The Crow's Nest

‘Destroy Razorbeard, and our victory will be complete.’ —Ly the Fairy

The Crow's Nest is the final level in Rayman 2: The Great Escape, where Rayman finally takes on Admiral Razorbeard and attempts to save Globox.

Although it too is set on the Buccaneer, the Crow's Nest is handled as a different level to The Prison Ship, possibly because the designers felt that it would be too difficult for the player if The Prison Ship led directly into this fight; another reason is that players might want to be able to return instantly to the last battle, rather than having to play all the way through an entire level to reach it. This method of design is particularly useful in the PS1 version, as players can now return to the final fight, complete it and access the post-credits 2D bonus level.

The Crow's Nest The Crow's Nest ← The Prison Ship Ending scene → {{{connected to}}} Original version Phase 1 Situated at the pinnacle of the Buccaneer, the Grolgoth is prepared, and Razorbeard gets ready for Rayman to arrive while using Globox, who is being hung upside down, as live bait. Rayman eventually arrives, and is subsequently shot by one of the Grolgoth's bombs, though both Rayman and Globox survive the shot. The first phase of the final fight begins, with the Grolgoth shooting bombs which trip it up if Rayman shoots and knocks them back at it, and attempts to squash Rayman, as well as shooting energy from its feet. After it is knocked down three times, Razorbeard attempts to take a giant jump and crush Rayman, but he misses and causes the floor to cave in. Rayman then falls with them. Phase 2 Far away from the Buccaneer, Ly the Fairy hears Rayman screaming for dear life, and sends a Silver Lum to his location which saves him from falling into lava. The Lum catches him and gently guides him to safety, where he finds a Flying Shell. An image of Ly then appears to tell him about how the Robo-Pirates are now defeated and encourages him to defeat Razorbeard. Rayman then turns around to see that Razorbeard and the Grolgoth are still alive, and the second phase of the battle begins. In a room full of lava, his Grolgoth keeps itself away from the lava by holding itself up on two wooden posts and attacks by shooting heat seeking missiles as the battle goes on. Rayman attacks by finding an energy sphere in either of two tunnels, and shoots at each arm, causing the Grolgoth to fall in the lava. Eventually, Razorbeard abandons the Grolgoth and escapes, setting a five-second time bomb that explodes the entire Buccaneer with Rayman still in it. In the area where Rayman encountered Polokus earlier in the game, everybody mourns over all they could find left of Rayman; his left shoe. But suddenly, the shoe starts glowing, and Rayman emerges from the trees nearby, holding a walking stick in his shoe's absence. The shoe bounces back to Rayman, and the Baby Globoxes run up to Rayman and hug him, happy for him to be alive, while everyone else cheers. Rayman's holding the blue ball, which represents unlimited ammo power. Unlimited ammo easter egg There's an easter egg in Phase 2 of this level. This easter egg works on all Rayman 2 versions, except PS1. If you hold the jump and attack buttons, and fly to the highest part in the middle of the level, you will go trough it. Now avoid the obstacles in the way and you will see a blue ball. Touch it, and you will have unlimited ammo. (See the external links for a demonstration.) Dreamcast: Hold A and B buttons. PC: Hold A and the Space button. PlayStation 2: Hold X and O. Nintendo DS: Same as DC.

The Crow's Nest The Crow's Nest ← The Prison Ship Ending scene → {{{connected to}}} Dreamcast version ...

The Crow's Nest The Crow's Nest The Crow's Nest ← The Prison Ship Ending scene → {{{connected to}}} PlayStation version The entrance to the level in the Hall of Doors The alternate showdown with the Grolgoth The main difference in this version lies in Phase 2, in this phase the Grolgoth is flying backwards trough a endless tunnel and Rayman has to shoot the Grolgoth while avoiding all obstacles. There are also little differences in the Grolgoth's attacks in Phase 1. (See the external links for a demonstration.) A subtle difference also includes the fact that part of the opening cutscene is chopped off, as the scene where Razorbeard finds out Rayman is on the ship and scoulds his Lackey occurs at the end of The Prison Ship instead

The Crow's Nest The Crow's Nest ← The Prison Ship Ending scene → Rainbow Creek PlayStation 2 version This level is identical to the original version, excepting graphical differences.

External links The Crow's Nest playthrough at YouTube (PC version) Playthrough of unlimited Ammo in the Crow's Nest at YouTube (PC version) The Crow's Nest playthrough at YouTube (Sega Dreamcast version) Playthrough of unlimited Ammo in the Crow's Nest at YouTube (Sega Dreamcast version) The Crow's Nest playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation version) (Part 1/2) The Crow's Nest playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation version) (Part 1/2) The Crow's Nest playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation 2 version) Playthrough of unlimited Ammo in the Crow's Nest at YouTube (Sony PlayStation 2 version)