Mark of the Gods guide

[Auburok]

In order of earliest acquisition. Maps in the last post. Searching (ctrl+f) by the map name will bring you to the text sections, and then the map. This guide is to not be posted anywhere but x360a.org without my permission.

Origin: The Story Begins 2/2

1. Right after you start the game, in plain sight.
2. Right after Mark 1, there will be some ladders, after going down the first, run and jump and grab on to the one going up. It's at the top.

Origin: Rites of Passage 2/2

3. After you get slide, take the route down to the bottom of the map. It's in the only large room there, guarded by spiders.
4. After you get slide, head to the end of the level and take the slide rout back to the area you were in before you got slide. Backtrack up the ladder to the area with the crawlers. You need to slide in to the room to your right.

Origin: Crossroads of the World 0/3

Nothing yet. Many abilities are needed.

Jungle: Jungle Lowlands 1/1

5. There will be an elevator to your left as you dodge blue alignment shots among 3 small islands to the right. You should be able to see the Mark at this point. Take the elevator up and go to the right, drop down and pick it up. You can climb back up if you jump to the right.

Jungle: Cursed Forest 2/2

6. After getting light alignment, you can use the light platforms that were in the beginning of the area. Backtrack back there by grabbing the ledge above the checkpoint. Head right and above the spike pit with the dark bullets are platforms. Take those up, and jump across the land bridges, zig-zaging up the the right. Mark is at the end.

7. After getting light alignment, backtrack back to the light platforms you need to progress. There will be a red beam shooting down impeding your path. After you get through it, drop down the hole immediately after it. There will be two dark spiders and a path to the left. Go down the left path and through the dark laser field, and it should be on the right by a spider. On the map, it should in the room adjacent to the room with the switch you hit to get in to the light alignment room.

Jungle: Jungle Highlands 0/2

Nothing yet. We need stomp for the next one.

Jungle: Above the Canopy. 1/2

8. Right after the teleporter there will be blue platforms above spikes. On the 3rd blue platform, immediately jump off and wall jump up the two chunks of land. Climb up and make your way to the left: it'll be on a smaller platform just beyond the left wall you were wall kicking up.

Jungle: Jungle Highlands 0/2

Nothing yet. We still need stomp for the next one. Teleport makes it easier to backtrack after Underworld areas.

Boss: Golem

None!

Origin: Crossroads of the World 1/3

9. Take the bottom path near the teleporter (as if you're going to the Jungle or Underworld) and stomp the shoddy area below you. It's all the way to the right.

Underworld: The World Beneath 1/2

10. Near the checkpoint and teleporter, there's a lone flea on a land island. Wall jump up to the two chamber room above. The Mark is at the top.

Underworld: Lost Passageways 1/1

11. After going through the room with many dark lasers, jellyfish and fleas, there will be a checkpoint. After the checkpoint, wall jump to the small land island, and then up to the mark on your right.

Underworld: The World Beneath 1/2

None. Lauch pad is needed.

Underworld: Crypt of the Ancients 1/1

12. When the path first splits right near the jellyfish and red alignment bullets, continue to the right. It will be at the end of that path near spiders and alignment changing bullets.

Underworld: The Buried Empire 1/1

13. In the large room at the top of the map, just before the zone out to the next area, there's a large alignment bullet area you have to go through, switching alignments as you go. At the end, there's a yellow elevator. Fall down the left side of the elevator, and it's in a walled off area. You can't climb back up, so you will have to do the jumps again to go through the area.

Underworld: The Underground River 1/1

14. In the upper right of the map, there will be a small crawler and a large crawler just before a room full of alignment bullets. Wall jump above them, and it's to the right.

Underworld: City of the Dead 1/1

15. In the map there's a figure eight on the right side of the map. Bullets of both polarities flood the upper area, where the mark is. With some fancy alignment changing, you can get it unhurt, but otherwise just rush and get it.

Underworld: The Underground River 1/1

Already done here!

Boss: High Priestess

None! Backtrack time, now that we have the teleport skill.

Jungle: Above The Canopy 2/2

16. Take the teleporter, and head to your left. Drop down and head toward the lower zone exit. Right after the dark flowers, there should be a red alignment platform. Jump up it, and jump on the the light alignment platform. It should be at the end of the path (almost the center of the map).

This mark will unlock the ability to hold on to vertical walls longer, if you’ve collected every mark up until this point.

[Auburok]

Jungle: Jungle Highlands 1/2

17. Teleport, and take the path right. Once you pass the checkpoint, drop down, and go left. Under the red alignment bullets, there's a stompable section. The mark is to the left when you drop down.

