Board 12: Veridian Cliffs

This picture shows a symmetrical painting of two green cliffs facing each other across a wide gap. There is plenty of vegetation in evidence - mushrooms, vines, trees, shrubs and grasses.

Level 1 (Clear 25 red pegs from 112 total - Pro target 475k)

The first design features four big S-shapes, each angled at about 45° and with another smaller curve inside each big curve of each S.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 256,080

• This level is tougher than it looks. It looked like there would be lots of good slides available, but catches are tricky as the balls tends to get funnelled down the middle quite a lot. Two red pegs left, and a low score.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 330,860

• Two red pegs left again, but I seemed much closer that time. I got a much better score, and the ball seemed more under control for the most part. I'll give it another try.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 228,440

• Three red pegs that time, a lower score, and much less in control. I'd better add a laser ball.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,000,340 

• The laser ball made it a lot easier, even without a good rim bounce. It took a few lucky catches, though, to get me all the way to a total clearance for a seven figure score (just).

Level 2 (Clear 25 red pegs from 101 total - Pro target 450k)

The second design has two big curves that follow the line of the cliffs, plus several starbursts of round pegs arranged around them.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 218,420

• Another layout which makes for difficult catches. I'll give it another go, but I suspect the laser ball may be coming out again.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 438,650

• I was caught out completely by an entirely unexpected finish. I went for a catch off the purple peg, but the ricochet took out all three of the last red pegs despite them not being particularly near each other. I picked up a 100k final bucket, bonuses for several balls in hand and some other things too, and it all wasn't quite enough, and I fell short of the pro target by just 12k.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 612,360 

• The laser ball again made the difference. The yellow peg was available with the first shot, and I went on to take a total clearance.

Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 116 total - Pro target 450k)

The third design features eight arcs, all roughly lined up with the shooter. Each arc has a rectangular peg at the bottom just to be awkward. There are also eleven groups of four diamond-shaped pegs arranged in a sort of feather-like design, plus a few single round pegs.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 202,150

• Catches are again quite tricky. The curves are very tempting, but lots of blocking pegs at the bottom make catches off them difficult.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 570,660 

• I tried starting from the outer curves this time. I'm not sure it helped as a tactic but I did get luckier with my catches in the early part of the game. Some more skilful catching followed and I managed to make it to the pro target, and then through all the red pegs.

Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 96 total - Pro target 425k)

The fourth design shows three arcs going between the cliffs. There are patterns of round pegs to the left and right and underneath.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 239,020

• Not very good, but then I think I only made one catch, so I got very little luck.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 320,330

• A better score and more catches, but I still had seven red pegs left at the end, so I wasn't getting the pegs. I'll add a laser ball.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 387,270

• I thought I'd added a laser ball that time, but I guess I didn't click on it properly as it wasn't there when the game started. Despite that, I should have had that one. I could have taken the final red peg and hoped for a 50k or better final bucket, but I didn't want to rely on luck so I went for another purple peg catch first and misjudged it.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 404,090

• I did better without the laser ball. I had two red pegs left but one of them was quite tricky to get to. I was trying to clear a path when I missed a catch.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 937,890 

• The yellow peg was a little awkwardly placed, but by dropping the first ball straight through the middle of the arches, I opened a path to it for the second ball. The laser ball then worked perfectly, and picking off the remaining red pegs after that was child's play. I went on to take a total clearance.

Level 5 (Clear 15 red pegs from 30 total - Pro target 400k)

The fifth design has an obstacle sitting on top of each cliff. A pattern of 15 round pegs is under each obstacle, positioned so they cannot be hit directly. Slowly raising and lowering in the centre are a couple of leaves which act as a ramp to allow the balls to be deflected onto the pegs.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 525,270 

• It's particularly pleasing to get this one at the first attempt. I very nearly made a total clearance as well, just missing out on a single peg. I picked up a final 100k bucket bonus which I didn't need, but it boosted my score. You just have to pretty much ignore the bucket in this one and hope you pick up a few catches by sheer luck.

Level 6 (Score 400k with 25 red pegs and 87 blue - Pro target 550k)

The same design as level 1, but with 75k on the pro score and just a score as a target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 967,300 

• I got nowhere this pro target on level 1 in three attempts without powers ups, and then achieved it easily with the laser ball. I went straight for the laser ball this time, and again achieved the pro score very easily. The yellow peg was available for an easy catch with the first ball, and the laser ball worked particularly well. After that is was like shelling peas.

Level 7 (Score 375k with 30 red pegs and 86 blue - Pro target 525k)

The same design as level 3, but with 5 more red pegs, 75k on the pro target, and a just a score as a target.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 587,540 

• I managed level 3 without power ups, so I thought this deserved a similar attempt, and it paid off. I got down to one red peg left and started picking off purple pegs. I passed the pro target that way, and since there was no necessity to clear the red pegs, I carried on until I ran out of balls.

Level 8 (Clear 45 red pegs from 101 total, with a 3s shot-clock - Pro target 650k)

The same design as level 2, but with 20 more red pegs, 200k on the pro target, and a three second shot-clock.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 548,420

• Just one red peg left, so not too bad for a first attempt. This may need a second power up, but it's worth another go or two without.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 749,180 

• It was touch and go a bit at the end, but I just about managed to hang on for a total clearance. I needed a ball in the 100k bucket at the end, but I'd left myself a good angle to get it off the last peg. In fact both balls bounced around a bit but both found their way into to centre bucket for a maximum bonus.

Level 9 (Clear ALL pegs - 20 red and 10 blue, with no ball bucket - Pro target 600k)

The same design as level 5, but with 5 more red pegs, 175k on the pro target, and no ball bucket. This is generally regarded as one of the hardest levels in the game, so I might be here a while.

