============================================================================== LUFIA: CURSE OF THE SINISTRALS THE COMPLETE NEW GAME+ SCRIPT ============================================================================== GAME: Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals PLATFORM: Nintendo DS/DS Lite/DSi AUTHOR: ReynardFox DATE: XX October, 2010 VERSION: 1.0 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction II. Version History III. Legal Disclaimer IV. Credits V. Contact Information --- INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the Complete New Game+ Script for "Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals!" A little bit of history is in order, for the folks who aren't familiar with the Lufia series of games. This game was released on 12 October, 2010 for the Nintendo DS. In North America it was released by Natsume and developed by Neverland Studios, which was the original developer for "Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals," released in North America on August 1996. (Wow, it's sure been a while, huh?) "Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals" is a re-imagining of its predecessor, and it's been developed into an action RPG instead of the traditional turn-based RPG format. The setting, story, character designs, and other details have also been changed. This included a necessary overhauling of the script, bringing it up to speed for its new technologically-savvy setting, and the changed order of some game events. This is a script of all events and dialogue from the game's second storyline, so if you haven't yet finished your first time through, I suggest a little caution! You'll have the story spoiled silly for you if you keep on reading. Unless you don't really care... in which case, I guess that's fine, too! Another note: This guide is formatted to wrap at 80 lines, and may look kind of awkward on displays that don't allow for that much extension. Fair warning! Yet another note: I commonly use British spelling, but for the purpose of this guide, I tried to restrict my spelling to American standard. If you happen to spot a stray 'u' or 's' somewhere it shouldn't be, please don't hesitate to let me know so I can fix it. --- VERSION HISTORY ---------------------------------------------------------- V1.0: This is the first version of the guide. Hooray! That means that that there are probably mistakes running rampant. If you see something that's not right, let me know! --- LEGAL DISCLAIMER --------------------------------------------------------- "Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals," "Espolis," "Lufia," and all related indicia are copyright Square Enix. In no way is the author (ReynardFox) attempting to claim ownership, and the use of all names, terms, and other related indicia are purely for entertainment and reference purposes. In no way is this guide being used for profit of any sort; furthermore, this guide is in no way affiliated with Square Enix. With that said, I spent a lot of time putting all of this together from scratch. I started a New Game+ file specifically to put the script down into a text file, by hand, typing out every piece of dialogue as it came up on screen (or through the speakers, as there is some voice acting in "Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals"). I don't mind if you want to post this guide on your website, but please send me an e-mail (listed under the "Contact Info" section) and please, for the love of God and wee fishes, don't claim credit for this guide yourself. --- CREDITS ------------------------------------------------------------------ There are a lot of people I want to thank for this guide. If I happen to forget somebody, I swear it's not because I meant to! Just send an e-mail and smack me upside the head with the proper dues and I'll try to add it ASAP. SinReVi - For inspiring me to make this guide MCMReliant - For sweet strategies in the few places I got stuck. Square Enix | Neverland |- For publishing one awesome, awesome game (...in English). and Natsume | RevenantThings - For posting his own walkthrough, which I'm sure has helped a whole lot of people, too! It is, after all, the only one floating around out there right now. --- CONTACT INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------ I can usually be contacted at reynardfox_@hotmail.com. If you send a message to that address, be sure to label the subject line very clearly, because I get a lot of spam e-mail. Be clear in your e-mail, too! "Chatspeak" and other abominations before the English language will be deleted posthaste. ============================================================================== 1. Standard Game Ending/New Game+ Introduction ============================================================================== The scene shifts to Arek's throne. Iris stands before it. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: It's over, Erim... Or should I say Iris? IRIS: Yes, Lord Arek. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: What did you think of humans, Iris? IRIS: They are a young but strong race. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: Strong...? What is their strength? IRIS: The power to believe. The power to help each other... And the power of love. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: Maxim saved his loved one by risking his life. IRIS: Yes. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: That is indeed a great strength. IRIS: It appears that the age of gods is nearing its end. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: Iris... Why did you save Maxim? IRIS: I do not know... It's just... I didn't want him to die. That's all. AREK THE ABSOLUTE: Is that the reason? Erim, what is that on your cheeks? Iris is weeping silently. IRIS: Huh? AREK THE ABSOLUTE: A human was able to make a god cry... It seems that the journey isn't over. For humans... or for us. Iris continues to weep silently. IRIS: ... AREK THE ABSOLUTE: Isn't that right, Dual Blade? The camera zooms into the pillar to show Iris, where the Dual Blade materialises in front of her. A chime sounds, and Iris looks up. IRIS: Time... stopped. The Dual Blade? The Dual Blade resonates a brilliant blue. IRIS: The Dual Blade is resonating with my energy waves... Time is... going backwards? What's happening? Dual Blade, what is it that you want to show me? Iris looks angry. IRIS: Answer me, Dual Blade! The screen fades to white. SYSTEM MESSAGE: Data will be saved. If you continue, something will happen in Iris' future. The camera zooms inward towards Doom Island, which is floating high in the sky. Soundtrack: "Hour of Judgement" GADES: The time has come... Cut to the Throne of Doom Island. The three Sinistrals stand on the steps far below the altar, facing Gades. GADES: Your role is finished! From now on, destruction, chaos, and fear will reign...! Gades demonstrates his power, hurling a fireball from his sword across the empty space between the alter and the steps. The scene then shifts to Elcid. Tia is talking to two children. They pause and look up to Doom Island as the sky turns dark and violent. TIA [voiced]: Wha? What's going on? GADES: Attention, all those who call this place their home! I am Gades, the Sinistral of Destruction! The scene shifts to the Presidental Mansion of Parcelyte, where Selan and a little girl are on the grassy courtyard, looking up at Doom Island. GADES: All of humanity must now bow down before me! The little girl, Lamitty, is crying, and Selan kneels beside her, trying to comfort the girl. SELAN: It's all right. No matter what happens, I will protect you. The scene shifts to Jessy's shop in Parcelyte. Guy and Jessy are listening to the voice of Gades from inside the shop. GADES: I shall fulfill the ancient prophecy and destroy the earth! Guy bristles angrily. GUY: Destroy the earth? Yer gonna have to get by me first! The scene shifts to the Bound Kingdom. Dekar is standing in the central courtyard, looking up at the looming fortress in the sky. GADES: My will shall shatter the earth, and a new world shall rise in its place! DEKAR: Please rest assured, Prince Alex. No matter who my opponent is, I will never lose. Eserikto, the sacred forest city of the elves, comes into view. GADES: Obey my commands, and you too will have a part in this new world! At the sound of Gades' voice, Milka and Karyn approach Artea where he stands looking up at the sky. ARTEA: Milka, Karyn, calm your hearts. The scene shifts back to the throne room of Doom Island. GADES: Dare one of you challenge me?! I am invincible! Indestructable! The scene then shifts out to sea, where Lexis Shaia and Maxim are standing on the deck of the Excelion, watching Doom Island as Gades makes his pronouncements. LEXIS: Well, this isn't something you see every day... Maxim! What should we do? MAXIM: Let's go, Professor. I'm sure something amazing awaits us! The scene shifts one final time to show Doom Island floating in a partly cloudy sky, and the title logo appears over the scene. LUFIA: CURSE OF THE SINISTRALS Soundtrack: "Over the Sky" LEXIS: Well, this isn't something you see every day... Maxim! What should we do? MAXIM: Let's go, Professor. I'm sure something amazing awaits us! LEXIS: That's the spirit! And the Excelion will be able to take us right to the top of Doom Island! MAXIM [laughing]: Whoa, really? You mean this ship can fly? LEXIS [enthusiastic]: Well, it can't right now, but someday it'll be able to! MAXIM [disappointed]: Someday...? How does that help us now? Cut to Doom Island, where a red light flies from Doom Island, spiralling downward.] MAXIM [agitated]: Whoa! Did you see that? Something dropped from Doom Island down onto Soma Temple! LEXIS: Soma Temple? That's where Parcelyte sent their investigation team! MAXIM [determined]: They might be in trouble! Let's go! The scene fades to the map screen. LEXIS: Maxim, we've got to hurry to Soma Temple! Choose "Move" on the screen below and select your destination! MAXIM: Gotcha! LEXIS: [voiced] Let's hurry! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Soma Temple added to the map! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Ancient Cave added to the map! >> If "Talk" is selected from the Map Screen: LEXIS: Maxim, we've got to hurry to Soma Temple! Choose "Move" on the screen below and select your destination! MAXIM: Gotcha! LEXIS: [voiced] Let's hurry! ============================================================================== 2. Soma Temple ============================================================================== The scene opens on Soma Temple, which is a place of volcanic magma, crumbling stone walkways, and a certain unsavoury atmosphere. Maxim and Lexis walk in through the open, door-less entryway. Soundtrack: "Soma Temple Aboveground" MAXIM [shocked]: Whoa! What a creepy temple! LEXIS: Oh, I don't know. It's got a certain volcano-y charm to it. Maxim looks around. MAXIM: This place is huge! Who built it? And how? LEXIS [subdued]: No one knows. This place predates all historical records. Some think it may not have even been built by humans... MAXIM: Wow... LEXIS [normal]: There's no telling what we'll run into here. Be ready for anything! MAXIM: Gotcha! The player resumes control of Maxim, and is directed to the switch on the far side of the walkway, straight ahead of the temple entrance. When approaching the switch, the player is prompted to press A and check the object. MAXIM: Hm, what's this? LEXIS [subdued]: It looks like some kind of switch. I wouldn't mess with it if I were you. Who knows what it does? MAXIM: I don't see anything else we can do here. Sometimes you've just gotta trust your luck! LEXIS [normal]: Oh brother... The player is given two choices: "Activate" and "Never Mind." The latter doesn't do anything but return control of Maxim to the player, and in the end the player has no choice but to activate the switch. Upon activating the switch, it closes and rotates down until it rests flush with the floor of the platform. MAXIM [shocked]: Whoa! The bridge moved?! The whole contraption starts shaking and rotates clockwise, rotating its way upward as it goes like a giant corkscrew made of stone, metal, and creepy. Control is then returned to the player. The door leads out to the top of the temple; pillars of stone stretch high above. You'd think Maxim would be getting used to the weirdness of this place. Soundtrack: "The Final Duel" MAXIM [shocked]: Whoa, this place is bizarre! What kind of temple is this? LEXIS [subdued]: It was clearly made by beings with powers beyond those of men. Fascinating... LT. RUBEN: Uh...uuuh... Maxim and Lexis turn towards the noise. LEXIS: Maxim, there's someone over there! MAXIM [earnest]: It must be one of the members of the research team! They go to the aid of the fallen soldier, a member of the Parcelyte investigation team. MAXIM: Hey, are oyu alright? LT. RUBEN: Uh...uuuh... MAXIM: Hang in there! My name is Maxim. What's your name?! LT. RUBEN: My name is Ruben... I'm...a soldier of Parceltye... MAXIM: Ruben, what happened here? LT. RUBEN: H-He's...he's so powerful. Gades... MAXIM: You ran into that Sinistral guy who was shouting about destroying the world? LT. RUBEN: I managed to escape... But the others... they... Gades was so strong... MAXIM: No! LEXIS: Maxim! What are we going to do about this Gades fellow? MAXIM: What do you think? I'm going to go kick his butt! LEXIS [pleased]: I was hoping you'd say that. I'm going with you. MAXIM [grinning]: Careful, Doc. You're a little old to be fighting. LEXIS [subdued]: Don't treat me like I'm helpless! I've got a lot of valuable wisdom to share. MAXIM: Oh yeah? Like what? LEXIS [pleased]: Like you swing your sword by pressing the Y Button, and jump by pressing the B Button. A tutorial screen comes up. TUTORIAL: "Regular Attack - Y Button" Press the Y button to execute a regular attack. Press it repeatedly to chain attacks together. TUTORIAL: "Jump - B Button" Press the B Button to jump. You can jump over gaps, and also attack from the air. LEXIS: Let me also tell you about the "Level Boost" option. MAXIM [normal]: "Level Boost?" Guess what? Another tutorial screen! TUTORIAL: "The Level Boost Option" If you are defeated in battle, you can select "Retry+Level Boost" to use the Level Boost option. You'll restart from the last checkpoint, but everyone in your party will be raised by five levels. There's no penalty for using Level Boost, so feel free to use it if you're having a lot of trouble. If you want to challenge yourself, you can also choose "Retry From Last Checkpoint" to restart normally. Control of Maxim is returned to the player. Players can then talk to Lt. Ruben. LT. RUBEN: I'll be okay. Just...give Gades one for me. Maxim moves onto a lift, and two Red Jellies pop up to make his day difficult. They are, predictably, dispatched with ease. As the lift goes up, Maxim startles. MAXIM [voiced]: Whoa! Is this thing going up? LEXIS [voiced]: Careful, Maxim. There's no telling what's going to happen next. MAXIM [voiced]: Gotcha. The lift leads to a series of lifts, which in turn allow Maxim to reach a roundabout path to the top of Soma Temple. Lexis stops Maxim at the second lift for a bit of advice. LEXIS: Maxim, don't forget that you can use potions to heal any damage you take during a fight. Press START to open the Character Menu, select "Items," and then select the potion to use it. Got it? MAXIM: Yep! LEXIS: Also, don't forget that you lose HP when you fall off a high ledge. MAXIM: Gotcha! Hark! Another tutorial screen! