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Another "Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat" Unofficial Strategy Guide
(For PlayStation(R)2)
...........................................................................
Version 2.2 (text only)
Written by Drew Morgan, November 2002
Revised November 9, 2004 11:13
(c)2002-2004 Drew Morgan (
[email protected]/subject: Black Kat)
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CONTENTS
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* Copyright Info
* Revisions
* Overview
- About This Walkthru
- My Two Cents
- Game Summary
1. Gameplay Tips
2. The Controller and Screen Setup
3. Land Combat
4. Sea Combat
5. Fortress Strategies
6. Boss Strategies
a. Blackbeard
b. Giant Crab
c. Skeleton Pirate
d. Ghost Ship
e. Voodoo Master
f. The Valkyrie
g. Ice Demon
h. Pirates With Yellow Sails
i. Lava Beast
j. Captain Hawke
7. Item Locations
a. Maps
b. Chartstones
c. Keys
d. Figureheads
e. Crystal Hearts
f. Swords
8. Quests
a. The Mermaid
b. The Ghost Captain
c. The Witch Doctor
d. Jack Frost
e. King Neptune
9. Ships
10. Enemies
11. Weapons
12. Miscellaneous/Cheats
13. FAQ's
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:: COPYRIGHT INFO ::
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This document is copyrighted 2002-2004 by me, Drew Morgan.
It's currently only available via GameFAQs.com, and intended solely for
private or personal use. It may reproduced for such purposes, but it may not
be displayed, provided, or distributed publicly in any way without advance
written permission from me. It may not be made available in any way for any
kind of profit, directly or indirectly. Unauthorized use of this guide on
any web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and
a violation of copyright. I have the computer-dated revisions to prove my
ownership, you don't. Just ask me, it's only email, I can't bite you.
"Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat" is (c)2001 by Electronic Arts. This
document is by no means intended to infringe on those rights.
PlayStation(R) is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc.
All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders, and wholly acknowledged.
By submitting questions, comments, or other information to me via the email
address listed above, you're granting permission to me, unless otherwise
specified, to publish within reason your question(s), comment(s), or other
information in a later revision of this document with all due credit
included. I reserve the right to alter or edit such communications for
clarity, spelling, and/or grammar. I use common sense though, chatting about
the game or this document won't go in the next revision ;)
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Revisions
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v1.0 -- November 24, 2002:
started writing the thing, finished it a couple days later
v1.1-1.4 -- November 2002/November 2004
did MAJOR revision to the entire piece when I was able to rent the
game between long stretches of Real Life (mine, not MTV's); scrunched
or struck redundant info; added or clarified existing info; added handy
links between the TOC and the Walkthru, along with cross-reference
links so you could bounce between islands just like in the game only it
wouldn't be as confusing; added TONS of useful formatting
v2.0 -- November 7, 2004:
redid the whole shebang as text-only since nobody takes .docs these
days; major reformatting; major writing revision cuz frankly my writing
kinda sucked back then; split the piece into two big chunks; added
Copyright Info
v2.1 -- November 10, 2004:
ditto -- only this time after remembering that text thingies are
supposed to be 79 characters, but 76 is what fits on my monitor >x-(
Tweaked some of the overall writing too, and realized that HEY! I think
Duncan later sails that ship you sunk him in. And added this section.
And remembered I hated Duncan almost as much as I hated Yetis.
...........................................................................
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Overview
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Two years ago I started my own strategy guide-slash-walkthru, because I was
playing the heck outta this game and I wanted to offer something that was a
little more in-depth in the actual gameplay. Two years later, I'm seeing
that it's still on the shelves at Blockbuster, and folks are still playing
it -- so I came back and finished the durn thing. Been fun :D
====================
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
====================
First of all: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
If you haven't played the whole game yet, and/or you wanna figure things out
yourself, either don't read any further or cover your eyes...or just read
selectively. Don't matter to me, just as long as I don't gotta hear any
kvetching ;) I tell just about all here, so consider yourself warned.
Versions 1.0 thru 1.4 were LONG. I had *everything* in them, all the
strategies I'd developed as well as the whole walkthru. But GameFAQS et al
don't take .docs anymore (don't blame 'em, don't remember if they ever did),
so there went all my nifty cross-referencing links. Meh, hopefully soon I'll
get my website up again and can post it there, maybe with a link to it
*here*. Time shall tell...I'd done a text-only version (2.0), but it was a
saga too. Whoops.
So...this time around, I got two parts: this one's the strategies. Skip
around all you want, if you're stuck on a boss or wondering where the heck
that last Star-thingie for Neptune is, you'll find that info here. If you'd
rather see what happens from start-to-finish, download my Walkthru instead -
- but I don't always include the details of which thingies you'll find
where, or how to beat that annoying so-and-so. Just how my versions turned
out ;)
I *HIGHLY* recommend you try playing all the way through the game yourself
before using a guide or walkthru, or even most of the cheats. This is one
you just might play again -- Kat's a fun gal, and there's a lot of enjoyable
buckles to be swashed :D
When writing these guides/walkthrus, I had this in mind:
A) you expect to find spoilers,
B) you're not using cheats (it's an easy game, and they can be saved
for the second time through),
C) you use common sense and think when you play,
D) you don't mind a bit of humor and reading, and
E) you play to have fun by experiencing what the game has to offer,
rather than by mashing certain buttons at certain times.
====================
MY TWO CENTS
====================
YAYS: *GORGEOUS* game, loved the music, wish I could get some trax to
listen to outside of the game. The camera movements really added to the
enjoyment value IMO, because not only can you get a better view of something
while playing, you can swing the camera around while you're smashing ships
or fighting baddies and play like you're in a movie :D Beaucoup fun points
there. Easy to pick up on the gameplay too, and the load times are pretty
quick.
BOOS: There are many tasks to accomplish, and you have to run ALL OVER the
frickin' place over and over to get anything done. Gets really old, really
quick. And some of these islands were not only barely worth visiting once, I
sometimes wondered what the design team was on when planning the plot
points. Lotta stuff didn't make much sense...which reminds me, they tried to
force a storyline in, but it didn't take all that well. Just pretend it's a
platformer game, and smash some more ships ;)
ETC.: You either like this game, or you don't [shrug] I'd say it's around
20-30 hours long -- once you know what you're doing, if you use cheats and
only hit the most vital islands, it's 10 hours or less. There's some nifty
extras besides running around playing as Katarina, and those are certainly
worth a look-see too :)
====================
GAME SUMMARY
====================
You play as Katarina de Leon, daughter of the Governor of the Pirate Isles,
Marcus de Leon. Captain Hawke and his Crimson Guard control four of the five
main areas of this world, and upon discovering that he's killed your father,
you decide to seek revenge. However, you soon learn that much larger things
are in store for you, starting with the news that your late mother was a
pirate just like you. From then on, you must fulfill several quests and
goals, release the other island worlds from Hawke's control, seek the pieces
of the puzzle that is your destiny, and face the fact that your mother had
much better taste in men that you do.
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1. GAMEPLAY TIPS
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This game's really basic, and you'll probably recognize many common game
elements. Here are some helpful hints overall apart from the other strategy
sections:
1. This isn't a linear game, which means you don't have to do things in a
specific order all the time. It has a distinct storyline, and all that's
*required* is to get the Chartstones and reach Skull Cove. Kat will have a
big To-Do List, and several of those things MUST be done in order to receive
the Chartstones -- but many are just optional, so go to whichever islands
you want to *when* you want to, kill the enemies or ignore them, complete
all the goals or skip the ones that don't get you a Chartstone. It's up to
you :)
2. Don't worry about piling up experience or gold or smiting lots of
enemies -- there won't be a stats tally at the end (sometimes it feels like
that). Just play :)
3. SAVE OFTEN, especially your first time through because it's a hassle to
repeat some of this stuff. And if there's a Save Parrot near a gate or in
the middle of nowhere, it's there for a very good reason. You're usually
safe while saving, but not always, so be aware of your surroundings -- and
that's very important when you're returning to a saved game. Sucks to get
whooped right away ;)
4. When you first arrive at a new location, CHECK YOUR MAP! If you're on
the Wind Dancer, check the locations of the fortress and the Crimson Guard
if they're present, and watch for other enemy ships appearing later. Whether
you're on land or on sea, you'll find the going easier if you have an idea
of your surroundings. Before going ashore, have a sail around the area and
get an idea of what's coming up.
5. Don't forget that you always have a compass and map handy in case you're
lost or confused.
6. Keep an eye out for goodies sitting out in the open.
7. But you don't getta keep any of your treasure at the end of the game -
all you're gathering loot for is to buy stuff along the way. You'll need to
work harder for the cash at the beginning, but by the end of the game,
you'll be sick enough of your surroundings and the enemies -- and they'll be
dropping things left and right anyway -- to just ignore them and conduct
your onshore business.
8. Every dock is supposed to be there; if there's a dock, there's a reason
to go ashore (even if it's for one stupid little thing). Doesn't mean you
always HAVE to go ashore though -- again, nonlinear game, so do whatever you
want. After you've been through the game once, you'll have a better idea of
where to go and where to avoid.
9. This is one part of the game that really irked me -- whenever you get a
new key, remember to return at some time to the islands you've already
visited for the chests you couldn't open the last time you were there (and
yes, thankfully there's a working cheat to have all keys).
10. Sometimes you'll see or hear something unusual, and it's often just part
of the game's environment. A good example of this is the crashing you'll
hear when dolphins are jumping in the surf. It's nothing to worry about,
just cool effects :)
11. The path to an island's goal is usually obvious, whether it's marked or
not -- watch the terrain, but also watch for hills that can be climbed or
areas that aren't near the path. Might find something ;)
12. Chests: Keep an eye out for the different kinds of chests, as they're
not always easy to spot. If you pass close to one, even if you don't have
the key for it yet, its location will be marked on your map -- this also
usually happens if it's just on screen within sight. Watch for booby-traps
too, like if a chest is sitting out in a wide open space where it has no
business being.
13. Buried Treasure: Search *EVERYWHERE*. Most of the chests to find are in
fact buried, and a major part of your riches will come from them (especially
early in the game, when you really need it). After a while you'll know where
to look -- either near something significant (like a landmark or
Teleporter), or off the normal path in an area that's a little too sparse.
The amount of chests you can find on an island is specified on each map, and
that number includes buried chests.
14. Gates: If you see a Save Parrot near a gate, expect something
significant to happen on the other side. If it won't open when you approach
it, you must do something else first (usually kill the enemies guarding it).
