PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 7 of 7

The game has saved the best for last! Thanks for watching!

First | Previous

Stage 31

Watch where the swinging platforms go as you lower yourself down. Grab the cake, jump on the platform and let it fall with you on it so you can land on the solid ground below, then run right and get the checkpoint. Wait for the swinging platforms to get close to you so you can jump on them one by one, and it should not be long before you get to the goal.

Stage 32

You'll need to shoot the breakable blocks to the left of where you start. Run to the right and avoid the electricity along the way, grab the records, go back to the start, and shoot left to break the walls below the goal to drop it down. From here, you'll need to get through the walls with as few shots as possible while continuing to collect records, all while jumping on trampolines, which is not the easiest task in the world. When you get to the trampolines, destroy the breakable walls under the goal to get the goal to drop.

Shoot your way to the next level down, then head left to the crates. Shoot down the breakable walls at the bottom of the crates section, then jump your way up and shoot down the breakable walls at the top. Head to the right and shoot down the walls so you can give yourself enough room while also avoiding the crushing ceilings. If these ceilings get to the end, you won't be able to continue, so you'll need to be fast and precise with your shots. 

From here, you'll want to make paths you can crawl through on the next sets of walls so that you also don't fall into or stand up and hit yourself on the electricity. Jump over the last bits of electricity, which are really short, and shoot down the lone bear trap. The goal will be just behind the last breakable wall.

If you missed a wall, you're going to have to start all over, as there are no checkpoints in this stage. If you die, you're starting all over, which makes this stage rather rough.

Stage 33

Hey, guess what! It's more of what you did in Stage 32! You're just going up instead of down!

Grab the records at the start and use the trampoline to break the walls to the left. You'll want to make it so that the trampolines stay in place and the goal is able to make its way up. You'll have to do this throughout the stage.

You'll then have to head right, break the walls, avoid the crushing ceilings and shoot the switches so that the electricity doesn't get in your way. You'll have to shoot switches while behind electricity more often than not in order to move forward, but you'll eventually find some small platforms that you'll have to jump from one to the next to make your way up and deal with more crushing ceilings and electricity. Keep the electricity horizontal on the way to the left, and when you get to the ladder, climb down to break the next goal wall to the left. Make your way up, shoot some more wall to the left to raise the goal up, then make the electricity vertical on the next level and shoot the next goal wall.

At the top, duck to destroy the next well, and use the nearby trampoline to destroy the wall above that. You'll need to avoid more crushing ceilings and shoot carefully at the walls to ensure that you don't set the electricity to the wrong direction as you go through the walls. In the area with all of the switches and bear traps, just jump your way through and climb upwards. Shoot your way through the left and mind the crushing ceilings, and grab the stacks of records for more ammo. Just destroy the two top layers of wall so you don't get shocked. At the next ladder, shoot down the wall to the left, then climb up the ladder and shoot the wall to the left there. You've made it to the goal!

Stage 34

Avoid the dodo birds as you jump upwards. You have only ten seconds at the start of the level, so you'll need to hurry. Bounce off the mushroom and land on the platform to the right, and grab the hourglass. You'll have more time to work with, which is good. Jump from swinging platform to swinging platform, grab the checkpoint, and keep jumping your way to the right. You'll deal with a few more spiked balls as well as an egg that shoots debris out in six directions, but if you can jump to that set of records, you'll be able to reach the goal and beat the game! Congratulations! You just beat [i]The Blues Brothers[/i] for Super Nintendo! A sequel is teased at the end, but it didn't happen! Who cares? You're done with this game!

PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 6 of 7

You can tell that the game is saving the best for last because I'm typing a lot more for the last several levels in the game.

First | Previous | End

Stage 26

Be careful as you jump from platform to platform at the start. At the first swinging platform, duck to avoid the spike ball. Make sure you get the checkpoint afterwards! Duck down on the swinging platform afterwards, then get ready to jump from platform to platform and from trampoline to trampoline to get to the goal.

Stage 27

This level is a lot more run 'n gun compared to the last several stages, and has those car enemies from Stage 2 making a return. Watch the skies, as bear traps will be falling down, especially near the time and large health pick-ups. 

Stage 28

Another run 'n gun level, this time with bottomless pits! Be sure to get the extra life near the end by jumping over the goal and then getting right back; you're gonna need it.

Stage 29

The black orbs with the lightning bolts on them change the direction in which the electricity flows - between horizontally and vertically - whenever you throw records into them, and you'll need to be very careful near them so as not to make things harder...or impossible!

After the wall at the beginning (which you can jump over, amazingly), hit the switch so you can continue with the level. Be careful with the crushing ceilings as you destroy the walls in your way, and when you see the stack of records at the bottom of the crushing ceilings section, shoot the wall down, then throw a third record to turn the electricity of. Get past where the electricity was, make some room on the next wall, then shoot the bottom of that well to crawl and shoot your way across. You'll then want the electricity out of the way when you get to the ladders, so you can climb down and get the checkpoint. You'll need to grab it, as it is essential to clearing this stage.

From here, shoot the switches once to get on the trampolines, then shoot the switches again and land on the areas where the electricity flows vertically and jump your way to the goal. Do not shoot any switches on the way there. You may think you'll have to rely on the trampolines to get to the goal, but you won't just as long as you just get everything right and then just run and jump to the left.

Stage 30

Watch out for the electricity and the bear traps at the beginning...as well as the switches! You'll need to make paths at the lowest parts of the wall, but you'll also want to keep the electricity horizontal as you go through the crushing ceilings section. Keep the electricity horizontal before you reach the checkpoint, and carefully jump up the stairs.

Get the checkpoint when you get to the ladders, and keep the electricity horizontal for the rest of the level. (It will return to vertical if you die at this point, so remember where switches are). This will make the trampoline section easier so you can get to the goal with less effort.

PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 5 of 7

The electricity has now changed from green to orange...and it's a lot more prevalent at this point in the game, too! Better be ready to avoid it!

First | Previous | Next | End

Stage 21

Be ready to avoid the ceilings that move up and down as you jump the gaps and avoid the electricity, which you'll be doing constantly as you go lower and lower into the level. Be ready to run when the masses of electricity walls turn off. When you make it to the trampolines, get to the platforms above immediately and jump your way to the goal.