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Character Menu - START. Press START to open the Character Menu. Here you can change your character, use items, and check your settings. Control of Maxim is then returned to the player. Onwards and upwards! After the third lift, Lexis stops Maxim again for some more advice. LEXIS: You receive gold and experience when you defeat monsters. MAXIM: Of course! Oh, look, a tutorial. Are you detecting a pattern yet? SYSTEM MESSAGE: Overkill Bonus. You can gain bonus experience and gold by continuing to hit a monster after it's been defeated. When you keep attacking it, gold coins and red experience spheres will come out of it. Collect these to get extra gold and experience! On rare occasions, you'll also get a blue soul shard out of a monster. Soul shards can be traded in at a certain shop for some special items. To pick up coins, experience spheres, and soul shards, all you have to do is walk near them. Don't miss any! The last lift appears, and Maxim and Lexis step on. LEXIS: It's almost like we're being led somewhere... MAXIM: I've got the same feeling. I can sense some very dangerous and powerful energy above us. LEXIS: You think Gades is leading us right to him? The lift rises. MAXIM [voiced]: Do the Sinistrals really exist...? Upon reaching the top, Maxim steps off the lift, sword raised and ready. Soundtrack: "Soma Temple Aboveground" MAXIM: Looks like the is the end of the line. [Maxim startles, looking ahead to see a huge monster made of metal and... something. It looms above, as heat and energy from the temple flare up behind and above it.] MAXIM [distressed]: It--it's huge! What the heck is it? The monster roars and rages as Maxim rushes up the steps towards it. LEXIS [shocked]: Whatever it is, it looks tough! Be careful, Maxim! MAXIM [angry]: All right, ugly! You're going down! Cue your very first boss battle! LEXIS [subtitled]: Go for his hand first! When you attack his hand, Lexis offers more advice. LEXIS [subtitled]: Now, Maxim! Attack his main body! The juggernaut roars and vanishes in a puff of... something. MAXIM [distressed]: It disappeared?! LEXIS: [shocked]: Maxim, above you! Run! Suspended over Maxim's head is a giant freaking meteor of molten stone. MAXIM: YAAAAAAAAH! The boulder hits, and Maxim and Lexis are sent sprawling. MAXIM: Whew, I barely dodged that. That was a close one! Gades suddenly appears when the camera pans back up, standing over Maxim and Lexis. Soundtrack: None GADES [smirking]: I'm impressed. I feel strong energy waves flowing from you. MAXIM [distressed]: Wh-who are you? GADES [normal]: You don't recognize me? Look closer at my energy waves. MAXIM: Your energy waves? GADES: Yes. Can't you see? Gades suddenly emits a dark blue aura. MAXIM: Y-you have the same energy waves as that gigantic monster! But that's not possible! Unless... GADES: Yes, that's right. I'm not confined to one form like some pitiful human. I am Gades, the Sinistral of Destruction! MAXIM: The Sinistral of Destruction? GADES: Yes. I will destroy your dismal little civilization and remake it into something more to my liking. MAXIM: Not while I'm still standing! GADES [shouting]: Ha! As you wish. Gades then proceeds to fireball Maxim into the pavement. Be careful what you wish for, huh? MAXIM: Gh... A woman in white with white hair, grey eyes, and a black hairpin shouts from just out of view. She appears to Gades' right, hands held up as though to do... something. IRIS [voiced, angry]: Halt! GADES: Who are you? IRIS [angry]: Foul creature, be gone from this place! The woman emits a powerful yellow aura. GADES: Hm.. Impressive energy waves for a human. IRIS [displeased]: ... GADES: Ah, you're a priestess of Runa. That decrepit old goddess still has some followers? IRIS [angry]: She's granted me enough power to challenge the likes of you! Be gone from this place! GADES [smirking]: Ha ha ha! Crushing humanity is going to be even more satisfying than I thought. Gades raises his hand and teleports away. Cheater. Soundtrack: "The Prophet" Iris walks over to Lexis and the fallen Maxim. IRIS [normal]: Are you okay? MAXIM [grinning]: Sure. Never...b...better... IRIS: Please don't talk. I will use healing magic to fix your wounds. Iris concentrates, and heals Maxim with a green aura. Maxim slowly climbs to his feet. IRIS: Are you okay? MAXIM [grinning]: Wow, you saved my life! Thank you! And you can actually use magic? I didn't know there was anyone left who knew magic. IRIS [smiling]: It is the Ankh of Runa. MAXIM [normal]: The Ankh of Runa? Iris raises her hands to her heart. IRIS [nromal]: Yes. Its powers allow me to use magic, and protect me from monsters. MAXIM: So that's how you got here alone. IRIS: Yes. MAXIM [laughing]: Well, I can't thank you enough. It took real guts to stand up to Gades like that. My name is Maxim. What's yours? IRIS: Maxim... MAXIM [normal]: Is something wrong with my name? IRIS: No...it's just... Have we met before...? MAXIM: ? IRIS [smiling]: Never mind... that's impossible. My name is Iris. LEXIS: I'm Lexis. Never thought I'd meet a priestess of Runa in this day and age. IRIS [normal]: I am the last one. I have been in hiding, preparing for the time when I'd be needed. MAXIM: I'm guessing that time is now? IRIS: Yes. Gades is one of the Sinistrals. Prophecies say that the Sinistrals are four legendary beings who appear to bring about the end of civilization. But the prophecies tell of a hero who has the power to stand against the Sinistrals. IRIS [determined]: Maxim, that hero is you. I can see it in your energy waves. You are the legendary hero. MAXIM: The legendary hero? Me? LEXIS [laughing]: Hey, you're going to be famous, Maxim! You'd better do something about that ridiculous haircut! Hahaha! MAXIM [exasperated]: Hey, come on. This is serious! LEXIS [smiling]: Sorry. IRIS [determined]: Maxim, have you heard the tales of the past great civilizations of man, and how they came to ruin? MAXIM: Actually...no. LEXIS [normal]: What? You've never heard of the Legend of the Apocalypse? You really ought to read more, Maxim. MAXIM [grinning]: I'm not interested in some silly old myths. I'm too busy practicing my swordsmanship! IRIS: It's no myth. The Sinistrals have appeared before. They come to destroy civilization. Sometimes they have succeeded, and plunged humanity back into the dark ages. But sometimes a hero stops them. MAXIM [normal]: The legendary hero... IRIS: I believe that you have the potential to be that hero, Maxim. Your energy waves give you the strength to fight a Sinistral. MAXIM: I... I have that kind of power? Maxim folds his arms, thinking. LEXIS: Then why did Gades beat the stuffing out of him so easily? MAXIM [exasperated]: H-Hey! LEXIS: Hahaha! IRIS: You'll need a lot of practice to reach your full strength. But not even the legendary hero can triumph alone. MAXIM: So what should I do? IRIS: There are more warriors with strong energy waves in this world. You must find them. MAXIM: And hope they're crazy enough to fight Gades. IRIS: You'll have to travel far and wide to find these warriors. MAXIM: Interesting... Soundtrack: "North Land" LEXIS: Think we're up for it, Maxim? Maxim turns to face Lexis. MAXIM [laughing]: Of course! That sounds like it'll be one heck of an adventure! LEXIS: Sure, an adventure with the fate of the world resting on us. Well, we'd better get moving! MAXIM [normal]: You got it. LEXIS: What do you plan to do, Iris? IRIS [smiling]: It is my mission to aid the legendary hero in his journey. I will go with you. MAXIM: Are you sure? It sounds like it'll be pretty dangerous. IRIS: It is what I've spent my whole life preparing for. MAXIM: Well, glad to have you along. I'm sure we can use the help. IRIS: I'll do my best. SYSTEM MESSAGE: Iris joined your party! IRIS: Oh, and you should have this. SYSTEM MESSAGE: Crit Pearl S obtained! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Sage Pearl M obtained! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Heart Ruby M obtained! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Power Ruby XS obtained! SYSTEM MESSAGE: King Ruby S obtained! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Hero Ruby L obtained! LEXIS: Well then, let's go back to Elcid. We need to prepare, and I still need to make some modifications to the Excelion. MAXIM: Oh yeah, what about the soldier we found at the entrance? IRIS: He is alright. A Parcelyte ship arrived, so he'll be in good hands. MAXIM [laughing]: That's a relief. Alright, let's go back to Elcid! Cut to the map screen. LEXIS: Okay, we're going back to Elcid, Maxim. I've got some more ideas for the Excelion. MAXIM [grinning]: More ideas? You're not going to do anything weird to it, are you? LEXIS [laughing]: What? When have any of my ideas been weird? I'm a genius! You just don't understand my brilliant inventions! MAXIM [normal]: If you say so...Hey, Tia's probably worried about us. We told her we'd be back soon. LEXIS [normal]: Knowing Tia, she's probably more angry at us for keeping her waiting than worried. MAXIM [exasperated]: You're probably right. LEXIS: I'll leave the apologizing to you. Say, Maxim, have you saved the game yet? MAXIM: Saved? LEXIS: Yes. Any time you're in the Excelion, you can choose to save your game on the menu below. Don't forget! MAXIM: Good call, Doc. I'd hate to lose all my progress so far. LEXIS [voiced]: Let's head back, now. The player then regains control of the map screen. >>>> If "Talk" is selected from the options:] LEXIS: Okay, Maxim, let's go back to Elcid. I have to work on upgrading the Excelion. Save frequently. You can do that with the "Save" option from the screen below. LEXIS [voiced]: Let's head back, now. ============================================================================== 2. Elcid, the Fertile Town ============================================================================== >>>> If "Elcid" is selected from the list of destinations: The camera pans over the peaceful village of Elcid, showing all of its major locations. Soundtrack: "Elcid, the Fertile Town" LEXIS: Here we are! I'll bring the ship around to my lab. The lab is seen billowing smoke from its smokestacks, and the land around it is pretty disgustingly polluted, brown and dead. The scene shifts to Tia, who's inspecting a few flowers growing through the fence near Lexis' lab. She pushes herself to her feet. TIA [disappointed]: What's taking Maxim so long? I hope he didn't run into that Gades creep... The Excelion returns to its berth with a hiss of steam. TIA [voiced]: Ah, you're finally back! Tia runs to meet the ship and its disembarking passengers; Maxim, Lexis, and Iris. TIA [shocked]: Maxim?! You're all beaten up! What happened to you? MAXIM [laughing]: Well, you know that Gades guy who was talking about destroying the world? I kind of picked a fight with him. TIA [disappointed]: You fought HIM? TIA [angry]: PRofessor! How could you let Maxim do something so dangerous? LEXIX: How could I stop him? Man versus Sinistral... What a fascinating experiment! TIA: Don't conduct experiments with Maxim's life! Fighting that guy was too dangerous! MAXIM [normal]: Somebody had to do it, Tia. And I'm a monster hunter. I'm used to danger. TIA [disappointed]: Yeah, but... MAXIM: Hey, I made it out alive, right? And I got that Gades jerk to shut up. TIA [laughing]: That's true! Everyone owes you their thanks for that! MAXIM [laughing]: Hey, no problem! TIA [smiling]: But...don't you ever think about giving up monster hunting and trying something safer? MAXIM [laughing]: Like what? TIA: Well... The screen pans in a little. Tia leans over her suitcase, avoiding Maxim's eye. TIA: Like... The screen pans in a little more. TIA: You could maybe find a nice store here in town that would hire you... The screen pans into Tia all the way as she stands up, nodding her head. TIA [laughing]: Some place like my shop, for example! Tia pops up a little heart in a bubble, which bounces once or twice and fades away. MAXIM: Oh, come on! Can you imagine me stuck inside all day, working in some boring shop? That's ridiculous! Tia slumps over. TIA [disappointed]: (Some boring shop? Is that what he thinks of what I do?) MAXIM: Hey, is something wrong, Tia? TIA [angry]: No! I'm fine! I'm glad you'd rather spend your day with smelly monsters than in a shop like mine! MAXIM [disappointed]: What? I didn't mean... LEXIS: Ha ha! Smooth, Maxim. Maybe you should spend a little less time studying swords and more time studying women. Iris approaches the group, and Maxim turns around to face her. MAXIM [laughing]: Oh, Iris! Sorry, I forgot to introduce you. Tia pops up a little exclamation point in a bubble. TIA [normal]: W-Who is she? Iris bows her head politely. IRIS: Greetings. My name is Iris. I am Maxim's new partner in his journey. TIA: His new partner? You mean like his wife?! MAXIM [grinning]: N-no, Tia. We're just taking a trip together. Tia puts her suitcase down for the express purpose of putting her hands around Maxim's throat and giving him a good throttling. TIA [angry]: A trip? Like some romantic getaway? Maxim, you just met this woman! You're moving too fast! TOO FAST!!! The screen pans in and out a few times to emphasize the fact that poor Maxim can't breathe. MAXIM [shocked]: No, no! It's not like that at all! (Yikes! What's with her?!) Lexis and Iris pop up little sweatdrops at this spectacle, and probably Maxim's apparent cluelessness. LEXIS: Ha ha! I'll bet you wish you were back fighting Gades right now. Maxim pops up a little flustered sweatdrop. MAXIM [disappointed]: Ack! Real funny, Doc. Now HELP ME! LEXIS: Tia, Maxim does need to breathe... TIA [shocked]: Oops... Tia lets him go and reclaims her suitcase. LEXIS: There isn't any hanky panky going on between Iris and Maxim. But she did save us both from Gades. TIA [disappointed]: Oh. Um...sorry about that, Maxim. And Iris...thank you for saving this bonehead. IRIS: No thanks needed. It was my destiny. LEXIS: Anyway, according to Iris, we have to gather a group of warriors strong enough to defeat Gades. MAXIM [normal]: So that's what our journey is about. It's not a romantic getaway. TIA [smiling]: Oh. Whew. But once you get enough warriors, you'll come back? I mean, YOU don't have to fight Gades again, right? MAXIM [eyes closed]: ... TIA [disappointed]: Come on, Maxim. Tell me you won't fight Gades again. MAXIM [normal]: Sorry, Tia. He has to be stopped. TIA: Then let me go with you! MAXIM: No, it's too dangerous. TIA [smiling]: I can handle myself. MAXIM: Not against this guy. TIA: Well, then I could help you by doing things other than fighting. MAXIM: Like what? TIA: Well, I could cook all the meals for you guys. MAXIM [grinning]: Hey, come on. This journey is scary enough already! TIA [angry]: What? I'm not that bad! My cooking just has a...unique style! LEXIS: That's one way to put it. IRIS: Don't worry, Tia. I'll look out for Maxim. TIA: TAKE ME WITH YOU! MAXIM [serious]: NO! Little anger-veins pop up in a bubble over Tia's head. TIA: Well I'm getting on that ship, and you can't stop me! MAXIM: Tia, please stay here. I'll feel better if I know you're somewhere safe. TIA [shocked]: Y-You're really worried about me? You're not just trying to brush me off? MAXIM [normal]: Of course. TIA [disappointed]: But... MAXIM [serious]: Don't worry. I'm sure we'll have this Gades jerk all taken care of in no time! TIA: Okay. But remember to come by my shop if you ever need any supplies for your journey. MAXIM [laughing]: You bet! Thanks a lot, Tia. LEXIS: By the way, Maxim, just where were you planning to go first? MAXIM [normal]: I was thinking of heading to Parcelyte. They've got a strong army, so we should find some great warriors there. LEXIS: I see. Well, I'd better get to those modifications to the Excelion that I had in mind! MAXIM: Sounds good, Doc. LEXIS: It's going to take a little while, so why don't you go kill some time? MAXIM: Gotcha. Maxim turns to Tia. TIA [smiling]: Come by my store. I'll make a nice lunch for you. MAXIM [laughing]: Sure! The scene fades out and back in to Maxim, who is returned to the player's control. ------ 2-A. