Man-at-Legs

Man-at-Legs
Appears in	Pikmin 2
Scientific name	Pseudoarachnia navaronia
Family	Arachnorb
Areas	None
Caves	Subterranean Complex, Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages	Secret Testing Range
2-Player Battle stages	None
Attacks	Fires explosive projectiles

The Man-at-legs (ダマグモキャノン^?, lit.: "Cannon Ball Spider") is a member of the Arachnorb family, and first appeared as a boss in Pikmin 2. It's one of the few bio-mechanical creatures featured in the game, having a mostly mechanical torso sheathed in metal with four spindly legs – three of them are black, organic and spider-like, while the other one is mechanical; this makes attacking its feet impossible. Several exhaust pipes on its body continually emit smoke. Unlike other Arachnorbs, it has no flat footpads to stomp Pikmin with, instead relying on its long-ranged attacks and speed, quickly skittering around the room to avoid being attacked. When agitated, it stops in place, the panels of its underbelly separate and a machine gun-like weapon extends out, tracking any nearby targets via a laser sight before rapidly firing a barrage of explosive rounds at whatever it manages to lock-on to. After firing a few dozen shots, with minimal breaks in-between, it sheathes its weapon before continuing to move about. While moving, it will occasionally stand still to rest, and at this point, mechanical-sounding inhales can be heard.

Its interior appears to be filaments of biological matter that stretch to allow its gun to fold out. The creature is not without its flaws, though: it lets off steam with a loud hiss before it attacks, signaling Olimar's retreat, and there is a visible red laser it uses to target the Pikmin, making it obvious where it's going to shoot. However, the blasts come very quickly, so the laser is not of much use when avoiding the enemy.

The Man-at-Legs is not in control of its attacks, as stated by Olimar's notes. In typical Arachnorb manner, it leaves no body behind upon dying. However, instead of slowly disintegrating like its two relatives, it explodes violently.

This boss is usually found in arenas that have raised ground that can be used as shields against the blasts. It is only found on the last sublevel (9) of the Subterranean Complex, sublevel 13 of the Hole of Heroes, and sublevel 2 of the Secret Testing Range in Challenge Mode. As a side note, it cannot be petrified while it is dormant.

Stats

Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health	Regen.
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	2800	No

Notes

Olimar's notes

“This species of the arachnorb family fuses with machinery at a crucial point in the maturation process, giving it the ability to fire energy bursts from the launcher beneath its orbular torso. However, the man-at-legs itself is not in control of this weapon. Instead, the mechanical portions of its structure appear to automatically acquire and attack targets. The man-at-legs has a gentle disposition, and as a member of the arachnorb species, it has no natural enemies. It is particularly difficult to understand why this species would develop such awesome offensive capabilities, leading to rumors among the scientific community that it was the machinery that approached the arachnorb and proposed the symbiotic relationship.”

Louie's notes

“Although the meat is a bit on the metallic side, the oil makes a mouthwatering gravy or lubricative vinaigrette.”

Strategy

1. When the creature has fully risen from the ground and starts aiming, the player should run for cover behind an object. Once it starts walking around, it should be chased. It is most easily attacked when it stands still and lowers its head. When it shakes the Pikmin attacking it off in a fury, the player should hide again, and repeat the cycle.
2. A large mob of Purple Pikmin thrown at this enemy while it lies dormant in the ground should drop its health to a substantial fraction. Once it has risen fully, the first or third strategy should be used.
3. The creature is attacked until it has stood up all the way, and at that point it is petrified. As soon as the spray wears off, it should be petrified again. However, occasionally the Man-at-Legs will exit the stun and start shooting immediately, without the aiming laser.
4. Before the creature opens fire, the player can dismiss their Pikmin away from the Man-at-Legs and run in tight circles around its legs. As long as Olimar is closer to the creature than the Pikmin, he will be shot at, and with skill, unharmed. This strategy is easier to perform after obtaining the Rush Boots.

Unfortunately, the player faces the Man-at-Legs in a watery area two out of three times, leaving the aforementioned strategy of Purple Pikmin useless. In such circumstances, it is best to attempt the "Hit and Run" technique of number one. The second strategy does not work in New Play Control! Pikmin 2, as the creature is invincible while it is rising from the ground. The fourth method is effective, but hard to perform at times.