City: The City Walls 1/1

18. After the large light warrior and 3rd checkpoint, head to the right. There’s a gap in the wall you can slide in to. Just above, once you’re inside the hidden room, is mark number 18.

City: The Marketplace 1/1

19. Just after you pass the mini gauntlet in the first structure, there will be a pair of breakable walls in front of you. Ignore them and go up. To the right, under a stompable area and near a coop challenge room, is the mark.

City: The Ministry 1/2

20. In the first room with alignment sensitive blocks, it’s in the upper left corner. Just switch alignments as you need to get up to it.

City: The Maze 1/1

21. It’s by the first checkpoint by the block puzzle. Wall jump up the shaft.

City: The Flower Gardens 1/1

22. Directly above the first checkpoint, where there’s light and dark alignment walls that you have to switch to continue up. Using those walls to wall jump up to the area above is where it’s hiding.

Jungle: Highlands 2/2

23. Take the teleport here, and open the door below using dark alignment. Go down and stop through the first floor. Keep making your way down until another stomp floor, and go through. Break the wall to the right, and charge through the wall after that. The mark is here. BONUS! Stomp the floor below and break the wall to find the secret Jungle area: On the Treetops.

City: The Forgotten Quarter 1/1

24. In the bottom left area of the map, just below the giant room, and beside a room with two entrances side by side and a bunch of elevator platforms. It’s just below a checkpoint in the bigger room. Wall jump up the shaft to grab it.

City: The Ministry 1/2

Need launch pad.

Boss: Mother of Eyes

None!

Sky: The Ice Cave 0/1

None yet.

Sky: The Proving Grounds 2/2

25. Right before the waterfall of light bullets on the lower half of the map, get on the upper platform. Wall jump up to the right and it should be at the top of an upside down “U” shape.

26. After the huge jump you have to make, the road splits between going down and a ladder. Go down, and head to the left, up the light platform elevator. The mark is on the left at the top.

Sky: Holy Mountain 0/1

Can’t yet!

Sky: The Haunted Hills 1/1

27. After getting launch, right above the checkpoint near it (far right of map), there is a launch pad to the right. Take it up, and the mark is on the right.

Sky: Holy Mountain 1/1

28. Backtrack to the beginning of the level. On the map, on the left side, there is a large open area with land islands. Wall jump off the bottom one to the launch pad and shoot up. Wall jump up the next one and head to the right to find the mark.

Origin: Crossroads of the World 3/3

29. Head to the right, near the Origin levels entrance. Near it, is a launch pad Shoot up past the next two, and make your way across to the right. On the right side, there’s a pit. Drop down, and it’s on the right.

30. From the teleporter, head right. Take the dark elevator and a launch pad is to your left. Jump and launch left. Then launch up three times to the mark on a small platform to your right.

Underworld: The World Beneath 2/2

31. From the teleporter, make your way to the large room with many land islands in the upper left of the map. After making it up, go through the tunnel until you hit the wall with the launch pad. Shoot up twice, and go down the ladder. It’s to the right.

Sky: The Ice Cave 1/1

32. From the teleporter, head left through the dual alignment beams. Wall jump up the shaft that had lasers going off until you turned them off last time you were here. At the top of the shaft near a light platform elevator is a launch pad. Shoot up twice, and head to the right. Shoot up again and it’s on the right.

This mark should unlock the treasure map, if you have collected them up to this point. This allows you to see money vases on the map. HA! Now I don’t have to write a guide for those!

City: The Ministry 2/2

33. I saved this one for last in our backtrack since it’s so “fun”. Teleport to Forgotten Quarter, and head down and to the right, then up the yellow elevator platform to The Ministry area. Backtrack to the area before the first block room, and head up to the checkpoint. By the checkpoint there’s a launch pad. Shoot up, then right. It’s sitting be the wall to the right. Figure out your own way home!

Sky: The Mist-Shrouded Forest 3/3

34. Just past the giant spider as you start the level, is a pit with spikes and a launch pad. The mark is on the right of that pit. Launch to it, wall jump back and launch out of the pit.

35. Right above where you started is an “L” shape. After the elevator where you have to wall kick to avoid light bullets, head to the left. Past the spikes that pop out, further to the left, is the mark on the “L” shaped chunk of land.

36. Toward the right side of the map, there’s a dark elevator (bullets of both alignments and a red large flyer are above it) that you need to stand on to go below. In that area (it’s near a checkpoint), there are two crawlers on a land island, and to the left of that a launch pad. Shoot yourself to the left, and land on the middle chunk of land where the mark is.

Sky: Dark Fortress 2/2

37. When you get to the room with launch pads and lasers-a-plenty, shoot right, then shoot up. You’ll enter a hidden room on the map, and to the right is number 37.

