Pendulum Ferry

How the Pendulum & Ballistic Physics Work

Pendulum Ferry explores harmonic oscillation, angular momentum, and free-fall projectile ballistics. High above a misty mountain chasm, a heavy transport carriage swings rhythmically back and forth beneath an overhead pylon anchor. Driven by true gravitational restoring torque, the carriage accelerates rapidly through the bottom arc of its swing before slowing to a momentary pause at the outer apex.

Your gameplay revolves around a single high-stakes decision: the moment of release. When you trigger release, the passenger capsule detaches instantly, inheriting the gondola's exact instantaneous position and tangential velocity vector. As the pod arcs across the ravine, external physics take over—downward gravitational acceleration pulls it into a parabolic trajectory while canyon crosswinds deflect its path. You must time your release so the capsule touches down safely inside the platform dock on the far cliffside. Each delivery requires accounting for changing launch speeds and wind shear to ensure no souls are lost to the ravine below. Because every crossing demands ferrying all waiting passengers across the divide, consistent rhythm is paramount. A single erratic release wastes a precious capsule, forcing you to reload the swinging arm from scratch. Mastering the release timing means reading the subtle apex pause of the gondola, counting half-period swing cycles, and launching each pod at the exact millisecond where forward kinetic velocity overcomes canyon drag.

Gondola Swing & Release Controls

Operate the aerial cableway using simple single-button timing or responsive touch inputs:

• Spacebar or Click / Tap: While the gondola is swinging, triggers release to launch the passenger pod. When docked between runs, relaunches the pendulum for the next passenger.
• P: Pauses the simulation mid-flight so you can inspect launch velocity, wind resistance, and trajectory arcs.
• R: Relaunches the gondola carriage from its high starting drop point to attempt the delivery again.

How to Clear Crossing 4 (The Narrow Ledge Wind Trap)

Crossing 4 introduces The Narrow Ledge, where a compact landing dock sits nestled beneath a steep cliff overhang subject to fierce canyon headwind. Many players make the mistake of releasing at the very peak of the forward swing, assuming maximum forward position guarantees the longest flight. However, at the peak apex, the gondola's velocity drops near zero, causing the pod to fall almost straight down into the chasm abyss.

The secret to conquering Crossing 4 is releasing early during the mid-swing surge. Trigger the release roughly two-thirds through the downward arc, well before the carriage reaches its peak. At this point, the pendulum converts maximum potential energy into forward kinetic speed. The high launch velocity provides enough aerodynamic punch to cut cleanly through the headwind and touch down smoothly in the center of the narrow dock.

Launch Timing for Moving Docks

Later canyon crossings feature moving ferry docks, gusting updrafts, and multi-passenger requirements:

• High Terrace (Crossing 5): The target landing dock is elevated higher than the pylon release point. Wait for a back-swing rebound, then launch at a steep upward angle to achieve sufficient flight ceiling.
• The Moving Dock (Crossing 6): The landing platform glides horizontally along cliffside tracks. You must time your launch by predicting where the platform will be three seconds after capsule detachment.
• The Storm Gauntlet (Crossing 10): Unpredictable vertical wind shears buffet the ravine. Perform low-trajectory bullet releases that minimize airtime and reduce exposure to shifting gusts.

Pendulum Ferry Timing & FAQ

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