The witch is using a powerful laser to destroy giant billiards balls. I'm supposed to protect them. Figuring the best defense is a good offense, I try to build the meanest tank the world of Banjo-Kazooie has ever seen.

After the jump, find out how that's working out for me.

I can smash the witch's flying wing into smithereens, and I won't deny it's pretty gratifying. I can even aim specifically at the laser on the nose of her ship and just blow it right off. But when I smash her up, she just goes briefly incorporeal and then reassembles herself, firing her laser the whole time. It's a lot like cheating and it allows her to destroy the billiard balls I'm supposed to protect. I'm obviously going about this the wrong way. The plus side is that I end up with three or four nifty tank designs, each built around a different weapon (one of these days, I'm going to spring for the bird missile and homing torpedo on sale back in Showdown Town, and then I'm really going to be able to deal some Banjo-death).

So rather than focusing on the stupid witch, I realize I have to defend the cover my balls. I briefly consider building some sort of big flat shield I can steer between the witch and my balls. But that's just stupid, so let's pretend it didn't even occur to me.

What I soon realize is that this is simply a game of keep-away.

I try a few designs, but the most effective is a heavy but relatively fast truck with a Boot-In-A-Box mounted on the nose. I simply drive up to the besieged billiard ball and let fly with the boot, kicking the ball across the coliseum where the witch can't line up her shot.

I have a grand time. What was a frustrating boss battle turns into a game about the fine physics of Nuts & Bolts, and now I'm imaging it's really frustrating for the witch trying to line up her laser while I knock the balls around. How many times have I been on the other end of this equation in a frustrating boss battle? How many times have I tried to aim at some elusive target that bounces around and gets away from me? Take that, witch. Now it's your turn.

There are nine rounds, and in each round, the witch goes after a different billiards ball. I protect the first eight, but lose the ninth when it gets stuck in a sort of pocket. But it only took five to pass the level, so that's one witch I've beaten by a series of kicks to the balls.

(Tomorrow: I will take you down to Showdown Town)