38. On the right side of the map, there’s a room that’s just beyond the switch you need to hit to open the door to continue above. Head in to this room. Take launch pads up, and wall kick off the right side to grab it.

Boss: The Winged Serpent
None!

Eternity: At the Shores of Time 1/1

39. Just as you climb up from the start and see the first giant spider (near the two nail like structures on the top left side of the map), wall jump up. Jump across to the land island and over to the small enclosed room in the top of the map.

Eternity: Tower of Eternity 1/1

40. At the first checkpoint, wall jump off the wall above the door (it’ll be closed if this is your first time here). Use the launch pads to head to the left. Stomp through the ground and collect the mark in the middle of the room.

Eternity: Trail of Tears 1/1

41: From the teleporter, fall down the ledge on to the light platform and go right. Jump the first gap, and fall down the second. You should land square on the mark.

[Auburok]

Eternity: The End of All Things 1/1

42. In the middle of the map, there’s an area with dark chain linked bullets and spikes that shoot up depending on your alignment. At the end of the section, there’s a launch pad that you can just barely jump in to from the mound to the right. Shoot up, and grab the ledge. Head left, and the mark is on top of the land island near two kamikazers.

This last mark unlocks the “Sword of the Gods”. All melee damage you do is now doubled. I bet you wish you had this at the beginning!

MAPS:
Origin: The Story Begins


Origin: Rites of Passage


Jungle: Jungle Lowlands


Jungle: The Cursed Forest


Jungle: Above the Canopy


Origin: Crossroads of the World


Underworld: The World Beneath


Underworld: Lost Passageways


Underworld: Crypt of the Ancients


Underworld: The Buried Empire


Underworld: The Underground River


Underworld: City of the Dead


Jungle: Jungle Highlands


City: The City Walls


City: The Marketplace


City: The Ministry


City: The Maze


City: The Flower Gardens


City: The Forgotten Quarter


Sky: Proving Grounds


Sky: The Haunted Hills


Sky: Holy Mountain


Sky: The Ice Cave


Sky: The Mist-Shrouded Forest


Sky: Dark Fortress


Eternity: At the Shores of Time


Eternity: Tower of Eternity


Eternity: Trail of Tears


Eternity: The End of All Things

[Mr Fiddler]

Good work. This might come in handy once I've finished the game.

[oldhouse]

Amazing job dude. I got all 42 masks thanks to this guide (number 37 was really crazy )

[cheevo360]

Nice yah deep map of pics sweets

[Buff Beefbroth]

You're awesome. Thanks for making this. Off to get my last three marks!

[sharnock]

If you can kindly add direction to the maps would be great.
I have a hard time backtracking to place that is not shown in the world map.

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by sharnock

If you can kindly add direction to the maps would be great.
I have a hard time backtracking to place that is not shown in the world map.

"Add direction to the maps" isn't specific. I thought the level name at the top of each map added direction.

If you read the written guide, it describes exactly how the levels are structured as it goes in the order you can pass them through. The hard one to get back to I tell you exactly how to get there. I even mention what levels you pass through where you can't get any yet until the Eternity levels, and in that event you can use the order of the Eternity maps to determine where you are for that last specific group of levels. I mean, the game's not that big.

So, if I can't do this without redoing each map, how about I just tell you where to go instead?

[CellFrame]

Man, thanks for 37 & 41 - those were driving me mad.

[Frankie Godskin]

Wow Auburok--just WOW. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to put this together. Amazing guide.

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by Frankie Godskin

Wow Auburok--just WOW. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to put this together. Amazing guide.

Sure thing. Let me know if some of the directions are wrong or not clear enough. I rushed the make the guide so some of them might be a little wonky. The general flow is good, but I'm not 100% on specific mark instructions.

[ciawal]

I’m missing 4 marks, is there any way of knowing where they are? I’ve been to all the teleport levels and I have all the marks on those, so am I going to have to go through each stage and check at each area if I’m missing any?

Thanks a lot for the guide!

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by ciawal

I’m missing 4 marks, is there any way of knowing where they are? I’ve been to all the teleport levels and I have all the marks on those, so am I going to have to go through each stage and check at each area if I’m missing any?

Thanks a lot for the guide!

Unfortunately: yes. In my first playthrough I friggin' scoured the area to find them, even when I didn't have the powers to get them. The easier zones to explore quickly are Jungle and Underworld, then Eternity (short zone, but lots of enemies that are annoying. City and Sky are sort of tied as they have large areas and more advanced enemies to worry about.

My bet? You have Marks missing in Underworld or Jungle, since there's many you have to back track after getting powers. City is the next culprit, but save that for last as it sucks to explore that place when you're not missing any there.

