Day 7: Hoodstomper

Sometimes all you need for a good boss fight is a little guy piloting a huge mech. The first boss of Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is one such boss. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Hoodstomper, or Mecha-Legs if you come from Europe...but let's face it, Hoodstomper is a much better name.

Hoodstomper is, yet again, another easy first boss. Geez what's with all of these easy first bosses?

(Lyra appears again)

Lyra:They're first bosses, dude, they have to be easy.

Me: Yeah, but at least try and give me a reasonable challenge.

Lyra: Well, I'm sorry not every boss can be Lingering Will from Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.

Me: Don't even say his name!

Lyra: Wow, sounds like I hit a nerve.

(Back to the Hoodstomper)

So basically, in this fight the Hoodstomper will try and chase you down so he can...well...stomp on you.

In order to take him out, you need to hit three switches which will activate the Shock Rocket power up in the middle of the arena, but you'd better hurry and get it because the Hoodstomper will try and stomp on it, and if he does you need to repeat the process again.

You need to use the Shock Rocket to hit the Hoodlum that's controlling the Hoodstomper. Do this three times and the first phase is over.

This phase of the fight is very easy, but it does try and throw you a curve ball later in the fight when Hoodlums start to appear in front of the switches to try and take you do. While it doesn't change the overall difficulty of the fight, I can at least appreciate the developers for trying to spice things up.

So, if this fight is so easy, why is it above the likes of Buzz and Bowser (SM3DW)? It's what happens in the second phase of the fight. After the Hoodlum controlling the Hoodstomper is defeated, more Hoodlums are called in to apprehend him, so Rayman gets to pilot the Hoodstomper himself and utterly obliterate every last Hoodlum in the arena.

This phase is so satisfying and a great stress reliever.

Yeah, crush those Hoodlums! Smoosh them under feet like the worthless pathetic worms that they are! Shoot at me all you want, it won't do anything, you're just delaying the inevitable! I am inevitable, motherfu-

(Lyra appears once more)

Lyra: You have issues, guy, seriously.

Me: Hey...shut up!

(Let's wrap this up)

In conclusion, while the Hoodstomper is another easy first boss, it more than makes up for its lack of difficulty with an utterly satisfying and fun second phase.

Serendipity, baby, indeed.