Darius Gaiden FAQ - Version 2.0 Part I Copyright (c) 1997 by Gary Chan. * Updated from Version 1.0: Revamp of FAQ and Added Bosses Strategies. This FAQ is NOT for sale nor for any purpose of profit. Please ask MY permission for any distribution on the internet or any parties. This FAQ also may not appear in any publication unless allowed by its author. This FAQ is written solely in interest to the game. All info and tips are from playing experiences and from GAMEST magazine. If there are any enquiries or comments, please e-mail me at:- magyc@pacific.net.sg Authors Note: I am basically covering the important points for each stage and strategies on how to fight the Bosses of each Zone. Thus, I have deleted some information from Version 1.0. Intro: This is another Darius Series from Taito. G-Darius is basically a side/horizontal scrolling shooting game with alot of other elements in it. There is an intro that you can see from the machines (Demo) to get the storyline. The pilots of the game are Sameluck Raida (Player 1) and Lutia Feen (Player 2). * Special Thanks to Tan Hwee Ping for her help in Japanese translations, proof-reading my FAQ and being my gaming partner ;) How to Play: Silver Hawk - Your ship (You have 3 when u start) A Button - Fire Button (Normal Mode) / Power up Alpha Beam, Hold A then release A (Capture Mode) B Button - Use Capture Ball (Normal Mode) / Use Capture Bomb (Capture Mode) * Normal Mode - Without Captured Enemy ; Capture Mode - With Captured Enemy Capture Ball: You have 3 each time you start. Used to capture enemies. Capture enemies can be used as a Capture Bomb or used to power up the Silver Hawk's Alpha Beam. Captured enemies stay with you and assist you. All Captured enemies can take a certain number of hit before they are destroyed. Alpha Beam: Particle Beam Laser. Only available if you have captured an enemy. The bigger the enemy captured, the bigger and more powerful the beam. The Alpha Beam last for 5 seconds normally. If you tap the button fast/alot the Beam will last for another 2 seconds. When using it to counter Bosses Beta Beam, tap the A Button. The Beam will destroy everything in its path and can negate enemy weapons (e.g. bullets, missles, etc). There are exceptions on what the Beam can destroy. For instance, the Beam cannot destroy Solid Knights (diamonds/crystals) and cannot negate certain enemy weapons. When using the Beam, there is a aura around your ship. That aura protects you from most attacks, but if your are using a small Beam be on your guard as attacks from behind can hit you. OK, people have been asking be about how my Alpha Beam gets bigger/more powerful. Here is the specs of the Alpha Beam. Alpha Beam lasts 5 seconds - tapping button A increase the power in-put. The size of the beam depends on the enemy you capture. Small Enemies - X 1, Bigger Enemies - X 1.5, Mid-Bosses - X 2, etc. When you meet the Bosses of each Zone, they will have Beta Beam attack(s) - yours is call Alpha Beam, theirs is called Beta Beam. You can COUNTER their Beam by using your Alpha Beam. While counter, keep tapping button A to fight the Boss's Beam. If you win, Alpha Beam will get bigger and more powerful. There are instances where you would need to time your Alpha Beam to counter with the Boss's Beta Beam. Remember, your Beam lasts for 5 seconds, so does the Boss's Beta Beam. Each counter won by you will add an additional 5 seconds to your Alpha Beam. Choosing Paths: At the middle of each Zone (Stage), you will need to choose an area. Each Area is differnt, some maybe more difficult then the other. You will also fight a variation of each Zone's Boss depending on the Area you chose. Scoring: Destroying enemies get you points (pts). There are certain conditions where you get can more pts:- Enemy wave destroyed - 3000 pts to 30000 pts Enemy wave destroyed by Captured Enemy - Pts X 2 Enemy wave destroyed by Bomb - Pts X 3 Enemy wave destroyed by Alpha Beam - Pts X 4 Ranking: Ranking is determined how skillful you play the game. I think it evaluates your dodging skill, use of capture balls, capturing enemies, etc. Gold Hawk is highest Ranking. Weapon Chart (Rank from Lowest to Highest) Missile ---> Laser ---> Wave (Red Power Up) Bomb ---> Twin ---> Multi (Green Power Up) Arm ---> Super ---> Hyper (Blue Power-up) - Armour! Power Up Spheres: Red Sphere - Power ups your main weapon. (7 Needed to upgrade Missile to Laser, 7 more to Wave) Green Sphere - Powers up your bomb (4 Need to upgrade to Twin, 4 more to Multi) Purple Sphere - Capture Balls. (6 Maximum for each ship) Blue Sphere - Armour Power-Up (6 Needed to upgrade to Super Armour, 6 more to Hyper Armour) Gold Sphere - Smart Bomb. Destroys enemies on screen. Only used once (cannot be stored) Silver Ball - Points Bonus (50pts - 51200 pts) Depending on where you pick up the sphere from (the direction; the points will be different). Front - 100 pts; Top - 800, 3200, 25600 pts; Back - 50, 200, 1600, 51200 pts & Below - 400, 6400, 12800 pts 1-Up Sphere - Gives you 1 more Silver Hawk (Hidden in the 4th Zones [Eta, Theta, Iota and Kappa]) That is an obvious fact. There are no other 1-Ups located at any other of the stages. * Expert TIP: On the Higher Zones, there is an enemy disguised as a Power Up Sphere. All Power Up Spheres have a colour halo exactly the same as its own colour. To spot the enemy (A Grid-wire fish which throw flames at you), its halo