The Armored Dock Platform is the Boss of Stage 9.
Appearance[]
The Armored Dock Platform is a giant metal platform with a shape of a hollow square frustum: a top square frame supported by four main legs. The modules on its sides slide horizontally on top of tracks located on the edges of the screen and help the platform moves. At the front below the frames is a big light suspended by chains that bears a similar look to Frying Falcon's wing Radial Cannons.
Armaments[]
1st Phase[]
6x Mini Turrets
- Two columns of three bullets located on opposite sides of the Boss, which fire slow bullets at high rates.
1st Phase Attack
2nd Phase[]
13x Front Cannons
- Arranged as a row across the front of the Boss, which fire chevron-shaped walls of bullets straight downwards. Only start firing after the flamethrowers discharge their first line of fire.
- Mounted on the far sides of the Boss, they discharge long stream of fire straight downwards. When all of the front cannons are destroyed, the flamethrowers will swing from side to side, creating twisting barriers of flames.
2nd Phase Attack
3rd Phase[]
1x Railgun Turret
- Located in the middle of the Boss's design, it is suspended by a moving metal bar. Initially invulnerable until this phase, the railgun will move fast both horizontally and vertically once activated, which make it hard to be predicted and hit. After firing eight times, it reloads for a long time.
- During the phase, AA Mines will slowly descend from up top, cornering the Plane so that the railgun can do the work. These mines have a slightly larger radius than the ones encountered before.
3rd Phase Attack
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Combat Routine[]
The first phase is relatively simple. Due to the slow bullet speed and low damage of these weapons, you can easily burn a Laser to destroy them. Furthermore, the cannons will only start firing after the Boss has moved for a while, allowing for free damage using the Main Weapon Supercharge ability.
The second phase is more difficult. Take care not to get stuck between the two fire-cannons, as if you don’t destroy the rear ones you will be trapped and die. Be careful: if you destroy the rear cannons, the flamethrowers will swing from side to side, creating flames in a S-shaped pattern. Staying near the Boss will make it easier to avoid, as the flames spread out the further they travel.
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The Flamethrowers' change in behavior when all front cannons are destroyed
The final stage is the most difficult. After the second stage weapons are destroyed, the shield will break, and a railgun begins to fire and move randomly; meanwhile, the floating mines encountered earlier in the Stage begin floating down from the top of the screen. You can burn several Lasers and destroy the railgun right off the bat, or else you can just dodge really carefully. Due to the crammed space created by the mines, move your Plane slowly while avoiding the railgun rounds.
Difficulty[]
The scarce amount of tracking weapon in this fight makes it a relatively easy Boss, with many blind spots for the Plane to hide in throughout the fight. In tougher difficulty modes, the front cannons can create tight walls of bullets that are hard to squeeze through, though the player can always take refuge in the outer edges of the screen.
The last phase might be challenging on higher difficulty due to the decreased reload speed and increase damage of the Railgun Turret, but it can still be overcome by paying attention and remember the Railgun's unload pattern.
Trivia[]
- This is the only boss to:
- Not have a trophy.
- Not have any quotes.
- The platform itself holds a cargo that looks like an engine of Frying Falcon or a core from Stage B1.
- Despite its size, the Platform's design is quite barebones compared to other Bosses.
- The Platform is considered to be a Boss, due to the Boss music playing during the fight. The Boss also doesn't retreat off-screen, unlike other Mini-bosses.
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