Day 40: Kraven the Hunter

For the last boss before we reach the top ten, what do you say we go for a little...hunt?

Yup, today we're going to be talking about the fight against Kraven the Hunter from Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

After trekking through some jungle ruins and avoiding Kraven's traps, you eventually come to an arena where you fight off one of Kraven's stronger henchmen. This battle is easy enough, but it can be difficult if you don't know what you're doing. After subduing the minion, Kraven decides to face you himself and the real fight begins.

Kraven's only weapons in this fight are his two blades. He can use these blades to slash at you, perform a jump attack, perform a spin attack if you use your webbing on him, or use them as boomerangs. But trust me when I say that he moves very fast with them, so hopefully you're a master at dodging. After successfully dodging Kraven's attacks, feel free to wail away at him.

There are also occasional moments in the fight when Kraven will retreat to one of the ledges above the arena so he can trigger a spike trap. Just jump up to the ledge that Kraven is hiding out on to deal some more damage and remove the spikes.

This fight also introduces you to a new mechanic in the form of First-Person Combat, where you must follow the instructions displayed on screen to dodge Kraven's attacks and then promptly give him a beatdown. So basically it's like Punch-Out if it was a VR game

(Side note: how has Nintendo not made that a game yet?)

After one final First-Person Combat section, Spidey hits Kraven so hard that he goes flying out of the arena, and you have to follow him all the way to a jungle temple where the second phase takes place.

After feeling like he lost his honor in the first phase, Kraven employs the power of his piece of the Tablet of Order and Chaos which grants him super speed.

Spidey follows Kraven to the top of the temple as a volcano erupts and surrounds the arena in flames as the second phase takes place.

Kraven will still attack Spidey with his blades, in fact most of his attacks from phase 1 stay the same, but due to his tablet piece, they move even quicker than before so you need to time your dodges perfectly if you want to get out of this fight alive. The tablet even gives Kraven a new attack where he charges up power before lunging at you with his blades. Kraven even uses the rising pillars around the arena to avoid you, but you can just follow him and knock him off.

The goal to defeat Kraven in this phase to either use the environment against him, or wait as he's charging up an attack, or he's finished performing an attack, before you can beat on him.

Wail on him enough, and Kraven will retreat to the very top of the temple where Spidey will jump up to his level, and kick him right into a wall, ending the fight and earning you his tablet piece.

The fight against Kraven is another first boss that really knows how to keep you on your toes, and really tests your skills with dodging. Introducing the First-Person Combat gimmick in this fight is pretty cool, and Spider-Man's wisecracks during the fight are something of value too.

Spidey: You'd be more relaxed if you took up other hobbies. Just think about it: Kraven the Golfer!

Spidey: That's so Kraven!

Spidey: This hunt is over! And as the victor, I command you to leave!

Top it all off with the fact that Kraven in this game is voiced by Darkwing Duck himself, Jim Cummings, and you have my favorite first boss in all of the Spider-Man games.

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Also, to Kevin Feige, if you read this, please cast Jason Momoa as Kraven if you ever add him to the MCU.