Technical information

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name			houdai
Global properties (List)
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
s000	friction(not used)	Friction	0.5
s001	wallReflection	Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?)	0.5
s002	faceDirAdjust	Unknown	0.25
s003	accel	Acceleration	0.1
s004	bounceFactor	Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?)	0.3
fp00	ライフ	HP	2800
fp01	マップとの当り	Unknown (related to slopes)	10
fp02	ダメージスケールXZ	Horizontal damage scale	0.1
fp03	ダメージスケールY	Vertical damage scale	0.1
fp04	ダメージフレーム	Damage scale duration	0.5
fp05	質量	Unknown (weight?)	0.0001
fp06	速度	Move speed	250
fp08	回転速度率	Rotation acceleration	0.2
fp09	テリトリー	Territory radius	800
fp10	ホーム範囲	"Home" radius	75
fp11	プライベート距離	"Private" radius	70
fp12	視界距離	Sight radius	600
fp13	視界角度	FOV	180
fp14	探索距離	Unknown (exploration radius?)	800
fp15	探索角度	Unknown (exploration angle?)	7
fp16	振り払い率	Successful shake rate	1
fp17	振り払い力	Shake knockback	500
fp18	振り払いダメージ	Shake damage	0
fp19	振り払い範囲	Shake range	25
fp20	攻撃可能範囲	Unknown (shock attack max range?)	75
fp21	攻撃可能角度	Unknown (shock attack max angle?)	25
fp22	攻撃ヒット範囲	Unknown (attack hit range?)	10
fp23	攻撃ヒット角度	Unknown (attack hit angle?)	0.004
fp24	攻撃力	Attack damage	10
fp25	視界高	Unknown (height visibility?)	50
fp26	探索高	Unknown (exploration height?)	40
fp27	ライフの高さ	HP wheel height	115
fp28	回転最大速度	Rotation speed	60
fp29	警戒時間	Unknown (warning time?)	15
fp30	警戒ライフ	Unknown	50
fp31	ライフ回復率	Regeneration rate	0
fp32	LOD半径	Off-camera radius	175
fp33	マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定	Collision processing radius	75
fp34	ピクミンとのあたり	Pikmin damage radius	20
fp35	石化時間	Petrification duration	1
fp36	ヒップドロップダメージ	Purple Pikmin drop damage	50
fp37	地震気絶確立	Purple Pikmin stun chance	0 (0%)
fp38	地震気絶時間	Purple Pikmin stun time	5
ip01	振り払い打撃Ａ	Shake mode 1 – hit count	10
ip02	振り払い張付１	Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement	30
ip03	振り払い打撃Ｂ	Shake mode 2 – hit count	15
ip04	振り払い張付２	Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement	37
ip05	振り払い打撃Ｃ	Shake mode 3 – hit count	25
ip06	振り払い張付３	Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement	50
ip07	振り払い打撃Ｄ	Shake mode 4 – hit count	30
Specific properties
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
fp01	ベース係数	Unknown (base coefficient?)	9
fp02	上げ減速係数	Unknown	-0.1
fp03	下げ加速係数	Unknown	0.5
fp04	最低減加速係数	Unknown	-2
fp05	最高減加速係数	Unknown	10
fp06	足の振り上げ	Unknown (feet swing?)	40
fp10	射撃On:Max	Unknown (shooting timer?)	2.5
fp11	射撃On:Min	Unknown (shooting timer?)	0.5
fp12	射撃Off:Max	Unknown (shooting timer?)	1
fp13	射撃Off:Min	Unknown (shooting timer?)	0.06
fp20	Last 2 Territory	"Territory" property (fp09) on the Hole of Heroes	130

Other information

• Size: Leg span: 170mm, as per the e-card
• Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #76
• Musical theme: Common boss battle

Naming

See more: Arachnorb family#Naming.

The name "Man-at-Legs" is a pun on "man-at-arms", a professional soldier during the Middle Ages, with the word "Legs" referring to it being a member of the arachnorb family. The Japanese name for this boss is ダマグモキャノン^?, which means "Cannon Ball Spider", but not in the sense that this is a combination of "cannonball" and "spider" – "Ball Spider" is the translated name of the Beady Long Legs, whose Japanese name influenced the Man-at-Legs's.

Its scientific name is Pseudoarachnia navaronia. Navaronia is most likely a reference to the famous novel The Guns of Navarone, which are about artillery guns, referring to the Man-at-Legs's own gun. Alternately, navaronia is related to the Latin word navalis, which means "related to ships"; there could be a tie between cannons, used commonly on war ships, and the "cannon" part of its Japanese name.

Internally, the boss is called houdai. ほうだい^? means "artillery battery", once more referring to the creature's firepower.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ダマグモキャノン? Dama Gumo Kyanon	Cannon Ball Spider	The Beady Long Legs' name means "Ball Spider". Hence, this enemy's name is not "Cannonball Spider", but actually the Beady Long Legs' name prefixed with "Cannon".
French	Mécano-pattes	From "mécano" (mechanic) and "pattes" (feet)
Italian	Ragno-Macchina	Machine Spider

Gallery

This article or section is in need of more images. Particularly: Get an image of the skin that's similar to the Beady Long Legs's. You can help Pikipedia by uploading some images.

• 

  Concept art of a Man-at-Legs preparing to fire its cannon.

• 76man-at-legs.png

  A Man-at-Legs firing.

• 

  A Man-at-Legs in the Secret Testing Range, firing its weapon.

• SC10.jpg

  A dormant Man-at-Legs at the Subterranean Complex. Notice the web-like design on the floor.

• MAL.png

  A dormant Man-at-Legs in the Hole of Heroes.

• 

  Olimar and Louie fighting two Man-at-Legs at once in an unused cave meant for enemy testing (last_4, sublevel 21).

• B10.JPG

  The creature's e-card, #32 (10^th blue card).

Trivia

• Spider web patterns are seen on the floor of it's battle arena, similar to the shadows of webs in the Beady Long Legs and Raging Long Legs arenas.
• Holes in its metal plating reveal "skin" with a texture similar to that of the Beady Long Legs.
• An unused cave reveals that two Man-at-Legs were to be fought at the same time.
• It is unknown how Louie knows how to cook this beast, as it explodes after its health is degraded.