Cactus McCoy 2 Game Review

Cactus McCoy 2: The Ruins of Calavera Game Background

Cactus McCoy 2: The Ruins of Calavera is the sequel to the first Cactus McCoy. First released in 2011, months after its predecessor. This platformer, developed by Flipline Games and first sponsored by Not Doppler, features the continuing adventures of the title hero as he seeks out the Serpent Spear. You must now face off a new set of enemies as you race off to repay a life debt and keep a powerful artifact from falling into the wrong hands.

How to Play Cactus McCoy 2: The Ruins of Calavera

Getting Started

To select, left click with your mouse. Select Continue on the bottom right corner of the opening loading screen to bring up the second loading screen. Select Play! at the bottom center of the second loading screen to bring up the welcome screen. On the welcome screen, select Play at the bottom center to begin.

Get started by selecting one of the 3 available save slots. Choosing an empty slot will start a new game while choosing an occupied one will continue a previously saved one. Select Delete File above the save slot to erase the previous game data. Your web browser automatically saves your game progress every time you finish a level.

The game plays a slideshow explaining its plot each time you start a new game. Proceed to the first level by selecting Skip Intro on the bottom left while continue the plot by selecting Next on the bottom right corner.

Essential Controls

The game’s controls were optimized for desktops with keyboards.

To move, press the left and right arrow keys; this applies both when walking and when moving on ropes and chains. Press the A key to jump, grab onto planks, and hop onto ropes. Press the up arrow key to aim upward. Press the S key to attack. Press the down arrow key to crouch, open chests and suitcases, or pick up objects. Press the D key to drop objects you’ve picked up. To pause the game, press the D key.

Some controls require two keys pressed at once. To move down overlapping platforms, press the down arrow key and the A key together. Press the S key and down arrow key to attack while crouching. Press the S key while holding a non-weapon object to toss it. To aim at a 45 degree angle, press the up arrow key alongside either the left or right arrow keys.

Select the controls button on the menu screen to view the controls screen, which summarizes the above. From here, you can also change the keys used for each control to your convenience.

Basic Gameplay Advice

Summary

After finishing his previous adventure, Cactus McCoy (still a cactus person but free from the curse) goes on another treasure hunt. His attempt to retrieve a golden winged idol is thwarted by a rival treasure hunter who tries to swipe it from him. When the cavern collapses on them, the duo attempt to escape via a rickety bridge. McCoy nearly falls but is saved by the other hunter, who reveals herself to be a winged humanoid named Ella Windstorm. She smashes the idol and reveals a map, which outlines the location of the far more valuable serpent blade.

She explains that the blade is an ancestral weapon, wielded by the leader of the Volado civilization centered in the city of Calavera. Destroyed by the evil cult of the Reptaras, the Volado shaman locked the culture’s treasures safely away to protect them. Only Ella herself, a direct descendant of the shaman, could unlock them. She and McCoy form an alliance, promising to split the treasure they collect along the way 50:50.

Their plans were thwarted by the arrival of Malana Mire, a Reptara outlaw, and her henchmen. They grab Ella and take her to Calavera with them, leaving Cactus McCoy unconscious in the desert. His spirit adviser, Popōca, appears to McCoy and says he’s in debt to Ella for saving his life earlier. He must now do the same for her.

Basic Rules

The game has you move through and explore various levels inspired by the American Old West. These levels are prowled by enemies (called enemigos in-game). Your goal is to reach the chest at the end of the level to retrievde an artifact before proceeding to the next location on the map. You may also pick up other secret treasures along the way, hidden in out of the way areas

Popōca, your spirit ally in the first game, plays a much more active role in this game. He serves as the checkpoint (marked by a bonfire). Every time you pass by a checkpoint, your lives and health are restored. You can also choose to resume playing from a checkpoint should you choose to reset a level. The checkpoint can only restore your lives and health once.

You can exit the level at any time by selecting the menu button on the bottom right corner, then selecting the exit button on the top right corner of the menu screen. Exiting the level will erase your score and coins collected but still save the treasure chests you collected and challenges you completed. You can also reset a level to start again from the beginning.

Combat

Enemigos can be found throughout the level. Most are found patrolling a particular area and will become aggressive when McCoy appears within their range. You can fight them with your fists or with any weapon you come across. Not all enemigos appear at once; some will spawn when you enter an area and continue appearing in waves until you beat them all. Once defeated, however, enemigos are gone from the level unless you restart it. They sometimes, though not always, drop weapons for you to pick up.

Unlike in the first game, some of the enemigos of this game are capable of fighting unarmed. Unarmed enemigos often carry boxes, which they will toss as their first attack, and attack with their fists just like McCoy does.