is brown from the actual colour of the sphere. Its tricky to find, but its out there. Useful Tips: * Certain routes you take have more/less power-ups. I suggest that you take a route that will power-up your weapons quickly. Dying will cause you to lose all your power-ups before you have them upgraded. Learn the Zone's enemy waves... like all shooting games, the enemy waves come in a fixed pattern. * Powering Up Alpha Beam - When are powering up your beam, make sure you are clear of enemy fire! You can get hit or destroyed (if you have no armour). I've seen people getting hit when trying to power up their Alpha beam without taking care of enemy fire. For a very fast release, hold down the button then release. Learning to power-up the Alpha Beam quickly is a must. * You cannot capture Mid-Bosses by just using the Capture Ball. To capture a Mid-Boss, shoot it until its armour is destroyed. Usually you will note a missing feature on them. How to capture Mid-Bosses with ease: Make sure you have a captured enemy. When you see the Mid-Boss appear, keep shooting it till it uses its primary weapon. (I've stated down all the Mid-Bosses primary weapons for each Zone) Use a capture bomb near the Mid-Boss. Keep firing till its armour is destroyed. Then it can be captured. * NOTE: This applies for ALL of the Mid-Bosses in the different Zones. * When fighting the Bosses, you should know when is the correct time to use your Alpha Beam and when the Bosses release objects that can be captured. Usually they release the objects before using their Beta Beam. See the strategy guide included for each of the Bosses. * 2 Player Game: The game is generally easier because both of you have Alpha Beams to use on the Bosses. The difficulty here is sharing the power-ups and upgrading your weapons. Choose the Zones that will enable you and your partner to upgrade quickly. NOTE: You cannot get Hyper Shield if you play a 2-Player game, if your partner dies too fast you will have problem with the later Bosses (i.e. your firepower and shields are not powerful enough) 3. Zone-Layout Lambda Eta Delta Mu Beta Theta Alpha Epsilon Nu Gamma Iota Zeta Xi Kappa Omnicron 4. Zone Area Names & Bosses - Surrounding - - Zone - - Zone Area - - Zone Boss - Planet Amelia Alpha Green Globe Eclipse Eye Satellite Mahsah Beta Giant Plant Tripod Sardine Gamma Gigantic Ship Queen Fossil Universe Space Delta Granulated Star Dual Horn Epsilon Galaxy Island Dimension Diver Zeta Gravity Zero Absolute Defender Planet Mabaher Eta Glowing Cave Fire Fossil Theta Gallery Death Wings Iota Glacier Eight Feet Umbrella Kappa Garden of Sky Eternal Triangle Satellite Kazumn Lambda Grand Cliff Lightning Coronatus Mu Great Fortress I Heavy Arms Shell Nu Genesis The Embryon Xi Great Fortress II Accordian Hazard Omnicron Grave of Culture G. T. 5. Recommended Routes Alpha Gamma Epsilon Iota Xi Alpha Beta Delta Eta Lambda Alpha Gamma Epsilon Theta Mu Alpha Gamma Epsilon Theta/Iota Nu Alpha Gamma Zeta Kappa Omnicron * Note: These routes are recommended by myself and taken from Gamest (the 1st two). I have listed them in order of difficulty to my completing the game. In my experience of playing, G.T. (Omnicron Zone) is the hardest Boss to defeat as you have to dodge his attacks like crazy. - Planet Amelia - Alpha Zone (Green Globe) Power Ups (Total) Area A - 6 Red, 2 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Area B - 5 Red, 3 Green, 4 Blue, 4 Purple Mid-Boss: First Captain (Located at Area A only) Normal weapon: Homing Missles Primary Weapon: Spiral Laser (Motion: QCF or Dn, DnFw, Fw + A) - This is a starter level. Power-ups are located at the start of the level. Learn the enemy waves. The fish [Hyaa-haa] protected by 3 Solid Knights (Crystals/Diamonds) is useful since it has homing missiles attacks. Area A: This area is harder, with only the other armour power-up located near the end of the Zone. You will encounter First Captain (Mid-Boss). NOTE: When trying to capture him, stay away from his Spiral Laser. Area B: This area is easier than A. There armour power ups soon after you dive into the ocean and before you exit the ocean. In this area, there are 2 Silver Spheres and a Gold Sphere hidden at the top portion of the cavern. Shoot to reveal them. Your only concern is the dive-bomber [Mizuriho]. You can capture it BUT it will ram and destroy everything. It will get destroyed before you reach the Boss. Not worth capturing. First Captain (Mid-Boss) will not appear in this Zone. BOSS: Eclipse Eye - Weak Point: Whole Body Attack Pattern: 1. Homing Missile A, 2. 3 Way Energy Bullet, 3. Big Spray Gun Strategy: Homing Missile A can be shot. Now the 3 Way Energy Bullets tracks your position the first time, then the 3rd and the 5th. He fires up to 6 volleys of this. The Big Spray Gun bullets can also be shot. Keep shooting and you will destroy his Fin. * Area A: 4. Right Side - Missile Launcher, fires 3 Eclipse Missles, 5. Left Side - Missile Launcher, also fires 3 Eclipse Missiles NOTE: Missiles can be captured, Cont to No 9. Strategy: Eclipse Eye shouldnt give you any problems. For beginner players... yes! Ok, Here is how it goes. If you have First Captain with you, Eclipse Eye wont be a problem. Just power-up your Alpha Beam and fire. *yawn* :) He'll get killed in 10 secs. Ok, if you havent killed him by then, you can dodge or destroy the Eclipse missles with ease. If you dont have a captured