Okay,
'very blonde g'ma here'
what exactly IS a gamepad?
is that like what my grands use for the PS2?

No katbear50, not the same thing, a gamepad is what Draclvr linked to in a post four above this one, the Cyber Snipa. The ones that are similar to the PS2 ones are like this rumble pad I guess that you could call it a gamepad, but the ones we use are just the keyboard keys that would be used, but separate from the keyboard. Just keeps you from hitting all the other keys when trying to play. The console type ones work for most games, I couldn't have finished the Polar Express game without mine. That game is hard to play on a keyboard or gamepad. I have a Logitech dual action but it is old and not that great.

Katbear, see my CyberSnipa link above....

I changed my forward and back from arrows to W and S. Got the wolves and am now at the whirlpool. What a fun, fun, fun game. Lokks like this is working out for me.

Bets

Yes, that is how most of us play it - with the WASD keys. Much easier.

Oooo... the whirlpool! I remember the first time I played this game, it took me at least 20 tries!

Gonna go work on the whirlpool in a few minutes.

The joystick I have is a Microsoft Sidewinder with 8 buttons. Gotta find it though

Bets

I drowned quite a few times in the whirlpool, but so far haven't passed the second troll. Once I pass a section, I go back and save again, one troll at a time. After you pass the first one, he leaves and doesn't see you again, thank goodness.

Much easier to use WASD, the arrows are awkward being on the same side as your mouse hand.

I have Polar Express also Hawk,
and am looking at it longingly
May have to look into this.
I prefer the looks of the Cyber Snipa,
maybe I could convince myself my keyboard
just shrunk

Nay, nay, Hawka! Bert can definitely see you after you pass the 2nd troll! He caught me several times while I sneaked down the final "gauntlet!"

One of them can see me now, but only after I pass the area where he is scratching his behind. Only means I don't have to repeat the chest.

Polar Express is definitely one for the controller, you have to make some quick moves, especially when going down the slopes. I beat the game so it is doable, probably easier for "kid reflexes.

Every time I try to open the chest, I get killed. What is the secret of this one? How do I get past the next troll. Every time I move out I am seen.

Hey Kat, I am just using keyboard and mouse and am not having any trouble. Just changed my settings for forward and back to W and S.

Bets

That chest killed me a bunch of times the first time I played too. There is no trick, just be quick. Hey, that rhymes!

To sneak past the 1st troll (Bert) after you open the chest, run up to the rock closest to the pink crystals on the right and watch him for a few minutes. If he smells you, he only goes a short distance and turns around immediately. If he doesn't smell you, he goes further. The second he heads out, use your stick-jump move to go get those pink crystals and another stick-jump to get behind the rock to the left.

hhhhmmmmmm......
did i hear fast...jump...move....hide...quick?

Yeah, and it can be done Kat. Do you have the game? If not, Rainbow Lady has it for sale cheap. Grab it.

Bets

Watch out for some of those chests, they can have poison in them, you can die unless you have a healing potion. I think it is random.

If you want to bide your time hiding from the troll, just keep your ctrl key down, that way you can think of your next move. I haven't tried stick jump, don't know why I didn't think of that.

Here is a walkthrough, not for PC but it is similar http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/gamecube/file/589694/27518

Every time I jump/leap past the pink crystals, I get killed and I also get killed by the chest

Bets

Do you have any keys for the chests? It's good to keep some of them in your inventory for the really tough ones. Rest assured, after you do about 1,000 of them, you get the hang of it!

Are you doing another stick-jump towards the blue crystals by the rock on the left? You have to hide immediately after you get the pink crystals. Or, just bypass them and stick-jump to the rock.

When you finally get past the first two trolls, then you have to sneak past the yawning one (easy) then do a combo of sneak, crouch down and wait, then run for the next CP, after you get the last blue one, then run for the pink and green and grab the bag. If you try to sneak for the bag, Tom will grab you.

I am in the caves now, took a wrong turn into a stake looking for the key and am lifeless. Make sure you save often and fill up on mushrooms, also don't forget to whack the glowing blue things on the rocks.

I think I played the first time about half way through before I figured out to whack the blue rocks!

I was able to sneak for the purse this time, but I think I was just lucky.

I just got down to the goblin mines.

Ugh!! I hate the waterfalls, I keep missing my ride and you know what happens then!!! Have to quit for awhile, my mouse arm is cramping up on me (bad shoulder). Dratted key!!

yup, I have it right here, still in the wrapper.
sounds like yall are havin a blast

Now playing : Still Life 1, Kuros, Jack Keane, & ready to roll on Darkness Within
Just finished : Runaway 2 : TDOTT, The Vampyre Story &
RTMI 2 : Mina's Fate

I don't have any keys. Did I miss something somewhere?

Bets

Probably not. I was thinking you got to start out with one or that you found one along the way. At the end of every level you get to spend the coins you've found for different thing. Make sure you buy a couple of skeleton keys if the chests are giving you trouble.

Come on Kat, jump in with us.

Bets

Yeah, jump on in, Kat... the water's fine!