If there's nothing guarding the gate, and especially if it closes behind
you, there'll be something on the other side, so stay alert.
15. Smugglers: Every group of islands will have at least one Smuggler, but
you won't always find him right away, and he won't always be easy to reach.
Throughout the entire game you can visit any Smuggler you've already found,
as you're not limited to staying in only one group of islands. When you're
at the Smuggler's hut, you're safe from attack, and you can get any Special
Weapon item that's available for land use (no Magic Weapons though). You can
also purchase grog if you're even the slightest bit damaged, but unless you
really need it or you've got money to blow, don't waste your gold.
16. Don't forget that this is a game! Run around and check things out. Throw
different stuff at enemies and scenery. Play with the weapons and the camera
movements, especially while fighting bosses and ships -- and try zooming in
to the deck while you're ramming or sinking a ship. On land, once you get
into a groove you'll be slashing and blocking, moving the camera angle,
jumping to dodge an attack, then slashing again. Don't just run around and
swing your sword, play with it, amuse yourself -- have fun! That's the whole
point ;)
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2. CONTROLLER AND SCREEN SETUP
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I found these controls worked well -- it's the only choice (so it'll have to
do), and there's plenty of time at the beginning to master them. You can
also get a quick recap by pressing any button during a loading screen to see
the controller setup. Might have to squint a little.
====================
THE CONTROLLER
====================
Other guides spell out the buttons, but here's some useful advice otherwise:
A) The camera is your friend :D Move it around to see things better
(like pulling back at fortresses), and try pressing "Up" and moving
the camera angle to head in that direction -- makes for very fluid
movements.
B) Pushing a button repeatedly will have different effects, and
eventually you can even time your button presses to have the same
effect, only better -- double-jumps that get you farther, etc.
C) From the Start button you can access the Controller options: one
cool option is the Ship Quick View. The D-pad changes the view to
the deck of your ship, and the helm (steering) tranfers to the left
analog stick. Takes LOTS of practice, but makes for cool battles :)
D) Don't forget that Kat can walk too, not just run. Comes in handy
sometimes, and I'm sure more than one player will enjoy the view ;D
====================
THE SCREEN
====================
Ya got three Power-Ups to watch, one on land, the other two at sea:
On Land: As Kat attacks enemies, the orb in the lower left corner of
the screen will gradually fill up. There are three levels to
her weapon power-charge, each marked by a change in color and
number of swords appearing. The first two levels are the same
for all five swords (just some slashing that's more
effective), but the third level is a Power Attack that's
unique for each sword.
At Sea: The blue orb is for a Wind Boost (Turbo), the other charges a
Power Attack for the Wind Dancer's figurehead. Both will fill
up gradually on their own, but the Wind Boost is affected by
sail damage (too much damage, and the orb won't fill at all).
Kat's health is shown by Red Hearts next to the Power Attack orb; the Wind
Dancer's health is shown by smaller light blue orbs. The lower right corner
contains the compass, but will also display selected items from your
inventory (one set for Kat on land, the other for the Wind Dancer at sea;
two items can be used in either environment). Black skulls will appear at
the top of the screen to signify a boss' health. Kat's health is increased
by finding more Crystal Hearts, while the ship's health is increased by
upgrading to a larger ship.
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3. LAND COMBAT
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You'll be ashore most of the time, and it won't take long to run into the
baddies -- but don't just stand there slashing until the other guy goes
away. To prevent getting bored and extra continues, make the most of Kat's
skills:
A. Stay on the move: run and jump out of the way. As in boxing, you
don't want to stand there just exchanging blows. And this isn't
Atari; you have a 3D environment to work with. Use it.
B. Block often: nearly every attack on Kat can be blocked, even when a
conventional weapon (like a sword) isn't being used. Try it and see
how much damage you can avoid. You'll also auto-aim at opponents if
you're surrounded, or someone sneaks up behind you ;)
C. Use the special items: they can make the baddies go away a lot
faster. I often use the Throwing Knives while I'm fighting, because
they'll make an enemy stop attacking long enough for me to get in a
hit. Some opponents can only be defeated with special weapons.
D. Use your head: attack from a distance, or use a Tiki when you're
surrounded. Jump to avoid cannon fire. Run to a safe distance, and
plan your attack. Be smarter than the game's AI ;)
E. Know your enemies: knowing which enemy does what will help you be
prepared in fighting your way through the game, especially when more
than one kind gangs up on you.
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4. SEA COMBAT
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Although most of your sailing will be simply to get to the next port, you
can easily spend a LOT of time on the water dodging cannon fire --
especially if you find it more fun than fighting on land (which is quite
possible). There are only three opponents to battle from the Wind Dancer's
deck: ships, gun turrets, and fortresses. The ships will range in size, but
they all do the same thing you do (sail around and fire their cannons, only
you have more nifty toys to work with). Your cannons will auto-aim too,
which is *really* handy (unless you've been hit by Stink Bombs).
As on land, you can either approach an enemy and start attacking, or you can
outwit the game's AI. Here's how to do the latter:
A. Keep moving: there's no one right way to sail and fight, and I
usually kept a couple sails lowered to control the speed better. Use
the Wind Boost for a fast getaway (drivers, think "turbo &
handbrake"). Circle a ship as you fire on it, to keep it pinned in
one spot.
B. Use the special items: they're there to help. Learn what each one's
for, and use them to your advantage. This goes for the Figureheads
as well -- and YOU have those, the Crimson Guard doesn't ;)
C. Fire from a distance: the bigger your ship, the farther away you can
effectively fire. Think Geometry 101: if you're farther from your
target, they're farther from you -- and so are their cannonballs.
This means it's easier to dodge fire when you're further away.
D. Use your head: don't get surrounded, and don't get lured too close
to a gun turret or fortress.
E. Learn your ship: after you upgrade, visit an island with weaker
ships and lots of room so you can see how she handles. That's
important when ramming with a larger ship ;)
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5. FORTRESSES
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After checking your map and sinking any ships in the area, it's always in
your best interest to secure the island's fortress before going ashore. This
is simply to A) get it out of the way, B) gain an ally to fight off the
Crimson Guard while you're ashore (most useful with the last two island
groups), and C) repair and restock your ship so you're ready for battle
after running around on land. I'm not positive, but I think if you don't
secure each fortress as you progress through the game, you don't get a
reward whenever you DO secure one, and if you do, it ain't very much. A good
chunk of change will come from those rewards, so might as well get all you
can.
All fortresses will attack in the same way -- as you get close enough,
they'll shoot from along the upper level. However, the farther along you are
in the game, the more damage they'll do (the first big "whoomp!" you hear
should clue you in ;) ). Your special items won't be of much use, so ready a
Figurehead and some lumber and leave it at that.
The Dolphin, Neptune, and Dragon Figureheads can be used -- just make sure
you equip it before engaging the fortress and you've allowed time for it to
charge up, because by the time you get the latter two in the game, you can
easily get your swashbuckling butt kicked.
Watch for Gun Turrets and enemy ships nearby -- try to destroy as many
Turrets as you can first, and keep an eye on the presence and location of
other ships arriving. The less things shooting at you, the better ;) The
Crimson Guard will often try to lure you closer to the fortress too, and you
can be overwhelmed very easily. Don't be a sucker.
Sometimes you can attack from the side or from behind. This will make it
much easier on later levels, especially if the Gun Turrets fire Stink Bombs
at you or you're sailing a dinky or damaged ship.
Finally, keep moving! It might take longer, and some fortresses are very
well sheltered, but sitting in front of a fortress pounding away will only
get you sunk. Whenever possible, a back-and-forth sweeping attack from a
distance is usually the most effective, especially since your cannons always
auto-aim (unless you've been hit by Stink Bombs). Try to wait until your
Wind Boost is almost or completely charged so you'll have that extra gust to
get you out of harm's way (that seems to help clear away the green smoke
faster too). The enemy fire can be easier to see if you back the camera out
a bit; when you see a batch of their cannonballs headed your way, fire back
and scram!
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6. BOSSES
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A "boss" is supposed to be the more difficult opponents -- in this game,
some are, but many just seem that way ;) There are two opponents you'll have
to beat that technically aren't "bosses," but since you must fight them to
continue the full story I've included their strategies here too.
The health for the *actual* bosses is shown with black skulls at the top of
the screen. Don't let the amount fool you: one with several black skulls may
be easier to beat than one with only a few. You'll definitely notice the
chosen difficulty level while fighting bosses -- the more difficult the
setting, the more damage YOU take and the less THEY take. Don't be afraid to
hit Start and change it if you think you need to, unless you're trying to
impress someone in the room ;)
All bosses will also have at least one special attack to avoid -- most have
two -- and it's usually very damaging and/or inconvenient. But DON'T FORGET
-- you have special attacks too. Many bosses will fall much faster (or
you'll last longer) if you use the special items and Tiki's you've picked
up; three can't be defeated without using them. Just remember to also
restock frequently.
All bosses are preceded by a gate or Teleporter, and a Save Parrot along the
way. If you see a gate and recently passed a Parrot, and especially if a
Goal specifies that island map, don't go through the gate unless you've
saved and you're ready for a showdown. And if you happen to notice a Tiki
deposit nearby...won't take you long to figure out there's a reason you'll
be needing that kind of Tiki.
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=======================
In order of appearance:
=======================
A. Blackbeard:
He's my favorite (I happen to be partial to this guy though). He just
slashes and kicks you, and has a funky power attack -- he'll pause, and his
sword will glow greenish-blue, then he'll whack you and ram you with his
shoulder, and it does a LOT of damage.
Throw lots of knives at him and he'll stop slashing at you (even the power
attack, but only while the sword's beginning to glow). Block the regular
hits, move away quickly if he comes at you with the flaming sword. He
usually delivers his power hit after his regular hit or right after you
deliver a four-slash combo.
Got chests to open too, and some grog ONLY for when you need it, so take a
break to run around and tap L2, turn and hit him with a knife, then keep
going. Don't get cornered against the hillside (remember you can jump outta
the way), and save your Power Shot for when he's down to just a couple
skulls (it won't charge up fast enough otherwise). Don't bother throwing
kegs, cuz he tends to stay on your back the whole time.
