.

Level 5 (Clear 25 red pegs from 100 total - Pro target 500k)

The final design is a picture of the hood that Little Red Riding Hood wears, next to the wolf's head in profile.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 347,680

• I struggled for catches this time, but I could probably do better. It's worth another go.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 151,900

• Even worse that time. Nothing seemed to go the way I wanted it to. I'll try it with a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 499,250

• The yellow peg was awkward to get to, so it took me a few balls to do it. And then I had to try an unorthodox laser ball path to make the most of the pegs that were left, and that could have worked better. I plugged away at the pegs that were left and had to make a decision with the last ball. I only needed just under 13k for a pro score, so I thought I'd be safe just going for the last red, but I only scored 12k, so I was wrong.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 367,080

• Again the yellow peg was too awkward to get to easily so I wasted a lot of balls for very little return trying to activate the laser ball.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 667,150 

• Yet again, the yellow peg was awkwardly placed in the bow of the hood, but this time I managed to get to it quite quicky, then played a standard shot with the laser ball. I still had quite a lot of work to do after that, but the catches and ricochets were going my way and I made it all the way to a total clearance.

Level 6 (Clear 40 red pegs from 134 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 800k)

The same design as level 2, but with 15 more red pegs, and 325k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 674,830

• The yellow peg was tricky to get to - right down the bottom on the left hand side. So, inevitable, I ran out of balls before I could clear all the reds.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 889,910

• I had two red pegs left right next to one another, but there were other pegs in the way. I thought I had a shot which would hit both, but I misjudged it and only got one with my last ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 880,050 

• I was catching better that time, and I made some well-judged side wall deflection shots. I had to work quite hard for the pro score at times, but I got there.

Level 7 (Clear 40 red pegs from 115 total, with only 8 balls - Pro target 700k)

The same design as level 3, but with 10 more red pegs, two less balls, and 300k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 738,240 

• I got on the yellow peg quickly and did a reasonably good job with the laser ball. I still had plenty to do afterwards, and I rode my luck at times in the endgame, but it got me to the pro target.

Level 8 (Clear ALL pegs - 30 red and 54 blue, with only 9 balls - Pro target 700k)

The same design as level 1, but with 5 more red pegs, one less ball, 200k on the pro target, and a total clearance now required.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 741,950 

• Level 1 took me three attempts to pro, but I never got a complete clearance, and I never approached 700k, so I decided to jump straight in with a laser ball. I managed to get an ideal first ball that swept along the two biggest lines for just under 200k and opened a path to the yellow peg. It meant that most of the remaining pegs were around the edge though, which wasn't good news for the laser ball, so it only scored about 84k. It left me 26 pegs (9 of them red) still with 11 balls in hand, but I still had about 420k to go to the pro target. I had several ricochets in the endgame which I hadn't planned, and I thought I was going to run out of pegs before I could reach the pro target at one stage. But by taking the last few pegs all off the wall first, I managed to sneak over the line.

Level 9 (Score 625k with 30 red pegs and 70 blue, with only 7 balls - Pro target 725k)

The same design as level 5, but with 5 more red pegs, three less balls, 125k on the pro target, but just a score now to aim for.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 943,010 

• I didn't think I'd be able to get to the yellow peg with the first ball, but I managed to find a path that took out most of the wolf's head. I then concentrated the laser ball on the hood side which worked very well indeed, netting me just under 450k points. I only needed another 220k or so, so I could relax a bit and just make sure I could take out the red pegs and take whatever other bonuses might come my way.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 30 red and 93 blue - Pro target 675k)

The same design as level 4, but with one more ball, 200k on the pro target and a total clearance now required.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 813,280

• I did quite well with the laser ball, but I couldn't get near the total clearance, despite heroic efforts with the final ball. I'll have one more go, but I might need to add a Big Bounce after that.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 730,560

• I got myself into a really good position quite early on, but then my catching let me down appallingly in the end game.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 703,180

