More delightful battle possibilities explored!

(6:56) Level 5 ('Assault on the Control Room') on Normal. Here are three more "other uses" of my reverse trough defence set-up, starting with a ferociously tough fight using needler & plasma rifle.

Released December 29th 2025, gameplay recorded December 26th-28th 2025.

00:02 (Play 1 - Platform corner, using needler & plasma rifle) I fancied having some visceral fun in the shadow area using a needler and plasma rifle, and I found that I could set up a tough struggle starting at a corner of the platform block, as seen, with the Banshee initially providing some cover. It was really hard to survive though. I did a great many plays of this battle plan (partly because it was so enjoyable), and I'm sure my survival rate was less than 10%. Maybe even less than 5%, but I didn't keep a tally.

On this play I succeed, despite losing my Banshee cover rather quickly (though I do briefly make use of it again later). Of course, that was my own fault for tagging an Elite just as he was getting near it! I nevertheless do my best to try and keep the flood of covies contained, but eventually have to back off. Right at the end, I cut things a bit fine when tackling the final Grunts and Jackals from distance. The long-range fire from the Jackals was surprisingly persistent, and almost took my final health bar!

One reason I selected this play among other rare victories I managed is that it features four tags. Or five if you count the bit where a Grunt nails an Elite around 1:32! I was just about to throw a frag at the Elite at that time, and since I didn't notice that the tag had occurred, I proceeded. So it's actually the frag blast that kills the Elite. The plasma blast comes a fraction of a second later.

02:12 (Play 2 - Ghosts 'n rocket) Once more, I do a "Ghosts 'n rocket" play (idea introduced in BCM609). The most amusing aspects of this one come quite early on. There's a nasty accident caused by a Grunt's fumbled plasma grenade (thrown around 2:47), and then a few seconds later I splatter a red Elite in the same area.

04:36 (Play 3 - Fall-back plan with sniping & rockets) After grabbing the sniper rifle in the trough, I quickly exit and drop myself off on a nice perch, where I open my attack with a quick rocket, straight into the Elites leading the charge. BLAM! Very nice.

After some further work, things become too hot and I fall back to the huge boulder. It's nice that you can get onto that from the cliff base where I was. From up there I tag a careless blue Elite. Silly fellow.

Then I drop down and back off further, wiping out the group on that side of the battlefield. We're not done yet though. More covies close in from other directions, and the highlight for me is the very satisfying rocket which takes out the final three Jackals, sending them up in a nice fountain.

I was going to fall back further if the pressure had been sufficient (potentially even falling back to the second sniper rifle for a top-up), but I didn't need to. I might have needed to if more Elites had been in the main group which attacked down the side. But three of them took other routes, which delayed their attacks.

Closing remarks Yet more examples of other uses coming next!

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