This is one where you can have LOADS of fun moving the camera around ;D
======================
B. Giant Crab:
Used to drive me NUTS trying to make those black skulls go away. Everybody
says "hit him 'till he sees stars," but that doesn't explain much. If he's
frustrating you, hopefully this'll help:
The basic strategy is to knock it out, then throw a Mini Keg to flip it over
(exposing the soft underside), and a second keg to cause damage. Sounds easy
enough. But it's HOW YOU KNOCK IT OUT that's the tricky part, and why it's
important to know how to block and jump while you're swinging that sword.
Gotta be good at swashbuckling ;) By this point you might still be figuring
things out, and might not know yet how to effectively avoid direct hits.
Right? Right. So here, your goal is to avoid those huge claws by *blocking*
rather than *running*
Don't be afraid to run up to the big snappy thing and get in his face --
just gotta jump to avoid the claws, and block often. Run up, jump, whack him
twice, block, then two more times (won't get in a whole combo, just to avoid
you a trip back from the Parrot). That oughta get him dazed, then you can
back up and toss a keg to flip him, then one to crack him (or run back and
whack on him again, I think you can get in lots of damage that way too).
Start the butter melting, take you a couple minutes, you can get the key,
you're on your way :D
Special weapons and Tiki's bounce right off, and a power attack takes too
long and only works once, so just whack him. There's grog and regenerating
Mini Kegs (stock up before you leave, since it's free and the gate won't
open after you beat him), and opposite of where you enter there are two
bushes by the shore that mark a safe zone -- he'll leave you alone, give you
a chance to rest or whatever.
He has two basic attacks: one begins with a sideways scuttle and ends in
lots of snapping -- this is what you'll encounter when running up to attack.
The other is when he comes at you with his claws covering his face, then
slams the ground and stuns you. Not fun, and can't be blocked.
======================
C. Skeleton Pirate:
He's almost the same as Blackbeard, only not so fun. Swings his swords, does
some crisscrossing atchya, and his power attack is a helicopter
impersonation.
Everything can be blocked, he runs like an idiot, and he has that great big
strike zone ;) All ya need to know.
Whack on him, block and jump LOTS, and speed things up with some Tiki's. Ice
Tiki's do damage and give you time to hack away up to two skull's worth.
Throw in an Earth or Fire Tiki, and he's a chewtoy ;)
He's got a lame and melodramatic death scene (just DIE ALREADY! teehee), and
don't forget you have a compass & map if you're lost, and a Save Parrot
close by. Go see Mama :D
======================
D. The Ghost Ship:
Technically this isn't a boss (no black skulls to monitor), but they got the
next Chartstone. So close enough.
Here's the easy part: they'll find YOU. Hit the fortress, get all stocked
up, and MAKE SURE you've upgraded to the Privateer if you haven't already
and have full cannons -- then pick any ol' island and you'll meet the Ghost
Ship the instant you leave Hero's Rest. After the battle, you can go
wherever you want.
The ship isn't that difficult. Sure, it's bigger than you, and it
disappears, and sometimes it floats above the water -- but you're not that
far along in the game ;)
I suggest shooting off some Stink Bombs, then some Chain Shots and Firepots,
then fire away. You can ram it, but it doesn't seem to do much, and
sometimes the ship's floating above the water anyway so you'll pull a Coyote
and zoom right under it. The Stink Bombs let off that nice green smoke
y'see, so not only can they not return fire, you'll be able to see them the
instant they disappear and reappear :) Hee hee
Keep the camera moving if it vanishes, and keep a finger on the Wind Boost
cuz it'll shoot as soon as it rematerializes. Keep that lumber real handy
too, because the ship's still a lot bigger than the Wind Dancer and very
capable of sinking her.
======================
E. Voodoo Master:
Yeah, it's a while before the next boss. When you've finally completed the
Witch Doctor's Quest (finally!), make sure you're stocked up on Tiki's, then
return to Dark Isle. There are two regenerating Crystal Tiki's in this area,
and you'll probably use that one the most.
This guy's BUSY! He floats around and warps between the two Teleporters, and
he's got Skeletons running around as well. A Spirit Bottle will keep them
off of your back for a while though.
Honestly, there IS no strategy to beat him -- just stay invisible as much as
possible so you can keep up with him, keep the Skels off your back, and use
one Tiki after another -- save the Ice Tiki's for later, when he has too
many black skulls to refill off of you, and the Earth Tiki is really only
good for cracking Skeletons. Try to toss a lot of Poison Darts and Vampire
Skulls as well -- those and the Spirit Bottles can become standard in your
Boss Fighting Toolbelt. If you hit him, he'll scoot for the nearest
Teleporter, but if you're invisible he won't use it -- so you can catch up
and clobber him.
I forget the details of his attacks: he'll drop spears around you, hit you
with an energy blast that sucks out your health for his benefit (and the
boy's a pig there, too), and he does that stupid curse thing that'll confuse
you, like when you first meet him. He'll still get you even if you're
invisible, so keep an eye on him the best you can, and sometimes it's good
to just stand still a moment. The Voodoo Doll takes forever to charge up,
but it seems like it wasn't totally useless here.
BUSY busy busy busy, but when he's finally gone, grab whatever goodies are
left over and watch out for the remaining Skeletons. Those Teleporters don't
go back to the ship btw, in case you forget ;)
======================
F. The Valkyrie:
I like this gal. Yeah, she's hard, but not so darn funky like everyone else,
and she has the coolest death scene IMO :D
First timers should save, go thru the gate, listen to her yap, then just
stand there and let her wail on you -- you'll get to study her initial
attacks and learn what to block, and be highly amused for your lack of
effort ;D
Exchange blows for a while, whack and block and jump, and run away now and
then so she's not always right on top of you. She'll eventually call in some
wolves for backup -- just use some Magic Sand or a Spirit Bottle so you can
keep after *her*, and don't forget all the nifty things you have now to
throw at her ;)
Not sure what triggers it, but after a while she'll step back and scream.
Avoid it -- might can jump over it, I don't remember trying -- because it'll
stun you but good. It doesn't look like a shockwave though, it's more of a
dusty blast, sorta like a nuclear explosion o_0
There's some grog on the hillside just past the Crystal Chest...but if you
don't have the Spiked Boots yet, it might be easier to leave if for after
the battle. After you send her to Valhalla, send her pups along too and the
Teleporter will be activated so you can leave -- but remember there'll be
regenerated Viking pirates on the other side ;)
======================
G. Ice Demon:
I dunnae like this guy :( He can be tough too, mainly because he stays in
the air most of the time. Fire and Storm Tiki's will be quite effective --
and the Crystal Tiki helps TONS. You should have Fire Flasks by now, which
along with the Mini Kegs are ONLY good while he's on the ground -- ditto
with the Ice and Earth Tiki's. But if you're invisible he can't see you
behind him, and won't know that you've just thrown something. And again,
don't forget about the Poison Darts and Vampire Skulls...try throwing one of
each when he's on the ground, then an Ice Tiki....
He also has two attacks that I can remember (but it's vague, and I didn't
make notes on this fight). The first is similar to the Voodoo Master's, only
instead of dropping spears he drops big sharp icicles that'll freeze you in
place if you're standing in the wrong spot. The second is something like a
blast of freezing air that'll immobilizes you -- sorta like the wolves
blowing air, only bigger (I think).
======================
H. The Pirates with Yellow Sails:
If you spoke with the Ghost Captain in the Forlorn Straits, you may have
been watching for yellow sails. Don't bother. These guys, like the Ghost
Ship, appear at a specific time. In their case it's after you've visited the
first two islands in the Volcanic Isles, and you may have to sail to other
islands to trigger this battle. If you haven't visited the Ghost Captain,
you won't run into them at all.
It's a basic ship battle, and no black skulls to watch. Try some of the ship
battles outside of playing the game to get the hang of fighting, if you
still need practice at this point. By now you should have the largest ship
available to purchase, the Carrack. Before leaving each Volcanic island,
stock up the Wind Dancer and pick a Figurehead, and you should be fine. If
you have the Dragon now, be a good time to try it out ;)
There'll be three ships, two larger ones and a smaller one (I forget which
kind they are, but they're about equal to you). Try to separate them and
disable them one at a time -- don't just sail in and get surrounded. It'll
also help a bit to check your map now and then because once you sink one
you'll probably be working on another one, and you'll lose track of where
the supplies are and where you are in the area...and it's possible to really
need something by the end of this battle if you're still new. The special
ship items will make things a lot easier. Stink up a big one, then ram the
little one and work on the other big one. Like that.
======================
I. Lava Beast:
This guy is SO easy, it's not even funny. It took me at least an hour to
figure out how to beat him though, and it was purely by accident. Stock up
on MegaKegs, Throwing Hammers, and Spirit Bottles before you pass through
that gate. Don't bother with the Tiki's here, you'll really just waste your
time. Don't bother trying to hurt him either, cuz he'll just look at you
funny.
Simply find the cliff ledges, put him between you and the ledge, and keep
throwing things to knock him backwards and over the ledge. You'll have to
lure him around a lot cuz he's slow and STUPID, and it's REALLY time
consuming, but super simple. Just put the Lava Beast IN the lava.
I barely remember his attacks -- one, he'll breath fire on you or something,
and it'll be obvious that he's about to. The other I HATE SO MUCH because
he'll throw lava at you and he's stupid so it'll miss, then turn into those
freakin' Fire Toad things >:-0
That's where it gets aggravating -- Poison Darts, Magic Sand, and Spirit
Bottles. LOTS and lots of Vampire Skulls. Storm Tiki's for the light show :D
Don't bother trying to keep an eye on things, cuz this one's worse than the
Voodoo Master. Ugh. Simple, but ugh.
On each landing you'll find a Teleporter and a stone square with a goodie;
one has Mini Kegs, one has Hurling Hammers, and one has grog. Use the
Teleporter to go back up to the last landing you were on, get what you need,
then slide over the cliffs quick like a bunny because he won't be near the
ledge anymore then swear at him for being so stupid and throw more stuff.
The last Teleporter will return you to the dock :)
======================
J. Captain Hawke:
::Part I::
The entire game leads up to fighting Captain Hawke, and not just because
he's the final boss and it's part of the plot. Both your fighting strategies
and your skills will be tested here.