Stage 22

It's time to avoid more moving ceilings and electricity, and this time, you'll also be shooting bugs every now and then. You'll want to quickly run and jump to the right and get to the checkpoint. Thankfully, the ceilings are a tad slower once you travel left through the top of the level and shoot down the walls, and you won't have to wait too long if the ceilings get in the way of your shots. Thankfully, the level gets easier near the end.

Stage 23

You're riding the dragon again here. There's not much up or down, so just hold Right and get to the goal.

Stage 24

It's time for more chain grabbing as you run and climb through the level. If you see a checkpoint, grab it! There is invincibility left of the second checkpoint, but thankfully the rest of the stage is slow going as you only have the bear traps to deal with.

Stage 25

Grab the life as you start running to the right, and run to the right straight past the fallaway platforms. Stay on the outward edge of the swinging platforms and jump on the one in mid-air repeatedly. The narrow spike pathways are pretty easy to avoid the spikes in for the most part, but to get past the part with the swinging platforms where the spiky floors and ceilings are, you'll need to crawl from left to right on the platforms and move off the platforms (do not jump!). 

PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 4 of 7

There's lots of obstacle course platforming here! Amazingly, I was able to get everything to come together.

First | Previous | Next | End

Stage 16

Take the low road at the start to get that extra life. Just watch out for the spiked balls. Be sure to stand in the center of that wooden platform to drop down, then get ready to jump from platform to platform. Once you see the small heart, the worst is over. The goal is just ahead.

Stage 17

Get the cake for the extra hit at the start. From here, you'll eventually have to jump from swinging platform to swinging platform, but at least the platforms are slow. Pay attention on the way down with the platforms that are swinging in a circle so you don't fall into the spike pit. As for the lowest area, watch out for the enemies and the spiked ball, and watch your jumps after the big heart so you can make it to the goal.

Stage 18

It's back to running, jumping and throwing records at dogs on the way to the goal here. This is less of an obstacle course than the last two stages and is more of a "straight up" action kind of stage.

Stage 19

Get all the records as you can and break through all the walls that get int your way. The stacks of records seem tempting, but you'll find enough records out in the open. Be ready to make openings in the breakable walls in order to get away from all of the electricity and moving ceilings. You'll want to be careful with the last wall, because breaking the wrong row will send you falling into the electricity. Also, don't hold Y while bouncing around; you don't want to jump into the electrified ceilings.

Stage 20

Another vertical stage! This one doesn't have much in the way of enemies, but you'll still want to avoid the one bear trap that is there as well as the electricity. Hope you've mastered grabbing those climbable chains.

PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 3 of 7

It's time for some more obstacle courses. Don't worry, the difficulty's going to ramp up pretty soon.

First | Previous | Next | End

Stage 11

Here's another stage that you have to run through. Watch out for the bear traps and the crushing ceilings, and make sure you jump from crate to crate carefully. The walls with the yellow spots can be broken with the records that you can find throughout the stage, so blast through them and make a path.

Stage 12

Once again, you'll need to make your way to the top of the stage, then bounce off the mushrooms to the left to get to the goal. At least there aren't any enemies here.

Stage 13

A dragon (snake?) will be flying around you when you start the stage. Jump on its head, and you'll be able to fly around. The trick is to tap the direction you need to go instead of holding. Also, there are plenty of lives that you can pick up around here, and the best part about this is that if you lose a life for any reason, all the lives re-spawn, so you can pick up even more! Get as many lives as you need before getting out of here.

Also, if it lands on you, you can throw it with X. 

Stage 14

This is where the game starts getting harder. You'll want to get one of the cakes below where you start, so you can make the jumps over the electricity easier. Believe it or not, you jump higher when you're buff and you have the extra hit. As for the crate jumps, don't run. It'll make the jumps easier to pull off. At least the trampoline jumps near the end are easier to pull off than the ones at the start if you're holding the run button.

Stage 15

Take your time with your jumps at the beginning. You've got plenty of time to get through the stage, so watch where you're going as you're bouncing up and down off what look like bicycle pumps. As for the bear traps that are bouncing around, you'll need to time your record throws so that you can hit the traps and get them out of the way. Once you get to the top and reach the checkpoint, things get better. Don't forget that you can crawl on the way to the exit!

PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 2 of 7

These next five stages are all action, but if you know how to play, you can blast through these stages in a matter of minutes.

First | Next | End

Stage 6

For this level, your ability to do things is put to the test, and you won't have any records to use as weapons to back you up. You'll need to avoid the bear traps as they jump back and forth and avoid falling into the electricity in order to get through this level. Thankfully, it's not a long stage at all.

Stage 7

This level is completely vertical. Once again, you have no weapon. Be sure that you don't slide off while grabbing the chains, because there are still plenty of hazards in this stage that will hurt or kill you. Also, get to the gold jukebox as soon as you see it, because the crate near it falls if you stand on it for too long.

Stage 8

This one is just as action-oriented as the first two stages. You'll be avoiding swinging spiked balls, wall spikes and even snails as you run from point A to point B. At least you have weapons to pick up this time, and there's a 1-Up that you can get early in the stage.

At the top you'll need to run off the edge to get onto the first two swinging platforms as they move. For the next two singing platforms, you'll need to get to the right end and then crawl to the left with Down-Left on the D-Pad as the swinging platform heads that way. Do not hold Y while doing this, or you will hurt yourself on the spikes.

Stage 9

This stage is completely horizontal. Shoot down the bugs as you go and avoid those swinging spiked balls! Be sure to get the 1-Up near the end, just in case.

Stage 10

The dogs will chase after you, and you can shoot them down with your records. If a dog falls on you, you can carry it over your head and throw it away with the X button. Other than this, this is more running and jumping with the chain grab here and there.

PrinceWatercress plays The Blues Brothers (SNES) - Part 1 of 7

Hey, a Blues Brothers game! This game was as every bit as interesting as I expected it to be.

Next | End

This is a game that I've seen time and again on YouTube for years, and I've decided to take this game on myself. Interestingly, I didn't have as bad of a time as I thought I would, and I ended up completing it.

Stage 1

When you start the game, you can select between Elwood (the taller, thinner brother) or Jake (the shorter, rounder brother). Elwood runs faster, but Jake jumps higher. If you select both characters, Player 1 will be Elwood and Player 2 will be Jake. 

