About Killer Whale
Killer Whale begins with an orca in chains. The opening story describes years of captivity; the game then turns that situation into an escape. Its creature is an angry, cartoon version of a whale, drawn with scars and sharp teeth rather than the friendly look of an aquarium mascot.
The first lesson is how to swim. Up advances the whale, while left and right turn it. Those aren't the same as moving a character directly left or right across a platform. Point the animal where you want it to go, then move forwards. That distinction becomes useful almost immediately.
The opening area puts a tall wall between you and the next pool, where fish are swimming. The tutorial asks you to jump out of the water and over it. Looking at the wall alone won't solve that instruction: you need to think about the direction of the whale's approach as well as the place you want to reach. Follow the lessons as new obstacles appear.
How to play Killer Whale
Help the captive whale escape by swimming through the areas and overcoming the obstacles introduced by the tutorial.
- Choose New Game and watch or skip the introductory story.
- Open the first stage with Play. Read the movement message before swimming away.
- Hold Up to advance and use left or right to turn the whale.
- At the opening wall, follow the instruction to leave the water and get over into the next pool. Set up the approach rather than repeatedly swimming into the barrier.
- Read the next on-screen lesson before assuming every obstacle uses the same solution.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Up arrow | Swim forwards. |
| Left and right arrows | Turn the whale. |
| Pause button | Open the in-game pause screen. |
Tips for a better round
- Practise turning in open water. It is easier to understand the controls there than with the whale pressed against a wall.
- Look at the next pool before committing to a jump. Your approach needs to point towards somewhere useful to land.
Questions about Killer Whale
What is the whale trying to do?
Escape captivity. The story and opening stages establish that goal.
Why does pressing right not simply move me right?
The opening tutorial uses left and right for turning. Up provides forward movement in the direction the whale is facing.
