The Octopus is the boss of the Turtle Zone. The battle takes place entirely underwater. The Octopus will move around the screen, occasionally shooting ink blobs that obscure your vision or trying to grab Mario with its tentacles. To defeat it, you need to jump on its head three times.
Phases & Attacks:
- Movement: Swims around the underwater arena.
- Ink Blobs: Shoots ink that temporarily darkens the screen.
- Tentacle Attack: Extends tentacles to try and hit Mario.
Weakness:
Octopus's head. Three stomps are required.
Recommended Power-up:
Superball Flower: Crucial for this fight. It's the only offensive power-up that works effectively underwater. You can hit the Octopus with Superballs from a distance, making the fight much safer. Three Superball hits will defeat it. Super Mushroom: While not offensive, being Super Mario allows you to take a hit from a tentacle or ink without losing a life, which is valuable in this challenging underwater fight.
Strategy:
- Prioritize Superball: If you can get a Superball Flower before this fight, it will make it significantly easier.
- Dodge Ink and Tentacles: Swim carefully to avoid the ink blobs and the extending tentacles. The ink can be disorienting.
- Time Your Stomps (if no Superball): If you don't have Superballs, you'll need to wait for the Octopus to lower its head and swim above it to stomp. This is riskier.
- Maintain Position: Try to stay in a position where you can react to its movements and attacks, ideally slightly above it if you're trying to stomp.
Reward:
Golden Coin #6