Altered Beast/Round 4

Stage description

The fourth stage takes place in a lavish palace. While the setting has little in common with the previous stage, it's construction is quite similar, with various levels of platforms strewn about. Many enemies that you haven't seen since the first and second stage reappear here, and some are much stronger than before. In addition to all of the old enemies, one new one appear, the Hammer Demon, who attacks from above. Early silver wolves won't hesitate to race across the screen, so you'll need to be in position to attack them if you want to face the boss as early as possible.

Enemies

Returning enemies

Lascert Wolves, Slow Feet, Headless Horror, Grave Master, Skinny Oculus, Round Leech

Hammer Demons
Points: 500 Hammer Demons occupy the sky, like the Skinny Oculus. Unlike the Skinny Oculus, they wait until they are directly above you, and then drop straight down in an attempt to smash you with their hammer. When you see them pause, quickly move out of their way and prepare to attack them as they fly back up to the ceiling. Knock them out before they become a bigger nuisance.

Transformation

There is a surprising amount of similarity between the werewolf transform, and the tiger transform. Like the werewolf, the tiger has a projectile attack, and a full body charge. However, there are some distinct differences. The tiger's projectile attack does not travel straight, but rather in a wave motion that gets progressively wider the further it travels. Similarly, the tiger's body charge does not travel straight across either. Instead, the tiger launches himself upwards, and then he comes back just as quickly. While he does this, you have a limited amount of lateral control. Like the werewolf, the tiger turns his entire body into a weapon when he launches this attack. Use it to take out aerial enemies quickly.

Silver wolves

Arcade version

Segment 1

1. Wolves will appear from the right near the start of the stage. The first wolf will appear on the high ledge. The second one will appear on the ground and jump up. The silver wolf follows the second wolf, and does not stop as it runs. Stand between the two pillars that hold up the first ledge for a good chance to kick the silver wolf.
2. A pack of four brown wolves will appear from the right, two up on the ledge and two on the ground. After the four wolves attack, a silver wolf will appear in thw lower right corner, and run to the left. Be prepared to stop it before it escapes.
3. After a series of Slow Feet appear on the ground, another pack of wolves will attack from the right. Several of them will bound across the floor. Remaining standing on the ledge just above the ground on the left side of the screen and wait for the wolves to approach you. A silver wolf will appear among the pack.

Segment 2

1. Right after the Round Leeches appear, two brown wolves will leap hesitantly across the floor from left to right. A silver wolf will appear behing them and run continuously to the right.
2. Another pair of brown wolves will appear from the left on the ground. However, the silver wolf that follows them will actually appear higher up and run across the ledges on its way to the right. Jump up to the ledges to block its escape.

Segment 3

1. A stationary silver wolf will appear on the floor shortly before a pair of brown wolves leap out from behind it.
2. Two more brown wolves will leap out and attack from the right before a silver wolf follows behind them.
3. Another stationary silver wolf will appear on the floor, followed by two brown wolves which leap out and attack.
4. This same setup will occur almost immediately afterwards one last time.

Genesis version

Segment 1

1. Beyond the first two columns that appear, a brown wolf will first appear on the ground to the right, followed by a silver wolf, but the silver wolf will leap out to the right first. Stand between the columns (closer to the left) column to attack the silver wolf.
2. A brown wolf will leap off the low platform on the right to the ground. A bit later, another brown wolf will appear on the right, but on the ground. It is followed by a silver wolf.
3. A brown wolf will leap off the same platform when it's nearly off the screen on the left. It is followed by a brown wolf and a silver wolf who appear together, and leap across the floor to the right.

Segment 2

1. After the first Round Leech appears, a brown wolf will leap off the high platform on the right, down to the ground. It is followed by a second brown wolf who appears on the same platform. A silver wolf will appear on the ground and run to the left after the second brown wolf leaps off.

Segment 3

1. Immediately after Neff retreats, a brown wolf will appear on the floor on the right which leaps slowly to the left. It is followed shortly by a silver wolf who leaps quickly to the left.
2. When there's a lone column in the background, a brown wolf will appear on the floor on the right, followed by a silver wolf. Although a few more brown wolves will appear on this stage, no more silver wolves do.

Boss: Crocodile Worm

The Crocodile Worm is a boss which floats above the ground. It travels back and forth along an arc between the top of the screen and the lower right corner. It has two attacks. It frequently stops traveling along the arc and launches a row of flames from it's stomach. Even at its lowest, you can safely duck underneath the flames as they travel above the floor. Additionally, when it's near the top of the screen, it will release a small fire dragon from it's mouth.

The dragons dive down to attack you when they are above you, but they are easily removed by using the Tiger's rising attack. Hitting the Crocodile Worm itself takes a bit more work. The projectile is effective against the boss, but it can not travel through the flames, so you need a clean shot to hit the worm. Alternatively, you can use the rising attack against it, although it's not easy to pull off. When you hit the boss after rising up, you will do damage, but you will also be halted from going all the way through the boss and back down. You can do the entire round trip if you graze the back of the boss while it's overhead, but this can be tricky to time.

Whichever attack you choose, it will take some time to defeat the boss, but it's low speed and predictability make it fairly easy to overcome without taking any damage.

Oracle Eye

With Crocodile Worm defeated, you are shown another vision of Athena's current state. The spell appears to have worked, and the process of transforming is complete. A victorious Neff holds the transformed Athena, in the form of a dove, aloft in his hands. Athena's only hope of rescue now lies in your hands.