The Nasty Owl appears to be a large aircraft with a boatload of weaponry on the front, center, wings, and even in the rear. The gun ports contain multiple different weapons.
This plane is the second largest flying object in the entire series. This is only crowned by the Lewiathan from Sky Force Reloaded.
Armaments[]
Phase 1
4x Cannon
2 gun ports on each side will pop up a standard cannon that fires single bullets at regular intervals. Keep in mind that the gun port is not visually destroyed.
1x Swaying Chain Gun
A hatch at the center of the plane contains multiple weapons. But at this 1st phase, it starts as a chain gun. The gun, however, isn't aiming at the player. Instead, it fires in a single wave pattern. Once it finishes firing, the gun will lowered down and the hatch will be closed. While it's taking cover, the player is unable to attack it (unlike many other enemy turrets).
Phase 2
2x Tesla Coil
On the front between the cockpit are tesla coils that resemble large turbines. When in proximity, the tesla coil will activate and zap the player endlessly.
4x Chain Gun
Frying Falcon, the Nasty Owl's younger gunship
Using the same gun ports from the previous phase, the chain guns will pop up and fire a stream of bullets at the player.
Phase 3
1x Hexa-Radial Wall Cannon
The secondary weapon from the hatch in the center of the plane. The cannon fires a row of bullets and each row has a total of 10 bullets in hexagon pattern.
4x SAM Launcher
The last weapon compartment of all 4 gun ports. This 3rd phase has launchers that fire strong lock-on missiles.
2x Mega Lasers
The mega lasers are equipped in each side of the wings of the aircraft. The lasers remain active for the entire fight up until this point. It can't be hit until "phase 3.5" when all phase 3 turrets are broken.
Phase 4
2x Hexa-Radial Stream Cannon
On the rear of the plane in each fin is a radial cannon that fires a stream of 10 bullets in a thin line in hexagonal pattern. The cannons at each side fire at the same time. These parallel the radial cannons of this variety in the level proper.
Combat Routine[]
Prologue[]
The only way to finish here is to let the plane be exploded. Regardless of the damage or survivability, the tesla has infinite range after some time.
Stage 8[]
Phase 1
At the start, 4 cannons will immediately begin firing at the plane when they arrive on screen. The chain gun will also engage, but only from time to time. Destroy the chain gun if there are unpleasant interruptions and the 2 turrets in each wings. The ports are not completely destroyed.
The laser cannons can catch a player off guard due to the Nasty Owl's swaying motion, and aren't breakable until phase 3.5. Stay away from the near-edges during the fight. The very edge of the screen is sometimes safe, but it isn't consistent.
Phase 2
The tesla coils will immediately activate and begin doing heavy damage over time to the player if they fly too close. Combined with the chain guns, it can put them in a tight spot. Luckily, the tesla coils are relatively weak, all things considered.
Phase 3
One of the hardest phases in the game. Four SAM Launchers will engage, along with a never before seen weapon that shoots hexagon sheets. Better destroy that unique weapon as it will cover the arena very quickly, then take on the SAM Launchers.
Mega bombs are extremely effective on all phases, but especially useful on this one due to the sheer amount of stuff on screen. Note: A maxed out mega bomb will one shot every weapon on normal and hard difficulty, and almost destroy them on insane, leading to a very easy fight.
Phase 3.5
The two side mega lasers that were gunning for the entire fight are finally vulnerable. Arguably the easiest phase in the game, like a well deserved break.
Phase 4
After all front weapons are destroyed, the plane will turn tail and run. The two radial cannons act like the ones seen earlier in the level, shooting long, straight lines of energy bullets.
Gallery[]
Entry of Nasty Owl
Nasty Owl 1st Phase attack
Nasty Owl 2nd Phase attack
Nasty Owl 3rd Phase attack
Nasty Owl 4th Phase attack
Trivia[]
The Nasty Owl can be seen being repaired of the damages caused by the player during the prologue. This can be seen when passing through the hangar section of stage 8.
This is the first boss where the main antagonist speaks during the boss battle, the second being Arachnotron (where the Mysterious AI says "Charging Laser" after some other weapons are destroyed while the Giga Laser is being prepared and "Laser Available" if the Giga Laser is already prepared). This also happened in some Sky Force Reloaded bosses such as Canned Dread (where Scarlett said "You don't like rockets?, Not a problem." after Phase 1 is destroyed and Normal Difficulty only) The Scarlet Heart (where Scarlett says "Dieeee!" after the phase 3 of The Scarlet Heart is destroyed and as the MLRS launches its rockets) and Omega (where the Mysterious AI groans or says something after some weapons are destroyed).
After the Phase 1 of this boss is destroyed, General Mantis can be heard laughing when Phase 2 started. His evil laughter was however reused from Stage 5 (Normal Mode) which is heard after the player's aircraft got hit and disarmed by the EMP Missile.
This boss and Omega from the Stage 13 of Sky Force Reloaded both appear in the Prologue stage of their respective games, where the plane got destroyed due to the unavoidable Tesla Coil (Giga Laser Beam in Omega) and also to have cutscenes before the boss battle and credits after the boss is defeated.
When this boss is defeated, it doesn't obliterate in explosion immediately. Instead, the credits play where the plane is descending from the skies and crashes on the ground. This leads to the canonical death of General Mantis. How he comes back to fight on higher difficulties is not known, but it might just be for gameplay reasons.
The Nasty Owl in the prologue has the laser beams fire at the same time, but the stage 8 version has alternating fire. It also appears much more choppy in the prologue.
It is odd that tesla coils destroy the plane from any distance in the prologue, while stage 8's has a limited range.
Due to fighting in stormy area in the stage 8 battle, it might be overloaded with electricity, and therefore can't work at full power.
Steam Trading Card of the Nasty Owl
The name can be found with a Steam trading card, or by getting the in-game card 10.
Interestingly, the Frying Falcon, the stage 8 boss of Sky Force Reloaded, shares many similarities with Nasty Owl. Both planes have the ability to fly backwards, have high levels of firepower, and more than three phases each.
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