At the top of the screen is your HUD. The amount of records you have will be up there, and it will be different at the start of every level. By throwing records, you can defeat enemies. You'll also have your current amount of lives and health in the HUD. There is also a time limit, and you'll lose a life if you run out of time before completing a stage. You have three continues in case you lose all your lives, so be careful.

Left and Right move left and Right, Down ducks. Down-Left and Down-Right let you crawl. Y runs, B jumps, and A and X throw records. If you hold the throw button down, the picture of the record in the HUD will spin, and at the cost of five records, you can throw a super-charged record that can go through enemies and give you a more powerful attack. Collect more records to get more ammo. You'll need them to get past the bug enemies in this stage.

While running, you'll be a little more slippery than usual.

The red note is a checkpoint; grabbing one keeps you from starting the stage from the beginning when you die. The small red jukebox gives you temporary invincibility.

Spikes do not kill you upon contact, but they do take a lot of health away, so stay off of them.

For this stage, you'll need to avoid the spikes and the spinning spiked balls while jumping from platform to platform. Some of the platforms swing back and forth, but others spin in a complete circle. There are some stationary ones, and you don't want to dilly-dally on those as some of them will fall if you're on them for too long. You'll also need to take out the bugs, which fly in a circle at first and then track you when you get close enough. They only take one hit to kill.

The big gold jukebox is the goal. Touch it to clear the stage.

Stage 2

The mushrooms act as trampolines when you jump on them.

The cars take a few hits with the records to defeat, but a charged-up attack takes them down in one shot.

The cakes make your character super-buff and give them an extra hit. This extra hit keeps you from losing health, and can be quite useful. You can only have one extra hit at a time.

The small hearts refill one heart on your health, and the Blues Brothers dolls will give you extra lives. You'll need to be big to get the extra life here.

Stage 3

The snails take two records to defeat. 

The bear traps require you to duck to hit them, and they take multiple hits to defeat. They will repeatedly clap down, and while some of them will jump in place, others jump back and forth. They are among the enemies that you will see the most in this game, and you'll need to watch them to see where they go, as they are bad news.

There are mushrooms in the trees, and you'll need to hold B to jump from one mushroom to the next. Remember that you need to bounce twice for more height. When you reach the checkpoint, be ready to repeatedly run and jump to the left to get to the goal.

Stage 4

If you go to the left and follow the path at the start, you can get an hourglass. This will give you 50 more seconds.

The smaller, darker crates can fall if you spend too much time on some of them.

The electricity is instant death even if you have an extra hit! Don't touch it!

The bicycle pumps act as trampolines, much like the mushrooms from the earlier stages.

If you see a big chain, press Up while immediately in front of it to grab it. 

Be careful near the end. You do have knockback in case you get damaged, and while it's not Castlevania levels, it can make things a little dicey.

Stage 5

Once again, you need to get to the top and use the mushrooms in the trees to get to the goal. If you fall down near the end, head left to grab an hourglass for 50 more seconds. 

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 8 of 8

This game is finally over. Thankfully, things get easier after the second boss, but not by much. Either way, this game is beatable.

First | Previous

Shadow Palace Tracks Map (by 573w3)

The next door you need to get to is in the lower-right corner. To get there, get back on the mine cart, then go right until you can't anymore and turn upwards. Once again, be ready to avoid breaks in the track. Turn right as soon as you are able, then hold up and take the path north and take the turn left. Hold Down to turn at the third intersection, then turn right as soon as you're able. Hold Down before the broken tracks to turn, then hold Left to left immediately afterwards. From here, you no longer have to turn at any more intersections; you just need to worry about avoiding the broken parts of the track with the D-Pad on the way to the door. I've labeled this path with red lines on the map.

At the door, use the snowflake in front of the door to open it. You'll still have the torch to burn all on-screen enemies, so keep that in mind. Equip the magic mirror and the star. Use the mirror to distract the smaller pigs, and use the powder and the star to defeat the giant pig like you did at the beginning of the game. You'll save the fairy, who somehow got kidnapped, and your health will be refilled.

From here, you'll need to head to the door in the upper-left corner. You'll need to take the turns that led you here, and after you're able to go up and right from the path leading to the second door, wait until you're going east and hold Up at the fifth intersection to turn. Hold Left to turn at the second intersection you see going north, and you'll head straight there. This path is outlined with the pink line on the map above. Congratulations. The worst is over. Put the bubble blower in the door. You're riding free and easy now and you're only going to have to worry about the boss battles from now one.

Remember the ooze monster from the Dwarven Palace. Well, guess what, you'll need to fight him again. Thankfully, fighting him is the same as ever: wait for him to split into multiple parts and freeze them with the powder before hitting them with the stars. This time around, however, since you have less room, you'll have to use the magic mirror to keep the boss from following you around and keep the slime pieces in one place so you can defeat them all more easily. The more you can destroy at once, the better. Just be aggressive with the powder, throw a few stars, and throw the powder again. Beating this boss again will free Casolari, who refills your health.

Now for the door in the upper-right. Just ride the mine cart all the way to the right, just as the green line signifies. That's it. Use the lantern on the door to open it. Head south, then take the left fork to the south and follow the path to find Melody...and the Shadow King!

To defeat the Shadow King, you'll need to equip the magic mirror and the torch. Use the magic mirror to the eyes and use torch to destroy the eyes more easily regardless of where they fly. Keep an eye on the torch so you can use it when the flame is lit again.

The Shadow King will then transform into some sort of winged minotaur-like beast. Use the balloon to get the bomb to explode on you yet fail to damage you. When the room gets dark, use the torch, then equip the mirror and use it in front of the Shadow King to get his shadow orbs to explode on your clone. He will then fly to the right. Head to the left and throw a star at the ball which contains Melody to free her. Melody will give you an amulet, which you'll need to equip. 

Equip the hourglass and use it to get away from the Shadow King when he dives as you head back to the right. From here, you'll need to move to him, then get back to the left when he dives at you and use the amulet. The amulet throws lightning bolts around at random angles, and sometimes the lightning will hit the Shadow King. The amulet has a cool down period, much like snowflake, torch and lightning bolt before it, and you'll need to wait for it to flash yellow again before you can use it again. The closer you are to the Shadow King before you use it, the better.

