Thought Extreme Herder was too easy or getting boring? Well then, you're in for a treat because Samrin is back in a new version of his scramble to save the petpets from the ever-hungry Balthazar.
Basic Play
Use the arrow keys to move Samrin. Each level, you have an increasing number of petpets to save from Balthazar. You have to run to each of the petpets in turn (simply touching them will pick them up) and carry them to one of the entrances of the paddock. If you or one of the petpets is eaten by Balthazar, you'll lose a life.
In the image above, you can see that Samrin has just saved one petpet and has three more to go. A good strategy would be to go to the ones top left first because Balthazar is heading their way, even though the Snorkle just under the paddock is closer. If Balthazar is too close when you save the second petpet in that group, however, you can use the tunnel right next to you, and you'll be spit out on the other side of the game. Balthazar can't follow you through the tunnel. Unfortunately, these disappear only a few levels later.
Scoring
Each petpet saved is worth 5 points. There is no "all petpets saved" bonus like there was in the previous game.
Level Guide
There are 20 possible levels. The maximum score achievable is 700 points, which you get by rescuing all petpets on all 20 levels without losing any to Balthazar.
| Level |
Gates |
Tunnels |
Petpets |
Obstacles |
| 1 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
none |
| 2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
none |
| 3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
none |
| 4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
one pond,
top left |
| 5 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
one pond |
| 6 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
one pond |
| 7 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
one pond |
| 8 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
one pond |
| 9 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
one pond;
one rock, right |
| 10 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
one pond;
one rock |
| 11 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
one pond;
one rock |
| 12 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
one pond;
one rock |
| 13 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
another pond, lower right;
one rock |
| 14 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
two ponds;
one rock |
| 15 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
two ponds;
one rock |
| 16+ |
1 |
0 |
10 |
two ponds;
one rock |
Power-Ups
Allows Samrin to run faster than normal for a short period of time.
Temporarily freezes Balthazar. Balthazar begins moving very slowly as a warning that the power-up has nearly worn off.
Allows Samrin to carry two petpets at once. Usually lasts long enough for one save of two petpets before wearing off. If Samrin is carrying two petpets when the power up wears off, he will continue to hold both.
Lets you gather all the petpets in one place. Simply press the spacebar wherever you'd like them to gather, and they'll run over there.
Strategy
Run diagonally whenever you can without getting stuck on something (which can happen easily). The shortest distance between two points is always a straight line, so you'll save petpets faster when you can run diagonally. Simply press two adjacent arrow keys at a time, and Samrin will run the diagonal between them.
Balthazar starting location on each level is random. Get the petpets nearest him first. Watch where he's headed: usually it's to the nearest petpets, but sometimes it's not, and you need to save the ones he's after first. Look out for any petpets that are walking toward him. If he's approaching a pair of petpets, go for the one that's walking toward him first because he'll reach that one far faster than the one walking away from him. When Balthazar changes direction for another group of petpets, go for the ones farthest away from the paddock while he's still far away from them.
If it comes down to your life or the petpet's, let Balthazar eat the petpet. There's no bonus for a perfect level, so you only lose the five points of the petpet. But when Samrin is eaten, he appears again in a random part of the level and is unlikely to be able to get to the petpet, so more than likely you'll end up losing two lives instead of just one.
When you take the petpets to the paddock, you pretty much have to be dead center on the gates, or you'll get stuck against the paddock and have to re-maneuver. Also, you have to be pretty much on top of the gate, or the petpet won't go in. So make sure you don't turn around before it goes in, or you'll lose precious time and momentum.
Go a little out of the way for powerups. The apple and freeze powerups have immediate effects that cancel out any time lost by getting the powerup instead of a petpet near Balthazar. Meanwhile, a X2 powerup near Balthazar will allow you to get both the petpets he's bearing down on faster than if you saved them the normal way.
If Balthazar eats Samrin after Samrin has just picked up a petpet, Samrin will appear elsewhere in the level with the petpet. If you can get the petpet no other way, go for it. But remember, if you're not sure you can get it before Balthazar eats you, save a different petpet.
Be confident. You run faster than Balthazar does. If you second-guess yourself and keep turning around, you'll lose precious time.
Okay, so that's a lot of strategy. But it's mostly common sense that you'll pick up as you play anyway. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and save some petpets!
