[Episode 2] Third Guarding System: Acarno

Now that Chris and Navarro have defeated the first two Guarding Systems, it's all down to Acarno to complete the job.

[Episode 2] Third Guarding System: Acarno​

Summary

Now that Chris and Navarro have defeated the first two Guarding Systems, it’s all down to Acarno to complete the job.

As Acarno you must locate and defeat the third and final Guarding System in order to re-group with your teammates and successfully infiltrate the Pagoda.

Video

Acarno emerges in a room with a pool of water in the centre and various pipes overhead. Before doing anything else, equip the WET SUIT and SPIKED BOOTS to help Acarno swim faster and give him better grip underfoot. Finally (as always) ensure the GRAVITY CONTROLLER is turned on.

First, there are some items to collect on the pipes overhead.

Item; The first item to pickup is 2 HEAT PACKS and can be collected by simply jumping to the first overhead pipe.
Item; The second item is 2 FREEZE PACKS and can be found on the second (slightly higher) overhead pipe. It is easily accessed by either jumping up from the walkway around the room.

After collecting the items on the overhead pipes, return to the point at which you entered the room and proceed around the walkway picking up a PORTABLE AIR on the mesh bridge and a second PORTABLE AIR at the end of the walkway next to the switch on the wall.

Switch; Interact with the switch under the "Caution" sign to open the laser gate on the other side of the room.

Jump into the water behind Acarno and collect the 125 CREDITS before swimming through the newly-opened laser gate. Swim to the end of the room you just opened and head to the surface to catch your breath.

Note that the next section of the game requires a somewhat challenging swim as it is easy to get lost and there are several traps to catch you out – these include 4 giant rotating mechanisms that move up and down and kill you instantly, as well as a fan on the floor at one point which will suck you into it’s blades. With that in mind, it may be a good time to save before you start.

If at any time you start to run low on oxygen, you have two options; either use a PORTABLE AIR or avoid the rotating mechanisms and make your way to the highest point they reach as there is are 4 identical safe areas you can get air without being caught by the traps.

There are a few items to collect down here as you progress through the underground waterway which are detailed below, however if you are still struggling you can also watch the following video covering this section;

Underground waterway video; This video from the OverBlood2.com YouTube channel shows how to navigate this tricky swimming section. The ‘easy items’ start at 00:01:05, with the ‘hard items’ starting at 00:01:52.

Swim forwards, hugging the wall to your left, and take your first left when possible. Swim forwards again and then take a right when you reach the wall in front of you – be careful to avoid the giant rotating mechanism, which will kill you dead. Continue swimming straight, hugging the wall to the right until you’re again able to turn right. Keep swimming straight on until you reach a PORTABLE AIR on the ground.

Hug the floor and spin 180 degrees, swim forwards a few strokes until you’re able to swim down into the opening. Head straight down, and then swim forwards (as in, the opposite direction to where you just picked up the last item). You will see an item on the floor – swim down to collect the MAGNUM SHELL. Again, be careful to avoid the rotating mechanism.

Swim around to the left and then straight forwards until you reach another wall in front of you and turn left – again avoiding another rotating mechanism – and pickup another PORTABLE AIR.

Continue forwards avoiding the trap on the floor – which will suck you down and chop you to bits – until you reach another wall and pickup the 1750 CREDITS, avoiding yet another rotating mechanism.

Turn left and swim forwards all the way to the wall in front of you before taking another left. Swim forwards all the way to the wall in front of you, turn right and then swim forwards until Acarno is out of the underground waterway.

Exit; This is what the exit to the underground waterway looks like.

Surface to restore Acarno’s air supply before diving back down to collect another item.

Item; The 30 CREDITS is underwater in front of the laser gate.
Bonus items; You may (or may not) have noticed that in the underground waterway there is an item visible at the end of each giant rotating mechanism trap. It is possible to collect all 4 of these items - which include 2 DIAMONDS, 10 GEO STONES, 5 EMERALDS and 4 DIAMONDS (the last being the most difficult).

It is worth noting that these 4 items may be the most difficult in the game to grab, so saving before making an attempt is advised, and remember that every time you get a Game Over, you lose CP for re-starting (so make sure you back out and re-load your save if you keep messing this one up!).

In order to get the bonus items, make your way to the location of one of the 4 traps and wait until it is at it's lowest point before swimming up in the direction it came from - you will emerge in an area where Acarno can take a breath and won't be harmed by the traps if you keep to the sides of the room (as shown in the image above). When the trap touches the ceiling and beings to make it's decent, swim after it and grab the item before swimming to safety and repeating for each individual trap - but be careful not to get too close, or else you'll get chopped.

Return to the surface and climb out of the water onto the grey and black ledge.

