The Central Computer is an indoor area where you will encounter Magna Centipede. As if that isn't enough you'll also have to face off against some ingenious traps, with moving blocks as well as shielded robots, on top of alarm systems which can generate even more machines aiming to kill you.
Items
- Sub-tank (need Leg & Arm Upgrades & F. Stag's weapon)
- Heart (need Leg Upgrade)
Stage walkthrough
Magna Centipede! Looks more like a scorpion.
These first enemies create shields in front of them. Use a fully charged shot to deal with the shield, then kill the robot with pellets.
The next room will have spotlights moving back and forth. If one catches you, the blocks will fall from the ceiling and start to shoot at you and it's hard to dodge. Avoid getting caught because you're gonna need the blocks to stay up there to get the heart tank. You can use the sections of the stages with background walls to hide, like Metal Gear.
After the bit with the spotlights, you'll see a weird block that looks like it has an eye. It'll fly away, but don't chase it. Instead, jump onto the platform it was on and dash jump to the left and try and catch the bit hanging off the ceiling with a walljump. Slide off and airdash to the left to catch the block, then walljump up the hole in the ceiling. You'll find a Heart Tank waiting for you. If you got caught earlier by a spotlight, the block won't be there and you'll need to try again another time. If the jump is too hard, you can use a fully charged Speed Burner and an airdash to just get right to the block.
These big blocks, once you get close enough, will fly away and form structures. You can wait for them to stop coming or just dash away. The pink ones can be destroyed and often hold life pickups. They'll try to crush you so stay on your toes for this section.
After the block bit, you'll jump over a hole in the floor and then you'll see a small passageway. Stop! There's a Sub Tank above you. To reach that hole in the ceiling, you'll need the Leg & Arm upgrade and the Speed Burner. Go back left to the highest point you can get - right behind where there's a large gap in the ceiling. Jump right, airdash, then fire a fully charged Speed Burner midair. You should hit the wall and be able to climb up and claim your prize. Move on from here.
In this room, you'll be attacked by a wireframe sword miniboss. You need to hit the hilt to do any damage to it. The Bubble Splash will make quick work of it if you can get close enough, and the Speed Burner isn't too shabby either. It'll swing back and forth before shooting at you, so watch out.
After defeating the sword, you'll take a drop with spotlights trying to look for you. If there's an X-hunter occupying this level you want to fight, do NOT get caught as it will trigger falling blocks that bar the optional boss door. For more information on the X-hunter system click here. In the first drop, hug the right wall. The second drop is trickier - try hugging the right wall, shooting the turret, then airdashing between the two spotlights to the left wall and hugging that one down.
In this next room, a pointer will look around trying to find you as blocks fall from the ceiling. Don't take it slow - dash to the very end of the room and don't wait for the falling blocks! If the pointer finds you, it'll make the following miniboss more powerful (trust me, you don't want to be caught more than once). If you outran all the following blocks, you'll find the optional boss door at the far right end of this room. Otherwise, climb up the wall.
Another miniboss, this time a one-eyed robot. If you got caught before, he'll change colors and have more attacks. His weak point is his head. He can shoot floor-hugging shots - jump over them and hit him in his head. He can also jump and shoot 3 shots downwards - dash under him to avoid these. The Speed Burner does a lot of damage and will make quick work of this guy.
This room will blink red as the security system turns on - so much for being stealthy. Block turrets will fall from the ceiling, bridges will fall from under you, and the sliding blocks will push you away. Do your best, as at the end of this hallway lies Magna Centipede.
Maverick boss: Magna Centipede
- Weakness: Silk Shot
Mr. Centipede is quite the ninja and you need to stay on your toes. He can disappear and reappear anywhere, including on the ceiling and right in front of you. Often he'll fake you out, appearing somewhere then immediately teleporting away. Wait for him to stay in one place before blowing your charge shot.
He'll dispel his tail and have it circle you - wait for the pieces to stop moving then quickly dash away. He can activate his magnet and pull you towards his tail. If he grabs you, quickly button mash out of there before he can damage you.
If you have the Silk Shot from Morph Moth, he's a lot easier. Once you hit him with it, his tail will fall off, limiting his arsenal significantly. Now, he can only teleport and throw ninja stars and jump. When the silk shot hits the ground, it splits into four pieces that fly away diagonally. So if he teleports to the ceiling, you can stand in the center and throw the silk shot into the corner away from him and have the piece fly into him from the corner. Or, you can just walljump up and hit him, whatever's easier.
Defeating him will net you the Magnet Mine, which is effective against Crystal Snail in the Energen Crystal stage.
"Magna" is short for "magnet" or "magnetic".