[Feldgraf]

nice guide, thx! i'm missing 2 marks and i think they are in the "origin: rites of passage" or "origin: the story beginns" part, hoy can i go back to this level-parts?

[Auburok]

In the hub world "Crossroads of the World", you can head to the upper left, up the light alignment elevator. The zone entrance up there is to the other Origin levels. If you look at the map posted for Crossroads in this thread, it's the zone entrance directly to the left of the "player here" marker (and the only zone entrance on the map because I took the photo when you first make it there).

[Feldgraf]

Originally Posted by Auburok

In the hub world "Crossroads of the World", you can head to the upper left, up the light alignment elevator. The zone entrance up there is to the other Origin levels. If you look at the map posted for Crossroads in this thread, it's the zone entrance directly to the left of the "player here" marker (and the only zone entrance on the map because I took the photo when you first make it there).

Thank you! I found my last 4 gods in Jungle: Jungle Lowlands, City: The Flower Gardens and Sky: Proving Grounds. But, thank you again for this great Guide!

[ciawal]

Originally Posted by Auburok

In the hub world "Crossroads of the World", you can head to the upper left, up the light alignment elevator. The zone entrance up there is to the other Origin levels. If you look at the map posted for Crossroads in this thread, it's the zone entrance directly to the left of the "player here" marker (and the only zone entrance on the map because I took the photo when you first make it there).

Sigh, my 2 were in the Origin levels as well, all that time traipsing through the game for nothing

[Nedyahwerd]

I'll be using this guide tonight to get all the Marks. Even though I am almost done too bad you didn't through in the heart and energy upgrade locations as well. Great job sir.

[LEJONEL]

Nice guide! But it's a damn maze to find all places that's not on the portal. Still missing 2 but don't know wich ones

For an even better guide you should put up info on each exit where they leading to

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by LEJONEL

Nice guide! But it's a damn maze to find all places that's not on the portal. Still missing 2 but don't know wich ones

For an even better guide you should put up info on each exit where they leading to

Well, if you read the guide, it tells you the flow of the areas. I really don't want to reupload 25 maps just yet. It's not going to solve your immediate problems if I do that, and it'll be a few hours of work to do that. In the event where people really do get lost in this game (I still don't understand that- most of the maps take 3-5 minutes to traverse once you have all the skills) you can always look at the written guide to see which areas you can go through, as this is a guide for earliest acquisition, not "backtrack to here from the hub".

I'm going to be writing the boss guides today, and if I have time after that, I'll write a text addendum to show flow between maps, since people have been skipping the text guide for just the maps it seems. I'll have to retake a photo of each map's level, and transcribe the marks over.

[TheGamingFilly]

Originally Posted by Auburok

Well, if you read the guide, it tells you the flow of the areas. I really don't want to reupload 25 maps just yet. It's not going to solve your immediate problems if I do that, and it'll be a few hours of work to do that. In the event where people really do get lost in this game (I still don't understand that- most of the maps take 3-5 minutes to traverse once you have all the skills) you can always look at the written guide to see which areas you can go through, as this is a guide for earliest acquisition, not "backtrack to here from the hub".

I'm going to be writing the boss guides today, and if I have time after that, I'll write a text addendum to show flow between maps, since people have been skipping the text guide for just the maps it seems. I'll have to retake a photo of each map's level, and transcribe the marks over.

I too am having an issue with this. Your guide is suited for people following it from the very beginning, which is fine, but those of us who started the game before you made this guide are prone to getting totally lost. I have a splitting headache from the confusion this has caused me. I have all of the marks but one. I looked through your maps and none stuck out to me as "oh, the last one is there," so for the past several hours I've been going through the areas, one by one, checking to see if I have all the ones in that area. Other than the teleports it's extremely confusing how to get from one area to the next. I'll end up spending 5-10 minutes getting to the other end of the map to see where X level transition takes me through complete trial and error, and it ends up being the wrong one, and by the time I've gotten there I've completely forgotten where I was trying to go or which levels I haven't tested, etc.

Leading to me going to the same areas over and over and over again without ever finding that last mark. I tried reading your guide but it still isn't clear where the transitions to each area are, perhaps because it's far more linear when you're going through the game as opposed to when you're almost through with the game and have opened everything up. Therefore someone who's going through the game as they read the guide doesn't need those explanations... but those of us who are almost done do. :\ I finally had to put the controller down because I'm so confused and mentally exhausted from trying to do this.

