Arctic Region

3/5 (Hard)

Level 3: F, F, SH, SK, F, SH

Level 4: SH, A, SH, F, A, F

The Arctic Region is the third region in Overboard. It follows the Inca Region and precedes the Industrial Region. After the difficulty thrown at you in the Inca Region, you'll be grateful to have a slightly easier ride. Getting your weapons back is much easier and you also have the addition of lightning to your arsenal. Trouble is, ships can also use lightning too.

The three levels all take on three completely different styles. You need to make sure depth chargers are as upgraded as they can be, because underwater threats are much more common in this region. But this is where nature sets out to stop your journey. Ice burgs, fog, lightning clouds and tornadoes all try to conspire to tear your ship to pieces. Although this Region is easier, the threat level is as ever high.

### **Appearance**

This region is very pretty and the theme of the Arctic shows through here too. Fields of white snow sit on top of emerald green cliffs that lead down into nice clear water. Large ice sculptures and picturesque, almost Nordic inspired villages make up the region's man made architecture. Also look out for animal bone houses when you capture a port. Barriers are made of wood but still just as deadly if you land on one. Seemingly harmless ice burgs float along the water, that is until you steer into one and you start losing health.

### **Gameplay**

Two of the three levels rely heavily on the transporting pipe mechanic. These can take you every which way so it may be worth doing a little exploration to see where you end up. While the region is easy, it does step up defenses from all angles. This means you have to look everywhere on screen to see what is coming towards you. Rockets, flamethrower and depth chargers are the main weapons you need to upgrade during this region as this will make traversing the obstacle a great deal easier for you.

### **Enemies**

All the ships in this region are orange in colour and it is very easy to mistake one for another. you need to look carefully at the designs to be able to tell them apart. Alot of these ships also only appear in one area in the entire region.

### **Front Cannon Ship**

These are the easiest ships to go against in the region. Their cannonballs do a little more damage than the Caribbean versions; but they are just as weak to your attacks. Recognisable from the yellow and brown cannon jutting out on the bough of the ship.

Flammable?: Yes

### **Rotating Cannon Ship**

One of only two kinds of ships that appear in more than one level in this region. These more often come in groups and can attack rapidly if you don't do anything. A good flame attack or some mines should see them on their way. These ships are also handy for setting on fire to pick up crew. Recognisable from the white snow which sits on top of the cannon turret and for it's white tip on the bough.

Flammable? Yes

### **Rotating Rocket Ship**

Only two of these in the entire region. The turret rotates quite slowly and the rockets do only the same damage as those in the Inca Region (Not very much). You should have no trouble taking these out with any weapon. Recognisable from the depiction of a red rocket on the ship's turret.

Flammable?: Yes

### **Lightning Ship**

This is your first encounter with a ship carrying lightning. Unlike the counterparts in the next two regions, they're simple enough to go against. Use them as a way of getting to know how lightning works. Get near these and the electrical charge will home in on you and begin draining your health. Surprisingly, these ships can be harmed by your own lightning attack and can also be set on fire. As said, these pale in comparison to their relatives in later levels.

Flammable?: Yes

### **Side Fireball Ship**

Their appearance is also brief, but they still pose a great threat. These whack a great punch with their fireballs and sneak up when you least expect them. Reclaim the oil slick to keep these enemies at bay. Recognisable from the large pyramid housing the turrets in the centre of the ship.

Flammable?: No

### **Rotating Fireball Ship**

The second of only two ships that appear in more than one level and unfortunately, it is the hardest enemy ship in the region. You are not safe from any angle and that rotating turret is accurate. When they come in groups, you just need to hope you have adequate ammo and weapon power. Best thing to do is keep your distance and use an oil slick or mines.

Flammable?: No

### **Large Cannon Turret**

Nearly identical to the ones in the Caribbean Region. Some do fire cannonballs much faster. On rarer occasions the turret will only fire out of the gun you are closest to. Other than that, these are still easy to defeat.

### **Four Way Fireball Turret**

Nothing really new with these turrets as the behave in much the same way as their previous counterparts in terms of their attack pattern. Be warned, some are much faster and can catch you unaware. They are pretty distinctive in design so they are easy to spot against the water.

### **Double Rotating Flamethrower Turret**

When you see one of these, they look intimidating. Not only due to their size, but also they are firing two diametrically opposed flames out of them. These flames have a fair range on them and can easily get you. The best way to deal with these is to follow one of the flames around while attacking the main turret with your broadside. If you're very quick, you can nip in, dump an oil slick next to the tower and nip back out again. Either way, this can be a tough turret to take out.

### **Large** **Lightning Turret**

First rule with these, do not get too close. If you have picked up all upgrades for the front cannon and broadside, you will have enough range to take these out very easily. Get too close and the lightning will home in on you and begin draining your health continuously.

### **Small Lightning Turret**

They make just one appearance in the whole region. Plus, there is nothing to collect down the corridor they guard. So you never really need to kill them. But a front cannon with a level two upgrade will be more than enough to deal with them. But it's really not worth it.

### **Level Summary**

Here is a summary of the levels in the Arctic Region. For more detail, click on the relevant headers.

### **Arctic Region: Level One**

There are three main paths, all accessed through a network of pipes that can be changed using buoys. Getting your weapons back is much easier this time around. It is a good idea to start this level by going through the three possible pipe ways because most of your weapon arsenal is pretty close by. Airborne enemies will be your biggest threat here so grabbing the rockets is your top priority. Don't be afraid to sequence break this level as that can be more rewarding than following the main route.

### **Arctic Region: Level Two**

This is quite a small level in comparison to others. Though this one can be difficult. A layer of fog in this level means visibility is slightly reduced. There are a lot of underwater hazards lurking around so depth chargers at the ready. This is also the only regular level to have no health crates in it. The only way to reclaim health is to set enemy ships alight. Talking of fire, the rotating fireball ships and four way turrets are common in this level so you are really at risk at all times. Take your time and don't rush things here. Taking out all the turrets may help later on.

### **Arctic Region: Level Three**

This level is much more puzzle based. There is one section which requires you to destroy a series of ice burgs before you can open a gate to proceed. Shooting buoys to change barrier layouts and capturing ports to gain green bottles is introduced there too. It is also the level where the weather is working against you. Storm clouds which pummel you with lightning and tornadoes which can fling you into danger should be taken with caution. You can sequence break the order of bottles, but it is not advisable to do so.

### **Arctic Region: Level Four**

As soon as the level starts, boost forward through the lightning corridor. You can usually avoid the lightning and the exploding fish that appear too. Go through the tunnel and get ready to face the Ice Dragon. The Ice Dragon moves around to small islands in a set pattern. This can be a very hard boss if you haven't upgraded your rockets and flamethrower. The most common method to defeating the boss is to use your flamethrower and hit the side between the two legs. Front Canon, broadside, mines and lightning also work but do very little damage. If you have good aim, a speedy method is to fire rockets at the dragon's head. You can be done in a matter of seconds if you are successful. There are three things to be wary of in this boss fight. The underwater mines which guard the ammo crate is one of them. The dragon will also breathe long range flames which can be easy to run into. Also beware of the baby dragon eggs that are laid by the boss. Once they hatch, the babies will head straight for your ship and explode like depth chargers and they do a fair amount of damage. Once you learn the attack patterns, it shouldn't be too difficult.