Can't get back through darkness -

[mattlohkamp]

So I just got out of the starting area, and I found the abyss for the first time - she mentions something about needing a light source before I can go in there. Soon, I find a couple of glowing fish that follow me when I sing - so I make my way into the dark. I lose one to a big jelly thing, but the other one makes it through with me all the way down to the glowing plant seed treasure, and finally to the save point in the glowing centipede room. However, the fish dies on the way back - and when I reload my save, the fish isn't there. Further, I can't seem to pull the centipedes out of the cavern to light my way back - I give up, how am I supposed to find my way back through the darkness?

edit - oh crap, am I screwed? reading through the other posts a bit, I gather you get some sort of ability to light up the dark areas - did I just find a glitch that lets you skip that, but without any way of getting back?

[Xiagan]

Yes, you're screwed. I hope you have a savegame from before the Abyss? If you have, try to explore more to the right and/or up, before going down there. You'll be way better equipped that way.

On the other side, going down there with only a couple of glowing fish and without all the other forms is a way scarier and more intense experience.

[mattlohkamp]

oh wow. I don't know if I can face starting the game over completely. this sucks.

[mattlohkamp]

actually, there isn't any chance I could do some saved game editing or something to jump back to my house or something, is there?

[achurch]

If you like, I'll tweak your save file to put you back in the home map. I've PM'd you my address -- send me your save file (the *.aqs file in your save folder, see this thread for Windows Vista/7) and I'll fix it up and send it back.

That said, if you only just left the initial area, starting over isn't that much of a time loss compared to how much you have ahead of you. (:

[Inyssius]

Leaving save-file tweakery aside, I don't think you're screwed. Is there a way to go deeper from the little alcove you're stuck in? It might be easier to go forward than back.

(Also, it's possible to get through those tunnels in the dark. Very tricky, but possible.)

[Xiagan]

Leaving save-file tweakery aside, I don't think you're screwed. Is there a way to go deeper from the little alcove you're stuck in? It might be easier to go forward than back.

(Also, it's possible to get through those tunnels in the dark. Very tricky, but possible.)

Yeah, it's possible, of course, but very hard.

PS: Why did you use only one savefile? That's not a good idea in every game I ever played...

[mattlohkamp]

I realize it was only an hour or two into the game, but still, feels bad. I sent achurch my save file, hopefully he'll fix me up.

As far as I can tell, the room (with glowy centipedes, and a save crystal, and glowy crabs outside) is a dead end - and there were plenty of spikes and scary crabs I had to avoid / shoot down on the way in, so trying to go back is completely unreliable - I just start taking damage without being able to see what's causing it, and I can twirl the mouse around all I want, there's no visual feedback to give any indication of my surroundings. I even tried swapping to energy mode and constantly shooting, as a really bad attempt at sonar, listening to how long it took the shots to hit a wall, but that wasn't any help either.

And let's be honest, the only reason to use multiple save files (or even save points at all) is that there's no good autosave - perhaps the real question is why it doesn't just autosave every time you hit a new zone, or gain a new ability, or whatever. Nothing against Aquaria, it's a fantastic game, but I'm just sayin' - I shouldn't have to make multiple saves just in case I figure out something that the game doesn't expect me to do. 

[achurch]

Yeah, there's something to be said for autosaves -- but then again, if it had autosaved when you got the glowing plant treasure, you'd be out of luck. (: Extra saves are always a good idea, though you don't necessarily have to go as far as I did (68 saves from my first run)...

Anyway, the save file's on its way back. Enjoy!

[mattlohkamp]

thanks for hooking me up, achurch - I'll start doing multiple saved games. And thanks everybody else.

[Lady-Succubus]

Leaving save-file tweakery aside, I don't think you're screwed. Is there a way to go deeper from the little alcove you're stuck in? It might be easier to go forward than back.

(Also, it's possible to get through those tunnels in the dark. Very tricky, but possible.)

Yeah, it's possible, of course, but very hard.

PS: Why did you use only one savefile? That's not a good idea in every game I ever played...

I personally only ever use one save file in games. More than one looks messy to me and I go crazy. :/

(And then for games that let me pick a slot to save in, I go crazy picking the "right" slot. >.>)

[mattlohkamp]

(And then for games that let me pick a slot to save in, I go crazy picking the "right" slot. >.>)

ooh ooh, how do you pick which one is the 'right' one?

[Lady-Succubus]

Usually the one in the middle. If there are an even number, I end up finding some other way to rationalize my decision. Like... second character on the character select screen, second spot.

[mattlohkamp]

totally agree - middle is the 'right' slot, and if they're even, I always pick the last. one of my few concessions to very very slight ocd. :]

[Lady-Succubus]

I don't think I can ever settle for last though. XD

Actually... now that I think of it, I usually pick the first if the saves are listed vertically, or one above the other, but I pick the middle if they're listed horizontally.