Planet Descent

From the Front Page => Poll => Topic started by: -<WillyP>- on August 08, 2009, 09:45:13 AM

Title: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: -<WillyP>- on August 08, 2009, 09:45:13 AM
Ok, here's the D1/ D2 part of NUMBERZero's question about which level boss is the hardest...

1. D1 Level 7 boss
2. D1 Final boss
3. D2 Level 4 boss (Red Fatty) I love that. Wink
4. D2 Level 8 boss (Water boss)
5. D2 Level 12 boss (Fire boss)
6. D2 Level 16 boss (Ice boss) Pure evil!!
7. D2 Level 20 boss (alien 1 boss)
8. D2 Level 24 boss (alien 1 boss)
9. D2 1st Vertigo boss (was there only one boss in Vertigo? Haven't played it yet. If not, get rid of this.)
10. D2 final Vertigo boss

I haven't played through vertigo, or all of D2 either, for that matter, so feel free to speak up if I've made a mistake here. You can change your vote later.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Jeffguy1542 on August 08, 2009, 10:11:50 AM
I guess I'd say the Ice Boss, and not to mention the exit tunnel (If you don't know of the secret).

But there's also the D1 L7 boss, D2 L24 boss, and the Vertigo bosses (Haven't gotten to the 2nd one yet).
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: NUMBERZero on August 08, 2009, 11:42:23 AM
Aww come on. I dusted the Level 7 boss! (I have evidence on youtube)

D2 level 16 boss gets my vote everytime!
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Scyphi on August 08, 2009, 02:50:37 PM
The ice boss is definitely the smartest and the most devious of the bosses, but I don't know if I could declare him the hardest, as several bosses would rival each other for that post.

And again, I've never gone up against all of them. Never got the motive to play all the way through the Vertigo series, so I've never faced those bosses...  :-\

I know which one I think is the least hardest, and that's the water boss. He's actually kind of an oddball boss anyway. :P

We should have a which-boss-is-scariest poll next after this one, as that's a whole different ball of wax. :D
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Sapphirus on August 08, 2009, 10:24:00 PM
I put my bid on the Ice boss as well.
Back on vacation on my laptop (with D2x-rebirth), I've managed to beat him without dying, courtesy of saving mega missiles, using a gauss cannon to finish him off, and of course a cloaking device.  This was done in Hotshot
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: SaladBadger on August 09, 2009, 06:08:31 AM
Well, back when I was using the DOS EXE for everything, I could NEVER actually go after the ice boss. I had to use both megas, a little plasma, and then I just guided camped it.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Scyphi on August 09, 2009, 06:54:20 AM
That's how I've seen TechPro do it. He never actually enters the room. He just nails it from afar with guideds and other weapons whenever possible.

Sometimes not even that tactic will work, though. Like I said before, the Ice Boss is wickedly smart. He'll do things to make sure to be as difficult to kill as possible.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: TechPro on August 09, 2009, 02:42:37 PM
The best way (IMHO) to nail that level 16 Ice Boss is "Hit and Run" followed by Sniper shots.

Before going in where that Boss is, save up Megas, Flash, and Homers (and any other well powered weapons) and have your energy level (and shield level of course) built up as much as you can.  

When you open the door of the passage to that boss, just ahead of you is a up/down passage with the down opening to the Boss's room and the up dead ending.  First bots you'll encounter are those pesky red tail spike spawns.  Entice them to come for you and pick them off (I use the Omega and/or Napalm to waste them) before you actually enter the Boss's room.

Then, move into that passage and go up, bumping the "ceiling" which will open a small hidden room which will include a cloak (if memory is correct).  I try to maneuver to back up into that hidden room so that as soon as the cloak engages I can shoot forward entering the Boss's room and be cloaked at the same time.  Once there I head to the passage that leads to the exit door.  Immediately inside the door of the passage to the exit door in the floor is a hidden door which opens a passage that leads almost directly to the exit.  Inside this passage is more goodies you will want (including megas).  Using the door to this hidden passage and the door to the passage to the exit, you can peak out the door and take pot shots at the Boss then quickly duck back in ... thus protecting you from the powerful homing flash missiles this Boss is exceptionally good with.

If I run out of Megas and other good missles, I'll use Guided missles to take pot shots at the Boss to wear it down.  This also helps to time when it will cloak, thus allowing you to time when to take shots at it when it uncloaks (and avoid wasting Homers that can't track it when it cloaks).

Be sure to be patient and not freak out when you peak out the doors and that Boss is staring at you right back.  ;)





Anyway .... what were we talking about?
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: NUMBERZero on August 09, 2009, 03:06:53 PM
When you open the door of the passage to that boss, just ahead of you is a up/down passage with the down opening to the Boss's room and the up dead ending.  First bots you'll encounter are those pesky red tail spike spawns.  Entice them to come for you and pick them off (I use the Omega and/or Napalm to waste them) before you actually enter the Boss's room.

No offence, but just to point out a few things, I think you pretty much covered all of the best tactics, but....

A. There are no red spawns
B. Wishfull thinking for Napalm will not give you Napalm. ;)


Oh yeah and:

"Before going in where that Boss is, save up Megas, Flash, and Homers (and any other well powered weapons)"

Flash doesn't do good vs. anything bigger than an ITD.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: TechPro on August 09, 2009, 04:39:27 PM
No offense taken.

A. There are no red spawns
Yes, but they are just like (shape and such) to the green spawns ... I just call them red spawns.

