Maid of Sker

30 Achievements

1,200

15-18h

Xbox One

Xbox Series

Hard Times

Complete the game on hard setting

100

0.27%

How to unlock the Hard Times achievement in Maid of Sker - Definitive Guide

TymanTheLong

TrueAchievements

21 Oct 2020 00:59

So this is basically your previous playthrough. The enemies will pursue you longer and strike more frequently but if you’ve learned to sneak during a Normal or Easy playthrough they don’t detect you any easier. If you do not already know what to do you’ll have a bad time. In addition you really don’t want to have to do collectibles on Hard, seriously, do at least one Easy or Normal playthrough first.

There’s 3 main differences from Normal (click spoiler, I assume you’ve played through on Easy at least, so none of this should be an actual spoiler for you, but for those just perusing it would):

1 - enemies do appear earlier, the first one is in the Chapel with first Cylinder.

2 - enemies are already spawned in areas that you might think you’d get a “pass” on, the most notable being the second floor before you trigger the boss (not only that you have to run past 2+ after you trigger him, use the Phonic Modulator, you may need 2 charges depending on where the first enemy is on his patrol).

3 - that second floor boss actually shows up at the end of the Garden (thanks for the correction Lt Davo ). As soon as you trigger the gate the first time he spawns and is after you so make sure you pick up the Phonic Modulator charges just outside the save area directly after you acquire it. Note: you can definitely get out of the Phonic Modulator room without using it or alerting the enemies. Anyway, as soon as you hit the gate run for the center and trigger the Modulator, it won’t stun the boss for long but it’ll stun the normal enemies for all the time you need, hit the power switch, hit the gate switch, run to the door.

As noted in the description when you select Hard you only get 10 saves. If you hit a Gramaphone the game asks if you’re sure you want to save, you can hit No if you hit it by mistake. Here’s my suggestion for saves:

1 - Graveyard Entry (it is actually really fast to get there if your just bolting and ignoring collectibles).

2 - Garden (thanks for the correction Lt Davo ) after the Phonic Modulator room.

3 - 1st floor upon entry (yes this means you have to complete the puzzle to get there first but the sneaking is really easy here, you can pick up the Kraken Key before the enemy that bursts through the window even stands up and get the beer tap handle without even having to wait on an enemy patrol).

4 - 1st floor right before I grab the piece that drops you into the crushing wall trap (collect the other pieces first, I swear that trap is more aggressive on Normal and Hard).

5 - before triggering the second floor boss (grab the two Modulator Charges on this floor first)

6 - as soon as you loot the key from the boss run to the close save room, save and run for the Cylinder room and the attic entrance. You should make it to the fountain before he starts running after. Hit the Modulator as soon as you see the first normal enemy.

7 - the first save past The Ritual cutscene (yes, you have to do the basement without one but, again, the basement is easy). The enemies in the next area path differently on Hard and it’s easy to screw it up (as soon as you get past the first guy just don’t stop)

8 - Right before the final boss next to the piano room, you have to save here to get him to spawn, afaik, anyway.

9 - After defeating the final boss at the same Gramaphone.

Note: I left you a spare to use where you want, if you’re maybe stressed about a part (I didn’t use it).

Now just go to your girlfriend and give her the Cylinders (note I didn’t tell you to get the extra music sheets, just take the bad ending and get the achievement faster).

There’s less healing items on Normal and Hard and you probably don’t want to visit every area that has one, I think I only had access to 4 (including the basement one behind the Music Key door, but excluding the first one which you should just use after the story event that damages you). So if you take damage you should probably reload unless you’re almost to the next save spot. Definitely save 1-2 for the second floor boss, it’s easy to get hit with the weapon as he’s very aggressive on Hard and you need to be able to sneak after that still.

21 Oct 2020 00:59

23 Comments

Lt Davo they probably just couldn't model legs... just look at the maid creature leaving the cage towards the end of the game, that was laughable

By PILULE 1995 on 25 Nov 2020 14:10

Thanks for the correction on the Garden! I don’t know why but I always think of the Graveyard + Garden as one long level in my head (maybe because the Graveyard doesn’t have a map, but who knows).

By TymanTheLong on 25 Nov 2020 19:02

The idea of replaying this entire mediocre tedious game again for this achievement is not attractive.

By Gilbert Prime on 30 Nov 2020 22:32

So I didn’t think it took too long for this one (not having to explore, get collectibles, or figure out puzzles saves a TON of time). But I didn’t end up doing a run with no saves for that other achievement. I’m getting to the point where obnoxious achievements just aren’t worth it to me. I do generally like this game though.

By TymanTheLong on 01 Dec 2020 00:53

When I spawned Abraham on the 2nd floor, I had 7 sound charges and 6 tonics so resources are not too bad on Hard even if you pick up only the ones on the main path. An important note is that your health is restored after cut scenes. I was down by over 1/2 when Isaac jumped me at the basement exit but was at 100% health after the ritual scene. Also the library is actually rather easy if you enter through its south door.

By Gilbert Prime on 01 Jan 2021 23:43

Great guide. Thanks!

By r9eeef on 30 Jan 2021 08:38

Not unlockig for me. Any advice/ solution?

