# Platform Shooter Tips From Level 1 Spikes and Coins

> Platform shooter tips from Voltmarch level 1: holding Right ends on the spikes in about 3 seconds, jumping gets past and firing drains the ammo bar.

- Source: https://yesthisgame.com/blog/platform-shooter-tips/
- Published: 2026-11-09, updated: 2026-11-09
- Author: Yes This Game (the team that makes the games on the site)

## Key takeaways

- Holding only Right, the soldier ran onto the first spikes and the health ran out within about 3 to 4 seconds in three runs.
- With jumps about every 0.8 seconds the first spikes were cleared and the coin counter read 2, 4, 5 and 7 in successive screenshots.
- Firing for about 5 seconds took the ammo bar down to roughly a quarter.
- The Tutorial lists the keys: arrows or WASD to move, L or X to shoot, K or Z to attack, S to crouch.

**The first platform shooter tip is to jump early instead of holding Right: in [Voltmarch](https://yesthisgame.com/voltmarch/) the soldier ran onto the first spikes and the health ran out in about 3 to 4 seconds in three runs, while jumping about every 0.8 seconds got us past them.** The Tutorial lists the keys in one place.

## How the game works

Voltmarch is a side-scrolling platform shooter. You pick level 1 on the level screen and steer an armored soldier through a metal base. The top of the screen shows a health bar, a star counter, a coin counter, a green skull bar and an ammo bar, and on-screen buttons for moving, jumping and attacking are drawn in the game as well.

## The controls, read from the Tutorial

The Tutorial panel lists every key. Move with WASD or the arrow keys, shoot with L or X and attack up close with K or Z. S crouches and W jumps.

*Keys listed in the Voltmarch Tutorial*

| Action | Keys |
| --- | --- |
| Move | WASD or the arrow keys |
| Jump | W |
| Crouch | S |
| Shoot | L or X |
| Melee attack | K or Z |

![Keyboard diagram: arrow keys or WASD move, W jumps, S crouches, L or X shoots and K or Z attacks](https://yesthisgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/voltmarch-controls.png)
*The keys from the Tutorial panel.*

## Holding Right ends on the spikes

In our first test we pressed only the Right key on level 1. In three runs the soldier ran onto the first floor spikes, the health bar emptied within about 3 to 4 seconds and the game over panel followed. In one run the panel was up at 3.1 seconds.

## Jumping and firing

In a second test we held Right, pressed jump at about 0.65, 1.45, 2.25 and 3.05 seconds and tapped the fire key all the time. The soldier got past the first spikes and the coin counter read 2, 4, 5 and 7 in successive screenshots, with a spider robot and sparks on the screen. The ammo bar shrank as we fired and after about 5 seconds it was down to roughly a quarter.

## Ten levels

The level screen shows ten squares. Only level 1 is open at the start. The other nine show padlocks, and every square has three empty circles for stars.

## 4 tips that follow from the numbers

- **Do not hold Right.** The first spikes ended the run in about 3 to 4 seconds.
- **Jump about every 0.8 seconds on the first stretch.** That got us past the spikes in one run.
- **Fire in bursts.** Steady fire for about 5 seconds left roughly a quarter of the ammo bar.
- **Read the Tutorial once.** It has all five actions in one place.

## Where to try it

Try it yourself in [Voltmarch](https://yesthisgame.com/voltmarch/). For more running and shooting, [Goldstride](https://yesthisgame.com/goldstride/) is an endless runner and [Lanternbow](https://yesthisgame.com/lanternbow/) is an archery game.

## Frequently asked questions

### What are the controls in Voltmarch?

The Tutorial says WASD or the arrow keys move, L or X shoots, K or Z attacks, S crouches and W jumps.

### What happens if you only hold Right?

In three runs on level 1 the soldier ran onto the first floor spikes and the health bar emptied within about 3 to 4 seconds, followed by the game over panel.

### How do you get past the first spikes?

In one run we held Right and pressed jump at about 0.65, 1.45, 2.25 and 3.05 seconds while shooting, and the soldier got past them.

### Does the ammo run out?

The ammo bar shrank while we fired. After about 5 seconds of steady firing it was down to roughly a quarter.

### How many levels are there?

The level screen shows ten levels. Only level 1 is open at the start and the rest show padlocks with three empty circles.

### Does Voltmarch work on a phone?

On-screen buttons are drawn in the game, but it is made for a keyboard, so it plays best on a computer.

## Games in this guide

- [Voltmarch](https://yesthisgame.com/voltmarch.md): Play Voltmarch online: run, jump and shoot a cyber soldier through a metal base, dodge spikes and spider robots and collect coins. Ten levels, keyboard.
- [Goldstride](https://yesthisgame.com/goldstride.md): Play Goldstride online: a small knight runs on its own, you time the jumps over gaps and stone blocks and collect gold coins. Space or tap, no download.
- [Lanternbow](https://yesthisgame.com/lanternbow.md): Play Lanternbow online: raise the bow, aim at paper lanterns around a pagoda courtyard and let the arrow fly before you run out of arrows.