Retro Arcade: The Goonies 1986 Platform Game Walkthrough: Stage 3

Stage 3: The Ghostly Gauntlet

Time Limit: 420 seconds
Special Items: Helmet, Spring Shoes
Hidden Stuff: Twinbee, Warp Zone
How To Make Secret Items Appear: Down buttons

Your journey beyond the initial passage has awakened the very spirit of One-Eyed Willie himself! As you draw nearer to his ultimate resting place, this specter shall assail you, attempting to divert you from your noble quest. But do not let this apparition deter you from your mission.

Stage 3 is the grandest of the stages you shall explore, pulsating with the essence of the '80s. Steam valves erupt with scalding vapors as pressure mounts, yet fret not, for a trusty raincoat shall shield you from their fiery embrace. The first trio of sections are mandatory, but the fourth, labeled as part D, remains entirely at your discretion.

Embark upon this stage from an elevated vantage, just slightly to the right of the formidable skull-mouth A. Since its proximity beckons, why not venture through it, thus arriving at part B? Employ your explosive prowess to breach the door in the upper left corner. Descend from that precipice, traverse a great distance to the right, and grant passage to the door concealed there. Then, circle back to skull-mouth A and traverse it to access part A.

Upon entering part A, ascend both conveniently proximate ladders. Leaping across the gap in the piping, you shall find another ladder, guiding you to the zenith of part A. There, unseal the door directly above your position. Progress rightward, journeying beyond skull-mouth B to reach part C. In this sector, hasten leftward until you attain a ladder. Continue your leftward sojourn, mounting into a petite chamber, wherein a crucial protective item awaits. Following this, traverse to the rightmost section of part C, uncovering and parting the veils of two additional skull doors. Thence, return through skull-mouth B, retracing your steps to the zenith of part A.

Back within part A, descend the ladder, descending to the middle tier. Descend once more, utilizing the nearest ladder to access the midsection of part A. Descend further, descending until you approach the skull door situated at the lowest echelon. Once unfurled, reascend the adjacent ladder, progressing entirely rightward. Eventually, you'll encounter a ladder, ushering you to the nethermost reaches of part A. It is here that you shall uncover yet another skull door, a riddle wrapped in an enigma, harboring the final secrets to your passage.

Now, the items you possess shall dictate your forthcoming course, and it lies in the last door at the far-left corner of the abyss. The choice is yours to make. Should the elusive Jump Shoes grace your inventory, you may opt to delve into the unknown depths beneath ladder C. But beware, for sans the Jump Shoes, the lofty ledge leftward of the ladder remains elusive. Donning the Jump Shoes, you shall nimbly clear this barrier and proceed toward the ladder on the left.

Secrets:

Helmet

This trusty helmet has one job: keeping your noggin safe from those pesky stalactites. While it won't do much when giant boulders start rolling in Stage 4, it's your best friend when navigating the rocky rain of Stage 3. Slip it on and strut beneath those pointy perils without a care in the world.

Jump Shoes

Mikey, ever the trendsetter, dons these kicks, but there's a catch – they're a bit finicky. They shine in Stage 3's part D, where a daring descent down a lengthy ladder activates their magic. With these bouncers on, you'll soar high and nab that coveted top ledge to the left. What awaits? A warp that skips Stage 4 and rockets you straight into Stage 5. No need to snag all the keys, but don't forget to rescue the captive Goonie along the way.

Twinbee:

Get ready for a Konami cameo, folks! Twinbee zips onto the scene, soaring from left to right. Time your encounter just right while running along the pipe, and he'll meet you mid-air as you leap across the gap. Catch him for a cool 5000 points and a high-five from the '80s arcade era!

Secret Warp:

Should you choose to descend this ladder, be forewarned, for it is a one-way journey. There shall be no return, and you shall bypass Stage 4 entirely, catapulting forthwith into the enigmatic Stage 5. Rest assured, however, you shall encounter the fourth concealed Goonie, positioned at a peculiar locale, ensuring you bear witness to the denouement. And do not overlook the necessity of a trusty bomb before embarking upon this shortcut. Yet, if you seek not the warp, proceed in the conventional manner through the lower left threshold of part A.

Stay tuned for Stage 4 of The Goonies 1986 Platform Game, coming next week!