• mattocks are often found at the bottom of snake pits
• stealing from shopkeepers
  • if a shotgun is on the floor, just pick it up and kill the shopkeeper before he can retaliate (though you may have to shoot multiple times)
  • cook off the fuse on a bomb until it's near-zero, then toss it in, so it kills him before he gets a shot off
  • throw something at them, run back outside, when he comes out, jump on his head, grab the shotgun, then shoot him
  • if you have a cape or jetpack, throw a bomb in from the outside, and then jump
  • only steal once per sector... after that, you're wanted for all shopkeepers in that sector
  • more tips

killing monsters

• zone 1 (lvl1-4)
  • dart booby trap
    • You can drop a bomb or rope UNUSED by moving near enough to a ledge that you "wobble", switch to your bomb or rope, and wait for 2 seconds. Doing this above the dart boobytrap triggers it. You can then pick up the unused item.
  • fast-moving muscle guy
    • continually whip him after getting him down for the first time
  • huge black spider (killing it nets you the bomb glue, so it can be worth it)
    • the boulder triggered by the Golden Idol is the best way.
    • getting it to fall on spikes is another one-shot-one-kill method.
    • dropping from a tall ladder and climbing back up sometimes works, but it's easy to lose a few health this way.

generally useful links

• advice from a guy who beat the game