Part 7 - Obstacles
Rock
The rock won't actually kill you, but it makes you trip and lose a chunk of vitality. While you're tripping you can't jump or throw an axe, and in later stages this can be fatal because there are often monsters directly behind rocks. Rocks block axe throws. Rocks can be destroyed by running into it with a skateboard, fairy, or if it's concealing the Doll bonus.
Boulder
Boulders can either be fast or slow, and can also come from behind. It kills Wonder Boy on contact. They block axe throws, and will rebound off walls. A useful tactic with the fast boulders that come down steps is to run straight into the step and let the boulder roll harmlessly over your head. Don't try this with a slow boulder! Boulders can be destroyed by running into them with a skateboard or fairy.
Springboard
The springboard increases you jump distance when you jump off
from it, or through it from below. You can also trigger it by standing in its
place and throwing an axe. After it has been sprung, it can be reset by jumping
on it again. This is important to know because some springboards in later stages
start off sprung and you need to set them before you can get the full use out
of them.
Springboards are nearly always useful, but ocassionally you'll come across one
that propels you close to an obstacle or monster.
Fire
Fire is immediately fatal if you touch it, but you can throw your axe through it. It can be destroyed by running into it with a skateboard, fairy, or if it's concealing the Doll bonus.
Icicle
Icicles appear in ice caves, and drop from the ceiling once you reach a certain point followed by a certain time. So you can run under any icicle or stop short and let it fall in front of you. If it hits you, you're dead unless you have a skateboard to sacrifice. Icicles can be destroyed with an axe even while they're falling. This is important to know. They're worth 20 points when axed.
Platforms
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Platforms can be your best friend or a difficult obstacle. They
appear throughout the game at various heights. They can be static, moving up
and down, side to side, scrolling up, scrolling down, or drop away from under
you when you jump on them (in which case you have to jump off quick!). The moving
ones can also be activated once you come within a certain distance of them.
Ice platforms are slippery unless you have the skateboard.
There are a few points in the game where you can get trapped against a cliff
face on the left of the screen due to the one-way scrolling nature of the game.
In these cases, a platform will come up from the floor below you.
Ice
All ground in Wonder Boy behaves the same except for ice, which is slippery unless you have the skateboard.
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