Armadillo Run

Armadillo Run Hints

General techniques

Metal bars are good for creating a support structure.
Metal sheets can be used to make platforms to transport Armadillo.
Ropes are a cheap way to suspend things, but can't provide a stable structure on their own.
Cloth can be used to bridge gaps. It's useful for long distances because it doesn't weight as much as metal sheets, so it doesn't require as much support.
Elastic and rubber are expensive, so try to use them only when necessary. Applying tension to elastic and rubber will create stored energy that can be released when simulating the level.
Rockets create energy, which can be used for many purposes.
Energy can be transferred between objects. For example, a lever can transfer force between objects and even change the direction of the force.
Energy can change form - from potential (e.g. a weight ready to fall) to kinetic (e.g. a speeding car) and vice versa. For example, a trigger can change potential energy to kinetic energy.

Level hints

Click on the level name to show a hint for that level.

Level 1 - A gentle start: Use the three anchor points near the portal to make a 'V' shape to catch and hold Armadillo in the portal. You might be able to save some money by experimenting with different materials.
Level 2 - Mind the gap: You need to bridge the gap in the middle of the level. Cloth and metal sheets are suitable for this. If you choose to use cloth, you will need to add some tension to it otherwise it will sag too much, but don't add too much otherwise it will tear apart the rest of the structure.
Level 3 - Void 1: Use the anchor points to build a small platform that's angled down so Armadillo rolls towards the portal. You'll also need to make sure that there's something in place so Armadillo doesn't just roll off the end.
Level 4 - Stop: You need to build something to stop Armadillo at the bottom of the hill. Cloth or a metal sheet can be used to make a wall attached to the last node of the cloth. The stopping structure can be held in place by connecting ropes to the two anchor points above the portal.
Level 5 - Drop: Armadillo falls a little too fast and breaks the cloth that's already in place. Try making something that will break its fall, or maybe reinforce the structure that's already there.
Level 6 - Void 2: Try using the same techniques from Void 1. You can use the high anchor point to help suspended your structure, or concentrate on making a strong structure using only the two low anchor points. Bear in mind that some materials are heavier than others.
Level 7 - Weak bridge: You need to increase the support for the structure that's already there. A few ropes to the high anchor point will keep it from breaking, but you need to get Armadillo to the other end. You'll either need to keep the bridge from sagging, or give Armadillo a little nudge to keep its speed up.
Level 8 - Overhead slide: Utilise the sliding block at the top of the level. Ropes can be used to suspend something from it.
Level 9 - Void 3: There isn't a high anchor point like there was on Void 2. A well-designed metal bridge will work, or you can stretch a length of cloth across if you can design a catching mechanism at the end.
Level 10 - See-saw: You need to weigh down one end of the see-saw to push the other end up. The portal is smaller on this level, so you also need to stop Armadillo in the right place.
Level 11 - Lob: Try to make a structure that catches Armadillo once it's been flung in the air and rolls it downhill towards the portal. The tricky part is building past the rightmost anchor point - try making a solid foundation connecting the two anchor points.
Level 12 - Void 4: Cloth is a good material to use to span long distances. If you're having problems keeping Armadillo in the portal, try applying some tension to the cloth to stop it from moving around.
Level 13 - Lift: The lift almost gets down far enough - try to give it a helping hand. But don't overdo it because Armadillo needs some time to disembark.
Level 14 - Nudge: Try to control the timing and force of your nudge - too much force will cause Armadillo to overshoot the target.
Level 15 - Void 5: A longer span between anchor points than Void 3. Try to use cloth and metal, making the most of their different properties.
Level 16 - Trigger: There's a trigger holding the sled back. Pull the trigger to make the sled climb the slope.
Level 17 - Catapult: Try to make use of a timer to cause something to move into place and catch Armadillo at the right time.
Level 18 - Void 6: Elastic under tension and rubber under compression will both exert a force. Use this force to lift Armadillo nearer to the portal.
Level 19 - Golf: A hammer won't move an anvil much, but it will if the hammer is heavy enough...
Level 20 - Scoop: You can use a few different approaches here to lift the scoop to the top. Elastic under tension or a rocket will work, but there's a cheaper way.
Level 21 - Void 7: It's a big gap, but there are two high anchor points that you can use to suspend your structure.
Level 22 - Croquet: Try to get Armadillo moving fast enough to clear the closing gap. There's another way to tackle the problem though.