enemy, you can capture his missles. Use the missles to power-up your Alpha Beam to counter Beta Beam attack. * Area B: 6. Right Side - 6 Sided Shuriken, 7. Left Side - 6 Sided Shuriken, 8. Cluster Bombs, Cont to No. 9 Strategy: You will have to dodge the Shuriken. Its easy because its very slow. He will do the shuriken again, this time spinning it. You just need to go to the bottom and right of the screen. He will then release 4 objects (cluster bombs). You can capture those to power-up your Alpha Beam. If you are adventurous, while he release those cluster bombs, you can shoot them. Move near and shoot off his eye. * 9. Beta Beam (Size: X 1), 10. Tail Bomb, 11. Big Spray Gun & Phaser Bullets 12. Back to No. 1 Strategy: Eclipse Eye will power-up his Beta Beam here. Power up your own Alpha Beam and wait till he fires. Move in-line with his beam and keep tapping button A. If his Beam fizzles out that means you have won his Beam and your Alpha Beam will get bigger. Just keep shooting and he will get destroyed. NOW, for those who have problems here... (you dont have a capture enemy & you cant use you Alpha Beam) Stay Low and shoot. His Beam will not reach you. After he finishes, be on your guard because he will fire a Napalm Bomb from his tail. It tracks your last position. Then you have to content with his Spray Gun again and phaser bullets. The Phaser Bullets cannot be shot, so dodge. After this he will repeat his attack patterns. - Satellite Mahsah - Beta Zone (Giant Plant) Power Ups (Total) Area C - 4 Red, 2 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Area D - 4 Red, 4 Green, 4 Blue, 3 Purple Mid-Boss: None - The Zone here has everything enlarged! Capture the tanks [Soido] or the swordfish [Ikufui], they provide you with a shield or cover. Careful though it can get destroyed once too many enemies crash or shoot into it. They are the most useful enemies to capture in terms that they can offer you protection. Area C: Look out for Gigantic Spiders [Ramutsuma]! Watch out for their lasers! Area D: There are 3 Silver Spheres hidden in the mushrooms, one of them located under a mushroom and one more at the nose tip of the Pterodactyl. Bewarned, dont crash into the mushrooms. As for the Pterodactyl's head... you can pass through his Upper portion but stay away from the head. BOSS: Tripod Sardine - Weak Point: Head * Attack Pattern: Area C - 1. 7 Way Energy Bullets, 2. Wire Laser, 3. Homing Missile B, 4. Wire Laser B, 5. Cluster Bombs, 6. Beta Beam, 7. Big Spark Ball & Phaser Bullets Strategy: You can start off with an Alpha Beam or dodge his attacks first. Most of his attacks need to be dodged, so I dont need to explain the detail of them. For the Wire Lasers, they only hit you when the come together. Keep shooting Tripod's head and blow it off... make sure you have a Captured enemy with you. Once his head is blown off, he will return spraying Phaser bullets and carrying a Big Spark Ball. He throws the Spark Ball to your last location. Dodge the first time he throws it then power-up you Alpha Beam and aim at his body... he should be destroyed then. You may want to counter his Beta Beam, but it may not last long enough. His Big Spark Ball negates the Beam. * Attack Pattern: Area D - 1. 7 Way Energy Bullets, 2. Wire Spray Gun A, 3. Wire Spray Gun B, 4. Napalm Bomb, 4. Missiles B (Rain), 5. Cluster Bombs, 6. Beta Beam, 7. Throwing Dome Laser & Phaser Bullets Strategy: Use the Alpha Beam to negate his 7 way bullets and aim his head. While doing so also shoot off some of his Wire Spray Guns (located near his neck). You dont need to dodge the bullets from the Spray Guns as they can be shot and your Missles and Bombs will assist you in destroyed them. The Napalm bombs burst in a radius so watch out for that (there are 5 to dodge). After his Missles B raining attack, he will release cluster bombs, capture one of those. He will then power-up his Beta Beam... counter his Beam to make your Beam larger and stronger, once you blow his head off you can destroy him easily when he returns. If you have not destroyed him then, he returns with a Dome Laser shell and he throws it at you. He throws 4 Dome Lasers at you. Only the front part of the Dome Laser hits you. The part where it fades off doesnt. You will notice sometimes there is a large gap for you to dodge through. Keeping shooting and he will be destroyed. * NOTE: Once you have destroyed Tripod Sardine's head, he will not repeat his attacks. He will do his Phaser Bullets & Big Spark Ball (Area C) or Dome Throw Laser (Area D) till he is destroyed. - Satellite Mahsah - Gamma Zone (Gigantic Ship) Power Ups (Total) Area E - 5 Red, 2 Green, 2 Blue, 4 Purple Area F - 5 Red, 3 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Mid-Boss: Queen's Child Normal weapon: Short Lasers Primary Weapon: Energy Bullets, Bolts & Long Lasers (Motion: HCF or Bk, DnBk, Dn, DnFw, Fw + A) - You'll have to content with some pretty hard enemy waves in this level. Queen Fossil provides a challenge. BUT by knowing her attack patterns, she is easily disposed off. There is a fish protected by five Solid Knights [Ruoto] and two Mid-Bosses here (one located before you meet Queen Fossil and other other comes later on). The fish provides a two-way Energy Bolt attack. BOSS: Queen Fossil - Weak Point: Body * Attack Pattern: Area E (Upper Part) 1. Tail Laser & Homing Missile B (Dodge through the large gap. Then dodge the missiles.) 