Rat's Lair ruined this game for me

[HDF Red]

I use to love playing this game all the time but the idea of having my loot decided by a dumb punch out mini game just doesn't sit well for me when 99% of the game is bullet dodging. Punch Out wasn't my childhood.

[Virgil]

I was never a big fan of Punch Out either, even when it was the big deal that it was. Then again, I'll freely admit I was never very good at it, but I still think it's one of the most overrated retro games of all time considering how often it's talked about even today. People reference it more than Mario Bros 3 or Double Dragon 2, which makes zero sense to me as someone who was all about the NES back then.

Ehh, I just started fighting the Rat myself and I can't even get past his first phase. I know I'm gonna get absolutely demolished at least a half dozen times on his other phases when I get there.

[e.bkapalka]

Because of how different it is, the devs made sure to keep it from affecting the game — losing punch-out doesn’t negatively affect you at all, and there is no achievement associated with it. Because of that, it is (at worst) something that does not affect the game whatsoever, or at best some free loot. The fact that this optional *inconsequential* fight (that you have to go way out if your way to even find) somehow ruins the game is just crazy to me

[Virgil]

Originally posted by e.bkapalka:

Because of how different it is, the devs made sure to keep it from affecting the game — losing punch-out doesn’t negatively affect you at all, and there is no achievement associated with it. Because of that, it is (at worst) something that does not affect the game whatsoever, or at best some free loot. The fact that this optional *inconsequential* fight (that you have to go way out if your way to even find) somehow ruins the game is just crazy to me

I just figured the "ruined the game" thing was hyperbole, but if that's literally the case, I second that. This game is an absolute masterpiece, and I'm glad it's got content that I know I'm not ready for yet.

[Cursed Hawkins]

Originally posted by Virgil:

Originally posted by e.bkapalka:

Because of how different it is, the devs made sure to keep it from affecting the game — losing punch-out doesn’t negatively affect you at all, and there is no achievement associated with it. Because of that, it is (at worst) something that does not affect the game whatsoever, or at best some free loot. The fact that this optional *inconsequential* fight (that you have to go way out if your way to even find) somehow ruins the game is just crazy to me

I just figured the "ruined the game" thing was hyperbole, but if that's literally the case, I second that. This game is an absolute masterpiece, and I'm glad it's got content that I know I'm not ready for yet.

Plus the stage is actually required if you want to fight phase 2 of the High Dragun fight.
Edit: or was it phase 3.

[Myno]

Originally posted by Cursed Hawkins:

Plus the stage is actually required if you want to fight phase 2 of the High Dragun fight.
Edit: or was it phase 3.

Huh? Are you talking about the Advanced Dragon? You don't need to do the Rat for that; you can just hatch the Ancient Serpent from a Weird Egg.

[Cursed Hawkins]

Originally posted by Myno:

Originally posted by Cursed Hawkins:

Plus the stage is actually required if you want to fight phase 2 of the High Dragun fight.
Edit: or was it phase 3.

Huh? Are you talking about the Advanced Dragon? You don't need to do the Rat for that; you can just hatch the Ancient Serpent from a Weird Egg.

And the only way to get that Serpent IS THROUGH RATS LAIR.
https://youtu.be/BwZh_vHzIGo?t=110

[Myno]

Originally posted by Cursed Hawkins:

Originally posted by Myno:

Huh? Are you talking about the Advanced Dragon? You don't need to do the Rat for that; you can just hatch the Ancient Serpent from a Weird Egg.

And the only way to get that Serpent IS THROUGH RATS LAIR.
https://youtu.be/BwZh_vHzIGo?t=110

All I'm saying is that you don't need to beat the Rat or get the guaranteed Serpent in his lair (it kind of sounded like that's what you were saying). You simply need to enter the Lair once to unlock the Weird Egg. Then you can get the Egg from a shop or chest and hatch it in fire to get the Ancient Serpent to fight the Advanced Dragon.

[Naughty Senpai 69]

Just block everything in phase 1 and hit him when he taunts for a star. When you got 3 you use the special punch.

In phase two again block everything, if he does a straight, counter the second one, if he jumps into the background hit him when he`s at his farthest away, again use special when you got 3 stars.

And in the last phase punch him on his second straight again, block everything, dodge when he throws ♥♥♥♥ at you and punch the cheese out of his face. If he does the wind up punch, hit punch on his third wind up.

It`snot that complicated and even if you only get 1 or 2 phases right, if you get the cheese gun you basically won the game.

[Lucien Lachance]

I remember saying the same stuff before I had to keep running thru the fight to be able to constantly pull 4-6 keys off the little ♥♥♥♥♥♥ every time now. Just watch a video on Youtube guide for 6 key, will show you all the stuff you need to know.

[Virgil]

Originally posted by Lucien Lachance:

I remember saying the same stuff before I had to keep running thru the fight to be able to constantly pull 4-6 keys off the little ♥♥♥♥♥♥ every time now. Just watch a video on Youtube guide for 6 key, will show you all the stuff you need to know.

I should have watched a guide I guess. I just managed to take the bastard down through the first two phases and then got to round 3 in the boxing match, only to get my ass handed to me because I tried to get fancy with it instead of just finishing the fight. I was let go with a "consolation prize" and did not manage to unlock the final stuff you get when you actually kill the Rat as opposed to simply beating him in battle. He manages to escape if you lose the Punchout sequence. Maybe I'm the only idiot in the world who ever lost this part.

This literally just happened. I had what was the best run of my save, besting the Rat and the Lich for the first time ever. Unfortunately, I'll need to return and fight the Rat and actually make sure I win the fistfight instead of fail like the loser I am. Feels pretty bittersweet.

[Lucien Lachance]

I went from losing the (punchout) fight a few times and progressed to being able to get 6 keys like 80-90% of the time. I don't think I ever leave punchot with less than 4 keys now (if I even bother playing him).

[Virgil]

Originally posted by Lucien Lachance:

I went from losing the (punchout) fight a few times and progressed to being able to get 6 keys like 80-90% of the time. I don't think I ever leave punchot with less than 4 keys now (if I even bother playing him).

Good to know. I'll get 'em next time probably. I think that just leaves Challenge Mode, Advanced Dragun and unlocking Paradox and Gunslinger... if I ever happen to see the Glitched Beholsters again it'd be nice to take them out too, but lord knows when that'll happen.

My first few days playing I found a glitched chest on floor 1 and had no idea what it did. I proceeded to get massacred almost immediately. It was definitely within the first 10 hours of playing. Over 100 hours later and I have yet to see even a single other glitched chest yet, haha.

[Lucien Lachance]

Only glitch chest I've seen in many hours of gameplay was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ fused and I had no key or liquid to put out the fuse, complete RNG ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Literally the only thing I haven't done in this game.