Scorching Earth
Scorching Earth is an intriguing turn-based puzzle game in which you control the actions of an inferno as it seeks to devastate 50 levels worth of landscape. The levels are composed of square tiles, filled with various types of terrain—grasslands, water, trees, and so forth. Your goal on each puzzle is to destroy the required number of tiles. Since you are playing the role of "fire", you must obey some unique restrictions. Basically, you gain power (represented here by "Burn Points") by consuming resources, and then spread to other tiles by expending that power.
The "Burn!" button is the end of your turn. Pressing it causes each active flame to consume part of its square, adding to your Burn Points. Some tiles, such as forests, will allow you to burn them for longer, and yield more points over time. In between turns, you may spend those points on your abilities. The one you'll use most often is "Spread", which costs 2 points and simply expands the fire from one tile to an adjacent tile. Click the flaming space, then the Spread command, then the target space. You can also call down rainstorms to put out rival fires (which are, bizarrely, purple), and meteors to strike far-away spaces and start fresh burns.
Scorching Earth is the first release from letsmakeagame.com, another petal in the current blossoming of websites dedicated to community level design. As with BonusLevel, every game that designer Rowland Rose uploads onto Let's Make a Game will feature a level editor, so that users can add to the games' growth and re-playability. If you make a popular level, it might even end up in the Community Edition of the game later on.
Analysis: This is the sort of game that can easily pass you by, because it looks so unassuming, and its mechanics are so unusual. The instruction page is really not very helpful, so expect to mess things up the first couple of times you play. If you persevere, though, you'll find a highly versatile puzzle engine chugging away. There are a couple of awkward design decisions—the flames are so large that it's difficult to tell what terrain they're sitting on, and it takes too many clicks to cancel a half-finished command—but the basic struggle of Fire Vs. Everything is gripping enough to keep you addicted through 50 levels worth of challenge and variety.
Have I mentioned that there's 50 levels enough times yet? I think it's important for these Web 2.0 games to have a well-constructed group of official levels that teach the player all the ins and outs of gameplay, rather than relying solely on the creative efforts of beta-testers. And Scorching Earth's official level set is stellar, both at introducing concepts and at challenging the human bejeebers out of you. If you're a hard-edged puzzle-holic, this is what you live for.
So it's a good, solid, innovative puzzle game. But I'm mostly fascinated by the way it makes you feel like you're actually controlling a fire. Sometimes you'll hold onto a forest for several turns, gathering strength for a last-minute push across the prairies. Sometimes you'll cut a controlled burn across a choke-point to keep the purple flames from advancing. It's fun being in charge of a natural disaster, following natural disaster rules, attending natural disaster after-parties, caring not for the ashen husk of a world you're leaving behind. It's fun, and if you've ever been close to a real forest fire, kind of grisly.
Walkthrough Guide
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Walkthrough for levels 1-20
Please note that all directions are expressed as columns A-H (from left to right) and rows 1-8 (from top to bottom). Many thanks to others who posted earlier tips.
Level 1
Spread down to D-6, Burn
Spread left to C-6, Burn
Spread right to E-6, Burn