When you first reach Skull Cove, he'll attack you by ship. Use your basic
ship battle strategies and he'll be a cinch. Duncan arrives to help, but
frankly he was always in my way, and don't be surprised if you sink him too
(idiot, think he'd learn to avoid you by now -- and HOW did he get his ship
back??). If he gets sunk, he'll show up later on cue -- if he doesn't, he'll
just sail around and around the bay cuz he's an idiot. Don't worry about
Duncan, just focus on Hawke ;)
Since this is in a bay and not the open sea, there are two things to watch
for here: A) if you drop mines, watch where you're going, and B) don't let
yourself get cornered. I've found that if you use the Mermaid's Harp you can
get close enough to Hawke to rip into him with your special ship items, then
blast away with one of the firing Figureheads (even lead in with the Ram,
then switch to the Lion, then use one of the other three when it's
recharged...and in the meantime, use the Ram again). The AI won't prevent
him from being cornered against a beach though, so use that to your
advantage. One time he got stuck like that, and it took me like 5 seconds to
beat him. Seriously. But that was just a lucky game glitch ;)
::Part II::
He's HARD. Not impossible, just he keeps after you and cheats like a big
dog, and it's REALLY irritating. You'll probably get to use the special
attack of your groovy new sword at least twice (and it's a good'n).
You'll use everything on Hawke. He'll shoot at you, hit you with something
that'll temporarily blind you (not sure if he shoots it or throws it, I was
always too busy to see), and slash away twice as bad as Blackbeard did. His
special sword attack is a mix of crisscrossing slashes and a big forward
slash at you, and it causes a TON of damage. He has a couple other nasty
attacks if you're too close to him; they're hard to describe, but one knocks
you back and the other knocks you out. Best thing to do is just run the
other way and hope he doesn't shoot you in the back (cuz he will, mean ol'
geezer). Gets worse -- most of his attacks can't be blocked, while most of
yours WILL be.
You'll be on the move constantly and he won't ease up. There's no real
strategy, just a bunch of mini-strategies -- hit him, move, hit him with
something else, move, throw a Vampire Skull, move, throw a Tiki, move...your
fighting skills will determine how many continues you have.
Beat him so you can...well, take a wild guess.
::Part III::
Okay, so you're back on the Wind Dancer, and that's a LOT of black skulls.
It'll be much easier than it seems though :) Cannon fire does a lot of
damage to him, so you'll watch those little skulls go buh-bye fast. This
battle is why you want to be fully stocked on lumber and sails.
Three things here: A) he'll swipe or blow at you and knock you way, often
turned around, B) he'll spit at you and blind you (might adjust the TV's
Bright/Contrast if you can), and C) he'll dive underwater and surface below
you, again knocking you away and turning you around. All contact from him
(physical and otherwise) causes damage, so watch that lumber supply.
Only the firing figureheads will have an effect (Dolphin, Dragon, and
especially Neptune, very fitting) so keep an eye on him, keep firing, and
fire off the special attack when it's charged back up; don't forget about
the Harp either (don't remember if the Voodoo Doll did any good). And as
always, use the Wind Boost often. If you haven't figured it out by now, this
is a very good place to use it like a handbrake -- zoom away, then make a
sharp turn and blast away. You'll be working the camera a lot to, because
you'll be getting turned around often.
When you finally beat him (finally!), sit back and watch the ending
cinema...some players can also ogle Kat some more ;P
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::::::::::::::::::::
7. ITEMS
::::::::::::::::::::
======================
A. Maps
======================
You'll usually need to search for chests to find new maps; however, finding
the next Chartstone always provides you with at least one new map. You'll
only need maps for islands too; some events place you in the middle of a
stretch of sea, but a map's kinda pointless there (you can still visit the
location again afterwards...I've never seen anything, but there may be
goodies floating in the water somewhere at some time).
1) Ape Island:
Where: The southwestern island of Buccaneer Bay
How: Run uphill to a large open area with pirates. Search near the gate
for a buried chest to find this map (it's one of I think two
buried chests that contains something significant).
2) Scoundrel's Pit:
Where: The fortress of Ape Island
How: Defeat and dock at the fortress to activate a cinema, and you'll
receive this map automatically.
3) The Bay of Tears, Forlorn Straits, & Buccaneer's Haunt:
Where: Scoundrel's Pit
How: Defeat Blackbeard and receive the Haunted Isles Chartstone, and
these islands are automatically unlocked.
4) Hero's Rest:
Where: The eastern island of Buccaneer's Haunt
How: Follow the path to the end of the island, where you'll find a
Wooden Chest next to a tall crypt. Open the chest to activate a
cinema, during which you'll receive this map.
5) Dark Isle:
Where: After leaving Hero's Rest
How: Defeat the Ghost Ship to receive the Voodoo Isles Chartstone, and
this island is automatically unlocked.
6) Isla de la Garra:
Where: Dark Isle
How: After docking, pass the Save Parrot to find a Wooden Chest guarded
by two Pirate Captains; this chest contains the map.
7) Raven's View:
Where: After leaving Dark Isle
How: After meeting the Voodoo Master on Dark Isle and returning to the
Wind Dancer, Old Salty will mention the Witch Doctor who lives in
the Voodoo Isles; this unlocks the map.
8) Gull Reef, Vulcan's Belly, Blue Shark Bay:
Where: After meeting the Witch Doctor on Raven's View
How: After speaking with the Witch Doctor, leave through the same
Teleporter; you'll arrive on a small ledge and find a Wooden
Chest. This chest contains the maps.
9) Parrot Cove, Crescent Isle:
Where: The smallest island of Gull Reef
How: Kill the enemies you first encounter to activate a Teleporter;
take it to the smaller of the two islands, where you'll find the
Wooden Chest containing these maps.
10) Fjords of Frost, Glacial Gulf, Frigid Plateau:
Where: Dark Isle
How: After completing the Witch Doctor's quest, defeat the Voodoo
Master to receive the Winter Isles Chartstone, and these islands
are automatically unlocked.
11) Winter Wolf Ridge:
Where: Glacial Gulf
How: Following the cinema that's activated here, find and defeat
Duncan's ship and he'll give you this map.
12) Jack's Reward:
Where: Jack Frost in Winter Wolf Ridge
How: Complete Jack's quest to receive this map.
13) Hades' Pyre, The Molten Labyrinth:
Where: The Frigid Plateau
How: After finding the Spiked Boots, find and defeat the Ice Demon to
receive the Volcanic Isles Chartstone; these islands are
automatically unlocked.
14) The Isle of Living Fire:
Where: Hades' Pyre
How: On the northeastern island, follow the path to the right and
through a gate. Search for a Crystal Chest to receive this map.
15) Skull Cove:
Where: The Isle of Living Fire
How: Defeat the Lava Beast to receive the final Chartstone, which will
unlock this map.
...........................................................................
======================
B. Chartstones
======================
The main goal of the game is to find all of the Chartstones so that Kat can
reach Skull Cove and claim her late mother's bling-bling. All Chartstones
are received after defeating a boss, or boss-like opponent.
1) The Pirate Isles:
Where: You start out with this Chartstone
How: All but one island can be unlocked; the final island (Isla de la
Garra) can be unlocked in the Voodoo Isles...if you don't find the
Voodoo Master, that's as far as you can go in the game.
2) The Haunted Isles:
Where: Scoundrel's Pit
How: Find and defeat Blackbeard.
3) The Voodoo Isles:
Where: After leaving Hero's Rest
How: Defeat the Ghost Ship.
4) The Winter Isles:
Where: Dark Isle
How: Complete the Witch Doctor's quest, then defeat the Voodoo Master.
5) The Volcanic Isles:
Where: Frigid Plateau
How: After finding the Spiked Boots, find and defeat the Ice Demon.
6) Skull Cove:
Where: The Isle of Living Fire
How: Find and defeat the Lava Beast.
...........................................................................
======================
C. Keys
======================
As Kat runs around the islands she'll come across chests that she'll need to
open so you can advance through the game. However, some of the chests
require keys that you'll have to look for, and all but one key is received
after a boss fight. While it's recommended that you run around to all the
islands and open the chests as you receive new keys, you don't have to; some
chests will contain quest items, so those are the main ones to go after, and
you can go whenever you feel like it (like when you're sick of screaming
Yeti or belching Fire Toads).
1) The Iron Key:
Where: The Lonely Tombs
How: Use the first Teleporter you come to on Buccaneer Bay (next to a
tall crypt) to reach The Lonely Tombs. The key is in a Wooden
Chest there. Don't forget the Iron Chest you passed on the way
here.
2) The Stone Key:
Where: Bay of Tears
How: Find and defeat the Giant Crab.
3) The Crystal Key:
Where: Fjords of Frost
How: Find and defeat the Valkyrie.
4) The Skeleton Key:
Where: Forlorn Straits
How: Speak with the Ghost Captain to receive the quest to find and
defeat the Pirates with Yellow Sails. After beating them later in
the game, return to the Ghost Captain and speak to him again.
...........................................................................
======================
D. Figureheads
======================
The Wind Dancer's fighting power can be beefed up with new figureheads. When
mounted to the fore of the ship, each figurehead provides a different power </pre><pre id="faqspan-2">
to battle with; all but one require recharging, and four of them affect the
cannon fire.
1) Dolphin Figurehead:
Power: Fires all cannons at once; the bigger the ship, the more
powerful the shot.
Where: Buccaneer Bay
How: This is the Wind Dancer's default figurehead; you begin every new
game with it.
2) Lion Figurehead:
Power: Shoots fierce winds from the fore of the ship; rips opponent's
sails and pushes them backwards. I don't use this one very much,
it's hard to aim just right.
Where: Scoundrel's Pit
How: Follow the shoreline around the island, then destroy the last
cannon you find to reveal a Wooden Chest containing the
figurehead.
3) Ram Figurehead:
Power: Allows you to ram the heck out of other ships without sustaining
any damage. Doesn't require charging; this one's my favorite :D
Where: Ram's Rest
How: Secure the fortress of the Forlorn Straits to open a nearby gate.
Dock at that gate to reach a Teleporter that leads to Ram's
Rest, then follow the path and more Teleporters until you reach
the small central island with the Wooden Chest containing this
figurehead. [lots more info in my Walkthru]
4) Neptune Figurehead:
Power: Channels lightning from the clouds through the ship's cannons;
causes significant damage and it's effective against fortresses.
Where: Parrot Cove
How: Follow the path through the island, heading left when you reach a
large open area -- beyond a forest full of Tiki Statues you'll
eventually come to the other end of the island (across from the
fortress). Search for a buried chest that contains this
figurehead.
5) Wolf Figurehead:
Power: Fires sheets of ice that'll freeze other ships so you can pound
on 'em; not effective against fortresses.
Where: Jack's Reward
How: Following the stone pillar's instructions, make your way through
the island's interior until you reach a chest on a hilltop.