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center: Front ------- Soundtrack: "Elcid, the Fertile Town" OSCAR: Hey, Maxim. Let me fly on the Excelion too! MAXIM: Alright, but Lexis made some strange changes to it. OSCAR: That's cool! It looks like so much fun! Ahahaha! OSCAR: The Excelion is way cool. It's got all kinds of cutting-edge technology! MAXIM: Cutting-edge technology? That thing is held together with duct tape and prayers. OSCAR: Come on, Maxim. It's awesome! You just don't want to admit it. MARIN: Maxim, is Gades coming to get everyone here? I am really scared. MAXIM: Don't worry. I'm going to find him and take him down. MARIN: Really? MAXIM: You bet. MARIN: Okay! But...didn't Gades beat you the last time you fought him? MAXIM: Oh...so you heard about that. Well, I may have lost that one, but I'm gonna beat him the next time for sure! MARIN: Really? MAXIM: Well...probably. MARIN: I sure hope you're right... MARIN: Maxim, Gades isn't going to kill you, is he? MAXIM: Not if I can help it! KATENA: So the Sinistrals have returned... The legends are true... MAXIM: Do the legends say anything about why the Sinistrals reappear? KATENA: Some speculate that the Sinistrals start to feel threatened by man's progress. They don't want to let our technology advance to a point where we could threaten their power. MAXIM: Then why let humanity survive at all? Why keep tearing us down and letting us rebuild when they could just wipe us out? KATENA: No one knows. Though if they're really gods, maybe they can't exist without humans to fear and worship them. KATENA: Could this be the end of our world? GERALD: Do you think the Sinistrals really are gods? MAXIM: Well, I don't know about a god, but that Gades freak sure wasn't human. GERALD: But...you still think you can beat him, right? ---------- 2-B. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center ---------- Soundtrack: "Lexis Laboratory" JACK: Maxim! Hello! MAXIM: Hello, Jack. Um, how's it going? JACK: Excellent! The professor says I am proving very helpful. MAXIM: Good. You're a successful experiment, then? JACK: Oh yes. Very much so, I gather. JACK: Maxim, I do not understand why Tia gets so upset with you. Human interactions are confusing. ICHABOD: The professor is a true genius. He invented me and Jack to assist in the lab. KREG: I'll get started on the Excelion right away. LEXIS [normal]: I've gotta make some important modifications to the Excelion. It'll take a little longer. In the meantime, why don't you go see Tia? MAXIM [normal]: Okay. ------------- 2-C. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Elcid -------------- Soundtrack: "Elcid, the Fertile Town" MELISSA: Hey, Maxim. You're not hurt? MAXIM: I'm fine, Melissa. MELISSA: You take too many risks! I worry about you. MAXIM: Don't worry. I've got the professor to look out for me, right? MELISSA: ... MAXIM: No, but seriously, I'll try to be careful. MELISSA: Don't go getting yourself killed, Maxim. I hate funerals. MAXIM: Me too. Especially if they're mine. SALLY: Maxim, why do you and Tia fight all the time? MAXIM: Beats me. She's the one who usually starts it. SALLY: Well maybe you should be nicer to her! She talks about you a lot, you know. SALLY: Maxim, do you like Tia? MAXIM: Uh, well..that is...I... Hey, aren't you a little young to be asking about stuff like that? SALLY: Don't try to dodge the question! SCOTT: Did you really fight Gades, Maxim? MAXIM: You bet! SCOTT: Really?! That is so cool! Did you beat him? MAXIM [laughing]: Well, not quite. But I got really close... SCOTT: Wow! Well, I hope that you win next time! MAXIM [normal]: You and me both! SCOTT: You've gotta train really hard so you can beat Gades! ENOCK: Hey, Maxim. So I heard that you fought that guy Gades. MAXIM: That's right! ENOCK: Word is you got your butt kicked. Hahaha! MAXIM: How does everybody know about that? ENOCK: The legends say that the Sinistrals are as powerful as gods. They appear from time to time to wipe out the civilizations of man, and take us back to the stone age. You don't think that those legends could be true, do you? SHAELA: Maxim, can I take a ride on the Excelion sometime? MAXIM: Why? SHAELA: I really want to visit the big city of Parcelyte at least once. MAXIM: Well, it's kind of a mess. The professor is always doing something or other to it. SHAELA: Uh, maybe I'll pass. The professor's experiments can be pretty dodgy. MAXIM: Haha! SHAELA: If I'm not going to ride on the Excelion, maybe I can walk to Parcelyte. It's so far, though... ALBERT [normal]: So one of the Sinistrals has returned, eh? MAXIM: You're not think of trying to fight him, are you, Albert? ALBERT: I wish I could. I was a great swordsman once, but those days are long behind me. MAXIM: But you're still great at seeing the qualities in other warriors! ALBERT: That's true. I've still got a talent for giving people "Titles," which can help out in all sorts of ways. For example, your title is "Red-haired Hunter." That title makes you a little more resistant to fire attacks than most. MAXIM [grinning]: I see. Um, Albert, aren't you getting wet standing there? ALBERT [glaring]: So what? I've got gardening to do! Life doesn't wait for sprinklers to stop, you pansy! [Talk to Albert to discover new titles. Titles can enhance your abilities in a variety of ways!] ALBERT: The Sinistrals are incredibly powerful. They might even be gods. You'll have to train hard to beat Gades. MAXIM: I'll do my best. TUTORIAL: "HP and IP" ALBERT [normal]: In dungeons, you'll see two bars in the top right of the top screen. These are your HP and IP bars. The HP bar is your hit points-- your life energy. When this reaches zero, you will collapse. The next party member will then take over. If the HP of everyone in your party reaches zero, then the game is over. Be careful. Your IP bar represents your energy. This energy powers your special attacks. You'll use some of it every time you use a special attack. Your IP bar quickly replenishes, though, so don't be shy about using special attacks. TUTORIAL: "Status Ailments" ALBERT: Some monster attacks will inflict status ailments. These status ailments include "poison," "paralysis," "fear," and "sleep." Poison reduces you HP slowly over time. Cure it quickly, or you'll lose all of your HP. Paralysis reduces your attacks by half and doubles the damage you take. Fear reduces your IP level. Sleep puts you to sleep so that you cannot do anything for a short time. This is very dangerous in a fight. When you're asleep, you can't switch to another character. There are items to cure each status ailment, so make sure you load up on them before you head into a dungeon. If you don't have an item, though, you'll still recover from the status ailment after a certain amount of time. TUTORIAL: "Charge Attacks" ALBERT: Hold the R Button and then press the Y Button to use a charge attack. Charge attacks use IP. Use the L Button to cycle through your charge attacks. Different weapons let you use different charge attacks. So don't just choose a weapon based on its strength. Consider its charge attacks, too. TUTORIAL: "Berserk Enemies" ALBERT: Sometimes monsters will turn red. This means that they've gone berserk. Berserk monsters do more damage with their attacks. They are also much harder to knock down. Sometimes it's best to just avoid a berserk monster and wait until it returns to normal to attack it. TUTORIAL: "Special Attacks" ALBERT: Press the X Button to use your special attack. Maxim, your special attack is the Cross Dash. This isn't just a powerful attack: it'll also let you cross gaps that are too wide to jump. As you gather teammates along your adventures, they'll each have special attacks that'll help in different ways. TUTORIAL: "Charged Special Attacks" ALBERT: Hold the R Button and press the X Button to use a charged special attack. These are powerful attacks that do a lot of damage, but use a lot of IP. Use them carefully. TUTORIAL: "Mystic Stones" ALBERT: Each mystic stone you place will boost certain attributes. And placing stones on certain spots on the mystic stone board will give you bonus boots and abilities. I hear you can find a lot of mystic stones in the Ancient Cave. TUTORIAL: "Dodging" ALBERT: Press the A Button to dodge. This is a very important skill to master. You can't win with offense alone. Dodging is especially important when fighting bosses. Dodge their powerful attacks, then counterattack! TUTORIAL: "Recovering HP" ALBERT: Your HP will automatically be fully recovered whenever you return to a town or the Excelion. Any status ailments will also be cured. Save points will also fully restore your HP and cure any status ailments. Your HP will also be fully restored when you gain a level. That can be awfully handy. TUTORIAL: "Experience and Gold" ALBERT: EXP stands for experience and G stands for gold. Both are gained by defeating monsters. As you gain experience, you will level up. When you defeat a monster, you will see the amount of EXP and G that you earned on the top right side of the top screen. TUTORIAL: "Overkill Bonus" ALBERT: You can collect extra gold and experience with the overkill bonus. After you've defeated an enemy, keep attacking them, and they'll drop extra gold and experience. You'll have to be fast, though; defeated enemies will disappear quickly. In addition to the extra experience and gold, you'll also sometimes get a blue soul shard. If you collect enough soul shards, you can trade them in Parcelyte for some great items. TUTORIAL: "Combos" ALBERT: Have you ever tried to combo your regular attacks with special attacks or charge attacks? If you combine them correctly, you can quickly and smoothly go from a regular attack to a special or charge attack. This is a handy technique to practice. Try comboing with different moves and different timing and figure out what works best for you. You can even dodge in combos. That's handy when you need to go from offense to defense quickly! TUTORIAL: "Titles" ALBERT: As you experience things throughout your adventures, you'll earn new titles. Titles will give you special bonuses. You can't learn them by yourself, though. You'll have to come by and talk to me. I'll tell you what titles you've earned. Come by and talk to me often. You never know when you'll pick up a new title. >> If the player attempts to leave the town before speaking with Tia: Maxim begins to walk out of town, but stops himself. MAXIM: Didn't Tia ask me to stop by her place? Her store is on the west side of town. He then turns back into town, returning control of himself to the player. ----------- 2-D. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Secret Lab ----------- Soundtrack: "Logismos Shrine Underground" Maxim drops into the well, which opens into a round room. Stylistically, it looks very similar to the Ancient Cave. There's a teleporter pad in the middle of the room, and on the northern side of the room is a large sleeping monster. MAXIM [shocked]: W-What is this place? Is that... a dragon? Lexis walks in from the bottom left portion of the screen. LEXIS: Maxim?! MAXIM: Doc?! LEXIS: Ah. So you found my secret lab. MAXIM [normal]: Secret lab? For what kind of research? LEXIS: It's right over there. The two turn to face the egg dragon sleeping on the northern side of the room. MAXIM: That dragon? LEXIS: That's right. While excavating for energy cores, I found a mysterious egg. I built this lab to hatch it. LEXIS [laughing]: When it hatched, I found out I was the father of a strapping young egg dragon! Hahaha! Maxim turns to face Lexis. MAXIM [disappointed]: And you keep it trapped here? LEXIS: Not at all! It's free to go if it wants. But it seems to really like this place. MAXIM: Wouldn't the people of Elcid be upset about a dragon living under them? LEXIS: Oh, probably. That's why the lab is still a secret. The dragon is completely harmless, though. MAXIM: Well, I guess that's okay. Have you learned anything interesting about this dragon? LEXIS: I know that it's very interested in seeing more dragon eggs. MAXIM: Dragon eggs? LEXIS: Legend has it that there are eight total dragon eggs in addition to the one this hatched from. If you collect them and bring them back to this egg dragon, you might get something interesting. MAXIM: Huh. Do you know where the other dragon eggs are? LEXIS: I have a feeling that they're in the hands of strong enemies. You'll have to do something special to get them. MAXIM: Huh. Where would you get a strangely specific feeling like that? LEXIS: Don't look a gift hint in the mouth, Maxim! Anyway, I've got to get back to my normal lab. Lexis walks to the teleporter pad and beams back up to the surface. Control of Maxim is then returned to the player. Upon talking to the Egg Dragon, the beastie awakens with a growl, rearing up and turning to face you as it hovers. EGG DRAGON: Who dares to wake me? MAXIM [shocked]: It talks?! The professor didn't say it could do that! The player is then given two choices: "Show Dragon Eggs" or "Return to Surface." >>>> If "Show Dragon Eggs" is selected and the player has no dragon eggs: EGG DRAGON: What are you going to show me? You don't have anything. >>>> If "Show Dragon Eggs" is selected and the player has one or more dragon eggs: EGG DRAGON: Oh, so you have of the precious eggs. >>>> 1 Dragon Egg: EGG DRAGON: I will give you 10000 gold. [Transcriber's Note: Yowza. And that's just one of them. o_o] >>>> If "Show Dragon Eggs" is selected, the player has one or more dragon eggs, and the player has already shown the dragon that egg: EGG DRAGON: Oh, so you have of the precious eggs. Not bad. >>>> If "Show Dragon Eggs" is selected and the player has all eight dragon eggs: ??????????? >>>> If "Return to Surface" is selected: EGG DRAGON: Very well... Maxim is then teleported back to the surface. Beam me up, uh... beastie... ----------------- 2-E. Elcid, the Fertile Town - Tia's House ----------------- Soundtrack: "Elcid, the Fertile Town" Tia is standing at the front desk. The player is expected to approach the desk and talk to her, because you really don't have much of a choice, here. TIA [laughing]: Lunch is almost ready, Maxim. I just need some herbs. Can you go get some from Albert for me? MAXIM: Yeah, no problem. TIA: Thank you. He should be in the field on the east side of town. If you talk to Tia again without collecting the herbs: TIA [laughing]: Albert is usually at the field on the east side of town. -------------------- 2-F. Elcid, the Fertile Town - Elcid -------------------- No one says anything different after this leg of the story, so we'll just proceed straight to Albert! >>>> If "Talk" is selected: ALBERT: Tia is cooking? You're going to need all the help these herbs can give you. You receive the herbs. >>>> If Albert is spoken to without giving the herbs to Tia: ALBERT: Those herbs should make just about anything taste great. All that's left then is to return to Tia's shop with the herbs. ============================================================================== 3. Elcid, the Fertile Town - Tia's House ============================================================================== If you approach the desk and talk to Tia, the scene fades out, then fades back in with Maxim appearing behind the desk. MAXIM [laughing]: I got the herbs from Albert. TIA [laughing]: Great! They'll make a nice garnish. Well, let's eat! The two proceed into the back room. Tia goes over to the stove, popping up a little heart in a bubble. TIA [smiling]: I made something REALLY unique today. It's going to knock your socks off! Maxim seats himself while Tia turns around to face the stove. TIA [angry]: Cooking is about guts and creativity! Are you ready? HAAAA! She does a karate chop thing on the stove, and lifts up the world's most humongous fish-on-a-platter, setting it on the table with a rather pointed BOOM and sitting down across from Maxim. TIA [laughing]: Tadaa! It's "navaroa," an elusive fish that's almost impossible to catch! MAXIM [shocked]: Huh. I've heard about it, but this is the first time I've seen one cooked. It smells...interesting. TIA: I know! I told you this meal was going to be unique! MAXIM [normal]: Uh, I guess I'll try the first bite. A little scribbly in a bubble pops up in Maxim's head. After eating that fish, that's probably what his stomach looks like, too. TIA [normal]: So? How is it? MAXIM [grinning dubiously]: Um...words fail me. You really just have to try it for yourself. TIA [smiling]: Okay, here I go! MAXIM [normal]: How's that working out for you? TIA [shocked]: T-this is...disgusting... MAXIM [shocked]: Yeah, I never knew a fish could taste this fishy. I can't imagine any way to make this thing taste good. TIA [smiling]: Boy, maybe it's a good thing this is such an elusive fish. MAXIM [grinning]: Yeah, it tastes so bad, I can't imagine anyone would want to catch it. TIA [disappointed]: Darn. I really wanted to cook something good for you. MAXIM [normal]: Oh, Tia... Wait! How about the herbs from Albert? TIA [shocked]: Oh, I forgot all about those! Let me add them... There. Now give it a try. MAXIM: Let's see... Wow! The herbs really hide the fishy flavor. This is downright edible now! TIA [laughing]: Yeah. This isn't too bad! MAXIM: It even kind of tastes...GOOD. TIA [smiling]: Huh. What a weird fish. MAXIM [laughing]: Maybe it has a reason to hide from people after all. Hahaha! TIA [laughing]: I don't know if I'd go that far. Anyway, I'll get us some tea. Tia rises and returns to the stove, and then walks over to seat herself at the table again. Yep, that ginormous fish is still sitting there. TIA [smiling]: Here. MAXIM [faint smile]: Thanks. TIA [normal]: Say, Maxim... MAXIM: What? TIA: Why did you choose to live a life where you're, you know, always fighting stuff? MAXIM: [normal]: Huh? Why do you ask that all of a sudden? TIA: I don't know. Just...there aren't a lot of monster hunters out there. And now you're just rushing off to fight Gades. Why don't you let someone else risk their life for a change? MAXIM [grinning]: What, and let them have all the fun of kicking that jerk's butt? No way! And if I've got the strength to stop Gades, I've got to try, right? I can't pass off that responsibility. TIA [smiling]: Sometimes I can't tell if you're brave or just reckless. MAXIM [laughing]: I guess we'll find out! And thanks for the meal. I'll make sure to bring you back a souvenir from my journey! TIA [laughing]: I don't need a souvenir. Just come back in one piece. MAXIM: Will do! Anyway, the professor is probably done messing with the Excelion. I should go check up on him. Maxim rises from the table. TIA: Okay. Take care, Maxim. The scene fades out, returning control of Maxim to the player, where they're standing in the back room of Tia's shop. >>>> If the player speaks to Tia before leaving: TIA: Maxim, you'd better make it back here okay. MAXIM: I'll do my best. TIA [smiling]: Thank you. ------------- 3-A. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Elcid -------------- SCOTT: What's that weird smell? Wait, is Tia cooking again? SALLY: The bridge to Parcelyte has been taken over by monsters. You can't cross it anymore. The Parcelyte Army should just come out and take care of those monsters [Transcriber's note: No, I didn't make a mistake There really isn't a period at the end of that sentence. Whoops!] SHAELA: Is that Tia's cooking I can smell? MAXIM: Yeah, she made me lunch. SHAELA: You really are brave, Maxim. I'm impressed. ENOCK: Parcelyte, the Bound Kingdom and Gratze are powerful because of their huge energy cores. If we could just dig up an energy core like theirs... MELISSA: Tia is a fine girl. She can be awfully stubborn, though. ALBERT: You ate that fish Tia made? I'm the one who caught it, you know. MAXIM [shocked]: You caught that? That's amazing! ALBERT [grinning]: Hahaha. Nothing to it! So, how did it taste? MAXIM [grinning]: Well, let's just say you don't need to go out of your way to catch another one. >>>> If the player approaches Elcid's green energy core suspended in its stone arch: An exclamation point in a bubble pops up over Maxim's head, and Enock approaches from the lower right hand corner of the screen. ENOCK: Our town's energy core is quite a sight, isn't it? The screen pans up to show the energy core -- a construct of about six smaller cubes orbiting vertically around a larger, central cube. The colour of them cycles between green, blue, and a greenish-yellow. These are all suspended inside an elliptical arch of stone, decorated with wrench-shaped accents. MAXIM: Yeah. Though I know it's nothing compared to the energy cores in the big cities. ENOCK: True, but this one has plenty of power for our town's needs. The screen pans over to the door of Tia's shop. ENOCK: It powers all the doors, The screen pans over to the rotating sprinkler Albert stands next to. ENOCK: irrigation systems for our crops, The screen pans over to the nifty, futuristic-looking street lamps on the bridge just west of Albert's field. ENOCK: and our streetlights at night. All that power from something we dug out of some ruins... MAXIM: I've also got an energy core attached to my sword. ENOCK: That makes your sword more powerful, right? MAXIM: Yeah, and it lets me use special abilities with it. ENOCK: Energy cores are amazing devices. I wonder who built them... MAXIM: Do you think they could have been made by a civilization that came before ours? One that was destroyed by a Sinistral? ENOCK: I suppose it's possible. But they're so far ahead of any technology we have today. MAXIM: But the professor is working hard to understand how they work, right? ENOCK: Yes. Without his genius, our town probably wouldn't be able to use this energy core at all. MAXIM: Just don't let him hear you calling him a genius. His ego is big enough already. ENOCK: Hahaha! That's true enough. The scene fades out, then zooms back, panning up to show the energy core again, and then returning control of Maxim to the player. ------ 3-B. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center: Front ------- OSCAR: It looks like the repairs are complete on the Excelion. MARIN: I saw Tia with a huge fish. Did she cook it? How was it? KATENA: Where are you going next, Maxim? GERALD: The professor's lab is always belching smoke and polluting the water. It's a real problem. -------------------- 3-C. Elcid, the Fertile Town - Elcid -------------------- Soundtrack: "Lexis Laboratory" Jack, Ichabod, and Kreg don't say anything different from the last time we saw them, so we'll just go straight to Lexis. The scene fades out and then back in over the central heart of the lab where Lexis is standing. Maxim and Iris stand facing him. LEXIS [laughing]: I've completed my brilliant modifications to the Excelion! Now it can travel over land! MAXIM [shocked]: Over land? But...it's a ship. LEXIS: Yes, the kind of unique ship that only a genius like me could come up with. MAXIM [normal]: Well, an amphibious vehicle does sound pretty handy. LEXIS [dismayed]: Oh. About that "amphibious" part... MAXIM: Uh oh. LEXIS [enthusiastic]: Well, progress doesn't always follow a straight line, you know. Sometimes you have to step backward to move forward. As a result of the modifications to the Excelion, it's now too heavy to float in water. MAXIM [shocked]: WHAT?! Then what good is it?! LEXIS [laughing]: Well, it still beats walking. It's all in the name of progress, my boy! MAXIM [disappointed]: Progress is a ship that sinks? LEXIS [dismayed]: Oh, would you stop harping on that? It's only a temporary setback. LEXIS [normal]: Besides, we don't need to travel through water to get to Parcelyte. MAXIM [grinning]: See? I knew you were going to do something weird to the Excelion! LEXIS: It's not weird! It's genius! Anyway, are you ready to go to Parcelyte? >>>> If "No, not yet." is chosen: LEXIS [normal]: Well, let me know when you're ready. When you talk to him again after that, he'll say something different: LEXIS [normal]: Are you ready to go, Maxim? >>>> If "Yeah." is chosen: MAXIM [normal]: Let's get going. LEXIS [normal]: To get to Parcelyte, we have to cross over the drawbridge in Gordovan. LEXIS [grinning]: But the bridge has been drawn because of the monsters. We'll need to extend it before we can get across. MAXIM [disappointed]: You know what would be handy for getting around that? A ship that could move through water! LEXIS: Oh, would you quit complaining about that? The scene fades out to the map screen, whose lower screen is focused on Elcid. LEXIS: Gordovan Drawbridge is crawling with monsters. Don't let your guard down, Maxim. MAXIM: I'll be careful. LEXIS: If you get injured, return to the Excelion. You can recover your HP and cure all your status ailments here. MAXIM: Gotcha! LEXIS [voiced]: Let's go! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Gordovan Drawbridge added to the map! At this point, townspeople of Elcid don't say anything different, so we'll just go straight to the Gordovan Drawbridge. ============================================================================== 4. Gordovan Drawbridge ============================================================================== The scene opens on the three travellers walking onto the drawbridge, and a pan-around scene to show the bridge itself. It's a vast, white double-sided bridge that has both of its retractable centre sections drawn inward. Soundtrack: "Big Bridge" LEXIS: This is the Gordovan Drawbridge. It connects the land of Leecliff and the land of Logos, where Parcelyte is. But they drew the bridge in because of all the monsters. The screen pans up to show the missing centre sections, and cables that clearly show where the retracted sections are to go. MAXIM: Yeah. We'll have to extend it before we can get across. LEXIS: It doesn't look like the Parcelyte Army will be here to do anything about the monsters anytime soon. The scene pans back to the three looking out over the bridge. Maxim turns to face Lexis. MAXIM [laughing]: Guess I'll just have to take care of them myself! LEXIS: I'll go with you. I don't want you getting in any trouble. MAXIM [laughing]: I'll be fine, Doc. Monster hunting is my business! LEXIS [disappointed]: I'm not worried about YOU! I'm tagging along to make sure you don't break the bridge's control device. MAXIM [disappointed]: Hey! Iris turns to Lexis at about the same time the professor speaks up. LEXIS: Iris, it's probably safer to come along than to stay here alone. You should come with us. Actually, you made it through Soma Temple just fine. You might be safe either way. Iris draws her hands up to her heart. IRIS: Yes, as long as I have the Ankh of Runa, monsters cannot detect me. Lexis reaches out. LEXIS [enthusiastic]: What a fascinating item! Can I take a look? I'll bet if I could get it open... Iris shakes her head. IRIS: This is a sacred artifact of Runa. I cannot let you conduct experiments on it. LEXIS [enthusiastic]: Just let me hold it! I'll be gentle. I promise. MAXIM [disappointed]: Come on, Doc. I think she knows better than to let you get your hands on it. Maxim turns his back and leaves, and so does Iris. Lexis reaches up and rubs at the back of his head, standing bow-legged and watching the other two leave. LEXIS [disappointed]: What a pity... Control is then returned to Maxim. Time to dive in, kick some monsters around, and solve some puzzles! On the right side of the bridge, you can find two treasure chests. One involves using the guard rail to jump up to the crates it's sitting on top of; the other involves pushing a crate to line up with the column it's perched atop. Since you can't actually cross the bridge yet, you're given no real choice but to return to the central strut that joins the two breadthwise halves are joined. The scene will fade to show Maxim, Iris, and Lexis looking at a big blue crate sitting on the right side of the strut. LEXIS: Aha! Look at that crate, Maxim! MAXIM: Um, okay. What about it? LEXIS: Take a look at that switch over there. The camera pans to the middle of the strut, which shows a plate switch. The eventual meaning of this should be crystal clear to any Lufia fan by this point... LEXIS: That's a pressure plate switch. You have to push this box on top of it to activate it. MAXIM: Why do they have to make it so complicated? LEXIS [disappointed]: It's so monsters can't activate it accidentally. Anyway, try giving that crate a push. MAXIM: Alright. Maxim automatically pushes the crate -- right over the side of the strut into the canyon below. Oops? LEXIS [laughing]: Ha ha! Not off the edge of the bridge! MAXIM [shocked]: Hey, you could have been a little more specific. I'm new at this crate pushing thing! IRIS: Really, Maxim. Anyone could see that was the wrong direction. MAXIM [disappointed]: Hey! Come on, Iris... LEXIS [normal]: Ha! Don't worry about it, Maxim. I've actually invented a "Reset" device for just this kind of situation. MAXIM [normal]: "Reset?" LEXIS: Yes! It reverses time back to your last checkpoint! MAXIM [shocked]: It reverses time? That's incredible! How does it work? LEXIS: [disappointed]: I don't know, exactly. It was sort of an accidental discovery. MAXIM [disappointed]: Are you sure it's safe to use this thing? LEXIS [normal]: Sure! I haven't had any problems with it so far! You just touch the looping arrow icon on the bottom screen to activate it. Try it now to get that crate back! TUTORIAL: "Reset" Touch the circling arrow icon to use "reset". You'll then restart from your last checkpoint. If you haven't yet reached a checkpoint, you'll restart from the last save point instead. When you reach a checkpoint, you'll see a notification on the top screen. [Transcriber's Notes: Yes, I know that the punctuation should be inside the quotation marks. The game doesn't do that. Bite me.] The top screen shows a little shot of the Gordovan Drawbridge, with "Check Point" in gold text, to demonstrate. You'll often find checkpoints before puzzles. Resetting is helpful if you make a mistake while trying to solve a puzzle. You can't use reset in certain locations, though, so be careful. The scene returns to Maxim on the field screen, along with a shiny new checkpoint from which to recover. You won't have the crate waiting for you, so you get to try "Reset" out for yourself. A bell rings when the crate is pushed onto the pressure plate, and a ladder extends up from below on the south side of the strut. You can climb down there to continue on. -------------- 4-A. Gordovan Drawbridge - Drawbridge S Control --------------- The scene shifts to below the bridge, showing its inner workings -- giant gears, as well as catwalks and