Once you hit the Shadow King enough times, you'll beat the game. Merlin will reunite with Melody and Sherm, then the fairy tries to warn Merlin about the two Meanies at the balcony above ready to drop a big brick on Merlin only to fail. When the brick hits, everything turns black. Merlin eventually wakes up back outside of his home, with the amulet falling out of his grasp as he heads towards his house, signifying that it was not a dream. A Meanie then shows up and takes the amulet, and Merlin chases after the Meanie as the game ends.

If you collect all the health extensions, you'll get special text after the ending telling you that you are in the running for a contest mentioned in the manual, which ended long ago. You just beat Young Merlin!

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 7 of 8

In this entry, we enter the third and last mine cart section...and it's anything but fun.

First | Previous | End

Pinedale Map (by 573w3)

Rainbow World Map (by 573w3)

Tunnels Map (by 573w3)

Time to head back to the dragon just so we can defeat it. The lightning bolt attacks and defeats all on-screen minor enemies, so you won't need the torch or the snowflake anymore. When you get back to the dragon, use the hourglass to stop time, use the lightning bolt to attack, then get on the other side of the dragon. Keep doing this until the dragon is defeated.

Shadow Palace Tracks Map (by 573w3)

Defeating the dragon reveals an entrance to another chamber. Guess what? It's the third and final mine cart section. There are four doors, but only three are blocked by balls that bounce you back if you run into them. The only one that is not blocked at the start is in the lower-left corner, so here's what you need to do.

Get on the mine cart. Go all the way down and be ready to avoid broken pieces of track, because you'll be doing that again here. Take the turns across the south end of the area, then keep going north until you can't go north anymore. This will allow you to turn right. Go as far to the right as you can, and avoid the broken track as you make your way north. Go into the wall. You'll take a hidden passage, and in the middle of it, you'll get the final health extension.

From the hidden passage, turn right on the sixth intersection on the way north. Turn down, then follow the path and hit the spring. You'll need to loop back around, but you'll need to turn left just before you re-enter the hidden passage, which is the fifth intersection you see on the way down. This takes you straight to the first door. You'll need to place the lightning bolt in the door before you can open the door to go in.

Use the magic mirror in front of the mirror on the wall to go through the mirror. Make sure you equip the snowflake, as you're going to have to fight the big spider from Rainbow World again before you can rescue Sterm. Thankfully, the same strategies apply, with the only difference being that you're in a much bigger room. You may have to use the snowflake twice to re-freeze the cocoon, but at least you'll hit the big spider every time.

Eventually, the cocoon will be destroyed, and the big spider will spit webs to the side that spawn a bunch of spiders. Place the clone to the side with the mirror so he aims at that, and keep freezing him. You'll eventually save Sherm and shake hands with him before getting your health refilled.

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 6 of 8

The rainbow gem opens up a whole new world...and a whole new set of headaches.

First | Previous | Next | End

Elven Hollow Map (by 573w3)

Pinedale Map (by 573w3)

Since you've found out what the rainbow gem, it's time to use it for what it was meant for. Head to Pinedale and go back to the portal, then use the rainbow gem at the portal. You'll be able to enter a whole new world...which is also another maze.

Rainbow World Map (by 573w3)

Tunnels Map (by 573w3)

The flowers are teleporters, and you'll have to find some open ones in order to use them. For now, enter the tunnel. Make your way to the lower-right corner first so that you can get a health extension. From here, you'll need to find an opening that leads elsewhere, and that is west of the health extension.

Destroy the mushrooms to get the wooden heart, then use the teleporters to open up the rest of the teleporters in the aboveground maze. There will be another one near the goblin, who can be destroyed with the torch, even though he will eventually come back.

You'll have to go through more of the tunnels to open up more of the area. As for the teleporters, they will take you to a random location, and you'll want to keep going through the same one over and over again to open everything up. Keep in mind that the flower teleporters close when you leave this maze and that you will have to open them back up when you return.

There is an area with moving mushrooms with a passage to the west hidden by the flowers. This leads to a health extension.

The small flowers will surround and attack you, so stay away from them.

Back in Pinedale, use the wooden heart at the stump with the heart-shaped imprint in it. The first one will create a mound that you will need to put the yellow tulip in, and that will give you a silver star that is more powerful than the one you started with. You'll also get a password. The second one will create a mound you'll need to place the rose from the maze in, and doing that will net you a comb.

Head back to Rainbow World and open the area up. You'll need to use the comb to get past the small flowers, as the good looks you get from using the comb in front of them will stun them. This will allow you to get the third wooden heart. Head back to that tree and use the third wooden heart, then plant the white flower from the fairy's pond to get a snowflake. The snowflake will hit all on-screen enemies with a blast of cold weather and stun them, in addition to destroying all minor enemies on-screen.

Eventually, you'll have to make your way back into the tunnels and use them to get to a giant spider. You'll want to equip the magic mirror and the snowflake. Freeze the cocoon with the snowflake, then switch to the star and hit the frozen cocoon. Use the magic mirror to get the tiny spiders out of your way, then keep doing the whole snowflake-star-snowflake-star thing, occasionally using the mirror to keep the small spiders out of your way. You'll keep freezing the cocoon, but you'll also freeze the big spider every time, too. If you do get a spider on you, use the torch to burn it, as the spiders can burn through your health. Eventually, you'll defeat the big spider, and you'll get a fourth wooden heart and access to more of the tunnels. Use the snowflake to get rid of the red ants so you can get out of here safely.

From here, enter the tunnels entrance east of the small flower enemies guarding the wooden heart. You'll see some buttons and a gate, but you won't be able to get past the gate...yet. Instead, make your way through the tunnels until you find an opening in a wall in the middle of a path. Enter that, then take out the red mushrooms and get the flower behind them.

From here, head back to Pinedale, use the fourth wooden heart on the stump, and plant the flower that you just found. This will get you an hourglass, which you'll need to use to get past the gate, as it stops time for a few seconds when you use it. Now you'll have to do a bunch of backtracking to get to the gate, stand on the button, use the hourglass to stop time briefly, and get the fifth wooden heart and the red flower near it. From here, go to the opening in the lower-left corner of the maze. Use the hourglass to get past the dragon and get another health extension. This is the last one in the area.

Head back to the stump in Pinedale and use the fifth and final heart and plant the last flower to get the lightning bolt - your most powerful attack - and a password. Despite what I say here, we are going to have to go back...

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 5 of 8

The Shadow King knows we're getting close now...

