Dawn of Mana Speed Run (New Game - Easy) in 2:32:37 (Seg 9)
12Dawn of Mana (Playstation 2) - Completed by Nicholas 'Sir VG' Hoppe on November
22nd, 2007.
Chater 8 - The Great Tree
8-1
Normally to get through this area, all I need is to beat the Grim Golem
Centurion to get the special key. However, I detour to get two ordinary keys to use
later on. One is aimed for 8-2, the other for 8-5. However, first I'm faced
with a mysterious void. Destroying the generator first is key, otherwise enemies
just respawn.
8-2
This area has 3 routes: left, right, center. The center is the easiest and
shortest route, except for the 'expected' path of getting to the entrance.
Luckily, due to my SRT and some button mashing on X to get some extra jumping in, I
take a major shortcut by crossing the gap. Getting the keys in 8-1 saves me
time by not having to fight a hoard of Golems near the left entrance. Heading
through the beehive hallway, the void is required to allow me to open the 2nd
gate, and breaking the generator in the 3rd room is required to fully open the 3rd
gates to the side rooms. Either one will open the gate to move on, but you
only need to do one or the other (these rooms are where you wind up in if you take
the left or right entrances in the earlier area).
8-3
While there are several ways through 8-3, the best way is to find up in the
center of floor B3. Ending up there allows you to skip the thanatos void that
you'd wind up in if you go through the B3 floor in a different location. Then
it's simply beating the Gorgon's Eye to get the key, then moving down down
DOWWWWWNNNN.
8-4
After beating up a few Golem soldiers, I come face to face with...
Grim Stroud.
While he has new techniques, the basic battle idea has remained the same -
chuck the kitchen sink at him. Luckily, I have one additional tool - the lantern.
Firing a pebble at it causes it to temporarily blow out - sending Grim Stroud
into a panic. Wondering why I wait until the end to grab that Honey Brew?
That's because after I beat him, I have to face...
Grim Stroud, Thanatos Version
He's bigger, he's badder, he's determined to kick my ass. The basic strategy
to beat him is very simple. Attack him until he draws energy from the 4 Night
Towers. At this point, he's invincible. Then work your way up to one of the
towers and destroy it (dodging his attacks, primarily Flying Blades). At this
point, he goes into panic for 30-60 seconds. After you attack him for a while,
he'll draw energy again. After the 3rd tower, he'll remain vulnerable for a
longer period of time, though he'll move about the room. Then he'll draw energy
from the 4th. One attack that appears near the last part of the battle is
Energy Sphere, a very powerful attack that's nearly impossible to avoid. During the
last portions of the battle, using Wisp sends him into a panic.
Think the game is over? Not a chance. Notice earlier I mentioned 8-5. I also
have that extra key. Well, the REAL final boss appears and I have to go take
her on.
8-5
This area is filled with twisted corridors that are hard to walk on. Tack on
those giant rolling spheres and you have one fun area. During this section, I
need 3 ordinary keys. Getting the first two are easy. The 3rd requires more
fighting, however I have that nice leftover extra key from 8-1 and I finally put
it to use. Yes, I've had to sit on it the entire level just for this moment.
After some conversation, I run into Buju! Yes, that damn little rabite isn't
completely worthless plot material after all.
8-6
Does this place look familiar? It should. Yes, I'm wandering back in the area
of the game that I started in. I'm even wandering nearly the same exact PATH
even. Ironic, isn't it? That I play this game for over 2 hours to end up
right back where I started. Though the normal enemies are gone, a lot of grim
monsters spawn throughout the level. Each of them only take one hit, and even
though I don't have to kill them, I get extra medals (and more importantly,
hexorbs), plus I avoid potential damage. After a long journey, we're here...
MEDUSA - THE FINAL BOSS
Yes, the long triumphant journey has reached its peak. Medusa is a boss
composed of 3 parts - Blood Serpent, Frost Serpent, and Medusa herself. Medusa
intially has a barrier, protecting her from almost all damage. First, you need to
take out the serpents by hitting them with the proper elements to panic them.
Luckily for us, there's plenty of blue and red crystals around the room.
Chucking them (and occasionally using hexorbs) brings them down so I can lay the
smackdown on Medusa herself. After an engaging battle, I come out victorious.
Time: 00:30:40
Final Time: 02:32:37
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