Once enemigos are defeated, they remain briefly aloft. You can hit them again while they’re aloft, which is called “juggling” in-game. Juggling enemies let you collect more coins from the enemies and may even coax them to drop a weapon. Unlike in the previous game, you can only juggle enemies up to 5 times.

Weaponry

Besides your fists, the game provides you with a whopping 75 different weapons. You can find weapons lying on the floor, hidden in objects such as long grass or crates, or dropped by foes. A weapon can only be used for a limited time as indicated by the bar on the bottom center of the screen. Once the bar expires, the weapon disappears.

Weapons are sorted according to how they’re wielded. They can be categorized according to ranged or melee. Typically, ranged attacks require some distance to be effective, whereas melee attacks demand that you be close to your foes.

• Punching is a melee attack that involves hitting things with your fists. Punching weapons allow you to hit harder.
• Swinging is a melee attack that uses a long hard weapon.
• Shooting is a ranged attack where you fire projectiles from a weapon. You can take out enemies using shooting weapons from a great distance.
• Throwing is a ranged attack that has a much shorter distance. This involves tossing a projectile by hand.
• Whipping is a ranged attack involving a handheld weapon that is whipped around.
• Thrusting is a melee attack using a heavy weapon that inflicts piercing damage on an enemy.
• Launching is a ranged attack that uses a heavy, slow-firing weapon to launch a devastating amount of projectiles. This is best used for clearing large groups on enemies.

You receive new weapons in each level you play through. Every weapon you discover becomes available to the arsenal. You can, for a fee, start a level armed with a weapon of your choice.

As you use a weapon, you earn experience in its use. This is tracked by a circle surrounding the weapon’s icon on the bottom center. As you earn experience, more of the circle turns yellow. When the circle turns completely yellow, you earn enough experience to deal double the damage with that specific weapon.

You can carry only one weapon at a time. Switching weapons requires you to drop the one you are currently wielding. Weapons that are dropped stay on the ground indefinitely, so you can pick them up at any time you need them. Unlike in the previous game, you can carry an object and a weapon simultaneously.

Health

You begin each game with 5 lives and a full health bar. Each time an enemy attacks you, you lose health. When your health bar is empty, you lose a life. You automatically lose a life if you fall off a bottomless pit. Every time you die, you lose the weapon you were wielding. Falling into a bottomless pit is an instant death.

Each time you die, you respawn close to the point where you perished. Lose all your lives and you fail the level. Reload the level and start again from the beginning.

Coins & Upgrades

You can collect coins in one of two ways. The first is by earning them in the level itself, either by breaking open objects or, more commonly, by beating up enemigos. Enemigos typically drop a few coins during the first hit, which continues with every subsequent hit as you juggle them. You receive a massive payout of coins after the last hit sends them flying. Make sure to collect coins as soon as you see them; they will gradually disappear a few seconds after they fall down.

Coins also come as a reward for completing badges. The game has 60 achievement badges, which all come with a one-time coin reward.

Use the coins to upgrade McCoy’s attack and defense stats. You can upgrade all of his weapon-based attacks, his hit points and his resistance to damage. Upgrades have a ramping cost; the next upgrade costs more than the last. The upgrade screen appears after you successfully complete each level. You can also use the coins to start with a weapon of your choice.

Treasure & Challenges

Finishing a level is distinct from completing it. Whereas finishing only requires you to retrieve the treasure at the end, completing the level demands that you find all hidden treasures and finish all the in-game challenges.

Secret treasures appear in chests slightly smaller than the main treasure chest in the end. They contain valuables like gems and gold and silver bars. These are usually found in out-of-the-way areas of the level and may require extensive platforming or searching to find.

Challenges, meanwhile, consist of a specific set of actions that you can perform within the level. These include collecting or otherwise interacting with unique objects, killing a specific number of enemies, using a specific weapon on a number of enemies, and so forth. The most common of all challenges is the speed run, which involves finishing the entire level within a specified time span or less. Because of this, you cannot finish all the challenges in one go.

Scoring

The scoring rubric for this game is similar to the previous game. You earn points based on the number of enemies you defeat. You typically earn 10 points for every enemigo you hit, though the value increases depending on type of enemigo you fight. You also gain extra points for juggling the enemigo after they perish.

In addition, you also get 500 points for each treasure chest you find and another 500 for every challenge you finish. Moreover, you receive an extra 2,000 points for beating your previous best time. As in the first game, the points you already earned from previous challenges and treasures are counted each time you replay the level.

Your browser automatically saves your level best and current total scores.

Levels

Like its predecessor, this game has 12 levels. These are unlocked sequentially each time you retrieve a treasure at the end of the current level. You automatically begin every new game in the first level. Most of these levels are styled after the American Southwest during the Old West period, comprising towns, prairies, trains, and deserts. Later levels take place in the tropics, and feature jungles, canals, and ruined ancient cities.

