The map is in the upper right corner of the screen. It is initially covered with clouds. As you explore the islands and meet people, the clouds disappear, revealing stars, icons, and island names. The stars represent characters and the character name is revealed by placing your cursor on a star. A star will be one of four colors: blue, green, yellow or red, depending on the status of a quest:

• blue means no action is required from you;
• green means a task has been completed and you should return to that character;
• red means a quest is in process;
• yellow means that character needs to talk to you.

If a character star is any color except blue, you may click on that star and travel to that person automatically. You may also click on any of the icons (fires, totems, etc.,) to travel to that location automatically. (Note: The map must be 100% clear of clouds to achieve the gold "Island Kid" trophy.)

While using the map, looking at your inventory, making recipes/potions or eating, your character is still doing what they were doing. In other words, if you are in Marshy Woods, looking around for rarities while using a protection potion, and decide to take a look at the map to see if you have uncovered all the clouds, be mindful that your protection potion is still dwindling away. So if you suddenly hear the sounds of "teeth-a-lots" snapping at you, it means you've lost track of time and you need to use another protection potion or get out of Marshy Woods pronto!

In the beginning, pick up every shell, every herb, every fruit, and every stick you come across. The fruit will sustain you, and the herbs, sticks and pearls you will always use. Resources are more plentiful in this game and they replenish very quickly. You also get tools and weapons quicker. But you will still need large amounts of money to improve your weapons and upgrade your bag. The fastest way to get the upgrades is by living off fruit and selling all of the crab, then fish and bird meals as fast as you can make them. (Crab meals are too costly to make in time and materials because they require potatoes and green ears.) Frequent round trips up and down the coastline will get you many, many logs, coconuts and crabs to sell. (In a single trip up and back down the coast I got 33 logs, 45 coconuts and 60 crabs and sold them for $1623.00).

Each chapter has a Special Item that must be collected in that chapter. If you miss it, it won't be available again in the game.

There are three shops in this game:

• Muze's General Store;
• Wasani's Crafts and Weapons;
• Roho's Herbs and Potions.

Each one becomes available at a different time in the game and each one only trades in particular items. Muze's shop does not sell or buy herbs; Roho's shop does not sell or buy food; Wasani's shop only sells upgrades for your weapons, tools and bag.

Avoid boars - unless you are hunting them. They will attack you and do damage. Stay out of the Marshy Woods without a protective potion. The "teeth-a-lots" got that name for a reason. Don't go in the Ancestor's Woods unless you are told to go there or without the proper protection. If you pass out in there, you will lose inventory.

If you plan to pick mushrooms in the caves, have a full stomach and only pick one or two at a time - preferably the ones closest to the doors, or in a running line to the door. If you get too many bites and pass out, you will lose inventory.

Two herbs can only be seen with the Potion of Clear Vision - the Oke Bur and the Datura Bowl.

All during and between the time you are doing quests, you must fish, catch multipedes, shoot Leap Quicks and boars, garden, harvest explore, cook, make arrows, cut trees, etc., in order to obtain trophies. Trophies are available in bronze, silver and gold. Be vigilant in these duties. They also mean money in your pocket.