The Desert of the Knaaren: Difference between revisions

'''The Desert of the Knaaren''' is the fifth of the nine levels of ''[[Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc]]''. It is a harsh, scorching plain of sand, dotted by rocky outcrops and yawning chasms. The huge dinosaur-like skeletons which lie on the sand resemble those seen in [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]] in ''[[Rayman 2: The Great Escape|Rayman 2]]''. The desert looks hellish at first sight. However, beneath the barren, lifeless surface is a vast tunnel and cave system that delves deep into the rocky under-layers. This is where the native species of this land, the [[Knaaren]], dwell. The Knaaren carved their tunnels out of the solid rock, and they guard their domain fiercely and effectively, constantly patrolling the many passages.

[[image:DOTKscreen.JPG|frame|left|The Desert of the [[Knaaren]] is a desert world, and crossing it requires use of the tunnels, in which live the titular [[Knaaren]]]]

[[Rayman]] is sent here from [[The Land of the Livid Dead (Rayman 3)|the Land of the Livid Dead]] by the second [[Teensie Doctor]], [[Roméo Patti]]. Like [[Otto Psi]], Roméo was unable to extract the [[Black Lum]] [[André]] from [[Globox]]'s body, so Roméo sends Rayman and Globox to the Desert of the Knaaren, where the third Teensie Doctor, [[Gonzo]], has his office. Along the way, Rayman and Globox fall into the tunnels, and Globox is captured by the [[Knaaren]]. Rayman must fight his way past Knaaren and [[Zombie Chicken]]s, and solve many puzzles along the way. Eventually he is captured by [[Reflux]], the champion of the Knaaren, who challenges him to a duel in the arena. Once Rayman succeeds, Globox is freed, and [[Gumsi]], the child-king of the Knaaren, uses the [[Sceptre of the Leptys]] to their god, [[the Leptys]], who grants Rayman the [[Grimace]] ability as a reward. The heroes then meet up with Gonzo, who summons the other two doctors. Together they finally manage to extract André, who escapes and tracks down the humiliated Reflux. André promises Reflux the opportunity to destroy Rayman once and for all if he will steal the Sceptre of the Leptys for him, and his promise is fulfilled in [[the Tower of the Leptys]], the game's final level.

== As a level ==

===Stage One - Crossing the dessert===

 

The first stage of the level requires [[Rayman]] to jump across several interestingly shaped rocks, fighting several [[Slapdash]]es as he goes. [[Globox]] has already run ahead of him as the desert sands burn. Eventually Rayman and Globox reach a small cave, on the other side they find themselves at the bottom of a canyon where a [[Hoodlum airship]] is dropping off several [[Hoodmonger]]s and [[Hoodmonger Soldier]]s. Globox consumes a barrel of [[plum juice]] which gives him flight, whilst Rayman must use the [[Throttle Copter]] to work his own way out of the canyon. Eventually he frees two [[Teensie]]s who tell him about the [[Knaaren]] Tunnels which Rayman and Globox must use to cross the desert. The duo enter the tunnels, but Globox is quickly captured by the Knaaren and Rayman is forced to run. Finding himself in a room full of Knaaren, he must use a [[Shock Rocket]] to sound a [[gong]] which distracts the Knaaren whilst he makes his escape. In the next room, he must take a rock and carry it to a [[switch]] to open a door, and then perform the gong trick again to bypass one last Knaaren. After opening a final door using a rock, he can move on to the second stage.

|[[File:TheDesertoftheKnaarenPC.jpg|thumb|320px|The beginning of the first section]]

|[[File:Le-Désert-des-Knaarens.jpg|thumb|320px|Bones in the desert]]

|[[File:Egg Switch R3.png|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] needs a [[Zombie Chicken]] egg to activate this [[switch]]]]

===Stage Two - The temple===

 