struts that provide access to all of these mechanical components. MAXIM: Wow! Look at the size of those gears! LEXIS: Yes. Originally, the wave generator was the only thing here. Nobody knew how to move it. It took years for us to understand how to operate it. Its technology is incredibly advanced. MAXIM [laughing]: Huh. Pretty impressive! The camera pans to the central generator. It looks conspicuously bicycle-like. LEXIS: Do you see that device over there? That generates the power to move the bridge. However, you need to release the locks on the device first. The camera pans over to show the lock on the east side, LEXIS: There's one... The camera pans over to show the lock on the west side, LEXIS: and there's the other. The camera pans back toward Maxim, Iris, and Lexis. LEXIS: Go for the one on the right first. MAXIM [laughing]: Gotcha! LEXIS: Oh, and I've got another invention for you. MAXIM [normal]: What is it? LEXIS: It's "escape"! You can use it to instantly return to the Excelion from any dungeon. MAXIM [grinning]: As long as it's not weird like "reset." LEXIS [laughing]: Well, I really don't know how this one works either. Hahahaha! TUTORIAL: "Escape" Touch the feather icon to use "escape". When you use escape, you'll immediately return to the Excelion. This is helpful when you need to get out of a dungeon fast. You may not be able to use escape in certain locations, though. MAXIM [grinning]: It seems pretty handy. Should I give it a shot? LEXIS: You can if you want to, but then you'll have to return to the start of the bridge. MAXIM [normal]: Oh, I see. I'll have to think carefully before deciding if I want to use escape. LEXIS: There are a lot of obstacles around here. Looks like you'll need to do a lot of jumping. MAXIM: Gotcha! The scene fades out. As it fades back in: MAXIM [voiced]: This place is pretty incredible. LEXIS [voiced]: Now you can see how manly I am, can't you? MAXIM [voiced, laughing somewhat]: Yeah, yeah... Control of Maxim is then returned to the player. Now that our mandatory marathon tutorials are through, it's time to get cracking on those generator locks! Maxim strains to pull the lever on the lock, which releases a giant gear on the right side. LEXIS [subtitle]: Good! Now find a way to the left. On reaching the middle, Lexis stops and pops up a little exclamation point in a bubble. LEXIS [disappointed]: Hm? The camera pans over to show where the catwalk is more or less missing its middle. LEXIS [disappointed]: Oh no! Look at the hole in the walkway. We can't jump across that. The camera pans back toward the party as Lexis turns to face the others. IRIS: What are we going to do? Maxim turns to face the other two next. MAXIM [laughing]: Don't worry, guys! I can get across with my "Cross Dash" attack! LEXIS [normal]: Oh, that's right! You fly through the air when you do that attack! IRIS: I've never seen an attack like it. LEXIS: Just be careful. Don't break anything else while you're flying around with your sword! TUTORIAL: "Special Attack: Cross Dash" - X Button Maxim's special attack is the "Cross Dash." He dashes through the air with his sword. Maxim can perform this attack while jumping and use it to cross wide gaps. To get the most out of it, make sure you start from the very edge of a gap. Then jump and use the Cross Dash when you're already in the air. The Cross Dash uses IP. It can't be used if your IP gauge is empty. Your IP gauge will recover automatically over time, though, so feel free to use Cross Dash often. Control of Maxim is then returned to the player, along with a handy check point. Eventually Maxim reaches a bank of scaffolding with no clear way to climb up. LEXIS [subtitled]: Use a crate to reach that platform. Pushing the blue crate over to the scaffolding it lets Maxim climb up. By following the scaffolding, he can then reach the left side of the drawbridge, where the mechanism locking the left side of the bridge can be released. After that, Maxim can activate the generator. Upon inspecting it, the camera will pan in to show the three looking at it, with Maxim standing right beside it. MAXIM [grinning] Hey, isn't this bridge supposed to be made with some kind of incredibly advanced technology? LEXIS [laughing]: It is indeed! Maxim heaves a sigh. MAXIM [disappointed]: But this looks like something you have to pedal. Lexis reaches up and holds his head. LEXIS [enthusiastic]: Well, I had to make some modifications to the bridge to get it to work. MAXIM [disappointed]: Couldn't you come up with something better than this? LEXIS [disappointed]: Oh, quit complaining. The exercise will do you good. Now go! MAXIM [grinning]: Okay, okay. Maxim jumps on the seat, and a little exclamation point in a bubble pops up over his head. MAXIM [grinning]: Grrr... These pedals are really stiff! LEXIS: Don't be a wimp. The bridge's energy core does most of the work anyway. You just need to give it a little help. IRIS: Go, Maxim! MAXIM [determined]: Right! The player then has to tap the A Button madly, until it feels like their fingers are going to fall off their hands. What? It wasn't that bad? Well, perhaps the transcriber has long fingers and the DS is too small... As the pedals turn, the gears begin to move, groaning in protest... and slowly, the bridge mechanism moves. Once the mechanism moves far enough out from its housings, the camera fades out to show the bridge crossing the cables that connect gap. LEXIS [subtitled]: Yes! It's moving! MAXIM [subtitled]: RRAAAAAAAHHH!!! LEXIS [subtitled]: Pedal with everything you've got! -------------- 4-B. Gordovan Drawbridge - Drawbridge N Control --------------- Once our intrepid adventurers reach the other side, we see Maxim flopped on the floor, with Lexis and Iris looking down at him. MAXIM [disappointed]: *pant*pant*... Man. That was tough. LEXIS: (It took everyone else hours of pedaling to activate the bridge, yet it reacted to Maxim's energy waves almost instantly. There is something truly remarkable about Maxim's energy waves. Maybe he really is the legendary hero.) IRIS: (What incredible energy waves...) Maxim pushes himself to his feet. MAXIM: What's wrong, Doc? LEXIS: Oh, nothing. That's half the bridge done. Now we've got to do the other side. MAXIM [disappointed]: We're only half done? Lexis throws his head back and laughs. LEXIS [laughing]: Ha ha ha! Sure, but you get to use another of my amazing devices to get across! The camera pans down to another suspiciously bicycle-looking device, which connects to the cabling that crosses the gap. LEXIS: It's over here. Get to it! MAXIM [disappointed]: Yeah, yeah. Control of Maxim is then returned to the player. LEXIS [voiced]: All right! Let's get moving, Maxim! MAXIM [voiced]: You need to learn to treat people better, Professor... Upon reaching the device and investigating it, Maxim climbs on. LEXIS [subtitled]: Pedal hard! MAXIM [subtitled]: Alright, I understand. AHHHHHHHH! The camera pans out to show them crossing the gap on the amazing cable-running bicycle thing. MAXIM [subtitled]: RRAAAAAAHHH!!! LEXIS [subtitled]: Easier than moving a bridge, right? MAXIM [subtitled]: Yeah, yeah. Upon reaching the other side, control is then returned to the player, along with a handy check point. LEXIS [subtitled]: We made it to the other side. LEXIS [subtitled]: Extend this half of the bridge! When you investigate the left lock, you'll find that there isn't actually any lever in the mechanism. LEXIS [subtitled]: Hm? There's no lever. LEXIS [subtitled]: It must be somewhere close by. If you jump up on top of the lock, you'll see the lever lying there. When you pick it up: LEXIS [subtitled]: Now I can pull the brakes. Maxim can then pull the lever, releasing the left lock. When you investigate the engine mechanism, Maxim hops on, with Iris and Lexis standing by. This one goes straight to prompting the player to pedal, closing the gap. LEXIS [subtitled]: Nice work, Maxim! MAXIM [subtitled]: RRAAAAAAHHH!!! Maxim is then free to cross the bridge. When Maxim heads to the ladder to climb back up to the surface, our band of intrepid adventurers are interrupted by a familiar voice... TIA [angry, voiced]: Aaah! Maxim pops up an exclamation point and rushes to Tia's aid, as Iris and Lexis follow. Tia's backed up against the edge of the lift, with a lizard brute menacing her. She pops up a little flustered sweatdrop, frozen in fear. Soundtrack: "Battle I" MAXIM [determined]: Tia?! What are you doing here? IRIS: We'll have to figure that out later. Maxim, save her! MAXIM [angry]: Of course! Hold on, Tia! LEXIS: These look like some tough customers, Maxim. Watch out when they go berserk! TUTORIAL: "Berserk" When you attack an enemy, they can become berserk. When this happens, they turn red. Berserk enemies are extremely dangerous. When an enemy is berserk, their attacks are much stronger, and they are very difficult to knock down. The enemy will return to normal eventually, so it is best to avoid them while they are berserk. Control of Maxim is then returned to the player at about the same time they get charged by two uninvited Ugly Customers. They look like some weird cross between a lizard and a pangolin. MAXIM [voiced]: Hold on, Tia! I'll save you! >>>> If you talk to Tia during the battle, who's cowering on the east side of the platform: TIA [voiced]: Maxim! Maxim proceeds to teach the monsters what happens when you use them for sword target practise. He then walks over to join Tia, after the creatures are dispatched. Soundtrack: None MAXIM [grinning]: Whew, that was close... Tia, are you alright? Tia climbs to her feet. Soundtrack: "Priphea Flowers" TIA [disappointed] Yeah... I'm fine. MAXIM [normal]: Why did you come here? I told you not to follow us! Tia looks at the ground. TIA [disappointed]: I wanted to come with you! Maxim looks around for a moment before answering. MAXIM: No. If something happens to you... Tia looks up. TIA [shocked]: Yes? If something happens to me...? MAXIM [angry]: Uh, what'll happen to your shop? Soundtrack: None Tia pops up little angry veins in a bubble and stomps the ground, with crushing impact. TIA [angry]: Wh-What?! Maxim, you idiot! Tia runs to the edge of the lift, only for the platform under her feet to fall along with a little whistle. TIA [voiced]: Aaah! MAXIM [angry]: T-Tiaaaaa! Maxim leaps down after her. It turns out the two had landed on a ledge not too far down. MAXIM [grinning]: Whew, that was close. I'm glad there was this ledge below... Are you okay? TIA [disappointed]: Yeah... I'm okay... Sorry. MAXIM [laughing]: No worries. I'm just happy you're safe! TIA [smiling]: Maxim... LEXIS: Hey, are you two alright? MAXIM [grinning]: Yeah, thanks to a little luck. LEXIS: Grab onto these ropes and climb up! MAXIM [grinning]: Gotcha! The scenes hifts back to the top of the bridge, where the party stands in the strut spanning the left and right halves. Tia is facing out, her back turned to Maxim, Lexis, and Iris. Maxim walks forward a few paces towards her. Soundtrack: "Priphea Flowers" MAXIM [grinning]: Okay, we're taking you back to Elcid. TIA: But...can't I come with you? MAXIM [disappointed]: Tia, if you come with us, these kinds of things will happen all the time. You might even get killed! Tia shakes her head. TIA [angry]: I'll be fine! Don't treat me like I'm helpless! MAXIM [normal]: Hmmm... Maxim turns to face Lexis and Iris. LEXIS: Maxim, no matter what, she'll keep trying to follow us. So shouldn't we let her tag along? MAXIM [disappointed]: I guess we don't have a choice. Iris, is that okay with you? IRIS: Of course. (Why... did I say such a thing?) Lexis throws his head back and laughs. LEXIS [laughing]: At least this way you'll be able to keep an eye on her, Maxim. Maxim turns back towards Tia. MAXIM [normal]: Just make sure you listen to me, Tia. A little musical note in a bubble pops up over Tia's head. TIA [laughing]: You bet! Thanks, everybody! IRIS: You're welcome. LEXIS: Alright then! Now that the bridge is connected, let's get going! MAXIM [grinning]: Yeah! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Tia joined your party! Control is returned to Maxim, who's expected to scurry across the bridge like a good little Legendary Hero. Bah, your cutscenes aren't going to play the game for you! Upon crossing the bridge, the party returns to the map screen. LEXIS: We can finally get to Parcelyte. TIA [laughing]: I always wanted to go to Parcelyte. I am soooo looking forward to visiting. MAXIM [normal]: Tia, this isn't a vacation. TIA [laughing]: Yeah, yeah. I know. LEXIS: By the way, Maxim, you should drop by the armorer's shop when you are in Parcelyte. MAXIM: Is there something special about the shop? LEXIS: I believe there is a monster hunter there just like yourself. She can give you advice if you've forgotten anything. MAXIM: Okay. LEXIS [voiced]: Let's go! >>>> If "Elcid" is selected from the list of destinations ------------- 4-C. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Elcid -------------- Soundtrack: "Elcid, the Fertile Town" ENOCK: The Gordovan Drawbridge has been extended? I wonder what poor sucker they found to work the pedals on that thing. I hear it's exhausting to get that energy core started up. SALLY: Are you going with Maxim, Tia? That is so cool! I'm jealous! SCOTT: I heard you connected the bridge to Parcelyte. That's amazing, Maxim! SHAELA: I heard the Gordovan Drawbridge was lowered. Maybe I will walk out there. Oh, but I'll get tired. ALBERT: You got the Gordovan Drawbridge lowered, eh? Nice work. MELISSA: Please do try and take it easy sometimes, Maxim. ------ 4-D. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center: Front ------- Soundtrack: "Elcid, the Fertile Town" OSCAR: Were there many monsters on the bridge to Parcelyte? MARIN: So Tia is going to be traveling with you, right? I had a feeling that was going to happen. KATENA: With the drawbridge lowered, I wonder if the monsters will come and attack Elcid. GERALD: There is a really strong female warrior in the Parcelyte Army. She is said to be really pretty as well. ---------- 4-E. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center ---------- Soundtrack: "Lexis Laboratory" JACK: Tia, you're going with them as well? I see that companionship is important to humans. ICHABOD: Excellent work on the Gordovan Drawbridge. LEXIS: I still want to upgrade the Excelion. I could change that... Or even that other thing... LEXIS [voiced]: Genius is the father of invention! LEXIS: Perfection takes experimentation! KREG: I have always thought about going to Parcelyte. ============================================================================== 5. Parcelyte, the City of Water ============================================================================== The scene opens to show Parcelyte and its pretty, fountain-filled vistas. Maxim, Tia, and Iris are standing at the entrance to the city, looking in on the main avenue. Soundtrack: Parcelyte Presidental Administration TIA [laughing]: So this is Parcelyte. How exciting! It's so much bigger than Elcid! MAXIM: It is pretty impresive. TIA [smiling]: Oh, I hear the presidental mansion is beautiful! I can't wait to see it! MAXIM [slightly disapproving]: Tia! We're adventurers, not tourists! TIA [laughing]: Oh, I know. Control of the party is then returned to Maxim. Time to explore the city! --------- 5-A. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Parcelyte --------- CPL. TONY: Welcome to the Republic of Parcelyte! CPL. TONY: It looks like Gades is on the move. But as long as we have Captain Selan and the Parcelyte Army, we are safe. CAROL: This is the first time we've met, right? MAXIM: Yes, my name is Maxim. I'm from Elcid. CAROL: Wow, you came all the way from there? What are you doing in Parcelyte? MAXIM: We're looking for strong warriors. Do you know anyone? CAROL: Strong warriors, you say? Then you should see Selan. MAXIM: Selan? CAROL: She's the toughest warrior in the Parcelyte Army. And she's very beautiful. MAXIM [laughing]: Beautiful, you say? Interesting... TIA [angry]: Maxim! MAXIM [grinning]: Huh? What? AUSTIN: I haven't seen you before. MAXIM: My name is Maxim. I am from Elcid. AUSTIN: Well, you certainly have come a long way along a difficult path. AUSTIN: You have quite a large sword on your back there. Are you a hunter? ABEL: Mister, are you from another town? MAXIM: Yes, my name is Maxim, and I am from Elcid. ABEL: Wow, you crossed the bridge to get here? It's been closed for a long time. MAXIM: Yeah, we got it extended again. ABEL: Wow, that really is some feat! ABEL: The Parcelyte energy core is very big, right? Did you know it is one of the three largest cores is the world? [Transcriber's Note: Yeah, that should be "in the world," but the script says "is the world."] GRACE: Hello! MAXIM: Hello. GRACE: Hey, I haven't seen you before. MAXIM: Yeah, I'm Maxim, and I'm from Elcid. GRACE: That's great. Welcome to Parcelyte. This is a great town, stay as long as you like. MAXIM: Thank you. GRACE: You look really strong. I wonder if you are as strong as Selan. ----- 5-B. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Jaffy's Workshop ------ Soundtrack: Parcelyte Presidental Administration JAFFY: Welcome to Jaffy's workshop. I am the owner, Jaffy. MAXIM: My name is Maxim. It's a pleasure to meet you. JAFFY [smiling]: If you need any ruby jewelry, come to me. How about something for your girlfriend there? TIA [laughing]: Girlfriend? You mean me? Hey, Maxim, did you hear that? He called me your girlfriend! Hahaha. MAXIM [grinning]: What, her? Nah, she's just a good friend. TIA [angry]: H-Hey! You don't have to sound so shocked, you know! JAFFY: I like to make ruby jewelry. What I really like though, is seeing the joy on my customers' faces. JAFFY [scowling]: Unfortunately, rubies can only be found in the Tanbel Abandoned Mine, and it's full of monsters. PAULINE: Welcome to Jaffy's workshop. I am Pauline. Nice to meet you. My husband Jaffy is often out gathering materials, but come by any time. PAULINE: I wish Jaffy didn't have to go to the Tanbel Abandoned Mine so often. ------ 5-C. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Parcelyte Guild ------ Soundtrack: Parcelyte Presidental Administration LUIS: Are you a monster hunter? MAXIM: Yeah, you got it! My name is Maxim. LUIS: Maxim. When I grow up, I'm gonna be a hunter too! MAXIM: Heh. Good plan! Well, you just let me know if you want any pointers. LUIS: Okay! LUIS: Maxim, teach me more about monster fighting sometime! PANSY: Are you new here? MAXIM: Yes, my name is Maxim. I am from Elcid. PANSY: I don't care where you are from. Just don't get in my way. I won't go easy on you if you cause me any trouble. MAXIM: Y-Yes, ma'am. TIA [smiling]: That's a pretty tough attitude for a waitress. PANSY: A waitress? I'm not the waitress here! I'm a monster hunter! Don't judge people by their appearances. That'll get you in a lot of trouble. >>>> If "Talk" is selected: PANSY: Just don't get in my way. >>>> If "Tutorial" is selected: TUTORIAL: "Elements" PANSY: Each character has their own unique element. Maxim, yours is fire. In the same way, each monster has a distinct element as well. Water attacks do extra damage to fire monsters, and fire attacks are less effective against fire monsters. Have you ever found that your attacks are less effective against a particular monster? Most of the time, it's because of their element. Try switching to a different character. If you switch with a character with an opposite element, you might be able to deal more damage. TUTORIAL: "Gaining Experience" PANSY: When you defeat a monster, the character that fought it will receive 100% of the EXP, and the others will receive 50%. You can continue to focus on leveling up a single character, but there are benefits to having characters at similar levels. Leveling up will also fully restore your health. TUTORIAL: "Battle Strategy" PANSY: Some monsters are much stronger than others and will be almost impervious to your attacks. You should use your strongest attacks first on such enemies. Try to stun them or knock them down. Once they are stunned, then you can attack away. A true hunter will adjust the way he attacks according to his prey. TUTORIAL: "Character Select" PANSY: When do you change characters? Don't just change characters to solve puzzles in dungeons. For example, you can switch characters to let one character recover their IP. Certain characters are also better suited to fighting certain types of enemies. Experiment with switching to different characters. TUTORIAL: "Healing Strategy" PANSY: Normally you use a potion to recover, but leveling up will also fully restore your health. If a character's HP is low, you can switch to another character and wait for them to level up. Of course, it's hard to time a level up just when you need one. The best healing strategy is still to make sure you have plenty of potions before you enter a dungeon! DUNCAN: I haven't seen you around here, but you've got a good look about you. What's your name? MAXIM: Maxim. DUNCAN: It looks like you've seen your fair share of battles. MAXIM: I suppose. DUNCAN: I see. Well, be careful. There are some very powerful bad guys out there...like Gades. Although, the worse the world is, the better it is for my business. Hahaha! DUNCAN: Welcome to my store. >>>> If "Talk" is selected: DUNCAN: You can never have too many items in a dungeon. Gather money and come buy more from me. JESSY: Hello and welcome. New customer? My name is Jessy. If it has to do with weapons, come talk to me. MAXIM: Nice to meet you. My name is Maxim. JESSY: Maxim, huh? That is a nice, strong name. You should meet my boyfriend. MAXIM: Your boyfriend? JESSY: Yes. I'm sure you'll run into each other. He's always looking for other strong warriors to test his strength with. >>>> If "Talk" is selected: JESSY: You should really meet my boyfriend. He'd love to spar with you. But don't worry. He's a skilled warrior. He knows how to spear without hurting you. >>>> If "Trade Soul Shards" is selected: JESSY: Soul shards capture some of the energy waves of defeated monsters. This energy can be used to create powerful items. That's why I'm collecting them. If you find any, I'll give you some good stuff in exchange for them. >>>> Jessy will then tell you how many soul shards you've collected, and how many more you need to collect for a reward. She'll also tell you whether or not you're eligible for a prize after you've been collecting soul shards for a while. Note that you don't need to visit her every time you hit the requisite amount, and she'll retroactively trade you items every time you pass a certain total. Much of the equipment and mystic stones she gives you can be used in the Ancient Cave, so be sure to check often! ----- 5-D. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Selan's House 1F ------ Soundtrack: Parcelyte Presidental Administration LOUISA: Are you here to see Selan? Unfortunately, she's out working. MAXIM: Actually, I'm just looking around the city. LOUISA: Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to assume... I'm Louisa. What's your name? MAXIM: I'm Maxim. LOUISA: You look like quite a fighter. That's why I thought you'd be looking for Selan. MAXIM: Hm. So she's in charge of a lot of soldiers, huh? She must be pretty tough. LOUISA: Oh, she is. She's one of the most respected soldiers in the Parcelyte army. LOUISA: If you're tired, feel free to relax here. ------------ Parcelyte, the City of Water - Pres. Mansion: Front ------------- The scene opens on Tia, Maxim, and Iris standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the Presidental Mansion grounds. Soundtrack: Parcelyte Presidental Administration TIA [shocked]: Wow! Look at that! The camera pans up the steps, past the central courtyard, and toward the front of the massive presidental mansion itself. TIA [laughing]: The Parcelyte Presidental Mansion is really amazing. MAXIM: Yeah, it's quite a sight. The camera pans up to show a ring of neatly suspended water, from which a central fountain falls, where Parcelyte's massive energy core is suspended. TIA [smiling]: Is that an energy core? It sure is a lot bigger than the one in Elcid. MAXIM: Yeah, it is one of the three largest in the world. The other two are in the Bound Kingdom and in Gratze. According to the professor, the three together could produce even more energy than they put out separately. TIA [laughing]: Really? I wonder what would happen if you attached them all to your sword, Maxim. MAXIM: I'd need a much bigger sword, for starters. TIA [laughing]: Yeah. And if you tried to Cross Dash, you might wind up in orbit! MAXIM [grinning]: Yeah. Probably best to just leave 'em where they are. The camera fades back to the front of the Presidental Mansion, where control is given back to the player. --- 5-E. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Pres. Mansion: Front ---- LT. RUBEN: Maxim, long time no see! MAXIM: Hey, I remember you. Have your wounds healed? LT. RUBEN: Yes, I feel stronger than ever. I'm practicing hard to improve my skills. Maybe next time I meet Gades... MAXIM: Well, glad you're feeling better. LT. RUBEN: Well, I never would have made it off that island if you hadn't stopped Gades. I can't thank you enough! MAXIM: You really should thank Iris. She was the one who actually chased off Gades. IRIS: Oh, it was nothing. LT. RUBEN: No, it was my life. Thank you very much. LT. RUBEN: Please stay as long as you like. After all, we owe our lives to you. ROSEMARY: Hello. MAXIM: Hi. ROSEMARY: Are you from another town? MAXIM: Yeah. My name is Maxim. ROSEMARY: I love your red hair! How do you get it to stick up like that? MAXIM: Oh, really? Thanks. ROSEMARY: Could a Sinistral really be as powerful as people say? ------------ Parcelyte, the City of Water - Pres. Mansion: Front ------------- Up on the green, a boy and a girl are in discussion. The camera pans up to them. CURTIS: Hey, Lamitty, let me show you something cool. Here you go! The boy tosses something at the flailing Lamitty, who falls down. LAMITTY: Ahhh! A snake! CURTIS: Hahaha! Take another look! It's just a plain old rope! You're such a wimp! Lamitty: Waaah! The kids are joined by a woman in white with blue hair. It's the infamous Captain Selan we've all been hearing so much about. SELAN [angry]: Hey! What do you think you're doing? CURTIS: Oh no, it's Selan! Run away! He proceeds to make good on his word! LAMITTY: Selan! Wah, wah. SELAN [normal]: Lamitty, you have to stop crying. LAMITTY: But...But... Selan kneels down to comfort the sobbing Lamitty. SELAN: Listen, Lamitty. Teasing is wrong, but you still can't let yourself cry so much. LAMITTY: But how come? Isn't it okay to cry when someone makes you feel bad? SELAN: Maybe sometimes. BUt sometimes you've got to be strong instead. LAMITTY: Really? SELAN: If you cry, you're just giving the people teasing you what they want. Be strong, be fearless, adn try to change things instead of crying about them. LAMITTY: I don't know if I can... SELAN: You can be strong if you try. And you can start by not crying so much. LAMITTY: Okay... The camera pans back to where the party's standing, watching this whole tableau from below the raised courtyard. IRIS: Why does that boy dislike that girl so much? Tia turns to face Iris. TIA [smiling]: Are you kidding? That boy is crazy about her! Iris turns to face Tia. IRIS: Then why does he tease her and make her cry? TIA [disappointed]: That's just how stupid boys show that they like girls when they're young. IRIS: How strange. I did not mingle much with boys growing up in training as a priestess. I see I missed much. Control is then returned to Maxim. --- 5-F. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Pres. Mansion: Front ---- CURTIS: What is it? What do you want? MAXIM: You shouldn't tease people like that. CURTIS: Come on, it was just a little joke. MAXIM: A little joke that made that girl bawl her eyes out! CURTIS: That's not my fault! Lamitty is always crying about everything! CURTIS: Why does Lamitty cry so much? LAMITTY: Hey, who are you? MAXIM: My name is Maxim. I am from Elcid. LAMITTY: Wow, you came from so far away. My name is Lamitty. Nice to meet you. LAMITTY: You look really strong, Maxim. You look almost as strong as Selan. VINCENT: Well, I have never seen you around here before. MAXIM: My name is Maxim, and I hail from Elcid. VINCENT: Well, you must know Albert, then. MAXIM: Yes, I know him. VINCENT: Well, he used to live here in Parcelyte but moved many years ago to Elcid. I hope he is doing well. He was a great hero, after all. MAXIM: Really? VINCENT: Oh yes, he most certainly was. But he doesn't like to talk about it. But the things he accomplished... VINCENT: If Albert was in his prime, Gades wouldn't last a minute. ---- 5-G. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Presidental Mansion ---- SGT. DANIELS: I'm a guard here. I don't mean to be rude, but who are you? MAXIM: My name is Maxim. SGT. DANIELS: I will remember your name and face. You are allowed to carry your sword, but please do not draw it here. MAXIM: Of course. SGT. DANIELS: Take care. SGT. DANIELS: That sword has some amazing energy waves. It looks very powerful. SYDNEY: Nice to meet you. MAXIM: Nice to meet you too. My name is Maxim. SYDNEY: Do you have an appointment with the President? Please be polite and respectful when you meet him. SYDNEY: The president is in the very back room. [Transcriber's Notes: There is not actually a "room." The whole thing seems to be open-air, in fountain-terraced gardens.] ZEPEL: Nice to meet you. My name is Zepel. I am the main advisor to President Miles. MAXIM: My name is Maxim. Nice to meet you. ZEPEL: The pleasure is mine. ZEPEL: A suspicious pair of rogues has been spotted in town. Keep your eyes out for them. PRESIDENT MILES: I don't believe that we have met before. My name is Miles. I am the president of Parcelyte. MAXIM: It's very nice to meet you. I'm Maxim. PRESIDENT MILES [grinning]: So you're Maxim! You're the brave warrior who stood against Gades. My soldier owe you his life. I cannot thank you enough for that. Thank you! MAXIM: You're welcome. Though honestly, I didn't do much but get the stuffing beaten out of me. PRESIDENT MILES [normal]: Don't be so modest! What you did took real bravery. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here in Parcelyte. MAXIM: Thank you very much. PRESIDENT MILES: Parcelyte's prosperity is thanks to its energy core. And without Lexis and his research, we'd have no idea how to harness the power of energy cores. ------ 5-H. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Rochy's Mansion ------ On entering the mansion, the camera pans over to a giant golden (and gaudy) statue of Rochy, right in the middle of the foyer, sculpted to stand with its hands on its hips. TIA [shocked]: Wow, what is that? It sure is shiny. It's kind of ugly, though. MAXIM [shocked]: Is it bronze? ROCHY: Hahaha! Nothing so common and vulgar. It's pure gold! TIA [shocked]: Gold! How much did that cost?! ROCHY [smiling]: Oh, about enough to buy the entire city of Parcelyte, I should think. Hahaha. TIA [disappointed]: What a waste of money. MAXIM [disappointed]: No kidding. JILL: A pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the house of Mr. Rochy. MAXIM: Um, thanks. My name is Maxim. JILL: Well, make yourself at home. But don't touch anything. JILL: It is such a pleasure to clean Mr. Rochy's golden statue. FLORENCE: You must be a peasant. Welcome to the home of Mr. Rochy. MAXIM: Hey, I'm no peasant! I mean, I'm not exactly rolling in dough, but... FLORENCE: Well, I'm sure being in the presence of such wealth will inspire you to make something of yourself. Enjoy. FLORENCE: Have you gazed upon the ruby apple, the Rochy family treasure? It is such a wonderful piece. MR. ROCHY: I haven't seen you around town before. Are you new here? MAXIM: My name is Maxim. I'm from Elcid. MR. ROCHY [smiling]: Is that so? Well, I am Mr. Rochy and I run this town, more or less. Please make yourself comfortable. MAXIM: Thanks. MR. ROCHY: Isn't this statue wonderful? It captures my likeness quite well. ELLEN: Good day to you. Have you come to admire the home of Mr. Rochy? MAXIM: No, I am not here to admire his home. My name is Maxim. ELLEN: Well, in that case, I will be on my way, but please make yourself comfortable. ELLEN: You may look as much as you want, but please don't touch the statue. I'm sure your hands are dirty. ------------------ Parcelyte, the City of Water - Parcelyte ------------------ As the party leaves, they're halted by Mr. Rochy shouting. MR. ROCHY [shocked]: Thieves! Someone, stop them! Maxim pops up an exclamation point and turns around to face Berty and Betty, who are running down the main thoroughfare out of town. They're stopped by Maxim, Iris, and Tia standing in the way. Soundtrack: "The Greatest Thieves in the World" BERTY: Move it, boy. This is none of your business! Betty raises a hand to point to them. BETTY: Yeah. Just stay out of our way, and you won't get hurt. MAXIM [shouting]: No way! I'm not letting you thieves get away! Maxim draws his sword, and Berty raises his arms in a resigned gesture, before lowering them to rest a hand on one of his hips. BERTY: Oh, looks like we've got a hero here. Betty points at Maxim again. BETTY: How sweet. Naive and foolish, but sweet. BERTY: I'm afraid we don't have time for a proper fight, so... Berty pulls an enormous bomb out and holds it up. MAXIM [shocked]: A bomb!! TIA [shocked]: It's huge! The sound of a fuse lighting hisses. BERTY [laughing]: You've got 5 seconds to get out of here. So move it! The camera pans over to Tia, who cowers behind her suitcase. Berty [smiling]: Five... The camera pans over to Maxim, who shrinks a little. BETTY [smiling]: Four... The bomb suddenly explodes. BETRY [weeping]: OW!! That's not what was supposed to happen! BETTY [weeping]: We must have been sold some bad bombs! How could someone cheat two honest thieves like us? BERTY [normal]: W-We'll just have to switch to plan B. RUN FOR IT!! The two scram past Maxim, Iris, and Tia. Soundtrack: "Water Capital, Parcelyte" IRIS: How very strange. TIA [grinning]: Shouldn't that explosion have hurt them? MAXIM [grinning]: Hahaha! Guess they were lucky they got a bum bomb. MR. ROCHY [shocked]: S-Stop them!!! The three turn around to face Rochy, who's puffing his way down the path. MR. ROCHY [disappointed]: *pant*pant*pant*... Did they get away? Curses! Did you see their faces, at least? MAXIM: Yes. Mr. Rochy [normal]: I see, that makes things easier. They stole my family treasure, the "ruby apple." If you get it back, I'll give you a reward. How about it? Do you think you can do it? >>>> If the player selects "Okay." All of the results eventually lead to the final result for "Oh, if you insist." >>>> If the player selects "No, thank you." MR. ROCHY [disappointed]: Oh, please help me! There'll be a big reward for you if you do. >>>> If the player selects "Okay." The result is the same as the end result of "Oh, if you insist." >>>> If the player selects "Oh, if you insist." MAXIM: Alright. MR. ROCHY [normal]: Really? You'll really take the job?! Thank you! I'll leave it to you, then. TIA [smiling]: Are you sure, Maxim? This might be a waste of time. MAXIM: Those thieves were right in front of me, and I let them get away! I have to catch them! The camera then shifts back to Maxim, and returns control to the player. Time to go thump some thieves' heads! When the player finally leaves Parcelyte, the familiar map screen is summoned up again... LEXIS: Maxim! I saw a strange pair run off towards Tanbel Abandoned Mine in a big hurry! MAXIM: That was the thieves we're chasing! Let's go get 'em! LEXIS: Okay! LEXIS [voiced]: Let's hurry! SYSTEM MESSAGE: Tanbel Abandoned Mine added to the map! >>>> If "Talk" is selected: LEXIS: Let's head to Tanbel Abandoned Mine! LEXIS [voiced]: Let's hurry! ========================== 6. Tanbel Abandoned Mine ========================== The camera pans to show the entirety of the mine. It's big, it's full of puzzles, and there are large purple crystals everywhere. Maxim and company walk in, standing and staring at the sheer scale of the place. TIA [shocked]: This place is huge! Those thieves could be anywhere... MAXIM [grinning]: Looks like we've got our work cut out for us. LEXIS: They've dug a lot of important artifacts out of here, you know. Lots of mystic stones and energy cores. There isn't much left these days, but we might still find a mystic stone or two if we're lucky. Tia turns to face Lexis. TIA [smiling]: Say, Professor, is it true that you're the one who figured out how to harnes the power of energy cores? LEXIS: Well, I had a little help, but... No, I won't lie. It was mostly my genius. But I only figured out how to use energy cores to power devices. I still don't understand how they truly work. TIA [smiling]: I see. MAXIM [normal]: Boy, I can't imagine life before energy cores. How did people ever manage? TIA [normal]: I'm curious where they came from, though. Who could have created something so powerful? MAXIM: Well, some people think they were created by gods long ago. Iris, do you know anything about that? Iris lifts her hands to her heart and nods. IRIS [downcast]: The gods... MAXIM: Iris? IRIS [normal]: Oh, um... The teaching of Runa agree that the energy cores are a creation of the gods. [Transcriber's Note: Yes, it's "teaching of Runa," even though it should technically be "teachings of Runa."] MAXIM [grinning]: No wonder the professor can't figure them out! LEXIS [disappointed]: The gods? That's nonsense! I'm still sure they were the work of some great, technologically advanced society of man. MAXIM [normal]: Well, we can argue history and theology later. Right now, we've got some thieves to catch! LEXIS [normal]: Iris and I will wait on the Excelion. The scene fades out, returning control to Maxim, and establishing a check point. ------------- 6-A. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Elcid -------------- ENOCK: Are the rumors true that there are many beautiful women in Parcelyte? SCOTT: What kind of city is Parcelyte? SALLY: Take me to Parcelyte next time, okay? SHAELA: I really want to go to Parcelyte. I really want to see the presidental mansion. ALBERT: There are some great swordsmen in Parcelyte. If you are really that strong, you just might meet them. MELISSA: I went to Parcelyte once when I was your age. The water there was very clear. ------ 6-B. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center: Front ------- OSCAR: Is it true that water falls from the sky in Parcelyte? [Transcriber's Note: Given Elcid's agrarian nature, I'm guessing he means this in a more poetic sense, possibly referring to the fountains, than "does it rain?"] MARIN: When I grow up, I am going to live in Parcelyte. KATENA: I've been to Parcelyte a long time ago. That is a real city. But I still like Elcid better. GERALD: Looks like you were able to get to Parcelyte in one piece. I can't believe that you made it across the bridge. ---------- 6-C. Townspeople: Elcid, the Fertile Town - Lexis Center ---------- JACK: Are there any creations like us in Parcelyte? ICHABOD: I would like to travel to see Parcelyte. KREG: What is Parcelyte like? Is it a very big city? LEXIS: Parcelyte... Oh, sorry, I was just remembering something from a long time ago. --------- 6-D. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Parcelyte --------- CPL. TONY: The thieves looked like they were going towards the Tanbel Abandoned Mine. You can find a lot of rubies in that area. Jaffy used a ruby found there to make the ruby apple for Mr. Rochy. CAROL: I'm sure Selan could catch those thieves. But I guess this isn't really a big enough deal for her to spend time on. ABEL: Thieves got into Mr. Rochy's house again? MAXIM: Again? ABEL: Sure. That guy's loaded. Thieves try to break in there all the time. GRACE: Wow, you just got here and you're already working for Mr. Rochy. I hear the thieves ran to Tanbel Abandoned Mines. I hope Jaffy's safe. That's where he was headed, too... AUSTIN: Mr. Rochy isn't a bad person...but I wouldn't say he's a great person, either. Hahaha! But I still hope you catch those thieves. I don't like the idea of anyone in this city being stolen from. ----- 6-E. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Jaffy's Workshop ------ PAULINE: My husband went to the Tanbel Abandoned Mine. And now I hear that's where those thieves are. I'm worried... ------ 6-F. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Parcelyte Guild ------ LUIS: There's a thief around? I hope that you catch him, Maxim. PANSY: So, a theft occured at the Rochy house? MAXIM: Yeah. He asked me to track the culprits down. PANSY: Well, you must have some skill to be asked by the great Mr. Rochy. MAXIM: Is that so? PANSY: He has a great eye for talent. He never does deals with incompetent people. DUNCAN: Welcome to my store. >>>> If "Talk" is selected: DUNCAN: Looks like you are on a mission for Mr. Rochy. Good luck. JESSY: Welcome. >>>> If "Talk" is selected: JESSY: I heard that there was a theft at Mr. Rochy's place. This is just bewteen us, but there are a lot of people who are very interested in this case. ------- 6-G. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Selan's House ------- LOUISA [upset]: There's been a theft at Mr. Rochy's house? Oh, how awful. --- 6-H. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Pres. Mansion: Front ---- LT. RUBEN: Maxim, do you think you'll be able to beat Gades? MAXIM: There's no way I'm letting that guy beat me again! LT. RUBEN: Yeah! Give him one for me! ROSEMARY: Good luck catching those thieves! CURTIS: Is it true that some thieves ripped off Mr. Rochy? He was all blue in the face. But he always looks like that. Hahaha! LAMITTY: I've got to be tougher, or people will keep picking on me. But...it's hard. VINCENT: Please give my regards to Albert next time you are in Elcid. ------ 6-I. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Rochy's Mansion ------ JILL: Please catch those terrible thieves who stole Mr. Rochy's treasure. FLORENCE: The ruby apple was stolen right from under us. Those thieves must have been professionals. MR. ROCHY [disappointed]: I believe the thieves who took my treasure fled to the Tanbel Abandoned Mine. I'm counting on you to catch them, Maxim. ELLEN: The ruby apple is Mr. Rochy's personal favorite. Please do everything to bring it back safely. ---- 6-J. Townspeople: Parcelyte, the City of Water - Presidental Mansion ---- SGT. DANIELS: Mr. Rochy never spends enough on protection. That is why thieves were able to get in and out of his house so easily. SYDNEY: No thief can possibly get in here. This place is too well guarded. ZEPEL: Thieves? That is troubling. PRESIDENT MILES: Looks like you've been hired by Mr. Rochy. I would have preferred he leave this matter to us, but I suppose some extra help couldn't hurt. --------------------------- Tanbel Abandoned Mine ---------------------------- And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled dungeon crawl at Tanbel Abandoned Mine, in the direction which our less-than-competent culprits have fled! There are a lot of puzzles in the mine, but in general they're fairly easy to solve. There are a handful of tutorials about some more special skills, too, primarily relating to Tia and her handy suitcase full of tricks. If you venture near to the dock for the rail carts, Maxim and Tia will comment on them: MAXIM [subtitled]: It's a station for the mine carts. TIA [subtitled]: I don't see any mine carts now... If you venture near to the lift in the northeastern quarter, they'll also comment about the dormant lift sitting on the ground: MAXIM [subtitled]: A lift. TIA [subtitled]: I think we need a key for this. When you get closer to where the key is, separated from the main floor by a chasm, Tia will pop up an exclamation point. TIA [smiling]: Maxim! Look! Is that a key there? MAXIM: It is! But how can we get to it? I can get over there with my Cross Dash, but I can't Cross Dash while holding the key. TIA [laughing]: Hehehe. Leave it to me! I can grab it with my Hook-Shot. Just switch to me by touching my face on the Touch Screen. MAXIM: Okay. TIA [laughing]: Then press the X Button to use my hook-shot! TUTORIAL "Hook Shot: Lesson 1 - X Button" Tia's special attack is the Hook Shot. She sends a shot out that can grab small items like keys and bombs. She can also grab hold of smaller enemies and pull them in for a pummeling attack! TUTORIAL: "Character Select - Touch a character's portrait on the bottom screen." When you touch a character's portrait on the bottom screen, you'll switch to that character. You can also select a character by pausing the game and choosing the "Select Character" option. The game resumes control of the party to the player, establishing a convenient check point. Tia is expected to snag the key and get the lift in working order. On heading west, Tia stops with another exclamation bubble. TIA [smiling]: Hey, Maxim! Look over there! MAXIM: What is it? The camera pans over to show a big blue post, sticking up out of the ground. TIA [smiling]: Check out that pole! MAXIM: Um, okay. I'm checking it out. What about it? TIA [laughing]: I can use my Hook Shot on it! MAXIM [grinning]: Really? The camera pans back over to Tia, who turns to face Maxim. TIA [laughing]: Yeah! With my Hook Shot, I can grab that pole and pull myself across this chasm! Maxim turns to face her. MAXIM [grinning]: Oh, that's kind of cool. TIA [laughing]: KIND OF cool? It's TOTALLY AWESOME! You'd be helpless without me! Just admit it! MAXIM [grinning]: Well, it's pretty handy, but I could also just cross this chasm with my Cross Dash. TIA [disappointed]: ...... MAXIM [shocked]: Um... TIA [angry]: Well, maybe you can do that this time, Mr. Smartypants, but there'll be bigger gaps you can only Hook Shot across! MAXIM [disappointed]: Okay, okay. I take it back. It's a really useful ability. TIA [subdued]: Honestly! Sometimes I hate you! TUTORIAL: "Hook Shot: Lesson 2 - X Button" When you see a hookable pole, hit it with the Hook Shot to pull yourself over to it. Hookable poles are marked with yellow icons on the map on the bottom screen. Control is then handed back to the player, with another convenient checkpoint. After another puzzle or two, Maxim and Tia bump into Jaffy, who's standing on a pillar by himself. JAFFY: Oh, I wasn't expecting to see you here, Maxim. MAXIM: You're here looking for rubies? JAFFY: Yes. Even though they're no longer working this mine, there are still plenty of rubies to be found. JAFFY: There are a lot of monsters here, so be careful. MAXIM: Hey, I'm a monster hunter. Monsters are my