Blaze & Blade ~Eternal Quest~ The FAQ & Walkthrough By Robert Aldeguer Email: Tenchu@slip.net On GameFAQs.com, I go by tsunamix Date last updated: 12-29 – For some reason, the part where I left off was not there, so sorry about that. It stopped at the word "sorcerer" when I already finished all the character descriptions. Oh well, maybe it was a glitch in my computer. I will add the hidden and cool stuff I found in this game later, after I complete this FAQ. Sorry, no graphic art here. I have neither the art nor the talent for it!=P This document is Copyright 2000 Robert Aldeguer. Unauthorized reproduction for any reasons such as sale, magazine, or any other profitable or non-profitable actions are strictly prohibited without my consent. In other words, try asking me first and I'll give an answer. Blaze & Blade and any verses taken from the game or the box cover is Copyright T & E Soft. This is an FAQ in progress. Please give me time while I complete it, since I have to go through the whole game again to write this. To answer some questions that may be asked: This is the PAL version of Blaze & Blade: Eternal Quest. I have no clue if maybe the Japanese version looks the same but with Japanese text. I may not be able to describe all the items in the game since there are so many. I will play through the game again and add items as I find them. If you're using the PAL version, for some reason the game screen is off center, so I cannot see the 3rd and 4th player's HP and MP. I have no clue why it does this, but if this happens to you, the best advice I can offer is to play it on a computer monitor. You can pick something up at Toys R Us or some place like that to perform that task. Shouldn't cost more than twenty bucks, if they still have it. It's called "Jam." Contents I. Story - What is Blaze & Blade? II. Controls III. Characters IV. Character Classes Creating the Character Advantages and disadvantages of each character Special abilities of each character Suggested point distribution V. Walkthrough, the beginning The Inn (Headquarters) How to start The Wood of Ruins I - Story (Taken from the back of the game box) Foresia, the northern part of the Moveresisch continent, was once a fruitful province, which was devastated by an outbreak of uncontrolled magic. Since then, this area is only called the forbidden country. According to rumors, wealth and magic monsters can still be found in this country, therefore adventurers unite again and again and unite special abilities with their swords and prepare for the unknown quantities of monsters and to discover the secrets of Foresia. What is Blaze & Blade? Blaze and Blade is a real-time RPG that can support up to four players. Although one person can beat the game alone, the real fun can only be discovered through multi-player game play. The story is not too well explained throughout the game, but too hard to understand. To play the game, you need 3 blocks available on your memory card for each character. For four players, get a multi-tap. II - Controls Basic controls for the game Up, Down, Left, Right - Move Square - Attack Circle - Jump L1 and R1 - Rotate camera angle(compass) left and right. Only the group leader can control the camera. L2 and R2 - Moves the camera at a higher or lower angle. L1 + R1 - Zoom out L2 + R2 - Zoom in L1 + L2 - Switches from manual camera control to automatic. R1 + R2 - Gives a 5 second high overview of the screen. X - Special Ability (Check the Characters section on your character's ability.) Triangle - Sub-Menu Here in this menu you can use items, change weapons, armor, magic, and choose the leader, who gets to control the camera angle. To use things like potions, magical items, or upgrades to weapons, you must use them in this sub-menu, not the main menu. Start - Main Menu In the menu, you can view Character stats, save the game, view a map of the level, and choose the group leader. You can also choose a different hair and clothes color by choosing from a made set of outfits. Press L1 or R1 if you wish to change between these features. In the character stats screen, you can press x to look at a specific item. Pick the garbage can and then an item if you want to throw something away. You can also press right to equip different items, choose magic spells, and choose a herb to equip (this option is only available for the hunter.) Select – Cast magic. When you choose a spell, you will see a set of commands on the screen (for example, x, circle, square, square, square, etc.) These commands allow you to cast a spell without having to choose it in the main or sub menu. To cast, just hold select and perform the given commands. The harder the spell, the harder the commands will be. III - Character Classes Creating the Character Now, when you make your characters, you can name him/her whatever you want and make him/her a male or female, whatever floats your boat. If you don't have a name, a default one is there to assist you. Just simply leave the name blank and pick