First | Previous | Next | End

Elven Hollow Map (by 573w3)

Sterm's Mine Map (by 573w3)

Flooded Cavern Map (by 573w3)

Dwarven Palace Map (by 573w3)

Welp, time to head all the way back to the guard in the Dwarven Palace, now that you have the mirror. That's right, there's even more annoying backtracking! Stand to the side and use the magic mirror. This will create a clone of yourself that you can move for a short period of time, and this clone can be moved straight past the guard to the other side.

You'll find an elf chained to the wall. Use the key to free him, and you'll get a password. You'll also see a hole. Walk into the hole and you'll land on...another mine cart skateboard. Joy.

Dwarven Mine Map (by 573w3)

And now for the solution! The red line is the starting path, the green line is after the first spring, the yellow line is after the second spring, and the pink line is after the last spring you need to hit. 

This time around, you'll need to move the mine cart to avoid broken pieces of track, which makes things even more of a nightmare. You'll not only have to worry about plotting a course, but also avoiding broken sections of track that will knock the mine cart/makeshift skateboard off the track if you don't lean away from them. I wouldn't be surprised if this is where a lot of players gave up.

Travel south, and once you turn left, be ready to turn right at the third intersection. Keep going forward, and bounce off the spring. Turn left at the fifth intersection, and keep going until you bounce off another spring.

From here, keep going forward. Turn left before you hit the spring on the right hand side (or else you're just going to keep bouncing back and forth until you do). The third intersection on the way north lets you turn left; turn there. Move past all the intersections, and be ready to turn left. Keep going until you hit another spring.

From there, you'll need to head back. That means turning right at the last turn you took, then holding Down to avoid the spring on the way back (hitting it will take you back to the . This time, you'll want to turn left at the second intersection you see as you head south. When you make the turn, move past all the other intersection and be ready to hold Down to make the turn. After a jump over a pit, you'll be at the other side. Merlin will land on the ball of ore near the ore pile and automatically grab it, so that will be in your inventory now.

Move into the path of the ore buckets to be taken back to the machine in the palace, and use the ball of ore on the processing machine to get the purple gem, which is the last one. When you leave, however, you'll have to face the Goblin King. Use the Magic Mirror to distract the three flying eyes that he sends at you so you can easily destroy them. After doing this three times, the Goblin King will put up his dukes. You actually have to run into him, get punched, and lose nearly all of your health from being knocked into the wall to get him to go away and continue on with the game.

From here, you'll need to backtrack all the way to the lake and throw the purple gem in. This nets you two items: a torch that can be used as a weapon as well as a rainbow gem. You'll also get another password to copy down just before everyone in Pinedale - Sherm, Melody and Casolari - gets kidnapped by the Shadow King by means of the Meanies. They will then use a rainbow gem much like the one you got at the portal to carry everyone into the Shadow King's realm. Looks like it's up to you to save the day.

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 4 of 8

We got a lotta pushin' to do.

First | Previous | Next | End

Elven Hollow Map (by 573w3)

Sterm's Mine Map (by 573w3)

Flooded Cavern Map (by 573w3)

Dwarven Palace Map (by 573w3)

As soon as you enter the stone archway, you'll be met with a new puzzle and a fire blocking your path. There are three bowls to put things in. Put rainbow water from the lake at the start in the left bowl, the clear water from the spring near where the pig enemies were in the center bowl, and the blue water from the fairy's lake in the right bowl. The only things hinting at these waters are a rainbow, a yellow flower near the stream near the pigs, and the white daffodil from near the fairy's lake, respectively. Putting the correct waters in the correct bowls will get rid of the fire. If you don't put all three waters in the correct order, you'll have to go all the way back, re-collect the waters, return here, and then put the waters in the right place. Talk about annoying! At least you can use the spring to get back to the blue gem area.

Once the fire is out, go left and use the balloon near the ledge above once you move the plaques out of the way. You'll elevate yourself up to an area that you usually couldn't reach to get a health extension. To get back down, just move down in a specific spot and Merlin will drop down.

On the way right, you can move around south of the lava. 

The four arrows logo on the floor can be used to reset puzzles. Just use the four arrows item like any other item, and you'll reset the nearby puzzle while reappearing on the nearest logo. Thankfully, completed puzzles don't get reset.

Pushing the next plaque onto the button lets you head north, where you'll have to get more plaques on more buttons. You'll need to push the three next to each other in position first, then move the other two. Keep in mind that the plaques can only be moved around on the checkerboard floor, but you can push them from outside said floor.

Head to the north. For the next puzzle, you'll need to get all four plaques on the left, then move them into place. That's all you need to do. The door opens up with the plaques disappearing. There will be a soldier past the door, and you won't be able to get past him...yet. But at least these puzzles are done.

For now, head back, then go left of the four arrows logo. Equip the powder and enter the next room to face Bloop. Wait for Bloop to split into four, then freeze the pieces of him with the powder and attack them with the stars. He may get back together once or twice, but the parts that get destroyed will stay destroyed.

After Bloop is defeated, head north to find some machinery. Head left to pick up the key. Keep the machinery in mind for later; you'll need to put something on it when you get that something.

For now, go back to the intersection east of where you started and go east. It's time for another puzzle. Push everything at the bottom to the top row - center, left and then right. Push the top right plaque north once, and the top center plaque to the west twice. This lets you push the top left plaque out and onto the bottom left button. From there, you can push the top center plaque to the bottom center button, then push the top right plaque onto the last switch.

This opens the door to the south, but you'll need to wrap around to that area from the other side. Move the plaques that are in the way to the south so you can head to the right, then move the middle plaque to the right. Wrap back around to the other side and push the plaque to the right south and the plaque to the left west. You'll be able to get the green gem and get out of here.

You now have all of the puzzles solved. They will stay solved, and while you'll still have to push a few non-puzzle plaques out of the way, getting around here is a lot easier now.

You can now head all the way back to the lake and throw in the green gem. When you do, you'll get the magic mirror. Meanwhile, there will be two dwarves where you found the blue gem...and now you're going to have to go through there AGAIN!

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 3 of 8

The underwater maze is truly annoying.

First | Previous | Next | End

As soon as you walk into the water here, you'll enter an underwater maze.

