Board 145: Whirlpool Totem

This picture shows a huge stone totem statue standing at the heart of a raging whirlpool, just off the coast. Numerous gulls can be seen flying around inside the circle of whirling water.

Level 1 (Clear 30 red pegs from 117 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 500k)

The first design looks like a whirling turbine. There is a six-bladed fan in the centre, with each blade having a large curling curve outside of it. A double curve of round pegs lies outside that to the left and right.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 335,420

• I struggled to break through to some of the red pegs. Plus, I was some way short of the pro target as well.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 604,960 

• I rode my luck outrageously in that game. There were several shots that I misjudged completely only to see them ricochet around and finish in the bucket anyway. Not that I'm complaining mind you.

Level 2 (Clear 30 red pegs from 93 total - Pro target 500k)

The second design shows five basic V-shaped line drawings of seagulls amidst a scattering of round pegs.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 328,770

• I still had four red pegs left at the end. Despite having cleared most of the pegs, I was still struggling to find reliable catches at the end due to all the awkward angles.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 519,430 

• I was probably a little more fortunate with my catches the second time around. I managed to keep a few balls back for the endgame, and that helped a lot.

Level 3 (Clear 25 red pegs from 96 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 525k)

The third design alternates solid lines with rows of round pegs, up the side of the wall of water in the picture. There are no pegs over the totem in the centre.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 251,180

• Six red pegs left at the end and not even halfway to the pro target.

Attempt #2 - No power ups. Score: 400,110

• Only two red pegs left that time, and a better score. It's worth one more try.

Attempt #3 - No power ups. Score: 546,140 

• That one extra attempt did the trick. I managed to hang on to my balls a little better. I took a few more catches and got through the red pegs.

Level 4 (Clear 25 red pegs from 111 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 450k)

The fourth design is an approximate rectangle made up of water droplets - a mixture of round and teardrop-shaped, plus a fair few single round pegs.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 566,830 

• Not too much trouble with this one. I had a few balls left towards the end to be able to go for some purple pegs.

Level 5 (Clear 25 red pegs from 141 total, with only 9 balls - Pro target 550k)

The fifth design features five eccentric rings of varying sizes. The largest ring is too large for the screen and disappears off the top. There are a total of 20 round pegs in between the rings.

Attempt #1 - No power ups. Score: 448,970

• I don't think I'll bother trying this one again without power ups. The laser ball should make short work of this sort of level, so I'll go straight for that.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 885,140 

• It wasn't too hard with the laser ball. Once I'd got to the yellow peg, the laser ball scored well, and could pick off the red pegs that remained.

Level 6 (Clear 40 red pegs from 96 total, with only 7 balls - Pro target 700k)

The same design as level 3, but with 15 more red pegs, two fewer balls and 175k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 826,770 

• The pro target wasn't too hard to reach with the laser ball, but I had to tread carefully to make sure I took out all the red pegs.

Level 7 (Clear 45 red pegs from 93 total, with only 8 balls - Pro target 700k)

The same design as level 2, but with 15 more red pegs, two fewer balls and 200k on the pro target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 491,500

• Four red pegs left, and just over 200k short of the pro target.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 513,250

• A slight improvement on the score, but about 8 or 9 red pegs left at the end.

Attempt #3 - Laser Ball. Score: 765,340

• Plenty of points and just one red peg missed, so pretty close this time.

Attempt #4 - Laser Ball. Score: 433,120

• Not a very good attempt. Lots of red pegs left at the end and well short of the pro target.

Attempt #5 - Laser Ball. Score: 767,880 

• A few lucky bonuses helped me to get to the pro score. A few good catches and some lucky ricochets helped clear the red pegs.

Level 8 (Score 700k with 35 red pegs and 106 blue, with only 9 balls - Pro target 850k)

The same design as level 5, but with 10 more red pegs, 300k on the pro target and just a score as a target.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 481,450

• I did very badly with the laser ball. I've a long way to go.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball & Grenade Ball. Score: 897,290 

• I didn't quite manage a total clearance, but I was only a couple of pegs short. I managed to edge my way to a pro score with lots of catches in the endgame.

Level 9 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 86 blue - Pro target 725k)

The same design as level 4, but with one more ball, 275k on the pro target and a total clearance now required.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 665,830

• My catching in that one, particularly in the endgame, was just diabolical.

Attempt #2 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,080,590 

• My catching was much improved that time. I got the pro target easily and had a ball or two to soare at the end.

Level 10 (Clear ALL pegs - 25 red and 92 blue, with only 9 balls - Pro target 650k)

The same design as level 1, but with 5 fewer red pegs, 150k on the pro target, and a total clearance now needed.

Attempt #1 - Laser Ball. Score: 1,063,190 

• I had some marvellous ricochets on the way to that total clearance, and some pretty good catchess, too.

SUMMARY

Level	Reds	Pegs	Target	Balls	Clock	Pro	Attempts	Record	Average	Video
1	30	117	Reds	9	-	500k	2	604,960	470,190
2	30	93	Reds	10	-	500k	2	519,430	424,100
3	25	96	Reds	9	-	525k	3	546,140	399,143
4	25	111	Reds	9	-	450k	1	566,830	566,830
5	25	141	Reds	9	-	550k	2	885,140	667,055
6	40	96	Reds	7	-	700k	1	826,770	826,770
7	45	93	Reds	8	-	700k	5	767,880	594,218
8	35	141	700k	9	-	850k	2	897,290	689,370
9	25	111	All	10	-	725k	2	1,080,590	873,210
10	25	117	All	9	-	650k	1	1,063,190	1,063,190