Cloudy Mountain on Intellivision
(Also known as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons CARTRIDGE, Crown of Kings,
Adventure, etc.)
Walkthroughs, Strategies, Information, and Frequently Asked Questions
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General Data
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Author: Dale Hoffman (Chickenbolt)
Email:
[email protected]
Originally Created: March 30, 2013
Version: 1.1
Revision history:
Version 1.0 – March 30, 2013 - Initial release.
Version 1.1 – April 3, 2013 - Corrected minor grammatical errors.
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Table of Content
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General Data
Table of Content
Scope
About the Game
The Map
The Caves
Walkthrough
Challenges
Glitches
Frequently Asked Questions
Credits
Final Note From The Author
Legal
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Scope
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This document is designed to help people learn more about Cloudy Mountain, as
well as to bolster interest in the game.
Early video games obviously have limited graphic detail and relatively simple
gameplay. For this reason, in order to get maximum enjoyment from old games,
one must be very imaginative. Rather than just take the game for what is on
the screen, try to understand the intent of the game designers and get
absorbed in the atmosphere of the game.
Note: There are many versions of Coudy Mountain released on many systems,
usually inside a collection of Intellivision games called Intellivision
Lives!, and under different names such Advanced Dungeons & Dragons CARTRIDGE,
Crown of Kings, Adventure, etc. Games in these collections are generally
true to the original in basic gameplay, but controls are usually different,
and sometimes various features are missing. For instance the Nintendo DS
version of Cloudy Mountain does not include arrow counts, or any sounds when
spiders pilfer arrows. Keep this in mind when using this document. Refer to
the user manual for the collection you are playing, couple it with this
document, and hopefully you will be able to get more out of this wonderful
old 1982 game.
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About the Game
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The object of the game is for a team of relic hunters to survive rough
terrain and savage underground beasts to obtain the Crown of Kings. This is
one of the earliest adventure video games, with considerably deep gameplay
for the time it was first published.
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The Map
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There are 4 map configurations. At the start of a quest, 1 of the 4 maps
will randomly be selected for the adventure. As you navigate different maps,
you will find that some make for an easier quest, and others make it more
difficult. Simply reset the game repeatedly until you see the map you want.
Rivers:
The only way to travel on these raging, blue rivers is with a boat—which
unfortunately is always guarded by a mad demon.
Forests:
The dark, green forests are so thick, that they require an axe to penetrate
them. Serious trekkers will have to face a snake if they want to obtain an
axe.
Walls:
The black walls are erected by dragons, and may only be passed by using a
key. Dragons do not give up keys without a fight.
Mountains: From a distance, all of the small mountains look similar. They
appear black if they contain a penetrable cave system. Brown mountains have
no entry, and cannot be passed over. As hunters approach black mountains,
they can determine the difficulty and type of creatures inside. At this
time, the mountain will show a color: purple, red, blue, or gray.
After clearing a mountain, your party may pass quickly over that mountain
again. However, after clearing 4 mountains, you will find that the monsters
have moved back into the mountain you have previously cleared.
Cloudy Mountain:
Beware the winged dragons of cloudy mountain. It is a snow-capped peak that
can be seen for a far distance, and the white clouds continually hover and
roll above it. The greatest of all beasts have deemed this mountain the
choicest of all places in which to guard the broken Crown of Kings. The
snores of these terrible winged dragons can be heard reverberating from one
side of the land to the other--even as far as the hunters’ hut. The general
color of the cloudy mountain will change depending on the strength and speed
of the creatures of the land. Gray means the hunter’s quest will be easy,
blue indicates more challenge, and red denotes difficult. If the mountain is
purple, hunters must be very cautious--this is the most difficult quest of
all.
The Hunters:
The quest begins with a 3-hunter expedition, represented on the map by the
number of white dots. They are skilled in the art of archery, and have a mad
obsession with ancient relics. From their hovel in the west, they can see
Cloudy Mountain towering over all the mountains, trees, and walls in the
land. Their desire for wealth and power outweighs the danger of the winged
dragons’ lair.