Defeat the enemies that appear to receive this figurehead.
6) Dragon Figurehead:
Power: Shoots powerful flames from the cannons and figurehead, and sets
ships on fire. Not sure how effective it is against fortresses
(you get it pretty late).
Where: Forgotten Forge
How: From Hades' Pyre, dock at the northeastern island. Follow the path
in and to the left to reach the Teleporter to the Forgotten
Forge. Follow the path down to several chests, one of which
contains this figurehead.
...........................................................................
======================
E. Crystal Hearts
Find more Crystal Hearts to increase the amount of damage that Kat can take.
Most of the hearts are out in the open on a stone square.
1) Ape Island:
How: Follow the path to the interior of the island; after passing the
first cannon and a group of gorillas, pass through a gate where
you'll see a large ape statue on a hill. Below the hill to the
left is a Wooden Chest containing this heart. Prepare to fight off
several gorillas.
2) Hero's Rest:
How: On the southeastern island, follow the path around until you reach
a cobblestone square and this heart; prepare to fight off several
aggressive skeletons.
3) Raven's View:
How: Just past the only dock and to the left uphill in a gully, you'll
be attacked by a cannon guarded by a few Headhunters. Destroy the
cannon to reveal the Wooden Chest that contains this heart.
4) Fjords of Frost:
How: On the island just east of the Smuggler, use the Teleporter to go
to the small island chain in the northwest corner of the area. Run
to the next Teleporter that you see, then keep using it (like how
you get to and from the Witch Doctor's hut). You'll eventually
reach the island with the Crystal Heart. Keep using the same
Teleporter until you return to the ship.
5) Molten Labyrinth:
How: Traverse the labyrinth to the northeastern (farthest) dock; to the
left of a large open patch of ground is a path leading right to
this heart.
6) Skull Cove:
How: Follow the path to the left; on the right of it you'll soon see a
cobblestone square, and the final heart.
...........................................................................
======================
F. Swords
Kat begins with a decent sword, but she can receive bigger and more powerful
swords throughout the game. The first two power-ups are always the same as
the original sword, but the third (when the Power orb is fully charged and
three swords are displayed) is unique for each sword, and can have a certain
effect on enemies.
1) The Boneshank Sword:
Power: Honestly, I dunno, seems to be a series of fast slashes, just
more powerful than the first sword. I never noticed much
difference.
Where: Hero's Rest
How: After defeating the Skeleton Pirate, head northwest through the
second gate. Following the cinema you'll reach the Wooden Chest
that contains this sword.
2) The Sword of the Loa
Power: Restores Kat's life by draining the life from enemies. Slightly
more filling than Vampire Skulls.
Where: Vulcan's Belly
How: Follow the path up and around the interior of the island until you
reach a gate guarded by three Pirate Captains. Beyond the gate
you'll find a Wooden Chest containing this sword; prepare to
fight off several skeletons.
3) The FrostBane Sword:
Power: Freezes enemies in place, similar to the Ice Tiki and REALLY
useful.
Where: Winter Wolf Ridge
How: Dock at the southernmost dock on the northern island and follow
the path uphill through the trees to a Teleporter. Use it to
reach the southern island (where the fortress is), then make
your way through the island to a gated area where you'll find a
Wooden Chest that contains this sword; prepare to fight off
several wolves.
4) The Serpent's Tooth Sword
Power: Hard to describe -- very powerful slashes, and creates an energy
field that spreads out from Kat and causes significant damage.
WAY cool ;D
Where: Skull Cove
How: Enter the large Skull cave, and during the cinema Kat receives
this sword.
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::::::::::::::::::::
8. QUESTS
::::::::::::::::::::
As Kat journeys through the islands, now and then she'll meet a character
who'll give her a mission to accomplish. All but one are optional, but all
are recommended and result in Kat receiving a very useful reward. In each
case, after carrying out the quest you'll have to return to the NPC who gave
you the quest in order to receive your reward. Also, you may find items for
three of the quests before you actually GET the quest -- so don't stress if
you pick up something but can't find out what it is because it won't appear
until you're given the quest. Hope that makes sense ;)
...........................................................................
======================
A. The Mermaid's Quest
======================
Where: Ape Island
Reward: The Mermaid's Golden Harp, which protects Kat and the Wind
Dancer from attack for a short time. Takes a while to recharge.
How: Dock at the small northeastern island and approach the giant
clamshell. Listen to the Mermaid yap, then she'll ask you to find
5 Orchids. You'll need the Crystal Key to find most of them, and
I wouldn't talk to her again until you have all five ;)
*Orchid 1* On Ape Island, out in the open:
Follow the path in and past the cannon and gorillas, then go
right and uphill until you see the orchid. Watch out for cannon
fire from below.
*Orchid 2* Bay of Tears, northwestern island, in a Crystal Chest:
Follow the path a short ways into the island until you see a
Crystal Chest.
*Orchid 3* Crescent Isle, in a Crystal Chest:
Use the only Teleporter to reach the inner part of the island - go
forward and slide down the hill, and you'll see the Crystal Chest
(it's the only reason for this island, which bugs me a lot more
than it should).
*Orchid 4* Winter Wolf Ridge, north central island, in a Wooden Chest:
Land at the northernmost dock and follow the path to the Wooden
Chest.
*Orchid 5* Frigid Plateau, southeastern island, in a Crystal Chest:
Head east from the dock (along the shoreline and past all the
Yeti) until you see the Crystal Chest.
...........................................................................
============================
B. The Ghost Captain's Quest
============================
Where: Forlorn Straits
Reward: The Skeleton Key, which will open all Skeleton Chests. It will
theoretically open ALL chests, but by the time you get it you'll
have the other keys anyway. This one's required to complete King
Neptune's quest.
How: Dock at the southeastern island and follow the path until you
reach the wrecked bow of a ship. During the Captain's cinema
you'll be asked to search out and defeat some "pirates with yellow
sails." You'll find these pirates after sailing to and leaving the
Molten Labyrinth and Hades' Pyre later in the game (it may take a
few times, and they don't appear if you don't meet the Ghost
Captain). I don't know where they'll appear if you speak with him
that late in the game, but they should still appear.
...........................................................................
===========================
C. The Witch Doctor's Quest
===========================
Where: Raven's View
Reward: The Voodoo Doll, which first allows you to battle the Voodoo
Master, but also causes your enemies to become confused for a
short time (they'll attack each other). Must recharge, and doesn't
take as long as the Mermaid's Harp.
How: After following the path on Dark Isle and meeting the Voodoo
Master, you'll be able to visit Raven's View. To reach the Witch
Doctor, follow the path on the northeastern island (the only one
with a dock) until you reach three Teleporters; the third one
marked by spears leads to the island where his hut is. Follow the
shoreline on that island until you reach three more Teleporters;
the one by the shore leads to his hut. During the cinema the Witch
Doctor will ask you to find 5 Headhunter Masks of his ancestors;
in return he'll make the Voodoo Doll for you. You'll need the
Stone key to find most of the masks. And I think the guy who does
the Witch Doctor's voice sounds hot ;P
*Mask 1* Bay of Tears, southeastern island, in a Stone Chest:
Follow the path to the other side of the island where you'll see
the Stone Chest.
*Mask 2* Buccaneer's Haunt, western island, in a Stone Chest:
Follow the path to the Smuggler's hut, then follow the gullies
behind his hut to the Stone Chest.
*Mask 3* Raven's View, southeastern island, in a Wooden Chest:
Dock at the northeastern island (the only dock), and cross the
island until you reach three Teleporters. The one on the shore
without spears leads to the southeastern island; traverse the
island until you reach a cliff overlooking several Flying
Tarantulas under trees. The Wooden chest on the right contains the
mask.
*Mask 4* Isla de la Garra, in a Wooden Chest:
From the dock, head to the right until you reach a gate guarded by
Spinning Tiki's; defeat the Tiki's to open the gate, then cross
through the valley. At the other end are two chests -- the one on
the right (when facing the statues) holds the mask.
*Mask 5* Blue Shark Bay, in a Stone Chest:
From the dock, defeat the pirates to open the gate to the interior
of the island. Destroy the cannon, pass through the gate, defeat
the next batch of pirates, then pass through the gate on the
right. Over some rocky terrain you'll find the Stone Chest
containing this last mask.
...........................................................................
======================
D. Jack Frost's Quest
======================
Where: Winter Wolf Ridge
Reward: The Wolf figurehead.
How: Dock at the southwestern island of Winter Wolf Ridge, then follow
the path uphill through all the trees and Yeti until you ffind
Jack among several large ice crystals (like what surround the Save
Parrot). He'll ask you to find something warm -- go to any
Smuggler and buy the Fire Crystal that's now available. Return it
to him, and he'll give you the map to Jack's Reward; explore the
island until you reach the chest containing his gift to you.
...........................................................................
=======================
E. King Neptune's Quest
=======================
Where: Neptune's Reach
Reward: Mara de Leon's galleon, in an awesome cinema
How: After receiving the Volcanic Isles Chartstone, head for any island
to activate an cinema in which the God of the Seas asks Kat ffor a
favor. Find all five of the Fallen Stars, then return to Neptune's
Reach to receive the ship. You'll need the Skeleton Key to find
all but one of them (so unless you're using the cheat for all
keys, you'll have to complete the Ghost Captain's quest first).
*Star 1* Isla de la Garra, in a Wooden Chest:
After reaching the interior of the island, you'll find a
Teleporter that's activated by opening the two chests on either
side of it. Use the Teleporter to reach the valley ridge above,
and head forward to a stone crab figure. The Wooden chest here
contains the first star; prepare to fight off several crabs.
*Star 2* Forlorn Straits, southwestern island, in a Skeleton Chest:
Follow the path to the Save Parrot, then head for the gate on the
left. Past several grave markers you'll see the Skeleton Chest;
prepare to fight off some skeletons.
*Star 3* Raven's View, northeastern island, in a Skeleton Chest:
From the dock, head right and follow the shoreline until you reach
the Skeleton Chest.
*Star 4* Glacial Gulf, northwestern island, in a Skeleton Chest:
Follow the path around the island; past lots of Yeti you'll see
the Skeleton Chest.