You'll need to head from the southeast corner where you start to the northwest corner, where you'll need to use the balloon in the spotlight in order to surface. Along the way, there are caverns you can approach. Some of them have mermaids, and you'll need to let them kiss you in order to refill your oxygen, which will be in the lower-right corner of the screen. Others have piranhas that will swim after you as you try to get away from them. If you run out of oxygen, you'll be sent back to where you started the maze with reduced health.

There are other things to avoid, such as the jellyfish, hammerhead shark that will flatten you and do a lot of damage, and the dogfish chasing the catfish, which will stun you and cost you valuable time. There are even currents in certain areas that 

Aside from the northwest corner, there is also two places to go: west of the center of the maze, and west of the northeastern corner of the maze. Both of these areas lead to health extensions, and you'll want to get both of them.

When you get to the northwest corner and use the balloon in the spotlight to surface, then grab the blue gem. Head right of where you got the gem From here, if you haven't already, get the health extensions before leaving. It's easier to get the extension in the middle of the maze from the exit, while it's easier to get the extension in the northeast corner from the entrance.

From here, get out of the mine. Just keep in mind that this isn't the last time you'll need to go through this maze.

Elven Hollow Map (by 573w3)

Pinedale Map (by 573w3)

Head back to the gem lake and throw the blue gem in. You'll get an air bubble, which increases how much oxygen you have underwater, which makes the underwater maze easier. Also, a dwarf will show up near where the blue gem was. He will be guarding the weird icon that looks like four arrows converging into each other.

Believe it or not, there is a flower near the fairy's lake that you can pick up. You'll need it later.

Head back to the flooded cavern. At least you don't have to use the mine cart again. Use the air bubble to give yourself six air bubbles' worth of oxygen. If you still haven't gotten the health extensions here, go get them now.

The air bubble will make it easier to get the goldfish in the southwest corner. Since you have the goldfish, grabbing it will put it in the goldfish bowl. Head all the way back to Casolari in Pinedale and use the goldfish to get a spring.

Interestingly, the health extensions stay collected if you die in the maze; the goldfish, however, has to be re-collected if you perish before getting back to either the entrance or the exit.

Now you have to go all the way back to where you got the blue gem, take out the dwarf, and use the spring left of where you got the blue gem. This will take you to the opening on the other side as well as the four arrows icon. After you get the password, grab that icon, then be prepared to enter the opening...

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 2 of 8

...and this is where some people understandably get frustrated and turn the game off. I made this part look a lot easier than it actually was.

First | Next | End

Elven Hollow Map (by 573w3)

With the bubble blower in hand, head back to where you fought the Meanies after getting the yellow gem. When you see the Meanies, use the bubble blower near the Meanies to get them to scatter. Behind them is the fairy's trapped shadow. Head back to the lake where the fairy was and use the cube to give the fairy her shadow back. The fairy will heal you, then you'll find out that you need to go to Pinedale, where the girl that you tried to rescue earlier, whose name is Melody, is safe and sound and back at home. You'll also get another password.

Pinedale Map (by 573w3)

Head to Pinedale. The house just south of where you entered is the girl's home, but if you pick up the wrench at the front door, you'll find out that she lives with Sterm, her overprotective father, after Merlin somehow hides behind the tree. Sterm somehow sees Merlin and warns him just for waving back when Melody waves at him.

Past Sterm's house is a covered bridge, and north of the other end is a teleporter of some sort that we can't use yet. West of that is a tree stump with a heart-shaped slot. Northwest of here is Casolari, an old wizard who has locked himself out of his house. He's lost his key in the maze to the north, and you'll need to help him find it.

When you enter the maze, go as far to the right as you can, then head north. Take out the hedge monsters as you go by freezing and blasting them. When you see the bench, head south for the key. Don't leave just yet. Head back to the bench, then go west of the benches. You'll soon be able to get to an open area with a fountain where you can get some life-replenishing water as well as a red flower. Pick the flower up.

From here, get to the northeast corner of the maze. There will be a health extension; go through the wall left of this pick-up to get it. After picking it up, head west. There will be a secret wall leading into the area with the bottle; you'll need to walk through it to get the third and last bottle. From here, head all the way west, then head all the way south. From here, you can head all the way east, then south again to get out of the maze. Use the key on Casolari. He will re-enter his house and hand you a goldfish bowl, which we will need to put a goldfish in.

Sterm's Mine Map (by 573w3)

Head back to the entrance to the mine and use the wrench near the mine cart to remove the wheel. (If you move into the wheel beforehand, Merlin will mention needing a wrench.) Get the wheel, then head back into the mine. Get to the northwest corner to get to the mine cart, then use the wheel on it. Merlin will ride the mine cart like a skateboard...and this is where the frustration with the game kicks in. You'll need to turn towards the curves in the tracks before you take them, or else you're running into walls and starting all over. The fact that you cannot pause while doing this to make things easier really stinks. Thankfully, I've used the map from earlier and did some MS Paint Magic™ to work backwards and chart a route.

Hold Down on the D-Pad to turn immediately to the south, then take the jump and hold Right. Hold Down before the second intersection, then turn Right at the second junction. Hold Down near the end to turn, then hold Left after the first junction to turn left. Hold Up to turn as soon as you are able, then hold Right at the next junction. Hold Down to turn at the end of this part, then hold Right after that. Keep going to take the health extension here and take the jump, then hold Up after the jump to turn. You'll need to loop back around to where you got the health extension, then keep going back to the left where you turned to get to the health extension in the first place.

From there, hold Up at the third intersection on the way to the left to get back on track, then hold Left to turn again, then hold Down as soon as you're able to turn in that direction. Hold Right to turn when you reach the corner, then keep going to the right. Be ready to hold Up after the jump to turn one more time, and after the jump, you'll be at your destination: a flooded cavern. 

Since you cannot pause the game each turn to make things easier and you'll have to practice the crap out of this, this part can be pretty hard, and it can take several attempts to get this done. And before you ask, yes, you have to use the mine cart. You can't avoid it.

PrinceWatercress plays Young Merlin - Part 1 of 8

This game can be hard if you don't know what to do. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to get started early on.

