So the game is paused on the final boss, and I just took a break and ate dinner.
Can anyone give me any tips/basic strategy? I really don't want to lose!
I have 2 hearts left...I have NO gear except a shotgun, tons of bombs, and a couple ropes.
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He stomped on me.
I shall pretend that I won though. I'm actually quite impressed I made it so far with only a shotgun bought early on. Usually I do much better with at least a cape or something.
Assuming you arrive at the boss level like I do, low on health out of just about everything (you did do the city of gold right?) my only suggestion to take it slow. instead of running back and forth across a small space or thorwing bombs to make a deep hole, use the stomps to makes a shallow dish with a tiered edge so you can get out at the end.
Don't feel bad if you never get to see the City of Gold for yourself Quin, it's the most crazy hard to access secret of any game I've ever played. When I played Spelunky hardcore back in my day, I got to see the city once, and that was only narrowly, and I died shortly thereafter.
The only thing you need for the last fight is ropes, a mastery of running, and complete fearlessness. The wand is amazing in this fight for getting rid of the pesky critters, but it isn't necessary if you're super awesome at running and jumping. Assuming he hasn't changed, since I haven't played in a year or so, you can lure him back and forth between two sets of blocks, and he'll crush crush crush a nearly straight hole into the magma. Use those ropes I was talking about to climb your way out and cross the finish line!