Spread up to E-5, Spread right to F-5, Burn
Spread up to E-4, Burn
Spread left to D-4, Spread right to F-4, Jump from F-4 to F-3, Burn
Spread left to E-3, Spread down to F-4, Burn
Level 2
Spread up to C-5, Burn
Spread right to D-6, Burn
Jump up twice from D-6 to D-4, Burn
Spread down to D-5, Burn
Spread down to D-6, Burn
Level 3
Spread left to E-7, Burn
Spread up to E-6, Burn
Jump from E-6 to E-5, Spread from E-7 to D-7, Burn
Spread up to E-4, Spread up to E-3, Burn
Spread down to E-6, Spread right to F-6, Burn
Spread left to D-6, Burn
Burn
Level 4
Spread down to F-5, Burn
Spread left to E-4, Burn
Burn
Rain on D-3, Burn
Spread down to E-5, Burn
Spread down to E-6, Burn
Spread left to D-5, Burn
Spread left to C-5, Spread up to D-4, Burn
Burn
Burn
Meteor B-3, Spread up to D-3, Burn
Burn
Burn
Level 5
Spread up to A5, Burn
Spread up to A4, Burn
Spread up to A3, Burn
Spread right to B-3, Burn
Spread up to B-2, Burn
Spread right to C-2, Burn
Spread up to C-1, Spread left to B-1, Burn
Spread left to A-1, Spread right to D-1, Burn
Spread down to A-2, Spread right to E-1, Burn
Spread right to F-1, Spread down to F-2, Burn
Spread right to G-2, Spread down to G-3, Burn
Rain on H-3, Burn
Spread right to H-2, Burn
Spread down to H-3, Spread up to H-1, Burn
Spread left to G-1, Burn
Burn
Level 6
Spread left to D-4, Burn
Spread up to D-3, Burn
Burn
Rain on D-5, Burn
Spread left to C-3, Burn
Burn
Spread down to C-4, Spread down to C-5, Burn
Burn
Burn
Spread right to D-5, Spread right to E-5, Spread down to D-6, Burn
Level 7
Spread right to D-3, Burn
Spread down to D-4, Burn
Spread right to E-4, Burn
Spread left to C-4, Spread left to B-4, Burn
Spread up to B-3, Burn
Meteor F-6, Burn
Spread up to B-2, Spread right to B-3, Burn
Level 8
Spread down to G-3, Burn
Spread left to F-3, Burn
Spread down to F-4, Burn
Spread down to F-5, Spread left to E-5, Burn
Spread left to D-5, Spread down to E-6, Burn
Spread left to C-5, Spread left to D-6, Spread down to E-7, Burn
Burn
Spread up to D-4, Spread right to E-4, Burn
Burn
Spread up to E-3, Meteor B-3, Meteor C-2, Burn
Burn
Meteor G-7, Burn
Level 9
Spread up to D-6, Burn
Burn
Burn
Spread up to D-5
Spread up to D-4
Spread up to D-3, Burn
Spread up to D-2, Burn
Burn
Meteor B-5
Burn
Spread up to B-4, Burn
Spread up to B-3, Burn
Spread up to B-2, Burn
Burn
Meteor F-2, Burn
Spread down to F-3, Burn
Burn
Burn
Spread down to F-4, Spread down to F-5, Jump from F-5 to F-7, Burn
Burn
Spread up to F-6, Spread up to F-5, Burn
Level 10
Spread left to F-8, Burn
Spread left to E-8, Burn
Spread left to D-8, Burn
Rain on B-7, Burn
Spread left to C-8, Burn
Spread left to B-8, Spread up to B-7, Burn
Burn
Burn
Meteor D-5, Burn
Spread right to E-5, Burn
Meteor D-5, Spread right to E-5
Level 11
Burn
Burn
Jump down to F-4, Jump left to E-4, Jump left to D-4, Jump down to D-5, Burn
Jump down to D-6, Burn
Burn
Spread left to C-6, Burn
Spread up to C-5, Burn
Burn
Spread right to D-5, Burn
Burn
Spread up to D-4, Spread right to E-4, Spread right to F-4, Spread up to F-3, Burn
Level 12
Burn
Burn
Jump from B-5 to D-5, Spread right to E-5, Burn
Spread up to E-4, Burn
Spread down to E-6, Burn
Burn
Rain on F-6, Burn
Spread right to F-6, Burn
Burn
Level 13
Spread down to A-6, Burn
Spread right to B-5, Burn
Spread right to C-5, Burn
Spread right to D-5, Burn
Spread right to E-5, Spread right to F-5, Burn
Burn
Meteor to A-4, Burn
Burn
Level 14
Jump right to D-6, Jump up to D-5, Burn
Jump right to E-5, Burn
Jump up to E-4, Burn
Burn
Spread left to D-4, Burn
Burn
Burn
Spread down to D-5, Jump from D-5 to E-5, Burn
Burn
Spread left to D-5, Jump from D-5 to C-5, Burn
Spread right to D-5, Burn
Spread down to D-6, Burn
Spread left to C-6, Burn
Level 15
Spread left to C-4, Burn
Spread left to B-4, Burn
Spread left to A-4, Burn
Spread up to A-3, Burn