Next | End

A host of evil creatures has besieged this once pristine land. From his underground palace, the Shadow King is directing his minions, the Meanies, to infiltrate, corrupt and destroy all things of beauty. The Shadow King is winning; all in the land will soon quiver beneath his vile gaze. Swept away by a raging river while trying to save a beautiful maiden, young Merlin finds himself in this enchanted land. As he explores, he discovers the Shadow King's hideous plot. Armed with an arsenal of magical objects, Merlin enlists the aid of the Lady of the Lake and vanquishes the Shadow King's evil minions. It takes all Merlin's cunning and skill to penetrate the Shadow King's defenses and crush him forever.

Elven Hollow Map (by 573w3)

From here, you'll have control of Merlin. The D-Pad moves you around in eight directions. Walk into the purple gem to pick it up, then head towards the nearby lake and press Y to throw it in. You'll complete a part of a rainbow, and you'll be rewarded with a star. Walk into it and pick it up. When you press B with this golden star equipped, you'll throw it in front of you like an explosive weapon. This is your means of defeating enemies up head. You can see what you have equipped on the Y and B buttons in the lower-left corner of the screen.

From here, head east. Don't go near the plants; you won't be able to survive them yet. Instead, stay on the path north of those plants. You'll seen an evil tree. Go right up to it and start mashing B to destroy it. Two Minions will come out of the tree and flee. You'll also be able to grab a bottle and an orange gem. The bottle can be used to store water and drink it to restore health, while the orange gem needs to be thrown into the lake from earlier.

When you throw the orange gem into the lake, you'll complete more of the rainbow and get a bag of powder. Head towards the plants and throw the powder at them with Y to freeze them, then immediately walk past all the plants before they unfreeze. From here, you'll have to fight some pig enemies with the golden star. Sometimes they will drop hearts that will refill one of your hearts that act as your health in the upper-left corner of the screen, and sometimes they will drop shamrocks. If you collect twelve shamrocks, you will either get temporary invincibility or a full health refill. Don't expect to get that many shamrocks that often, because I sure didn't.

L and R let you switch between all the items that can be equipped to the Y button. You can also press Select and manually select the item you want, and select what is also equipped to B. Start takes you to the sound test and password screen, which will be explained later.

There are three types of water: the regular water, which is a four heart refill; the rainbow water from the lake where you throw the gems into, which only refills a slight amount of health; and blue water which gives temporary invincibility.

On the way to fight the pigs, you'll notice a stream. You can use the bottle on it to give yourself the regular water that refills four hearts. Near that stream is a yellow flower. Don't forget to pick it up; you'll need it later.

In the lower-right corner of the area where you fight the pigs, you'll find a red heart outline. This is a health extension, and it will extend your health by one heart. The pigs can charge at you, so be careful if you're fighting them to refill your health.

Further down the road, you'll fight a much bigger pig. To defeat him, throw the powder at him to freeze him, then attack him with the stars. If he starts flashing out of his frozen state, freeze him again. Repeat until the giant pig falls. You'll then be directed southwest towards a lake, where Minions show up and kidnap the nearby fairy's reflection in the lake with a cube. (It took me until after I made the Let's Play to figure out what was going on here.) The Lady of the Lake will then show up and give you a combination of buttons that you can input in the password screen you can access with the Start Button. Be sure to write it down and keep it where you can find it. Press Start to get back into the game.

If you die at any point, you'll be taken back to the start of the area you were in with reduced health. Lives are infinite.

The small brook near where you fight the pigs has the regular water, which acts as a full heal if you drink it.

West of where the giant pig was is the entrance to the mine. South of the entrance is another health extension. Southeast of the mine entrance is the entrance to Pinedale.

Southwest of the Pinedale entrance is a log bridge. If you move towards it, you'll have a humorous set of interactions with one of the Minions (who kicks you and takes a little bit of your health) before reaching the lake where the fairy is. If you bottle the water here and drink it, you'll get temporary invincibility. Talking to the fairy will tell Merlin about the Minions who stole their shadow, and you'll need to head southeast to get it back.

If you go east of the log bridge, you'll find a lantern. Be sure to grab it; you'll need it later.

On the way to the shadow, use the invincibility water to take out the evil tree, then grab the yellow gem and follow the Minions so you can fight them. You won't be able to get past them...yet.

Head back to the rainbow lake and throw the yellow gem in. You'll be rewarded with a balloon, which allows you to inflate yourself and fly upwards in certain spots.

From here, head to the mine. 

Sterm's Mine Map (by 573w3)

You'll need to get the lantern first before you go in here, or else you won't be able to see.

To fight the dwarves, freeze them with the powder, then attack them until they die. Watch out for their dynamite.

You can enter the little passages with the words "Danger" by pressing A in front of them, but they will take you someplace random every time. I just take the long way through the mine.

The first place to go is in the northeast corner. When you reach the broken ladder, use the balloon. You'll find the red gem.

From here, head to the northernmost part of the maze. Head west, then go south, as soon as you're able to again. The fake wall to the west will give you a health extension. Go back north and up the ladder, then go down the next ladder to the west and go through the wall to the west for a bottle. Finally, go south and down the ladder, then go through the west wall there for another health extension. From here, you'll want to backtrack to the mine entrance. 

Throwing the red gem into the lake at the start will net you a bubble blower. We'll put that to use in the next video.

PrinceWatercress plays Chrono Trigger (Super NES) - Part 70 of 70

Well, time to bring this to a close. I believe I've shown as much of this game as I can, as much as I love it to death. See you next Let's Play.

First | Previous

In this video, I do a couple of things. I show off the battle with Magus in 12,000 B.C., which is pretty easy. If you have Frog in your party, it will be Frog vs. Magus; otherwise, it will be your entire party vs. Magus. Magus will just have Lightning 2, Fire 2, Water 2 and the scythe attack. When you beat him, he will tell you about Gaspar and the Chrono Trigger, then die. The sparkle that is where he once stood is the Amulet, which anyone can equip to protect against status ailments.

I also get the Mop by Charming a Nu in the Hunting Range in 65,000,000 B.C. The Mop is even weaker than the Wood Sword, and is Crono's weakest weapon. It also has no slash animation.

I also get the Slasher 2 in this one. It is one of Crono's stronger weapons, but has no special effects added to it like increasing stats, protecting against anything, etc.

I beat Lavos with and without Magus, both times with the Epoch crashed into Lavos. The "Reunion" and "Beyond Time" endings, both with and without Magus, are similar to each other in every way except with the "Reunion" endings having the scene where Marle heads to Death Peak to get Crono back. Frog will only be in human (read: Glenn) form during the "Reunion" ending with Magus dead in 12,000 B.C.; neither the "Reunion" and "Beyond Time" endings without Magus with the Epoch crashed will not show Frog/Glenn in his human form. So you're not missing much in that department. 