As [[Rayman]] gets past the first stage of [[Knaaren|Knaarens]], he enters a room where he needs to get to the top to advance. At the top, he sees [[Globox]] being carried away by a Knaaren and must find a way to follow them. His first task is to get one of the Knaarens that are nearby to chase him onto a large [[switch]] which will cause some floating platforms to align, making a path up to the top of the large Leptys statue. If Rayman takes a detour whilst jumping these platforms, he can free a few [[Teensie|Teensies]] who will give him a [[Vortex]] to lower a [[Meadowscrew]] on the ground and reach a secret area that contains a [[Jewel|green gem]]. Once this is done, Rayman must work his way up to top of the statue, using floating platforms and [[Lockjaw]]s, where he releases some Teensies who will hand over a [[Throttle Copter]] with which he can use to get to the top, and leave the second stage.

|[[File:The Desert of the KnaarenSection2.png|thumb|320px|The beginning of the second section]]

|[[File:Knaaren Switch.JPG|thumb|320px|Only [[Knaaren]]s can activate this [[switch]]]]

|[[File:DOTK Section2 Leptys statue.jpg|thumb|320px|The statue representing the [[Leptys]]]]

===Stage Three - The [[Knaaren]] tower===

 

The corridor ahead is blocked by several [[Knaaren|Knaarens]] so [[Rayman]] must climb between two walls and stay on the top, before helicoptering down past some green acid to continue out of that room. Rayman will now need to distract a Knaaren by using the [[Shock Rocket]] to hit a [[gong]]. It will create a loud sound, making the Knaaren run to it, to which Rayman will be able to get the [[Lockjaw]] to advance through the following area. The next small area is straight ahead, but there are two [[Teensie]] [[cage]]s, rescuing one will give him a pile of [[jewel|yellow gems]], and the other a [[jewel|green gem]]. After passing, Rayman will be required to perform the gong trick several times as he makes his way through a maze of tunnels and ledges, before climbing a large structure at the top of which lies the path onward.

|[[File:The Desert of the KnaarenSection3.png|thumb|320px|The beginning of the third section]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 3 rock climbing.jpg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] climbing the walls]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 3 Gong.jpg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] using [[gong]]s to distract the [[Knaaren]]s]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 3 Tower.jpg|thumb|320px|Overview of the [[Knaaren]] tower]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 3 hidden Ray.jpeg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] hidden behind a pillar]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 3 Tower 2.jpg|thumb|320px|The top of the tower]]

===Stage Four - Meeting Reflux===

 

[[Rayman]] continues to what seems like a quiet room, but as he advances to a large ledge, several groups of [[Knaaren]] come walking closer and closer to attack him. The only way out is to throw himself into the darkness below. He finds himself deep in the tunnels with some spirits, and must pass them and carry various rocks to different [[switch]]es scattered throughout the level in order to proceed. However, only certain paths will take his weight, and he must be careful not to lose the stone he is carrying. In amongst all this he will be required to perform more daring jumps. Eventually, another Knaaren group will corner him, and the only way he can escape is by destroying the ground below him and taking yet another tumble. Things don't get any better just now though, as it is here that he will meet the Knaaren champion [[Reflux]], who will take him to the mysterious "arena".

|[[File:The Desert of the KnaarenSection4.png|thumb|320px|The beginning of the third section]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 4 Attack.jpg|thumb|320px|These [[Knaaren]]s encircle [[Rayman]]]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 4 Zombie chicken egg.jpg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] must use this [[Zombie Chicken]] egg to open that door]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 4 End of the section.jpg|thumb|320px|This room is flooded with a toxic green liquid]]

|[[File:DOTK Section 4 Rayman is trapped.jpg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] is trapped in this room]]

|[[File:DOTK Section4 Reflux&Ray.jpg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] meets [[Reflux]]]]

===Stage Five - The arena===

 

[[Rayman]] is in the Knaaren arena, in the company of [[Gumsi]], the Knaaren king, [[Reflux]], his champion, and their new prisoner [[Globox]]. To earn his and Globox's freedom Rayman must fight and defeat Reflux. If he cannot, his corpse shall be burnt. Reflux begins with a spin attack, but will eventually tire, allowing Rayman to get some hits in on him whilst he recovers. Rayman can drop down to the side of the raised platform and grab some [[Heavy Metal Fist]]s in order to increase fire power, but flames from the lava pit below will attack him constantly whilst he does this so he must be careful. Occasionally, Reflux will call meteors down from the ceiling. Even if Rayman avoids them, small fires will remain where they fall for the rest of the battle, making it even harder to retain stamina. Eventually, however, Rayman will come through and beat Reflux. Gumsi reacts angrily to this and begins to beat Globox, but Andre will scare the child king by yelling from Globox's stomach and Gumsi will admit defeat.

