P06F: The Ra Boss Battle

The Ra Boss Battle

This Boss Battle is probably the most difficult in the game -- it certainly is the one that causes the most frustration from what I have seen.  After really examining this I have come to the conclusion that the battle causes the most grief for players who prefer to play with a button-mashing style rather than using specific moves and counters.  In simple terms, that approach does not work very well here -- that is not to say you cannot get through this without being a skilled move-mechanic mind you, just that the latter has an easier time than the former.

The Ra's Boss Battle Intro

So to make this easier for you we need to break it down to its basic components:

(1) You are facing three basic enemy groups here: sand-ninjas, a Giant Sand Ra, and Ra himself.  Each presents a different set of challenges, but it is largely Ra himself that is going to give you the most trouble as far as taking damage is concerned!

(2) Dodging and countering are NOT optional in this battle.  At a very minimum you will need to do both in order to survive and succeed.  The good news though is that you do not have to use the fancy moves -- simply double-tapping 'A' to dodge to the side will work just fine here, as will countering with simple 'Y' presses.

(3) Like all good Boss Battles, this one includes multiple stages -- so even though you manage to get through one, you still have to battle the intermediate stage that sits in between and then repeat the previous stage and strategy -- but like all good Boss Battles, it will not be exactly the same, as the enemy will move either faster or slower at different points, making luck as well as skill components in this process.

A word about Grief Code -- it may feel like that has been used here, but it has not.  This is a straight-forward battle, they have not given the enemy an unfair advantage, and more to the point, you CAN win this mates!  I know it!

The Ra's Boss Battle Part 1

--== The First Stage ==--

This is a basic mix-up -- Ra calls down some sand-ninjas to fight with him -- he is among them but you cannot tell which is him and which a ninja, so just beat them all down until you get to him, then do a rapid 'X' attack on him to incap him for this stage!

--== The Second Stage ==--

Here is where the third enemy shows up!  Ra is in the center of a group of sand-ninjas (there are gaps) with a Giant Ra who has two basic attacks: Shuriken and groups of giant blue swords that sort of float towards you.  The swords are not a problem as you can see them coming way before they can actually hurt you -- but the Shuriken can be.  Your best defense here is to watch the Giant Ra -- when he pulls his arm back that is when you should dodge, as that signals a Shuriken attack.

While you are dodging these two attacks, you want to quick-fire the REC -- the command is on screen -- to hit Ra.  You will know when you have succeeded since he will scream.  Keep doing this, dodging and REC attacking -- until you finally damage him enough to collapse the illusion, at which point you will find yourself with his sword at his throat back in the room with Talia.

Talia urges you to kill her father, explaining that it is your destiny and only option -- but as you are the Batman, well, that is not going to happen!  It takes a minute for Ra to be convinced that you really mean it, and then the next stage begins.

The Ra's Boss Battle Part 2

--== The Third Stage ==--

Back in the sand illusion, this time the battle starts with a variation -- the army of sand-ninjas and Ra appear overhead and begin a pounce attack -- simply spam Counter to defend, and then while you keep an eye out for the flash of the ream Ra's attack, begin taking down the sand-ninjas.

I have to admit that this was a difficult fight, but only because you are really hitting a lot of buttons and so your hand gets tired.  In fact your hand and arm get a bit fatigued through this one, so it is an idea to maybe take a break by pausing after you complete the first part of this stage.  Seriously!

After you clear the sand-ninjas and then do a rapid-fire attack on Ra, he flies away and resets the Giant Ra Ra sand-ninjas circle in the distance -- but this time the Giant Ra has a new attack -- a massive sword!  You need to dodge this, you know?  I was not expecting it so I got hit by it and it hurt!  Try not to make that mistake, right?

As this stage progresses you will find that you are facing the same basic attacks -- the swords, the Shuriken, and the giant sword attacks -- but they are a lot more frequent and a bit harder to keep track of for dodging purposes.  In fact I actually ended up diving into the swords attack once or maybe twice I don't remember!  Still, that which does not kill us should not annoy us... Much.

As you dodge the attacks and quick-fire the REC eventually you will take Ra down again, at which point he will attack you -- and you will spam Counter to fend his attacks off before you do a rapid-fire attack to incap him and collapse the illusion again.  Back in his Chamber, you are now supposed to kill him -- but of course you are not going to do that, so he takes his daughter hostage, and lays it out for you: kill him or the only woman you ever loved is dead!

Now would be a great time to pull out a gadget we have not used yet, wouldn't it?  Yeah it would!  And that gadget is none-other than the Reverse Batarang!  Woot!  OK, to use it you first target the umm, target...  Using Left Trigger, and then lock it on using RB, and fire by releasing RB and voila!  One more than normally incapped Ra's!  Good on ya mates!  You now only took him down and saved Talia, but you also unlocked the Achievement "Sandstorm" (25 GS) in the process!

As the final dialogue unfolds you take the blood sample that you came for, and then you get told off by Talia in the bargain, who is pretty darn angry at you!  Oh, and Ra's of course...  She stalks off, you warn Ra's to shut down the Lazarus Pool, and then you check in with a very worried Oracle and fill her in on what has happened.