2. Phaser bullets & 3 spray guns (Blue/Red/Blue ... Blue bullets can be shot) 3. Fin Boomerang (4) - The 2nd Boomerang has a Green power-up. 4. Homing Missile B 5. 3 Spray guns, gattling gun & lasers (this fire lasers and homing lasers) 6. Fin Boomerang (4) - The 3rd Blade has a Red power-up 7. Homing Missiles B 8. Mid-Boss: Queen's Child 9. Head - It will face you up front and release 4 Homing Solid Missiles at you. 10. LEFT side - Spray Lasers. You can dodge these with ease. 11. LEFT side - Scales. Can be dodge with ease. 12. Beta Beams. (4 Beta Beams) Strategy: Make sure you have Queen's Child with you. He's very helpful in destroying Queen Fossil's attacks. When you see the tail Laser coming, use Queen's Child's Primary weapons to destroy it with ease. Use him to protect you against enemy fire and also to assist you to destroy enemy waves and turrets. When you reach point No. 5, power-up your Alpha Beam and destroy everything (do a sweep from top to bottom). Your weapons will be powerful enough here to deal with the other waves (considering your weapons have been upgraded). Queen's Child will appear again after the Homing Missles. Queen Fossil will release enemy waves and cluster bombs, capture either of them. Use them to capture Queen's Child again. Dont worry about Queen's Child, he's strong enough to survive points No. 10 & No. 11. Power-up your Alpha Beam to counter Queen Fossil's Beta Beams. Counter the 1st to the 4th, you Beam will be very powerful (X 12) and will destroy Queen Fossil outright. * Attack Pattern: Area F (Lower Part) 1. Laser & Homing Missile B (Dodge through the large gap. Then dodge the missiles.) 2. Spray Gun & Angular Homing Laser (The Blue bullets can be shot) 3. Mobile Cannon Units - Those 2 big things that Queen Fossil releases. 4. Positron Beam A - Wait for it to light up then DODGE! 5. Mid-Boss: Queen's Child 6. Queen Fossil tries to ram you with her head 7. Long Lasers, Lasers & Homing Missile C 8. Phaser Bullets (Big) 9. Missiles B 10. Thunder Laser - Queen Fossil uses her tail to do a Thunder Laser. Stay a spot then dodge quickly. 11. Missile B (Above & Below... while Queen rams you head on) 12. Head - 4 Homing Solid Missiles (see above) 13. Scale Shield & Phaser Bullets (Big) 14. Phaser Bullets (Big) 15. Beta Beam (Only one Beam here) Strategy: Use Queen's Child to destroy the Big Spray Gun. You should have no problem with the enemy wave after that. Power up your Alpha Beam to destroy the Mobile Cannon Units. For the Positron Cannon, stay very near its base and keep shooting. Destroy it can collect the Shield Power-Up. Another enemy wave will appear and Queen's Child will make another appearance. Capture him as usual. Queen Fossil will then try to ram your from the Right Side screen. Use Queen's Child's Primary weapon at this point. Keep using his Primary Weapon attack for at least 5 times. You should be around attacks No. 7 to No. 8. After the Phaser Bullets, power up your Alpha Beam to destroy the missiles while damaging Queen Fossil. She should be destroyed at this point. (Author's Note: I have never gone further as she is destroyed at this point) - Universe Space - - The stages Delta, Epsilon and Zeta are set in the space area and generally the same. I wont go through these Zones since they are fairly easy. Lots of asteroids are here and the Blue Spheres are available at the beginningat most of these Zones. If you take notice, some of the areas are the same. These Zones are fairly manageable, some of the areas take you to a mothership. You will have to content with the turrets. All these Zones have the same Mid-Boss, Reverse Direction. It fires a 5 split missile, uses its boomerang fin and then turns around and release 5 way phaser bullets. Keep shooting at it till its lower mouth is destroyed, then you can capture it. There is a notable enemy here [Shikittsu] ... its disguised as an asteroid and shots 3 laser bolts. Mid-Boss: Reverse Direction Normal weapon: Missile Primary Weapon: Boomerang Fin (Motion: Fw, Dn, FwDn + A) Delta Zone (Granulated Star) Power Ups (Total) Area G - 5 Red, 4 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Area H - 4 Red, 4 Green, 4 Blue, 4 Purple BOSS: Dual Horn - Weak Point: Whole Body Attack Pattern: 1. 5 Way Energy Bullets, 2. Eye Beam & 7 Way Phaser Bullets, 3. Eye Beam & Homing Missile C, 4. 3 Way Eye Beam & 7 Way Phaser Bullets, 5. Homing Missiles C & Napalm Bombs Strategy: You'll need a captured enemy here (preferably the small ships that stay top and bottom of you or rotate around you). When dodging his Eye Beam, try not to let your capture enemy get hit... it will get destroyed. His Homing Missiles C are fairly easy to destroy when doding his Eye Beam. Now this is the tricky part, when his eye beam stops, he will release 3 tracking lasers. If you think you need too, power up your Alpha Beam and dodge! Once your Beam if up, use it to sweep and negate the Missiles C and Napalm Bombs. Your Beam will last up to the last wave of the missiles and bombs, so you'll need to shoot and dodge the last wave of Homing Missiles. If you cant do a Alpha Beam, dodge the missles by staying at the top Left-hand corner of the screen. Move down when start nearing you and move forward when you see the Napalm Bombs. Then move back to the top Left-hand corner again for the next set of Homing Missiles. This was suggested in GAMEST and it works. * Area G: 6. Ramming, 7. Spinning Attack Formation (Fires Phaser Bullets, Spray Gun and Lasers), 8. 