Frustrated with Westward?

Question

I downloaded the game Westward from RealArcade. It is the first release. I got through the first stage and now I am stuck in Hope River. What keeps happening is that I have at different times completed all the side tasks but usually when I come back, the skill I learned is NOT opened on the main settlement, or else the game goes back to the beginning of the Hope River part of the game. Then I have to start all over because none of my skills carry over. I completed everything one time, had the whole map revealed, had the treasure and all the other tasks, then I went to learn how to fight fires (had avoided this because I already learned in another throwback) and when I finished that side task, it sent me alllllll the way back to the beginning of Hope River again. I was about to get to the next town!

So sick of Hope River I could just blow it up with my six shooter! How do I get through this part of the game, or is it a glitch, or do I have to do things in a certain order or WHAT?

Answer 1

Here are two good resources to get you unstuck in Westward:

Tips & Tricks on Gamezebo: http://www.gamezebo.com/2006/12/westward_tips_tricks_1.html

Forum at Sandlot Games (makers of game): http://sandlot.sandlotgames.com/discus/messages/2302/2302.html?1167185365