Grand Testing Tale -- page 1451

Sonic Levals & Bosses

Special Stage hints: Stay calm and composed. You're only running about at around 50 MPH! Find a pattern to each level. Don't forget to jump. If you time your jumps right, you can jump over two blocks at a time! Practice. Now, to the specific zones.

Angel Island: This zone is basically the tutorial level. Use it to learn Sonic's moves. Try spin-dashing into rocks and dead ends -- occasionally you'll find a secret area. For example, from the beginning, go to the right and leap down where the vines are. Then, go to the left and spin dash into the cliff. There should be a large golden ring that brings you into the Special Stages. Throughout the game, there are innumerable areas like this one. When you get a shield, try using its special effect (only usable by Sonic). The flame shield will allow you to make a forward-leaping attack. Note: The lightning and flame shields will wear off when you hit water.

Mid-Boss : The overgrown flamethrower. Note: you will meet this boss twice -- one when it sets the forest ablaze, and again when you actually fight it. Once again, the first zone is a tutorial. As with most of the other bosses, this one follows a definite pattern. Observe it and attack when you can safely. For this one, wait until it fires its flame and then hit it a few times before it goes to the top of the screen and moves to the other side.

Robotnik: Bombing blimp and flamethrower When the blimp starts to come from behind you, just keep running to the right, and you'll outrun the bombs. Don't worry about Tails, he'll just get blown up a couple times, but hey, he's the sidekick! Anyway, later you will see Doc Robotnik flying in the background. A few moments later you will cross a bridge and stop. Don't stay on the bridge -- Robotnik will destroy it, and if you do want to move in for one hit, you can, but not two. Again, note the Boss's patterns, and attack when you can.

Hydrocity Act 1: Here's your first experience with long-term underwater treks. Whenever possible or necessary, stop at a cluster of bubbles on the floor and wait for a large bubble to breathe. (You'll be able to tell when to get some air when the countdown begins, and the music changes. If you see a countdown without a music change, it's probably Tails who's drowning. Once again, ignore him.) Also, a bubble shield will remove the need to stop at bubble clusters. In some places and for some enemies (like to get rid of a Blastoid safely), you will need to use the spin-dash.

Mid-boss : The washing machine. Now to get all that grime out from adventuring! When the boss first comes down, DON'T attack it. Wait until it goes back up, makes two passes along the bottom, and lands on the post in the middle. Then, while it's getting prepared to take you for a spin, jump up from directly below it and hit it until you're picked up by the current. Remember -- dodge, jump, rinse, and repeat as many times as necessary.

Hydrocity Act 2: This level starts out in a closed room. Now use what you learned from Angel Island to break out to the right. Then, race for you life as the wall follows you from the left. Use spin-dashes constantly. Everything else is pretty much the same!

Robotnik : Some machine with depth charges and waterspout maker. This boss is much easier using Tails. All he has to do is ram the bottom of the ship with his tails, but just watch out when those rotors start moving! As for Sonic, he will have to attack when Robotnik comes down to create a water vortex, or if he wants to be more agressive, use the explosions from the depth charges to propell him toward Robotnik!

Marble Garden: Prepare for some fast-flying action! New objects are the blue wheels embedded into hillsides and blue tops! Use a spin dash right next to a wheel to change the landscape! On a top, push left or right to direct it and to move upward! Also, certain walls can be destroyed only by ramming them with a top.

Mid-Boss : The Tunnelbot Like on Angel Island, you will meet this boss once or twice before you actually fight it. This one should be pretty simple -- avoid spikes from the celing and hit it when you won't hit the drills.

Robotnik : Air fight against a flying Robotnik with a big drill! This time, this boss is harder for Tails. Tails has to do the same thing as for the last Robotnik, but timing is critical. For Sonic, just hit the machine right on the winshield, avoiding the drill. Whomever you choose, the boss's pattern will be from right, above, below, right, I think.

Carnival Night: Yea! A theme park! Everything's pretty much the same except, there are a LOT more hidden places than in other zones, and a few more toys. There's the cannon which will launch you in the direction of your choice. Of course, we must not forget the anti-gravity pads and balloons to bounce off of. Large, black wheels to get dizzy on, and the unforgettable rotating barrels. To get barrels to move, try shifting your weight UP and DOWN. Note: Not all barrels move very far.

Mid-Boss : Uh... sorta like the ancient Arkanoid, except you're on the blocks This guy's really easy. When it first launches the spiked pad, hit it right away. When the pad hits it's carrier, hit the carrier again. Keep this up for four times.

Robotnik : Ball bearing and lightning-vortex maker OK, this one's a little harder. When Robotnik drops the ball, get away from it since he'll use it to focus his lightning on. When the light show ends, park right next to the ball, and I mean right next to! Wait for Robotnik to come down to pick up his toy, and attack, Attack, ATTACK! If you positioned yourself right, you should hit the ship right between the lightning generators.

Ice Cap : If you're playing as Sonic, you'll get to see him snowboard. If you're playing as Tails, well, too bad. Same as usual, plus a few sleds and lift cups. When you find and impassable wall, either you came from the wrong side, or you need to ram it through. Remember the Marble Garden? Find a block of ice and slide away! Also, there are some little cups with safety rails. Spin- dash into the cup to send it flying upward. Plus, ever want to know what it feels like to be fresh frozen? Just watch out for gas clouds from the celings. Note: Flaming and lightning shields will be useful here -- they destroy the Star Pointer's stars and they seem to prevent you from being frozen, I'm not sure.

Mid-boss : The ice collector This one will collect a shield of ice and make two passes at you. Wait until it launches its shield off to attack, then avoid the falling ice rocks.

Robotnik : The big ice machine This one's the mother of all freezers! When it opens up, jump on the platform and destroy it! Just beware for the occasional blast from above. Note: At least the lightning shield seemed to prevent freezer burn.

Launch Base: You're at the final zone! But be careful! Certain blocks that are red and holding a glowing something will change the patterns of the half red, half black walls. Also, watch for the elevators and spinning cups. This one won't be IMPOSSIBLY hard.

Mid-boss : The spike-swinger The usual - observe and attack. If you got this far, you should be able to beat it without too much trouble. Robotnik : The final battles! (You DO have rings this time!)

First stage: Ball launcher Use the platform that opens up to launch bombs to jump up and hit Robotnik. Hit 8 times to continue. Launch pattern is... up (far), down, up (near), down, up (far), up (near), down...

Second stage: Laser blaster After seeing Knuckles take a swim, watch for more boss patterns. Bounce on the top of this one a couple times as it goes up, but watch for the little guard. Hit it once on its way down. Each section takes 4 hits, plus one to finish this boss.

Final Battle: The Nightmare with spikes and a good grip OK, you made it this far, but you better stay alert! This one starts by passing by you from the right then from the left. Time your jump each time so that you hit the winshield -- not the hands below or the spikes above. Then wait for it to come down and try to make you run into the spikes. Stay behind it -- you can still get caught by the hands on its way up! Wait until it moves off the screen then, move Sonic or Tails to the centerIt'll make another two passes, starting on either side and then from the other. Tap the jump button slightly and push in its direction, you should be able to hit it. From there, it repeats by trying to impale you. Just think -- only 8 hits! (Heh, heh!)