Episode 4: GUN HQ

[Sunflora Azumarill]

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[-------------------------------ROUTE 99------------------------------]
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After starting the level, run all the way forward up a steep slope and up a curved wall. At the top, you’ll find your first Chao. Pick it up and drop down to the ground to your right, past the moving platform. Down here, defeat the two Mono Beetles and destroy the GUN Sign to your left. Use the spring here and you’ll go down a slope up into the air. If you land on a moving platform, take it up to a ledge with two Gun Beetles (MG) and a H2-SO4 Scope. Drop down to the floor to your right and you should hit a rail, so grind it, dodging two more Mono Beetles. At the end of the ride, run left and let the ramp shoot you over the air, through a loop, up a curved wall, hitting a spring, through another loop, hitting another spring and through another loop and then stopping at a blue switch held in a GUN Cage. Defeat the two Gun Beetles (MG) and Rhino Spike to open the cage. Hit the switch to create a moving platform. Use it to get to onto the higher platform to your right, but wait until it takes you higher to reach a higher ledge with a Chao to collect. Collect the Chao, head back down the path, deface the GUN Poster on the right wall, then hit the spring and you’ll end up going onto a higher platform.

On here, head right and through the checkpoint. Now continue forward up a curved wall stopping at spikes. Here, drop down to the gap to your right. Down here, defeat the Rhino Jet and hit the spring to go left, hit another spring, go down a curved wall past a Gun Beetle (MG) and land on the ground. Down here, destroy the GUN Sign in front of you, head left and jump over the moving platform to collect another Chao. Now go back to the right, defeat the three Gun Beetles (MG), and use the moving platform to get onto the platform ahead of you. Here, drop down onto the ground way below you past three Mono Beetles, landing on all the moving platforms to deface two more GUN Posters on the walls. At the bottom, hit the speed booster and it will send you through a loop, up a curved wall, a curve to the left, and stopping next to a set of spikes. Up here, drop down to the ground to your right.

Down here, hit the spring and it will send you up a curved wall, landing on a higher platform. On here, head left, defeat the two Rhino Cannons in your way and use the spring to get onto the higher platform. Destroy the GUN Sign to your right, head left to the trampoline, and use it to get on the higher platform to your right. On here, defeat two Gun Beetles (MG) and an R7 Hunter (RF) to open the GUN Cage holding a spring. Hit the spring to get onto the platform above you. Up here, hit the speed booster in front of you and you’ll go up and down slopes, hitting springs and passing by two Mono Beetles. At the end of all of this, you’ll be sent into the air. Instead, just land on the platform below you. On here, pick up the Chao being held in a GUN Cage by two R7 Hunters (RF) and a Rhino Spike. Then drop down to the ground to your right. Down here, head right and hit the checkpoint. Now run right and you’ll go through springs, loops, right and left curves, and even speed boosters. At the end of all this, you’ll land on a rail.

Grind this rail, and at the end of the ride, run right and you’ll get on a seesaw. Use this to get on the higher platform. On here, hug the wall behind you to touch a spring that will send you up the wall to another platform with a Chao, an X Attack, and a GUN Poster on the wall behind the Chao. Drop down after this, head right past the checkpoint and then run through all the speed boosters and such while avoiding three Gun Beetles (MG). Once you hit a spring, hold right and you’ll reach a higher platform. On here, head right and run up the slope forward. At the top, drop into the gap in front of you and down there, defeat two R7 Hunters (RF) and get rid of the GUN Sign to your right. Dash up the left curved wall and a spring will bounce you up another curved wall onto a hook. The hook will take you to a higher platform. Up here, head right and you will get to the Chao locked in a GUN Cage and guarded by a lone Mono Beetle. This Beetle, however, is equipped with a scanner, which if it picks you up will bring in several R7 Hunters (BZ) and Rhino Cannons, all which must be defeated to open the cage. After collecting the Chao, keep jumping on the barrier to your right to break it. After that, drop down to the ground to your left, watching out for the Gun Wing (MG) flying by and defacing the GUN Poster on the wall behind when it flew. Down here, run right down the slope and at the bottom, run right through three loops and then up a curved wall onto a higher platform. Up here, head right to find another Chao. Then head back left, destroy the GUN Sign erected on the edge and hit the switch to create a spring. Hit the spring and it will take you to another spring, which will bounce you right onto a higher platform.

Here, defeat the Hornet-3 to open the Gun Cage containing a seesaw. Use it to bounce on the higher platform to your left. On here, use the little pole to get onto the seesaw above you. Use this seesaw to get onto a rail, and then grind the rail, defeating the three Gun Wings (MG) that zoom by you. At the end of the ride, bounce on the spring and you’ll see two X Defenses next to you, so grab them. Now hit the speed booster and you’ll go through two springs, a left curve, through a ramp, another spring, grinding up a rail curving to the right, onto another speed booster and then stopping at some spikes. Now drop down to the ground to your right. Down here, head left and you’ll find another Chao locked in a GUN Cage. Defeat the two Spark Beetles that are guarding it, then two R7 Hunters (RF) will drop down. Defeat them to open the cage and collect the Chao. After doing so, head right and use the poles to get onto a higher platform to your left. Up here, hit the checkpoint and go down the slope, then hit the spring at the bottom and you’ll hit another spring to your left and will be bounced to a handle. On here, jump off the handle, homing attack the two Gun Beetles (MG) to get onto the hook above you.

Let the hook take you upwards and from up here, run up the slope, down a right curve where you can homing attack a Gun Beetle (MG) for a 1UP, through a loop, and then hit two springs. Now get to an opening to your right and in here, take care of the GUN Posters on each wall, then run right down the slope and go through another loop and up a curved wall. Now get on the platform to your left, defeat the Hornet-3, head left and jump onto another hook. Let the hook take you to another platform on your right. Here, pass through the checkpoint and hit the spring to be taken to a ledge with a Chao and a Gravity Scope. Take both and hit the spring to go back to the checkpoint, then continue right, hitting a spring to get onto a higher platform. Here, defeat the two Rhino Jets, and then head left and left the spring bounce you to a handle. Use this spinning handle to get onto the platform to your left. Here, destroy the GUN Sign to your left on the wall and hit the speed booster to run up another curved wall. At the top, just land on the ground below.

After landing, continue going right and hit another spring, then let it take you down a curved wall to near a barrier with a Gun Beetle (RF) guarding it. Defeat the Beetle and break the barrier and the use the spring on the other side to reach two hooks. Use them and the two Spark Beetles (watch out for their shields) near them to get on the platform to your right. Here, hit the speed booster to run up a wall and grab a spinning handle. Use the handle to reach a hook above you. Have the hook take you up all the way to reach a platform with a Chao locked in a GUN Cage. Defeat the two Bomb Beetles guarding the cage to have two Rhino Spikes drop down and defeat them as well. When the cage opens, collect the Chao, drop back down, and then get on a platform to your right. Up here, run right and hit the speed booster and you’ll go down slopes, past two Gun Wings (RF), a left turn, up loops, past a pair of Hornet-3’s, a right turn, bounce up springs, and be launched into the air past three Spark beetles. You’ll see a rail below that you can land on. Do so and grind to the left past three Bomb Wings flying by, and at the end of the ride, hold right to get onto another rail and grind this one to the right.

At the end of the ride, simply fall down the gap and you’ll land on another rail you’ll grind down. Dodge two Gun Beetles (RF) and at the end of the ride, you’ll run into a Hornet-6 and a Rhino Spring. Defeat the Hornet and bounce off the Rhino to get into the air. Get on the moving platform to the right, and on here, deface the GUN Poster to your right before jumping to the platform on your left. On here, run up the curved wall and continue right through a loop and then stopping at a seesaw. Use the seesaw to get onto the platform above you. Up here, jump left for a Chao and a GUN Sign behind it. After collecting the former and destroying the latter, head back to the right and run until you get to a spring. Hit the spring and go through the opening to your right. In here, destroy the GUN Wing (RF) that comes at you and run right down the curved wall. Once you see the ground below you, drop onto it and hit the spring to get on the platform to your left. From here, collect the Chao.

Now drop down to the floor to your left and run all the way forward down the slope and up a curved wall. In the air, land on the platform to your right and then head forward and drop down to the ground below you. After reaching the ground, run to the right to reach a seesaw. Use it to get onto a hook, and then let the hook take you to a spring. Hit the spring and you will go through a loop to your left, stopping near another seesaw and a Rhino Metal in front of it. Jump over the Rhino (it’s indestructible unless you use Explosion) and use the seesaw to reach another seesaw. This seesaw will send you to another seesaw and this one will get you to a higher platform to your right. Here, take out the GUN Sign to your right and hit the speed booster to your left and you’ll go across a rail, through a loop, hit a spring, and finally grab onto a hook.

