RotT: THB / DW - Secret Exits and Collectibles

Screenshot assisted guide for getting all the crucials in the debut campaigns.

Foreword

Rise of the Triad originally appeared as shareware for BBS distribution in December '94, featuring an all-original 8-level prequel campaign titled The HUNT Begins. The CD version of this release that saw distribution by LaserSoft later in '95 (dubbed 'Deluxe Edition') came packed with three more original levels. Meanwhile, the full-featured retail version of the game, Rise of the Triad: Dark War, hit the stores with its own campaign of 34 levels in February '95. Finally, Extreme Rise of the Triad, featuring another campaign of 40 levels by Tom Hall and Joe Siegler had its retail release in November '95. For singleplayer purposes, all these past releases by Apogee results in a whopping number of 85 levels (extras excluded). The '23 remaster covers *all* these and adds its own campaign of 24 levels (The HUNT Continues) on top.

This guide for The HUNT Begins and Dark War offers: a) an overview of each episode, pointing to the secret exits and collectibles in case you want to search for them on your own; b) reference shots coupled with step by step instructions for locating each of them if further help is needed.

If you are new, you should start here. The following may be of help further down the rabbit hole:

• Sister guide for The HUNT Continues, following the same format: HERE-
  
• emjeeman's guide for Extreme RotT with walkthroughs for each map: -CATCH-
  
• Ryan Armstrong's custom isometric maps covering all the Apogee stuff: THIS![www.zerker.ca]

On another note, Brandon Blume's Roland SC-55 Music Pack for the game makes an already awesome soundtrack even better, so why not give it a go?[sc55.duke4.net]

Now that the introductions are over, it is time to get... LUDICROUS!

The Real Story

The text below is copied over from the Dark War manual. For those interested, a scan of it can be found over at 3D Realms' legacy website.[legacy.3drealms.com]Aside from being a good read in itself, it also provides valuable insight into the various quirks of the game.

You are a member of the HUNT, the top secret High-risk United Nations Taskforce, sent on extremely covert operations to possible trouble spots outside the three-mile boundary waters of member countries. You are on a routine reconnaissance mission on San Nicolas Island, located in the Pacific twenty miles west of Los Angeles. Your team is investigating possible cult activity in an old monastery in the tall, rugged hills of the island, once used for the location of the film Prayers in the Dark. Dressed in black, you peer at the ramparts, looking for signs of life.
Ni spotted a man crawling away from the small mountain the monastery rests on. He ran desperately towards the team and fell to his knees.
'They're crazy,' said the man hurriedly, 'They don't know what they're messing with. Darian, Krist—they've hooked up with those wackos, and they have these impossible plans but they're really serious. They're manufacturing ammo. They're performing these rituals. They've planted bombs everywhere. Some of them are already scheduled to go off. They're not going to warn anyone, they're just going to—'
'Barrett, I've been listening to the radio,' Wendt said. 'Bombs have gone off in the shipyards. The harbor's in flames. There's been explosions of major downtown buildings. And—damnit. Heavy static. The radio's being jammed.'
'They have a mobile band jamming system,' said the man. 'They're signalling the bombs on their private, moving band while jamming all the others.'
Barrett grimaced at the bizarrely informative guy, then turned to the team. 'All right, Cassatt, Wendt, get back to the boat, try the WB radio, and get to—'
A volley of gunfire hit the rocks next to them, and the HUNT opened fire on the two sentinels that spotted them. The HUNT ran to the sentinel's post at the top of the hill.
Freeley kicked over the dead soldier. 'What's with the uniforms? These are, what, Korea? And the triangle, that looks like the logo of Triad Pic—'
A huge explosion came from the island shote. The HUNT looked up to see their boat raining down upon the ocean. A dozen or so soldiers were making their way up the rocky path towards them.
'Looks like we missed our ride,' Barrett said, taking a breath. 'Okay, they know we're here. The only way out is the way we came, and they're coming from that way. No way to contact anyone, and we're the only ones who know what's going on. It's my call. Let's go for the keep. If we can get to their transmitter, we've got a chance at stopping it. And maybe we can take down the big boys while we're at it.'

(*) Check Joe Siegler's fascinating retrospective[joesiegler.blog]for a look back on the days.

The HUNT Begins

The prequel campaign contains a secret level as well as the hidden deluxe episode:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E1A1  The HUNT Begins               Tom Hall                  Secret exit (to deluxe episode)
E1A2  Foggy Mountain                Tom Hall                  -
E1A3  The Fourth Door               Tom Hall                  Secret exit (to E1A8)
E1A4  Dark Tunnels                  Tom Hall                  -
E1A5  Metal Threat                  Tom Hall                  -
E1A6  Ride 'em, Cowboy!             Joe Siegler               -
E1A7  Boom Boom Boom                Tom Hall                  -
E1A8  Wall to Wall                  Joe Siegler               Secret level
E2A1  Prelude to a Kill             Tom Hall                  Deluxe episode / exits to E2A2
E2A2  Jumpin' Jehoshaphat           Tom Hall                  Deluxe episode / exits to E2A3
E2A3  GADZOOKS!                     Tom Hall                  Deluxe episode / exits to E1A2

It also has two warp-only levels - i.e. independent levels not accessible in a regular playthrough, yet can be checked out by cheating:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E3A1  Too Tall                      Tom Hall                  Warp-only
E3A2  Play Room                     Tom Hall                  Warp-only

(*) If not earned, enter the code DIPSTICK followed by GOTO in the relevant menu to unlock the warping feature. After that, open 'Cheat Menu' while playing through THB and browse to the level of your choice via 'Go to Level' option.