END in the letter screen. Now, the other stats are the ones that will count during the game. Style of Speech: You have a choice between eight different types of speech (the way your character will talk.) Normal Old Impulsive Arbitrary Polite Childlike Cool Quiet This will kinda affect your game, but not too much. Some types of speech gives you good clues on what to do for puzzles, while others do not give as much information at all. If you want to go neutral, pick normal. I use quiet and I get good clues when I got stuck before. Protective Element: This stat will determine what element your character will be based on. For example, if you choose water, you will have protection against water-based attacks. You have eight choices to choose from. Earth Light Fire Darkness Wind Holy Water Evil Bonus points: These are points that are to be distributed between the different stats of your character. This is totally random, so try to aim for a high number. Around 30-35 is good, but if you get any higher, you're a very lucky person. Press X to draw each card. You always start at a base number of 15, then the cards add to it. Get three of the same number in a row and you can draw even more numbers. If you got a number you do not like or if it's too low, simply press circle and keep trying again. My friend got 60 points for his elf. He is pretty strong now. Point Distribution: You must distribute your points between these 7 stats: Strength - Attack power. Also increases HP Intelligence - Increases efficiency of sorcery (Magic attack) Willpower - Amount of resistance to magic. Agility - Amount of defense against physical attacks Constitution - Determines defense against status-changing ailments and the rate a character heals. Magical Power (POW) - Determines rate for recovery of magical energy Luck - Important factor that determines many things (For example, when you get hit, you may not take any damage at all) Suggested ways for each character on how to distribute the points will be listed below. After you're done with all this stuff, save the character onto a memory card and begin the game or make another character. Advantages and disadvantages of each character, plus suggested point distribution. Remember, in this game, male and female don't make a difference, they just look different.=P Warrior The warrior is pretty much the grunt swordfighter of the game. As he levels up, he will attain excellent strength, constitution, and decent agility. Special ability: He can block physical attacks with his shield. Remember, he can only block physical attacks, not magic. If you try to block magic, you might get messed up pretty badly. Disadvantage: He can only fight and block, that's it. Also, his magic defense is very weak. Suggested point distribution: Do not increase his intelligence or Magic Power since he won't be using any. Balance the points with the rest of the stats, keeping in mind about his willpower. Dwarf The dwarf is pretty much like the fighter, except he is stout and wields an axe and can open certain places. (For example, the well in the mine.) Special ability: Same as warrior Disadvantage: I think he is the same as the warrior, but I am not sure yet since I never really used a dwarf. If anyone knows, please E-mail me and tell me so that I can change this later. Suggested point distribution: Same as warrior…for now. Priest The priest is the healer of the group. He can heal everyone while they battle it out with the monsters. Experience is also gained too when healing magic is used. Special ability: Healing magic. He starts out with a spell called "Turn Undead" which does not cost any MP to use and is very useful later in the game. Disadvantage: The priest is not the kind of person you should use shall you decide to venture alone. His physical attacks are extremely weak and physical defense is low. The priest should be used primarily as a back-up character to help out others. Suggested point distribution: Increase his strength a little, but make his intelligence and power high since he'll need it for the healing magic, or, you can keep this character a balanced one, but it wont really help to much. The choice is up to you. Rogue The rogue is the fastest character in the game since he can run. Although he only wields a knife, his strength is something not to be underestimated. Special ability: He can run, which makes lone venturing faster. Also, if any doors are found that require the lock to be picked, the rogue can open them. Disadvantage: His strength is a little weak, but it's not much of a bother. His magic defense is a little below good, but not as good as a sorcerer or priest. Suggested point distribution: Balance it out, but leave intelligence and magic power alone. He won't be using that for the whole game. Hunter The hunter has long range and can use herbs. Using his bow, he can attack from a good distance without much risk of getting hit. Special ability: He can use a wide variety of herbs, as listed below. Lavender: Heals