Level 23 - Guillotine: Rockets or elastic can both be used to get Armadillo up the hill. The guillotine can be used to your advantage.
Level 24 - Void 8: If you use the left anchor point as a pivot, you can lift Armadillo with a counterbalance.
Level 25 - Motor: The rocket-powered wheel is a source of power - use it to power a lifting mechanism between the two wheels.
Level 26 - Big wheel: Climb up from the bottom of the wheel by using the energy of the wheel itself.
Level 27 - Void 9: Try to break the long fall with something that's not part of your catching mechanism.
Level 28 - Hill 1: Use ropes to link the rocket under the hill to a sled that will push or pull Armadillo up the hill.
Level 29 - Under and over: Build a curve to change the horizontal force into vertical force. Keep material costs in mind, as they can mount up.
Level 30 - Void 10: It's a big gap, but without the high anchor points that Void 7 had. You'll need to choose the right materials, keep the structure light and make use of the outer anchor points to provide additional support.
Level 31 - Hill 2: This time Armadillo's below the hill, which makes it a bit trickier than Hill 1. Use ropes to connect a metal sheet above the hill to the rocket below it. You'll also need to make something to keep Armadillo in place during the ride as well as something to stop it at the end.
Level 32 - Jump: To jump Armadillo over the wall, you can build a rocket-powered arm. This level can also be accomplished without a rocket by using a different approach, which saves some money.
Level 33 - Void 11: The challenge is in the awkward position of the anchor points. Try to build a solid structure linking two anchor points that will support further construction. The path of a falling object can be diverted with less effort than it takes to stop it.
Level 34 - Quickly: Try to bypass the time-consuming tumble along the cloth to get to the portal before the door shuts. As with some other levels, you can tackle the problem from a different angle.
Level 35 - Swing 1: Construct a catching mechanism to keep the swing over to the right. You could use a timer to trigger movement, or alternatively use the natural timing of movement due to gravity.
Level 36 - Void 12: You can't afford to use a rocket, but elastic or rubber will do here.
Level 37 - Pulley: The bucket has an odd design - maybe something could catch on the left edge of it to cause it to tip?
Level 38 - Wall: You can jump the wall with an elastic-powered sling, or you could try to break it down...
Level 39 - Void 13: A longer drop than Void 9, so more energy needs to be dissipated from the fall. Armadillo is slowed down with each object that gets moved or broken.
Level 40 - Rocket jump: Build a ramp to jump Armadillo across the gap. The rocket might also need something at the front of it to keep it positioned correctly.
Level 41 - Two steps: Elastic or rubber can be used to jump Armadillo over each step, using a timer to control the second stage. Alternatively, you could focus all your effort on making one big jump to get right to the top in one go.
Level 42 - Void 14: You can use a rocket to raise Armadillo to the portal combined with a timer (or to save money, a release mechanism that doesn't need a timer). The level can be completed without using a rocket by utilising the power of gravity.
Level 43 - Cascade: This level has a tight budget, so you need to make sure all parts of your design are optimised.
Level 44 - It's not Krypton Factor: Jump the wall using the energy from a piece of elastic under tension. A rocket can help Armadillo crawl under the cargo net before making the final descent to the portal.
Level 45 - Void 15: Either use compressed rubber or stretched elastic to give Armadillo a nudge in the right direction. Then build a cheap suspended bridge across the large gap to the portal.
Level 46 - Raise: The existing structure should give a clue to how to complete this level. You can use a timer to start the movement of the second lifting mechanism or you could utilise a trigger mechanism, working from gravity and the movement of the first bucket. Remember that you can make the second part turn in either direction.
Level 47 - Over and under: You need to jump the first step by using elastic under tension. A rocket works well to push Armadillo up the long hill to the portal.
Level 48 - Void 16: You have just enough money to construct a solid ramp using the low anchor point to roll Armadillo all the way to the portal, but the design must be efficient to stay under the budget. Alternatively, you could use a rocket to propel Armadillo across the gap.
Level 49 - Loop: The trick is to transfer some energy from the first drop to the second one, so that Armadillo will roll over the final hill to the lifting mechanism at the end. The name of the level gives it away...
Level 50 - Swing 2: The final challenge is a build a large swing. A rocket might help to keep the swing moving. The budget's a bit tight, so you may have to build a catching mechanism that doesn't require a timer.

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