
Here we are. We have only a few levels left before we reach the end of the river.
The devs chose this moment to deploy some true nonsense upon us. A few of these levels are the hardest in the game, albeit for different reasons.
Level 96. COUSIN
”Cousin Oscar usually sleeps in nothing!”



Thanks, mnemonic.
The main point of contention here is some potential tricky maneuverings with the zebras, but apart from that, this level’s not too bad.



We start by grabbing the two apples we can get to, and the C. The stone wall protects us from the fire demon.



The next step is to move the upper zebra to block the dart demon, but it takes two apples and I wander into the line of fire in doing so.



The second time, we move the zebra first, to avoid wasting time if it ends badly. We make it, though.


Our first moves after moving the zebra are to grab the apple by the O (we’ll need it in just a bit), and push the boulder so it’s in position to let us cross the river.


After that, we backtrack to the C, then retrace our steps to grab the O.


The boulder lets us cross the river. With our remaining apple, I try to move the lower zebra into the path of the same dart demon - but end up half a square too low. We aren’t able to get the U like this!



This time, we get the zebra far enough up that we can slip in behind it.


We add the U to our pocket, then use the boulder on this side of the river to cross back.


The apple we picked up by the U gets used to feed the elephant, leaving the way to the S clear. And we can freely pick up the I.



The fire demon prevents us from taking the short way around to the N, so we have to follow behind the rhino, instead. The devs thoughtfully gave us an apple to bribe it, but we don’t need it - after waiting for it to run upwards, we slip out from the nook that had the apple and quickly sprint down to get the N.


This level is really just a test of your zebra-handling skills. If you have that down, it’s easy.

JOURNEY is from all the way back in Level 6! And SUPPOSE is from the last level we finished. The game’s throwing everything it’s got at us in the pop quizzes now. We also have BICYCLE (Level 68) to spell... but on the other hand, the game also asked us to spell ROOF twice. Go figure!
Level 97. LOOSE
”My goose got loose and chased a moose.”



This level’s honestly kind of fun. It’s not as hazardous as some levels have been, as long as you keep an eye on the alligator.


We start by getting the bridge, the L, and the apple by the lake.


We have to pick one of the two O’s next, and end up heading for the top one. To that end, we walk across the bridge of hippos and ride the final one across the river. This also gives us a second bridge.

We have to push the boulder to get out of the nook with the E, which lets the gazelle loose.


After dodging the rhino, we lay down the bridge at the lowest point of the river so we can get the other O. However, we need an apple to be able to get it.

The only apple we can reach is on the center island, and I lay down the bridge in the wrong place.
We restart.



This time, after grabbing apple, bridge, and L, we head over to the left to get the other O.



We lure the zebra down to the lower gap, walk back across the bridge, then recross on hippo-back to get the O (and a replacement apple).


Now we ride the hippo and grab the second O, before leaving walking past the E.


This time, we deploy the second bridge on this side of the island once the alligator has gone past. This lets us grab the last apple (though we don’t really need it) and the S.

To finish, we just walk to the E.


Clearing the puzzle helpfully clears away the hippos, letting us proceed upriver. This is the last puzzle with a hippo or an alligator in it. Another milestone!
It’s also the last puzzle with a gazelle, but that’s less interesting.

Today’s quiz has GUESS (Level 53) and QUITE (Level 22), among other words.
Level 98. COUNTRY
”You can count every country if you try.”



Oh, boy.
This level.
This McFreaking level.
This is the hardest level in the game, right here. The combination of rhino, tiger, dart demons, and pits with very narrow walkways create a level where it is easy to screw up and hard to get to the finish.
It will take us numerous tries to get there. Let’s get started, shall we?

Our first task is to get the C. We have to walk around the upper right of the level to get there, and we have two choices of path: the narrow walkway, or around the grassy belt at the bottom right. Of the two, the walkway is far more dangerous, as we will have to dodge the middle dart demon’s shots without falling off.
Either way, we have to stay on the grass for this first part, to keep the tiger at bay.


We pick the walkway. This time, we make it.


Once we’re safely away from the edge, we run past the upper dart demon and grab the bridge. Our next move is to go get the C (done carefully - we could absolutely fall in here).



After some thought, we bait the tiger into the grassy nook, and push the boulders to block the two dart demons.


The next step is to get the O, but in the way back, I fall into a pit.

Retry Counter: 1


This time, we bait the tiger into following us, so we can trap it in the smaller nook to the right.

We avoid getting shot by the dart demons by using the rhino as a mobile cover.
Put a pin in this. We’re going to be doing it kind of a lot.


After getting the C, we push the upper boulder to block the upper dart demon. We now have everything we need to get the O... almost.


We push the lower boulder down and over, blocking the line of fire between the lowest dart demon and the O. This will let us grab the O without getting sniped.


We pick up the O. This also attracts the attention of the tiger, so we spend some time painstakingly baiting it over to this nook. This’ll keep us safe when we get the N later.


We could probably keep the tiger where it is by walking right on the lower grass strip, but we opt to use the walkway again - and make it again.

