Mid-Boss 1: Frog Balloon

Frog Balloon

HP: 24

Weakness: Blazing Torch x2.5, Pile Driver x3

Pump Master K

HP: 46

Weakness: Block Dropper x2, Blazing Torch x2, Pile Driver x1.5

This mid-boss is actually an enemy within an enemy. Inside the Frog Balloon is Pump Master K. By popping the balloon, Pump Master K (and several Poyorns) falls out, allowing you to attack K directly. If not defeated quickly, Pump Master K inflates a new Frog Balloon.

The Frog Balloon uses its tongue to swing across the room, so don’t try to stand still in the corner. It then hops around, eventually swinging again. It also has a capture attack when Mega Man is in close proximity, where it extends its tongue toward you. If the tongue makes contact, Mega Man is unable to move and after a short while the Frog Balloon either jumps onto him, causing contact damage, or performs a “Rubber Snap” attack, flying to Mega Man’s position and dealing increased damage.

To escape the capture, press any buttons (except for Start, Double Gear, or Option) 24 times. If an escape occurs during a Rubber Snap attack but before it hits Mega Man, the Frog Balloon falls backward and is temporarily completely vulnerable. The Frog Balloon enters this same state if the capture attack misses in the first place. Only the tip of the tongue can capture Mega Man. The tongue has HP of its own during the capture attempt. If the tongue’s HP is depleted during the Capture attack, then the tongue snaps back and causes the Frog Balloon to be vulnerable.

The Frog Balloon is normally only vulnerable on the upper half (mouth and eyes). Use the Pile Driver to quickly pop the Frog Balloon. This reveals Pump Master K and leaves him in a dizzy state for one second. Take the opportunity to activate the Power Gear and hit him with the Block Dropper. If Pump Master K is left alive, he jumps to the opposite end of the room from Mega Man and starts making a new Frog Balloon, but he’s exposed for several seconds during this process, making him an easy target.

If any wild Poyorns are still alive when you defeat Pump Master K, they are automatically destroyed.

Jump up and shoot down the Bunby Balloon at the screen’s far right side. High-bounce to the platform with the large energy pellet, where you can shoot down the closer Bunby Balloon.

High-bounce across the gaps to the right.

After the gap where the distant Bunby Balloon was positioned, a Tosanaizer V flies out of the bottomless pit, while a Tatepakkan shoots at you from a small platform. To quickly eliminate both threats and avoid the risk of being knocked down a pit, consider using the Power Gear–boosted Block Dropper over the Mega Buster as soon as they’re in range.

Using the platform the Tatepakkan was on and the Tosanaizer V below it, take out the Wall Blaster, then proceed forward. If you’re in a rush, you can jump off this platform and chain the Pile Driver together to quickly reach the end of the room, albeit at the cost of some precious weapon energy.

The slapper will knock you in the wrong direction, so you’ll have to jump onto it, destroy the Cannopeller II, and then off again before the countdown finishes.

Achievement/Trophy

Location, Location, Location

Destroy a Tatepakkan from the back.

Destroy the Tosanaizer V just after the Cannopeller II and then bounce your way to the next room.

Activate the Speed Gear or Power Gear and prepare a Charge Shot. Slide toward the large weapon capsule, revealing an Anti-Eddie. Take it out before it can run away with your item!

Drop down to face the first of the two Poyorns. By blasting it rapidly with the Mega Buster, you’ll keep it away from you while you reduce its hit points to zero. You can also use the Pile Driver to cut through the Poyorns like air. Quickly drop down and do the same to its twin, then take the ladder up.

These five slappers are all slapping the wrong direction. You can use them as platforms as intended, but you can also run to below the ladder and use Rush Coil to pass through this room much more quickly. Just beware of the Lyrics and Gabyoall.

The walls are bouncy balls, the enemies are bouncy balls, and the balloons are...well, just balloons. Stay on the ladder so you don’t bounce and destroy everything before bouncing up to the second ladder.

High-bounce up and destroy the Bunby Balloon, then bounce up the left bouncy ball shaft. Don’t exit it, however, until you shoot down the second and third Bunby Balloons.

If you’re struggling to get the proper bounce trajectory, try falling a little and then bouncing up again.

Drop down to the small yellow platform in the middle of the room and destroy the Tatepakkan. If you fall down again, use a Rush Coil and bounce up from the second pillar of bouncy balls from the left to reach this platform more quickly.

Grab the Energy Tank above by bouncing off the bouncy balls over the small green platform; then exit the room by bouncing up the shaft of bouncy balls on the far right, using the same green platform.

High-bounce out of the small area. Grab the large energy pellet if you need it; then prepare for another round with the Pump Master K.