Attempt #1 - Big Bounce. Score: 361,700

• Two red pegs left, and one blue. Nowhere near the pro target, but that's the real test here. I might try adding a Split Ball.

Attempt #2 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 396,380

• Well I cleared all the pegs, but was just over 200k short of the pro target. I got a minimum 20k final bucket bonus, but even a maximum would have left me short.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 71 blue - Pro target 625k)

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

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 755,390 

• I clicked on level 10 by accident. I had meant to persevere with 9 until it was done, but it doesn't matter. I managed to get through this one first time, so it's back to level 9 again anyway.

Level 9 (Clear ALL pegs - 20 red and 10 blue, with a NBB shot-clock - Pro target 600k)

Attempt #3 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 282,040

• One red peg left but not a good score.

Attempt #4 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 596,040

• So nearly got it at just the fourth attempt. Just 4k short. That was with a maximum 200k final bucket bonus, so I really couldn't have done any better. Still annoying though.

Attempt #5 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 459,290

• Another total clearance. I got a final bucket bonus of 60k that time, but if I'd got the 200k again it would have given me 599,290 which would have been really hard to take, especially after the previous attempt. I came within an ace of catching both the Split Balls in a Triple Score Bucket as well, but both rolled off the rim and I got neither.

Attempt #6 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 310,940

• Six pegs left that time, I think. The ricochets just weren't going my way. Both power ups were completely ineffective.

Attempt #7 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 440,800

• A total clearance, but I didn't earn enough bonus points along the way to put myself in with a chance at the end.

Attempt #8 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 553,250

• That must be my closest yet as I could have got there with a bigger final bucket bonus. I got 60k, so if either ball had made it to the 100k bucket, then I would have had enough.

Attempt #9 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 194,220

• I got no luck there. About four or five pegs left at the end, but I was woefully short of points.

Attempt #10 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 274,540

• Three red pegs left. My Split Ball keeps getting jammed against the side wall so both balls immediately drop out of play. Very irritating.

Attempt #11 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 348,180

• Five red pegs left that time. Too many balls just hit one peg and then disappeared.

Attempt #12 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 349,610

• Just one red peg left. Not enough points either.

Attempt #13 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 455,820

• I cleared the reds but never had a chance at the pro target.

Attempt #14 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 470,920

• Again, I cleared the reds, but the pro target was never in jeopardy.

Attempt #15 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 336,090

• Another total clearance, with lots of balls in hand, but a minimum 20k final bucket bonus. Although even a maximum wouldn't have got me to the pro target.

Attempt #16 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 287,430

• One pegs left, and nowhere near enough points.

Attempt #17 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 264,730

• Two pegs left.

Attempt #18 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 419,830

• A total clearance, but just over 180k short of the pro target, and a maximum final bonus wouldn't have helped.

Attempt #19 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 298,820

• Three pegs left.

Attempt #20 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 342,750

• Two pegs left. Not getting any luck at all at the moment.

Attempt #21 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 373,370

• Just one peg left, but the score wasn't enough.

Attempt #22 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 315,060

• Two pegs left.

Attempt #23 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 344,310

• One peg left.

Attempt #24 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 423,150

• A total clearance with a 60k final bucket bonus.

Attempt #25 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 454,470

• Another total clearance with another 60k final bucket bonus.

Attempt #26 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 490,250

• A total clearance again, and with a maximum 200k final bonus this time. Unfortunately, the game had been quite low scoring so I was still over 100k short of the pro target.

Attempt #27 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 240,360

• One peg left and another very low score.

Attempt #28 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 408,500

• One peg left again, but a better score. Had I managed to get both the last pegs with the last shot, I'd have been in with a chance.

Attempt #29 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 447,360

• I had a chance that time, but I needed a maximum finish bonus, and got a minimum 20k instead.

Attempt #30 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 289,960

• Four red pegs left, but I was getting no luck with ricochets and bonuses.

Attempt #31 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 492,590

• Again I could have got a pro score there with a maximum final bonus, but the 60k I got wasn't enough.

Attempt #32 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 431,280

• A clearance with a 60k final bonus.

Attempt #33 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 399,930

• Another clearance, with a 100k final bonus this time.

Attempt #34 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 400,240

• Three pegs left, although I was scoring quite well for a change.

Attempt #35 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 311,920

• About four or five pegs left. No luck at all.

Attempt #36 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 248,970

• A whopping eight pegs left that time. I just couldn't get the balls to penetrate into the pegs at all.

Attempt #37 - Big Bounce & Split Ball. Score: 609,600 

• And there it goes, at the 37th attempt. To beat this level you need to get really lucky, there are no two ways about it. I got my luck with Big Bounce. It took out 12 of the remaining 14 pegs for a score of 212k all on its own. It meant that I nudged past 400k before I played the last peg. I got a final bucket bonus of 150k, but with the 30k bonus for three balls in hand, and the 25k Exact Angle bonus for bouncing off the ramp, it meant I just scraped over the pro target. Happy Days!

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	25	112	Reds	10	-	475k	4	1,000,340	453,930
2	25	101	Reds	10	-	450k	3	612,360	423,143
3	25	116	Reds	10	-	450k	2	570,660	386,405
4	25	96	Reds	10	-	425k	5	937,890	457,720
5	15	30	Reds	10	-	400k	1	525,270	525,270
6	25	112	400k	10	-	550k	1	967,300	967,300
7	30	116	375k	10	-	525k	1	587,540	587,540
8	45	101	Reds	10	3s	650k	2	749,180	648,800
9	20	30	All	10	NBB	600k	37	609,600	381,748
10	25	96	All	10	-	625k	1	755,390	755,390