3 Way Energy Bullet & Cluster Bomb, 9. Phaser Bullets, 10. Beta Beam, 11. Ramming & Ricochet Ball - They can be shot Strategy: After Attack No. 5, he will go below and rush off while releasing some Homing Missiles. Try not to go forward too much or you'll end up crash into the missiles. The Spinning Attack Formation is fairly easy to dodge since there is large gaps and there are blue bullets which you can destroy. After this he will fire his 3 way Energy Bullets and release the cluster bombs. Capture the cluster bombs to counter his Beta Beam. Note: While counter his Beta Beam, its advisable to stay in the middle of the screen and aim for his head. He will move towards the other side and around (Attacks No. 11). He should be destroyed by then. * Area H: 6. 5-6 Way Energy Bullets, 7. Ricochet Ball & Energy Bullet - Dual Horn encloses you in a small area (dodge the Energy Bullet, you can shoot the blue Ricochet Balls), 8. 3 Way Energy Bullet & Cluster Bomb, 9. 3 Way Energy Bullets and Ramming, 10. Phaser Bullets, 11. Beta Beam Strategy: The 5-6 Way Energy Bullets are easy to dodge. The part where he encloses you is abit harder to dodge. Remember that you can shoot the Ricochet Balls (Blue) with your weapons and bomb. He will shoot his 3 Way Energy Bullets and release cluster bombs. Capture a cluster bomb. NOTE: I have divided this section into two parts. I'm just giving abit of playing experience here. I. You may want to power up your Alpha Beam after you capture the cluster bomb and negate his 3 Way Energy Bullets here because when he does this, he will ram forward and your will turn around. The Alpha Beam here will be enough to destroy him before he rams. II. If you choose not to use the Alpha Beam, he will then release 3 Way Bullets and then ram forward. So stay away from the bottom of the screen. Now, this is a very tricky situation. Since you are currently dodging his bullets and once his moves to the other side of the screen, your ship will turn around. If you have a bullet in-front of you and your cluster bomb is protecting you and your ship turns around, you might hit the bullet. If you are destroy at this section, you will be in trouble as you have no Alpha Beam to counter his. He will release 4 sets of 2 Tracking Lasers A after the Alpha Beam if you do not destroy him then. After that, he will spray twin lasers... and I mean spray (there is no area to dodge). Epsilon Zone (Galaxy Islands) Power Ups (Total) Area I - 4 Red, 4 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Area J - 4 Red, 3 Green, 3 Blue, 3 Purple BOSS: Dimension Diver - Weak Point: Whole Body * NOTE: This BOSS has RANDOM Attack Patterns. * Attack Pattern Area I: 1. 3 Continuous Short Lasers, 2. Screw Laser & Energy Bullet, 3. Space Mines, 4. Go to Attack Pattern Table 1, 5. Double Beta Beam, 6. Laser Shots, 7. Phaser Bullets & Tracking Laser Strategy: I dont think the Mid-Boss will survive up to the end of Area I, so capture another enemy before you meet Dimension Diver (DD). DD starts off with Short Lasers which are easy to dodge. He will then use his tail to fire a Screw Laser (doesnt track) and Energy Bullets. Stay Down at the screen and somewhere in the middle. He will then fly off and release mines. The mines detonate and the bottom of the screen and they are fairly easy to dodge... just dont ram into them. He will do 3 of the Attacks from the Attack Pattern Table 1. In any case if he does Attacks No. A or No. C, use you capture enemy as an Alpha Beam to damage him & counter his attacks. After these attacks, he will release Cluster Bombs before his Double Beta Beam attack. You can counter both his beams at same time. Tap the button fast to counter them. He fires two beams which are close together. Stay in the middle of the two beams and counter them. If you succeed, you beam will become very huge. NOTE: While you are countering, stay near him as your beam can damage him a bit while you counter. If you dont damage him and destroy him here, he will fly off and you will waste your beam. * Attack Pattern Area J: 1. 5 Continuous Short Lasers, 2. Go to Attack Pattern Table 1, 3. Double Beta Beam, 4. Screw Laser & Energy Bullet Strategy: Reverse Direction can survive up to the end of Area J and he is very useful here. Throw his Boomerang Fin when Dimension Diver appears. Throw the fin at least 3 times. If you think Reverse Direction is gonna die soon, power up your Alpha Beam and use it to negate his attacks. If Reverse Direction is still with you, use him only to counter the Harder Attacks such as No. A and No. C. After this the same strategy applies as above (Read for Area I). Note: If you have damaged DD with Reverse Direction's Boomerang Fin (3 times) and the Alpha Beam, DD will be destroyed once your fire your Alpha Beam later on and you dont have to counter his Beta Beam. Attack Pattern Table 1 (Attacks in [] denote that Dimension Diver's Upper Fin has been destroyed) * A. Wave Shots & Split Bullets * [Razors & Bullets] * B. Homing Missile D * [Homing Missile D & Homing Laser A] * C. Energy Bullets * [Razors & Bullets] * D. Raining Missile B & Split Bullets * [Missile B, Bullets & Homing Laser] * E. Split Bullets (Clusters, sprays 8 way) * [Bullets & Homing Laser] Go to F * F. Homing Missile C & Bullets Zeta Zone (Gravity Zero) Power