Big Walk challenges players to communicate and cooperate with friends to solve puzzles across a vast, colorful island. While the game offers many tools and intriguing structures, it leaves many mechanics and nuances for players to discover themselves. To aid in your trek, this guide offers 11 tips to help you navigate the island, overcome its challenges, and make the most of your multiplayer experience.
Embracing Multiplayer and Communication
Big Walk is fundamentally a cooperative experience, designed for up to 12 players. The game dynamically adjusts its puzzles based on the number of participants, with significant changes occurring for groups of four or more. It is crucial to note that the game cannot be played solo; a minimum of one other player is required. For the optimal experience and smoother puzzle-solving, it is recommended to maintain a consistent group of players throughout your session.
Proximity chat in Big Walk is designed to be realistic, meaning you will only hear players who are close to you and facing your direction. Unlike some games with more forgiving chat ranges, you will need to be physically near your companions to hear them, or they will need to turn to speak towards you. This feature is integral to the Big Walk experience, particularly when puzzles require hushed, deliberate communication. Relying on external communication methods is discouraged, as it bypasses a core gameplay element.
Navigating the Island
While the island is filled with helpful transport like trains and ski lifts, most destinations are ultimately reachable by foot. Do not feel constrained by the immediate availability of transportation. Clearing nearby towers can reactivate these systems, making traversal faster, but walking is always an option.
Jumping is not just a method of evading obstacles but can also be a faster way to move, especially uphill. The terrain is often bumpy, and players can get stuck on small rocks or slopes. Spamming the jump command can help you "unstuck" yourself and cover ground more quickly. Ensure your fellow players are also utilizing this technique to avoid becoming separated.
Managing Inventory and Items
When you unlock inventory upgrades like backpacks and waist bags, remember that you cannot store items directly into them or remove them once equipped. You must manage what you are holding or wearing carefully. Similarly, walkie-talkies only function when held, not when stored on your back or hip, though you will still hear incoming transmissions.
All items you are holding or wearing, including collected "red gourd-things" and special tools, are saved for your next session. Upon returning, these items will be found in a pile in the starting area. However, be cautious when traversing dangerous areas. While there is no fall damage, falling from a height will stun you and cause you to drop any item you are holding. Items on your back or waist will remain secure. Fast reflexes can allow you to retrieve a dropped item before it rolls away, especially smaller objects that can be hard to find.
Environmental Clues and Item Usage
Pay close attention to the surrounding structures. Buildings with similar designs often indicate the type of items found within. For example, large blue spiral structures typically contain inventory management tools, making them valuable to locate. Recognizing these patterns can help you efficiently gather necessary gear.
Around the island, you will find light switches and fruit-like bulb lights on pedestals. Activating these lights, even if it requires a detour, is beneficial. While they do not illuminate the island for night travel without a flashlight, they serve as useful markers when viewing the island from a high vantage point, indicating areas you have already explored.
Most tools and gadgets have obvious primary functions, like flashlights for dark areas or radios for music. However, these items can be used creatively to solve puzzles or locate friends. For instance, a flashlight's on-and-off can serve as a secret code, and a radio's music or a laser pointer's light can help guide companions. To succeed in Big Walk, developing a shared understanding and descriptive language for puzzle elements, such as symbols, is crucial. Finding common terms for these symbols will significantly streamline puzzle-solving.
Conclusion
Big Walk thrives on its emphasis on communication, cooperation, and exploration. By understanding the nuances of its multiplayer mechanics, traversal, inventory management, and environmental cues, players can significantly enhance their journey across the island. Remember to communicate effectively with your friends, experiment with item uses, and always be ready to jump.