It’s only once I get to the top of the level that I realize the problem: we only have one bridge.
We have to cross the river twice to get both the U and the R, so one river crossing will have to be done with a boulder, running across and back. It can’t be the R because there’s a pit next to the riverbank, so there’d be nowhere to push the boulder from. So we have to use the upper boulder to get the U.
Only one problem: I pushed the upper boulder down, to block the top dart demon. If I try and push it back up, I’ll get shot.
I ponder for a bit, and decide we should restart.

Retry Counter: 2

In my next attempt, I walk incautiously too far to the right, and am bitten by a tiger.

Retry Counter: 3

This time, after walking on the grass, we carefully decoy the tiger into the right nook again.


From there, we proceed up, grab the boulder and the C...

And after pushing the upper boulder to the left, we leave it where it is.

To get past the upper dart demon, we run in time with the rhino instead.

Once we get to the lower boulder, we push it down in time with the rhino as well (this isn’t strictly necessary, though, as the boulder is far enough away to be safe.)

However, I accidentally push the boulder down onto the wrong side of the O. That’s a restart.

Retry Counter: 4

The next time, while baiting the tiger, I let it get a little too close.

Retry Counter: 5

And the time after that.

Retry Counter: 6


On the next attempt, we come up with a safer way of baiting the tiger, involving moving horizontally on the grass path above it.



We get the C and the bridge, push the upper boulder over, the lower boulder down, and get the O.



After luring the tiger back, we head around to the upper side of the area. It’s time for us to make our first attempt at the U.


We push the boulder up, then over, running across and then back immediately once we have the letter. We have just enough time to do this before the boulder sinks.

To save time, I decide to head back down on the near side of the level. I’m so accustomed to the rhino turning around where the boulder was that I anticipate it doing so even when the boulder isn’t there. It does not, and we get sniped.

Retry Counter: 7

This time, we get the C and O in the approved manner, but opt to leave the tiger where it is.

However, this attempted innovation doesn’t have a chance to pan out, as I accidentally push the upper boulder into the river in the wrong place. We restart.

Retry Counter: 8

The next time, we push the upper boulder up immediately after getting the C. There’ll be no accidents, this time!


We do repeat the maneuver we did last time with the tiger, walking around it to get to the upper area.


We grab the U safely, too. Now our next job is to make a try for the N without getting bitten.


Heading downwards by running with the rhino, we pick the safe route of bringing the tiger over to the left.

From there, picking up the N is as simple as walking over and taking it.

There are two ways to get up to the T. Going left and up requires precise control over our movement or risks us falling into the pit. Going right and around is the long way.
We take the long way.


It does get us the T, though.

I’m... not honestly sure why I didn’t just walk all the way down here. The grass would have protected me from the tiger. Maybe I was intimidated by it?
Anyway, we got shot, so it’s restart time.

Retry Counter: 9

In the next attempt, I make a mistake while wrangling the tiger.

Retry Counter: 10


During the next attempt, everything proceeds normally to start.


After getting the O, we deploy the bridge right away. This way, we won’t have to do it later.


Once we move the tiger back left, getting the U is the next step. We make it in time!

And from there, we walk down and take the N.



We take the long way around again to get the T.


With the bridge already deployed, we can walk down and around on the grass to go over and get it. The bridge entrance has its own ‘safe zone’, so we’re not worried about the rhino.


We’re almost there. We just need the Y. We walk around and up...

...and just as we’re about to get the Y, we fall into the pit.

Retry Counter: 11

In the next attempt, I forget about using the rhino as cover and get hit by a dart.

Retry Counter: 12


On our next attempt, things start smoothly as we move the tiger and get the C.

We get the O and lead the tiger over at the same time.

In a time-saving precision move, we head back up via the left walkways, drawing in the tiger while avoiding getting sniped thanks to the rhino’s position.

We get the U without much trouble either....


...before retracing our steps and walking over to the N.


We take the same left-side shortcut to get the T, and make it.


After waiting for the rhino to leave, our next move is to deploy the bridge and get the R. We’re almost there... again.


Is this attempt gonna be the one?

Made it.


We still have to be careful on our way back to the raft. Falling in a pit will still force a restart, all letters collected or not.

It took 13 tries, but we got there in the end.
Normally levels take about 5-10 minutes to record. This one took 25.

The game does an irony by tossing the first level’s word, FIRST, at us in this pop quiz. AFRAID (Level 21), BICYCLE (Level 68), and PEOPLE (Level 93) all show up too.
Level 99. LIGHT
”You might need light to read at night.”



This level looks less hard than COUNTRY, certainly, but there’s a specific pain point that means we’ll need to exploit a bug to beat it.

Our first task is to get the L. The way this level is designed, we’ll have to go through the entire level to get it, then backtrack to get the other letters.
We start by hugging the near wall to stay out of range of the fire demons, and pushing the boulder to get across to the next segment.


In this section, we walk around the lower boulder to dodge the rhino, then push the upper boulder to continue across the river.


