User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Gogmazios/@comment-5020152-20160610141503

GOGMAZIOS

 Concept : This beast continues the tradition of “final bosses” in Monster Hunter by being a gigantic, daunting, evil-looking elder dragon with a signature gimmick shared by no other monster in the game – in this case, lots and lots of boiling hot tar. Another thing Gogmazios shares with other “final bosses” is being practically impossible to defeat without fully upgraded or otherwise end-game gear. He’s also the star of the final Urgent Quest to unlock the last few quests in the game, another continuation of the tradition. And boy, does he do a good job of fulfilling the role of MH4U’s “final boss”. 9/10

 Design : Imagine Knifehead and Otachi having a child. That child is raised by Hedorah and grows up with the Smog Monster’s impeccable sense of hygiene. He’s fed on a diet of explosives throughout his life, and during his teen years, he gets a glowing tattoo on his chin and is diagnosed with pyromania by his psychiatrist. THAT is Gogmazios. He’s a living, breathing kaiju that spells disaster for whatever unfortunate settlement that dares stand in his way. His color scheme is amazing, being composed of black and dark blue, and his overall design is simply awe-inspiring. His most impressive features are his thick, thorn-studded tail and unassuming wingarms that spread to their full majestic glory when Gog gets enraged. And if that isn’t enough, Gog also has a brutal-looking central nose horn and a freakin’ DRAGONATOR stuck to his back. Oh yeah… and then there’s the chinface. What’s up with that? 9/10

 Sounds : Gog’s roar is a deafening call not unlike the tolling of a gong. Alongside that, he also has a series of smaller, trumpeting roars and moans that almost definitely take some inspiration from Godzilla himself. Even his music sounds like it came right out of a Japanese monster movie – it’s slow, dark, and menacing, instilling within you the feeling of a giant abomination closing in on you while you can do nothing but stop and stare in horror. Fan-flippin’-tastic job on this one, Capcom. 10/10

 Gameplay : Stage One of the fight with Gogmazios is fairly standard when it comes to giant elder dragons. Hopefully with a group of hunting buddies, you’re supposed to hack away at Gog’s body until the Dragonator on his back falls off. Additionally, you can use the cannons and Ballistae in the Battlequarters to help you accomplish this. However, Gog’s agility and the oil constantly dripping from his body should set up some complications when it comes to getting a clear shot. Once the Dragonator falls off (and you spear him with it), Stage Two commences, where Gog gets steaming mad and takes to the skies with all the drama of the Red Death scene in “How to Train Your Dragon”. His most dangerous attack is pretty similar to what the Red Death does, too – he goes absolutely crazy and fires his oil beam everywhere, covering the Battlequarters with explosions.

Gog’s attacks are diverse, the most notable ones being a sparking claw swipe and a jet of pure boiling oil (that literally ends with a bang). When Gog gets enraged, though, these attacks become more powerful, and the oil dripping from his body ignites and explodes almost instantly. He’s basically Monster Hunter’s equivalent of Otachi from Pacific Rim – deadly tail, corrosive spit, glowing mouth, humongous wings, and all. It’s a fun fight, even though it takes a very long time to complete, and it’s a real accomplishment when this greasy kaiju finally falls. 8/10

 New Stuff : The oil shtick. This monster is a walking environmental disaster area. In Phase 1, the oil will trap you in place if you get caught, while in Phase 2, it will immediately explode upon hitting the ground. Using tar is such a unique and appropriate gimmick for an undead-looking monster that I just have to give props to this one. 8/10

 Equipment : The armor is really impressive, for one thing, with all that iridescent blue going on. The “Gogma” set, as it is called, gives some wicked skills – Critical Eye, Artillery Novice, and Enlightened Blade, at the cost of Slow Sharpening and really bad Fire and Dragon resistances. Enlightened Blade in particular deserves a mention, as it grants the effects of Awaken, Element Attack Up, and Status Atk +1. Gog’s weapons have unrivaled raw power, pretty cool designs, really grim flavor text, and… Sleep damage? Seriously? 7/10

 Cutscene : Gogmazios, wreathed in obscuring black smog, advances into the Battlequarters. As the hunter stares in horror at the behemoth, only the claws and Dragonator can be seen. Gogmazios’ head rears high into the air, displaying the glowing chinface as it bears down on the hunter. To avoid being crushed, the hunter jumps down to solid ground, where the dragon turns around and dispels the smog, revealing himself for the first time. The hunter stands up while Gogmazios brings himself to his full impressive height. With a tolling roar, the kaiju challenges his foe.

This is easily the best cutscene in the game. Gog is shrouded in mystery up until the very last few seconds of the cinematic, and the music fills you with that sense of dreadful menace every step of the way. Another amazing job by Capcom in making this monster really feel like the “final boss”. 10/10

 Summary : This Pacific Rim reject is the perfect monster to finish MH4U with. Gog is a hulking, oil-coated, multi-legged, tar-spewing abomination that brings with him a deliciously fun fight and jaw-droppingly-awesome music. Gogmazios is a living incarnation of the word “fear”, and in conquering this kaiju of a monster, you are conquering your own fear. Congratulations, Capcom, for creating this disgusting behemoth of a boss – and congratulations, fellow hunters, for slaying it! Overall 9/10