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Y'know, I thought the term was Archipelago, not Autipelago. Weird name. Anyways, we're going to be doing the last bits of completionism before confronting Akuma, so montage time!
Heart Pieces found: 3/4!
Oh wow that is big.
I'll be honest, this one took me a few tries. It's easy to push a block in the wrong place early on and not realize it's bad until way later.
Heart Pieces found: 4/4! It feels nice getting a complete heart container as a reward for that tough puzzle.
Remember how this entire time, we've kept a tally of heart piece taunting us?
Well, for the first time since the first update, it's about to be 0.
Heart Pieces found: 1/4! Only 3 more left in the entire game.
Remember this pool that serves as the title screen, sorta? Well, it has a secret.
Heart Pieces found: 2/4! We could have gotten this as soon as we got the flippers, but I forgot this spot even existed to be honest.
Now, to take a brief break from the Heart Piece train, I go and buy some feathers in town, and...
Huh?
This has a random (I think 1/20) chance of happening when buying feathers. You could theoretically get this tech as soon as the game begins if you're willing to grind or reload saves to get good RNG, and it's well hidden for a reason.
Orson and Xaya are gone from the house. We'll need to meet them at Akuma's resting grounds. Let's see what Uncle Ben has to say about the tech though...
: Amazing! That's the super rare Wind Tech. It lets you dispatch enemies in a way only a Moosh could. But I don't know how to use it unfortunately...
: My tech guidebook just says the sequence is something every gamer should know...
It's the Konami Code. Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right A. Ignore the fact that B and Start are missing.
A huge spiral of wind closes in on you when you use it...
It replaces our standard dash attack with a single wind projectile. Seems lame...
Except it deletes enemies from existence. Not just kills them, but outright erases them, like if they took a whistle whirlwind in Zelda 1 but the whistle whirlwind dropped them in a volcano somewhere.
This thing is available at the very beginning of the game. There's a reason I didn't pick it up then, and there's a reason it won't be shown off much, if at all.
Most NPC dialogue hasn't changed since the first update with the exception of Xaya, Ben, and Orson. However, this guy was working on something, and there's now a weird portal next to him that wasn't there before.
Xerxes: My machine is finally completed. Step into the portal to refight your strongest foes.
Xerxes: Survival not guaranteed.
Xerxes: ...But if you win you might get something nice...
Well, we can't turn down a chance at sweet loot, can we?
Boss.mp3
Yeah, it's a boss rush. Every miniboss and boss we've fought up to this point, with the exception of the Zora miniboss, is present. 6 fights, all buffed to match endgame stats.
It's kinda brutal.
Confirmed Deaths: 20
We make it up to the level 3 miniboss before we hit the dirt. The big threats here are the ice golem and the slime patra.
I grind up for potions.
You can buy up to 2 potions at once, which is signified by the potion being red (2 use) instead of blue (1 use). Zelda 1 ripoff engine, Zelda 1 potion mechanics.
I actually went and fought this thing twice. Once with the potions and no Moosh Mode/techs, and again with Moosh Mode/techs and no potions. See, originally this was going to be a showcase where I'd do it "legit" first, and then show off our awesome new Wind Tech by one shotting everything. However, the rematch bosses are immune to the Wind Tech, unlike the non rematch bosses. Just know that if you pick up the wind tech early, you can one shot everything up until this point.
Anyways, first video is No Moosh, second video is Moosh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6hB0AUp69c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifSque72TQs
Xerxes: Hey, you did pretty good, boy. Feel free to come battle again any time.
Heart Pieces found: 3/4! One left.
Well with that out of the way, we can't put things off any longer.
There was a large gate to the north here before. It's gone now.
Level 0.mp3
Sealed Grounds. Hey, we saw this screen before!
All the way back in the intro! Neat.
Very ominous area.
Oh, come on! I just got the taunt counter down to 0 
Lot's of pillars and stuff here. Whoever built this place must've had a complexity addiction.
Before we enter...
Map update. That's the entire world explored.
Level 0.mp3
Welcome to the Temple of Seals. Same music as outside.
Ominous hallway means poo poo's about to go down. So...
Death Count: 20
Heart Pieces obtained: 19
Heart Pieces taunting: 1
...
Let's do this.
: Finnigan! It's good to see you're safe. We're almost out of time. Give the bananas to Xaya so we can start the ceremony. If we release Akuma here before his power returns to him, you should easily be able to defeat him in his weakened state.
: Thank you, Finnigan. You've been of more use to me than I could have ever imagined.
Uh, what?
: I'm going to the back of the temple to release Akuma where you won't interfere.
: I'm his avatar. This is my duty. And naturally I wouldn't be affected by his curse.
: Xaya! Stop!
: Enough of your nonsense, old man.
: Hear me, Finnigan, avatar of Moosh. Akuma will be released by my hand. Return to the village now and savor your last few hours. If you follow me, I will cut you down where you stand.
: Orson, are you alright?
: I'm fine, Finnigan. I'm just winded... That shot could have been lethal, but Xaya spared me. She must be fighting Akuma's control even now... You must follow her, Finnigan. Find a way to save her...
: Don't worry about me. Get to the back of the temple! The demon must not be freed again!
gently caress, this isn't good.
We have to stop her from awakening Akuma.
Level 4.mp3
Next time: Stopping Xaya.