The hunters show 3 levels of health before they expire.
Black: A black hunter is healthy.
Blue: When hunters turn blue, they have obviously been bruised and battered.
Red: If hunters bleed red, they can take little more damage before they
disintegrate.
Each hunter begins the quest with 1 arrow. They only drop into a cavern one
at a time. Since all items acquired are common to the party, the mobile
hunter will make use of all 3 arrows on the first cave raid. The other 2
hunters will wait outside the cavern for a reasonable period of time. If the
member does not return, another of the party will drop into the hole and
continue to explore the mountain passages. The proximity to the Crown of
Kings has magical properties which allow the next explorer to immediately
obtain all items that were carried by the fallen. Obviously the ancient
crown only benefits the higher order of life, and that is why these hunters
are so set on having it.
If the party fails, a tombstone will appear on the mountain wherein the last
hunter has perished.
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The Caves
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There are 7 different shapes of rooms in caves, laid out in a 4X4 or 4X8
grid. Each room can be found rotated in any 90 degree configuration, and
interconnected with any other room, apparently at random. The grid wraps in
such a way that the hunters continuing in one direction will continue to meet
the same rooms over and over. 2 of the rooms are relatively large, and may
be used for maneuvering when chasing or being chased--or to move around
blobs. One particular type of room has a small side tunnel that can also be
used during chases or other strategic movement around something.
Arrows:
Each hunter begins with 1 arrow, for a total of 3 common to the party at the
outset. However, there are many quivers to be found which were left by
unfortunate adventurers. The easier the quest, the more arrows will be found
in the quivers—from 11 to 5. 1 or 2 quivers can be found in each cave, with
the exception of the gray mountains which contain an extra quiver guarded by
a greedy rat. Walls can be used to ricochet arrows around corners, but care
should be taken not to injure ones own self on the rebound. Hunters are
strong, but can only survive 1 accidental arrow strike. The bouncing of
arrows off walls can be to ones advantage. Try to shoot arrows around curved
narrow passageways to kill beasts while staying out of their path of sight.
Skulls:
The cunning winged dragon pair have left skulls in various locations
throughout the mountains to keep would-be adventurers in fear. A hardy relic
hunter will ignore these signs of death, and press on toward the bejeweled
prize. Contrarily, the mapping skills of a trained hunter can be enhanced by
using these skulls as a markers amongst many caverns which look alike.
Rat Tracks:
These tracks look like little black dots, and indicate that a rat sleeps in
one of the adjoining rooms.
Demon Tracks:
The black, three-toed tracks, denote a demon sleeping in an adjoining room.
Boat:
A demon sleeps in the black boat until an adventurer arouses it. The boat
can help a hunting party follow and cross rivers.
Axe:
A sleeping snake coils around the black axe. A hunter will have to deal with
the snake, for the axe is needed to wend through forests.
Key:
Dragons sleep on their blue keys, and guard them with ferocity. In order to
pass through locked walls, a relic hunter must first slay or trick the dragon
to get the key.
Exit:
Since hunters drop into the mountains, they cannot escape without first
finding the laddered exit. A monster always guards these green ladders.
The Crown of Kings:
This ancient blue-colored relic is highly coveted for its mysterious magical
properties. Only beasts with the lowest of intellect are immune to the
crown’s spell of slumber. The winged dragons are the most intelligent of all
beasts in the realm. They are so vicious that they cannot bear to share the
crown with their mates. It must have been a terrible fight that broke the
legendary Crown of Kings in twain. Each winged dragon eventually falls into
the sleeping spell of the crown, along with all the greater monsters in
surrounding mountains.
Monsters:
There are 8 types of monsters in the mountains. They are listed here in
order of speed in which they move about the caverns.
Winged Dragon
Where found: Cloudy Mountain
Appearance: The winged dragon is a purple, winged, bipedal, serpentine
behemoth with large wings on its back.
Items guarded: Winged dragons are always found in mated pairs, each guarding
one half of the Crown of Kings.
Damage speed: It will eat a hunter very fast.
