Golden Mask location IRL - yes if does exist!

Hiroyuki · 23-07-12, 22:02

I was looking at the map in the title screen for the Golden Mask levels of TR2 and wondered if the island where the adventure takes place, marked "Melnikov Island" in the pic, really existed.

Well after poring over a map of the Aleutians I finally identified it as Amukta Island (although perhaps it previously had the Russian name of Melnikov Island since they were the first explorers of these islands in 1826 - does anyone know if that is so?). Amukta is the westernmost island in an uninhabited island group originally called Chetyre Soposhnye Ostrova (Islands of Four Volcanoes).

Since it has a volcano on it and nearby Alaska has been the centre of gold rushes in the past, it seems entirely possible that there would indeed be molten gold flowing underground along with the lava... well I'd like to think so anyhow! Anyway ISTM the setting was well chosen for such an adventure!

Here is an illustrated location map I drew up from various sources - click on it for a bigger version with more text.

Incidentally, the god Tornarsuk is also for real! He is the chief of some underworld protector spirit gods.

Boobandie · 24-07-12, 07:17

Nice that you found all this out, Core seem to base everything on reality. I like the idea of molten gold deep underground...now if only I had a bucket...

Hiroyuki · 25-07-12, 03:40

Yes, it was interesting to discover that the volcano is active and lava flows have definitely been seen on the island, which means there really must be subterranean chambers with lava in them! I think we can forgive them using a bit of artistic licence in having golden lava.

Also geothermal forces would explain the tropical valley in the Kingdom level. I notice there are rivulets of lava throughout the forest, maybe the ancients made channels for the lava to flow through to keep the local climate warm despite the island being in the Arctic.

23-07-12, 22:02	#1
Hiroyuki Hobbyist Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 25	Golden Mask location IRL - yes if does exist! I was looking at the map in the title screen for the Golden Mask levels of TR2 and wondered if the island where the adventure takes place, marked "Melnikov Island" in the pic, really existed. Well after poring over a map of the Aleutians I finally identified it as Amukta Island (although perhaps it previously had the Russian name of Melnikov Island since they were the first explorers of these islands in 1826 - does anyone know if that is so?). Amukta is the westernmost island in an uninhabited island group originally called Chetyre Soposhnye Ostrova (Islands of Four Volcanoes). Since it has a volcano on it and nearby Alaska has been the centre of gold rushes in the past, it seems entirely possible that there would indeed be molten gold flowing underground along with the lava... well I'd like to think so anyhow! Anyway ISTM the setting was well chosen for such an adventure! Here is an illustrated location map I drew up from various sources - click on it for a bigger version with more text. Incidentally, the god Tornarsuk is also for real! He is the chief of some underworld protector spirit gods. Last edited by Hiroyuki; 23-07-12 at 22:31. Reason: add urls

24-07-12, 07:17	#2
Boobandie Explorer Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Bandieland Posts: 681	Nice that you found all this out, Core seem to base everything on reality. I like the idea of molten gold deep underground...now if only I had a bucket... __________________ PROXIMITY WARNING! - Something is in proximity to something else!

25-07-12, 03:40	#3
Hiroyuki Hobbyist Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 25	Yes, it was interesting to discover that the volcano is active and lava flows have definitely been seen on the island, which means there really must be subterranean chambers with lava in them! I think we can forgive them using a bit of artistic licence in having golden lava. Also geothermal forces would explain the tropical valley in the Kingdom level. I notice there are rivulets of lava throughout the forest, maybe the ancients made channels for the lava to flow through to keep the local climate warm despite the island being in the Arctic.