Base in the Boondocks

18th: Base in the Boondocks Make a Good 48 Hour Mega Man Level

Maybe watering the plants isn't such a good idea...

Overview Creator(s): Flashman85 Composer(s): Konami, Yuzo Koshiro Statistics Scores: 71 66 59 84 Total: 70.00 / 100 Rank: 18th Elements: 1 Box Items: Fankurow Flower Presenter Returning Monking Landmine Wily 4 Laser Enemies: Fankurow Flower Presenter Returning Monking Gimmicks: Landmine Wily 4 Laser Bosses: Dyna Man

Theme Music Castlevania: Rondo of Blood - Portrait of a Ghost Ship Boss: Ys Book I & II - Holders of Power Stage Order Location: Tier 10 Previous: Spicy Banana Bread Storehouse Next: Into the Furnace

Base in the Boondocks is the 18th place entry in Make a Good 48 Hour Mega Man Level. It is a level that uses Wily 4 Lasers as its primary gimmick, but with an added twist: stage enemies and their projectiles are able to block them just like the Concrete Shot (the level also gives this property to the Salt Water). As a result, destroying enemies isn't always a wise (or even ideal) option, largely encouraging a pacifistic playstyle.

Strategy

Understanding the enemy patterns, taking a moment to observe your surroundings before attempting each new challenge, and using special weapons are the keys to success in this level. Where lasers are involved, a pacifist approach is often desirable; enemies and their projectiles are frequently used to block lasers that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to avoid. Concrete Shot and Salt Water can also be used to block lasers.

The first Flower Presenter you encounter (below the ladder) always drops a large weapon energy refill. The last Fankurow in the cave section (on the ledge above you) always drops a life. To return safely from collecting the E-Tank in the middle of the level, use Concrete Shot to create a stepping stone against the left wall; careful use of Rush Coil or Rush Jet, or even a very precise regular jump, can also get you out safely.

The boss fight with Dyna Man is relatively straightforward: slide underneath him whenever he jumps, then fire and slide back the other direction when he jumps again. This strategy should keep you relatively centered in the arena, avoiding the lasers along the edges.

Judge Comments

Judge Comments
ParmaJon  : 71 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 25 / 35 10 / 15 10 / 10 17 / 25 9 / 15 WHY DID YOU STOP. This level had so much going for it, but it just feels incomplete. Using the monkeys and the plant missiles to block the lasers is just so satisfying. The owls blocking the lasers so you couldn't kill them without consequence was also great. You had so much going, but it just feels like it needs another section. Even the owls and the Mars mines worked really well together. I really enjoyed this. The level looks and feels great, and the enemies feel so purposeful. It's just not enough to feel wholly fleshed out.
PKWeegee  : 66 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 17 / 35 12 / 15 10 / 10 14 / 25 13 / 15 I want to like this level more than I do, because the ideas are not bad. Having enemies block the lasers is a cool take on things, but the enemies you most prominently used were two which had quite erratic or unpredictable movements at times, or were too fast to hold the lasers up for any reasonable amount of time. The sections with the owls were handled way better. Also, I don't see the point of the lasers in the boss arena.
M-Jacq  : 59 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 18 / 35 10 / 15 9 / 10 12 / 25 10 / 15 Hm, so here's my thing with this level. You have a gimmick that's unique and mostly works, with the enemies blocking the lasers... but I found that the level was significantly more enjoyable when I just cheesed through those bits by damage boosting. I think it's just a little too finicky with the enemy set here, although there was a valiant attempt to make it work with the Monkings and flowerpots. Other than that, this level is unexceptional but solid - the Mars mines were used admirably, in particular. I was less enthused with the Fankurow jumps, which weren't really hard.
Freems  : 84 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 29 / 35 12 / 15 9 / 10 24 / 25 10 / 15 Let me tell you, this level really didn't do anything super flashy or off the walls but I loved it. When I first saw that the flower missiles were blocking the lasers I nearly lost my mind. You managed to use all of your enemies work with the lasers wonderfully! Your first instinct is to kill those fan enemies but if you do then you're gonna get pelted with a face full of laser. Unlike the original source, the game never forces you to use Concrete Shot to make it through the level but there are a handful of times where it's helpful, but it's never mandatory. There were a small handful of times where the enemy placement was a little awkward, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the introduction of the fan enemy, and unfortunately the checkpoint room with the fan enemy is a tad glitchy (nothing game breaking but the fan seems to have effect on Mega Man's teleport animation) but for doing such a simple concept of "let's have enemies interact with these lasers" I really enjoyed myself. So good on you!

Notes

• Rain Flush was intended to temporarily disable the lasers in this level, but this functionality was omitted due to unexpected technical complications that could not be resolved in the allotted time.