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

I too am having an issue with this. Your guide is suited for people following it from the very beginning, which is fine, but those of us who started the game before you made this guide are prone to getting totally lost. I have a splitting headache from the confusion this has caused me. I have all of the marks but one. I looked through your maps and none stuck out to me as "oh, the last one is there," so for the past several hours I've been going through the areas, one by one, checking to see if I have all the ones in that area. Other than the teleports it's extremely confusing how to get from one area to the next. I'll end up spending 5-10 minutes getting to the other end of the map to see where X level transition takes me through complete trial and error, and it ends up being the wrong one, and by the time I've gotten there I've completely forgotten where I was trying to go or which levels I haven't tested, etc.

Leading to me going to the same areas over and over and over again without ever finding that last mark. I tried reading your guide but it still isn't clear where the transitions to each area are, perhaps because it's far more linear when you're going through the game as opposed to when you're almost through with the game and have opened everything up. Therefore someone who's going through the game as they read the guide doesn't need those explanations... but those of us who are almost done do. :\ I finally had to put the controller down because I'm so confused and mentally exhausted from trying to do this.

Alright, first, a question: are you using your in game map to see how many marks are in the level you're on? My maps aren't a replacement for that in-game feature. It just helps you find maps where you don't have all of the marks. It's how I found the marks without a guide. I understand the frustration, but if you're searching high and low on a map that has a big "2/2" in the lower left corner, I can't really help prevent that. When I made the guide, that's all I used. While I know it's a pain in the ass for a game this short, marking off areas you've been works best.

This isn't a free-roam game, so the directions are easier to interpret on a "first able to obtain" basis, since writing directions is not only inefficient, but the people having trouble with the written part of the guide probably won't gain too much from me adding a wall of text to each mark on "how to obtain it from the hub". I have a character limit that I've just met in the first two posts, anyway, so I really can't add a paragraph extra to each mark. The only way to fix this in a way that I can fit in to 3 posts (not really; I know people will still get lost after I do this again) is to redo the maps.

As I'm not home right now, you'll have to wait. The large TV that made taking photos of the maps possible isn't here, and I have a feeling that putting text near an empty area on the current maps that says "entrance to:" is just going to confuse people more by the sound of it. When redone, will only show all zones on each map, so keep that in mind. I honestly don't think that'll solve the problems here, but I'll humor the situation and redo all that work again.

[IDiivil]

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

I too am having an issue with this. Your guide is suited for people following it from the very beginning, which is fine, but those of us who started the game before you made this guide are prone to getting totally lost. I have a splitting headache from the confusion this has caused me. I have all of the marks but one. I looked through your maps and none stuck out to me as "oh, the last one is there," so for the past several hours I've been going through the areas, one by one, checking to see if I have all the ones in that area. Other than the teleports it's extremely confusing how to get from one area to the next. I'll end up spending 5-10 minutes getting to the other end of the map to see where X level transition takes me through complete trial and error, and it ends up being the wrong one, and by the time I've gotten there I've completely forgotten where I was trying to go or which levels I haven't tested, etc.

Leading to me going to the same areas over and over and over again without ever finding that last mark. I tried reading your guide but it still isn't clear where the transitions to each area are, perhaps because it's far more linear when you're going through the game as opposed to when you're almost through with the game and have opened everything up. Therefore someone who's going through the game as they read the guide doesn't need those explanations... but those of us who are almost done do. :\ I finally had to put the controller down because I'm so confused and mentally exhausted from trying to do this.

Here's a few solutions for you that I would have used to find the last missing mark:

1. Play through the game anew. Considering that a replay takes only maybe 3 hours (assuming if you understand the game and skip the unnecessaries), you would be saving more time replaying Outland from the start than going on a big hunt for that one last mark if searching for it has taken you several hours or more.

2. If you aren't keen on restarting completely, go through the maps and check the lower left corner for the number of marks that are there and make sure you have them. If you can't recall where you were or where you've been, write it down somewhere. All you have to do is add all the map names Auburok wrote above into a list and say at the end of each one of them whether you have it completed or not. You won't have to waste your time after that being confused.

i.e.

Sky: The Mist-Shrouded Forest DONE



Now, I believe that redoing the maps/directions is bad for the following reasons:

1. The only real addition the maps even need are health/energy locations.

2. Zones can be marked to say which one leads to which, but that will make the maps very, very confusing for a first time user because you are then mixing order of acquisition based directions with going-back directions. Considering that a going-back user has the benefit of teleportation (which really shouldn't be depended on considering how many are missing total, by the way), the lower left marks counter, added power, and general understanding of the game, I would say it is more fair to give the assistance to a complete beginner than to muddle the maps up to serve both groups.

3. To reply specifically to you then, Filly, I don't see how you can argue that you aren't sure where X transition leads to Y when you aren't even sure where you've been. To add, how can you tell when a zone is the wrong one? I'm not sure if I really understand where you are getting confused, so...