Use the hook to get onto the higher platform to your right and from there, get the Super Potion and head right to hit the spring, It will send you backwards, but this time you’ll go down a curved wall and land on a spinning handle. Use the handle to reach a rail and go as far left on it as possible. You’ll head down a slope, and stop under a hook. Hurry and get onto the hook before the platform you’re on falls, and you fall with it to your death. After taking the hook upward, head left up some curved walls and through a spiral platform past three Bomb Wings flying by, grinding a rail past two Hornet-3’s, and then heading up another curved wall. At the top, home attack across the Gun Beetle (MG) and the Spring Beetle behind it to bounce up to a platform where another Chao is. After collecting it, drop down to the floor on your left and down here, defeat two Hornet-3’s and then cross the checkpoint that’s behind them. Run through the ramp and you’ll go into the air and then fall down next to a barrier.

Break the barrier and then go right after getting behind it. Over here, you’ll have to defeat four R7 Hunters guarding a blue switch in a GUN Cage. Once they’re gone, hit the blue switch to create a platform and use the platform to jump over a set of spikes and all into a gap. Down here, watch out for a Gun Beetle (RF) and hit the spring to be launched through a loop, down slope past a Hornet-3, up a curved wall, and onto a platform. Here, defeat the Rhino Cannon, head right, cross through the checkpoint, deface the GUN Poster on the left wall, go through a loop, and let a ramp push you onto another platform. Keep going right from here through a loop, through a spiral platform, and onto another spinning handle. Use it to get onto a hook above you, and use the hook to get to the Chao to your right. The Chao is locked in a Gun Cage, though. Take out three Bomb Beetles and the two R7 Hunters (BZ) that follow them. Once the cage is open, take the Chao.

After collecting the final Chao, drop down below the spinning handle and down here, run down the slope to your right and you’ll go up a wall, through a loop, and stopping at a seesaw. Use it to get onto the platform above you to the left. Up here, let the three springs bounce you to a hook past two Gun Beetles (RF). On here, use the hook to get to another spring. This spring will send you to the last stretch of the level. However, if you're playing as Eusine, shortly after you land on the ground Luka will show up. After a short conversation, you'll have to fight her. Luka will constantly run around the area, occasionally bringing out either Mantine or Remoraid to use Wing Attack (Mantine) or Psybeam (Remoraid). Avoid or endure her attacks (Luka uses Remoraid like a handgun). After 30 seconds, a bomb siren will go off, and you'll have only one minute to reach the goal before the bombs detonate. Luka will follow you from here on in. Either way, make your way across the last stretch of road, defeating a total of three Bomb Wings, 2 R7 Hunters (RF), and a Hornet-3, and reach the GUN off-ramp. Go up the ramp and through the Goal Ring on top of it to complete the stage.

[Sunflora Azumarill]

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[-----------------------------GUN HIGHWAY-----------------------------]
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All right now! This is where things get more interesting! The outlook of this stage is like a mix of both Speed Highway from Sonic Adventure DX and Radical Highway from Sonic Adventure 2 Battle. In addition to the highway and the buildings it passes by, there are also countless neon advertisement signs depicting such products as Pika Pizza, Treecko Punch, Torchic Energy Drink, Mudkip Fruit Juice, Battle Frontier, Chaos Soda, and SOAP Shoes, among others. There are also some large digital billboards on some buildings that depict two movies; “CONFLICT: KYOGRE VERSUS GROUDON” and “CLASH: RAYQUAZA VERSUS DEOXYS” as well as several spotlights moving around throughout the stage. Anyway, after what you did back on Route 99, GUN is hot on your trail and have taken up occupation of the highway. You’ll start off the stage by heading up the off-ramp that started on Route 99 on Dash Panels and going eastbound. Upon reaching the highway, two GUN Soldiers will attack you. Since they only carry pistols, just get rid of them with simple attacks. Once both are down, they’ll drop a glowing red object. It happens to be a Red Chaos Drive, and you’ll have to collect 32 Chaos Drives total along the way in this stage. Keep going down the highway on a string of Dash Panels that are strewn about it. However, be weary of six GUN Beetles (3 MG, 3 RF) that float near the edges of the road. After the Dash Panels, the highway will start sloping downward in between two sets of buildings before heading towards another building. The highway will go through a tunnel in the building, which is littered with six GUN Soldiers (3 PS, 3 MG) and two Gun Hunters (RF) that you’ll need to get through. Once all six GUN Soldiers are down, collect 3 Green Chaos Drives that they drop. There’s also the first Chao in an alcove to the left you need to collect as well before exiting the building.

Right outside the building is a checkpoint to cross before taking Dash Panels further down the highway. After the Dash Panels, there will be a long, right 90-degree curve with red flashing arrow signs of the left side indicating the turn. Here, a group of four Gun Hunters (RF) have already assembled, so either get through them or pass them by, also collecting a Potion along the way. You’ll slope downward some more here until you reach a gap and a wall with flashing arrow signs pointing upward. If you remember the cylindrical platforms from Forest Highway, there are about nine of them going up the wall, so use them to get up to the next part of the highway, but be careful of two GUN Beetles (MG) floating near the cylinders. The highway here is considerably wider and has a tall divider in the middle and a total of four road signs on both the left and right sides of the highway. There is a GUN Sign on both sides of the divider, and you’ll have to destroy both the signs and the road signs before heading forward. The right side of the divider is a dead end with three Rhino Jets and the edge being blocked by roadblock barriers and also a large, digital “ROAD CLOSED” sign (like the ones seen in Radical Highway) and another Chao locked in a GUN Cage. Defeat the robots to open the cage and collect the Chao. On the left side of the divider is the same thing, except three Gun Beetles (MG) and a pulley at the end you can use to go up to the next stretch of road heading to the left. If you go right, you’ll find two X Speeds and an X Attack in front of roadblock barriers at the edge. Anyway, head down the highway on the Dash Panels as you go forward past four more Rhino Jets and come to another long 90-degree right curve. Here, there are four GUN Soldiers that you’ll need to defeat and a GUN Sign on the right side of the curve. Defeat the soldiers for 2 Yellow Chaos Drives and destroy the sign before you continue forward through the stage.

After the curve, you’ll see a blimp out in the distance here with an advertisement for the Kyogre vs Groudon movie. However, on this part of the highway, be careful of a lone Scanner Beetle unless you want a mess of several GUN Mechs (RF) coming at you. Once you hit Dash Panels once more, you’ll head under a bridge above and pass by 2 Hornet-3’s before reaching the end of the highway. While roadblocks mark the edge of the road, there is a large lift system likes the ones seen in Speed Highway to your left. Jump onto one of the platforms and use it to get up to another stretch of road going to the right, but be careful of four GUN Beetles (RF) near the lifts. On the higher stretch of road is another checkpoint and two more GUN Soldiers (PS). Defeat both of them and pick up a Purple Chaos Drive. Head down the road until you reach a 90-degree right turn. Here, there’s a Gun Hawk waiting to ambush you. After the turn, the road slopes downward a little and there are four more GUN Soldiers (3 PS, 1 BZ) waiting for you, so take them down and collect two more Red Chaos Drives. At the end of the slope at another 90-degree right turn, there is a horizontal lift transport also like the ones seen in Speed Highway. Use it to reach a lone, large, yellow platform (Speed Highway) with the third Chao to collect. Another lift will take you back to the highway. From there, keep pushing forward and take out six road signs on both sides of the highway where you go over the area you were previously traveling. After the road signs, more Dash Panels will get you past four Gun Hawks as the highway slopes upward. You’ll see a wide building in the distance and here, you may notice another stretch of road going left below you. Here, you can jump off the main road and drop down, then head to the left to find a large GUN Cage being guarded by three GUN Mechs (RF). Defeat them to open the cage and collect an X Attack, an H2SO4 Scope, a Gravity Scope, and a 1UP. To the right of the main road is a spring you can use to get back up there.

Keep heading down the highway and suddenly, two Sky Hawks will come swooping down towards you, so be careful of them. There are more road signs here, four of them to be exact, so destroy them. After the signs, the road will slope downward as you pass by six more GUN Beetles (MG). After the road levels off, you’ll be right in front of the building and head right into the building. Here, another pair of GUN Soldiers (BZ) must be defeated to collect another Yellow Chaos Drive. In the middle of the building, you’ll notice that there’s a highway below you going through the building to the right, but fences and flowing blue neon signs bordering your path prevent you from jumping down there. As you keep heading down the road, it’ll slope downward once more before you exit the building, from where it’ll level off. There are two GUN Signs on both ends of the highway here you’ll need to destroy. Destroy the right one to find a yellow platform that will take you to another one with the fourth Chao you need to collect. After getting it and landing back on the main path, use Dash Panels to reach a Jump Ramp at the end of the road and you’ll land on the first of a large group of some more cylindrical platforms bordering a wall to the left. Use the platforms to get up to the next part of the highway and you’ll reach a moving horizontal cylinder system like the ones seen in Forest Highway. Just slide under it and you’ll be boosted along Dash Panels as the highway slopes downward, levels, off, slopes upward, and levels off a few times in a pattern. Here, looks like GUN has called in their Blue Eagles to assault you, so avoid their bombs as they scatter them along the road and you’ll reach a checkpoint and a Super Potion to collect in front of a wide tollbooth area. Head through the second tool to the left to grab an X Speed before heading forward.