Spore left: This creature leaves no tracks, so listen closely for its
snoring.
Sound made while sleeping: A soft snore can be heard when a winged dragon is
sleeping nearby.
Sound made while awake: If aroused, the winged dragon emits a horrid roaring
hiss.
Special attributes: This is the fastest and most intelligent creature in the
land. Its wings lend it considerably more speed than the normal dragon
variety. Furthermore, being a stronger beast, it requires 3 arrows to kill.
Dragon
Where found: Dragons are found in purple and blue mountains.
Appearance: This creature is purple, walks on 2 legs, and looks much like the
winged dragon--though it has no wings.
Items guarded: They may guard keys or exits.
Damage speed: Dragons can devour a hunter quickly.
Sound made while sleeping: Dragons make the same hissing snore as their
winged cousins.
Sound made while awake: The dragon also sounds like the winged variety when
awake, with a loud roar and hiss.
Special attributes: Dragons on the higher skill quests are difficult or
impossible to outrun, so they should be shot in the dark while sleeping. It
will take 2 arrows to kill it.
Snake
Where found: Snakes infest the red, gray, and cloudy mountains.
Appearance: The snake is a red, coiled serpent with its head erect and ready
to strike.
Items guarded: It may guard an axe or an exit.
Damage speed: If it reaches the hunter, the snake can eat moderately fast.
Sound made while sleeping: A series of brief, soft hisses can be heard if a
snake slumbers nearby.
Sound made while awake: An angry snake will hiss constantly, only pausing
between breaths.
Special attributes: 2 arrows are needed to kill it. On the harder quests, a
running hunter may be able to escape a snake—but usually will be overrun.
Demon
Where found: Demons are in the blue and purple mountains.
Appearance: This blue monster has 2 stamping feet and a mess of ugly spines
jutting out of its body in various directions.
Items guarded: They may guard a boat or an exit.
Damage speed: Demons eat at a moderate speed.
Sound made while sleeping: This creature is soundless, even in its slumber.
Sound made while awake: The mute demon can leap upon a treasure hunter from
a dark cavern. Only when it comes into the light is there any indication
that it is awake. I wise adventurer watches for its tracks.
Special attributes: The demon’s silence is what makes it such a formidable
foe. If an arrow is shot when a sleeping demon is nearby, it may awaken-—but
the only sound may be a hunter’s screams of agony in being eaten alive. A
wary hunter should watch for its tracks to know if one is in the next room.
Demons can usually be outrun, but only by a slim margin on the harder quests.
This is the weakest creature that requires 2 arrows to kill.
Rat
Where found: A hunter can stumble upon rats in the gray and red mountains.
Appearance: The little rodent is a small, creeping, black vermin with a
snippet of a tail.
Items guarded: Rats may guard arrows and exits.
Damage speed: Slow--a rat may chew for a moment before the hunter is
finished.
Sound made while sleeping: Rats are soundless in slumber.
Sound made while awake: A shrill squeak will pierce the caverns when a rat
awakes.
Special attributes: Since the rat does not make noise when asleep, it is
important to watch for its tracks. The tracks indicate one is sleeping in a
nearby room. Only 1 shot is required to eliminate it. A hunter will always
be able to outrun a rat, even on more advanced quests.
Bat
Where found: Bats may be found in any mountain cavern.
Appearance: These brown pests are small with a relatively wide wingspan.
Items guarded: Bats are never on guard.
Damage speed: They will follow a hunter continuously, but will never bite.
Sound made while sleeping: These tenacious creatures will never sleep.
Sound made while awake: You will know when a bat is nearby, because the
constant flapping whoosh of its wings will cover the sounds of all sleeping
monsters.
Special attributes: This creature will make it impossible for a hunter to
hear a sleeping predator. 1 arrow will kill it, but the sound of the shot
may arouse a dangerous beast. Bats move faster than only the spider and the
blob.
Spider
Where found: Unfortunately, they may be lurking in any cave.
Appearance: The spider appears as a black, crawling, multi-legged bug.
