Light (HD)

Light is a mechanic that affects visibility of certain parts of dark levels. Portable or fixed light sources enable the Spelunker to navigate the level safely. A Spelunker without any additional visibility can only see about two tiles around them, but items and objects can provide varying amounts of extra light, increasing the radius in which the player can see.

Sources of light

Torches are the most convenient method of providing light, doubling the radius of visibility. A single lit torch is provided at the beginning of each dark level. If a lit torch touches an unlit wall torch, the wall torch will become lit and drop three small gold nuggets. If a lit torch touches water, its flame will go out, but it can be relit at any lit wall torch.

Lanterns act very similar to torches, but cannot light wall torches, and cannot be extinguished by water. They can be found inside of shops and throughout dark Mines levels.

Certain weapons also generate light. The muzzle flash of the shotgun and plasma cannon produce small, brief flashes of light, as do bombs. A camera in particular can be useful, as it produces a bright flash that illuminates the entire screen for a brief moment. Unfortunately, the projectiles of the freeze ray and scepter only provide miniscule amounts of light, and the weapons themselves do not provide any light at all.

In dark levels, dangerous traps such as Arrow Traps, Tiki Traps, and Crush Traps are fitted with candles, producing just enough light to allow the Spelunker to identify and (hopefully) avoid them. Lava and water also provide a very small amount of light, allowing the player to see things around and inside the liquid. Ghosts and scarabs emit comparable amounts of light.

Finally, the spectacles roughly double the radius of all light sources, making them invaluable for dark levels.

Radius of Generated Light

The radius of the light generated by objects varies with its source. Below is a list of all sources of light and their corresponding light radii.

Portable/moveable:

• The Spelunker:
  • without the Spectacles or any portable sources of light: 2 tiles
  • with the Spectacles: 4 tiles
  • with a Torch/Lantern: 4-5 tiles (1 tile - brightly)
  • with the Spectacles and a portable source of light: 5 tiles, brightly
  • near a lit wall torch or a lantern: 5 tiles, brightly
• a torch: 3-4 tiles
• a Lantern: 4-5 tiles, brightly
• a Tiki Man with a torch: 3-5 tiles
• a Scarab - half a tile, brightly
• the Ghost - half a tile out her size and inside (2.5x2.5)
• ghosts of dead Spelunkers in co-op - half a tile

Stationary:

• traps (Arrow Traps, Tiki Traps, Crush Traps) - half a tile out their tiles
• fluids (Lava, water, acid) - half a tile out a fluid
• The Blue Light - 1.5 tile, brightly (does stack when near themselves, a bit lighter than the Mothership)

Brief:

• Camera - the entire screen, very brightly, duration - about 0.5 seconds
• Shotgun (when firing) - 3 tiles, very brightly, duration - about 0.6 seconds
• Plasma Cannon (when firing and hitting a wall) - 5 tiles, very brightly, duration - about 0.4 seconds
• Bombs - 3-4 tiles, very brightly, duration - about 0.5 seconds

Brightness in levels

Certain levels have differing light levels, determining how bright or dark the level is by default.

• In a normal level: 100%
• In the Worm, the Mothership and the Haunted Castle: about 90%
• In a dark level: 0%
• In the Olmec's Lair, about 10 seconds after draining lava: 0%, nullifying all fields of views