*Star 5* Hades' Pyre, southwestern island, in a Skeleton Chest:
Dock at the northwestern island and use the Teleporter to reach
the large southwestern island. Head for the giant anvil and
hammer, then turn left and you'll see the final Skeleton Chest.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
::::::::::::::::::::
9. SHIPS
::::::::::::::::::::
You'll be able to upgrade the Wind Dancer five times; the first four
upgrades are done at a fortress, while the fifth requires completing two
quests. Each upgrade is available upon receiving the next Chartstone, but
good news: you don't have to beat any fortresses. After the Pirate Isles,
just get the next Chartstone, sail to a new island, then return to a
surrendered fortress. All that's required is your appearance on the new map
-- turn around and go to another fortress, and the upgrade will be
available. If you can afford it, this will make fighting bigger and badder
fortresses much easier ;)
When you upgrade the ship, all supplies will be carried over, but you'll
have to buy more cannons and lumber and such as each upgrade includes an
increase in capacity and firepower. It's best to fill up the cannons first,
then go for the other supplies (lumber and sails will often come from the
open sea or from defeated ships, FYI). Your selected figurehead will carry
over as well.
Here's what you get:
Buss:
Where: the default ship, you start every new game with it
Cost: N/A
Cannons: 2
Info: You'll have the Dolphin figurehead and two cannons, one on each
side. Takes forever to shoot something, but the power shot recharges quick,
and since you're so small, you can really zip around. Can't carry much
though, but you really won't need much. You'll only need her to dock at a
couple ports.
Sloop:
Where: Buccaneer Bay
Cost: 25,000
Cannons: 4
Info: Before you leave Buccaneer Bay, you should be able to upgrade to
this ship -- if you can't, you haven't found all the treasure yet or you've
spent too much elsewhere. At the beginning of the game, it'll be important
to gather up as much loot as possible so you can buy cool stuff ;) The sloop
is another fast ship, but still small and can't take much damage. Might not
be able to get two more cannons right away, but it shouldn't take long to
afford them.
Privateer:
Where: Haunted Isles
Cost: 55,000
Cannons: 9
Info: If you hit the Forlorn Straits and find all the treasure at Ram's
Rest, you should be able to upgrade right there at the fortress. If not,
it'll happen soon. She's fast and handles well, and the moon at Hero's Rest
makes a pretty backdrop to the increased masts full of sails :) Your cargo
hold doesn't increase a whole lot though, but you'll be finding stuff
floating in the water more often.
Brigantine:
Where: Voodoo Isles
Cost: 110,000
Cannons: 12
Info: Lookit all the sails, Mommy! :D My personal favorite, and she
kicks some major tukus. After you visit Dark Isle, head back to Buccaneer
Bay and this upgrade should be available. It'll take a little while to
adjust to her size though -- can't go as fast and she doesn't corner as
well, but when you're blasting away at the Crimson Guard you can expect a
lot of smoke. I like to visit Ape Island or Hero's Rest and get used to
fighting ships there, before tackling the larger ships in the Voodoo Isles
(you might start spending more time blasting ships now, though). You can
hold more cargo as well, but you'll go through it faster due to the increase
in guns. She has more draft, so in order to ram a ship well you'll have to
start cruising a little sooner so you'll gain enough speed to do real
damage. You'll catch on though ;)
Carrack:
Where: Winter Isles
Cost: 200,000
Cannons: 24
Info: Not as pretty IMO, but capable of stomping the more difficult
ships and fortresses. Like the brigantine, she takes a bit longer to gain
speed, and even with the increased sails the Wind Boost will run out sooner.
You'll be dodging fortress fire and packs of Crimson Guard more often, and
because she's a large and heavy ship, she won't steer as easily. Kinda
bulky, and you'll find yourself scraping icebergs quite a lot. Your special
weapons can run out fast too if you don't monitor your button presses -- you
can hold more, and you'll be shooting from more cannons, so watch those
amounts while you're firing on the other big boats. Can't see as much with
this one when you're ramming and fighting either, unfortunately :( Still,
head for Ape Island as soon as you can get her (shouldn't be difficult by
the time you whoop the first Winter fortress), and see how easy it is to run
over a ship, and how fast a power shot can sink 'em ;D [cackle]
Galleon:
Where: Neptune's Reach
Cost: lots of time
Cannons: 32
Info: Holy parrot poop, Batman! That's a lotta ship! :D After
completing the quests from the Ghost Captain and Neptune, you'll be treated
to what IMO is the best cinema in the game. You won't have her long though,
since it'll be pretty late in the game, and I highly recommend sailing
around Buccaneer Bay to get used to her massive size and lack of speed. Ape
Island, Hero's Rest (call me sentimental), and Dark Isle are good for
learning how she handles during a fight -- and although you can literally
pummel the smaller ships, ramming the bigger ships in her will mean bouncing
right off of them. You'll still do major damage, but it won't look as cool
;) Can't hardly see anything when you zoom in anyway...but she'll certainly
do well when taking on Hawke.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
::::::::::::::::::::
10. ENEMIES
::::::::::::::::::::
There's lots of baddies to fend off, and each island group will have enemies
that are specific to that world. They'll logically get tougher with each
island group, matching Kat's upgraded health and sword power, and they'll
cause damage relative to their size (no funky surprises to watch out for, in
*that* respect) -- and naturally, watch out for groups. Pay attention to
where you usually see certain enemies, so you'll know what to expect with
the various terrains.
Enemies will often regenerate (when you return to an area, they're there
again), and will often drop gold, items, or health. On land you'll sometimes
see them pop up from a distance, which is helpful. Don't try clearing some
areas of enemies unless the game specifies doing so...you'd be there all
day. It's more necessary at the beginning while you're gaining cash, or for
when you need to power up your sword or you're hoping someone drops a goodie
you need.
I don't know the actual names for them, I've just called them as I've seen
them. Something to note here: with some of the localized enemies (Haunted
Isles and Winter Isles especially), you'll get REALLY sick of hearing them,
and will REALLY notice when it gets quiet again after they're gone ;)
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
:: SPECIAL NOTE ::
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out Syndarr's "Enemies Guide" too. FABULOUS info, and she hates Fire
Toads as much as I hate Yeti. And I HATE Yeti. Just wanna kick their
naughties...anyhoo, she uses better names though, but you'll figure it out
;)
======================
**Global Enemies:**
======================
Cannon Turrets:
Strength: strong
Location: All Isles except Skull Cove
Info: I've included these because you'll see 'em everywhere. The cannon
rotates, sometimes around in a circle, sometimes back and forth. Typically
it'll take three Mini Kegs to destroy them, and typically you'll see them
ahead of you and can jump after they've fired and the cannonball is heading
for you. Sometimes after you jump, the cannonball will still hit you, sorta
like a heat-seeking missile deal. They often expose some grog, and the Kegs
are your only real weapon against them. Occasionally you'll encounter one
that takes more than three to destroy -- just toss some more Kegs.
Crab:
Strength: weak
Location: Pirate Isles, Haunted Isles, Voodoo Isles
Info: Found mostly near the shoreline, they're the weakest critters
you'll encounter and the easiest to kill. Eventually you'll probably ignore
them.
Pirates:
Strength: weak-moderate
Location: all Isles except Skull Cove
Info: There are two flavors in each Island world, and they're easy to
tell apart by their appearance. One kind is more timid and tends to jab or
swipe their sword at you, while the other is more aggressive and often
attacks with a running jump. With each upgraded sword, it'll usually take
just a few swipes to kill them. The little ones tick me off with their
poking. Running jumps work great against them too ;D
Pirate Captain:
Strength: strong
Location: Pirate Isles, Haunted Isles, Voodoo Isles
Info: This guy will ALWAYS be hard and aggressive, but special items
will slow him down. In the Haunted Isles he's a zombified version.
Gun Chick:
Strength: moderate
Location: Pirate Isles, Haunted Isles, Voodoo Isles
Info: I hate these gals SO much. They'll shoot from a distance, and
smack you up close (*WHACK* kinda funny the first time). They'll go down
quick though, and are best dealt with from afar.
Mini Keg Guys:
Strength: moderate
Location: Pirate Isles, Haunted Isles, Voodoo Isles
Info: Hate them too. They only throw kegs at you, and taunt you
constantly. Watch your back, they tend to regenerate quick -- not too bright
though, so sometimes it's easy to make them drop a keg and blow themselves
up (and anyone nearby). Don't remember if they do something right up close
-- might hit you or something...
Gorillas:
Strength: moderate
Location: Pirate Isles, Voodoo Isles, Skull Cove
Info: Big and bad, their blows can stun you but can also be blocked.
Fortunately they don't get stronger later on, so Kat can kick their booty
more easily. Watch out when they raise their arms to pound you or the
ground, whichever comes first. It ain't fun. I like to get surrounded, use
some Magic Sand on 'em, then let loose with my sword's power attack. Goes
fastly, sure does.
Skeletons:
Strength: weak
Location: Haunted Isles, Voodoo Isles
Info: They tend to be easily distracted, but if you're close enough
they'll come running. They block a lot, but go down quick with Tiki's,
upgraded swords, and some of the special weapons. Three Throwing Knives will
take them down. Watch your back though if you're in a spot where they've
been coming outta the ground....
======================
**Localized Enemies:**
======================
Skulls:
Strength: weak
Location: Haunted Isles
Info: I can't stand these things -- they bounce up and bite your face
or something. They're hard to hit, and I usually either blow 'em up from
afar, or ignore them. Noisy little things too. One of the main reasons I'll
use the "unlimited weapons" cheat is to chuck Mini Kegs at groups of 'em.
Makes me feel better ;D
Blue Ladies:
Strength: moderate
Location: Haunted Isles
Info: These gals materialize and work up a powerful (and irritating
after the zillionth time) shriek that'll stun you. It takes a few hits to do
them in; however, you can see them coming before they materialize if you
watch close enough. When they scream, it releases a shockwave that you can
usually jump over...don't let them surround you.
Flying Tarantulas:
Strength: moderate
Location: Voodoo Isles
Info: They're aggressive and creepy -- they'll skitter and fly around,
and if you're close enough they might see you (they're not too bright).
They'll bite you and/or spit a green cloud; either way, you can get
poisoned. Fortunately, it doesn't last long or do much damage.
Headhunters:
Strength: moderate-strong
Location: Voodoo Isles
Info: They're more annoying than anything. They'll run at you, twirl
their sticks then warp behind you and poke you in the butt, then warp away
again. If you attack them, they won't be able to warp away, but it takes
several hits to do them in. Block often.
