Puzzle to the Center of the Earth is a cross between a platformer and a match-three game for the iOS and Android. This unique take on one of the most frequently (over)done styles separates it greatly from others on the two platforms, as your miner, Kentucky Jones, goes on a quest to find all sorts of treasure and to make it down to the eponymous location, which goes through many, many levels. Read on for some tips and tricks for Puzzle to the Center of the Earth!
This is one game where the time lapse trick (setting the time ahead in order to restore your lives immediately after you lose lives) not only doesn’t work, but it actually backfires. If you attempt to do the time lapse trick you will lose all of your lives right away, and when that happens it will take an hour and a half to restore all of your lives.
The blocks with green rocks will earn you energy and the blocks with gold rocks will earn you gold. Gold is needed to purchase new characters, as well as items that you can use during stages, and power ups. There is no practical purpose in buying another character as they have the same capabilities. Playing with various power ups makes it much easier to beat tough stages, but not as much as permanent upgrades.
Upgrades that are permanent include combo upgrades, and new combo recipes. The main upgrade allows you to pop combos that are one block bigger (six blocks is your base max), and combos of six or more earns you catalysts (red stones), which allow you to use formulas.
Make heavy use of formulas as much as possible to conserve energy and get to tough spaces. Explosive formula, for example, will blow up a wide space – watch out though, or you will get hit as well. Energy formula is self explanatory, while magnet formula will allow you to automatically suck up gold, energy and catalysts.
Don’t finish stages right away if at all possible. Look around for stars and switches. Stars are inside of treasure chests and will allow you to unlock more levels, while switches, if you collect enough of them, will open up a secret level full of treasure.
If you have a tough time with certain stages, go back to older stages which are loaded with gold, and play them over and over to collect as much gold as possible. Then use the gold to purchase upgrades and formulas, and items, and go play the stage that you are having trouble with when you feel confident that you have enough upgrades to win.