Near Saskiraf in the taiga, known in Japanese as the Arctic Circle (北極圏), is the sixth and final stage in Cannon Dancer. The stage lists its final area in a separate date and location, calling it In the solar sphere (太陽圏, lit. Heliosphere)
Story
This area near a settlement known as Saskiraf is a strange area found on the Arctic Circle, at the extreme north of Europe. The area features a hellish landscape with red thunderous skies and strange crystaline constructs and platforms floating in mid-air. Slaver brings Kirin to this area and has him fight previous enemies from his quest, using her powers to bring them back in an attempt to stall Kirin's advance as he's seeking to confront Slaver in battle.[1]
After Kirin eliminates every single opponent in his path, including an exact replica of him and the resurrected members of Teki, Slaver brings him to her territory in the Sun's Heliosphere where she challenges Kirin to a one-on-one fight with Earth as the ultimate prize[2]. Despite Slaver's powers, however, Kirin stands as the final victor.
Defeated, Slaver's face cracks and a single tear rolls out of her eye, which appears to purify the Earth as it changes from a reddish tone to its normal colors. Slaver wonders aloud if Kirin knows what he's doing, proclaiming herself a god, but Kirin nonchalantly replies that he's the God.[3]
Layout
This stage is unique as it changes how the checkpoint system works: up until now, when Kirin died in previous stages, he'd often respawn at the exact spot he was defeated or close by. In this stage, however, Kirin respawns in predetermined spots depending on his progress through the stage. This makes the stage harder to clear, as each death stops the player's progression and enemies respawn instead of remaining dead.
The stage starts as Kirin arrives on top of Slaver's sword. The first area is a steep path upwards where Kirin is attacked by fire-wielding Flame Fairies. Reaching the top of the area, the luxury red car seen back at Agadan and the green Truck await and must be quickly avoided as they slide down the moment they are approached. A few steps forward, Kirin is attacked by the fire entity Herio, and then the first boss Gamran. The two are identical to their first boss battle, except they are faced in smaller, inclined areas making reaching their weak spots harder. Upon defeating Gamran, Kirin proceeds into an area with a large mirror or reflective wall. After a brief moment, the reflection comes to life and attacks Kirin. Fake fights using some of Kirin's moves, but he lacks the shadow clones and his more powerful attacks.
Once Fake is dealt with, a large rainbow wall appears and starts moving forward, destroying the whole area. Kirin must run the opposite direction, gain momentum and jump off to the left to reach a floating set of platforms in the void. In this area, the resurrected members of Teki confront Kirin and attack together using a special formation known as "Die Rudel Taktik". This is the hardest boss in the game, as all three Teki attack at the same time, often overlapping each other and making dodging their attacks very difficult.
Once the Teki are killed again, Slaver carries Kirin upwards with a number of swords, preparing herself to fight him for the fate of Earth. The final area is a platform made of two swords with a giant image of Slaver watching from the background.
Stage Enemies
Enemies present in this stage include:
- Flame Fairy
- Guardian
- Explosive Mine
- Truck
- Boss: Herio
- Boss: Gamran
- Boss: Fake
- Boss: Teki (Die Rudel Taktik)
- Boss: Slaver
Design Notes
The stage's listed location in English, "Saskiraf", is the exact reading of the Katakana spelling for Saskylakh (サスキラフ), a rural locality from the Sakha Republic in Russia, located at the northest point of the country. Taiga, also listed in the English name, is a low-temperature biome located in the northest parts of the world, covering most of Siberia. Saskylakh is indeed found within an area of the Siberian Taiga. Saskylakh is also set within the area of the Arctic Circle, matching the Japanese name of the stage as well.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Mitchell Corporation (February 1996, Arcade). Cannon Dancer (Japanese), Stage 6 cutscene. Slaver: "This bloodlust! Do you intend to fight me?" (その殺気！ 余と戦うつもりか)
- ↑ Mitchell Corporation (February 1996, Arcade). Cannon Dancer (Japanese), Stage 6 final boss. Slaver: "Me! Or you! For the strongest one to win, the reward...is this!" (余か！ おまえか！ 強い者が手にする 褒美は...これだ！)
- ↑ Mitchell Corporation (February 1996, Arcade). Cannon Dancer (Japanese), Stage 6 end. Slaver: "Can't you see it anymore? I am God" (わからなくなったのか？ 余は 神であるぞ). Kirin (?): "I am the God" (余が 神であるぞ)
| Cannon Dancer |
|---|
| Kirin |
| Moves: Bunshin • Cartwheel Jump • Plasma Whirlwind • Slide • Taijutsu |
| Stage Enemies |
| Foot Soldier • Spider Weapon • Flying Weapon • Guardian • Tiger • Desert creatures • Draft • Black Commander Mizuchi • T-Tank • Ijiryu • Flame Fairy |
| Bosses |
| Material • Computer • Gamran • Visete • Herio • Sandora • Euro-Gam • Fake Tianon • Cannons • Willf • Die Rudel Taktik • Slaver |
| Locations |
| Agadan • Slaver Temple • Cabil • Indian Ocean • Woods & Prague • Saskiraf |
| Related Articles |
| The Federation (Jack Layzon) • Slaver (cult) • Teki |