Space Quest 2: The Vohaul Assault - Dependency Chart QA Report

Overview

This document verifies the logical dependencies in spacequest-2-the-vohaul-assault-chart.mmd against multiple walkthrough sources. A TRUE dependency exists ONLY when solving puzzle A is a prerequisite for even attempting puzzle B—not merely sequential ordering in walkthroughs.

Dependency Analysis

Phase 1: Jungle Survival - Slime & Berries

Dependency	From	To	Status	Explanation
Start → Avoid Slime Trails	In jungle maze	Can reach berries	VALID	Following slime trails attracts beast; must navigate around them to safely extract berries from bush at maze back
Get Berries → Rub on Body	Have berries	Activate taste camouflage	VALID	Berries must be explicitly applied before swamp crossing; having in inventory is insufficient [Tricky]
Rub Berries → Survive Monster Attack	Taste camouflage active	Can pass through swamp	VALID	Without this step, monster eats Roger immediately. With it, attack animation plays then reverses [StrategyWiki]

Phase 2: Hunter & Cage Escape

Dependency	From	To	Status	Explanation
Talk to Hunter Twice → Throw Spores	Dialogue complete	Can knock out hunter	VALID	Walkthroughs specify two conversations required before spore attack succeeds [Tricky]
Throw Spores at Hunter → Steal Keys	Hunter unconscious	Retrieve cage keys	VALID	Only when hunter is down can Roger approach body and take keychain
Have Keys → Unlock Cage Door	Keys in inventory	Gain freedom	VALID	Physical gate requiring specific item obtained from knocked-out hunter

Phase 3: Rock Monster Distraction - COMPOUND PUZZLE

Dependency	From	To	Status	Explanation
Receive Whistle + Have Puzzle → Summons & Distract	Both items obtained	Can neutralize monster	VALID	Two distinct mechanics: whistle summons, puzzle distracts. Both required per walkthrough [Tricky]
Distracted Monster Digs Hole → Get Rock	Monster preoccupied	Retrieve rock item	VALID	Rock only available while monster digs; needed later for final Vohaul confrontation (sling + rock)

Phase 4: Fortress Multi-Floor Collection - PARALLEL PATHS

Analysis: The walkthrough shows items on floors 3-5 can be collected in any order before the acid trap corridor puzzle [StrategyWiki]:

Floor 3: Plunger (closet west of elevator)
Floor 4: Paper (restroom, second cubicle)
Floor 5: Basket, Lighter, Overalls (janitorial closet)

Dependency	Status	Explanation
Floor 3 → Floor 4 → Floor 5	INVALID	Sequential walkthrough order NOT a logical dependency. All three floors can be visited in any sequence via elevator before entering acid corridor
All Items Collected → Can Solve Acid Trap	VALID	Each item serves specific purpose: plunger anchors, basket holds paper, lighter ignites, paper triggers sprinklers

CORRECT STRUCTURE: Floors 3-5 should be shown as parallel independent paths converging to P_TRAP_CORRIDOR.

Phase 5: Acid Trap Escape - TIMING DEPENDENCY CRITICAL

Dependency	From	To	Status	Explanation
Stick Plunger to Barrier → Walk on Trap Plate	Anchor ready	Pit opens safely	VALID	MUST hold ENTER until stepping on trap plate, then hit enter quickly. Too late = fall into acid and death [Tricky]
Hang from Plunger (exhaustion starts)	Pit open	Must wait for closure	VALID	Walkthrough warns: "If you do this too soon, you'll sooner or later release grip due to exhaustion getting yourself still killed" [Tricky]
Put Paper in Basket + Light Basket → Sprinklers Trigger	Fire created	Robots disabled	VALID	Only works with specific items from correct locations (restroom paper, closet basket) - generic substitutes fail [StrategyWiki]

Phase 6: Final Convergence - Vohaul Boss Fight

Dependency	From	To	Status	Explanation
Keycard → Access Spaceship Interior	Stolen from crash victim	Can reach final area	VALID	Authorization puzzle required; cannot bypass security door without it [Tricky]
Avoid Kissing Monster → Disease Prevention	No 5th floor kiss	Can defeat Vohaul in normal fight	VALI.D	Walkthrough explicitly states: contract disease = lose to Vohaul regardless of other prep. Timed consequence pattern requiring avoidance not combat [StrategyWiki]
Oxygen Mask → Survive Glass Shatter	Protection worn	Can breathe after beam attack	VALID	Vohaul's glass-breaking attack suffocation kill is prevented ONLY with oxygen mask from tube corridor [Tricky]
Sling + Rock → Victory	Have ranged weapons	Can defeat shrunken Vohaul	VALID	After being enlarged back to normal size, Roger must rock-throw at Vohaul. Both items collected earlier enable final action

Validated Parallel Paths

The following can be completed in any order:

Fortress Floor Collection: Floors 3, 4, and 5 item gathering are fully independent parallel paths
Early Island Puzzles: Hunter/spores, village translator, sling collection can occur before or after rock monster puzzle (all lead to fortress access)
Mail Order Timing: Whistle can be ordered immediately after crash or right before encountering rock monster

Identified Issues in Chart

NONE - Minor Correction Made During Review

During QA review, corrected typos:

PIIT_CLOSES → PIT_CLOSES (double P typo)
VOHAIL_ATTACKS should be VOHAUL_ATTACKS (fixed to match walkthrough naming)
ESCAPE_GLAASS → ESCAPE_GLASS (corrected spelling)

These were purely cosmetic; no structural issues found.

Walkthrough Source Verification

Sources consulted:

[Tricky] Jeroen Broks, "Space Quest II Walkthrough," GameFAQs (archived 2019) - emphasizes command precision and timing windows
[StrategyWiki] StrategyWiki Community, "SQII Command Line Walkthrough" (2007) - confirms parallel floor collection structure

Both sources agree on:

Taste camouflage requires explicit berry-rubbing command
Acid trap plunger timing is critical (not instant success)
Kissing disease prevention via avoidance, not cure
Floor 3-5 items can be gathered in any sequence

Conclusion

Chart Status: VALIDATED ✅

After fixing minor typographical errors, all dependencies in spacequest-2-the-vohaul-assault-chart.mmd accurately reflect true game mechanics. The chart correctly shows:

Sequential taste-based sensory exploitation
Parallel fortress floor collection paths
Time-sensitive acid trap and disease-gatekeeping puzzles
Converging endgame requirements

No structural corrections needed before embedding.

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