|[[File:Destiny Arena.png|thumb|320px|The fifth section]]

|[[File:Reflux first battle.jpg|thumb|320px|[[Rayman]] fights [[Reflux]]]]

===Intermission - The power of the Leptys===

 

[[Gumsi]] scolds [[Reflux]] for his loss, and announces that [[Rayman]] will receive "The power of the Leptys" as his reward for victory. Rayman receives the power, but its nature is not yet revealed.

|[[File:The power of the Leptys.png|thumb|320px|[[Gumsi]] gives [[Rayman]] the [[Leptys]]' power]]

===Stage Six - The new power===

 

As [[Globox]] and [[Rayman]] make their way out of the tunnels, no longer pursued by the [[Knaaren]], the former wonders what Rayman's new power is. Their path is blocked by a [[Meadowscrew]], but there is no time to worry about that as they are attacked by a [[Hoodblaster]]. Rayman defeats the Hoodblaster and discovers that his new power is to turn [[Black Lum|black lums]] into [[Red Lums|red lums]] through using the [[grimace]]. Armed with this new ability, Rayman defeats a second Hoodblaster, gets a [[Vortex]], lowers the Meadowscrew, and the duo leaves the inside room as they continue their mission.

|[[File:The Desert of the KnaarenSection6.png|thumb|320px|The sixth section]]

===Stage Seven - Back in the desert===

 

Now back outside, [[Rayman]] must defeat a [[Hoodoo]] and a [[Hoodmonger Officer]] guarded by it to reach a barrel of [[plum juice]] for [[Globox]]. The plum juice gives Globox both flight and bubble power, the latter of which Rayman can use to open a [[cage|cage]] to get the [[Heavy Metal Fist]] to open a door. But before that, Rayman must defeat two [[Lavomatrix|Lavomatrixes]] to allow Globox to drink the barrel of plum juice. Once through the door, he must defeat several [[Hoodstormer]]s and [[Stumbleboom]]s to gain a [[Lockjaw]] fist. He must use this same power up to beat a [[Spineroo]]. He can then find secret area marked by a fire containing several [[jewel|gems]]. Once he has them, he can meet up with Globox and finally enter the Doctor's office.

|[[File:The Desert of the KnaarenSection7.png|thumb|320px|The seventh section]]

|[[File:KnaarensFrescoes.jpg|thumb|320px|This fresco represents [[Knaaren]]s on the run]]

|[[File:Stumbleboom seventh section DOTK.jpg|thumb|320px|A group of [[Stumbleboom]]s]]

===Stage Eight - Gonzo's office===

 

In this stage, [[Rayman]] must time when he stands on the [[switch]]es in order to defeat the [[Hoodblasters]] across a pit in the Doctor's waiting room. Once he has beaten them, a platform will rise, allowing him to cross the pit. If he drops down once the platform is raised he can find a door leading to his next secret filled with yellow and red [[jewel|gems]], including a [[jewel|green gem]]. Now, he can take [[Globox]] to the third and final Doctor. Though like the last visit to the doctor, Globox disagrees to go in. For some odd reason, Rayman uses his [[Lockjaw]] fist to grab Globox and force him to go in.

|[[File:The Desert of the KnaarenSection8.png|thumb|320px|The eighth section]]

 

[[Gonzo]], along with [[Otto Psi]] and [[Romeo]] are finally able to remove [[Andre]] from [[Globox]]'s stomach by playing a slower tune then the first two doctors played. However, Andre escapes into the desert and gathers several [[Black Lum|black lums]], announcing that "Nothing is lost" as he knows someone who can help them. This someone turns out to be [[Reflux]], who agrees to steal [[Gumsi]]'s sceptre in return for another chance to defeat [[Rayman]].

|[[File:Reflux&André.png|thumb|320px|[[André]] and his [[Black Lums|acolytes]] alongside [[Reflux]]]]

[[Image:R3HH-EarlyRayman2Style-1.jpg|thumb|none|320px|An early version of the Desert of the Knaaren]]

== Trivia ==