...to help you navigate, Auburok explained how the hub/crossroads connects to each other... if you start from there and just walk through the levels and check the lower left corner, you should find your answer on which mark is the missing one without losing that much time. In the end, Underworld is connected to Underworld, Sky is Sky, and etc... they are separate. You have to use the hub to get to the other areas (i.e. from Sky to Underworld). You can easily mark them off and figure out what's missing and remove chunks of the game at each time (i.e. UNDERWORLD COMPLETE - NO MARKS MISSING HERE). Then, you won't have to go back there ever again.

I hope that made sense.

Good luck.

[TheGamingFilly]

Originally Posted by Auburok

Alright, first, a question: are you using your in game map to see how many marks are in the level you're on?

Yes but you can't see how many you have left on each level without going to that level. There's no way to see it all in one menu like the Tears of Blood in Bayonetta, for instance. That fact basically makes this achievement a pain.

Originally Posted by Auburok

This isn't a free-roam game, so the directions are easier to interpret on a "first able to obtain" basis, since writing directions is not only inefficient, but the people having trouble with the written part of the guide probably won't gain too much from me adding a wall of text to each mark on "how to obtain it from the hub".

I'm not asking for that, I just think future users of this guide might like a brief sentence for how to get to each area. I don't think it's fair to just "assume" we know how to get to each area. There are some areas I simply cannot find (e.g. Underworld: City of the Dead) through trial and error, which is incredibly frustrating. Like I said, I've already tried to do this without asking for help, but it just resulted in hours of frustration and a migraine headache.

Originally Posted by Auburok

As I'm not home right now, you'll have to wait.

I'll push through the frustration then, as I want to finish this game ASAP so I can move on to another game... but for future reference, the request I made above would help. I don't know why you think we want paragraphs and paragraphs written about each Mark, we just don't know how to navigate the map which makes this infinitely harder.

Originally Posted by IDiivil

3. To reply specifically to you then, Filly, I don't see how you can argue that you aren't sure where X transition leads to Y when you aren't even sure where you've been. To add, how can you tell when a zone is the wrong one? I'm not sure if I really understand where you are getting confused, so...

...to help you navigate, Auburok explained how the hub/crossroads connects to each other... if you start from there and just walk through the levels and check the lower left corner, you should find your answer on which mark is the missing one without losing that much time. In the end, Underworld is connected to Underworld, Sky is Sky, and etc... they are separate. You have to use the hub to get to the other areas (i.e. from Sky to Underworld). You can easily mark them off and figure out what's missing and remove chunks of the game at each time (i.e. UNDERWORLD COMPLETE - NO MARKS MISSING HERE). Then, you won't have to go back there ever again.

*sigh* Okay, clearly I'm not explaining the issue well enough.

I know how to use the "x/x Marks found" feature. I've done that from the start. The map has me going in circles. I go through an area, get all the marks, then say "Ok, now I need to go to this area." And when I try to, I cannot for the life of me find out how to get to some of those locations. I know where I've been (I misspoke; tends to happen when going after an achievement makes you this confused) but it takes me ages of trial and error to try to find an area and some of them I still have not found after hours of exploring. I cannot memorize where each transition leads, so it's just kind of a guess. If I go the wrong way, I've got to turn around and go through that ENTIRE area all over again.

I'll try the list thing, it's just that kind of defeats half the purpose of a guide... I'll do it since I don't want to wait, but the point of a guide is to remove all or most of the effort aside from just playing the game. So I feel like taking my suggestion would help future users of the guide.

[IDiivil]

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

There are some areas I simply cannot find (e.g. Underworld: City of the Dead) through trial and error, which is incredibly frustrating.

City of the Dead is easy to locate. It's Mark #15, which is right after Mark #14... It's pretty easy to assume that the Underground River should lead to City of the Dead, then. Same basic techniques can be used to understand the other maps.

Edit: Saw your reply to me. It sounds like you are relying too much on the maps (made in order of acquisition) to determine your location, which is what's getting you turned around. You may want to simply close the guide after filling out the sort of information I offered above... or at least give your brain a rest. I could never acquire achievements very well when I was flustered with them.

[TheGamingFilly]

Originally Posted by IDiivil

City of the Dead is easy to locate. It's Mark #15, which is right after Mark #14... It's pretty easy to assume that the Underground River should lead to City of the Dead, then. Same basic techniques can be used to understand the other maps.

Edit: Saw your reply to me. It sounds like you are relying too much on the maps (made in order of acquisition) to determine your location, which is what's getting you turned around. You may want to simply close the guide after filling out the sort of information I offered above... or at least give your brain a rest. I could never acquire achievements very well when I was flustered with them.

