Sailing through the air for glory. Here, there and everywhere!

(6:32) Level 4 ('The Silent Cartographer') on Heroic. In this third instalment on descent into the main shaft, I principally showcase some targets you can aim for when bailing, which can make for some enjoyable and challenging recreation if nothing else. But there's also a completed descent, plus a Warthog doing something truly weird which you absolutely need to see!

Released December 11th 2024, gameplay recorded December 7th-10th 2024.

00:02 (Third prong on the left) To start with, here's what I'd say is the standout target: the third prong on the left, and more specifically the wide back part of it. My second clip shows a 'stunt' version featuring some fancy bailing. Much less routine, but nice for show.

00:28 (Fourth prong on the left) This time I land on the back of the fourth prong on the left. Some fine aiming is needed to get past the prong above. Two clips here, as I had some entertaining ones in regard to how the Marines ended up.

00:52 (Second prong on the left) You might think you can't bail fast enough to reach this prong (it comes up so fast as you fall), but fancy bailing can get you there. In the first of my three examples I use hog spin to get extra speed, similar to the third shelf slingshot coming up shortly. My overshield gets totally wiped though. Incidentally, when using this method I've ended up on the second shelf occasionally.

In the second example (1:02) I bail differently. Landing with no damage, I then take the opportunity to demonstrate a spectacular 3-level drop. The third example (1:30) features another different bail, using a left hog-spin so that my side of the hog starts facing upwards. Some damage is taken, but nowhere near enough to stop me doing another long drop.

01:51 (Third shelf via slingshot) Here's a good example of slingshotting. The hog spin gives me a kick after I bail (the rear swings around and taps you; or at least, that's the idea), resulting in more lateral speed. That lets me reach the third shelf.

02:02 (Fourth shelf) Now some examples of reaching the fourth shelf. In the first I just do a standard early bail. Notice how I sail in just underneath the third prong, as desired. You need to get things just right to do that. Too little speed and you'll find yourself lower, with no hope of hitting that fourth shelf.

The second example (2:16) shows a late bail option. Mind you, there were times when the hog came in after me and caused some nasty splattering! The third example (2:29) is another late bail option, in which I cheekily clear the third prong by hopping over it at the last moment. As I recall, I'd actually been going for the second prong.

The final example (2:42) shows a more routine method, using a bounce off the third prong.

02:54 (Freaky hog) While working on that fourth shelf business, I got this very freaky hog situation, the like of which I've never seen before (as far as I can recall). The hog comes to a juddering stop on its rear left, apparently embedded in the prong, even though it looks like there isn't enough contact for that.

After getting a view from the other side (holding my nerve for a cross-prong jump!), I come back and press X to flip the hog. Seeing it start to move, I instinctively move forward to try and board, but the hog doesn't get level enough, so I fall to my death. The death sequence didn't last long before the game reverted me, which is why the clip ends rather abruptly.

It's a pity I messed up like that; I would've liked to see things fully unfold. I believe the hog actually remained stuck after the flip, albeit at a lower angle.

03:46 (Fifth level) The fifth prong level is too far to casually sail down to. You die just before reaching it, as demonstrated in my first clip here. But with a bit of slowing you can make it, as shown in the next three. In the first two (3:56), I get a slight speed reduction due to my bailing. Note how I pop upwards a bit (more so in the second case, which is presumably why I suffer less health loss on landing). In the final clip (4:20) I'm slowed by a bounce off a prong.

Note: with a slowing ejection like in the third clip, I've even had a landing on the sixth level. But it wiped my health except for one bar.

04:32 (Fourth level prong tips) Landing on the fourth level prong tips makes a nice daredevil challenge, and here you see me nail each one.

04:54 (Sixth level then onwards) This was almost a prong tip landing on the fifth level, but actually I bounce off and settle on the sixth. From there I continue the descent, which includes getting a bit of cushioning from the hog in the final area. As well as the hog I also find my Marines, who've settled almost identically.

Closing remarks Of course, a lot of those bail targets were quite hard, and I'm not recommending them as being for routine use. But they can be fun to try, for recreation.

For most of the recording for this movie, I was using a set-up modified to eliminate arrival checkpoints. Very useful. The one time I wish I had got a checkpoint though, was after getting that freaky hog. Pity about that!

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