Other things to mention:

The Boss Orb and Side Kick battle in the Black Omen does not let you use techs and items at all, even before Lock All is cast by the Boss Orb. The spell is just a formality and does absolutely nothing, as techs and items are turned off before the battle even begins. This is also true of the Turret battles on the Blackbird as well as any battles with Rubbles.

Azala is female. I mention it in another video, but I'm mentioning it in this blog entry. You don't get to see her pronouns in the Super NES English translation due to how Ted Woolsey had to do everything just to meet Nintendo of America standards; the DS version and beyond with the translation closer to the original Japanese text as well as the Super Famicom version do refer to Azala as female.

Ayla gets the Iron Fist at Level 72. It replaces the fist, has a different strike animation, and inflicts Chaos on any enemy upon landing a critical hit, should the enemy survive. She also gets the Bronze Fist at Level 90, which has a different strike animation and does 9999 damage upon landing a critical hit.

With that, that's all that there is to say about Chrono Trigger, which is my absolute summit of favorite games of all times. I will probably never find another game like it. I apologize for the long video, as I myself do not like long videos, but I had to do this to get it out of the way for other games. See you next Let's Play!

PrinceWatercress plays Chrono Trigger (Super NES) - Part 69 of 70

I think this is the first time I've ever gotten this version of the "Reunion" ending, because I've never gotten this variation of it at all!

First | Previous | End

In this version, stuff is the same except for a few things: The Epoch is used to penetrate Lavos' shell to skip to the final boss battle instead of all the other avenues, and Magus is still alive.

In this version of the ending, I had to find all the other party members, who are in the second screen of Leene Square will no explanation given beforehand, and press A when in front of them to get them to the Telepod before the ending can start. I did not expect this while playing, and it took me aback,  After Lucca brings out Gaspar and mentions that she tinkered with the Telepod, Gaspar will mention the Chrono Trigger and how it works regardless of whether you got it from him before you got this version of the ending. 

Afterwards. Lucca leaves with everyone else to head to Death Peak, while Marle stays behind for the revealing of Leene's Bell. When she grabs the balloons used to bring the bell up, she somehow flies all the way to Death Peak in 2300 A.D. and gets Crono back before anyone else shows up.

PrinceWatercress plays Chrono Trigger (Super NES) - Part 68 of 70

Now that I've played my way back through New Game Plus to get to this point, it's time to see how the game ends if you don't get Crono back.

First | Previous | Next | End

I found out before the last video that the Nu in 12,000 B.C. that has to leave the building for you to get the tab behind him will only do so almost immediately after you enter the hut where you meet him. If it takes longer than that, go back and re-enter to try again.

The battle with Magus in 12,000 B.C. is pretty easy. All he does is use Lighting 2, Ice 2 and Fire 2 as well as attack with his scythe. If you have Frog in the party, it will be a one-on-one battle between Frog and Magus; otherwise, it will be Magus versus your whole party. When you beat Magus, he will tell you about Gaspar and the Chrono Trigger before he dies. There will also be a sparkle where he stood; press A on it to get the Amulet.

Once you make it back to The End of Time, you can get this ending. In this ending, Marle still wants to get Crono back, but everyone else, including Lucca, is uninterested. If you got the Chrono Trigger before getting this end, you will leave the Chrono Trigger with Gaspar before heading back to the Millenial Fair. If you didn't, you won't.

At The Millenial Fair, follow Lucca to the Telepod. Marle will mention that some sort of entity may have wanted them to go through this adventure - a statement similar to one made in the forest scene after you get Robo back during the Sunken Desert sidequest - then everyone will pop out of a portal near the Telepod. If you defeated Magus, Frog will be in human form and be Glenn again at this point. Also, if you did not get the Chrono Trigger at this point, Gaspar gives you the Chrono Trigger and tells you what it does. Everyone will suddenly be interested in getting Crono back, then Lucca gets the idea of using Epoch to get Crono back. Afterwards, you'll do the whole Leene's Bell placement again, and when Marle's father gets stuck, Marle leaves to get on the Epoch with Lucca and find Crono.

If Magus is defeated in 12,000 B.C., you'll see Frog's human form again. Instead of seeing Frog walking down Zenan Bridge with Queen Leene and numerous soldiers, you'll see him turn back to Glenn near a waterfall before seeing him with the King, Queen Leene and a few carpenters building the castle prison while Epoch flies by.

Near the end of the credits, instead of seeing the planet in Mode 7, you'll see Marle near a tree, where she waits until Crono appears in the distance and runs to him to get him back.

PrinceWatercress plays Chrono Trigger (Super NES) - Part 67 of 70

One more ending, and we'll finally cover the endings you can get with and without Crono.

First | Previous | Next | End

For this ending, you'll need to get Schala to open the door to the throne room, then immediately head back to the End of Time and fight Lavos instead of powering up the pendant in the Mammon Machine. Once you power up the pendant, the way out will be blocked and you won't be able to get this ending. From that point until the Lavos battle at the Ocean Palace, you'll only be able to get the ending from the previous video.

In this ending, Lucca and Marle will make comments about random male NPC's in the game. Also, Crono talks a total of two times. 

PrinceWatercress plays Chrono Trigger (Super NES) - Part 66 of 70

Now that we've beaten Azala, it's time for another ending.

First | Previous | Next | End

As mentioned earlier in the Let's Play, Black Tyrano has a Power Tab and Azala has a Magic Tab. Also, I just now found out while making this entry that Azala is female, and while it is made clear in the original Japanese version and every version of the game from Nintendo DS onward (which uses a translation closer to the original Japanese and doesn't contain any Woolseyisms), it is not made known at all in the original American Super Nintendo release.

For the next ending, you'll need to beat Lavos after beating Azala, but before Schala opens the sealed door in Zeal Palace. This time around, I have Ayla back in the party, which means that more raw, destructive power is about to ensue.

When you beat Lavos at this point in New Game Plus, you'll see Magus back in 12,000 B.C. as the Prophet, heading to Ocean Palace without the interference of Crono and company taking place. Whether or not he actually beats Lavos is another matter entirely.