After the tollbooth, the road will make a long 90-degree left curve while sloping upward. Along the way, there happen to be four more road signs that you’ll need to take care of and also four Gun Hunters (RF) to watch out for. After the curved slope, you’ll reach another string of Dash Panels and dash past several more Blue Eagles. You’ll shortly reach a large, wide catapult at the end of the road like those from Speed Highway. Upon getting into it at high speed, it’ll flip upward and boost you onto a higher road. From there, keep going past three Mono Hawks and into a tunnel. The tunnel eventually makes a long 90-degree left turn and has up to six GUN Posters you’ll need to slow down for to deface. After the curve, you’ll weave by several roadblocks on both sides and in front of a wide one near the end of the tunnel there are four more GUN Soldiers (RF) that you need to defeat. Doing so will net you two Green Chaos Drives. Once you exit the tunnel, the path once again becomes wider as a divider is also in the middle. Locked in a GUN Cage of the left side is a Chao, but you’ll have to take out five GUN Mechs (BZ), one after the other, to open the cage and collect the Chao. At the roadblocks at the end of the path is another Super Potion. On the right side of the divider is another GUN Sign that you’ll need to destroy and a Horntet-6 to watch out for. In front of a “ROAD CLOSED” sign is a Rhino Spring that you’ll need to bounce off of to reach the next stretch of highway heading to the right. Now this is where things will get a little more interesting. The path will first slope downward past four Sky Hawks before reaching a leveled off area with numerous Dash Panels that lead to a building which the road will slope up before ending. Once you hit the side of the building, you’ll zoom up the side of it, passing by several red barriers and with a shot at two Super Potions, two X Speeds, and two X Defenses along the way. At the top of the building, you’ll land right on the roof.

On the roof, there’s a lot of area to explore, including Potions in each corner of the building, but keep to the main path and take out the group of six GUN Soldiers (4 MG, 2 BZ) to collect three more Purple Chaos Drives before heading forward. Another road begins near the left edge of the building and slopes upward some before leveling off. More Dash Panels boost you across the highway and into another tunnel. Here, there are more roadblocks and also six Gun Hunters (RF) to watch out for. At the right curve, watch out for a Hornet-6 floating near 2 sets of wooden GUN crates. You can break the crates to the left for a Super Potion, then keep going down the tunnel until you reach the end. Back outside, there’s a dead-end marked by a “ROAD CLOSED” sign and also a checkpoint. After crossing the checkpoint, look to the left of the road-closed sign to find another large yellow platform you can use to move down to reach another platform below the road where the sixth Chao resides. After collecting it, also mind the rocket and rocket pad in the middle of the platform and use it to boost forward across the expanse and onto another stretch of road. After landing, continue your trek down the highway, which consists of four more road signs before the road starts sloping upward. Use Dash Panels to get up the slope and once the road levels off, it’ll considerably widen once more. There’s a GUN Poster on the left side of the divider wall here and two Rhino Spikes to watch out for. On the right side of the divider is a Spring Beetle that can bounce you op to a short road above the divider. Up here happens to be two X Speeds and a Potion, but there’s also a lone Scanner Beetle that’ll send in several Hornet-3’s if it catches you, so be careful. Once you’ve collected or defaced what you need to, it’s now time to head further down the highway after it slims once more.

The highway gets a little tricky here once you hit a string of Dash Panels. You’ll go down a 90-degree left curve as it slopes downward and pass by three Gun Hunters (RF) and at the end of the curve, there’s another going to the right with three Gun Hawks along the way. Once the second curve ends and the road levels off, you’ll come to a dead end, but past the roadblocks happens to be a group of three red-and-black caution-striped rails. Simply jump onto one of them and start the grind ahead. Remember to perform 360’s to increase your speed as you pass by a Sky Hawk that attempts to intercept you. Eventually, the rails curve to the right and slope downward while two GUN Mechs (MG) open fire on you from a large yellow platform. After the curve ends, you’ll see yet another building in the distance. On this straight path, you’ll notice several more yellow platforms above you. Rhino Cannons open fire on you from three of them while three Bomb Hawks attempt to blow you off the rails. The last platform holds the stage’s seventh Chao to collect, so you need to jump onto the platforms. After the platforms, the rails will slope down once more as a Blue Eagle flies by, hoping to blow you off the rails with its bomb deploy. After the rails level, you’ll see another road below you. At the very end of the rails, jump off the middle one to boost into the air and snag a 1UP. Once the rails end, you’ll notice a set of four GUN Soldiers (3 RF, 1 BZ) on the highway. Defeat all four of them to pick up two Red Chaos Drives and take out 4 more road signs along the way to the building. Once you reach the building, you’ll head through a tunnel inside of it and cross another checkpoint. There’s 3 Hornet-3’s along the tunnel here to watch out for. Once you’re past them, you’ll reach a dead end with a GUN Cage and four Rhino Jets to defeat. Once they’re gone, the cage will open and a pole will rise out of the cage. Use the X Button to spiral up the pole and ascend the shaft.

At the pole’s top, you’ll be flung backwards into another tunnel. Watch out for a Gun Hunter here, as this one fires an ice laser that traps you if you get caught in it. After the Hunter, the path slopes upward until you reach the top, where it levels off in front of another dead-end. Here, there’s a pulley that will pull you up to another level going forward. After landing in this tunnel, watch out for a Laser Hawk that will drop down from above and take the left curve here until you reach another squad of GUN Soldiers (2 MG, 2 HM) will attack you. Take them down and collect two more Yellow Chaos Drives before the curve ends. Down this tunnel are three Rhino Jets that will attempt to crash into you. Once you’re out of this building, you’ll take Dash Panels straight into another catapult, which will send you down onto a lower level and back into the building where you’ll find the next Chao you need to collect. You’ll reach another left curve, where three GUN Mechs (BZ) will attempt you open fire on you. Pass them and keep down the tunnel after the curve to hit some more Dash Panels and head straight out of the building. Shortly after exiting the building, the road will start sloping upward, and Dash Panels will send you straight up it. You’ll eventually come to a wall and will have to make your way up two sets of four cylindrical platforms each. Once you’re at the top, slide under another horizontal cylinder and be boosted into the next rush of the stage. You’ll go zooming down the sloping road, cruise through a loop, head downward again, zoom through another loop, and slope down once again until you reach a large bridge (like the one seen in Radical Highway). You’ll stop right in front of some more roadblocks.

It looks like the bridge is under construction, so you’ll have to make your way across it by means on a single yellow platform. Jump over the roadblocks and onto the platform and it will start moving across the expanse. Along the way, you’ll pass by four Gun Hawks and eventually reach another platform with the stage’s ninth Chao on it. After getting it, jump onto another platform and it’ll start moving past an area where three Blue Eagles will try to bombard you. Once you reach the end of the bridge, there are six GUN Soldiers (2 MG, 2 RF, 2 BZ) ready to ambush you. Defeat all six of them to collect three Purple Chaos Drives and then take out two GUN Signs on both sides of the bridge’s edge. Cross another checkpoint here and the road will make a left curve while you use Dash Panels to make the curve and reach another up-and-down sloping section. After this section, you’ll hit a Jump Ramp and will go zooming over the expanse until you’re in front of a blimp depicting Rayquaza vs Deoxys. From there, you’ll drop down to another stretch of road with a tollbooth. Here, a pair of GUN Soldiers will attack you, so attack them back and snag a Green Chaos Drive from them afterwards. Don’t forget about a Super Potion in the booth furthest to your left. After collecting your spoils, head down the road until you see a plane open firing on you. This is a Vulkan Fighter, and don’t take its ammo for granted. Just get past it and reach a vertical lift system to your right. Take it upward, but at the top, jump to a yellow platform and pick up the stage’s tenth Chao. Two Bomb Hawks float over the top of the lift system, so be careful of them. Once you reach a tunnel on the other side of the system’s top, jump to it.

