Big Octo is a boss in The Legend of the Mystical Ninja. He is a giant red octopus who guards the bridge out of Warlock Zone III: Amusement Park.

Description

A giant red octopus who guards the exit bridge of the Otafuku Army's mechanical amusement park. He moves from side to side –changing directions frequently– and attacks by spewing out Lil' Octos that travel down while slightly moving either left or right. These little red octopuses can be destroyed on their way down, although trying to pick up their drops might prove a bit risky, as the boss will continue spewing out more of his progeny.

The player might try to find a sweet spot where they can both hit the Lil' Octos while also dealing damage to the boss. However, a more practical way of defeating him is to simply run past him and either attack him from behind at the player's leisure until he is defeated, or just continue their way out of the stage.

Although considered a boss, when defeated, Big Octo will drop a random item as if he was just another lesser enemy. Additionally, even after being defeated, the Giant Octopus can be fought over and over if the player leaves the portion of the screen where he appears in and just goes back. He is also the only boss in the game that isn't preceded by a 2D action area (although, technically, the Lantern Man neither); in fact, the player can just run past the entire amusement park section, head directly to the bridge, run past the boss, and just continue their way, certainly making Big Octo the most uneventful boss character in the game.

Gallery

Trivia

• This boss might be a reference to other octopuses that have frequently appeared in other Konami games (including Tako from the Gradius series). Further supporting this, is that in the ending cutscene that plays after completing Warlock Zone III, Big Octo can be seen climbing the Konami building in the background.

References