Spinning Tiki's:
Strength: strong
Location: Voodoo Isles, Skull Cove
Info: Better stay away from my Volkswagon! o_0 They look just like the
shorter statues you'll see around the islands, but when you get close
they'll jump up and puff out big wooden spines and come spinning at you and
it HURTS. A power attack from your sword will cause damage, but other than
that, blow 'em up from a distance. At least you can block 'em, just gotta
remember to ;)
Poison Dart Tiki's:
Strength: moderate-strong
Location: Voodoo Isles, Skull Cove (I think)
Info: These guys, you CAN strike down with your sword, but other
weapons bounce off (Mini Kegs work fine as usual though). They look like the
taller statues, only when you get close enough they'll turn and spit a
poison dart at you. Same effect as the Tarantulas, doesn't do much or stay
long, but it's still irritating when you're trying to get by them. They'll
often drop a heart for you though, yay.
Icy Gusts:
Strength: N/A
Location: Winter Isles
Info: They don't do anything but fly around over the snow. You can
dodge them, but if one hits you -- and sometimes it seems like they aim for
you -- you'll be frozen for several moments. I don't think you can break
free, just gotta wait until the ice bursts (might have to wiggle to break
it, I forget exactly). They're never really a danger though, just a
nuisance... I don't remember seeing them much when being frozen would put
you in jeopardy.
Wolves:
Strength: moderate-strong
Location: Winter Isles
Info: Okay -- I'm partial to wolves, so I don't hurt 'em unless I
gotta. A Spirit Bottle will drive them away for quite a while, and they're
kinda cute when they're sleeping. They'll jump and bite, usual stuff, but
they'll also blow a frosty cold air that causes damage. There's usually a
few of them around together, since they're pack animals.
Yeti:
Strength: strong
Location: Winter Isles
Info: I HATE these things so much it's obscene. They're LOUD and cranky
and freakin' huge, and they'll either take a swipe at you with their club or
throw mean snowballs (the kind you pack and pack until they'll hurt like
hell -- those kind). Even with the last big sword it takes several hits to
defeat them, so either run away or use Tiki's and special weapons. A couple
Poison Darts works well though, for some reason. And yeah, they don't much
care for Fire Tiki's [cackle]
Fire Bats:
Strength: moderate
Location: Volcanic Isles
Info: Little pests that will usually leave you alone. If you get too
close, they'll spit fire, and to be honest, by this point they're just not
worth chasing after. They actually look more like dragonettes to me, but
meh, we'll just say *they're* batty and I'm not ;P
Fire Toads:
Strength: strong
Location: Volcanic Isles
Info: Oh how I loathe these things -- they run up and go "bleh," spit
and breath fire, and run all over the place. It takes several hits to get
them off of you, and eventually you'll see them running around with their
butts smoking. Take cover, cuz they'll explode and do some damage. They're
like the Yetis -- everywhere, in your way, noisy, and aggressive.
Ground Snakes:
Strength: very strong
Location: Volcanic Isles
Info: Seen "Tremors"? Same thing -- big snakes that tunnel underground,
usually in large bare areas void of other enemies. You'll see 'em coming
from the dust clouds, then they'll burst out and bite at you, and can cause
a lot of damage if you don't move fast. You can hit them with your sword,
but it doesn't do much and an Earth Tiki is more effective anyway. Use it,
grab the jewel they drop, and be on your way.
[Syndarr's "Enemies Guide" has more great info]
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
::::::::::::::::::::
11. WEAPONS
::::::::::::::::::::
Aside from her sword and some feisty attitude, Kat will run across lots of
nifty things to use against the bad guys. On land, most can be thrown, but a
few are magical in nature -- everything but the magical weapons (Tiki's and
Magic Sand) can be purchased from any Smuggler, and as soon as you find a
new one, it'll be available to buy as well. Some are only useful against
certain enemies, and over time you'll pick up on each weapon's best uses.
Defeated enemies sometimes drop special weapons, and when they do, it's
usually only certain ones. From what I remember, the Mini Keg pirates are
the only enemies who also use special weapons.
At sea, you'll have four special weapons (not including the two special
Quest items) that can be purchased from any surrendered fort, or found
floating in the wreckage of defeated ships or in open waters. They'll only
be useful against other ships; so far none have been effective against
forts, but other ships will use these weapons against you as well.
======================
**At Sea:**
======================
Chain Shot: chains welded to cannonballs; used to shred the sails of
opponents' ships, which slows them down; causes some minor
damage to the hulls as well
Stink Bombs: pots of something nasty that fills the opponents' decks
with foul green smoke, making accurate return fire impossible;
doesn't cause damage
Fire Pots: pots filled with a combustible substance that spreads fires
around the decks and sails of opponents; causes a good bit of
damage
Mines: floating weapons filled with black powder that will explode when
a ship gets too close; can be mistaken for floating cargo, so
pay attention ;)
======================
**On Land:**
======================
Throwing Knives: first found in the Pirate Isles; small knives that
cause minor damage at shorter ranges, and are useful for slowing
down an opponent; not effective against larger enemies or
obstacles
Mini Kegs: first found in the Pirate Isles; small canisters of black
powder, with a lit fuse; causes major damage at shorter ranges;
effective against large enemies, groups, and obstacles, but does
little to nothing to anything above the ground
Vampire Skulls: first found in the Haunted Isles; a skull that contains
up to four vampire spirits; when thrown, the spirits attack
opponents and drain a portion of life force, then return it to
you; causes minor damage over a medium area; highly effective
against groups, and most useful for causing damage while
restoring Kat's health; they don't require monitoring, so Kat
can run around close by and the spirits will find her
Spirit Bottles: first found in the Haunted Isles; contains a restless
spirit that screams when released, causing weaker opponents to
flee in fear; not effective against bosses or stronger enemies,
but highly effective when Kat's surrounded
Poison Darts: first found in the Voodoo Isles; small daggers tipped
with a deadly poison; medium damage over short ranges; effective
against most enemies, and causes continuous poisoning damage
(just a couple will take down a Yeti)
Voodoo Daggers: first found in the Voodoo Isles; triple-bladed throwing
knives that are enchanted to bounce between opponents; can
bounce back and hit Kat too (so only throw at groups and keep an
eye on where they're bouncing); causes little damage at short to
medium ranges, but useful for inflicting initial damage to
multiple enemies, and seeking out hidden enemies (pointless
against bosses, but can be used on bosses' cohorts if you can
think of it)
Fire Flasks: first found in the Winter Isles; flasks of combustible
fluid that ignites on impact, spreading flames that burn for a
short while; causes medium damage over short to medium ranges;
effective against anything on the ground; useful for creating a
barrier between Kat and an enemy for a quick getaway
Throwing Hatchets: first found in the Winter Isles; larger hatchets
that cause more damage than Throwing Knives; medium damage at a
medium range; effective against Yeti (takes a few though)
Hurling Hammers: first found in the Volcanic Isles; large hammers that
knock opponents backwards; causes heavy damage at medium ranges;
useful for getting opponents off of Kat's back
Mega Kegs: first found in the Volcanic Isles; clusters of kegs which
burst apart after the initial explosion and cause four more
explosions; highly effective against groups, but because they
appear so late, there's little time to use them; causes major
damage at short ranges, but the second explosions are
unpredictable and can explode near Kat
======================
**Magic Weapons:**
======================
[note: I forget when some of these appear, but I'm fairly certain these are
in order of appearance (without cheats), and the descriptions should be
right; also, the Crystal Tiki is the only one that effects Kat and is useful
against cannons; Kat's usually safe while using these, but not always, so
pay attention]
Magic Sand: first found in the Pirate Isles (technically the Haunted
Isles, at the Lonely Tombs); bottles of magic sleeping sand that
put nearly all opponents to sleep; I don't think it's effective
against bosses or larger enemies (pretty sure I've put some Yeti
to sleep though, don't remember)
Fire Tiki: first found in the Pirate Isles (technically the Haunted
Isles, at the Lonely Tombs); summons the power of fire to rain
down; deadly to large enemies and groups; can be used to
activate Teleporters and melt ice
Earth Tiki: first found in the Haunted Isles; summons the power of the
earth to create an earthquake; deadly to anything in or on the
ground
Crystal Tiki: first found in the Haunted Isles; makes Kat invisible for
a short period of time; even when she's attacking an enemy, they
won't try to fight back
Ice Tiki: first found in the Haunted Isles (I think, don't remember for
sure); summons the power of winter to cause ice to rain down,
freezing all opponents for a short time; causes major damage,
and allows Kat to hack away as long as the enemy is frozen
Storm Tiki: first found in the Voodoo Isles (fairly certain); summons
the power of lighting to strike all opponents in range; deadly
to most enemies and highly effective against groups; great fun
for Yeti barbecues ;D
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
::::::::::::::::::::
12. MISC/CHEATs
::::::::::::::::::::
This is whatever doesn't fit in the other sections....
...........................................................................
==============================
A. Getting the Spiked Boots
==============================
To activate this goal, visit any island of Glacial Gulf. Don't even hafta do
anything, just hop off the ship and back on. A cinema should play in which
Kat discovers that Duncan's made off with her Chartstones. You must then
find and defeat the terd to get them back; after sinking his ship, he'll
offer the location of "very special boots" in exchange for being rescued. He
should be over on the right side of the area, and Salty might gripe about
not leaving -- ignore Salty and go whoop on that little fink's aft (I have
no idea if he can escape, and I seriously doubt he does no matter how long
you take). Sinking him activates the map to Winter Wolf Ridge (where you'll
also find Jack Frost and the FrostBane sword, three for one, coolies).
To get the boots, sail to the westernmost dock of the north central island
in Winter Wolf Ridge. The path will go up through LOTS of trees hiding LOTS
of Yeti (and there's lots of ice up the hill, so just keep at it), and
you'll eventually reach a Teleporter that'll take you to the southern
island, at the end opposite of the fortress. After the Save Parrot, head
downhill and run through the trees and more lots-o-Yeti until you reach a
gated area with a Wooden chest. After receiving the FrostBane Sword and
fighting off the wolves, you can use the activated Teleporter to reach the
next area, which contains another Wooden chest -- which contains the boots.
Use the next Teleporter to return to the north central island, where
there'll probably be a cranky Yeti awaiting you. There's ALWAYS a cranky
Yeti somewhere.
The Spiked Boots will allow Kat to travel over those slick icy patches, and
provide a tiny bit of traction when climbing up snow-packed hillsides (so
they may not be climbable, but they'll seem like it). No word yet of their
effect on Duncan's hindquarters....
...........................................................................