Levels consist of areas, which are connected to one another via paths and tunnels. Most levels are made up of multiple areas. Train levels often comprise of only two or three, with the main area being longer than the others.

Areas also have at least one or two closed-off areas called rumble rooms, which are marked by the presence of wooden doors on either side. Once you enter, you cannot leave the rumble room until all the enemies are defeated. All levels have a rumble room close to the end where the treasure is. Boss fights also take place in rumble rooms.

Level Features

Planks and rods act as ladders, allowing you to ascend to the upper parts of the level. Sometimes, they appear by themselves or in pairs, at times serving as a platform unto themselves if you can only get to them by leaping. Often, they appear in columns, serving as stairways to higher-up areas of the level.

Ropes and chains serve as bridges above the higher parts of the level. McCoy can move seamlessly onto a rope or chain once he latches onto it. Whenever these appear in the lower areas, they function as safety nets, keeping you from falling off.

Various objects appear throughout the game that you can interact with. Most add a sort of “flavor” to the levels, but while they may appear decorative, many serve a function related to an accomplishment. Objects you can grab and carry (e.g. boxes and chairs) can also be tossed and used against enemigos. In the case of plants and boxes, they may also contain weapons or coins. Some objects, such as crates and traveling boxes, can be used as platforms. You cannot carry objects while climbing or moving on ropes and chains.

Buttons allow you to open doors. Finding the buttons that open particular doors becomes a perplexing puzzle in the later game. When you press a button whose door is not currently visible, the game’s camera will cut to where the door is located. Although most buttons remain activated when pressed, others need to be held down by an object to stay activated.

Chickens, like in the original game, act as a jumping aid. They slow down your descent, effectively allowing you to glide and reach platforms you otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach. Parrots, which appear in the 8th level onward, function in much the same way.

Weak blocks appear as covered portions of wall that have a blocky appearance, mimicking weaker rock (or in places like trains, crates). They can be destroyed using rocket barrels or bomb-type throwing weapons.

Incendiary barrels and other explosives appear in some levels as a hazard. You will take damage if you happen in be in range when they blow up. One type of explosive, TNT, appears either as a weapon or as a feature on weak blocks. The non-weapon version of TNT cannot be picked up. Find a detonator and push it down to activate them; they will explode and take out the blocks they’re attached to (and any enemigos nearby). Another type of explosive acts as a hard-to-evade homing missile. It will not stop until it hits McCoy or a wall.

Means of Transport

Ziplines allow you to move down diagonally from one platform to the next. You can ride them all the way down or jump off them at any point like you would with ropes. Unlike ropes and chains, moving with ziplines is automatic and one-directional; you can only ride the zipline from the handle and can only go as far as its end point. The ziplines automatically reset after use. When you come back to their starting point, the handle is already there.

Mine carts appear in subterranean levels. Push them around to take out large groups of enemigos at once. They use the same movement controls as McCoy; you can increase their speed by pressing down on the down arrow key.

Rocket barrels serve both as a means of rapid travel and of breaking through weak blocks. Use them to reach isolated or cut-off parts of a level. How you can use them varies with their orientation. You can move in either direction with a horizontal rocket barrel but can only move up with a vertical one. You can carry them to where you need them to be before using them. Rocket barrels are single-use; they explode when they hit a wall, dropping you in the process. They are also constantly replenished. Pick up a new rocket barrel where you first picked up the previous one.

Hazards

Besides enemigos, the game has a few hazards to watch out for. These are often rhythmic; they alternate between being active and dormant in rapid intervals. It’s only when they’re active that they cause harm, so you can time your moves right to move past them. Key moving hazards include the Crusher (a large weight that moves up and down), vents that spout fire, retracting spikes, and spiked pendulums.

Boulders are a special hazard that is non-rhythmic. They appear out of nowhere at the top of the cave levels and often fall at unpredictable intervals. Once they land on the ground, you can pick them up and toss them like any other object.

The main stationary hazard is the bottomless pit. Unlike in its predecessor, there are few instances of bottomless pits in the game.

A unique hazard is the collapsible platform. This platform folds over when you step on it for too long. While it does not harm you directly, they appear in large bottomless pits and will cause you to perish if you fall off them.

Boss Fights

Unlike the previous game, the game has 3 bosses: Alpaca Jack, Dumbbell, and Malana Mire. They appear at the end of every 4th level. They appear toward the end of the level where the final rumble room would normally be. You only need to fight the boss; no other enemigos appear during the boss fight.

Each boss’ health bar appears at the top right corner of the game. Empty the health bar and you win the game. Bosses can also be juggled like enemigos.

Alpaca Jack

Alpaca Jack is the first of the bosses encountered and is also the easiest to defeat. He has three attacks:

• Shooting from his revolver
• Tossing fuse bombs
• Having his alpaca spit at you

Defeating him is little different from defeating most enemigos. Punch him from up close or keep hitting him with a weapon while evading his attacks.

