Tips & Tricks:

Good Tips for Bad Juju

In an old city, in an old neighborhood, you will find …Voodoo Vince. At 10 inches tall, Vince is a most unlikely hero, discredited in some circles as nothing more than a pile of cloth and threads. Yet, thanks to Madam Charmaine’s zombie dust, Vince has sprung to life and is determined to rescue her. Not bad for her third-best voodoo doll, but Vince could still use some advice on how to navigate the bad juju of a New Orleans run wild.

Attacks
He may be small, but Vince is cut from tough cloth. Against the game’s monsters, his spin attack (press B) often works best. That is, unless he’s faced with bomb-dropping flies, in which case, he’ll need to do a jumping spin (A + B). Of course, nothing beats raw voodoo power. Collect the voodoo icons whenever possible—using voodoo can knock out an entire mob of foes—but remember that the boss monsters require special tactics. Don’t waste Vince’s voodoo powers on them until you know just what it will take.

Defense
Voodoo powers aside, the best offense for this sarcastic doll is a good defense. When things get hairy for Vince, run, dodge, and jump out of harm’s way. This especially holds true against the rolling armadillos. Don’t try to go toe-to-toe with these explosive critters; instead, let them get close enough for Vince to jump over them. If you time it right, they’ll explode harmlessly. Jump too soon, though, and they’ll recover for another pass.

Maneuvering
When you’re as vertically challenged as Vince, navigating life’s obstacles means lots of jumping (A). For long-distance jumps, have him do a double jump in midair (A + A), or even a double jump and spin (A + A + B). A fall doesn’t have to be a straight drop to the ground, either. Vince can hover when he’s airborne (left trigger)—a useful skill you can use to control Vince’s descents.

Strategies
Each quarter of the city has its own strategies. Luckily, Vince is a thinking man’s voodoo doll (so the pins stuck through his head must really hurt).

• The Bakery: The game starts off with a typical challenge. To get past the bakery’s Ginger Dead Men, you’ll need to throw Vince into the blender’s whirling blades. He’s a voodoo doll after all, and what happens to him affects the nearby monsters.
• The Square: Go from one establishment to the next to find the right items. Unfortunately, these places open at different times, so periodically, have Vince climb the tower and program the clock. On his first time up, he’ll find an apple to feed the horse statue. From that point on, the horse will kick-start Vince on a shortcut straight to the top. Beware, though, of the hammering figures that emerge to ring Vince’s bell. Going from place to place, he’ll need to pick up a mask for the costume ball, cash for the pawn shop, and a trumpet to practice in the jazz club. At that point, he’ll be ready to jam with the man, who’ll let him into the science museum.
• The Science Museum: This stage ends with a scramble past the Bone Goliath, which has massive teeth and million-year-old morning breath. You might be tempted to panic, but don’t rush through. Watch for the Goliath’s tail, and time Vince’s jumps carefully. When he makes it to the upper platforms, slow down to avoid Goliath’s bites, instead of hurrying past. If Goliath hits Vince, he’ll knock our hero off the platform, in which case, you’ll need to use Vince’s hover ability (left trigger) to navigate back to safety. And, once you defeat the Goliath, you’ll need to jump and hover to reach the exit portal, as a straight jump will rarely work.

From there, the game continues on to a mad turtle, a search for a hot air balloon, and more danger than you can stick a pin into! Good luck on your quest to save Madam Charmaine … or should we say, good mojo!

By Isaac Bein