Part 66: End of the World 2

Welcome back!





"Hey, there are traps and monsters that are set up to miss you if you're not running."



And we've got this button here which activates the elevator right next to it.



Hmm... a button on the wall, and a block in our way. What to do...





Damn. How fiendish!



Just gotta push the button again.



Jeez, looks like they had to build this part with all of the broken leftover giant stone cubes.



Whup.



Not gonna get me this time!



And a staircase leading to the next part? Will the wonders never cease?



RIP level-spanning staircase. It collapses once you move forward, but if you backtrack before that happens, it'll take you back down to the third section again. It's the only warp in the whole dungeon that (temporarily) works in both directions.

Also, the Saturn version desaturates the screen starting at this floor. Dunno if its supposed to represent being inside a cloudbank, or is a metaphor for the dungeon dragging on, or what, but it's a neat effect.

Anyway.



Oh shit, a robot!



Aha! Someone else took the trap instead of me!



Oh. Ouch.



ROBOT 2: THE REVENGENING





Huh, he looked up at us as we passed. Is he stil-



ROBOT used ROCKET FIST!

JUSTIN dodged!

Naturally, if you get hit by the fist, it deals damage.



Oh, hey, it's the Rock Bird again! What's up? How've you been, man?



Still guarding ancient Angelounian crap? Nice, nice.



Oh, that includes attacking intruders? Oops.



Oh, just a clay bird. Fewer hit points than the Rock Bird, and we're way more powerful than we were back in Sult.

I'd say these are minibosses, but they're more like mandatory random encounters.



Hell, they're even vulnerable to paralysis.





Defeating the Clay Bird opens the way to the next section.





Slowing down the music as you go through the dungeon? It worked for Dragon Warrior 1.



Sonic Bats are notable for dying quickly.



Not again!



Huh. That's unusual.



Another Bond of Trust.



Hmm. Here's the exit, but how to get that gold...?



: Feena, why does Justin keep on jumping down holes?

: Y-you'll understand when you're older, Sue.

: Oh, so you don't know either?

: Sh-shut up.



Gotcha!



I have to wonder if the save points and stashing places are already there, or if they represent the abstract concept of camping for the night?





Whew, that was an exhausting day of fighting robots and birds and whatnot. G'ni-

: Oh, come on, Justin. I'd like to talk with you a little more about our plans for tomorrow.

: The same thing we do every day, Feena. Try to explore the world!

: Are you OK, Sue? You don't have much pep today.

: I'm... I'm just so tired of climbing this wall, step by step.

: And always the same old view, too.

: Puff! Puff!

: Sue, what are you saying? Java told us about this, remember?

: "Overcome the trial before you and you may get that which you desire". That's how adventurers work!

: Yeah, but no matter what you say, this is so tiresome and boooooring!

: Puff! Puuuuuuuuff!

: I understand how Sue feels, though. We climb and climb, and all we see is more wall. I'm starting to doubt there is a top!

: Oh, now even Feena's losing faith!

: Hey, we're adventurers! Adventurers go all the way and never give up!



: Yeah... you're right. Adventurers must never lose faith.

: Hmph. Looks like I got another adventuring lesson from Justin.

: There are no mountains without peaks, so this wall must have a top up there somewhere.

: I've got a feeling that we're at least halfway up. We'll be getting to the top soon!

Next time:



Intense stashing action!

: Nobody gained any levels this time?

: There were, like, two random encounters. They'd better all be hiding on the upper floors.