Climb out; Time for a break from swimming.
Jump; Head up to the next ledge.
Walkway; Jump up to the walkway above.

Turn right and head down the ramp continue to follow the walkway around until you reach the small fire. Equip the FIRE EXTINGUISHER and put out the fire to reveal an item.

Item; Pick up the GEO STONE once the fire has been put out.

Continue heading around the walkway until it turns to the right. After turning, jump up to the pipe overhead. Head along the pipe towards the cylindrical column and pick up another item.

Item; Once you're on top of the pipes, the MAGAZINE CARTRIDGE is easy enough to find.

Drop back down to the walkway and continue walking around until you come to the only double doors which are usable in this room.

Doors; Head through.

Inside the next room, take a few steps forward towards the platform’s edge. You will notice a ledge below to your left into which the moving boxes disappear – by rotating the camera you should be able to see an item on the ledge on the side closest to you.

Item; The 2 EMERGENCY SPRAYS requires a drop down, rather than a jump.

Jump into the water below for another item.

Item; Swim to the bottom to collect the DIAMOND.
Ladder; Climb out and to the top of the ladder.

Turn left at the top of the ladder and run forwards along the walkway to another ladder, and once at the top approach the control panels in front of you.

Control panels; Interact with both the left and right control panels to make the moving boxes in the middle of the room go in the opposite direction.

Head back down the ladder and return to the point you entered the room. Jump onto the first set of moving boxes. When you land on your chosen box, turn to face the direction the boxes are travelling.

Platform; Prepare to jump to the platform above the flashing sign that says "caution". Make sure you time your time to hop over the railing.
Double doors; Head through.

Once on the platform, equip the ANTIQUE GUN and enter the double doors in front of you. In the next room, several mechanical spiders will drop from the ceiling – all will explode with the exception of three. The mechanical spiders can melee attack if they get to close and also they also fire purple laser balls at you, however these attacks are can only cause you any damage at floor level – use the raised part of the floor in the middle of the room and also the control panels which line the walls of the room and take the spiders out from distance – they are easily dispatched using most weapons.

There are several items to pick up in this room once the spiders are dead; an AIR PACK, MAGAZINE CARTRIDGE, 2 FREEZE PACKS, and 2 ENERGY PACKS. Most importantly, pick up the GOLD KEY CARD from the control panel opposite the door you came in through.

Item; The GOLD KEY CARD is sitting on the control panel.

If you have some spare bombs, its advisable to blow up the screens above the control panels in order to gain some quick and easy CP before leaving via the double doors through which you entered. Turn to Acarno’s right and jump onto the overhead pipe.

Pipe; Standing close to the edge of the platform, the overhead pipe is easy to spot, and can be jumped too without any real difficulty.
Double doors; Drop down to the platform underneath the pipe and head through the doors.

Enter the double doors on the walkway. In the next room, run straight forwards and jump into the water. There are several items to collect at the waterbed; 50 CREDITS15 CREDITS30 CREDITSFREEZE PACK and 10 CREDITS. Return to the surface, and prepare to use the HOOK SHOT.

Using the HOOK SHOT; Aim for the overhead pipe.
Item; Pick up 100 CREDITS just next to where you land on the pipe.
Item; Run to the opposite end of the pipe and pick up the SUPER LIGHT SABRE.
Ledge; Run back down to the opposite end of the pipe and jump down to the ledge underneath. Note that if you end up back in the water, you will need to use the HOOK SHOT again to get back on top of the pipe before trying again.

Approach the doors and use the GOLD KEY CARD to gain entry and prepare for another boss fight against the final Guardian. Before heading over the water to the central platform to face off with the Guardian, there are two items to collect that you will not have chance to pick up once the fight is over.

Item; Head forwards and turn right, then pick up the ENERGY PACK on the ground.
Item; There is a second ENERGY PACK to be found in the water. From the point you entered the room, drop into the water and swim around to the left.

Climb out of the water onto the central platform and prepare for battle with the final Guardian; a giant mechanical spider, much bigger and tougher to kill than the ones you’ve experienced so far in the game.

The third Guardian; Two down, one to go...

While the Guardian’s attacks are not that difficult to avoid, they are quite damaging. The long-range water cannon attack can be avoided by jumping onto or hiding behind the control panels in the centre of the platform. The Guardian’s third attack is sees it fire slow-moving, harmful bubbles. Getting too close to the Guardian’s mouth will also result in instant death.

The quickest way to defeat the final Guardian is to wait for it to try a few of it’s water cannon attacks before it retreats into the water to re-fill. Throw a FREEZE PACK into the water when the Guardian is submerged and the fight will be over. Note that this fight can be avoided completely by throwing a FREEZE PACK into the water before jumping across, although this means you lose the items mentioned.

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