Ups (Total) Area K - 4 Red, 3 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Area L - 5 Red, 3 Green, 2 Blue, 4 Purple BOSS: Absolute Defender - Weak Point: Whole Body * NOTE: This BOSS has RANDOM Attacks, and I mean RANDOM... I have fought Absolute Defender (AD) a couple of times and it does different attacks all the time. You can ONLY damage it after you destroy its Barrier Activation Device (worth 120 pts), to do that you must shoot the Green Globe under its mouth... it will turn from green, yellow and to red before its destroy. Attack Pattern Table 2 * 1. Panta (?) Grenades (Bursts into phaser bullets) * 2. Random Attacks X 2 (From A to I) * A. Tracking Lasers -----> * A`. Moving Lasers (Top & bottom) | * B. Phaser Bullets - Volley I | * C. Phaser Bullets - Volley II ----------------------------------- | | Area K Area L * D. 4 Stream Phaser Bullets * G. Straight Short Lasers | | * E. Illusion Lasers * H. Phaser Bullets - High Volley III | | * F. 8 Way Phaser Bullets * I. 4 Stream Spray Gun & Phaser Bullet | | * 3. Ramming (Puts up its fins and starts going in a circle) * 4. Ramming (Flies into the screen then appear on the left or right side) ** Attack/Projectile Absorbtion Bullets Type A * 5. Homing Missiles C (Area K) / Homming Missiles (Area L) * 6. Homing Laser A (Area K) / Wave Laser (Area L) ** Attack/Projectile Absorbtion Bullets Type A * 7. Panta Grenades * 8. Randoms Attacks X 2 (See No. 2) * 9. Ramming X 2 (Does No. 3 or/and No. 4) ** Attack/Projectile Absorbtion Bullets Type B * 10. Illusion Laser (Area K) * 11. Straight Short Laser (Area L) * 12. Double Beta Beam (The 1st Beam doesn't aim at you but the 2nd Beam does) ** These are totally RANDOM. Absolute Defender may or may not use these attacks. Strategy Area K: Reverse Direction can survive up to the end of Area K. Use his Boomerang Fin to destroy the Green Globe then power up your Alpha Beam to damage him. If the Barrier Shield is up again, aim for the Green Globe once more. Dodge AD's attacks as mention above. Once he releases the Panta Grenades, capture them and use them to power up your Alpha Beam to finish him off here. If you do not destroy him by then, a few more shoots will eventually destroy him. Strategy Area L: Reverse Direction doesn't survive at the end of Area L. You should have a captured enemy here. Destroy the Green Globe as before then use your Alpha Beam. Same strategy applies from Area K with an exception, AD won't be destroy after the 2nd Alpha Beam. You can keep the Panta Grenade up to counter his Beta Beam attacks. But I have never done so because in Area L, AD's attacks are much harder to dodge, so I use an Alpha Beam. His Double Beta Beam is easy to dodge, the 1st Beam goes forward, the 2nd beam aims at you. So its best to stay near his face and to 1st Beam so that the Beam will cross-fire with each other leaving more space for you to dodge then staying away and the 2nd Beam aims forward leaving you with a very small space to dodge. He will then release Panta Grenades again. Capture them and power up your Alpha Beam to finish him off. - Planet Mabaher - Eta Zone (Glowing Cave) Power Ups (Total) Area M - 4 Red, 3 Green, 4 Blue, 4 Purple Area N - 4 Red, 4 Green, 4 Blue, 3 Purple Mid-Boss: Grey Stripe Normal weapon: Wave Laser Primary Weapon: Wave Laser Spread and Short Lasers (Motion: Fw, HCF + A) - This stage is very short. The Shield Power Up is located near the beginning of the level, in the enemy wave that comes from behind. The 1-Up is hidden at the ceiling of the Cave near the turrets around the moment where the Mid-Boss shows up. A couple of enemy waves till you meet the Boss. BOSS: Fire Fossil - Weak Point: Body *NOTE: Fire Fossil's Attacks Patterns are similiar to Queen Fossil's with some variations. * Attack Pattern: Area M (Upper Part) 1. Flame Bullets, 2. Phaser bullets & 3 spray guns), 3. Fin Boomerang (4), 4. Homing Missile B, 5. 3 Spray guns, Gattling gun & Lasers, 6. Fin Boomerang (4), 7. Missiles B, 8. Mid-Boss: Grey Stripe 9. Flame Thrower, 10. LEFT side - Spray Lasers, 11. LEFT side - Scales, 12. Beta Beams (4 Beta Beams) Strategy Area M: Use the strategy as mentioned for Queen Fossil except for Attack Pattern No. 9. For the Flame Thrower, there is no need to dodge it as the safe area is the bottom right-hand corner of the screen! The Spray Laser are much faster and has less area to dodge. So watch out! As for the Beta Beams, you will need to tap very fast or very hard to counter all the 4 Beams. Fire Fossil fights your counter like crazy. In my playing experiences, I have only won a few times against this Beta Beam counter. * Attack Pattern: Area N (Lower Part) 1. Flame Bullets, 2. Spray Gun & Angular Homing Lasers, 3. Enemy Attack Formation, 4. Mobile Cannon Units, 5. Positron Beam A - Contains a Blue power-Up, 6. Mid-Boss: Grey Stripe, 7. Beta Beam with Spray Gun, 8. Long Lasers, Lasers & Homing Missile C, 9. Phaser Bullets (Big), 10. Missiles B, 11. Flame Bullet & Curving Flame Thrower, 12. Missile B (Above & Below) 13. Flamer Thrower, 14. Scale Shield & Phaser Bullets (Big), 15. Phaser Bullets (Big) & Cluster Bombs, 16. Long Flame Thrower, 17. Missile B (Above & Below), 18. Beta Beam with Spray Gun Strategy Area N: Use the strategy as mentioned for Queen Fossil except for Attack Pattern No. 11. The First Flame Thrower moves around the centre, so stay below the screen. Then quickly move towards the