business. What about you, though? JAFFY [upset]: Oh, I'm pretty good at sneaking around them. As long as I don't get too close, they don't bother me. TIA [smiling]: I see. Well, please be careful. JAFFY [smiling]: Thank you. I will. Eventually, our intrepid adventurers come to a crate across a gap, and a hook shot pole and cliff on the other side they can't cross. Maxim and Tia consider the cliff for a few seconds. MAXIM: This cliff is too high. We can't go any further. What should we do? TIA [laughing]: Heheheh! Maxim, my time to shine has come! Maxim turns to face her. MAXIM: Huh? TIA: Keys aren't the only thing my Hook Shot can grab! MAXIM: Oh yeah? TIA: Look at that over there! The camera pans over to show the crate. TIA: I can use my Hook Shot to grab the box over here! Then we can use it to jump up to this ledge! How about that? MAXIM [laughing]: I see! That's amazing, Tia! TIA: See? I knew you'd need me! MAXIM [grinning]: That Hook Shot of yours does come in handy! TIA: And don't you forget it! Control is then handed back to the player. You heard the plan! Get crackin'! Eventually, when you get towards the exit of the main room, Tia will stop Maxim. TIA [shocked]: Maxim! Do you hear that? Maxim turns to face Tia. MAXIM: Be quiet. The camera pans up to our two favourite thieves, just as Berty throws a big key onto the pad to open the door. Soundtrack: "The Greatest Thieves in the World" BERTY [displeased]: Man, why is the gate key so big? BETTY [confident]: The bigger the better. Just like our love, right, Berty? BERTY [grinning]: You're such a romantic, Betty. The camera pans back down to our intrepid adventurers. TIA [normal]: That sounds like our pair of thieves, right? MAXIM: I think so. TIA [grinning]: Well, who else could it be? This mine is supposed to be abandoned, after all. MAXIM [solemn]: Good point. BERTY [displeased]: Hey, who's there? Tia pops up an exclamation point as the camera pans up to Berty and Betty, who are now standing and facing over to look down at Tia and Maxim. BERTY [displeased]: Curses, we already have pursuers! Alright, Betty, let's show them our routine! BETTY [winking]: Okay! The camera pans to Berty, who lifts his arms, almost as though in a shrug. BERTY [winking, complete with sparkling teeth] [voiced]: We are the messengers of love and peace! The camera pans to Betty, who lifts one hand. BETTY [winking, complete with sparkling teeth] [voiced]: We are the greatest thieves in all of history! [Transcriber's Note: Betty actually says "in all of history," but the text actually reads "in all history."] The camera pans back to the two with a cymbal sound as they leap to ready positions. BETTY, BERTY [voiced]: Berty and Betty! BERTY [laughing and winking]: You really have guts to pursue us! We're not gonna hand over the ruby apple to you doofuses! Tia just... sweatdrops. (What else are you gonna do, faced with that?) MAXIM [grinning]: That's them alright. TIA [grinning]: What kind of thieves have a practiced introduction routine? BETRY [displeased]: You'll never catch us! BETTY [normal]: Give up now before you embarrass yourselves! BERTY [smirking]: Let's go, Betty. Oh, but first... Berty runs over, grabs the gate key, and chucks it over the edge of the cliff. Oops. BERTY [laughing]: You'll never get us without that key! Betty turns to face him. BETTY [laughing]: That's my Berty! You're a genius! BERTY [laughing and winking]: Heh, I already know that. Now let's go! The two proceed to hustle through the gate as it closes. Meanwhile, the camera pans back down to our unfortunate adventurers, who are trapped on the wrong side of the gate. Soundtrack: "Tanbel Abandoned Mine" TIA [angry]: They got away! MAXIM: It would have made more sense for them to just take the key with them... TIA [grinning]: I don't think those two are the brightest around. MAXIM: I'm going to agree with you. Anyway, after them! Control is then returned to Maxim and Tia, along with a handy check point. Once you can make your way to the next room, you're confronted by Berty and Betty, who are sitting on some kind of rail cart. The room is a nightmarish labyrinth of rail track. Incidentally, it's a long, long way down. BERTY [normal]: Oh? You're pretty persistent1 But this is our home turf! BETTY [normal]: We know this place so well, you couldn't catch us if you had ten years! BERTY [displeased]: Ten years? I'd say more like a hundred! BETTY [displeased]: But in a hundred years, I'll be so old! Berty turns to face Betty. BERTY [grinning, with a slight smirk]: I don't care how old and wrinkly you get! You'll always be beautiful to me! BETTY: And you'll still be as sweet and handsome as you are today! BERTY [winking]: Alright then, let's go! Into the future! Theives in love for this and the next millenium century! BETTY [winking]: Oh, how sweet! The two proceed to hop on the cart and beat feet. BERTY [voiced]: Come and get us, guys! BETTY [voiced, sing-song]: We'll be waiting! MAXIM: Milennium century? That doesn't even make sense... Tia turns to face Maxim. TIA [angry]: Maxim! Don't just stand there! They're getting away! MAXIM [grinning]: *Sigh* Can't we find some better villains than these? This part of the puzzle is rather annoying MAXIM [voiced]: What is this? Some kind of maze? TIA [subtitled]: Maxim! I'm getting dizzy! Jump to the other track! BETTY [voiced, sing-song]: I better not catch you guys staring at me. MAXIM [voiced]: I--I wasn't staring! Betty [subtitled]: Bet you can't find us over here! Berty and Betty get to a switch, which takes them to a new track. BERTY [smirking]: Let's make things interesting! BERTY [voiced]: Hey hey! BETTY [voiced]: Hey hey hey! TIA [voiced]: Hey! Get back here! Tia [subtitled]: What? Where are we supposed to go?! You're then plunged into another nightmarish section of track. Berty and Betty then flip another switch. BERTY [smirking]: Try to keep up! BETTY [voiced]: You're so handsome, Berty! That should mark the last section. The camera pans over to a side view as our bold heroes go speeding down the track. TIA [angry]: Where are they? MAXIM [angry]: Aaagh! What's up with this place? It's like a maze! TIA [angry]: We can't let those two get away! MAXIM [shouting]: Yeah! The camera fades out, only to show them pulling up to some strange pylon with lights and cart-towed baskets of crystals. BETTY [smirking]: Oh, this part is tricky, isn't it, Berty? BERTY [smirking]: That's right! It certainly is! They turn to face the pylon. BETTY [displeased]: They'll never be able to activate this device! BERTY [displeased]: Yeah, it takes at least five crystals to get it to work. There is a convenient marker showing this point. BETTY [displeased]: Of course, that's no problem for us, because we know this mine like the back of our hands, but... BERTY [displeased]: That red-haired boy doesn't stand a chance! The camera pans over to show the carts of crystals attached to the back of Berty and Betty's mine cart. BETTY [winking, laughing]: It's judgment time! [Translator's Note: Yeah, that should be "judgement." I know.] BERTY [winking, laughing]: Come on, board! Are we winners? The board lights up, showing that they've collected five crystals. They thumbs-up to each other as the thing plays a fanfare. Soundtrack: "The Greatest Thieves in the World" BETTY [laughing]: Amazing. By the way, what do we do with the stones? BERTY [smirking]: Well, of course we... Berty proceeds to grab a bomb and lob it at the crystal carts, detonating all of them. (What, you thought this would be easy?) BERTY [grinning]: ...do that! That boy will never find those crystals now! The camera fades out to Maxim and Tia arriving at the station, just in time for Berty and Betty to make their exit -- on the other side of the switch rail, with the rail pointing the wrong way for Maxim and Tia to pursue. MAXIM [shouting]: There you guys are! Don't move! The camera pans over to Berty and Betty, who (along with their mine cart) are on a lift. BERTY [grinning]: Oh, so you caught up already. That was quick. BETTY [smirking]: But not quite quick enough. How sad. MAXIM [shouting]: You're not going anywhere! BERTY [smirking]: Oh please. You can't stop us. BETTY [smirking]: Face it: you two are the tortoise... BERTY [laughing]: ...and we're the hare! You'll never catch us! BETTY [winking, laughing]: That's right, Berty! BERTY [laughing]: Let's go, my lovely hare! BETTY [laughing]: We'll see you two tortoises later! The two proceed to take the lift out. MAXIM [disappointed]: Doesn't the tortoise beat the hare in that story? TIA [normal]: Maybe they never got to the end of it. We won't be able to go after them with the track like this, though. What are we gonna do? MAXIM [solemn]: There's got to be a way to get this section of track to rotate back. TIA: I heard them say that you need crystals to activate it. This board makes sure you have at least five. They turn to face the board. MAXIM [solemn]: Well, let's get in that mine cart and get started! Control is returned to the player, along with a convenient check point. Looks like your work's cut out for you. >>>> If you check the board before you have five crystals, it plays a little sad fanfare as Maxim and Tia bend forward in a disappointed sigh. TIA [smiling]: I don't think we have enough... And now, back to mine hunting! You can go through the gate with five crystals, but if you collect all eight of them, you'll get a free mystic stone. There are also plenty of treasure chests and the like to find by looking for the crystals. But, it's your choice. Sooner or later, Maxim and Tia round up the crystals they need, and the board lights up with a fanfare. Yay! The track rotates, letting them take the same lift that Berty and Barty had absconded on. MAXIM: Alright! Let's go! The track then takes them down and out of the area on a southerly rail, which leads to Berty and Betty, cruising on ahead. The player is then subjected to Berty's rhythm jumping and ducking. The two catch up to Berty and Betty, cycling on side-by-side tracks for a few seconds... BERTY [smirking]: Finally done collecting crystals? BETTY [laughing]: It certainly took you long enough. We were getting tired of waiting. TIA: (Waiting for us? Aren't they trying to get away from us? They seem a little unclear on the concept...) BERTY [grinning]: Here's where things get really interesting! MAXIM: What now? BERTY [laughing]: It's time to show us your tempo and rhythm! If you can't feel the beat, you'll be knocked right off the track! BERTY [voiced]: Do you think you guys can-- BETTY [voiced]: --keep up with our groove? SYSTEM MESSAGE: Match Berty and Betty's movements. Jump or duck at the right time! Soundtrack: "The Greatest Thieves in the World" Berty [voiced]: Oww~! Berty [voiced]: Come on~ Berty [voiced]: Waow~! Phase one gets passed. The two then catch up to Berty and Betty, riding side-by-side for a few more seconds. Soundtrack: "Tanbel Abandoned Mine" BERTY [grinning]: You're pretty good, boy. MAXIM [laughing]: I can't believe I'm saying this, but... this is actually kind of fun! TIA [angry]: Yeah, Maxim! We've got these idiots on the ropes! BETTY [laughing]: Oh, the innocence of youth. That was just the warm up round! You'll never survive what's next! MAXIM [laughing]: Ha! Bring it on! TIA [disappointed]: Um...yeah! Berty [voiced]: YAHOO! As soon as you pass the second phase, the carts draw even again. Soundtrack: "Tanbel Abandoned Mine" BERTY [winking, laughing]: Not too bad, but now it's time to switch things up! MAXIM [shouting]: What do you mean?! BERTY [winking, laughing]: No more memorization Now it's time for synchronization! Tia [normal]: Synchronization? BETTY [laughing]: Ah, two dancers moving as one! How romantic! BETTY [voiced]: Yeah! Control is then moved back to the player. This time, you're not following what Berty and Betty do, but matching their movements at the same time. It sounds considerably easier in theory than in practise, as the timing can be a little unforgiving sometimes. Soundtrack: "The Greatest Thieves in the World" After one last go-'round of synchronized ducking and jumping, the two carts catch up to each other again. BERTY [laughing]: Hahaha! Not bad! That was great tempo, rhythm, and synchronization! BETTY [winking]: But the show is over! MAXIM [shouting]: What? BERTY [laughing]: Thanks for playing, but I'm afraid you lost! Tia [voiced: Uh--hey! BERTY [subtitled]: This is where we part ways! There's a big gap in the track coming up. TIA [subtitled]: D-D-Do something, Maxim! Maxim and Tia's cart drop down to a lower rail, whether or not you actually jump. Berty and Betty's cart stay up above. TIA [subtitled]: Yikes! BERTY [voiced, subtitled]: Good bye! Adios! BETTY [voiced, subtitled]: Arivaderchi! ...Berty and Betty then proceed to... fall into a hole. Maxim and Tia reach the end of the track, which is the same cart station they'd seen on the way into the mines themselves. TIA [grinning]: Do you think they planned to fall in that pit? Or are they really as dumb as they seem? MAXIM [grinning]: Beats me. But I'm pretty sure we came out ahead in that race. TIA [disappointed]: But they still had the ruby apple when they fell! MAXIM [shocked]: Oh no! This is bad... The two pop up exclamation points at the sound of nearby monsters arriving. JAFFY [shouting]: AAAHHH! MAXIM [shouting]: Don't move! We're coming! >>>> If you talk to Jaffy before defeating the monsters: JAFFY [shouting]: Help me. PLEASE!!! Maxim then proceeds to pummel the monsters into next week. The camera comes back to Jaffy, Maxim, and Tia. JAFFY: Sorry. I got a bit careless. Thank you very much, Maxim. You saved my life. MAXIM [normal]: No problem. Are you okay? JAFFY: Yes, I'm fine. MAXIM [grinning]: So you're still here collecting rubies? JAFFY: Yep. Mr. Rochy loves his rubies... MAXIM [normal]: You're working on rubies for Mr.Rochy? You're not the person who made the ruby apple, are you? [Transcriber's Note: That's not a typo. There actually isn't a space between "Mr." and "Rochy."] JAFFY: Yes, that's right! You heard about it? MAXIM [disappointed]: The ruby apple was just stolen! We were chasing after the thieves, but they got away... TIA [grinning]: Or plummeted to their doom. But either way, I don't think we'll be getting the ruby apple back. JAFFY: Oh, then come by my place, I'll give you a ruby apple as a token of thanks for saving me. MAXIM [normal]: You have another ruby apple? JAFFY: Well, it's actually a practice piece I made from glass. But it looks identical to the real thing. MAXIM: Made of glass, huh? JAFFY: Yes. But no one will know the difference. TIA [smiling]: Well...that should be okay, right, Maxim? MAXIM [disappointed]: But... TIA [grinning]: As long as Mr. Rochy is happy with it, who cares if it's the real thing or not? MAXIM [grinning]: Well, you do have a point there. TIA [laughing]: Alright then. Let's give it to Rochy and grab the reward. The two turn to face Jaffy. JAFFY: I'll give you the "glass apple" when I get back to Parcelyte. My store is past the left bridge when you just enter Parcelyte. Well then, I hope to see you there soon! Jaffy proceeds to leave. Control is returned to the player, along with a check point. Although you don't have to leave, there's not much left to do there. When you do leave, you're presented with the map screen again. LEXIS: Did you catch the thieves, Maxim? MAXIM [disappointed]: They got away. LEXIS: Did you at least get the ruby apple? MAXIM [normal]: Not exactly. But we've got a backup plan. LEXIS: That sounds a little fishy. But maybe I'm better off not knowing. LEXIS [voiced]: Where do you want to go?