Red Desert
Rolling dunes, stone arches and mesas under a huge orange sun, with a hand drum in the music. You arrive after the Giant Archer, at around 500 metres.
The new enemy: scorpions
A small mound of sand twitches ahead. As you get close, a scorpion bursts out and scuttles straight toward the ninja, tail raised. Touching it is fatal, and because it's moving toward you, it arrives sooner than a static hazard would.
Four ways to deal with a scorpion
- Bridge over it. A low arch over the spot where you'll meet. Aim the bridge a little closer to the ninja than the scorpion is now, since it's coming to you.
- Bounce over it. A short rubber stroke just in front of him.
- Crush it. A steel line that the scorpion walks into ends it.
- Burn it. Fire works too, and fire lines don't need to hold the ninja up.
Tips for the Red Desert
- The run is faster here than in the valley. Draw a beat earlier than feels natural.
- Scorpions often come with other hazards. A bridge that crosses a scorpion and a thorn bed in one line is a great use of ink.
- Archers now often fire twice. Sending the first arrow back removes the second shot too.
The boss
At 1,000 metres, the Catapult. Remember: no steel against its boulders.
Levels in this world
Levels 8 to 15, ending with the Catapult. For a star-by-star plan, read three stars on every Red Desert level.