Flame Bullet turrets at the tail. You have to stay in between and near the turrets... that is the only safe area as the Flame Thrower curves around. Follow strategy for Attack Pattern No. 13. As for Attack Pattern No. 16, Stay at the top first or dodge into a safe area, then stay near and top of the turrets. These are safe areas. The usual follows for fighing Queen Fossil. Theta Zone (Gallery) Power Ups (Total) Area O - 5 Red, 2 Green, 4 Blue, 4 Purple Area P - 4 Red, 4 Green, 2 Blue, 5 Purple Mid-Boss: Grey Stripe Normal weapon: Wave Laser Primary Weapon: Wave Laser Spread and Short Lasers (Motion: Fw, HCF + A) - This stage represents something of the Aztec or Mayan culture (look at the background). The Shield Power-Up is located at the beginning of the stage. One point which I have noticed, if you did very well in the previous Zone, the enemy waves will fire at the beginning of the stage (Usually the tanks/soitdo). If you didn't do well previously, the enemy waves won't fire. The 1-Up is hidden at the bottom of the screen where a cluster of missles are. Just shooting at the area and the 1-Up will appear. BOSS: Death Wings - Weak Point: Body * Attack Pattern: Area O - 1. Homing Missiles D, 2. Phaser Bullets, 3. Angular Homing Lasers, 4. Underside - Spiral Beam, Solid Knights & Cluster Bombs, 5. Underside - Phaser Bullets & Vacuum 6. Beta Beam, 7. Homing Laser B, 8. Phaser Bullets & Homing Missiles D, 9. Afterburners, 10. Homing Missiles C, 11. Underside - Spiral Beam, Solid Knights & Cluster Bombs, 12. Homing Missiles C,13. Double Beta Beam Strategy: Start off destroying the missiles (Use the Mid-Boss to fire its Primary Weapon). Use the Mid-Boss as an Alpha Beam to counter the phaser bullets and tracking lasers while damaging Death Wings. Once Death Wings turns underside, capture a cluster bomb and shoot the diamonds. Watch out for the Spiral Beam, it tracks your position. He will then fire phaser bullets while creating a vacuum effect trying to suck you in... you can dodge the bullets or ram the bullets with the captured cluster bombs. He will then fly off and face you up-front releasing Homing Missiles C. He will then power-up his Beta Beam, dodge this beam because he moves forward. Dont try to counter this beam. As he moves forward, he will fire 2 Homing Lasers at you. Now, this is the hard part. Dodge the Phaser Bullets while your weapons destroy the Homing Missiles D. Stay near the tail (just below the tail). As the Afterburners come out, dont move and just stay at that position. Its hard to mention it here, you have to try it on your own to find out where exactly the safe spot is. Death Wings will then turn underside and repeat the Cluster Bombs, Solid Knights and Spiral Laser attacks. If you still have your captured enemy, detonated it just under him. It will cause him a bit of damage. Capture another Cluster Bomb. He will then turn to face you again firing Homing Missiles C. After this he will do his Double Beta Beam. You can counter only one of his beams, but it is enough to destroy him. If you do not destroy him at the countering, he will repeat his attack patterns. * Attack Pattern: Area P - 1. Spray Gun & Napalm Bomb, 2. Phaser Bullets & Solid Knights, 3. Homing Missiles D, 4. Phaser Bullets, 5. Angular Tracking Lasers, 6. Underside - Spiral Beam, Solid Knights & Cluster Bombs, 7. Beta Beam, 8. Homing Laser B, 9. Phaser Bullets & Homing Missiles D, 10. Afterburners, 11. Homing Missiles C, 12. Double Beta Beam Strategy: Nearly the same strategies apply here as with Area O. Except the beginning Attack Patterns. Shoot the Spray Gun and dodge the Napalm Bombs. Try not to let the Mid-Boss take alot of hits from the Napalm bombs. Use the Mid-Boss to protect you against the Phaser Bullets while both your combined weapons can destroy the Solid Knights. Note: Solid Knights can block off Alpha Beams. So its not advisable to use it here. The Homing Missiles D are easily disposed off and you can hide in the Mid-Boss during the Phaser Bullets. Use your Alpha Beam to negate the Angular Tracking Laser attack while damaging Death Wings. His Attacks from here on are similiar to Area O (See above for details). Iota Zone (Glacier) Power Ups (Total) Area Q - 4 Red, 3 Green, 3 Blue, 5 Purple Area R - 4 Red, 4 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple - This Zone is covered in Ice. The Shield Power-Up is only located in the later part of the Zone. The 1-Up is hidden at the cavern walls where you decend. Use your Multi-bombs to get it since its hidden on the left side. On the right side, there is a Gold (Smart Bomb) Power-Up located. There is a giant crab here, use an Alpha Beam to get rid of the ice slab on top of it and aim for the yellow spot. There are a lot of diamonds around, so be careful. Mid-Boss: Tail Blade Normal weapon: Wave Laser (Small) Primary Weapon: Wide Eye Beam (Motion: Fw, HCF + A) BOSS: Eight Feet Umbrella - Weak Point: Body * Attack Pattern Area Q: 1. Fire & Homing Missiles D, 2. Napalm Bombs, 3. Homing Laser A (X3), 4. Long Laser (X3), 5. Reflecting Laser (The laser can block off your attacks), 6. Underside - Ring Lasers & (This Laser opens up and closes, Alpha Beams cannot go through this lasers) & Floating Mines, 7. Phaser Bullets & Spray Gun, 8. Beta Beam & Homing Laser A (There are two Beta Beams) * Attack Pattern Area R: 1. Thunder & Homing Missiles D, 2. Napalm Bombs, 3. Homing Laser A, 