Hagane (SNES) - 1st Loop 1CC & 2nd Loop attempted
1Hagane (SNES)
played by Judgment Storm
1st loop 1CC, then played loop 2 to stage 4-1 boss.
I didn't quit after finishing the 1st loop, but instead decided to try the 2nd harder loop. Once you're there, pretty much all enemies in a stage require twice the damage to kill. Also it seems you get fewer ninja magic items. No continues were used.
Hagane has a reputation for being one of the hardest games on the SNES, but the difficulty is IMO overrated.
00:20 Stage 1-1
02:10 Stage 1-2
03:43 Stage 1-3
05:35 Stage 1-4 (Keep to the right & it's actually no problem)
06:20 Musha-Mukuro (S1 boss) - Just chase him with the sword & hack until he's gone. The large statues' hands shouldn't be too tough to dodge.
07:02 Stage 2-1 - This section has just a mini boss.
07:50 Stage 2-2 - Some platforming. You'll need the flying tumble quite a bit here & in the next section. The slide is good for the pistons at the start.
09:30 Stage 2-3 - Less combat, more platforming.
11:38 En-Mikoshi (S2 boss) - When the core is exposed, hack away with the sword. Be ready to duck when the core fires its sideways plasma shot.
13:04 Stage 3-1. Look out for the big guys with maces. Find some way to deal with them. You will see more of them going forward.
14:40 Stage 3-2 You're inside a large enemy airship. There is one branching area that's good for getting a blue health flame & a 1up.
17:52 Stage 3-3 Now you're on a hovercraft, heading toward the exit.
18:45 Stage 3-4 You're outside the now wrecked airship, flying the hovercraft through the clouds.
19:49 Jasei-Jyu (S3 boss) - Use the shurikens until she starts trying to crowd you. Then finish with the sword.
20:27 Stage 4-1 That unknown samurai at the end of the level is not so tough after all. Keep away & throw shurikens.
22:15 Stage 4-2 Bombs for the giant burrowing snake.
26:06 Stage 4-3 You'll need the flying tumble a lot.
29:08 Jyuso-Dama (stage 4 boss)
1st form: Try to get right below it. When it opens up to shoot, jump up to punish the attack with your sword.
30:00 If Jyuso-Dama gets low enough, it's possible to get inside so the shot won't hit you.
30:04 Here is JD's 2nd form. Keep to the left & bat away at his flying armor bits with the sword. After they are gone...
30:45 JD's 3rd form will drop towards you quickly. Move a little away from it, then hit with the sword just as it goes back up.
31:00 Now, the 4th (and final form). Sword is good, but if you are low on health you might switch to bombs.
31:54 Stage 5-1 At the end, that samurai from earlier is back. Throw shurikens in an alternating high-low pattern. The high one will make him block with the sword, & should be followed immediately with a crouching one to hit him. Keep it going until he's gone for good.
33:33 Stage 5-2
36:19 Stage 5-3 Jump up to throw your bombs at the midboss.
36:49 Stage 5-4 OK, there is a spiked floor moving upwards to jab you from below. You need to move fast & destroy the switches to slow it down. There is a 1up in the level, but I don't recommend going for it.
37:18 Stage 5-5 In the last part where that spiked wall comes from the left, you might want to give it a few swats with the sword before you go. That will delay it. I should've done that.
38:41 Shura-Oh (stage 5 boss) Not too hard at all.
40:45 Amano-Ikazuchi (end boss)
OK, this one is hard. That's because it is a rocket which moves upward at a fast speed. It can shoot at you, while the jade dragon heads can blow fire. There are 5 heads in the middle & 3 at the top of it that must be taken out to destroy it. Your platforming will be severely tested here. One bad enough mistake means Amano-Ikazuchi may well get too far ahead for you to catch up. Hopefully you have saved several ninja magic items for this battle.
41:53 Ending & Credits
44:04 Begin 2nd loop. The game ends at the stage 4-1 boss.
1:23:07 Intro