some life Sage: Restores some MP Ironsage: Neutralizes poison Heavensage: Cures paralysis Fennel: Cures petrifaction Hyssop: Cures magic drain Belladonna: Removes curses Note: If you run out of herbs, just talk to the little girl at anytime near the entrance of the Inn and she'll give you some for free. Disadvantage: Using that bow can be quite annoying since it is a little difficult to aim with it. Otherwise, he's a good character to use. Suggested point distribution: Keep it balanced since you will run into some enchanted magic shooting bows later. Sorcerer The sorcerer is the master of magic. Although physically he lacks power, he makes up for it with extremely powerful spells. Special ability: Magic. Disadvantage: His physical strength is not too strong, but his magic really makes up for it. Suggested point distribution: Keep his intelligence and magic power high. If you want, you can increase his agility more so he can defend more attacks easier. Fairy The fairy is the only one of the group that can fly. His attack power is below average but he is able to cast special magic that can change the status of friends as well as enemies. The powerful fairy wands found later in the game will make up for his physical strength. Special ability: Status-changing magic. Disadvantage: None really, just that when you start out with him, he is very weak. I suggest leveling him up higher than the others in order to keep up. Suggested point distribution: Whatever floats your boat. I don't really use the fairy so I do not know his strong sides, except for his below average attacks and status-changing magic. Elf The elf is the best all around character in the game. He can wield powerful swords (elf swords) and cast powerful magic. Although he cannot use magic as powerful as the sorcerer, he still is the best character for anyone to use. Special ability: Magic, plus he can open doors that have a magical seal that require an elf. Disadvantage: None. He's a real good character to use. V – Walkthrough Note: Because of the complexity of some levels, I will only describe how to solve the puzzles, how to reach to a higher level, important items, and descriptions about the boss, but I won't describe the exact way on how to just sweep through the level. The whole point and fun of the game is exploring! Also, when I say new or different area, I mean those times you get a loading screen when you go through different rooms or places. (For example, when you leave the Inn, you get a loading screen.) This is start of the game. After you load your character and begin your game, you will start in the lobby of the Roadside Inn. Now, the little girl in the lobby is the herb girl. Should the hunter run out of herbs, talk to her and she'll ask if you want a new supply of herbs (obviously, say yes.) If you are facing north (the compass arrow on N), the door on the right leads to the bar where you can talk to the bartender, patrons, and adventurers who are on the same quest as yourself. While still in the lobby, the stairs that go up lead to four different doors upstairs. The first one is where the expert lives. He will identify any item you find on your travels, since you do not know what it is at all until he tells you, but you can equip or use an item even though you don't know what it is or what it does. The second door is your room. You can walk up to the chest and store a number of items that you've found, but there is a limit on how much you can store. The third room is where a knight and an Amazon live. Later in the game, the knight will sell you things in exchange for fate coins. The fourth door is locked and cannot be accessed until the near end of the game. If you try to walk out of the Inn through the giant doors, you will not be allowed to. To continue outside, go to the bar and talk to the bartender and the old man sitting down. One of them will tell you about the Wood of Ruins, and this is where you have to go. On your way out, there is a treasure chest near the secretary of the Inn. Go up to it and take some healing pins. They only heal 25% of your health, but it's nice to keep some backup potions handy (You're only allowed to take 2 from the chest.) The Wood of Ruins This is the first level of the game. The pathway is pretty much straight through, so you won't need my help too much. Don't worry too much about the enemies. They won't kill you…yet. Along the path, you will be stopped because you will see a statue on top of a hill. Go to that statue and push it off. Doing so will make the trip back a lot easier. After that, just keep going. Soon, you will run into a cabin near the lake. You cannot enter yet, so continue on to the other path toward the woodcutter's cabin. On the way, you will meet up with four little monsters in a cage. Once you enter, a door will close and lock you in. Kill all the monsters and the doors will open again. This will happen twice along the way. After you get through them, continue and this will lead you to a new area (following a loading screen.) If you want, you can go back and keep fighting those guys because they carry many items, including the very helpful life potion. To fight them all over again, just go into the new area when you're done with the monsters, then go back. There will be some challenging roads along the way, but they wont really cause much of a problem. In the swamp, you have to take the north-most trail in order to continue since the other paths lead to a dead end and a locked door. Eventually, you will finally reach the woodcutter's cabin. When you get inside, he's not in there. Open the green chest to get the "barrel test daggers." I will describe this test later. Push the box toward the corner where the green chest in the higher place is and climb up to get the cellar key. Use the key on the giant door on the ground and enter. Inside, you can open the green chests inside, where you will find the key to the clearing and the other contents, which are random. The black chests can be opened later after the boss fight and barrel test. Leave the cabin and have the compass point west. Barrel Test – This test requires two players! Right when you're outside, go down and you will see a shiny object on top of a tree. Nearby, you will see a small well. Have someone get inside the well and face the tree while the other person tries stabbing the correct hole in the well. When the correct one is used, the person inside the well will spring high in the air. This person must try to land on top of the tree to obtain the object. If the wrong hole is used, the person inside the well will take some damage. The object you receive will be the barrel test key, which opens one of the black chests in the basement of the woodcutter's cabin. Now, go into the basement and retrieve your prize. Now the boss fight will come very soon. I suggest your level to be around 20-25. Try leveling up near the woodcutter's cabin by fighting all the bears, bees, and lizard men. When you're ready, look at the map and go into the path you've never been through before, which leads to the door to the clearing. When you get to a new area, you will find the woodcutter wounded and leaning against a column. He will tell you about the monster in the clearing that hurt him. He also says that he needs the healing salve that the monster stole in order for him to heal. Continue on and you will see that same marking on the ground earlier where you pushed the statue out of the way (you will use this later.) Now, when you reach the clearing, the door will close and you will have to face the boss, which consists of two bears and a powerful owl-bear. Do what you must to attack them while keeping yourself in good health at the same time. First take out the bears then go for the owl-bear. When the owl-bear stands on it's two hind legs. Go away from it because it's going to use a spell that temporarily decreases attack and/or defense power. If you are alone in the game, attack carefully by first hitting him up close then go right behind it. It won't cast the spell if you're very close to him. When you're right behind him, hit him again and he'll turn around. Hit him once more, then run right through him so he can't hit you then hit him again. Repeat this wary process until he's dead. If you have teammates with you (and I mean other people, not just characters following you around,) work together in killing the owl-bear, for example, if you have a priest, have him heal everyone while they fight. The priest WILL gain experience from just merely healing. After the boss is dead, you will receive the healing salve and the key to the other chest in the basement of the woodcutter's cabin. Now go back to the woodcutter. You will see he is dead, so you put the healing salve next to the body in good faith. Go back to the basement of the cabin and open that chest. Inside, you will find a stone with little holes notched in it. After receiving the stone, go back to the area where the woodcutter's body lies. Go back to that marking on the floor and you will start to see it glow. Enter it and you will be teleported to another place. After being teleported… Hmm…this place looks familiar…remember the statue I asked you to push? Now you're back here near the beginning. I told you to do this so you can jump through the level easier on the way back. Now, just go back toward the exit of the level. If you have trouble finding the exit, just go toward the bridge after the portal. After that, head back to the Inn. Items found in the Wood of Ruins (in one trip) Quick Boots - Increases Agility - Found in chest. Mace Staff - Atk +9. A weapon for the priest Broad Sword - Atk +12. A weapon for the Warrior Life potion - The next level of potion you will encounter in game. ("mid" potion) Leather Buckler - Df +13. This is armor for Rogues, hunters, and elves. A long time ago, I found a weapon called the "Cat's Claw" from those monsters in the cages. If you find it, give it to the rogue. To be continued...I need sleep!