Yeah, I've taken a break for a few hours. In a minute I think I'll give it another try. I was just too mentally exhausted to start all over and make an exhaustive list. As for relying on the maps, yeah... I wasn't really sure what else to do because the written guide is meant to be used in tandem with progressing through the game, whereas I've already beaten the fourth boss. The written guide makes perfect sense if you don't have all the abilities and therefore you can only go one way at that point in the guide, but for me I could go ANYWHERE on the map and so I'm not sure which exit I'm supposed to take. And if I knew the game well enough to have memorized when/where you get all the abilities I could figure it out, but I don't, so yeah...

Looks like the list (or starting over - ew) is my only option for now. Regardless, thanks for the help.

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

I'm not asking for that, I just think future users of this guide might like a brief sentence for how to get to each area. I don't think it's fair to just "assume" we know how to get to each area. There are some areas I simply cannot find (e.g. Underworld: City of the Dead) through trial and error, which is incredibly frustrating. Like I said, I've already tried to do this without asking for help, but it just resulted in hours of frustration and a migraine headache.

From reading the guide, and looking at the mark placement on the map, you can see that City of the Dead is after Underground River. I don't leave a mark empty (0/1) or say "Nothing here yet". Underground River can be found by going through Buried Empire. I'm not even playing the game to tell you this; I'm using the guide posted here. Seriously. I haven't played Underworld in over a week. Just reading the guide, and using the maps. The only area I have memorized is Jungle, just because I had to play it so damn much to beat Rcade junkE's score.

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

I'll push through the frustration then, as I want to finish this game ASAP so I can move on to another game...

I'm sorry if you don't enjoy the game. I personally don't play games I don't like, but could be worse: there could be no guide. I originally only took up the achievement guide, but no one stepped up to take on the marks, so I did it. I'm juggling a lot here, and no one is really specific other than the entrances bit on the maps, which is taken care of by the guide. If you'd like to help improve it, please give specific improvements. "This guide needs this, because that's what my problem is". If you need entrances written down, say it. If you need more descriptive instructions on backtracking, say it. Going in to an area over and over to me doesn't say anything as a whole to me, other than you personally are getting lost because you're having trouble keeping track of where you are. Trial and error doesn't speak for itself, unless you do have a control and a variable. Which there isn't here.

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

but for future reference, the request I made above would help. I don't know why you think we want paragraphs and paragraphs written about each Mark, we just don't know how to navigate the map which makes this infinitely harder.

I get that impression because people get lost with the guide and don't really explain how other than "I got lost". The guide and maps are to be used together. They aren't helpful on their own unless you are a master of the game, which makes the point moot.

A guide should be used to help you play the game, not do it for you. There's no way to remove all effort on the guide reader's end. You still have to be able to play the game you're trying to use a guide for. I can't honestly believe you spent the amount of time you claim to be in particular areas while being lost. The game's not that big. Hell, you can entirely finish the Jungle area's story section in easily under 20 minutes (it's an achievement, after all). The only section that's much larger is Sky, and the guide is very detailed in terms of backtracking for those marks (along with some city marks).

I'm sorry you're not enjoying the exploration aspect of this game (which is pretty fun, if you like 2D games like Metroid, Castlevania, Shadow Complex, etc) but maybe you've picked a game takes you a little extra work for you personally because it doesn't just "click". There's a lot of other games like this, and guides are about the same. Out of all the places I've linked it to, the complaints I get about getting lost all originate on this website. So without any hard feedback specifically stating "I knew what to do once I had this information", I'm at a loss besides redoing the maps.

EDIT:

You could compromise by just asking me where you need to get to. I could specifically give you directions if I know where you're trying to go. Just saying "I'm lost" without any indication of where you're trying to get to requires a total rework rather than an explanation.

[TheGamingFilly]

Originally Posted by Auburok

From reading the guide, and looking at the mark placement on the map, you can see that City of the Dead is after Underground River. I don't leave a mark empty (0/1) or say "Nothing here yet". Underground River can be found by going through Buried Empire. I'm not even playing the game to tell you this; I'm using the guide posted here. Seriously. I haven't played Underworld in over a week. Just reading the guide, and using the maps. The only area I have memorized is Jungle, just because I had to play it so damn much to beat Rcade junkE's score.

Mainly the problem was I was in the room in Underworld (Crypt, maybe?) where there are four different level transitions and I was really struggling to remember which ones led where, and my forgetfulness was causing me to run around in circles all over the Underworld level. Most of the levels only had an entrance and then an exit, but ones like Crypt really tripped me up.

Originally Posted by Auburok

I get that impression because people get lost with the guide and don't really explain how other than "I got lost".