4. Solid Missiles, 5. Underside - Phaser Bullets, Spray Bullets, Homing Missiles C & Floating Mines, 6. Phaser Bullets & Spray Bullets, 7. Beta Beam & Tracking Lasers (There are two Beta Beams) Strategy: The strategy applies here for both Areas till up to Attacks No. 4. Stay in the wide area and dodge the Lasers. Use Tail Blade's Wide Eye Beam to do damage. Eight Feet Umbrella (EFU) will do that twice. Use your Alpha Beam to negate the Napalm Bombs. EFU will then rotate and fire 3 Tracking Lasers at you. He does 3 set of Tracking Lasers.Area Q: EFU will then fire a Reflecting Laser... watch it closely as it bounces around. Stay away from it. EFU will then release some satellites. Capture them to use them againsts EFU's next attack. Now, this is a very weird attack. The Ring Lasers open up and close, the closed Ring Lasers block off your attacks including Alpha Beams. Stay at the end of the screen so you can dodge the Ring Lasers. EFU also releases Floating Mines. He will then release some more mines. Capture them to power-up your Alpha Beam. Area R: EFU will then release Solid Missles at you. Just destroy them. They are easy to destroy. EFU will turn undeside and release lots of Phaser Bullets, Spray Bullets, Missiles C and Floating Mines. Use your Alpha Beam to negate this attack. Pay attention on where you are, as you might get hit from behind. EFU will then release some more mines. Capture them to power- up your Alpha Beam. Strategy: Continued. At this point, EFU will release Phaser Bullets and Spray Gun before his Beta Beam attack. Make sure you have a capture enemy here to do a counter. Your initial countered Beam should finish him off, trying to counter his 2nd Beam is not necessary. NOTE: If you do not have a capture enemy here, you are in alot of trouble... while doing his Beta Beam, EFU will fire out 2 Homing Lasers A. There is not much room to dodge. He does this attack about 3 times. If EFU is still alive at this point, he will repeat his Attack Patterns. NOTE: In Area R, his Thunder Lasers will target you and cross each other. Hence, you have no place to dodge. Kappa Zone (Garden of Sky) Power Ups (Total) Area S - 5 Red, 3 Green, 3 Blue, 4 Purple Area T - 4 Red, 4 Green, 4 Blue, 3 Purple Mid-Boss: Tail Blade Normal weapon: Wave Laser (Small) Primary Weapon: Wide Eye Beam (Motion: Fw, HCF + A) - This stage is the garden of sky. This is one of the harder Zones. Look out for waves of Solid Knights then come together with the enemy waves. The 1-Up is hidden at the bottom of the screen right after the 1st wave of Solid Knights. Use an Alpha Beam and sweep the lower portion. It will reveal the 1-Up. BOSS: Eternal Triangle - Weak Point: Body * Attack Pattern Area S: 1. Phaser Bullets & Spray Gun, 2. Twin Lasers & Homing Missiles D, 3. Phaser Bullets & Spray Gun, 4. Twin Lasers & Homing Missiles D, 5. Phaser Bullets & Spray Gun, 6. Twin Lasers & Homing Missiles D, 7. Spread Energy Bullets, 8. Needle Lasers, 9. Spread Energy Bullets, 10. Needle Lasers, 11. Random Attack Pattern, 12. 3 Parts Re-joining & Cluster Bombs PLUS, 13. Energy Bullet, 14. Beta Beam Strategy: All of Eternal Triangle's (ET) Attacks need dodging here. Just keep dodging the attacks while keeping the Mid-Boss with you. Read the Table 3 on the Random Attacks. If you survive the Random Attacks, you can destroy ET at the Countering stage. * Attack Pattern Area T: 1. Homing Missiles C, 2. Homing Laser B, 3. Random Attack Pattern, 4. 3 Parts Re-joining & Cluster Bombs PLUS, 5. Energy Bullet, 6. Beta Beam, 7. Napalm Bomb & Homing Laser B, 8. Random Attack Pattern, 9. Phaser Bullets & Spray Gun, 10. Double Beta Beam Strategy: Same here applies in dodging. ET is harder here because you have 2 Random Attacks to deal with. You will need to Counter the 1st Beta Beam with the Mid-Boss. After that dodge the Napalm Bomb & Homing Lasers (which comes in pairs). You will come back to the 2nd Random Attack. After that, capture the Cluster Bombs PLUS then use it to against his Double Beta Beam. Random Attack Pattern Table 3 * A. Triangular Magnetic Beam - ET splits up into 3 parts and traps you in a Triangular Magnetic Beam. The only safe spot is in the middle. ET will fire Small Phaser Bullets and rotate around. ET will move in and rotate around you. You need to rely on your dodging skills here. * B. Top, Middle & Lower Attack Formation - ET splits up into 3 parts. The Middle Part attacks first with Big Phaser Bullets. The Lower Part releases Homing Missiles D. Space Mines are released by the Top Part (easy to dodge) while 2 Homing Lasers B are released by the Lower Part again. Do not stay at the bottom as the mines come down. However, make sure you have space to dodge while the Homing Lasers track you. * C. 3 Part Attack Formation - ET splits up into 3 parts... All the parts attack at the same time. The Top Part fires 2 Napalm Bombs, the Middle fires Big Phaser Bullets and the Lower Part fire 2 Homing Lasers B. Dodging this is a bit tricky. Start by staying up at the corner of the screen (Depending with side you are facing). Slowly move down bit by bit to dodge these attacks. * D. 3 Part Attack Formation 2 (Only Area T) - ET does the same as Pattern C. The Top Part fires Big Spray Gun, the Middle Part fires Big Phaser Bullets and the Lower Part fires 2 Homing Lasers B. The Middle Part will also fire Needle Lasers. You need to rely on your dodging skills here. 16 15