I have played this game at least 5 times, and it is horribly frustrating because I always get stuck at the same spot and run out of time. I can do everything but get into the hidden room, get the jewels that kill me (not sure if we even have to do this?) and get past the door to the west of the monster. The items I have that I don't know what to do with are the lock pick, the wand, the hammer, and the metal detector.

I don't normally ask for hints because I am usually happy to trudge along for hours, using only an occasional clue from the archives when I'm really stuck. I have been stuck for much longer in other games, without being nearly this frustrated. But there's nothing I hate more than endlessly repeating things I have already done, and the setup of this game requires that. It takes almost half the allowed moves in the game just to complete the tasks I already know how to do, and for at least the past 3 games I have made no additional progress.

I don't understand why this game can't be like the other games on this site, where there is no way to have your progress thrown out, forcing you to start from the beginning. In the spirit of being true to the original, you could have a message letting people know they ran out of time, but could keep playing anyway. Having a time limit adds no challenge except tedium.

Sorry for the rant, but in my opinion one of the most important things the AGL games get right is that they don't have any stupid "die and start over" business. And in the meantime, can someone give me a hint, because I think I'm gonna quit if I have to "find" that ladder one more time.