======================
B. Secrets
======================
There aren't really many secrets to this game, or if there are I didn't find
many of them. They might also be considered "easter eggs," fun little bits
to the game that you may eventually stumble across. There are three I can
think of:
1. Flirtatious Kat:
To make Kat flirt, just zoom the camera in real close on her; it'll soon
zoom in closer, and she'll flip her hair for you ;)
2. The Valkyrie Cheerleader Dance:
Before fighting the Valkyrie in Fjords of Frost, be sure you're not using
the Invincibility cheat and you've saved the game (so you can start again
right there). Then, let her whoop your butt -- don't fight back. She'll kick
up her heels before running away, and it's a hoot.
3. Critter Bowling:
Toss some explosives at the scenery animals (monkeys, frogs, penguins), and
watch them go sky-high. They'll land and go on about their business, letting
you blow them up as long as you want to (although they do seem to catch on
eventually). Twisted I know, but still a fun distraction.
...........................................................................
======================
C. Cheats
======================
Woo-hoo, the cheats! As I said earlier, this game's easy enough to play
through at least once without using cheats (worthwhile the very first time),
but they'll make later playing much less tedious. All cheats are activated
from land or sea during regular gameplay, and you'll hold down the R1 and R2
buttons while punching the other buttons. (L3 and R3 refer to pressing down
on the appropriate analog sticks, in case you don't know.) When you do it
right, you'll hear a sound effect (you'll know it when you hear it).
Theses are the WORKING cheats:
Invincibility for Kat:
X, Circle, L3, Triangle, R3, Select, R3, L1, L2, Square
Invincibility for the Wind Dancer:
Select, Triangle, L1, X, R3, L2, Square, R3, Circle, L3
All chest keys:
Circle, Select, X, Square, R3, L1, L3, L2, Triangle, L3
All chest locations revealed:
R3, X, Triangle, L3, Circle, L1, Select, L3, Square, L2
All buried treasure revealed:
Circle, X, Square, Triangle, L1, Select, L3, L2, L3, R3
Unlimited items:
Triangle, L1, Select, L2, R3, L3, Square, X, R3, Circle
Kat's next sword:
R3, Select, L2, L3, Square, X, L1, Circle, L3, Triangle
High-pitched voices (kinda funny):
R3, Circle, Select, X, R3, Triangle, L1, Square, L2, L3
Music to ski by in Glacial Gulf (music from SSX, it's kewl):
L1, X, Triangle, L2, Square, Circle, L3, Select, R3, L3
Alternate poison indicator (the head of Kane from "Command and
Conquer"):
Triangle, L2, L1, Square, L3, X, L3, Circle, R3, Select
Alternate costume for Kat (requires two controllers, and I think you do
this when starting a new game or resuming a saved game):
At the same time, hold:
(Controller One) L1, L2, L3, Up, Select
(Controller Two) R1, R2, R3, Triangle, Start
Press R3 on *Controller One* to change the numbers on screen and
Scroll through the costumes
Not sure if this one's real or what it does (maybe upgrading the ship, might
require sailing elsewhere afterwards, possibly provides more gold -- nothing
ever happened when I tried it):
L2, Triangle, R3, L3, X, Square, R3, Select, L1, Circle
Finally, THESE DO NOT WORK -- notice that the working cheats have ten button
codes, but these are missing some. If you know the complete sequence or the
real code, drop me a line. (This is what happens when people just copy and
paste info and don't bother *checking* it first)
More Gold (same as the mystery code above):
Triangle, R3, L3, X, Square, R3, Select, L1, Circle
Unlimited Wind Boost (missing buttons):
Select, L1, R3, Circle, L2, Triangle, X, L3
...........................................................................
=========================
D. Other Game Features
=========================
There are two other features available from the main menu: *Sea Battles* and
*Scrapbook*. The *Scrapbook* is where you can view the conceptual artwork
for the game, after collecting Scrapbook Shells. To be honest (and IMO), a
lot of them are really cool, but also really repetitive. They're worth
looking at if you're into that sorta thing, but there are SO many of the
damn shells that I never look for them. Plenty of other guides describe
their locations though.
The other feature is the *Sea Battle* modes. This is where you can take on a
second player, or practice your own strategies against the computer
opponents, all within areas similar to -- but not the same as -- island maps
you sail around in during the main game. It's a great way to practice your
nautical fighting techniques outside of the game, and get familiar with some
of the sea terrains. There are three modes from which to choose: Quick,
Ladder, and Fleet. The first two are one- or two-player modes, the third is
just you against the game. As in regular gameplay, you can choose Easy,
Normal, or Hard from the Start button; the more difficult the level, the
more damage you take and the less you deliver.
Watch for goodies, since the other guy can use them here too. You'll find
the usual lumber, sails, and special ship items here, along with
figureheads; there are some other special items, but I don't remember
specifically what they do. One cancels out your opponent's Wind Boost
(they'll have to charge it up again), and I think another give *you* a
boost, in case you're low on sails or something. There's another one or two,
think they're pretty much the same only for the special weapon charge...not
sure.
Quick: Pick a ship, a sail color, and a location, then sink him before
he sinks you. Watch for goodies to pop up in the water now and
then. When a ship is sunk, the battle's over.
Ladder: Same as Quick mode, except at the end of the battle the winner
goes on to fight the next largest ship (sailed by the loser).
Whatever you pick up, including whatever the other ship dropped
after exploding (sail around before hitting the Start button
the first time), is carried over to the next battle; if you
lose the battle, you start over with the next largest ship and
no supplies. The battles continue until the Man o' War ship is
defeated.
Fleet: Pick your ship and sail color (I'd recommend using one of the
biggest ships), then fight off four of the Crimson Guard. Their
ships will vary, but there will always be a couple larger ships
and a couple smaller ships. You don't get to carry over any
supplies you've picked up, and must gather them up after
destroying the enemy's ships during each match. Watch out for
the smaller ships later on, because they'll usually be the
obnoxious ones shooting Stink Bombs or Chain Shots at you, then
zooming away. I'm not certain, but I think there's about ten
rounds to battle through.
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13. FAQS
::::::::::::::::::::
I actually haven't received any real questions yet, but I certainly had my
own stumpers while playing, and one just recently occurred to me while
revising the Walkthru. If you're wondering about something or want to offer
something useful, and it's not addressed anywhere in this guide, drop me a
line at [
[email protected]] with "Black Kat FAQ" as the subject line. DO
NOT contact me if you haven't yet looked for the info yourself; if your
question or comment is already referred to in this guide, you won't get a
reply.
======================
Q1: At the beginning, how do you get up to the burning mansion on the
hill?
A1: You can't -- that hill, like most hills in the game, is just
scenery and cannot be climbed. To my knowledge, there's nothing significant
up there anyway. However, this isn't 100% confirmed, so if someone has
gotten up there let me know (and if you send me bogus info, I'll just think
you're an ass and block your email addy...but it won't bother me :P ).
======================
Q2: Where are all the buried chests located?
A2: All over the place. I've tried to describe their locations in my
Walkthru, but you'll have to do the searching yourself...and some are a lot </pre><pre id="faqspan-3">
harder to find than others, even with the cheat.
======================
Q3: How do I get from Buccaneer Bay to the main map?
A3: Set sail for open waters :) Head for the edge of the map, then tap
L2 when the anchor appears up in the corner of the screen. Took me forever
to figure that one out, one of those "DOH!" things ;)
======================
Q4: How do I get to the other places on the main map?
A4: To reach the other islands, you'll either find maps in chests, or
unlock new ones by receiving a Chartstone. Some maps are made available by
the gameplay itself, like during a cinema.
======================
Q5: On Ape Island, how do I get up that hill with the big ape statue?
A5: It's difficult, but basically you'll run at the right side of the
hill, just past the big palm tree and aiming for the chest up there. It's
easier to attack the climb from the front rather than the side, and you'll
have to double-jump until you're on stable ground. The Spiked Boots you'll
receive later in the game don't really help -- it's the timing and where you
run up the hill that matters. And there *is* a decent chunk of loot up there
for your trouble.
======================
Q6: How do I beat [this boss/that enemy]?
A6: See the "Boss" and "Enemies" sections above, as each one's unique.
======================
Q7: Do I have to secure all of the fortresses? Some of them are tough.
A7: Technically, no, just the one at Ape Island to get the Haunted
Isles Chartstone. The one at Forlorn Straits will make Ram's Rest available
to you so you can get the Ram Figurehead. I've beaten the game with just
those two -- gotta have my Ram ;) -- but IMO it's better to secure them as
you go, so that A) it'll be out of the way, and B) you won't have to jump
all over the place to repair the Wind Dancer, and C) you'll get the cash
reward, which you'll want in the first half of the game. You *can* leave
Buccaneer Bay without securing that fortress (if I remember right), but it's
the easiest one and you'll get even MORE stomped at the next island...so
might as well take it on and get in some practice, then be able to upgrade
your ship before leaving. It's the easiest one to reach later anyway, plus
there's a Smuggler and Save Parrot, and you'll never see any Crimson Guard.
======================
Q8: In the game's cinema that plays, it shows Kat fighting the Ice
Demon, and there's a Crystal chest there. But when I get to that boss fight,
there's no chest. What's up?
A8: Beats me. All I can think of is that it's left over from pre-
production, and was removed before the final PS2 release. If you watch the
movie carefully (the clip's near the end, after a clip of Kat slashing at
the Voodoo Master), you can see that the chest is definitely there, not just
invisible until highlighted by the Ice Demon's breath. However, only one of
the three chests of Frigid Plateau are located on that island, and it's
buried and can be found before reaching the Ice Demon (that may be it, just
got changed and moved). Also, in that cinema none of the three boss fights
show any skulls for the bosses; this tells me that the video isn't from the
final product itself. Could also be from the XBox version or whatever...
probably it's just preproduction footage, like the initial screenshots they
released that didn't quite match the final release. If this isn't correct
and there really is a chest in that boss fight (or they know the actual
reason it appears in the cinema), let me know. And again, don't bother with
bogus info...
======================
Q9: How come Duncan's sailing his ship at Skull Cove? I thought Kat
sunk it at Glacial Gulf.
A9: Hmmmm.... Obviously somebody missed that little detail...or
Duncan's got more ships...or he's tight with Neptune...or it's explained at
some other point in the game...or someone figured we'd be so over the game
by then we wouldn't care much...btw, ever notice that Duncan's sails were
yellow too...? Interesting....
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fin