Spread up to A-2, Burn
Burn
Spread up to A-1, Spread right to B-1, Spread right to C-1, Burn
Spread down to C-2, Burn
Spread left to B-2, Burn
Spread down to C-3, Spread left to B-3, Burn
Spread right to D-2, Burn
Spread up to D-1, Spread down to D-3, Burn
Spread right to E-3, Spread down to E-4, Burn
Spread right to F-4, Burn
Spread up to E-2, Spread up to E-1, Burn
Spread right to F-1, Spread right to F-3, Burn
Spread right to F-2, Spread right to G-2, Burn
Spread right to G-1, Spread right to G-3, Spread down to G-4, Burn
Burn
Burn
Spread right to H-1, then Spread from H-2 through H-5, Burn
Burn
Burn
Spread down to H-6, then Spread to G-6, G-7, G-8, H-7, and H-8, Burn
Spread up to G-5, Spread left to F-5, Spread left to F-6, Burn
Spread left to F-8, Spread left to E-8, Spread left to F-7, Spread left to E-5, Burn
Spread left to E-7, Spread up to E-6, Spread left to D-6, Spread left to D-7, Burn
Spread left from D-5 through A-5, Burn
Spread left from D-8 through B-8, Burn
Burn
Spread through the remaining unburned squares, Burn
Burn
Level 16
Burn
Jump down to B-4, Jump right to C-4, Jump right to D-4, Burn
Burn
Spread right to E-4, Burn
Spread down to E-5, Burn
Burn
Rain on E-5, Burn
Spread to E-5, Burn
Burn
Level 17
Spread down to A-2, Burn
Spread right to B-1, Burn
Spread down to B-2, Burn
Spread down to A-3, Spread down to A-4, Burn
Spread right to C-3, Spread right to C-4, Spread right to B-3, Burn
Meteor G-5, Burn
Spread right to B-3, Burn
Meteor G-3, Burn
Spread up to G-2, Spread left to F-3, Burn
Spread up to F-2, Burn
Spread left to E-3, Burn
Burn
Meteor B-7, Burn
Spread up to B-6, Spread right to C-6, Spread up to C-5, Burn
Spread right to D-6, Spread down to C-7, Burn
Burn
Level 18
Spread down to E-5, Burn
Spread right to F-4, Burn
Jump right twice to H-4, Burn
Spread up to H-3, Burn
Spread up to H-2, Burn
Spread up to H-1, Burn
Spread left to G-1, Burn
Burn
Burn
Meteor C-6, Burn
Spread left to B-6, Burn
Spread up to B-5, Burn
Burn
Burn
Meteor G-4, Burn
Spread left to F-4, Burn
Level 19
Spread down to A-7, Burn
Spread right to B-7, Burn
Spread right to C-7, Burn
Spread right to E-7, Spread right to F-7, Burn
Spread down to E-8, Spread up to E-6, Burn
Spread up to E-5, Jump from E-5 to F-5, Spread up to F-4, Spread up to F-3, Burn
Spread left to D-8, Spread right to G-3, Burn
Spread left to C-8, Spread left to E-4, Rain on H-3, Burn
Spread down to E-5, Spread right to H-3, Spread up to H-2, Burn
Spread left to D-5, Spread left to G-2, Spread down to D-6, Burn
Spread left to B-8, Spread left to C-5, Spread left to C-6, Burn
Spread left to A-8, Spread left to B-6, Burn
Burn
Meteor to B-3, Spread right to C-3, Burn
Burn
Level 20
Spread left to E-5, Burn
Jump left from E-5 to D-5, then from D-5 to D-4, Burn
Spread up to F-4, Burn
Spread up to F-3, Burn
Burn
Spread left to E-3, Burn
Burn
Spread left to D-3, Spread down to E-4, Spread down to E-5, Burn
Spread left to D-5, Spread down to E-6, Burn
Burn
Posted by: friz | May 1, 2008 1:43 AM
Walkthrough for levels 21-30
Level 21
Spread up to E-6, Burn
Jump from E-6 to E-5 to E-4, Burn
Spread up to E-3, Burn
Spread up to E-6, Jump from E-3 to E-2, Burn
Spread up to E-1, Burn
Rain on D-1, Burn
Spread down to E-3, Burn
Spread left to D-1, Burn
Burn
Level 22
Spread down to C-4, Burn
Spread right to D-4, Burn
Spread down to D-5, Burn
Spread right to E-4, Spread down to D-6, Jump from D-6 to E-6, Burn
Spread down to E-7, Spread up to E-3, Burn
Spread down to E-8, Jump from E-8 to F-8, Spread left to D-3, Burn
Spread right to G-8, Spread right to H-8, Burn
Rain on H-7, Spread left to E-8, Burn
Spread up to H-7, Spread left to D-8, Spread up to D-7, Burn
Spread up to D-6, Spread left to C-6, Burn
Burn
Spread up to D-3, Meteor A-1, Burn
Spread right to B-1, Spread down to B-2, Spread right to C-2, Burn