Star making your way through the tunnel, but watch out for four Gun Wings (GG) that attempt to sweep you in here. The tunnel will curve to the left halfway through, and here happens to be a Gun Beetle with a quad missile launcher, so watch out. After the curve, collect a Super Potion and avoid two Hornet-3’s before exiting the tunnel. Right as you exit the tunnel is a GUN Poster to your left, so remember to destroy that. Outside, you can see a wide building in the distance. On the road right now are more Dash Panels to boost you forward. You’ll go zooming down the road past up to five Sky Hawks and also a Blue Eagle. Once you reach the building, the road slopes onto it before ending. Here, Dash Panels will take you right up the side of the building and you’ll have to get by more red barriers on the way to the top, as well as be able to collect two X Attacks, an X Defense, an X Speed, and a Super Potion. Halfway up the building past a line of barriers is a tunnel you can boost into, but it’s tricky. If you make it into there, you’ll find the stage’s Full Restore halfway through and a 1UP near the end. A short road outside the building with a rocket pad and rocket will get you to the top of the building. Taking the main route eventually gets you up there as well. On top of the building is a group of eight GUN Soldiers (2 MG, 2 RF, 2 BZ, 2 HM) that you’ll need to defeat. Once all eight are finished, you’ll collect a Red, Green, Yellow, and Purple Chaos Drive. On the left side of the building happens to be the eleventh Chao you need to collect and on the other side of the building where you would end up if you took the side path is another GUN Sign to destroy.

With everything in hand it’s time to take the highway on the right side of the building and keep going. There’s a checkpoint shortly after you get onto the road and another horizontal cylinder to slide under. Once you slide under it, Dash Panels send you on a ride through another up-and-down sloping section as four Blue Eagles attempt to shoot you down. After the section is done, you’ll land in another catapult and head down to a lower level going backwards, but then take a left curve and head down more Dash Panels. Eventually, you’ll reach some roadblocks at the edge of the highway and see a group of maybe six Spring Beetles to bounce across. In the middle of the Spring Beetle path is a yellow platform with your twelfth Chao to collect. With that in hand, use the Beetles to reach another road. Here, there are four GUN Soldiers (1 RF, 3 BZ) ready to attack. Defeat all four of them to collect a Red Chaos Drive and a Yellow Chaos Drive. Pass through the tollbooth behind them and head down a sloping path. Along the way, there are three yellow platforms you can jump to and collect an X Attack, an X Defense, and an X Speed. Once the road levels, there are six road signs to destroy and four Rhino Metals here as well. After the hazards, you’ll reach an expanse with a wall on the other side and ten cylindrical platforms to use to get up to the top. Once you reach the top, there’s a Vulkan Fighter waiting for you, so watch out. Once you’re past it, cross the checkpoint and use Dash Panels to make a left curve littered with roadblocks and three Gun Hunters. At the middle of the curve is another yellow platform. On it happens to be your thirteenth Chao to grab. Once you got this Chao, keep going.

Don’t fret, as the stage is almost done. Get ready for some speed once more as you hit Dash Panels once again and go zooming down a sloping road at high speeds, another building in the distance. Before you know it, you’ll head through the building, where a Hornet-9 will attempt to bomb you. You’ll reach a wall and a set of springs will bounce you up to a higher level. Here, the fourteenth Chao is locked in a GUN Cage. You’ll have to defeat two Scanner Beetles to open it, but watch out as the first one brings in several GUN Mechs (BZ) and the second brings in several Rhino Spikes. Once all enemies are destroyed, collect the Chao and keep going. In this tunnel, dodge four Bomb Wings as you run toward the exit. After exiting, Dash Panels will send you zooming down the road past six Gun Wings (RF) until you reach a wider area of the road. To the left of the divider here are four GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 HM), to defeat. Once they’re done, collect a Red Chaos Drive and a Green Chaos Drive. On the right side are two GUN Soldiers (BZ) which drop a Yellow Chaos Drive upon bring defeated and a GUN Poster on the divider wall. You should now have all 32 Chaos Drives that are in this stage. Now go down the road and you’ll take Dash Panels down a sloping path where four Blue Eagles will bomb you. Once the road levels, you’ll reach a rocket pad and rocket in front of a wall. Use it to get up to the upper level, where in front of a tollbooth is the final Chao you need to collect. Now with all 15 Chao in your possession, it’s time to reach the end of the stage. Head through the tollbooth and use Dash Panels to go down a straight stretch of highway until you reach an off-ramp and a large set of tall roadblocks and two “ROAD CLOSED” signs. Take the off-ramp to the right to reach a side road. Here, simply head down the road as the buildings around you end and you see what looks like a waterfall at the end. Once you reach a metal tunnel near the waterfall, head into it and at the end is the Goal Gate to pass through and finally complete this long, but exhilarating stage.

[Sunflora Azumarill]

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[-----------------------------METAL RAPIDS----------------------------]
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All right now! We’ve made it to what looks like an artificial waterfall going downward. How the surrounding area looks is that there’s what looks like a dam or a reservoir far below. You can see a large pool of water at the bottom with large slanted dam walls holding back higher water pools and cascades coming from the dam’s water ports. Also, after the night you spent dodging GUN on the highway, it’s now dawn, bathing this stage in sunrise light. The objectives in this stage are even more complicated than they were in GUN Highway, so be ready! Now for the action itself! You’ll start falling down the waterfall on a jet-ski for the first part of this stage. For the controls, Left and Right on the Control Pad moves the jet-ski left or right, and Up and Down on the Control Pad tilts the jet-ski (up points the nose closer to the water, down points the nose closer to the sky). Several seconds after you start this stage, you’ll land in a wide metallic canal sloping downward at a steep angle, the dam/reservoir far below. Start by moving the jet-ski to the right of the rapids to pick up an early X Attack. Halfway down this stretch of water, you’ll see a large, barbed fence extending half of the width of the rapids to the right, so veer left to dodge it. After the fence, you’ll come to two GUN Beetles (MG) to the left, so go back right to avoid their gunfire and the go back left for an X Defense after you’re clear. Another fence appears to the left before the slope is finished. At the bottom of the slope, the rapids level off and turn to the left at a 45-degree angle.

On this stretch, you’ll notice a ramp in the center that you can ride onto. If you press X when on the ramp’s peak, you can jump up into the air and snag a Super Potion, plus cover some good distance. If you fail, there’s a normal Potion to the right of the ramp afterwards, and also two dry balcony areas, one on each side of the rapids. Here, two R7 Hunters (RF) on each side will open fire on you, so get past them quickly. Next up happens to be another barbed fence spanning ¾ of the rapids’ width to the left and a metal pipe going out of the water over the fence. If you get onto this pipe, you can get yourself an X Speed and get over the fence. Towards the end of this stretch are two GUN Wings (RF) that will cruise by. Next up, the waters drop once again as they make a 45-degree right turn. For here, quickly swerve by a fence to the right and then another to the left. After this fence, there’s a Gun Hawk waiting for you over the water, so move out of the way and then you’ll pass by another level balcony area to the right with three Rhino Cannons firing at you. After the balcony, there’s a split in the rapids, with a divider in between the two parts. If you take the right path, you’ll go by two more GUN Beetles (RF) and collect a Potion, but if you take the left path, you’ll eventually come to a drop with a pipe going over the gap. If you ride up this pipe, you’ll get a 1UP and join back up where the split ends, but miss the pipe, and you’ll end up falling down to your death. Where the path rejoins, the right path spreads to the left where the pipe ends. From there, pass a Gun Hawk and the slope ends with a 45-degree right turn.

For this level stretch, there’s a fence right in the middle of the rapids shortly after you get here, so veer to the side of it. Next up happens to be a series of fences on the right and left sides of the cataract, but there’s a pipe on the right side you can use to get over them. Get onto this pipe and sail across it as it bends left and right over the rapids. You’ll net yourself three X Speeds in the process, but for those who fail to make the pipe, three Potions are along the fenced path. After the fences and pipe, veer left and right to avoid three Sky Hawks that swoop down towards you and you’ll notice another balcony to the left with a small river going around the left side of it. There are two R7 Hunters (GG) on the platform and if you swerve into the side path, you’ll collect an X Attack before heading back into the main part of the rapids. Past this, a total of four Bomb Wings will come flying over the water, so swerve left and right to avoid them. You’ll then get to another ramp on the left side of the water. Get on it and use to boost over a wide fence to the left and collect a Super Potion. From where you land afterwards, you’ll reach another 45-degree left turn and slope downward. For this part, it’s gauntlet, with several balconies on both the left and right sides, the first four with two Rhino Cannons apiece, and the last four with two R7 Hunters (RF) apiece, five Blue Eagles swooping down, dropping bombs into the water, and six fences to swerve by. While there are a total of five Potions along this stretch, There’s also a ramp in the middle of the rapids at the start of this slope. Get onto it and use it to boost to a second ramp to the left and jump from there to a third ramp to the right and the from there, boost off a fourth ramp to reach the end of this slope and reach a 45-degree left turn, saving you a lot of time.

