Ricochet Lost Worlds Explained

Ricochet Lost Worlds
Developer:Reflexive Entertainment
Publisher:Reflexive Entertainment
Released:Microsoft Windows
April, 2004
Mac
November, 2005
Genre:Breakout clone
Modes:Single player
Platforms:Microsoft Windows, Mac

Ricochet Lost Worlds was developed by Reflexive Entertainment and is the sequel to Ricochet Xtreme. It features several new bricks, power-ups and background art. It also has the new "ring" feature, where you try to collect all the rings on each level. If you collect all five rings on every level, you become "Ring Master" and get the trophy at the end of the game. It is possible to beat the game without getting every ring, but it is less challenging.

Around 7 December 2017, the official website that hosted all user-made levels and the forums for both the Ricochet and the Big Kahuna series were permanently shut down because they were no longer sustainable to run.[1]

Gameplay

Ships

There are six (6) designs of ships a player can choose if he or she will sign as a new player. Here are the ships:

Ship NameColorPicture
"Blazing Fire"Black background, has yellow, orange and red flames.
"Chrome Ship"
"Yellow Flames"Violet layout with yellow flame-like design.
"Honeybee"Yellow and Black horizontal stripes
"Ice-like ship"White and Sky Blue
"Neutral Ship"Black and White

Unique Rounds

Some rounds in this game feature unique graphics and show an object. Here are some:

RoundTitleSpecial Feature
1Into the Abyss...An Anchor
19Full Steam AheadA Train
25I Heard The Mission BellsA Bell
70Tree of Life...and DeathA Tree
90Argh, Matey! Scurvy PiratesPirate Ship with bombs
131Dr. Jekyll's FlaskA Flask with Trapped Balls as chemical bubbles

Tools and bricks

Some tools are featured in the game.

ToolFirst Level FeaturedAppearanceUse
Floating BallAn Ion Sphere floating at some rounds.Makes an Ion Sphere get out making one an extra.
AcceleratorRotating Blue ArrowsWhen the Ion sphere moves there, it increases its speed but only temporary.
DeceleratorRotating Orange ArrowsOpposite of Accelerator. It makes the Ion Sphere slower temporarily.
TeleporterRound 22: Move From One Spot To AnotherBlue, Red and Green holes with lasers and closed portalsEnables the Ion sphere to transfer around the area according to the color.
Trapped BallSmall ballsThese are small balls at a level that once they touch the ship's deflector, they will become a normal Ion Sphere.
Ball DeflectorSome curved or safe areas that is harmless to the Ion Sphere.As a normal ground
ExploderRound 1: Into The Abyss...Some have red Chinese letteringsWhen broke, it explodes and destroys the nearest bricks with it.
N Hit SideHalf Indestructable, Half NormalAs a normal brick, one side take a lot of hits as normal ball, but vulnerable to acid ball on both sides.
IndestructibleSome metalsIt seems indestructible but it can be destroyed by the normal sphere giving many blows him. (Also it can be destroyed by the acid ball, Missile Launcher, etc.)
Power-UpRound 1: Into The Abyss...Some bricksWhen destroyed, it shows or gives power-ups.
Starfish GoalBall deflector with a starIf the Ion Sphere touches a starfish, it must hit this rock to break it.
SwitchRock-like brickUnknown
Rail BrickRound 12: The Power of OneOnly Volcanic Bricks with white featuresBreaks bricks in what direction they are.
Arrow Brick (also a "Rail Brick")Round 16: The Arrow Points The Way It Will GoBricks with moving arrowsWhen hit, it will hit bricks in the direction shown by the arrow last.
FactoryRound 24: Keep Pressing That ButtonOnly in Mayan territory. A brick with a gear at the center.Creates other bricks in 1 to 4 directions.
Factory ShutdownRound 28: The ShredderA brick with gear at the center and with yellow color at both sides.It destroys all factory Bricks on a level when it is destroyed.
Magnetic BrickCircular bricks with different colors featured only in Alien territories.When two magnetic bricks are activated, they will meet together and destroy the bricks going in between them.
Ball FactoryIon Sphere with bordersWhen hit, it will spawn up to 5 Ion Spheres.