Items guarded: They guard nothing.
Damage speed: They will not injure you bodily, but they will try to steal
arrows.
Sound made while sleeping: Spiders are always awake, even in the dark.
Sound made while awake: Spiders are soundless, and will crawl from the
shadows to steal ammunition from unsuspecting relic hunters. A tap can be
heard each time an arrow is stolen.
Special attributes: Spiders are slow-moving, but can pilfer precious arrows.
A wise hunter will outrun them if possible, because the 1 shot it takes to
kill them may awaken a greater horror.
Blob
Where found: Blobs may be moving through any cavern.
Appearance: Blobs are luminescent puddles of purple ooze that glister as
they slither along the cave floor.
Items guarded: Blobs do not guard items.
Damage speed: Though blobs are very slow, they can devour a hunter instantly.
At full health it may be possible to run through one at full speed and
survive, but the chance is slim.
Sound made while sleeping: These gelatinous masses never sleep.
Sound made while awake: Blobs are silent, but hunters can see them in the
dark long before they encounter them.
Special attributes: Blobs are indestructible. Arrows are useless against
them. They should be completely avoided, which is not difficult since they
are the slowest monster in the realm.
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Walkthrough
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Your hunting party begins at the left side of the screen, appearing as 3
white dots on a black hut. The ultimate goal is to reach the large Cloudy
Mountain on the right side of the screen, enter it, and assemble the Crown of
Kings.
Objective #1: Acquire Ammunition
The party begins with only 3 arrows, so finding ammunition is the first
priority. Use the arrow keys to move your party toward the mountains. As
you approach each black mountain, it will glow with a color. Try to find a
gray mountain. Brown mountains cannot be entered or otherwise passed
through. Gray mountains are generally the easiest to explore, and can
contain the most quivers. If no gray mountains can be reached, find a blue
mountain, which is the next easiest. Red mountains are more difficult yet,
and purple mountains are usually the most difficult. Each mountain contains
1 or 2 unguarded quivers that can be found. The gray mountain may contain a
total of 3 quivers: 1 or 2 unguarded, and 1 guarded by a rat.
If ammunition is low, an experienced hunter may be able to dash into a dark
room, and take the exit before the beast on guard is able to deliver any
fatal damage. Note that hunters are able to heal completely before entering
the next mountain. If the creature on guard is known to be slow, a fast
hunter may also take an object from a sleeping creature, and run away with
little injury.
Detailed walkthroughs of each type of mountain can be found in the Mountains
section.
Objective #2: Acquire Tools
Look at the map, and determine the shortest or easiest route to the great
Cloudy Mountain at the right side of the screen. You will see rivers,
forests, and walls. There are 3 tools to be found: The boat allows access
to rivers; the axe allows access to forests; and the key allows access to
walls. You do not have to acquire all the tools to finish the game. You can
collect them all for the sake of having them, or just get the tools you need.
Boats are in blue mountains, axes are in red mountains, and keys are in
purple mountains. When a route is determined, find a mountain which has the
tool needed and enter it. (Note that once you pick up a tool, it can never
be lost regardless of how many times you use it.)
Objective #3: Acquire both halves of the Crown of Kings
Enter the large mountain on the right side of the screen, known as Cloudy
Mountain, and assemble the Crown of Kings to complete the game.
Mountains
Note: The following walkthrough presents the objective as what to collect.
From another point of view, the objective should primarily be to destroy the
monsters. Never enter a cavern with the feeling you are being hunted. The
strongest monsters in the caverns are all asleep. Your party is awake and
usually armed. Are you the hunter, or the hunted? Begin each cave with an
offensive mindset. The basic objective is to collect items and arrows;
however, if you are able to hunt down and destroy the resident guardian
monsters, the items are an easy take and inherently a secondary objective.
You are the hunter, not the hunted.
Also note: The gray and blue mountains play basically the same, except that
the guardian monsters in the blue mountain are stronger and more difficult to
trick. Also the red and purple mountains are similar, except for the more
difficult monsters in the purple mountain.