For this next level path, you’ll face a total of four Laser Hawks over the water, so swerve left and right to avoid them. After the Hawks, you’ll reach another split. If you take the left path, you’ll have to get by two fences on both sides and collect a Potion near a balcony with three Gun Hunters (RF) firing onto you. If you take the right path, there happens to be a fence spanning the entire width of the path and a ramp just before it. Behind the fence is a gap, so you MUST jump off the ramp successfully or you’ll veer over the fence and fall to your death. If you do, you’ll go flying over the gap and collect two 1UP’s in the process, then land back on the main path where both sides rejoin. Now collect one of two Potions coming up and get ready to veer by three Sky Hawks that come down towards you. After them, you’ll reach an X Speed before a 45-degree right turn and another slope. Now to get past this section, you’ll have to choose your paths carefully, since the whole way down, there are slanted balconies in the middle of the rapids and split paths going around them. The first platform has two Laser Hunters and a Rocket Beetle (HM) on the right path, so take the left path. The second platform has two Gun Hawks over it and another on the left bend, so take the left path. The third platform has three Rhino Cannons on it and an X Speed on the left path, but don’t take it since that path ends with a drop to your death! Forget the trap X Speed and go right. The fourth platform has three GUN Beetles (GG) over it and a fence almost as wide as the path on the right path, so take the left one and collect a Potion. The fifth platform has a single Scanner Beetle that will bring in Hornet-3’s over both paths if it catches you. You can take either path here. The final platform has a Hornet-6 over it and a Potion on the right path, but that path ends with a fall and you’ll be killed if you go that way. Take the left path to get by this section and take a 45-degree right turn to the next.

On this level canal, up to six Blue Eagles will constantly swoop down towards you, dropping bombs in your way, so you’ll have to continue swerving to survive. You’ll also get the chance to collect an X Speed, and X Attack, and a Super Potion here. After the jets, you’ll come to a gauntlet of fences on both sides and also in the middle, you’ll need to swerve by all of them to make it to the other side. Once you’re past the fences, you’ll reach another 45-degree left turn and begin another ascent down the falls. Here, there are several Hornet-3’s, five of them to be exact, floating over the water, so get by them fast. Halfway down this part of the ride, you’ll notice a platform to the right with two R7 Hunters (RF) guarding a GUN Cage. Since you can’t disband the jet-ski at this point, you’ll find out what’s in there later. After the platform, there’s another ramp that will boost you over several fences in the middle of the rapids. After the fences, you’ll reach a 45-degree left turn where the water levels off. After the turn, you’ll come face to face with a Hornet-6, so get past it in time and you’ll reach another path split with two pipes, one for each side, going over the path. The left path has five Rocket Beetles (HM) along the way and three Potions to collect. The right path requires you to get on the pipe since there is a drop down it. This pipe will net you another 1UP when you’re over the gap. The pipe ends where the paths rejoin and another ramp will be present to the right afterwards. Use it to boost into the air and get yourself an X Attack, plus get past three Gun Hawks and also a Vulkan Fighter. At the next 45-degree right turn, the rapids slope down once again and for this final stretch, you’ll have to swerve by more fences as a total of sixteen Gun Hunters shoot at you from eight platforms on both sides. Once you’re past them, the rapids will widen and end with a large drop down a cascade.

You’ll land in a pool with the water flowing backwards, but a large, non-barbed fence prevents you from falling down there. From here, move towards dry land on front of you and you’ll disband the jet-ski. If you're playing as Aeris-K, she'll get off the jet-ski and then promptly throw up, saying that she's not riding a jet-ski again since it's too similar to a bike. After throwing up, she'll remain motion sick for 3 minutes, which halves (x.5) her Speed but triples (x3) her Power and Defense. Anyway, from where you land, there is a checkpoint right in front of you, the first of this stage, and what looks like a total of fifteen wide, large, metallic doors blocking your progress. Walls line both sides of the doors, making getting past them impossible. You’ll get a call from Prof. Oak telling you that you got friends that have followed you to this place and are willing to assist you in getting further into the stage. He’ll also tell you of fifteen more Chao that you’ll need to collect while you’re at it. Before getting to the tasks, head back to the pool and jump in to go to the fence in the back near the fence underwater happens to be a Super Potion, an X Attack, an X Defense, and an X Speed. To get back to the landing, swim to one of the edges of the pool and walk it back to there. Now where you landed, there are fourteen paths, seven on each side. You’ll need to take these paths to each of the friends Oak mentioned to you. Anyway, let’s start with the path that’s closest to you on the left, which is indicated by a Jump Ramp. Get on the ramp to boost to the first path.

You’ll go flying over the reservoir pool far below and land on a platform with the same texture as the ones seen on the rapids. Here, head forward onto a steel walkway and two R7 Hunters (RF) will drop down. Get past them and you’ll reach another platform. Here, a Bigfoot (F-6) will drop down. This is the toughest standard enemy in this episode! Use strong attacks in the thingypit while dodging its chaingun to destroy it. Once it’s gone, a GUN Cage to the left will open, and you’ll get to use a spring to bounce to the left. You’ll go to another platform with two Rocket Beetles (HM) to dodge. Also here is a horizontal grate raised above the platform. Quickly get onto it and start shimmying forward. After going a distance, the grates will go left, right, far right, left, slope up, go left, go left, slope far down, go right, slope up, go far right, go right, slope up, and go left once more. You’ll reach a platform with another walkway and a Super Potion. Cross the walkway and at the end, there’s two Shield Beetles that you’ll have to homing attack across to reach another platform. Once you’re there, jump onto the pulley to the left to go up to another walkway. Jump off and head forward, dodging the three Shield Hunters (RF) that drop down. At the next platform, hang a left and watch out for two Bomb Hawks over the next walkway. At the next platform, you’ll find your first Chao for this stage, so pick it up to open the GUN Cage holding a spring that bounces you upward. From there, head down the walkway to a large platform with a checkpoint and your first friend for this stage, who just so happens to be Sonic. After he explains that he’s come to make sure you don’t get into any trouble, You’ll notice a large cannon behind him. Jump into the cannon and he’ll jump in with you. The cannon will blast both of you back to the doors. From there, Sonic will use homing attacks on each of the four locks on the first door to open it. Now with that out of the way, it’s time for the next character to find, so let’s take the path to the right of the Jump Ramp we used to take Sonic’s path.

Head down the long walkway, passing by five Gun Beetles (RF) along the way and you’ll reach a platform. Here, there’s an X Speed to collect and an LZ-1 Hunter (HM) will drop down. Dispose of it and next up, use homing attacks to cross a string of six Mono Beetles as they curve to the left halfway through and reach another platform. Here, another Bigfoot (F-6) will drop down. This time, you may pass it and reach a spring behind it, but it’ll drop a Super Potion if you destroy it. The spring bounces you forward to another platform. Here, defeat three more LZ-1 Hunters (RF) to open a GUN Cage containing another spring. This one bounces you up to a high platform with the second Chao to collect. Once you got it, drop back down and jump the gap to land on a walkway. Here, there are three Hornet-3’s to dodge, but past them is another large platform with a checkpoint and Tails. He’ll tell you that he came with Sonic to check up on you. Get into the cannon behind him and he’ll follow. Once both of you are back at the doors, he’ll fly over the next one and manually open it from behind. With two doors opened, take the next path to the right of Tails’s. This path consists of four Mono Beetles over a gap that you have to homing attack. You’ll reach another platform where two Laser Hunters attack. After them is a spring to send you forward to a walkway going to the left. Quickly head down this one since two Sky Hawks will swoop down at you. At a long platform, get yourself a Super Potion and prepare to fight another Bigfoot (F-6), who also has a Chao locked in a GUN Cage. Defeat it to open the cage and pick up the third Chao. Now head down the platform as up to four Rhino Metals await you. At the end of the platform, you’ll find a pulley, so use it to go up to another walkway. You’ll reach a platform at the end of this one and a Hornet-9 to defeat. Get rid of it and a GUN Cage holding a spring will open up. It’ll bounce you to a large platform with a checkpoint and Knuckles. He’ll bring up not to mess with GUN, but that he’ll pave the way for you. Get into the cannon with him and you’ll both go back to the doors. He’ll punch the big locks on the third one to open it, now we got twelve more to open up. Let’s take the first path to the right.