Weapons and powerups

Some weapons and powerups are featured in the game. Some have advantages and disadvantages. Italicalized powerups are powerups not available in the game.

Weapon/ PowerupFirst Level FeaturedPower-Up Icon AppearanceUse
Safety BumperRound 1: Into The AbyssYellow Laser-like line (line is still yellow but is curved in Infinity)This powerup with a yellow laser-like appearance keeps Ion Spheres from going out-of-bounds. It doesn't last long when you have a Laser ball, so you've got a choice to make! Receive a 500 point bonus for each bumper still standing at end of level.
Extra Ion SphereRound 1: Into The AbyssGreen Arrow pointing upGives one extra life or the Ion Sphere (the ball used in breaking the bricks)
SlowRound 1: Into The AbyssYellow word "Slow" Icon (replaced by 2 counterclockwise yellow arrows in Infinity)Makes the movement of the Ion Sphere slower or decreases its speed.
FastRound 2: Rings Are Your FriendRed word "Fast" Icon (replaced by 2 counterclockwise red arrows in Infinity)Makes the movement of the Ion Sphere faster or increases its speed.
Laser Blaster GunGray Gun Icon with Green BackgroundConnects Laser Blasters to both sides of the ship. Unless you get another laser gun powerup, you may only shoot from one side at a time.
EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse)Round 23: Spheres That Turn Into Bombs4 Yellow Lights surrounding Center of power-up and with Green Background EMP Generator (Ion Sphere); EMP Charger (Ship); If the player presses the left mouse button, it will discharge the EMP and destroy all the bricks in the vicinity of the ball. However, the ion sphere will then lose its charge and must hit the ship's shield to recharge.
Acid BallGreen Acidic Ball IconMakes the Ion Sphere be in an acidic form that melts even indestructible bricks.
Normal ShipRed Ship IconRestores the ship into its normal functions. Also removing any kind of weapon accepted by the ship.
Shield ShrinkerRed Triangle Arrows pointing each other (replaced by Red diamond with arrows going towards the center in Infinity)Shrinks and shortens the ship's shield. Effect can stack twice from normal size.
Shield ExpanderNot available in this gameBlue diamond with arrows going outward towards the sidesExpands and lengthens the ship's shield. Effect can stack twice from normal size.
Small BallRed circle moving inwardsShrinks the Ion Sphere. Triples hits needed to destroy indestructible and 3 hit bricks.
Normal BallIon Sphere IconRestores the original Ion Sphere appearance, removing acid, laser or small ball effect.
Ball Generating Ball or Ball GeneratorFour trapped Balls Surrounding center of power-up and with Green BackgroundMakes the ball generate a "trapped ball" anytime it destroys a brick or collects a coin. Touch the trapped balls at the ship's deflector, it will become a normal ball.
Laser BallRound 13: Even the ball gets a gunDark Grey Ball with Violet Dots and lasers coming out of it on Green Background Converts your Ion Sphere into a self-minded trigger-happy drone, that shoots purple laser beams at nearby bricks. The more laser ball powerups you get, the more rapidly the ion sphere shoots.
Stinger Missile LauncherRound 26: All Hail The Stinger Missile2 Missiles with green BackgroundEnables the ship to shoot missiles that home in on nearby bricks. Like the laser gun, you can only shoot from one side at a time until you get another stinger missile powerup. Thereafter, more stinger missile powerups means that you may shoot multiple missiles from one side, or that the stinger missiles become more powerful.
Ball CatcherRound 8: Catch The BallBlue Lightning-like catcher on Black BackgroundEnables the ball to stick to the ship's deflector. The player must click the left mouse button to re-launch the ball. But if the player wishes to avoid catching the ball, the player can hold down the left mouse button. As long as the button is held down, the ball will bounce normally and not caught.
3 Way Ball SplitNumber 3 with 3 rotating cyan dots around itEnables the Ion Sphere to multiply itself by 3.
8 Way Ball SplitNumber 8 with 8 rotating cyan dots around itEnables the Ion sphere to multiply itself by 8.

References

  1. Web site: Is Ricochet Infinity Dead?.

External links