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Pandora on Gamer -- What's Different? (Specifically)

Pandora Directive is my favorite game of all time. Thanks to GOG, I now can play again, and this time I have just beaten Under a Killing Moon as well for the first time, so I will probably catch on to a few more of the subtleties this time around.

Anyway, I am in a position to play Pandora again. It's been nearly a decade (well, maybe more like 8 years) since I've last played. My question is, how much better is the "Gamer" mode experience? I know it doesn't change the ending or paths at all, but there are "added locations and puzzles", which has me intrigued; I never did go through on Gamer, and that would keep a fresh challenge, as I think I had to skip a few puzzles before when I played, and Gamer would force me to play them all. (There are also more points available, for people who get thrilled by their score.)

What is specifically different in Gamer mode? Can you give me a couple of examples? (*WITHOUT* Gamer-level spoilers, although I have played through the game so don't worry about giving away any of the Entertainment story, I already know the Entertainment level story) For example, does anyone know how many new locations and new puzzles there are?
The first thing that comes to mind for me is the Fireball Room in the Mayan Temple.
Very Cool. I don't remember all the others, but there's an extra puzzle to get out of the temple and an extra puzzle to get the object out of Area 51.

The Fireball Room, alone, is worth the extra effort. And the pride of doing it, or course.
To add to DrPaul, the Slider Puzzle in Witt's apartment is harder because it is a little bigger and has more tiles to slide...


My suggestion would be to play through on both level, first play on the easier one and then when your finished play the Gamer mode... Try to play the exact same way you played the first time and just make a note of things that change...

There are conversations to be had in the Gamer mode that aren't in the Entertainment mode as well... I can't think of any specific ones right off, but I know they're there...



I have to agree with DrPaul, the Fireball Room itself is a great feel of accomplishment...
What I find really funny is how Tex changes shoes right after the Fireball Room... You don't get to see it or anything, but if you happen to fall off in the Fireball Room, Tex will blame it on the worn tread on his tennis shoes... But when he is pulling Reagan up on the elevator platform it's very clear that Tex is wearing Cowboy Boots, same as Reagan... Now who would wear Cowboy Boots to go hiking through a Jungle in Mexico is beyond me... But that's our Tex... :D
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...


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At the risk of being completely corny, I'll post my first couple of observed differences on Gamer mode (there may have been other minor differences up to this point, it has been years since I played on Entertainment, and I am going down Path A, pretty much have that sealed up other than taking care of Regan).

1) There is a crossword on Day 1 that can give you $100 bonus cash (Fairly minor, but an added bonus, and some of the clues are challenging)
2) All puzzles are timed so far, except the crossword up to the beginning of Day 4. If you run out of time, you can still finish the puzzle for what I presume are the same # of points as you would get on Entertainment, although I haven't verified that.
3) The first difference that forced me to alter my gameplay was that there is a security guard at Autotech to take care of.

I'm looking forward to the Fire Room, that sounds interesting! So far, I can say the *only* drawback is lack of a hint system on Gamer, I recommend it highly to anyone who has beaten the game once or twice and wants a fresh challenge.
Yeah, I remember playing it for the first time years ago... It is very challenging if you are accustom to using the Hint system... Which I was as a teenager, but I saw that the points went from 1,500 to 4,000 on Gamer, so I had to play it... Clicked on that hint the first time and it said it would switch levels, so I had to select no to stay on the Gamer level...

It was very hard the first few times, especially after I noticed that most of the puzzles had timers on them... That's the best part of the Gamer level... The challenge to complete the puzzle while you are still able to get the Bonus points...


Best of luck, keep us updated... Always nice to hear other peoples view on the game, especially when it's their first time...


Oh another thing that comes to mind on the Gamer level is there are new objects to find in Roswell when you use the Alien Abductor...

It's been so long since I've played the Entertainment level... Think I might do that just so I can see the differences myself...
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...


Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...

*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
there is also the room with the ceiling that lowers & squashes you if you are not careful.
from memory it the pentagon
Lynne
tex murphy is back in town
I just got to Roswell, after a small hint to figure out how to open the 2nd puzzle box (with the pegs); I looked at the first 2-peg combo, then deduced the pattern, because I couldn't figure it out at first. (I think I always skipped that one!)

I noticed in Roswell there is a hole-punch puzzle that wasn't on Entertainment...which is a sign of other puzzles likely to come that will be different in the Roswell experience...
the hole punch paper get's you the code for the main door into the laser field,yes you only get that in the gamer & also the duct there is a extra room to find to open a lock on the third level. I don't like the gamer as I hate racing through the puzzles, it's hard to get bonus points on most puzzels.
Lynne
tex murphy is back in town
I do have to agree with you on that, some of the timers are a bit short... I like the way the puzzle is set on the Fun House Door, the Cop Lock... It is listed in Moves, not Time... I think more of the Puzzles should have been done that way...
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...


Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...

*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
The time limits on some of the puzzles are nearly impossible. But, that is what makes this game so great along with the story line and acting.
"If you look to me for illumination, you better have a flashlight!"
yes I actually like moves rather than time, & I hate the fireball puzzle it's the only puzzle that still kills me 10yrs down the track.
Lynne
tex murphy is back in town
The only reason the Fire Ball room kills me is because Tex now moves at lightning speeds on these newer computers... And before I know it I've fallen off the edge...
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...


Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...

*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
Other things I think are on Gamer that aren't from earlier:

* I don't recall having to heat up the diesel fuel...perhaps I did, but I don't remember it.
* The Bio-Lab and acid is new.

And I got my all-time favorite quote, so I know I'm on the best path... "It must have been Clinton, now SHE was an alien!" LOL
sdbutler80 wrote:"It must have been Clinton, now SHE was an alien!" LOL
Yeah you get that if you Save Archie... After his message from Bermuda...
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...


Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...

*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
Bafitis wrote:The only reason the Fire Ball room kills me is because Tex now moves at lightning speeds on these newer computers... And before I know it I've fallen off the edge...
To help with that there are some programs that reduce the clock for a certain software, making your computer run slower for it. They (I'm taking a guess here with "they") were designed with old games in mind...
"Wer ein holdes Weib errungen..."

"My religion is the one in which Haydn is pope" - by me.

"Set a course, take it slow, make it happen."