B. Wishfull thinking for Napalm will not give you Napalm. ;)
Did I say that?  Hmmm.  Thought I was just saying that Napalm and also the Omega are good against those red tail spike bots (or whatever you want to call them).

Flash doesn't do good vs. anything bigger than an ITD.
Usually you would think so.  However the Flash is excellant at momentarily blinding ANY bot (including big boss bots) and is surprisingly damaging to this bot, especially when combining with another weapon.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: SaladBadger on August 09, 2009, 04:57:21 PM
I've seen it inturrept MANY thing. PESTs/PIGs, Thiefs, and probably other things I didn't pay attention to. There is no single "Flash Resistance" varible in the HAM file, probably meaning that anything can have the same effect.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: NUMBERZero on August 09, 2009, 05:28:11 PM
Didn't stop a Lou Guard for 3 seconds.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: SaladBadger on August 09, 2009, 05:42:40 PM
3 seconds sound a little long. I've only seen PESTs shake for a second or two. It's still enough to blow them to pieces though.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: NUMBERZero on August 09, 2009, 06:48:19 PM
What I'm saying is that it didn't stop the Lou Guard for 3 seconds and that's what I needed. When it's around a corner, you need time to come out and get it while it's blind, but there is not enough time. PESTs you can just go in and ram it to death, don't give a darn for you shields, and not even use a flash. It's useless against larger things.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: SaladBadger on August 09, 2009, 09:27:16 PM
Ammo Rack + 40 Flashes -- means you are ready to take that lou guard on. Just Bombard it (http://basementnet.dyndns.org/ryan/phpbbsmilies/icon_razz.gif)
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: PyroJockey on August 09, 2009, 09:28:56 PM
For some variety try the bosses in Descent: Maximum. They appear to be the same bosses found in Descent 2 and in the same level numbers but the layout of the levels are totally different.

For those who aren’t familiar with Descent: Maximum, it was the equivalent of a Descent 2 release for the original Sony Playstation. It has since been ported to Descent 2 for the PC.  The levels are smaller and unique to Maximum. (Kind of a contradiction, Maximum with smaller levels)

http://www.dfiles.de/download/d2/missions/maximum.zip (http://www.dfiles.de/download/d2/missions/maximum.zip)
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: NUMBERZero on August 10, 2009, 05:39:13 AM
I tnink you can complete the first 3 levels in under 3 minutes if I heard correctly! XD
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: SaladBadger on August 10, 2009, 06:47:15 AM
Probably. There's almost NO searching in the first levels. A key is 5 feet away from the door it opens
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Scyphi on August 10, 2009, 06:51:28 AM
Heh, Descent: Maximum is fun. I always found it was a bit more D1-like in attitude but definitely with that D2 twist. So, I guess it's kind of a D1-and-a-half. :P It's actually a bit easier too, because the levels are so much shorter. Some of the levels are more crafty than the originals, too, an added plus. :)

So it's not a replacement for D2, but still well worth the time to play. :)

Now, about the flashes, they work on any bot, but to a certain extent, NUMBERZero's right. A flash will still blind a bot, but not long enough for it to be really effective. Furthermore, I've noticed that the bigger the bot, the more likely it is to fire blindly. Probably the problem NUMBERZero is facing. Also, a flash will kind of "stun" the smaller bots for a few brief seconds (usually making them spin like tops :P) but that doesn't work on the bigger bots, such as a Lou Guard.

Regardless, the flash will still blind any bot, and if hit with it, will still damage it, and that's the point we're trying to get across. :)
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: NUMBERZero on August 10, 2009, 08:21:38 AM
That makes sence.  :D
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Kaiaatzl on December 15, 2009, 04:48:23 PM
When you open the door of the passage to that boss, just ahead of you is a up/down passage with the down opening to the Boss's room and the up dead ending.  First bots you'll encounter are those pesky red tail spike spawns.  Entice them to come for you and pick them off (I use the Omega and/or Napalm to waste them) before you actually enter the Boss's room.

There is a napalm cannon in the lost levels mod, I think.

I've actually found flash missiles very useful against the tough robots in the later levels of the Obsidian mission.  I just have to make sure to flash the IDRs before they flash me (and they always drop one or two packs of flash missiles, so I never run out.)
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: D2Disciple on December 15, 2009, 07:56:17 PM
I liked Descent Maximum. Agreed with everything Scyphi said.

I will say, though, that the levels are indeed extremely short. I can beat ten of its twenty-seven levels in one sitting. And yes, NZ, you're correct - the first level can be beaten within three minutes, due to it's extremely small design (the spawning room -> tunnel -> large room containing both red key and red door -> reactor room -> exit).

I know that I would certainly have not bought it for the Playstation, though. Too little game here to really stand on its own two feet.

However, D:Maximum might make for a very interesting speedrun campaign, though. With practice, I could see someone finishing the game within 3 hours.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: TechPro on December 15, 2009, 08:32:40 PM
I, personally, LOVE using Flash missiles to momentarily blind/numb a bot (or bots) while I line up my primary (Gauss anyone?) to put them out of their misery, or drill them with full lasers while they can't dodge anything.
(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-029.gif)
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: Zantor on December 20, 2009, 02:35:53 PM
D2 L16; I hate his homing flash crap. 'Nuff said.
Title: Re: Which is the hardest D1/ D2 level boss?
Post by: DarkWing on December 20, 2009, 05:05:14 PM
Odd, I always thought of the D2 Level 16 Boss as a Female.  :-\