Part 51

Tuxedo Ted posted:

Did you buy the Laser 5 upgrades before working on the percentage, by any chance? I've noticed that your laser 4 is at 120% right now because you likely bought the upgrades after reaching 100%, but I'm worried that a bug will keep your new weapon at 100% instead of the full 120 you'd get by buying the upgrades later. Same thing happened to my Vulcan 2 or 3 or something when I first played the game. I don't know if it can be fixed by buying a new one and starting over, since I could luckily just wait until the next tier arrived to start over, but the level 5 Laser is the last option for you. Or maybe there's a way to still grind the one you have up to 120% after the fact.

Any chance of fixing this, Opendork? I'm sure you wouldn't want to take on the last stages with an underpowered weapon.

Percentage has nothing to do with upgrades. Anyway, don't worry. I already did a practice run of the last boss and it went a hell of a lot better than Ren-fair.


It's time to start the elevator music... of warriors!


Y'know, I was on the Atlas design team back in the day. If I'd known those Society kooks were behind it all...

So... wait. You were building the thing and never noticed all the weaponry?

Trust those bastards to turn it into a weapons platform!

This wouldn't have happened if the world hadn't abandoned Atlas all those years ago...

The fault is ours, not the Society's...

That is the worst logic I have ever heard in my entire life.

But if we can use our energies to bring the world together...

...we'll be playing Katamari Damacy. Shut up and let's shoot some things.

We'll never get the chance if we can't take that weapon off-line. Let's go!

We're under fire!

Damn! The whole elevator's armed to the teeth!

Elevators don't have teeth.

Master! ...Did he make it through?

With that kinda firepower lined up against him? Fat chance! Serves him right for taking off alone...

What are you even talking about? It's GENOCE. The guy is so experienced with running away I'm pretty sure he could escape a black hole's event horizon.

We'll be cut to ribbons if we push ahead.

All right. Try and approach the base of the tower. Stay low!


Let's just follow the outer wall.

Why, yes. Going up IS the best way to climb something.


Man, when I tested this level before doing the grinding I got my ass handed to me. This time? I killed everything so fast that I couldn't get a screenshot of an enemy where they weren't exploding. It was just the jet-thingies from Sentinel Wing, thankfully.


It might have something to do with the lasers in your way.

I can't go any further! That laser battery's in the way!

Hold up! I'll take care of it.


And so he did.


The carrier can't stand up to this kind of fire. Brenda, drop me off and fall back!

Are you crazy?

For the last time, YES!

Your vernier's only good for 30 minutes of burn!

We don't have a choice. The higher we go, the more of a burden the carrier will become. There's no need to get the rest of you killed, too!

Just Al and Rook. Oh yeah.

...All right! Buckle up!

What the hell are you...

What's it look like? I'm getting us inside.

W-WAIT!


Ker-smash! Ramming speeds!

Not bad, eh? I can help out too, y'know!

You're crazy!

Well, that makes two of us. Let's move!

Roger!




These numbers? Completely meaningless now. Ah, the joys of level 38.


Going up!


I'll head up from the inside, taking out what I can. That should give you enough of a window to slip through.

Pretty risky... are you sure you're going to be able to make it?

I'll be all right. Take care, OK?

You too.


I don't recall bringing a third along...


Welcome to Atlas. Final dungeon music; final dungeon enemies (even though the defenses are supposed to be automated so it makes no sense that Wanzers stronger than the ones guarding the Controller would be here). You get to ride lots of elevators and rush through lots of hallways. It's hard to just dash past everything like I want to because you don't have any room to go around. For the most part, we've seen most of what this level wants to throw at us before, but don't despair: the game hasn't run out of tricks just yet.


Also: DON'T waste your time getting this.


YEAH! Woosh woosh woosh Mission Complete!




I'm posting these, but I don't care about them! WOOOO!


I care very slightly about this. Very slight amount of caring.


What's it like inside?

Swarming with defense drones.

"And manned Wanzers for some reason. I didn't question it."

What about the outside?

Quiet for now, thanks to you. We'd better press on, though. No telling how long we've got.

All right. Have my unit repaired and resupplied.


Atlas is opening fire again!

Stupid Atlas and its guns.

Already?

In hindsight, that trip back to New York for supplies may have been a bad idea.

Get the Wanzers ready for launch!

No chance! If I get any closer they'll pound us to pieces!

This can't be it... Not after all we've gone through!

Guardian here. Better late than never, eh?

We've got trouble up here! The elevator's defenses have us pinned solid!

Sit tight. In a few moments we're going to invade Atlas from its base.

Wait! Atlas is far more powerful than we thought. You can't possibly have enough men!

Don't worry. We've picked up a few allies along the way...

Albert! Orwen here.

The only man bad enough to ram a mech with a truck full of fuel.

Looks like I can finally repay the favor!

Sir! Then the Bergen Air Force...?

Yes... and not just Bergen! Every one of us has brought forces here to battle Atlas.

Clark's shaping up to be a fine soldier! I owe it to him to see he gets back in one piece.

Albert! I trust Luven's doing well? It's our turn to help you out!

My thanks for your efforts, Albert. Peace is finally within our grasp... We can't let it slip away!

Thanks to you, our country too has started to see the light. My people stand behind you!

Thanks for savin' Anita.

Damn fine job getting this far, Albert... You're a real piece of work! All right, son! My boys just blew out the surface-to-air batteries. Go up there and get 'em!

Richard... Everyone... Thanks!


This level is essentially the same as last time.


Except for these little flying black spheres. They can shoot at you, but are overall rather harmless. At least for now.


This place is also a bit more complicated than the linear paths of 101.




The last results screens. Savour them.


Better make sure we've got everything we need... There may be no turning back once we're up there.

No less than usual. But that's not important now.


We're here.