• Again, my catching in the endgame should have been a lot better. It does make it harder that all the angles are different so every catch has to be reassessed from scratch each tme. I'll add a Big Bounce.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 487,040

• I started off well enough, but the Big Bounce got completely stifled in the bottom corner and left me with way too much to do in the endgame again.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 741,970 

• A very similar attempt to some of the previous ones. The laser ball did OK, although the rim bounce could have worked better. The Big Bounce got a bit stifled in a corner, and I got left with a lot left to do in the endgame. This time, however, I was up to the task and my catching was much improved. I needed a big finish as I was still a little low on points at the end. I thought I could deflect straight into the 100k bucket from the last peg, but it didn't. One of the balls did end up there though, after bouncing about for a bit, and the other picked up 50k, so the finish was big enough.

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	25	84	Reds	10	-	500k	3	572,980	516,283
2	25	134	Reds	9	-	475k	5	880,000	547,900
3	30	115	Reds	10	-	400k	2	692,660	416,195
4	30	123	Reds	9	-	475k	3	1,087,160	541,246
5	25	100	Reds	10	-	500k	5	667,150	406,612
6	40	134	Reds	9	-	800k	3	889,910	814,930
7	40	115	Reds	8	-	700k	1	738,240	738,240
8	30	84	All	9	-	700k	1	741,950	741,950
9	30	100	625k	7	-	725k	1	943,010	943,010
10	30	123	All	10	-	675k	5	813,280	695,206

Board 35: Merlin's Den

This picture shows a wizard's study. There are bookshelves full of books, as well as other things. A skull, an hourglass, scrolls and a wizard's pointy hat. There is also a table with a candle, a pot being heated by a flame, and various bottles and potions. A grinning sun, moon and stars are suspended overhead on a number of ropes.

Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 100 total - Pro target 400k)

The first design has a circles, semi-circles and star shaped patterns around the sun, moon & stars suspended above the desk, and a band of single round pegs following the line of the desk diagonally across the screen.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 628,450 

• Most of these pegs are fairly accessible and early ricochets are quite easy to engineer to cut down the number of pegs a bit. I made quite a few catches, so I had enough balls in hand to be able to stay on top of the red pegs and take a few purple peg catches without losing touch with the main objective.

Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 117 total - Pro target 575k)

The second design has straight lines following the shelves in the picture, and then loose round pegs inbetween and underneath.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 455,040

• Two red pegs left, and I was struggling to find a way through to them. Only a first attempt though, so worth another try.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 304,170

• Quite a few red pegs left. Making catches is quite a struggle on this layout. Bonuses are not particularly forthcoming either. I'll add a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 482,470

• The yellow peg was in about the worst position possible - the right-most loose round peg of the five beneath the shelves. I lost six balls getting to it, and then of course the laser ball scored very little as there were much fewer pegs to go for. I picked up a very useful 150k bonus combination a few shots later which put me in with a chance, but I still had a lot of ground to make up. I got down to one red peg, but missed a tricky catch, trying to clear a path through to it.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 535,280

• Only one red peg left, but I couldn't get to it. I did OK with the laser ball, but there's room for improvement. I'm reluctant to consider a second power up yet, so I'll persevere with the laser ball now.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 784,570 

• The yellow peg proved a little more elusive than it really should have done, and I thought I'd messed it up just because of that, but a few timely bonuses got me back in the hunt. Some good catching in the endgame earned me a total clearance and a comfortable pro score.

Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 97 total - Pro target 525k)

The third design is a giant hourglass with single round pegs lining the sides inside and out, and clustered in the centre where the sand would be. There are also four teleport portals in a line at the bottom which all transport to a single receiver top and centre.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 678,250 

• The teleports seemed to work in my favour more often than not, which is always a bonus. Another comfortable total clearance, thanks mainly to some good catching in the endgame.

Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 101 total - Pro target 600k)

The fourth design is a partially unrolled scroll. It has writing on it, presumably a magic spell of some sort.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 1,088,990 

• It's always pleasing to get a seven figure score, particularly when you can do it without using any power ups. To do it at the first attampt on a level is a little extra special. My sense of judgement for side wall shots was clearly working pretty well in this one. I got a few fortunate ricochets, and times where the ball worked it's way through the internal structure of the design for big bonuses.

Level 5 (Clear 25 red pegs from 113 total - Pro target 525k)

The final design looks like three star shaped lollipops, but maybe they're supposed to be wands or something.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 432,840

• One red peg left. I was miles away at one stage, but I prolonged the endgame unexpectedly and put myself in with a chance. Then I went for a catch off the purple peg and ran the ball straight into a blue peg that I hadn't even noticed. Sometimes pegs can be lost against busy backgrounds like this one, unfortunately. I'll give this one more go, but I suspect this isn't going to go without a laser ball.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 409,330

• Another not too bad effort, but again, I didn't make enough catches early on because at that stage catches are purely down to luck. The best you can hope for is some decent ricochets. I'll use a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 767,650 

• I went for a non-standard laser ball path to try and take advantage of the lines of the sticks ans it worked much better than I expected. I got a double rim bounce for a good boost to my score. I could still get some decent ricochets with the pegs left at the top, and with the multiplier boosted by the laser ball, they became that much more valuable. I didn't get a total clearance - only 96%, but still a comfortable pro score.

Level 6 (Clear 35 red pegs from 117 total - Pro target 750k)

The same design as level 2, but with 10 more red pegs, and 175k on the pro target. I thought this was the toughest of the layouts so it's quite good to get it out of the way early in the second half.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 375,400

• Not a very good attempt. This may well need another power up to get through.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 799,290 

• I thought that one was doomed from the moment I hit the green peg before the yellow one. The Big Bounce went far too early and of course it got completely hemmed in down the bottom, doing very little damage and scoring accordingly. The laser ball then did OK, but after that I picked up a few goos bonuses and made lots of good catches. I gradually picked off the pegs and eventually took a complete clearance.

Level 7 (Score 425k with 35 red pegs and 66 blue - Pro target 775k)

The same design as level 4, but with 10 more red pegs, 175k on the pro target, but just a score to aim at this time. Well, I had one attempt at level 4 and I got a total clearance for over a million points, and that was without power ups, and more red pegs with no necessity to clear them all should make this one easier. So I'll start without power ups and see how I get on.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 680,210

• Not far off. I get the impression I could get this easily with a laser ball, but I'd like to try it without power ups once or twice more.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 931,370 

• Not quite the seven figure score that I got in level 4, but it could easily have been if I'd avoided the two 10k buckets at the end. Quite similar to level 4, I got most of the side wall rebounds I went for, plus I did well with ricochets and slides.

Level 8 (Clear 40 red pegs from 97 total, with a 5s shot-clock - Pro target 875k)

The same design as level 3, but with 15 more red pegs, 350k on the pro target, and a five second shot-clock. That's a big hike on the pro target, and a lot more than I got last time. I'd better jump straight in with a laser ball.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 651,770

• I got a total clearance, with balls to spare, but I got nowhere near the pro target. Part of that was because I forgot all about the laser ball, so I'd already taken out quite a few pegs before I activated it, so it scored very little.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 160,000

• As soon as I saw the position of the yellow peg, I knew I had absolutely no chance whatsoever. It was the very bottom peg on the centre line. It took me nearly all my balls to get to it, and for almost no score. Disastrous.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 627,140

• Only two red pegs left, but not enough catches so I ran out of balls. I'll try adding a Big Bounce.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 560,140

• Only two reds left again, but too far short on points to be able to go for a finish, even if I could have seen them (which I couldn't).

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 835,070

• Now that's annoying. I was closing in on a pro score. I had several balls in hand and just two red pegs left, when out of nowhere, both red pegs went off a bizarre ricochet and I was left just short of the pro target. I did find rather a good line for the laser ball though. I shall have to watch it back and see if I can replicate it.