Details are as follows:

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E1A1: THE HUNT BEGINS / SECRET EXIT (TO DELUXE EPISODE)

After dropping down from the GADs you start on, turn right and get into the opening behind the 'tree' (the game calls it so). Touch the plate then push the wall at the opposite corner to reveal a hidden yet locked door. The door in question remains open only between 3 to 5 minutes into the level, so wait for it and hop into the elevator behind it when the time comes.

After clearing out the gang waiting on the other side, turn on the switch found under the catwalk to let a train of GADs free. Utilize them to reach the upper catwalk and turn on the second switch.

Doing so pushes two walls in the vicinity aside and reveals the secret exit to deluxe episode. Take it to play through Prelude to a Kill, Jumpin' Jehoshaphat and GADZOOKS! back-to-back and then be dropped to E1A2: Foggy Mountain to continue the campaign as per usual.

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E1A3: THE FOURTH DOOR / SECRET EXIT (TO E1A8)

Right before the exit, look for a touchplate next to the barrels on the corner and activate it.

Doing so pushes two walls aside in the vicinity to reveal a path full of assorted enemies and hazards that you need to blaze through to reach the secret exit.

DW: E1 - Approach

The first episode of Dark War contains a secret level yet no collectibles:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E1A1  In the Thick of It            Tom Hall                  -
E1A2  Winding Way                   Tom Hall                  -
E1A3  Burned and Amazed             Tom Hall                  Secret exit
E1A4  Too Much Room                 Tom Hall                  -
E1A5  Two-Key Return                Tom Hall                  -
E1A6  Spring Surprise               Tom Hall                  -
E1A7  General Darian                Tom Hall                  Boss: General Darian
E1A8  Turn of the Screw             Marianna Vayntrub         Secret level

Details are as follows:

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E1A3: BURNED AND AMAZED / SECRET EXIT

It may be better to explore the rest of the level before going for the secret exit as to make things easier and not to be forced to make a firebomb-jump.

To the east of what may be called the atrium of the level lies gray-bricked halls. Once you go through the door that leads to them, explore the southern side.

You eventually come across a mercury mode power-up tucked away at a corner with a bunch of life items. Get it and fly over the pillar that is found behind the stabbers in the adjacent area.

Once over the pillar, push the wall behind the urn at the corner to reveal a hazard-ridden path. Simply fly over them to reach the secret exit found at the other end. As stated before, you can brute force into the path with help from a firebomb and overcome the hazards by taking it slow. Yet of course, the aforementioned way is the easier one.

DW: E2 - Monastery

This episode contains a secret level, the first Ball of Power and Scott's Mystical Head:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E2A1  Into the Castle               Tom Hall                  -
E2A2  Great Halls of Fire           Marianna Vayntrub         -
E2A3  The Room                      Tom Hall                  Scott's Mystical Head
E2A4  Spiralling In                 Marianna Vayntrub         -
E2A5  Rocky Plateau                 Tom Hall                  Secret exit
E2A6  The Four-Way Chamber          Tom Hall                  Developer Ball
E2A7  Sebastian Krist               Tom Hall                  Boss: Sebastian 'Doyle' Krist
E2A8  Elevator Trouble              Tom Hall                  Secret level

Details are as follows:

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E2A3: THE ROOM / SCOTT'S MYSTICAL HEAD

The iron key is used for unlocking two doors in this level - one that leads to the exit itself and another that leads to a single cell with a touchplate on it. Activate the touchplate in question to reveal a path full of stabbers nearby the gold door and get in there.

Past the stabbers, turn on the switch around the corner while activating the adjacent touchplate at the same time. Continue onto the catwalk and look for an opening to the left as you cross it. Drop down there and follow the path to come across Scott Miller in his fiery throne room.

(*) Picking up Scott's Mystical Head grants a whopping 2,764,311 points right away.

The seemingly odd amount actually corresponds to the number of Apogee's support line from back then - i.e. 1-800-APOGEE1 > 1-800-(276-4331).

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E2A5: ROCKY PLATEAU / SECRET EXIT

Be on the lookout for a curious touchplate nearby the elevator GADs to the north and activate it.

Doing so pushes aside the two walls blocking the way to the secret exit located to the south.

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E2A6: THE FOUR-WAY CHAMBER / DEVELOPER BALL

From the starting point, go through the two doors straight ahead then take the one on the right. The pillar where both barrages of fireballs end up in this room is actually a pushwall. Activate it and take the newly-revealed path.

