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Fomalhaut (フォーマルハウト Fōmaruhauto?) is the fourth chronological boss in Thunder Force IV. The boss is encountered on the stage "Daser".

Description[]

The Fomalhaut It is a giant flying robot roughly 4-5 times the size of the Fire LEO-04 "Rynex". It's most notable feature is a pair of ear-like structures located at the back of the head that will occasionally protect one the boss's several weak spots periodically.

Battle Tactics[]

The Fomalhaut is one of the more difficult bosses in the game, despite the fact that it is located on one of the selectable stages. It is equipped to two primary weapons, a nose-like blaster that will fire supersonic energy waves at the Rynex, and a pair of four turrets at the bottom of the robot that will fire a series of 4-5 semi-homing lasers that will direct themselves towards the Rynex's estimated altitude in an attempt to destroy the craft; these turrets will eventually be destroyed later in the battle.

At the beginning of the battle, the robot will release a ring of spherical satellites that will begin revolting around the robot as a means of defense; in doing this, they will occasionally block off firepower. The player will need to shoot two weak spots in order to disable these spheres from getting into the way of their firepower: a horn located on the head of the robot (which will occasionally be obscured by the ear-like mechanisms as a means of second-line defense), and two fuel tank-like structures in front of the robot's torso (which will need to be damaged twice in order to disable the satellites). Each time one of these structures gets destroyed, the spheres will be launched outwards towards the player, who will have to evade them to prevent any harm.

After both of these structures are destroyed, the Fomalhaut will stop creating rings of satellites and will instead release individual ones in an attempt to ram into the Rynex, the satellites at this point are destroyable, but the player will have to use a large amount of firepower to do so. On harder difficulties, these satellites will also fire projectiles at the Rynex.

The Fomalhaut will continue to fire supersonic energy waves and semi-homing lasers as the Rynex continues to battle the giant machine. Its weak spot at this stage will be the bottom region of the torso where the four turrets firing the semi-homing lasers are located. Successfully destroying this layer will disable the homing lasers. Afterwards the upper region of the torso will become the weak spot and the Rynex will have to provide firepower onto that area of the Fomalhaut whilst evading the energy waves and satellites. This region may take longer to destroy than the previous regions as the area is slanted and partially protected by the head should the Fomalhaut gain altitude.

After the torso is destroyed, only the head of the Fomalhaut will remain, although the robot will continue to fire supersonic waves and create satellites. The Rynex will only need to provide a small amount of firepower onto the head and then the battle will end.

At the end of the battle, the Fomalhaut will explode. Its head and "ears" will separate and fall into the sand below and disperse as a means of retreating.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Fomalhaut gets its name from the brightest star in a constellation known as Piscis Austrinus, or "Southern Fish", which depicts a fish collecting the water from the pot of the nearby constellation Aquarius.
Thunder Force IV
Characters Roy S. MercuryCarol T. Mars
Ships Fire LEO-04 "Rynex"
Stages StriteDaserAir RaidRuinViosVolbadosDesvioWallBio-BaseVersus
Bosses Gargoyle DiverFomalhautRatt CarryHell ArmVersusSpark LancerDust EggEvil CoreArmament ClawFaust
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