This path is also a Jump Ramp, so boost to a walkway and get ready to get past 3 Rhino Springs. You can bounce up them to get an X Attack, an X Defense, and an X Speed. At the end of the walkway, you’ll reach a long platform. Here, there’s a spring locked in a GUN Cage and also a Bigfoot (F-6). Defeat it and use the spring to bounce upward to a horizontal grate above. There’s a flappable gate here to flip over to the top. From there, jump onto a vertical grate and climb it upward. There are about four Gun Beetles (RF) along the way, so be careful. At the top, there’s a flappable gate to flip over to the other side and then jump onto the platform that the grate is connected to. Here, there’s a lone Rhino Spring. Use it to bounce up to a walkway connected to a raised wall. From there, head to the left and you’ll reach a walkway above going to the right. Jump to it and watch out for an LZ-1 Hunter (GG) here. There’s another walkway above past it to jump onto. Get onto that one and the walkway will wrap around the left edge of the walk and go onto another one. At the end of this path, homing attack a Shield Beetle to reach a higher path and from there, head forward to reach a rocket pad and rocket. But before using the rocket, take heed of the path above and jump to it. Head forward to another path above and jump to here. At the end of this one is a Chao to grab. Now head back to the rocket and use it to boost off the wall and to a walkway going right. After dropping off, head down the path, but watch out for a Sky Hawk that swoops down. You’ll reach a long platform with a checkpoint and as you would have guessed, Shadow. He’ll just bring up that he followed Sonic here and is staying low. Get into the cannon behind him and he will as well. Back at the meeting point, he’ll use Chaos Control to warp behind the door and then use Chaos Blast to open it. Four doors down, eleven to go. How about we take the second path to the right this time.

This path consists of a horizontal grate going forward. Just jump onto it and shimmy to a platform on the other side. Once there, watch out for two Shield Hunters (LS) and use a spring behind them to bounce to a catwalk going to the right and sloping upward. Here, there are three Rocket Beetles (QML) you must watch out for. Get past them and reach another platform. Here, a Bigfoot (F-6) will drop down. Unless you want to collect a Super Potion, just pass it and reach a string on five Mono Beetles heading upward. Homing attack up them to reach a platform. Here, there is a Chao locked in a GUN Cage and three LZ-1 Hunters (LR) guarding it. Defeat them to open the cage and collect the Chao. Now cross the walkway leading to another platform, but watch out for two Sky Hawks that swoop down here and at the next platform, avoid the Scanner Beetle since it will bring in several Hornet-3’s if it catches you. Use the spring behind it to bounce straight to a large platform. Here, you’ll find a checkpoint and Rouge, who tells you that she’s overlooking GUN and that they’re about to take some prisoners up ahead. Get into the cannon and she’ll follow. Back at the gates, she’ll open the fifth one by throwing three bombs onto it, then slowing it open. We’re 1/3 there; we should take the third path to the right. This one begins with a walkway leading to a platform with a Hornet-6 over it. Pass it and cross the next walkway. At the end of this one, there’s a string of Spring Beetles heading upward. Bounce off all three of them to reach a walkway going to the right. This walkway goes in an up-and-down pattern, with the slopes being grated. Dash Panels lie along the way, which will boost you along the walkway as a Blue Eagle attempts to bomb you off it. At the next platform, you’ll have to defeat a Bigfoot (F-6) to open a GUN Cage containing the sixth Chao for the stage. Once you’ve defeated the mech and collected the Chao, use a spring to reach a walkway leading to another checkpoint and E-123 Omega. He’ll tell you that he’s been following Eggman here. Get into the cannon and he will as well. Once you’re back at the meeting point, he’ll fire some homing missiles at the sixth door, opening it. Now for the next door, let’s go back to the left side and take the fourth path there.

This path first consists of a rocket pad and rocket that will take you all the way to a platform with two Hornet-3’s during the descent. Once you land, take the Jump Ramp to another platform with a Bigfoot (F-6), but get to the spring to the left and bounce off of it to a walkway before the mech fires upon you. On this walkway, there are three more Rocket Beetles (QML) to watch out for. Once you reach another platform, collect an X Attack, an X Defense, and an X Speed before using the spring here to bounce up to a higher platform with the next Chao you need to collect. Once you’ve gotten it, take the walkway here and dodge two more Rocket Beetles (QML) until you reach a platform with a grate over the back end. Watch out for two Rhino Spikes here and get onto the grates, simply take them forward, but quickly since there’s a Hornet-3 below them. On the other side, you’ll reach a large platform with a checkpoint and Amy. She’ll tell you that she followed Sonic all the way here. Anyway, get into the cannon behind her and she’ll do the same. Once you’re back at the main platform, Amy will hack into the next door with her hammer, hitting the locks and causing the door to open. We’re halfway there now, so let’s take the fifth path to the left. There’s a rail going straight to a platform for this path. On this platform here, defeat two LZ-1 Hunters (LR) to open the GUN Cage containing a spring heading forward. You’ll reach another walkway with a Bomb Hawk over it, so run under it and reach another platform with a Chao to collect. Once you grab it, a Bigfoot (F-6) will drop down, so use the spring behind it to bounce to another platform. Here, there’s a Hornet-9 and a spring to the left. Bounce off the spring to reach a walkway sloping upward and a Vulkan Fighter awaits at the top. Run under it and onto another platform. A Rocket pad and rocket here will send you to another large platform with a checkpoint and Cream (w/Cheese). She’ll explain about the Chao that are here and that she also wants you to go save another one before she’ll follow you. There’s a walkway to the left here. Take it to reach a dead-end with a string of two Potions indicating you need to drop off. You’ll reach a platform at the bottom with a Chao to collect and a rocket pad and rocket to get you back up. With it in tow, go back to Cream and get into the cannon with her following. Back at the main platform, Cream will fly over the door and with the help of Cheese open it from behind. With this door open, it’s time to take the sixth path to the left.

Just cross the walkway here until you reach a platform with a set of springs on the back. There’s three Rhino Metals here that you should just pass and use the springs to reach and an up-and-down sloping walkway. Run across this walkway until you reach another platform with a Super Potion and two Hornet-6’s. There’s a Jump Ramp here to use to boost over another gap and reach a wall. Like the one on Shadow’s path, there are walkways on the side. Head to the left until you reach one above the one you’re on and jump to it. On this one, there’s a Rhino Jet to jump over. At the end of the wall, jump to a walkway behind you and from there, to another behind you. On this one, there’s a Hornet-3 waiting for you, so get past it and wrap around the wall to another one. At the end of the walkway, drop down to a walkway below you and head across it until you find another below you. Drop to it and head backwards to find a Jump Ramp to boost you to a platform. On this one, there’s a Bigfoot (F-6) waiting to ambush you. Collect an X Speed behind it and use a spring to the right to bounce to a higher platform. Here, there’s a Hornet-9 you have to defeat and a Chao to collect. Take care of the robot first, then collect the Chao. From there, use a set of springs to reach a walkway with a Laser Hawk over it and beyond it, a large platform with a checkpoint and Big. He’ll bring up that he followed Amy and Cream here and doesn’t even know why here’s here. With that in mind, jump into the cannon behind him and he’ll do the same. Once you’re back at the meeting area, Big will notice the door, then start slamming it with his fishing rod. When that fails, he’ll try to pick it up, and it will open up. Now with 3/5 of the doors open, we should head back to the right side of the platform and now try taking the fourth path there.

[Sunflora Azumarill]

This path begins with a grate path. Get onto the grates and make your way across them as they go forward, slope down, go left, slope down, go right, slope very far up, level off, slope up again, go right, slope down, go forward, slope up, go left, slope very far up, go left, slope down, go right, and slope up once more. You’ll reach a platform with a spring locked in a GUN Cage and a squad of five LZ-1 Hunters (GG) guarding it. Defeat them all and use the spring to bounce forward to a wall with a spring on it that will send you to the right onto a long walkway. Use Dash Panels here to get by a Blue Eagle that sweeps the path and reach a long platform. There’s a Bigfoot (F-6) here, so just pass it and reach a Chao locked in a GUN Cage guarded by three Shield Hunters (LS). Defeat them all to open the cage and collect the Chao. A Jump Ramp here will send you to a large platform with a checkpoint and Espio. He’ll explain that they got a message from someone anonymous and have come to investigate. With that is mind, jump into the cannon and he’ll follow. Back on the main platform, Espio will turn invisible and somehow open the door. Now to take the fifth path to the right. This path consists of a set of springs leading to a long walkway. There are Dash Panels here and about six Hornet-3’s waiting for you. Get past them and reach a long platform. Here, there are about six Gun Hunters that shoot blue projectiles at you that trap. You can collect a Super Potion, an X Attack, and an X Defense here as well. At the end, use a spring to bounce to a long walkway sloping upward to the right. Head up it and you’ll reach a platform with a Bigfoot (F-6) waiting for you. Get by it and then homing attack a string of three Shield Beetles behind it to reach a large platform with a checkpoint and Charmy. Being his carefree self, he’ll tell you that he went with Espio and Vector to here. Before going with him into the cannon, head to the right down a walkway and you’ll find a grate heading downward. Jump down here to reach a platform with another Chao to collect. Once you got it, climb the grates back up to the walkway and head back to Charmy. Get into the cannon and he’ll follow. Back at the meeting area, Charmy will fly over the door and hit the locks from there. The door will open up and now to take the sixth path to the right.