We can’t do much with this next room until we’re on the way back, so we just grab a bridge, push the boulder, and leave.

That brings us to this room - the last one before we can get the L. And it’s the puzzle’s primary pain point.
Let’s break it down before we continue.


The intended solution for how to pass this on the way down is to walk up and around the boulder, and push it to the right, as far as it will go without going in the river. This will draw the lion’s attention, but it should be possible to outrun him. Then, once the boulder is pushed, we’re supposed to wait for the rhino to get right up next to the lion, and throw an apple at it from afar. This will block the lion and let us grab the other apple and run past.
I only figured this solution out midway through the level, and this is not what we will actually do to beat it.

My first impulse is actually to try to block the lion with the boulder, but it doesn’t work - the lion comes out of its nook as it sees us nearby.


Further experimentation establishes the lion is tracking us if we’re even sort of close. Finally, I just make a run for it.
It doesn’t work.



After we restart, we make our way back to the lion’s den.

This time, I make a run for it without pushing the boulder.
It still doesn’t work.

At this point... I consult the walkthrough on GameFaqs. It details, somewhat carefully, how to exploit a bug and stop the lion from chasing us.
The idea is this: if we walk far enough away from the lion, he will enter a ‘returning home’ state, and won’t pay attention to us until he’s back at his home space. However, with some good timing, it’s possible to arrange things so that the rhino walks into his home space instead - and if the lion is just about to reach it, it’ll block the rhino from leaving. Both animals will be stuck where they are and will not bother us.
Now we have to actually do it.


In our first attempt, I push the boulder to the right (ironically hinting at the puzzle's intended solution instead). When I get the lion to chase us, the boulder means we have to turn, and it catches up with us and bites us.



This time, we push the boulder down instead. We now have a clear path to get the lion’s attention.

We have a number of attempts where we run for it too early...

...and then one where it chases us, but the rhino isn’t there to interfere when it heads back home.

But we finally get the rhino and lion stuck in place!

Both completely ignore us as we walk by, now.

Placing the bridge we picked up, we get the L.
Before we continue, I want to note how many apples we have (three). If we were doing the intended solution, we’d have to use two of those apples to stop the rhino in place blocking the lion’s den. That would leave us with one apple to use to get past the elephant. Then, we’d have to dodge the rhino guarding the G on our own (in both directions), and use the apple by the G to freeze the rhino by the H in place. Then, we’d have to slip past the G rhino again, and use the last apple to feed the elephant.
As we’ll see shortly, it’s entirely possible to screw up under such conditions.


We proceed back up past the lion and the rhino (neither bothers us) before pushing the boulder to get back across the river.


After grabbing the I and the bridge, we feed the elephant and pass through to the far right side. We now have to carefully dodge the rhinos to get the G and H.

We wait for the right time, and get the G and another apple.


And, we’re able to make it back into the gap in the wall before the rhino turns around.

But I screw up the timing and get run over.



This time around, we’re going to do something a little different - because I discovered the intended solution to the puzzle.


After pushing the boulder (admittedly, down instead of right), we wait for the rhino to turn around and throw an apple at it.


We push the boulder up and a bit right while the rhino is still eating.

Somehow, the rhino ended up facing left-right instead of up-down - perhaps because we threw the apple from the right side. This’ll be a big help when we come back.

We get the L (again).


When the rhino is blocking the lion, we throw another apple, and push the boulder to the river unbothered.
Of course, doing it this way, we have only one apple left.

We use the apple on the elephant, after grabbing the bridge and the I.


And like before, we dodge the upper rhino to get the G and one apple.



With our newly obtained apple, we feed the lower rhino, and slip in and grab the H.

On the way back, I instinctively use our one remaining apple to feed the rhino and make room - and now we have no way to pass the elephant.
We restart. I decide the intended solution is for the birds.




Upon reviving, we make our way back to the top of the level.


After pushing the boulder down, we manage to get the lion and rhino stuck behind each other once again.


This lets us get the L with no trouble.



Heading to the right side, we get ready to run past the elephant. We have enough apples to give us some breathing room, this time.

We’re able to run past the upper rhino to get the G...

...dodge it on the way back...


...and feed the lower rhino to let us reach the H.

By feeding the upper rhino, we’re able to get back out of its corridor - and we still have the toll for the elephant.


We use the other bridge to recross the river, and dodge around the last rhino for the T.



The boulder lets us cross the river one more time, and we make it onto the raft.

What a ride. I honestly think the intended solution to that one was harder to discover than the bugged solution. No wonder the walkthrough had that solution instead.

Our last pop quiz of the day has DOCTOR (Level 55), POISON (Level 49), and DECORATE (Level 57). And don’t forget, kids: Yobi says, ‘VOTE”!

We’ve made it through some of the nastiest puzzles on the river. But one more level stands before us. And it’s the tenth and final trinket level, to boot!
It’ll only take one last push to make it through. See you there!
Next Time on Spelling Jungle: The river is flooding, and our home is in danger! What could be the cause?