xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FAQ TITLE: The Optimized Straightforward Walkthru for The Lurking Horror COPYRIGHT INFO: This FAQ is copyright 2008-2010 by Stanley E. Dunigan (dunigase@yahoo.com). This FAQ may be posted and used anywhere by anyone as long as it's unaltered, but always check one of the official websites listed below for the latest version. GameFAQs (www.gamefaqs.com) SuperCheats (www.supercheats.com) Neoseeker (www.neoseeker.com) Cheat Happens (www.cheathappens.com) FAQ DESCRIPTION: Like all of my optimized straightforward walkthrus, this FAQ is a complete walkthru for the game that has been optimized and organized to make it as fast and easy as possible to complete the game. I don't give any reference-style information, like a list of all items, or encourage you to do unnecessary things. In true walkthru fashion, I just tell you the answers without explaining or rationalizing them. If you want non-spoiler-ish hints, see the Lurking Horror hint file on the Universal Hint System (UHS) website at: www.uhs-hints.com. VERSION 1.01 (4/1/2009) NOTES AND CREDITS: This is just a slightly spiffed up final release of this walkthru. VERSION 1.0 (3/18/2008) NOTES AND CREDITS: This is the original release of this FAQ, so I have no special notes or credits to report yet. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx NOTE: This FAQ was written while playing the Lurking Horror version that came with the Lost Treasures of Infocom package that was released in 1991 by Activision. As far as I know, everything will be the same for other game versions. *** STEP 1: Get the smooth stone and the master key. *** Start by turning on the "whiz-bang" PC (TURN PC ON) and then log on to it (LOGIN 872325412. PASSWORD UHLERSOTH). Choose to edit your paper (CHOOSE EDIT. CHOOSE PAPER), then read the entire paper. (Start with READ PAPER, then use CHOOSE MORE until you faint.) When you wake up in some "place," go down twice and get the smooth stone. Wait until the odd dream ends, then get out of the chair you're sitting in (GET UP). Go south and west to get to the kitchen, then open the refrigerator and take the Coke bottle and the cardboard carton. Open the microwave, put the carton in the microwave, then close the microwave. Set the microwave to "high" (PRESS HI), enter a time of four minutes (PRESS 4. PRESS 0. G), and then get it started (PRESS START). Drink some of the Coke, drop the assignment and coke bottle, then wait one time. Open the microwave and get the carton, then go east and north to return to the terminal room. Give the carton to the hacker, then ask him about his keyring. Ask him for the master key, and he'll give it to you. *** STEP 2: Raid the temporary building for supplies. *** Go south and down to reach the lobby, then press the elevator's up button (PRESS UP). Go south to enter the elevator, open its access panel, and take the flashlight. Press the elevator's open button (PRESS OPEN) and go north, then go down and west to reach the aero basement. Get into the forklift and turn it on, then go east twice to reach the temporary basement. Get off the forklift, then pick up the gloves and crowbar. Wear the gloves, then go up and turn the flashlight on. Get the metal flask, then go down, get back in the forklift, and go east. Use the forklift to repile the junk (MOVE JUNK) until you see an opening into a storage room to the east. Get off the forklift and go east to find the ancient storage area. Open the manhole with the crowbar so you can go down to a brick tunnel. Go north and then down to reach an altar area. Get the knife, then go back up, south, up, and west three times to return to the central basement area, where you can turn your flashlight off to save the batteries. *** STEP 3: Raid the Great Dome and Brown Building for more supplies. *** Go west twice, then up and south to reach the so-called infinite corridor. Get the plastic container, then go east. Wait until the floor-waxer-riding maintenance man goes east, then follow him. Go up to get to the Great Dome, then climb the rope to reach the top of the dome. Open the door and go north and up to reach the very top of the dome. Pull the bronze plug to reveal a piece of paper. Drop the plug and take the paper. Read the paper, then go down and south. Lower the ladder and go down, then go down again to return to the infinite corridor. Go east and break the glass in the glass-fronted emergency cabinet (BREAK GLASS). Get the axe, then cut the floor waxer's cord with it (CUT CORD WITH AXE). Open the plastic container and pour its liquid onto the floor. Drop the container, then go east, north, down, and southeast to reach the Brown Building's basement. Get the rubber boots and wear them, then go up twice to the top floor. Unlock the door to the roof with the master key you got from the hacker (UNLOCK DOOR WITH MASTER KEY), then open the door and go west and up to enter a large dome. Dig around in the peach tree's earth (DIG IN EARTH) to find a human hand, then take it. Go back down, then get rid of the "dark shape" creature by throwing the smooth stone at it (THROW STONE AT SHAPE). Go east, down, and south to get to the small courtyard where your stone landed. Pick it back up, then go north, down, northwest, up, and south to return to the infinite corridor. *** STEP 4: Visit the Department of Alchemy. *** Go south to reach the chemistry building, then break the window of the door with the axe (BREAK WINDOW WITH AXE). Sure, knocking on the door would've worked, too, but where's the fun in that, right? ;) Wait until the professor lets you in, then show him the paper you got from the Great Dome's roof (SHOW PAPER TO PROFESSOR). Go south to the lab area, and the prof will trap you in a chalk pentagram. Wait until he enters another pentagram, then cut the outer lines of your pentagram with your knife (CUT LINE WITH KNIFE). Exit your pentagram, then move the lab bench off of the metal trapdoor (MOVE BENCH). Open the trapdoor and go down to reach a cinderblock tunnel, where you'll be safe from the prof's evil summoning ritual. The trapdoor gets slammed shut, so open it, turn the flashlight on, and go up. Put the hand you got from the Brown Building's dome in the vat, then drop the now-useless knife. Wait until the hand tries to crawl out of the vat, then get it. Go north and turn the flashlight off, then open the door and go north twice to escape the Department of Alchemy and return to the infinite corridor. *** STEP 5: Get the bolt cutter. *** Go west four times and then north to return to the aero lobby. If the urchin isn't there, move around in the basement areas (or just stay in one area and wait) until he shows up. You may have to move around or wait a very long time to get him to appear, and even then he sometimes leaves before you can do anything. When you get him to appear and stick around, point out the living hand you have perched on your shoulder to scare him off (SHOW HAND TO URCHIN). He drops a bolt cutter in his haste to get away, so pick it up. Then save your game to make sure you don't have to go through this annoyingly random part of the game again. *** STEP 6: Use the bolt cutter. *** Go to the subbasement area, which is down from the stairway that's at the west end of the basement areas. Drop the axe, the bolt cutter, and the metal flask, then go northwest to reach a small tomb. Unlock the padlock that's on the access hatch using the hacker's key (OPEN PADLOCK WITH MASTER KEY), then take the lock. Go southeast and pick up the items you dropped (GET ALL), then go up and east twice. Force open the elevator doors (OPEN ELEVATOR DOORS) and jam them open with the axe (PUT AXE BETWEEN ELEVATOR DOORS). Go south to enter the concrete box at the bottom of the elevator shaft, then get the chain. Pry two bricks out of the north wall (PRY BRICKS WITH CROWBAR. G), then drop the crowbar. Connect the chain to the steel rod that's in the brick wall (ATTACH CHAIN TO ROD), then lock it in place with the padlock (PUT PADLOCK ON CHAIN). Go up to exit the shaft, then connect the chain to the hook that's on the bottom of the elevator (ATTACH CHAIN TO HOOK). Get the axe so the elevator doors can close, then go up twice to reach the second floor. Press the elevator's up button (PRESS UP), then go down twice. Open the elevator doors and go south, then turn the flashlight on and go north through the new hole in the brick wall to reach the steam tunnel. Go west twice, then hit the pressure release valve with the axe. Wait until the rat horde enters your area, then turn the valve to roast them and chase them off for good. Turn the valve again, then go west four times and down to reach a large chamber. You're finally where you need to use the bolt cutter, so do so (CUT WIRE WITH CUTTER), then drop the cutter. *** STEP 7: Find the Lurking Horror and destroy it. *** Go down to enter the "wet tunnel" maze, then go north, down, south twice, and down to reach the final maze room. Open the metal flask and pour its liquid on the slimy curtain to get rid of it, then unlock the door with the master key. Open the door and go south to enter the lair of the Lurking Horror. Reach into the puddle that the living hand dives into (REACH INTO PUDDLE) and pull out the power line that's in it (GET LINE). Cut the line with the axe until it's completely severed. As soon as it is, get the line again. Open the metal box and disconnect the coaxial cable, then attach the power line to the socket. That'll fry the mass and reveal the Lurking Horror. Wait one time, then throw the smooth stone at him (THROW STONE AT THING). After he twistates himself into non-existence, pick up the stone to finish the game.