HCBailly plays Secret of Evermore - Part 3 of 31

And now the search for Strong Heart begins...

All maps by Grizzly.

Quicksand Field

Map

Now that you have the Jaguar Ring, you can use the Jaguar Ring to move past the quicksand holes after they sink back out of existence (and move away from one if it pulls you in). You can only run as long as you have energy. When your strike energy is at 100%, you have the maximum running distance (just like Secret of Mana). The only real difference is instead of running in only one direction like in Secret of Mana, you can fully control where you run.

Take the time to explore the area, pick up any alchemy ingredients that The Dog sniffs out and open up any gourds that you can find. It's worth it.

Sometimes, enemies will leave a pile of dust or goo or bones behind. Go up to it, press the B button and you'll get an item. Sometimes it's a petal, sometimes it's a few extra pieces of money. You never know what you'll find, so pay attention as enemies will randomly drop some extra spoils.

Bugmuck

Map

This area is comprised of several screens, but it's not so easy to get lost.

The Maggots are pretty easy to beat up if you strike them at 100%. The Tar Skulls hang out in the tar pits where you can't get close to them, and will lunge at you if you're close enough. If you strike at them at 100%, you'll be able to reach them better. If you kill one, have the dog sniff around nearby. You'll be able to find Oil and Clay doing this.

There is a cave near the beginning. Go inside.

Bugmuck Cave

When you enter this cave, the man inside will talk to you. He isn't Strong Heart, but he does know him and says that he saw him go towards the big bug a few days ago. He gives you another alchemy formula, Hard Ball.

Hard Ball

1 Crystal, 1 Clay

Unless you search near the Tar Skulls, you won't find very much Clay. Since you don't have the maximum of 8 carryable spells yet, go ahead and equip it.

The man will also sell you alchemy ingredients if you need them, and you can save your game here.

Bug Maze

Animated Map - the paths that fall away are the ones not to take.

After all that farming for experience and gold, we make it to the bug maze. You'll eventually find a large cave further into the Bugmuck. Go in.

Here, you'll have to follow a specific path in order to make it into the doorway on the other side. Some of the bridges, however, will fall apart before you can cross them, and some of them wait until after you've crossed them to keep you from conveniently going back.

If you get trapped and are unable to move any farther, go to the nearest side wall of the maze. You'll slide all the way back down to the beginning and you'll be able to start over.