@smashlloyd: Late reply, I know to kill the Attack Node first, in my second playthrough I beat it first try, but the Laser Barrage 2HKOES everyone (undertrained people get OHKOed by it) bar HP+50% Cecil. It's only a matter of killing it fast, but luck plays a big role. I would NOT say it is easy, just very very luck-based.
EDIT: Also, TheMantyke, I have gone up against Captain K. Rool, and I can agree his vacuum gun just PWNS ME TO THE MAX!
Even heard of Shell? And K Rool isn't hard, as I said earlier, if you make an effort to memorize his attack patterns.