Of the three touchplates located on this path, the second one is crucial as it moves aside the pillar that bars entry to the room of goodies at the end of the hall. Make sure it is activated and continue into the room in question.

Push the corner wall by the pillar to reveal an alcove that hides the Oscuro key and pick it up.

With the Oscuro key at hand, it becomes possible to get into the locked room by the center of the level and pick up the Developer Ball within.

DW: E3 - Caves Below

This episode contains a secret level and the second Ball of Power:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E3A1  Robotricks                    Tom Hall                  -
E3A2  Down & Over                   Marianna Vayntrub         -
E3A3  Dead in Five Seconds          Tom Hall                  Incredible Ball
E3A4  Clear&Present Dangers (sic)   Tom Hall                  -
E3A5  The Angry Quilt               Tom Hall                  -
E3A6  Movin' Walls                  Tom Hall                  Secret exit
E3A7  Know Thine NME                Tom Hall                  Boss: NME
E3A8  Eight Ways to Hell            Joe Siegler               Secret level

Details are as follows:

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E3A3: DEAD IN FIVE SECONDS / INCREDIBLE BALL

The right path from the starting point takes you to a maze in which you get your first taste of ballistikraft rockets. The alcove where one of them is patrolling to the east of the maze has a pushwall at its nearest corner. Take the asbestos armor hidden behind another pushwall in the vicinity and then get into the fiery side area guarded by the ballistikraft to find the Incredible Ball.

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E3A6: MOVIN' WALLS / SECRET EXIT

Go through the whole level yet do not rush exiting as the very last cell before it has a touchplate.

Activating it pushes a nearby trio of walls aside to reveal another touchplate for you to step on.

With that second touchplate activated, the path to the secret exit is revealed around the corner. Be sure to get the god mode power-up hidden behind another pushwall just a step into the path in question to save yourself from the no man's land experience that Tom has in store for you.

DW: E4 - The Slow & the Dead

This episode contains a secret level and the third Ball of Power:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E4A1  "Monky" Business              Tom Hall                  -
E4A2  Fire and Brimstone            Tom Hall                  -
E4A3  Crushing Defeat               Tom Hall                  -
E4A4  Diamonds & Rust               Tom Hall                  Secret exit
E4A5  Backfire                      Tom Hall                  -
E4A6  Circles of Fire               Tom Hall                  Power Ball
E4A7  Lair of El Oscuro             Tom Hall                  Boss: El Oscuro / 1st form
E4A8  Switched Around               Joe Selinske              Secret level
E4A9  Canyon Chase                  Tom Hall                  Chase level
E4A10 In the Dark Nest              Tom Hall                  Boss: El Oscuro / 2nd form

Dark War also has warp-only levels of its own - check them out at your leisure:

Area  Title                          Author                    Notes
E5A1  Dead in Two Seconds           Tom Hall                  Warp-only
E5A2  The Vomitorium                Joe Siegler               Warp-only
E5A3  This Causes an Error!         Tom Hall                  Warp-only / 'I'M FREE!'

Details are as follows:

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E4A4: DIAMONDS & RUST / SECRET EXIT

As long as you are thorough with your progression, once you come across the mercury mode power-ups in the eastern section of the level, alcoves on both sides of the northern section should also be open already. The lengthy and hazard-ridden path that can be reached through the one in the east leads to the secret exit - yet there is a blocker a few cells before it.

So, as with E1A3: Burned and Amazed, you can either get one of the mercury mode power-ups and fly over all the hassle, or pick up both the asbestos armor and the firebomb found in the vicinity of the path in question and brute force your way to the secret exit.

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E4A6: CIRCLES OF FIRE / POWER BALL

Shortly into the level, you are greeted by five blocks of firewalls right after opening a door. A certain touchplate next to the brazier in the middle both triggers the sequence of events for the circle you are in and opens up the way that leads to the Power Ball back at the initial one.

Yet it also bars you from the sole way of returning to that area by pushing the firewalls towards the door you come in. So... touch the plate, turn around and be quick on your toes so as to leave the room before being locked in.

Backtrack to the initial circle and explore the newly-revealed path to find the Power Ball. Now that the secret levels and collectibles are out of the way, it is time to take on Oscuro!

(*) Finding all three Balls of Power grants a 'DIP Bonus' of 10k points at the final tally.

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'The monastery burns. El Oscuro is dead. The world is safe. The HUNT is victorious... for now.'

[erc]

Enforcer, I have yet to play Extreme RotT to completion. Even then, I am not interested in doing a similar guide for that one - I think Emjeeman's guide linked in the Foreword section is all there is needed as a companion for that campaign.

[Wiggy]

Any chance there will be a guide for Extreme Rise of the Triad?

["kk"]

excellent guide for those of us who are going for 100%!
Take my award

[erc]

LMH, you may be missing a touchplate trigger, check this thread out.

[Crazy Steve]

update, i think it's glitched, im in the room where the pillars block the gold door and i've done everything i can do and still can't get any of them to move

[Crazy Steve]

we need a more detailed guide for thb, i've been stuck on ride em cowboy for like 10 minutes. god i love this game but its so cryptic goddamn