Jack will, if damaged enough, drop his revolver. Defeating him with his own revolver is one of the challenges of the 4th level.

Dumbbell

Dumbell is considerably stronger than Alpaca Jack but chiefly prefers melee attacks. His attack pattern comprises charges, punches, and jumps. Dumbell’s attacks can be used to destroy breakable blocks found throughout the level, which is key to completing the game. Breaking all the blocks using his attacks is a challenge in the 8th level. In addition, he can also break the tunnel that holds the path

Despite his appearance, Dumbell is swift and agile, capable of blocking your attacks and evading you. The best time to attack him is when he’s charging or jumping, which makes melee attacks against him rather difficult. Beating him with only McCoy’s bare fists is itself a challenge for the 8th level.

Malana Mire

Malana is the final boss in the game. Unlike the first two bosses, whose fights end in a single round, Malana comes back for a second round. You must defeat her both times to successfully retrieve the Serpent Blade and rescue Ella. At the start of the fight, she berates her minions (the previous bosses) and banishes them.

The first phase of the fight has Malana wield the Serpent Blade itself, using it as a shield by spinning it. She attacks by tossing the Serpent Blade’s cutting edges toward McCoy, then retrieving them. At this phase, she is most vulnerable when she lands, which is when you should attack. Dodge the spinning blades while they’re active by moving swiftly around the level.

During the second phase, she regains her health and envelops herself in blue flame. This protects her from all attacks you can throw at her and gives her a massive attack boost. She will fire laser beam at McCoy, and the only way to evade it is by not being in the same level as her. Eventually, though, she will wear herself out. She will bend over, tired, which becomes your first opening. She will revert to attacking like and defending like in the first phase for a time as her powers recharge. Attack her as many times as you can before her powers return.

When the blue flame engulfs her once more, evade her as best you can until she tires herself out once more, then attack her again when she powers down. Repeat until you defeat her.

Advanced Playing Tips & Strategy

General Tips

Try not to break objects you may need, such as those you need to stand on. Wooden objects are not as sturdy as metal or stone ones, and often you may need to drop them gently. If you must toss an object (i.e. when you need to bring it up a platform you normally have to climb), choose one that’s sturdy.

Some level challenges have fixed requirements that can’t always be fulfilled in a single playthrough. These include killing a specific number of enemies using a specific weapon (or no weapons at all) or speed running through a level. Although you can try to fulfill as many of these requirements as possible, sometimes you might need to replay a level at least twice to finish all the challenges.

If you need to start the level from the beginning, use the reset button on the bottom left corner to save time. This is especially useful in speed runs.

Try to explore the level as thoroughly as you can during your first playthrough. This will reveal a lot of features that will lead you to hidden treasures or routes to take when speed running.

Interact with the environment. Use the available objects whenever possible as platforms to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Uproot plants to see what’s hidden beneath them.

Speed Run Tips

Start a speed run after you’ve finished all the other level challenges (or, better yet, have played the level at least a few times). Spend your first few playthroughs familiarizing yourself with the way the level works and finding the best ways to move past its obstacles.

During the speed run itself, keep combat to a minimum. Jump over or evade enemies rather than fight them unless you have absolutely no option (e.g. the rumble rooms). Your main goal in a speed run is to survive till the end and reach the chest within the time limit provided.

Completion Tips

Conserve the weapons needed to accomplish specific goals. If you need a weapon to meet a challenge, try not to use it when confronting enemies unless you really need to. For weapons you need to use against objects, consider dropping them and using either your fists or find another weapon. If you must use a weapon against enemigos (especially weak ones like eggs), consider beating them with your fists firsts and finishing them off with the weapon afterward.

Combat Tips

Pay attention to the advantages and drawbacks of each weapon and use them to your advantage. As much as possible, try to consider what weapons you and your foe wield before attacking. If you have a ranged weapon, for instance, take advantage of distance and start attacking them from a range. If you’re fighting with a melee weapon or bare-fisted, close any distance as quickly as you can. Your goal is to get as many hits as you can without getting hit yourself.

Evasive maneuvers are an indispensable ally. If enemies use melee attacks, consider jumping or dodging them. Meanwhile, ducking can help you evade at least some ranged attacks.

Educational Aspects

As with all fast-paced action platformers, this game helps develop and refine reaction times and hand-eye coordination. The speed runs of the game also help players choose the most efficient routes possible. Throughout the game, players are encouraged to think creatively and use items in the environment to help them solve problems.

Player Age Recommendations

The game is suited for older school-aged players and above. Although the game depicts the use of dangerous weaponry and shows cartoon violence, it otherwise has no adult content. We recommend it for players who enjoy 2D platformers from the Flash era.