Now this path begins with a Spring Beetle that you must bounce off of to reach a platform above with a Rhino Spring. From there bounce off of it to reach a long walkway going forward. Quickly get across here due to a Vulkan Fighter at the end of it. You’ll reach another platform with a Bigfoot (F-6) and a spring locked in a GUN Cage. Defeat it to not only open the cage, but get a Super Potion as well. Use the spring to reach another walkway with a Sky Hawk that will try to swoop you. Once you reach another platform, there’s a walkway going to the right, but before heading there, use the spring on the other side to reach a platform with another Chao to collect. A spring there should send you back to the main path. Now head down the walkway and be weary of three Rocket Beetles (HM) as you head to a long platform. Along here, get ready for a gauntlet of up to twelve Gun Hunters (RF) on both sides and three Potions to collect. At the end of the platform, there is a Jump Ramp leading to another walkway and a Bomb Hawk to watch out for. You will come to a large platform with a checkpoint and Vector. He’ll tell you about the anonymous client and the money that might be getting from them. Before you head back to the main platform, head to the left to start the path to the stage’s biggest secret. A Mono Beetle will appear to the left of the platform. Homing attack it and another will appear behind it. Keep going across a series of six Mono Beetles as the curve to the right and you’ll reach a Spring Beetle. Bounce off of it to reach another spring Beetle above it and this once will bounce you forward to another Spring Beetle and that one will bounce you forward to one more. This one will bounce you to that platform along the rapids explained earlier with the two R7 Hunters and GUN Cage. Defeat them to open the large cage, which contain two 1UP’s and also the stage’s Full Restore. There’s also a rocket pad and rocket on the right side of the platform. It will propel you all the way back to where Vector is and now get into the cannon. Vector will follow and you’ll both go back to the meeting area. Vector will slam all the locks on the wall and cause it to open. Only three more doors to go. Head back to the left side and take the final path there.

This path starts with an up-and-down sloping walkway that you’ll have to traverse. Watch out, since a Blue Eagle will bomb the walkway. Once you’ve made it to a platform, defeat two Hornet-3’s to open a GUN Cage with a spring to bounce upward to a long walkway. Use Dash Panels to cross this path as another Blue Eagle sweeps it. You’ll reach a long platform next with up to six Rhino Cannons along it. Pick up two X Speeds and two X Defenses while you’re at it. At the platform’s end, a Bigfoot (F-6) drops down in front of a GUN Cage containing a Chao. Defeat it to collect a Super Potion and free the Chao. Now head along a walkway to the left and under three Laser Hawks until you reach another platform. Here, defeat a Scanner Beetle before it sends in several LZ-1 Hunters (QML) to open another GUN Cage and take a spring to a large platform. Here, you’ll find Blaze the Cat, who isn’t sure of how she got here. She also seems reluctant to explain who she is, so just get into the cannon and she’ll follow. Back at the gates, Blaze will use a Burning Claw technique to take out all the locks on the gate and open it. We now should take the last path on the right side. This path consists of a Jump Ramp leading to a long walkway. Here, there’s a Volkan Fighter waiting for us, so run under it. At a platform, there’s three Rhino Jets ready to ram us, so get to the spring behind them and bounce to another platform. Here, there a Rhino Metal and a GUN Cage to the right containing a 1UP. To open the cage, you need to destroy the Rhino Metal, which is only possible with explosion. Use the spring here to bounce to a long walkway with two Sky Hawks that will swoop down towards you. You’ll reach a platform with a Bigfoot (F-6), a walkway going to the right, and a spring. Use the spring to bounce to another platform with the stage’s final Chao and a spring to get back. Head down the walkway and reach a long platform. Here, you’ll have to get by four Hornet-3’s while collecting two X Speeds and a Super Potion. At the end, use a spring to bounce to a large platform with a checkpoint and a character we haven’t seen in forever, Nack the Weasel. All he has to say is that he’s after various jewels and might find some here. Get into the cannon and he’ll follow. Back at the meeting area, He’ll place a big bomb in front of the next door and once it explodes, the door will open. Now for the final door, YOU need to open it. Use attacks on each of the four locks and the door will open.

Now we can finally get on with the rest of the stage. Also, if you haven’t noticed, as you were reach every Sonic character, the sun was gradually rising into the air. By now, it’s totally daylight. There’s another checkpoint behind the set of doors for you. Now that you got through their seemingly impenetrable gates, a squad of ten Gun Soldiers (3 RF, 3 BZ, 2 HM, 2 w/shields) has set up to attack. Defeat all ten of them to collect 2 Red Chaos Drives, 1 Green Chaos Drive, 1 Yellow Chaos Drive, and 1 Purple Chaos Drive. Now as the platform ends, there’s a walkway heading forward. Here, there are two Laser Hornets to watch out for. At the end of the walkway, there’s a spring to bounce you to a platform. Here, four more GUN Soldiers (3 BZ, 1 w/shield) will attack. Defeat all four of them to collect 2 Yellow Chaos Drives. Here, there’s a Potion pointing downward. Drop down and you’ll land back in the rapids. Here, you’ll be swept downriver as you must get by several more fences. Near the second fence, dive down to collect an X Speed. After the fences, there’s a long horizontal one on the surface of the water, so quickly dive under to avoid it. You’ll reach a vertical grate that spans the entire width of the rapids. Climb up it to reach another grate that leads up to a platform. Here, there’s two more GUN Soldiers (RF) to defeat. Doing do will net you a Green Chaos Drive. Now head down the walkway ahead. Near the end, there’s a Bigfoot (F-6) flying over the gap. When it’s to the left or right, jump the gap and reach a platform. Here, there’s five LZ-1 Hunters (3 BZ, 2 LR) to defeat, so do so to open a GUN Cage with a spring. Bounce off it to reach a higher platform with a Phoenix, a red Hornet variation that’s faster and also can regenerate its bombs. Get past it and grind down a rail downward until you reach another walkway. Here, defeat four more GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 HM) to collect 2 Purple Chaos Drives.

We still got some more to go, do don’t quit just yet. At the walkway’s end, you’ll reach a long platform with ten Laser Hunters you’ll need to get by. At the end of the platform, there’s another Bigfoot (F-6) hovering over the gap. Drop down to land back in the rapids. Here, you’ll have to keep on the surface to dodge a fence on the bottom, despite a Super Potion underwater just before the fence, then dive under to avoid a fence on the surface. After the rapids make a 45-degree right turn. Now swerve to the left and right to dodge some more fences before you reach a junction. Here, the right path leads to a drop and to your death; the left path has a fence on the surface, so head that way and dive under. Here, it’s best to stay underwater to dodge a Vulkan Fighter over the water. At a 45-degree left turn, the cataract will slope down. Now you must watch out for six Rocket Beetles (HM) on the surface, but stay topside for a little to collect a Super Potion, then dive back under. Eventually, you’ll reach a horizontal grate at another junction in the right path; the left path leads to your death. Make your way across the grate to get out of the rapids and reach a platform after the grate path. There’s six more GUN Soldiers (3 RF, 2 BZ, 1w/shield) to defeat. You’ll get 2 Red Chaos Drives and a Yellow Chaos Drive. There’s a walkway to the left of the platform to cross. Here, there’s another Phoenix to avoid and two LZ-1 Hunters (LR) after it. You’ll reach another platform with a Super Potion and a Bigfoot will drop down. This one, however, is an F-6r, meaning it fires missiles instead of guns. Plus, it has more health. Just get past it and head down the next walkway. Along this path, there are three pairs of GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 w/shields, 2 HM). Defeat them and get yourself a Red Chaos Drive, a Yellow Chaos Drive, and a Purple Chaos Drive.