I've been running around on SO many different levels that they all kind of blended together, and I couldn't have told you which specific ones (other than that one), or I would have, trust me. When I'm asking somebody to go out of their way to help me, I give as much information as I can give. Sorry for not explaining it well, because that was certainly my fault. My brain was rather scrambled after those hours of confusion to the point where I wasn't sure how to explain it clearly. Hell, I still don't know how to explain it clearly. I feel guilty for even saying anything now because I know you just want to help and that you're getting frustrated with me since you don't know what else to do.

Originally Posted by Auburok

I'm sorry if you don't enjoy the game. I personally don't play games I don't like.

I'm sorry you're not enjoying the exploration aspect of this game (which is pretty fun, if you like 2D games like Metroid, Castlevania, Shadow Complex, etc) but maybe you've picked a game takes you a little extra work for you personally because it doesn't just "click". There's a lot of other games like this, and guides are about the same. Out of all the places I've linked it to, the complaints I get about getting lost all originate on this website. So without any hard feedback specifically stating "I knew what to do once I had this information", I'm at a loss besides redoing the maps.

What makes you think I don't like the game? This one achievement was frustrating, but that doesn't mean I haven't been having a blast with the game. I say I want to move on to the next thing because while I'm having fun with this game, I've got a huge backlog and the only time for me to really put a dent in it is during my Summer vacation, which just started. Don't get it twisted... this is pretty much one of my favorite games ever.

The exploration wasn't really the problem, it's the backtracking and the level design and the fact that I didn't understand how the levels come together. Maybe I'm just stupid, but simply looking at the guide didn't help me (personally) with this particular issue or I would have done that in the first place and saved us both the frustration of breaching this subject.

Originally Posted by Auburok

I can't honestly believe you spent the amount of time you claim to be in particular areas while being lost. The game's not that big. Hell, you can entirely finish the Jungle area's story section in easily under 20 minutes (it's an achievement, after all). The only section that's much larger is Sky, and the guide is very detailed in terms of backtracking for those marks (along with some city marks).

Please don't do me the disservice of calling me a liar. I have no reason to :| I don't play 2D platformers--like, ever--and while I consider myself decent at the game, the later levels take me some time to get through. And like I said, I did go through Origin - Sky, round and round in circles, MANY times, so yes, I did spend several hours total looking for the mark without finding it before I had to take a break.

After I gave my brain a bit of a rest, I picked it back up and found the last mark I needed was in Eternity--which I thought I'd cleared all the marks in. Just thought I'd let you guys know. Again, I'm honestly sorry for even bringing this up in the first place and for being a bother. Thanks for the guide, in any case.

[Auburok]

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

The exploration wasn't really the problem, it's the backtracking and the level design and the fact that I didn't understand how the levels come together.

I guess by compromise I could make a sub-guide for backtracking. I'm not sure how successful I could be with that. Underworld is split in the beginning level between the left side, and the bottom side. I can't remember where the teleports are, though. They may be pushed to one of the halves, which would make the backtrack guide just sort of glaze over them in favor for the side with less/no teleports. Can't remember clearly as it's been a while in the Underworld.

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

Please don't do me the disservice of calling me a liar. I have no reason to :| I don't play 2D platformers--like, ever--and while I consider myself decent at the game, the later levels take me some time to get through. And like I said, I did go through Origin - Sky, round and round in circles, MANY times, so yes, I did spend several hours total looking for the mark without finding it before I had to take a break.

I didn't call you a liar. I just had a hard time believing as much time was spent in circles considering how short the game seemed to me. Like many the first time around: when I missed a mark, I just ran through the game all over from start to finish (except I realized I missed the secret Jungle area the first time around getting that mark). A break often helps with any game. I want to make the guide more accessible so I'm not coming to the forum a year from now to explain things, so preventing someone from going in circles is in my best interest, especially in this case where it gave you a headache. Not exactly something I'd want to come from my guide's use, right? It's also desirable that my guide have additional coverage on problematic or marks that are missed more often than others.

Originally Posted by TheGamingFilly

After I gave my brain a bit of a rest, I picked it back up and found the last mark I needed was in Eternity--which I thought I'd cleared all the marks in. Just thought I'd let you guys know. Again, I'm honestly sorry for even bringing this up in the first place and for being a bother. Thanks for the guide, in any case.

You're not a bother; like I said, I'm looking for hard feedback to amend or delete as needed. I'm just eager to fix infinite search loops my guide might have started. That's all. I'd rather this guide be the end-all solution than one of many: works for some, not all. While the maps need to be redone at some point to incorporate energy and life upgrades (probably no info in the guide, though, because of character limits) and including zone names by popular demand, there's still the select few (not including you) that imply they want additional directions, but don't specify if they mean more text, or arrows on the map, or anything at all, really. You seem more verbose than the last ones, so I picked your brain.