Guide to It Came from the Desert

 

Overhead Battle

Let's start with the easiest mini-game - the overhead ant battle. The objective of this game is to close the entrances to the ant tunnels.

Controls:

General tips:


Grenade

The grenades are always initially selected. Use these to take out the ants. It's almost impossible to run out unless you leave turbo-fire on.


Dynamite

The dynamite is used to seal the holes. Your supply is limited so don't use it to attack ants unless they're standing over a hole.


Air Force

Later in the game you can call-in an air strike. I've never found this to be that useful. By the time you arrange where the planes should strike, an ant will usually get to you.


Hitting an ant with a grenade

To kill the ants you need to score a direct hit to the body. Here is an ideal distance to be when attacking an ant.


Dynamite the hole

The dynamite doesn't travel far. Here is the ideal distance to be.

The hole will reopen so you need to stay close. Before going after a hole clear out any nearby ants. If some cross the hole when the dynamite explodes they'll be killed - so if an ant has to cross the hole to get to you you're fine. Any new ants that come out through the hole while you're dynamiting it will also be killed.


 

Shooting

Controls:

General tips:


Shooting mini-game

This mini-game is a little tougher than the overhead battle but not too rough. Your shots don't need to be precise, as long as any part of the crosshair is on them it'll hit. Whenever possible try to hit multiple ants with a single shot to conserve bullets, later in the game when you're fighting 40+ ants it is possible to run out if you're not careful.


 

Tunnels

The tunnel mini-game is the most important to master and unfortunately it's also the hardest. You can not win the game without being pretty darn good at surviving in the tunnels.

Controls:

General tips:


In the tunnels

In the beginning of the game you have the ability to do a back flip. When you're standing in the firing position, press Button II to do a back flip. This maneuver is almost always a guaranteed suicide. For example, in this screenshot Buzz will back flip right into the zombie.


Learning the forward flip

Visit the Borax Saloon on the first two days and select strength each time. On day 2 you'll learn the forward flip instead. This will make life much easier.


Short jump

Now when you're facing an enemy, and are standing in the firing position, you can jump over them by pressing Button II. The longer you hold the button the further you jump. For example, in this screenshot the jump was too short.


Long jump

However, if you keep holding Button II you can practically clear the entire floor.


Place a grenade

The zombies will drain your bullets, use the grenades on them instead. When you're standing the in firing position press Button I+Down. You need to be a few steps away because the grenades are on a timer. If you're too close they'll walk right over it.


Force field

At the end of the tunnels is a force field. You need to reach the force field to advance the story of the game but can not get through it at first. Once you get to the field, allow one of the enemies to capture you and you'll be put back outside.

See the walkthrough for more on this.


Elevator

The good news is that when you reach an elevator your progress is saved. If you are captured, the next time you enter the tunnels you will return after the last elevator you went down.


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