You’ll reach another platform with a checkpoint and two Shield Hunters (RF) guarding a GUN Cage to the right. Defeat them to open the cage, which contains a rocket pad and rocket, and use it to boost far to the right. You’ll land back in the rapids as they head at a 45-degree left angle. Here, there’s three Laser Hornets over the water and suddenly, you’ll reach tubes that the rapids go into. Take the one to the right with a Potion, since the left one leads to your death. Here, you’ll be underwater to entire time, so be ready. At the next junction, take the left path with an X Speed. In this tube, move up and down to avoid some fences, since hitting them will also cause you to slow down and hit them too much and you’ll drown before reaching the end. After you’re past the fences, the tube will take a 45-degree right turn and start sloping downward. At the next junction, take the left path with an X Defense; the right path will lead you straight into an instant death turbine! After the paths regroup, watch out for smaller turbines on all sides. These ones don’t kill you instantly, but take 40 of your health away if you hit them. After the turbines, take the right path at the next junction with an X Defense since another large turbine is at the other one. Here, there’s an air bubble in the middle to keep you going. Once you reach a 45-degree right turn and the tube levels off, get ready for small turbines moving up, down, left, and right on poles. There also happens to be as many as six Potions in here for just in case, At the next junction, take the right path with an X Defense since the left one leads to another large turbine. Along this path, it’s back to fences, so swerve up, down, left, and right to avoid them. Next up at another junction, take the left path with an X Attack since the right path leads into a large turbine. Here, there is a large group of small turbines below and a horizontal grate above them. Grab onto the grate and now climb forward through the tube. Shimmy by more turbines hanging on the grate and you’ll reach another air bubble. Collect it and let go. Next, you’ll reach another path split; take the left path with another line of grates since the right one leads to a large turbine. Here, grab the grates and shimmy down the tube as quickly as possible. The path will make a 45-degree left turn and slope downward. Keep to the grate and pass by more turbines until you reach a drop leading out of the tube. Back outside, Keep moving along the grates until you reach a walkway below you. Drop off and from there and start heading forward.

You’ll reach a platform with a checkpoint and eight GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 BZ, 2 HM, 2 w/shields) to defeat, collect a Red, Green, Yellow, and Purple Chaos Drive from them and head down the walkway to the left. On this path, the walkway does an up-and-down sloping pattern, and Dash Panels quickly take you across it. Two Blue Eagles will attempt to bomb you off it, so be careful. You’ll reach another platform with a Bigfoot (F-6r) ready to blast you. Destroy it to open a GUN Cage containing a spring and bounce to another platform. Here, there are four more GUN Soldiers (2 BZ, 2 w/shields) to defeat. Defeating them all nets you two Green Chaos Drives. Now head down another walkway going to the right. There’s two Hornet-6’s, so get past them and reach a long platform. On this platform, there’s three pairs of GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 BZ, 2 HM) to defeat. You’ll get a Green Chaos Drive, a Yellow Chaos Drive, and a Purple Chaos Drive from them. Along the rest of the platform, there are four Rhino Cannons to avoid. Take the Jump Ramp here to land back in the rapids and go for another ride to the left at 45-degree angles. As soon as you land, dive under as you enter another tube. Here, simply watch out for small turbines on poles all over and collect two X Speeds along the way. You’ll soon come back out of the tube ad the rapids make a 450degree right turn and slope down. Here, up to four Blue Eagles will sweep the rapids, so dive under, but not to far down since there are fences lining the bottom of the cataract. Eventually, you’ll reach another tube, where you must take the right path with a Potion since the left one leads to a large turbine. Shortly after the junction, head left with an X Defense at the next to dodge another turbine, then at the next, head right and collect an X Speed and dodge another turbine. One more junction to go; head left and collect an X Attack and dodge the next turbine. You’ll reach a horizontal grate and from there, can move out to a drop and cross the grate bridge out of the tube.

At the end of the grates, there’s a platform with a checkpoint, a rocket pad and rocket, and a Bigfoot (F-6r) hovering behind it. Use the rocket to fly to the right and land on another platform with six GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 BZ, 2 w/shields) to defeat. You’ll get a Red Chaos Drive, a Green Chaos Drive, and a Purple Chaos Drive from them. Now to keep heading forward down another walkway. Up to three Phoenixes will attack while you pass through here, but a Jump Ramp resides at the end. Boost to another platform here, and three Shield Hunters (LS) will attack. Get past them and you’ll reach a long walkway that does a down-straight pattern. At each level section, there’s a Laser Hawk that you must watch out for. After four Laser Hawks, you’ll reach a long platform. Here, there’s a Bigfoot (F-6r) hovering over the platform to watch out for and three Rhino Metals after it. At the end of the platform, a group of eight GUN Soldiers (2 RF, 2 BZ, 2 HM, 2 w/shields) to defeat in front of a small gate leading to a bridge. Defeat them all and collect a Red, Green, Yellow, and Purple Chaos Drive. You should have now collected all 32 Chaos Drives and also since you got all 64 there is to collect, you’ll watch as your character starts glowing in red, green, yellow, and purple colors, along with starts of all four colors swirling around them. After this event, all of your stats and jump have now increased by 1.5, and your total health has doubled. Your health has also been refilled. Now the gate leading to the bridge will open and you can head forward. The bridge looks like a smaller version of that seen in Forest Highway and by now, you can see the end of the reservoir with a large building on top of it. The middle of the bridge has a checkpoint to cross and you’ll eventually reach a massive, octagonal-shaped platform with large, tall fences lining each side and something going on in the middle.

GUN Soldiers have surrounded Dr. Eggman, seven Team Plasma Grunts, and Registeel. It appears that the GUN wants the Registeel, but the Plasma Grunts claim that the Registeel is Team Plasma's, that GUN can't have it, and that Plasmae will surely be angry when she hears of what GUN did, while Dr. Eggman vows to see the Commander destroyed. The GUN Soldiers will eventually notice you, and you'll have to destroy all of them while keeping Eggman, the Plasma Grunts, and Registeel alive. If your character or any of those are defeated, you fail the mission. For the stats of each character; Registeel has 250 HP, Eggman has 200 HP, and each of the Team Plasma Grunts (which there are ten of) have 100 HP. There are 24 GUN Soldiers (6 MG, 6 RF, 6 BZ, 6 HM) that you’ll have to defeat. Six of them also have Shields. There are four Potions strewn about the area you can use to heal yourself. Anyway, defeat each of the GUN Soldiers to end this fight. Once you've successfully protected everyone, Registeel will escape, with the Team Plasma Grunts in hot pursuit. Eggman will walk up to you and congratulate you on saving him from the GUN assault, and will reveal himself as the mysterious voice that contacted you back at the start of the episode! Before anything else can occur, though, the Commander will appear on the scene in a GUN mech and demand the Chao, also referring to you as a vigilante and even a terrorist. You start to give the Commander the Chao when Eggman stops you and asks you to fight the Commander. Prof. Oak comes in on the hand radio saying that he's preoccupied with other work and is unable to assist you further. For the rest of this stage, nobody's on the hand radio. With what you have to do, you have another boss battle.

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BOSS: GUN COMMANDER
Health: 200
Attack 1: Quad Missiles – The quad missile launchers on the top and bottom of the mech fire countless homing missiles towards you. You need to run around to avoid them.
Attack 2: Laser Cannons – The top structure charges up and fires three laser cannons while the top spins around. The lasers are much like that from the Diablon prototype.
Attack 3: Cluster Bombs – Fires several cluster bombs from the middle of the mech. Each of the bombs create several explosions that take up a large part of the arena.
Attack 4: Particle Beam – Charges up the particle cannon from the bottom structure, and then eventually fires it, sending out large blue waves. The attack is much like that from ShTH.
Strategy: This is the toughest battle at this point of the game, and a way to top off this long and complicated stage! The RX-99 Myrmidion is nothing to kid about here, and you’ll have to keep on your toes to survive! Not only that, but you must protect Eggman as well during this fight! As you might already suspect, the weak point on the craft is the thingypit. Whenever you get the chance, land constant attacks on it. Characters with only melee attacks can get onto the middle section and attack it from there. The only problem with this is that the lasers will usually fire when you attempt this, so get them to fire, then make your assault. When the homing missiles come at you, run around the area in a circle until they all collide with each other. When the Commander fires cluster bombs, look where they are fired, and get to the side of the arena where none were launched to avoid the explosions that impact everywhere. When half of the boss’s health is gone, get ready for the particle beam. When it fully charges up, you’ll have to jump onto the middle section to avoid it. Fortunately, after using the particle beam cannon, the Commander will have to wait a few seconds before using the lasers, but he’ll instead usually retaliate with homing missiles, so get back off after doing enough damage. Also, Eggman knows to get out of the way of the particle beam, so don’t worry about him. Remember, if you fail here, you have to restart back from before the GUN siege. If there are still any Potions left over from the siege, you can use them to heal yourself, plus four Super Potions now available to you on the edges of the arena. You can pick up any Potions during this battle using the X Button and also use them to heal Eggman. Keep up all your tactics and the Commander will eventually fall.
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Once the Commander has fallen, he’ll tell you that for the crimes of obstructing military, attacking military personnel, attacking military property, entering a restricted military area, obstruction of military actions, and attacking himself, you’ll spend the rest of your days inside of Prison Island X, which he brings up is hidden somewhere in the Sevii Islands. After the end of this conversation, he'll try to board his airplane, but Eggman trips him up. Eggman will ask you to seize the airplane while the Commander is down. Once you've secured the plane, make sure Eggman gets aboard. Once Eggman gets aboard, you'll start to fly the plane away from the scene and leave the Commander in the dust. You have finally completed what is by far the toughest stage at this point of the game! If possible, you’ll now be able to move onto the next episode!