Attempt #6 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 682,400

• Another one where I cleared all the reds but couldn't approach the pro target. I did manage to replicate the laser ball of the previous attempt, though. It's quite easy to do. I aim as high as possible up the right-hand wall, then shoot as the bucket hits the same wall. The ball drops through the third wormhole, then drops through the screen again, gaining speed all the time, bounces off the bucket, flies up to the top left corner, then falls back through a third time.

Attempt #7 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 600,890

• Just one red peg left, but I was too far from the pro target to threaten it. It took way too long to get the yellow peg.

Attempt #8 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 832,260

• Oh, I'm such an idiot sometimes! I forgot it wasn't a All Pegs level and took out the last red instead of the last blue, finished with one peg left and a single 10k bonus. I had balls in hand, so if I'd taken the blue (or purple) peg first, then a pro score would have been pretty much guranteed.

Attempt #9 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 804,610

• Another total clearance, but this time I thought I could get a deflection off the final red peg into the 100k bucket for victory. Unfortunately both balls caught the edges of it, flew in opposite directions and ended up one in each 10k bucket. I will get this eventually. I've come so close so many times!

Attempt #10 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 948,960 

• Finally! It only took me 10 attempts and 17 power ups, but I got there eventually. Although, of course, I would have had it two attempts ago if I'd been concentrating. I could shoot straight for the yellow peg with the first ball which is always a help, then I used my standard laser ball that I've been using for this level for some big points. The Big Bounce worked quite well also, particularly in terms of points. After that I managed to keep going for a total clearance.

Level 9 (Clear 45 red pegs from 113 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 775k)

The same design as level 5, but with 20 more red pegs, one less ball, and 250k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 585,260

• An awkwardly placed yellow peg certainly didn't help. But I was only left with a couple of red pegs at the end.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 539,520

• I got the yellow peg straightaway, but struggled for catches afterwards. I'll add a Big Bounce.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 729,980

• I was gradually inching my way towards the pro target with my last ball, debating how close I needed to get before I took out the last red peg, when my finger twitched on the mouse and I threw my last ball away.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 445,980

• The yellow peg was hopelessly buried in the central stick so I had very little chance of this one going anywhere. I got to both power ups eventually, but it was too little too late.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 578,840

• I got very little luck in that one. The ball just didn't want to play - it just wanted to avoid the pegs and the bucket as much as possible.

Attempt #6 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 615,070

• I did well with the laser ball, but not so well with the Big Bounce. I still needed 200k or so in the end game, but I kept missing catches off purple pegs and putting myself in deeper trouble each time.

Attempt #7 - Laser Ball & Big Bounce. Score: 905,680 

• Both power ups worked quite well this time, and I managed to keep the catching going all the way through. I got a big finish which boosted my score well past the pro target.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 75 blue - Pro target 675k)

The same design as level 1, but with 275k on the pro target and a total clearance now needed.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 787,760 

• I still had a lot of pegs left after the laser ball, and not many balls to get them with, so it was a real exercise in bucket catching. I needed every ball I had, and had to take out a few with the very last ball, but I scraped over the pro target about two pegs from the end. I got 110k I think from the final buckets, but I already had the pro target reached so it didn't matter.

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	25	100	Reds	10	-	400k	1	628,450	628,450
2	25	117	Reds	10	-	575k	5	784,570	512,306
3	25	97	Reds	10	-	525k	1	678,250	678,250
4	25	101	Reds	10	-	600k	1	1,088,990	1,088,990
5	25	113	Reds	10	-	525k	3	767,650	536,606
6	35	117	Reds	10	-	750k	2	799,290	587,345
7	35	101	425k	10	-	775k	2	931,370	805,790
8	40	97	Reds	10	5s	875k	10	948,960	670,324
9	45	113	Reds	9	-	775k	7	905,680	628,618
10	25	100	All	10	-	675k	1	787,760	787,760