Part 6.5: Hello? I'm not dead! I'm just very badly burnt!The interruption to the action continues as a second boss and his squadron arrive:
Our new pal and new enemy have backstory together, it seems. Probably meant to hint at spinoff manga or the like. Still, the fact that they apparently get a little feeling when they're near each other is interesting. [spoiler]Could it be implying they're Newtypes?[/spoiler]
Kira reappears with a properly equipped Strike. Thank the lord for Cutscene Time.
Yes, Mr. Ultra-Genius, the robot named after a sword has a sword. Well done.
I would have thought the 'Or else Space Nazis will kill you' excuse would be enough to bypass this debate.
Anyway, talking is
finally done and we get back to fighting. Since its still the enemy turn, they all decide to focus on the closest tempting target, which happens to be
Akatsuki, hiding in a building.
Now you might think, based on that Video, he's in an ok position. He only has a 50-60% chance to be hit, and doesn't take too much damage. You think he'll take a few knocks, his will will build up, and he'll start one-shotting dudes with that main cannon.
But you'd be wrong, because the closer ones start using their Ion cannons, which despite being less accurate get several hits and cut through his D-Field like butter.
And sure enough, despite the odds, Akatsuki chokes and goes down in flames. Our first casualty!! Wooo!
Our turn comes and I start moving guys up again. The Archangel quickly shows how much its not designed for moving, with average flight speed, no decent post-move weapons and (currently) no Accel or Assault commands to help rectify this. The Nadesicos missile launcher might not be devestating but they're useful and allow it to fire on the move, the Archangel practically demands either spirit abuse or you setting it up so the enemy comes to you.
To be fair, the battleships in most games are like this, so its less a matter of the Archangel sucking as the Nadesico being awesome.
But lets not lament that, the real star of this show is Kira,
and the little hand says it's Hero Time!!Mu also charges in, firing his basic gun to minimal but appreciated effect.
Oh, David did get to do something this map. Cool, need to keep the massive throngs of David fangirls happy.
Yeah, Eiji's already doing very well with just the basic bonuses, now that the enemies are bigger than him.
Y'know, I'm thinking this idea of Calvina going with the Layner Formation might work.
With our will pumped by the previous wave, the enemy really aren't a threat to our guys anymore. (Except for Akatsuki, apparently)
Something incredible happens during this turn: Mazinger manages to dodge something! Man, these enemies suck.
Not that they can really hurt him anyway.
This really says all you need to know about the enemy AI in this game.
Mu kicks some ass of his own,
and shows off his ability to control multiple gundrones to attack from multiple angles. [spoiler]Another 'newtype' ability?[/spoiler]
Ok, when the enemy are actually in range, the Archangel is pretty good.
Mazinpower just kicked in yo. Kouji finally gets an overdue level-up and the important Wall command.
And Kira joins in too. They're almost all gone, except for that masked dude. We start off by
having Calvina try to take him on from range. Thats not quite enough, and in order to finish them off this turn, I let my impatience get the better of me and let Combattler have another kill.
Rau doesn't think much of our Super Death Robot and XP Sponge.
Five sets of Spirits, bitch!
We don't ask how a 50-meter tall robot drills through one less than half its hieght.
XP and parts, including another HE Radar. Yayifications!
They never seem to realise that all their allies are already dead when they say this.
I mean, its not like we're gonna treat you seriously, so you have to be the bigger man.
O'Niell cylinders, being huge and all, aren't going to leak all their contents just because a few holes have been poked in it. It would take days for the air to leak out, during which time one hopes that repairs can be made and the air somewhat reclaimed. It still ain't healthy to be outside, of course, what with the gale-force winds forming cyclones around the holes.
Escort mission! Wooo.
Ramius knows how to discipline Badgiruels.
'The ship just can't function without a months supply whipped cream and lube onboard.'
'Which means we're obligated as PCs to do the opposite!'
'That sounds like a challenge!! Gentlemen, we must kill the Earths Stratosphere! Start making plans.'
AHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHADon't worry, Badgirl, we'll leave no room for doubt.
Fixing Akatsuki's Aesty is quick and easy, apparently taking mere minutes, but takes a slice out of our earnings for the level. We might have to do something about this in future.