By SteveO PL on 04 Jun 2021 23:19

This is also not unlocking for me. Tried both endings and got nothing.....Fairly obnoxious I would have played through on easy if I knew achievement was bugged

By Jhilax on 09 Jun 2021 08:14

That is odd, I wonder if they broke it with the recent gameplay additions. Save your final save so when they patch it finally you can simply turn in the cylinders and pop it. You might also try their discord to see if it’s an issue of which they’re aware.

By TymanTheLong on 09 Jun 2021 17:52

I was able to unlock this today. It may have been a patch, or it may be because I only started playing the game this week with the challenge update already installed. I'm only mentioning it in case anybody was on the fence about starting it due to possible issues with this achievement.

Excellent guide as well - I combined it with the walkthrough outline provide by Skrubits in their solution for the "Life Saver" achievement, took me about 90 minutes.

By JKSullivan on 30 Jul 2021 01:51

Did the good ending and it didn't unlock :/

By Hythal on 04 Aug 2021 01:56

I did a run through the game on hard mode yesterday and didn't unlock the achievement either.
Does anyone know why this might be the case?

By X Fennzer X on 13 Aug 2021 15:22

Didn't unlock for me either :/

By Kryimes on 20 Aug 2021 23:19

So I think it’s maybe fair to mark this achievement as “Buggy”, does anyone know how that status is applied? I don’t see anywhere in the interface that allows it.

By TymanTheLong on 20 Aug 2021 23:29

I talked to someone who recently unlocked this cheevo. He played on Series x , same as me, and it didn't unlock. Then he played it on hard on his Xbox one x and it unlocked. Maybe the X/S update is the problem

By Kryimes on 21 Aug 2021 14:31

I notified Wales Interactive about this achievement not unlocking quite a while back and just heard from them today: "We'll be rolling out patches to fix this on the affected platforms in the coming weeks."

By Jhilax on 23 Aug 2021 19:47

Has anyone found a solution on this yet? Still not unlocking for series X 18th September 2021.

By lachy1234 on 18 Sep 2021 05:47

I completed and it didn't pop. Fuck this game

By oregue on 22 Sep 2021 13:55

I've did it one more time and popped. i made two things but idk which one is right. First thing I did is, complete the game after play a challenge. Second thing is answer all elizabeth's calls

By oregue on 22 Sep 2021 23:59

They release an update today, just loaded my last save and completed the game, finally it popped!

By Kryimes on 28 Sep 2021 13:46

That’s great!

By TymanTheLong on 28 Sep 2021 17:56

If you've run through the levels a couple of times to collect items and knock out achievements, then this one is SUPER easy.

I saved this for last thinking it would be hard. Not at all.

A trick for everyone. Go type in "Maid of Sker speedrun hard" into YouTube. Then just basically watch 5 minutes, play 10 minutes, watch 5 minutes, play 10 minutes, repeat until you are done.

Also I just saved every other save spot. If i felt a spot was hard I would save. If you can make it to save right before you her Dad, then you are golden. That room is easy and then you just leave, pass by one enemy and right into the lobby. Easy, peasy.

Don't stress this one.

By V Pustote on 03 May 2023 05:41

Nice write-up. It gives a good preview of what to expect on hard. For your save #2, you mean garden, not graveyard. I did not find the water trap to be any more difficult; in fact, the wheel was in the second-to-last hole and I still got out without feeling like I was in danger. It isn't required that you save to get Isaac to spawn, and in fact, I didn't save either before or after because his battle is so easy.

The main parts that gave me much more trouble on hard mode were the big garden square and the second floor. The garden is made much harder by Abraham's presence, and the second floor by the presence of the mooks. And then there's the library, which is hard on any difficulty. I think I could do hard mode again with only four saves: before the large garden square, before the library, and twice on the second floor.

I had two saves left over. I used one of them - even though it ended up not being necessary - to help myself go get the fourth music sheet. I wasn't going to go through all that trouble in hard mode to end up with a bag being put over my head!

Why is Elisabeth wearing pants at the end? What respectable Victorian-era Welsh lady wore pants?

By Lt Davo on 15 Nov 2020 02:29

View all 23 comments Show less comments

leon40000

stratege.ru

19 Oct 2020 14:51

This guide was translated automatically.

If you finished the games with 1 save, then you don’t have to worry about the hard mode. Yes, enemies appear in some locations, but to be honest, it was more difficult to get the “do not take damage” achievements. The limit of 10 saves in the context of an hour-long run is enough for the eyes.
You don't have to save at all until you get the modulator.

19 Oct 2020 14:51

1 Comment

The most difficult places
- Garden. After receiving the sound modulator. The difficulty lies in the tyrant. We take the tyrant away from the garden, hiding in the save room
- Library. The enemy may block the exit if you are very noisy
- When the tyrant breaks through the walls
- Battle with the last boss. Don't close your mouth. The music ends, just stand there

Either way, don't be afraid to waste your modulator. Save before difficult places

By HorrorRoman on 02 Aug 2023 00:41

r2rokid

PSNProfiles

26 Mar 2021 00:00

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https://psnprofiles.com/guide/11770-maid-of-sker-trophy-guide#22-hard-times