1. Introduction and Controls

[Iron Blue Arremer]

1. Introduction and Controls

1.1. About Spelunky and History

This guide is for the XBox Live Arcade version of Spelunky. It is an action platformer and costs 1200 Microsoft Points. However, this is not the first version of Spelunky.

The PC version of Spelunky is available for free at the Spelunky Homepage. spelunkyworld.com/original.html

The original version was created in late 2008, and the XBLA version was released on July 4th 2012. The XBLA version is a major improvement to the original freeware version, with entirely new graphics, new music, new gameplay elements and 2 multiplayer modes - Co-Op and Deathmatch (more on that in 1.8.).
Obviously, this guide will contain SPOILERS (which, granted, are not that severe, but still).


1.2. Goal of the Game

The goal of the game is rather easy to explain: Explore ancient subterranean tunnels and amass treasure, while at the same time avoiding getting killed by the many enemies and obstacles haunting these tunnels.

Easy, you say? Well, there is one important thing. All the levels you go through are completely randomly generated! Whenever you die, you will have to restart from the beginning.

Still think you've got what it takes to go through Olmec's Domain? Read on, then!

[Iron Blue Arremer]

1.3. Controls

Although the controls are explained well in the Tutorial, I'll put them here for completion's sake.

Left Control Stick/Directional Pad: You walk into the direction you're pressing. By pressing up, your character will look up and allow you to peek at what's directly above you, while pressing down allows you to do the same to see what's below you. Looking is extremely important, so try to peek as much as possible when going up or down.

A Button: Jump. Certain items allow you to fly or glide by another press of the A Button.

B Button: Use a bomb. You can aim your bombs using the left control stick, and simply place it in front of you by pressing down on it.

X Button: Use your whip. This is your main attack, which allows you to break crates and treasure chests, kill or stun enemies, and move some light items.

X Button + Down: Pick up an item. There's many items you can pick up from the ground, such as rocks, pots, skulls, but also damsels, corpses and weapons. Use the X Button again to throw them. Just like with bombs, you can change their aim with the left control stick. Keep in mind, though, that you won't be able to use your whip while holding an item. If you press X and down again, you will simply place down the item instead of throwing it. This will also happen if you hang on a ledge!

Y Button: Use a rope. This will throw a grappling hook upwards from which a rope will descend. If you hold down while doing this, you will be able to place the hook in front of you and have the rope go down, for instance, a ledge.

RB Button: Enter doors and buy from a shop. That's it.

RT Button: Hold down that button to sprint. This allows you to jump wider than you normally could.

Back Button: Open your Journal. This allows you to view information on areas you've been to, enemies you've encountered and items you've picked up.

Start Button: Menu. Duh.

1.4. Interface and Movement

The HUD of the game is very simple. There is 2 displays at any given time.

The upper one has a heart (your hit points), and the amount of bombs and ropes you possess.

The lower one is the amount of treasure you picked up (and your score at the same time).

Additionally to your basic movement, you can climb up and down ladders and vines. You can also hold onto ledges from which you can drop down using the A Button and down, or jump up from by just using the A Button. When hanging from a ledge, you can also drop bombs and ropes.

When you are standing near a ledge, your character will tumble for balance. Generally speaking, this has no influence, but if you are holding an item you picked up, it will be dropped.

You also can take fall damage in Spelunky. The amount of damage you take is determined by the distance you fall down. Always look down below to where you will be going before dropping down a pit!

Every area is made out of 4 levels. The 4 main areas are Mines, Jungle, Ice Caves and Temple. There is additional areas beyond that, which we will touch on later.

1.5. The Journal

The Journal's left page shows you the amount of money you collected and the time that has passed since you started the game. The right page is a menu in which you can select different sections with areas, monsters, items and traps.
Progressing your journal is simple. In order to have an area in your journal, you must have visited that specific place. For a monster or trap to show up, you must either get killed by it, or you must kill/destroy it. Items only appear if you pick them up.

[Iron Blue Arremer]

1.6. Playable Characters

There is a total of 12 playable characters in Spelunky. They only differentiate themselves in looks, all 12 characters play exactly the same. You start out with 4 characters, and have to unlock the other 8.

The 4 starters are the Spelunker (Main character, Gold), an Indian Man (Red), a Girl (Green), and an Archeologist (Blue).

4 of the unlockable characters are placed in sarcophagi throughout all 4 main areas of the game. The order in which they are unlocked is random, so they will be different for each of you.
The 4 random characters are a Mexican (Lime), a dude in a bear hood (Cyan), a pirate girl (Purple) and a miner girl (Yellow).

This leaves 4 characters that have to be unlocked via special requirements.
Victorian Guy (Black) -> Unlocked in the Haunted Castle area
Super Meat Boy (Bright Red) -> Unlocked in the Worm
African Tribesman (Brown) -> Unlocks after beating Olmec and completing the game
Yang (Tutorial character, White) -> Unlocks after beating the true final boss and completing the game

1.7. Tunnel Man

In between each of the 4 main areas, you will encounter a man who asks you for donations. This will create shortcuts to these specific areas, allowing you to start in the Jungle, Ice Caves and Temple respectively. However, these runs will not count towards leaderboards or completion achievements. You CAN use them to progress your journal or unlock characters.

Each of the tunnels will cost you 3 different donations, which all are asked in order.
Mines to Jungle: 1 Bomb, 1 Rope, 10,000 Gold
Jungle to Ice Caves: 2 Bombs, 2 Ropes, 1 Shotgun
Ice Caves to Temple: 3 Bombs, 3 Ropes, 1 Golden Key found in the Mines

Yes, you will have to carry a key from the Mines to the Temple in order to unlock the last shortcut.

1.8. Multiplayer

There are 2 multiplayer modes for 2-4 players, co-op and deathmatch.

Deathmatch will put all the players into an arena and have them fight each other. Whoever survives will win.

In Co-Op, the players are supposed to work together. They share the starting items (bombs, ropes) with each other. One of the 4 players will carry a big white flag, which means that the camera will follow this player. Anyone left behind will go off-screen. Players can hurt each other with bombs and weapons. The players share the same amount of money.
If one of the players dies, they will leave behind all the items they held to pick up for the others. The dead player then will spawn as a ghost. As a ghost, the dead player can float around the level, set off traps and enemies to help (or screw) the other players. This also happens in Deathmatch.
Starting at the next stage, there will be a sarcophagus with a skull on it somewhere in the area. If a living player whips that sarcophagus, they will respawn with full health and the ghost disappears. There is a limited number of sarcophagus per area (the further you are into the game, the less sarcophagi will appear).