The Menhir Hills: Difference between revisions

When [[Admiral Razorbeard]] seized [[Rayman]]'s world, the Menhir Hills was the construction site of two [[Robo-Pirate]] training facilities: the [[Military Academy]] and the [[Elite Troop Training Center]]. These facilities largely cut the hills into three segments.

| name = The Menhir Hills

| preceded by = [[The Sanctuary of Water and Ice]]

| followed by = [[The Canopy]]

}}

===Phase 1===

When [[Rayman]] first arrives in the Menhir Hills, [[Murfy]] immediately appears right in [[Rayman]]'s face and warns him about the nearby academy's [[walking shell]]. [[Murfy]] hints that the shell may be tamable, and [[Rayman]] shortly does just that. By riding the [[walking shell]], [[Rayman]] is able to cross a patch of [[nettle]]s to reach the [[Military Academy]].

[[Rayman]] enters [[Military Academy|the Academy]] to find two [[Henchman 800|Henchmen 800]] asleep; though the sign outside hints at sneaking past them, the [[Robo-Pirate]]s are of the weak variety and are fairly easy to defeat (though particularly in all versions but ''[[Rayman Revolution]]'' this is the first time multiple [[Robo-Pirate]]s are encountered at the same time) (it should also be noted that there are more than two [[Robo-Pirate]]s in [[Military Academy|the Academy]] in ''[[Rayman Revolution|Revolution]]'', some of which being hidden). Whatever the player has [[Rayman]] do, the hero must continue on to leave [[Military Academy|the small Academy]].

===Phase 2===

After taming another [[walking shell]], [[Rayman]] crosses a [[nettle]] patch and must dodge and weave through crates and the [[nettle]]s that protrude in the various tunnels he goes through. The end of the ride leaves [[Rayman]] at the entrance of the [[Elite Troop Training Center]]. As intimidating as the name is, [[Rayman]] soon finds there's nothing to worry about: [[Clark]] has already taken care of the students inside. The inside of the [[Elite Troop Training Center]] appears as a separate part in the Nintendo 64 and [[Rayman DS|Nintendo DS]] versions.

This requirement forces the level to end immediately, unfinished. In all versions other than the PlayStation version, [[Rayman]] must backtrack to [[the Marshes of Awakening]] (in ''[[Rayman Revolution|Revolution]]'''s case, this may be the first visit) to locate [[Jano|the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams]]. As [[Rayman]] does not know [[The Cave of Bad Dreams|the Cave]]'s name prior to his encounter with [[Clark]], [[The Cave of Bad Dreams|the Cave]] was not accessible prior to the encounter. In the PlayStation version, [[Rayman]] may go directly to [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]] from the Menhir Hills.

===Return===

===Phase 3===

In the final segment of the Menhir Hills, [[Rayman]] must once again tame a [[walking shell]]. After doing so, he must ride it up a steep slope and then through a tunnel full of rising [[menhir]]s. The tunnel leads to a ‘forest’ full of toppling [[menhir]]s [[Rayman]] must dodge; the bridge he crosses has a similar set of obstacles. Finally, after avoiding the many [[menhir]]s, [[Rayman]] and the [[walking shell]] leap off a cliff and into a [[Spiral Door]]. The level is now finished.

| name = The Menhir Hills

| preceded by = [[The Sanctuary of Water and Ice]]

| followed by = [[The Canopy]]

}}

The level is the same as in the original version.

The Menhir Hills.jpg|The [[Spiral Door]] in [[the Isle of Doors]] which leads to the Menhir Hills.

</gallery>

| name = The Menhir Hills

| preceded by = [[Whale Bay]]

| followed by = [[The Canopy]]

}}

In the [[Rayman 2 (PlayStation)|PlayStation version]], the level is shorter still, with the entire first phase being cut. Therefore, the player has not even completed a single level of the world when they head for [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]]. As [[Murfy]] does not serve as guide in this version, his segment is also cut (although it couldn't have been anyway, as the area in which it occurs was cut). A [[Stone of Thought|stone]] can be found near the entrance portal in which [[Ly]] explains that [[Rayman]] must tame the [[Walking shell|shell]]. Unlike [[Murfy]], she appears certain that the [[Walking shell|shell]] can be tamed, although still does not elaberate on how to do this. The first [[Walking shell|shell]] ride is slightly harder with another [[walking shell]] following the player, meaning the player will have to constantly swerve around in circles to avoid the enemy [[Walking shell|shell]]. A new cut scene has been added at the end of the aforementioned [[Walking shell|shell]] chase, in which [[Rayman]] ends the chase by leaping from his [[Walking shell|shell]] and flying through a large door, which promptly closes. The structure in which [[Clark]] is found is also named the [[Military Academy|Elite Troop Training Academy]], which was originally credited to another facility in the here-removed first stage. However, this structure may well have been part of the academy anyway.

Also, there is an additional cut scene when [[Rayman]] and [[Clark]] part, in which [[Clark]] expresses his intent to return home and rest. [[Rayman]] asks him if he will join him later, which [[Clark]] agrees to. Despite this, [[Clark]] has no extended role in this version and is only seen once more in the [[Tomb of the Ancients]], as per other versions.

| name = The Menhir Hills

| preceded by = [[The Sanctuary of Water and Ice]]

| followed by = [[The Canopy]]

}}

In ''[[Rayman Revolution]]'', the [[Globox's House]] [[Teensie]] explains that [[Clark]] went to the Hills and [[Rayman]] must follow him, rather than simply stumbling across him as happens in the other versions.

After [[Rayman]] has completed [[the Canopy]], he is able to light torches. An alcove under the entrance of the [[Elite Troop Training Academy]] holds one of the Menhir Hills' [[cage]]s, but to reach it [[Rayman]] must first light a nearby torch and ride a [[keg]] over a large gap. There are also several [[Yellow Lum]]s behind a [[laser]] covered door near the exit of the first phase, but it requires the [[Rain Mask]] to open the door.

==Trivia==

* The meeting with [[Clark]] inside the [[Elite Troop Training Center]] is technically still in phase 2, but once inside, the door closes, and [[Rayman]] cannot go back to the first part of phase 2. There is a different exit to a small outside area which contains a [[Spiral Door]]. It is the only level in the game that has a portal back to the hub that is not at the very beginning. It exists to allow [[Rayman]] to exit, if he revisits the level before obtaining the [[Elixir of Life]] for [[Clark]].

==External links==

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIHE8wcy6KM The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (PC version) (Part 1/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SjpsjzpDk4 The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (PC version) (Part 2/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifdqBK1Cb5U The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sega Dreamcast version) (Part 1/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2fmbXr9oo The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sega Dreamcast version) (Part 2/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_W-kvVUnfM The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation version) (Part 1/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IVuhMmUTWY The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation version) (Part 2/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et56sbDgPaw The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation 2 version) (Part 1/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd_1xS_mohA The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation 2 version) (Part 2/2)]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEWwvXYf_IQ The Menhir Hills playthrough at YouTube (Sony PlayStation 2 version) (Last Lums and Familiar Spirits)]

{{Rayman2worlds}}