Old Odyssey - Stage 7 EX

You unlock this stage by finding all 16 Sun Stones available in the standard stages in Old Odyssey.

Let the wind blow you gently through the first area where you appear, until you arrive at a 3D Warpstar that you can ride into the backdrop. Then glide up the top of a hill and float a short distance above the peak of that hill for a Keychain that the foreground ledges obscure. From there, let the winds continue to carry you right, past a spiked enemy and to another 3D Warpstar. Ride it to the foreground and let wind currents carry you right yet again, until you reach and pass through a doorway.

In the next area, start right carefully. There's a Ninja enemy on the ledge to the right that likes to throw stars to catch you off-guard. Climb up the ladder while enemies leap forward from the background to either side of it. From the top of that ladder, continue right again and watch the background for snowballs. They'll launch forward from catapults that you should easily see, so be careful before leaping if a snowball is on its way. At the far right side of this area, there is a doorway you should enter.

In the next area, you'll spot a snowman just to your right and a ledge to your left. Jump up onto that ledge and float to avoid a snowball that will roll out of it. Land on the ground in front of the opening and press Up to enter the igloo. Inside, you'll find two enemies and the Rare Keychain: Captain Vul. Now exit the igloo. Progress quickly toward the right ahead of a snowball that will roll down from the igloo doorway. Advance to reach a 3D Warpstar, and ride it to the backdrop. Now head right here, keeping between the giant rolling snowballs. You'll see a ledge where you can drop through to a doorway, or you can head right and drop down along the side of that cliff to find a nook with a Keychain. Do that if you like, then enter the aforementioned door.

Through that door, you'll advance along ledges while trains come at you from the background. They can't hit you yet, so ignore them for the moment and focus on the enemies. You can gulp one of them down for the Cutter ability, if you like. Then catch a lift from a 3D Warpstar. It carries you forward and drops you lower, so that you're on the level of the trains and need to avoid them. Start left and you'll find a bundle of dynamite. Grab it and rush left when you can safely get past the trains. Continue in that direction, which you can usually do with one well-timed run. You should reach a left wall, where you can set your explosive charge. It will detonate to provide you access to a door.

Enter that door and you'll face a puzzle of sorts. On a distant ledge, two enemies on skies appear, both holding keys. There is a set of double gates on the bottom side of the room. You need keys from both enemies to open the two gates. Quickly drop down and face left. The first enemy should arrive briefly in the foreground, so hit him with a Cutter blade before he can drop out of sight, then look right and do the same to that enemy. Quickly grab a key and run down to open the first gate, then hop back up for the second. More enemies will be arriving, so watch for them as you grab the second key and open the second gate. Now you can grab a Sun Stone and exit through the door you used to enter. You can also exit and reenter as often as you like, if you make a mistake.

Once you're back outside, head up and to the left to reach another door, through which you should pass. You will need to watch for falling pillars of stone that like to drop forward from the backdrop as you head to the right. Hop on the 3D Warpstar that you find there and then float left and up along the backdrop for a Keychain, before returning to the right and advancing in that direction. There are more pillars here, along with another 3D Warpstar that you now ride to the foreground. Once you arrive, proceed right past more falling pillars to another star, which you can ride back toward an obviously placed door. Before you enter, though, head up for some food and for an enemy you can inhale to learn the Crash ability. Then drop down and pass through the door.

In the next chamber, go up a short distance to find two capsules. One has the Ninja ability, and from the other you can earn the Hammer ability. Go with the latter, and advance up along the shaft to grab an Assist Star and float along some more gusts of wind to finally reach a mini-boss.

Mini-Boss: Mr. Frosty DX

As you fight this walrus-shaped fellow, wind blows from the left. Don't fight it. Quickly move right and hop over your foe, then hit him repeatedly with your hammer or blade. If you're aggressive, you can get rid of most of his life meter in a hurry. He'll send ice cubes flying left, but they won't hit you if you're already out of the way.

He may also use spin attacks that could knock your Hammer loose, so be ready to grab that as your foe whirls around the screen. He will return to his favorite spot along the right side, though, so be waiting to hammer him some more. If the fight lasts a little longer, he likes to start a series of charges left and right, which you should simply avoid. When he stops and sends out a series of ice cubes, you can inhale them rather than avoiding them, then fire a supercharged star back at your foe.

When Mr. Frosty DX has fallen, you can absorb him to gain the Ice ability. Then you should head right and ride a gust up to a room where you can open a chest to find a second Sun Stone. From there, jump up and catch a ride on another 3D Warpstar, which takes you within easy reach of the level's goal door.

NEXT: Wild World - Stage 1