Spelunky 2, the challenging rogue-like platformer from Mossmouth and BlitWorks, is out now. Following the same gameplay formula as its predecessor, Spelunky 2 challenges players to descend through a subterranean world of traps, monsters, and bosses.
One of these bosses, Olmec, is a returning figure from the first Spelunky game. A giant golden head, Olmec has a fondness for smashing players, and a robotic secret hidden beneath his ancient façade. To defeat him, and make their way to the Tide Pool or Temple of Anubis, players will need to know how to exploit his predictable attacks.
The Golden One
Olmec's Lair is a recurring encounter that will spawn in most runs, including those with Spelunky 2's secret characters. When players first enter the lair, they'll see a cutscene of cavemen worshipping the giant head. This ends poorly for the cavemen, and Olmec will set his sights on the player next. Unlike some bosses, Olmec's basic move-set is extremely predictable. He'll float toward the player, then attempt to slam them into the ground.
The good news is that the slam won't inflict any of Spelunky 2's nasty poisons or curses, the bad news is it's an insta-kill. However, while the slam is deadly, it's not too difficult to avoid by moving to the side. This will cause Olmec to destroy part of the floor instead, and eventually dig through the level. Before letting Olmec do this though, players may want to jump onto his head. It's perfectly safe there, and Olmec can even be "steered" by standing on one side or the other. As Olmec jumps around players will be able to reach the treasures hidden above his lair.
Going Down
Once Olmec has destroyed enough of the floor, he and the player will be able to descend into the next level. This contains a single exit, which leads to the Tide Pool. To access it, simply run right as soon as Olmec drops through, and push the boulder aside. It's important to move quickly, as it's at this point that Olmec will enter his second phase, and begin spewing bombs. Players will be safe from the bombs on the other side of the boulder, or on Olmec's head. After a while Olmec's bombs will open a path to the next floor down, where players can enter the Temple of Anubis.
Like a few cool bosses in Spelunky 2, it's possible to avoid fighting Olmec altogether. Once the cutscene has finished, Olmec won't aggro until the player approaches him. To avoid fighting, stay away and instead use a few bombs to break through the floor under the lair's entrance. Then, using a jetpack, parachute, or mount to cushion the fall, simply drop down to the next level. If a player has enough bombs, they can even drop to the level below as well.
Spelunky 2 is available now on PC and PS4.