Link to Game	Trophies	Avatar
Play now!		How to obtain
Difficulty Meter		Neopoint Ratio
We rate this game somewhat hard. (this is our rating, not Neopets')		NP Ratio: 4.77 210 pts :: 1000 NP

Introduction

A brave and strong warrior, Valrigard the Draik is known all throughout Meridell for his courageous actions to defend the castle from unwanted visitors. Or, he was before one of the advisors for King Skarl decided to betray him. Charged for a crime he never committed, Valrigard was sent to the deepest cell in the maze-like dungeon underneath Meridell Castle. Finally, after three years, an opportunity arises for Valrigard to escape; a key was carelessly left on the floor by his cell. Now having escaped from his cell and armed with a sword, Valrigard is almost ready to escape from the dungeon. All he needs now is someone who can guide him. Are you up to the challenge?

Game play & Instructions

Escape from Meridell Castle is a simple platformer with few controls. The right and left arrow keys move Valrigard in the corresponding direction while the up arrow key allows him to fly for a very short period of time until the energy meter runs out and needs to recharge. It is also used to exit through level doors. The spacebar will make Valrigard swing his sword at oncoming enemies.

Speaking of oncoming enemies, there is quite a variety of them to be found. Below is a guide that should be helpful for those who want to learn more about their attackers:

Enemy	Description	Enemy	Description
Grarrl	The very first enemy you will encounter in the game, these Grarrl guards should hardly give you a problem.	Spike	Possibly one of the most hated enemies in any video game, Spikes have a tendency to destroy anything on contact. Carefully maneuver Valrigard past them.
Korbat	Korbats work exactly like the Grarrls. The only difference is that they are airborne.	Spiked Ball	These death contraptions stop for no one. Indestructible against Valrigard's sword, you will have to fly over them carefully.
Splyke	Just like something from a Saturday morning cartoon, Splykes have a habit of spinning so fast that they turn into mini tornadoes. They can only be destroyed in their normal state.	Cannon	Following your every move, Cannons won't rest until their target is eliminated. The ball it shoots and the Cannon itself is invincible.
Flamer	Even flaming spheres are after Valrigard. Your best bet to survive this enemy is to dodge them before they cause any harm.	Acid Blob	Dripping at a constant pace, one drop of acid from an Acid Blob will send Valrigard down for the count.

Boss	Description
?	BWAHAHAHA! After Valrigard painstakingly fights his way through 19 exhausting levels, the ultimate challenge is left; The Boss. Will defeating him finally clear Valrigard's name as a criminal? Beat the game to find out! That is, if you can! Mwahahaha....

Tips & Strategies

Probably the largest issue with Escape from Meridell Castle is the fact that you need to be careful not to hit any enemies throughout a level. Making one mistake and losing a life will send you all the way back to the starting point of the level you were on. Also, six lives is the absolute maximum you can get in the game. Once they have been used up, it's Game Over.

Typing valrigard during gameplay will reset the timer back to 300 seconds.

Do not hesitate hitting any Mystery Boxes you may encounter during levels. You'll usually find only a few points in them, but it is possible to receive 100 points from one! It is also important to collect as much stars and gems as possible. Everything adds up in the end, you know.

Freaking out when a large amount of enemies are around is a big mistake. Relax and think logically as you progress through the levels. A clear mind is an important key to winning.

Glitches

Being one of Neopet's older games, and platformer, Escape from Meridell Castle has its share of glitches. From annoying to frustrating, there are many to be found. Below is a small guide to known glitches in the game:

Tight Squeeze- This is a rather annoying glitch that is easy to overcome. Sometimes when you are trying to enter an area that is one block wide, Valrigard will become a bit jerky in motion and won't go through. You need to go through the opening at just the right position to usually solve this problem.

Stuck in a Platform- Although I never have personally experienced this glitch myself, I've heard several accounts and watched videos of this happening. During the game, Valrigard may actually get stuck inside of the stone platforms. I don't know of any solutions on how to solve this glitch.

Conclusion

Despite the difficulty and glitches, Escape from Meridell Castle is a very decent game nonetheless. Those of you who are into platforming games shouldn't overlook this game at all.

This Neopets help article was written for The Daily Neopets by staff member Meeptroid.
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