Spread right to D-2, Burn
Spread right to C-1, Burn
Spread right to D-1, then E-1, F-1, down to F-2, and left to E-2, Burn
Level 23
Spread right to G-2, Burn
Spread down to G-3, Burn
Spread left to F-3, Burn
Burn
Meteor C-7, Burn
Spread up to C-6, Spread right to D-6, Burn
Spread up to C-5, Spread left to B-6, Burn
Spread left to B-5, Spread up to C-4, Burn
Spread right to D-4, Jump from D-4 to D-5, Burn
Spread right to D-4, Burn
Spread up to D-3, Burn
Burn
Burn
Level 24
Spread right to E-4, Burn
Jump from E-4 up to E-2, Burn
Burn
Spread left to D-2, Burn
Spread left to C-2, Burn
Spread down to C-3, Burn
Spread left to B-3, Burn
Spread down to B-4, Burn
Jump from B-4 to B-5, Burn
Spread down to B-4, Jump from B-4 to C-4, Burn
Spread up to B-4, Burn
Level 25
Spread right to D-3, Burn
Spread down to D-4, Burn
Spread down to D-5, Burn
Spread right to E-3, Jump from D-4 to E-4, Burn
Spread down to D-6, Spread down to D-7, Burn
Spread right to F-3, Spread down to D-8, Burn
Spread down to F-4, Spread right to G-4, Spread right to E-8, Burn
Spread right to H-4, Spread left to C-8, Burn
Spread up to H-3, Spread left to B-8, Spread left to A-8, Burn
Spread up to A-7, Spread right to B-7, Spread up to B-6, Burn
Rain on H-8, Spread right to C-6, Spread left to A-6, Burn
Spread down to C-7, Spread up to C-5, Spread up to B-5, Burn
Spread left to A-5, Spread up to A-4, Spread up to B-4, Spread up to C-4, Spread right to D-4, Burn
Spread up to A-3, A-2 and A-1, Spread right to B-1, Spread right to C-1, Burn
Spread right to B-2 and C-2, Spread right to C-1 and D-1, Burn
Spread right to D-2, E-2, and F-2, Spread right to E-1 and F-1, Burn
Spread to fill G-1, H-1, G-2, H-2, and G-3, Burn
Meteor H-8, Burn
Burn
Level 26
Spread down to A-2, Burn
Spread right to B-1, Burn
Spread right to B-2, Burn
Spread down to B-3, Spread right to C-2, Burn
Spread down to C-3, Spread down to C-4, Burn
Spread right to D-4, Spread right to E-4, Burn
Spread down to D-5, Spread down to E-5, Burn
Rain on B-7, Burn
Spread up to D-3, Spread right to E-3, Burn
Spread right to F-3, Spread right to F-5, Spread down to F-6, Burn
Spread down to F-4, Spread left to E-6, Spread left to D-6, Burn
Spread left to C-6, Spread up to C-5, Spread left to B-6, Burn
Spread down to C-7, Spread left to B-7, Burn
Burn
Level 27
Spread down to H-6, Burn
Spread up to H-5, Burn
Spread down to H-7, Burn
Spread left to G-6, Spread left to F-6, Jump from F-6 to E-6, Burn
Spread up to H-3, Spread up to E-5, Spread left to D-5, Burn
Spread left to G-7, Spread down to H-8, Burn
Spread right to F-6, Spread up to F-5, Spread up to H-2, Burn
Spread left to G-3, Burn
Burn
Spread down to G-4, Spread down to G-5, Spread left to F-4, Spread left to E-4, Burn
Meteor E-2, Burn
Level 28
Spread down to C-6, Burn
Spread right to D-6, Burn
Spread down to C-7, Burn
Spread right to D-5, Spread up to D-4, Jump from C-7 to C-8, Burn
Spread left to C-4, Spread up to C-3, Burn
Spread left to B-8, Spread up to B-7, Burn
Spread right to C-7, Burn
Burn
Burn
Level 29
Spread right to D-5, Burn
Spread up to D-4, Burn
Spread up to D-3, Spread down to G-4, Jump from G-3 to F-3, Burn
Spread up to D-2, Spread right to E-2, Burn
Spread down to G-5, Spread down to G-6, Burn
Jump from G-6 to G-7, Spread down to G-8, Jump from G-8 to F-8, then from F-8 to E-8, Spread left to D-8, Burn
Spread left to C-8, Jump from C-8 to C-7, Spread right to F-8, Burn
Rain on C-6, Burn
Spread out over the remaining squares
Level 30
Spread up to H-1, Burn
Spread left to G-1, Burn
Spread left to F-1, Burn
Burn
Meteor A-8, Burn
Spread down to F-2, Burn
Spread up to A-7, Spread down to F-3, Burn
Spread right to G-2, Spread right to G-3, Burn
Spread right to H-3, Spread down to H-4, Burn
Burn
Posted by: friz | May 1, 2008 3:04 PM