Gray mountain
Size: 4X4 rooms or 4X8 rooms
Objectives: Collect ammunition and find the exit.
Walkthrough: When you have dropped into the mountain, move cautiously into
dark passages, listening for the hiss of a sleeping snake. When you begin to
hear hissing, the snake is somewhere on the screen. It could be in an
adjoining chamber, or in another chamber that cannot yet be accessed. If you
have enough arrows, you may want to shoot an arrow into the dark. Be
cautious doing this. If there is a solid wall nearby, the arrow may ricochet
and injure your hunter. The hunter can only survive one such injury. The
bat’s noisy wings will cover the sound of a sleeping snake, so be careful
entering dark caverns when a bat is nearby. Also watch the cave floor for
rat tracks, which indicate a rat is sleeping in an adjoining room. You may
shoot an arrow into the dark, but, again, beware solid walls that can send
the arrow back at the hunter. Also, launching arrows can possibly awaken
sleeping animals, such as the snake. If this happens, the aroused animal
will rush your hunter from the dark if it can reach you. Use a side button
while moving to run fast. When the snake is killed, it may be possible to
run quickly through the rest of the cave. Watch for spiders which steal
arrows, as well as blobs which may devour the hunter on contact. There are 2
rats in this mountain, their tracks always being in connecting rooms. One
guards arrows, and the other guards the exit. If you are looking for arrows,
you can collect 1 or 2 unguarded quivers, and 1 guarded. If you find the
exit before finding all the arrows you want, make a mental note of where the
exit is located. You may also want to draw a map. Rat tracks, skulls, and
odd-shaped caverns can serve as landmarks when tracking back to the exit.
Blue mountain
Size: 4X4 rooms or 4X8 rooms
Objectives: Acquire the boat and find the exit.
Walkthrough: There are 1 or 2 unguarded quivers in the mountain, but the
main objective is to find the boat. The 2 demons in the blue mountain guard
the boat and the exit. Also there will be 1 dragon lurking. Listen for the
snores of the dragon before entering any dark rooms, being careful of bats
that mask the sound. The dragon is one of the fastest creatures in the game,
so it may be best to shoot into the dark--though cautiously. When the dragon
is killed, the rest of the mountain will be easy. Demon tracks always
indicate that a demon is in the next room. A demon makes no sound when
awakened. When shooting arrows, it could awaken a demon, and you would not
know it until the creature appears from the shadows. Kill the 2 demons, take
the boat, and exit.
Red mountain
Size: 4X4 rooms or 4X8 rooms
Objectives: Acquire the axe and find the exit.
Walkthrough: The red mountain is more difficult to explore than the blue or
the gray because there is less tracking, and more listening. Your only
warning that a snake is nearby is the sleepy hissing sound. If you have
enough arrows, kill the bats. Be careful when shooting arrows, that you
don’t wake a nearby snake. 1 snake guards an axe, and the other guards the
exit. Also you may encounter a rat, but its tracks will warn you of its
proximity. If necessary, pick up any arrows you can find, then exit.
Purple mountain
Size: 4X4 rooms or 4X8 rooms
Objectives: Acquire the key and find the exit.
Walkthrough: Purple mountains also require plenty of listening. The 2
dragons are on guard--one with a key, and the other with the exit. Listen
for their snores before entering any dark passages, and shoot into the dark
with caution. There is 1 demon here, but it’s tracks will warn you that it
is nearby. Kill the dragons, and exit with the key. Also, you are likely to
run across 1 or 2 packs of arrows if you need them.
Cloudy Mountain:
Size: Always 4X8 rooms
Objectives: Acquire both halves of the Crown of Kings.
