The Shadow of the Bear
Hints by Alex Dijkstra for the MSX
This game has many random elements and therefore is very hard to solve. It is impossible to write an
exact walkthrough for this game, but with these hints you should be able to solve the game with lots
of patience and luck.
*Object of the game
You are the pilot of a spy plane which has been shot down over the USSR. The game begins in Siberia
in the middle of winter, and you must get overland to the safety of the Chinese border. The road to
the frontier is a hazardous journey.
*screen
You can swap between the picture screen and the input screen by pressing respectivelyR or I.
*Your stats
-Energy.
You start with an energy of 50. When your energy reaches 0 you die. You can increase your energy by
eating (see below).
-Heat.
When you walk around your heat increases or decreases depending on the location you enter (the
change ranges from -3 to +3). If your heat reaches 30 you die of thirst. If your heat lowers to -40
you freeze to death.
-Weight:
You can carry four objects. If you have the sack you can carry 8 objects. Each object weighs 1. Type
LIST to see your inventory.
-Miles:
This is just an indication of the distance you've walked. Every movement increments the
distance with 13 miles.
-Matches:
You can find matches at the beginning of the game and one in the huts..
*Huts, caves and encounters. If you reach a certain location there is a random chance of
encountering a hut, cave or something else. On the map I've marked all the possible locations
of random encounters and huts with a question mark.
*Objects
The rope, wire, gun, matches and axe have a fixed location. The other 21 objects are randomly
located in the huts you encounter along your path. You find these objects by typing SEARCH HUT when
you are inside the hut (ENTER HUT). It is also possible to re-enter the same hut to find the next
object. Use the command GET to take an object.
Usefull objects you find in a hut:
-Parka. If you WEAR PARKA your heat is incremented with 25 points. LEAVE PARKA lowers your heat
again with.
-Matches. You get 8 extra matches
-Rifle. you need this to kill the bull.
-Handgrenade. Needed to escape accross the border.
-Sack. You can carry 4 more objects.
-Canoe. Needed in some locations.
-Icepick. Needed in one location.
-Binoculars. Needed in one location.
-Lamp. Needed inside the caves.
-Honeypot. To get rid of the bear.
-Coin. To get rid of the guard.
Useless objects you encounter in the huts:
-Knife
-Watch
-Sticks
-Map
-Compass
-Mirror
-Spade
-Fish
-Sickle
-Elk
*Random encounters:
Along the way you can have several random encounters:
-Snowstorm (Each location from the beginning until location 55 you have a 10% chance of encountering
one): Go to the nearest location with a hut.
-Sandstorm (From location 73 until location 90 you have a 10% chance of encountering one): Go to the
nearest location with a hut.
-Troops: If you encounter some enemy troops, walk 2 locations back until you get the notice
"it's now safe".
-Wolves: USE GUN to kill the wolves. You only have six bullets.
-Hares: MAKE SNARE (with wire), USE SNARE to catch it, CHOP WOOD (with axe), GET WOOD (you get a
random amount of wood), enter a hut, LIGHT FIRE (with match and wood. Your temperture increases with
a random number between 10 and 30. You can also do this without having a hare, but beware you
don't get too hot.), COOK HARE (your energy increases with a random number between 10 and 30).
-Caves. You can get warmer inside the caves. ENTER CAVE, USE LAMP. If you encounter the bear then
GIVE HONEY.
*Some hints to finish the game:
-At the start location GET GUN (6 bullets), GET MATCHES (10), GET WIRE
-Walk to the dead end. ENTER HUT, GET ROPE.
-In location 11 take the AXE.
-In location 18 USE ROPE to climb down.
-In location 19 CLIMB ROCK to return to location 18.
-If you want to go north in location 34,35 or 36 you need a raft. MAKE RAFT (with rope and axe).
-In location 37 EAT FOOD. Your energy increases with a random number between 20 and 40.
-Avoid location 38 as you have a random chance of being captured.
-In location 40 you die without a canoe.
-In location 42 you need the ICEPICK to climb the slope.
-In location 55 USE BINOCULARS. You now can see if there are troops ahead (this is random). If there
are retreat as usual.
-In location 61 USE RIFLE to kill the bull. Your energy increases with 15.
-In location 66 USE ROPE to climb down.
-In location 67 CLIMB ROCK to return to location 18.
-IN location 70 to get rid of the guard BRIBE HIM (with coin).
-In location 71 you die without a canoe.
-In location 71 CATCH FISH to increase you energy with a random number between 10 and 20.
-In location 76 or 77 don't drink the water because it is poisoned.
-In location 82 DRINK WATER decreases your heat with a random number between 10 and 25.
In location 90 USE HANDGRENADE. You can get across the border.
Success you've made it to China and freedom.
