Altered Beast/Round 3

Stage description
The third stage takes place inside of a large underground cavern carved out by a race of ant-men known as Cave Needles. Unlike previous stages, this stage contains numerous platforms at various levels. It is also the first stage which contains pits. If you fall into one, you lose a life, regardless of how much health you had. Collecting enough orbs to reach the Bear transformation will require fast reflexes on your part, in order to intercept the shining wolves before they flee the screen. Many enemies will attack you from every direction. Use the higher platforms to avoid danger before you become a Bear, and use the Bear's petrification attack to petrify and block attacks.

Enemies

 * Returning enemies:Lascert Wolves, Skinny Orculus, Grave Masters, Chicken Stinger

Transformation
The bear transformation is the only one that doesn't offer a significant benefit to your movement. As a bear, you are about as fast as you are when you're human. But the bear does have some impressive attacks that make up for this. By pressing the punch button, the Bear leans forward and exhales a bit of breath which has the ability to petrify any enemy that comes in contact with it. These petrified enemies actually serve as barriers and obstacles that affect other enemies. While a few like Chicken Stingers and Gave Masters have the ability to break through them, most must simply turn around and go the other way. You can also use petrified enemies as platforms. The kick attack causes the bear to roll up into a large ball, and leap very high in the air before coming crashing down to the ground, damaging any enemy that he lands on.

Arcade version

 * Segment 1
 * 1) When the stage begins, Cave Needles will appear on the screen from every direction.  Drop down to the floor to avoid the two that appear from the left on the higher ledge, and then jump back up.  Two brown wolves will leap over to the ledge.  Kick them when they arrive, and then walk up to the edge of the ledge and be prepared to punch the shining wolf that leaps over to you.  Watch out for the Chicken Stinger that appears on the ground below as you attempt to collect the orb.
 * 2) Shortly after that, more wolves will appear from the right on the ledge.  Two brown wolves will jump onto the ledge and hesitate before leaping forward.  Kick them out of the way if you can, and prepare for the shining wolf who leaps on behind them.
 * 3) When you see a large rock in the middle of the screen, one brown wolf will appear on the right, and use it to leap up to the ledge above.  A second brown wolf will appear on the right and leap across the ledges.  A shining wolf will appear behind the second wolf and follow the same path.
 * Segment 2
 * 1) A shining wolf will appear alone, and remain stationary on the small ledge off the ground.  Eventually, two brown wolves will appear from the right and leap off the same small ledge.
 * 2) Shortly after, two brown wolves will appear on the right, and leap across the ledges before dropping to the floor.  A shining wolf will appear on the ground behind two rocks.  A Grave Master will approach the rocks and destroy them if you do not, allowing the shining wolf to run to the left.  If possible, leave the first rock standing so the wolf can't escape.
 * Segment 3
 * 1) A pack of four brown wolves will appear on the floor from either side.  A shining wolf will appear and remain in place on the first ledge that appears above them.
 * 2) Two stationary wolves will appear after the gap in the floor.  A brown wolf will be waiting on the ground, and a shining wolf will appear on the ledge immediately above him.  Watch out for two more brown wolves appearing from the left.
 * 3) Above the same ledge, two brown wolves appear at the top from the right and leap to the left.  A shining wolf will appear behind them.
 * 4) Shortly after that, twp brown wolves will appear from the left and leap across the ledges.  A shining wolf will appear behind them, a bit more slowly, and follow a lower path.  The rock in the middle may slow it down, but a Grave Master is likely to destroy it.

Boss: Moldy Snail
Neff transforms into a giant snail-like creature known as the Moldy Snail. It resembles a giant snail shell on the bottom, and a dragon head appears to rise out of the top. The snail shell has a curious hole in the side, just high enough for the bear to approach and breath into. Every time he does, the shell shifts back a small amount until the dragon head is forced to rise. If you do not breath in this hole continuously, the shell will begin to slide back to the right and the head will lower. If you breath into it frequently enough, a flap above the shell will rise and hit the head, causing damage to the boss.

Naturally, the Moldy Snail will not stand still and simply take this attack. It defends itself by launching two types of spores into the air. These spores rise up to the ceiling, and then drop to the floor in winding circles. Of the two types of spores, one is a regular green spore, and the other is ignited by fire. As a bear, you can remove the ordinary spores simply by using the Kick attack to roll into a ball, and leap in the air, crashing into the spores harmlessly as you land. However, you can't dodge the fire spores so easily. In order to avoid taking damage, you should consider using the Kick attack to throw yourself in the body of the boss, where you will slowly and eventually be pushed back to the right.

Breath into the hole as much as possible until the boss sustains too much damage and is defeated.