Walkthrough: This maze will always be 32 rooms, and it harbors the fastest
monsters. There is no tracking to be done here. There are 2 formidable
winged dragons, and 1 snake--all of which are asleep. Listen before entering
any dark passage. Winged dragons can be difficult to outrun, and impossible
to outrun on the higher skill quests. Also, the winged dragons each require
a full 3 arrow shots to destroy, so make sure you have at least 3 arrows
before attacking one. Shooting carefully into the dark is usually the best
way to destroy them, but if the winged dragon is too close, it can be on top
of your hunter before there is time to loose all 3 arrows. Leave plenty of
room between yourself and the winged dragons when shooting. Also, shooting
one creature can awaken another, and cause an even bigger problem. Always
move slowly and with caution. There is no exit here. Each dragon guards a
half of the fabled Crown of Kings. If you can outwit the winged dragons and
assemble the Crown of Kings, its magic will transport you out of the
mountain, and the game will end with an image of the crown under your party.
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Challenges
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Here are some ways to enhance the challenge of this game:
-For a good challenge, try completing a quest without shooting any arrows.
This can be very difficult on the highest skill level. You will need to do
plenty of running and outsmarting the monsters. Sometimes it is necessary to
lure a monster away from an object and sacrifice that hunter so the next
hunter can go through another way, and pick up the object unguarded. Or you
may need to rush in, and grab an item before being eaten. This challenge is
very difficult, but not impossible. You may need a little luck.
-Try to win the crown without using the run buttons.
-Try finishing the game without running or shooting. I’ve never been able to
gain the crown this way on the highest skill level. Is it even possible?
How far can you get?
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Glitches
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There are some major glitches to note:
-The most obvious glitch involves the keypad in conjunction with the
directional disc. Sometimes if shooting while running, the hunter will keep
running, often straight through walls and dark areas. Also, if you shoot an
arrow while running, the arrow may pass through the creature without harming
it.
-When first dropping into a cave, you may be able to see a creature flash in
the dark for a split second. Sometimes you can identify it by the shape or
color. This can help to locate dangerous creatures, giving you an advantage.
If you are not interested in this kind of advantage, you may want to look
away from the screen while the hunter drops into the cave.
-Another interesting glitch involves the upper left corner of the map screen.
If you move your hunting party to the top left corner, then move northwest
into the corner of the map screen, your party will disappear. Continue
pressing the arrow keys, or other keys, and the party will appear in
different places until they cannot move anymore. Depending on the map
configuration, this may bring them closer to Cloudy Mountain, or leave them
permanently stuck.
-This is a fun glitch. If you are chased by any creature (especially blobs,
since they are the slowest creatures), and the creature almost moves off the
screen, and the hunter runs back to it, the creature will usually double
itself. If you move them both off the screen simultaneously, sometimes the 2
creatures will turn back into 1, sometimes they will apparently be gone but
found in another part of the cave system, sometimes stuck in solid rock, and
sometimes they will disappear altogether. Have some fun with this. See how
many monsters you can have chasing you at the same time. If done correctly,
this is the only way I know of to remove blobs. With the larger creatures,
this glitch works best when moving vertically.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What are your favorite parts of the game?
A: I really like the sounds, especially the snoring dragons. Those sounds
take me back to my childhood. Also, I like using the glich to double
creatures over and over, make them disappear, reapear, or otherwise totally
mess with them.
Q: How long have you been playing this game?
A: My parents bought the Intellivision II around 1982, and we were given the
Cloudy Mountain cartridge 1 or 2 years later, probably 1983. However, we
first played this at the neighbor’s house next door. That means I’ve played
this for well over a quarter century.
Q: What is your favorite Intellivision game?
A: I like many Intellivision games, but Cloudy Mountain I think is my
favorite. Other favorites include Space Armada, Bump'n'Jump, Night Stalker,
Lock’n’Chase, and Tron Deadly Discs.
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Credits
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Thanks to those who recognize a good game when they see it, and are (like me)
fanatic enough to read a document like this.
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Final Note Form The Author
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This was my fourth FAQ submitted. Email
[email protected] and tell me
your opinions.
--Chickenbolt
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Legal
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I had no part in the programming, distribution, or creation of Cloudy
Mountain, or any other iteration of it on any game system.
This document may not be reproduced for any reason except for private use.
It may not be placed on any websites or be distributed in any other way
without written permission.
Copyright 2013 Dale Hoffman
