Seiken Densetsu 3
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| Seiken Densetsu 3 | |
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| Developer(s) | Square Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Square Co., Ltd. |
| Release date(s) | JPN September 30, 1995 NA August 27, 2000 (fan translation) |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Platform(s) | Super Famicom |
| Media | 32-megabit cartridge |
Seiken Densetsu 3 (聖剣伝説3? Legend of the Holy Sword 3) is the third installment of the Seiken Densetsu series of console role-playing games, released exclusively for the Super Famicom by Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix). The game features three lengthy main plotlines, six different characters, each with their own storylines, and a wide range of classes to choose from, which provides each character with an exclusive set of skills and status progression. All of these makes the game highly replayable through hundreds of different character and class combinations. The game also makes use of a time progression system, with transitions from day to night and weekday to weekday in game time, adding to the game's challenging gameplay. Although the game was only published in Japan, many Western players have been able to come into contact with Seiken Densetsu 3 thanks to an unofficial English emulation, considered a major achievement of fan translation.
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[edit] Gameplay
Seiken Densetsu 3 acts very much like its predecessor Secret of Mana, as it employs a real-time combat system, making use of a ring menu which provides the player with quick access to magic spells, items and character information, amongst other options. One of its main differences, though, is that the range of characters is doubled to six, with the player choosing the three members of his or her party when commencing a new game. A single variety of weapon is available for each character, and the "progression by means of use" present on the series' previous game was removed from the weapons and magic systems; now the only factor which influences a spell's damage is how high the character's "magic" attribute is. A storage system was introduced, where excess items can be placed, replacing Secret of Mana's "four-of-a-kind maximum rule". The player can switch items between storage and their nine-slot item ring menu, or else "top-up" items currently in it to a maximum of nine each.
A battle mode was introduced as part of the gameplay, which freezes some aspects of normal gameplay (such as item storage) to allow the player to focus on defeating monsters. Players can exit battle mode by moving off-screen or far enough away from the monsters for it to be disengaged (unlike the Legend of Mana no-escape mode). When in battle mode, the character adds one point to his or her "power gauge" by making an attack which hits a monster (in place of Secret of Mana's vulnerable charge-up). When the gauge is full enough, special moves can be unleashed - moves vary according to the character and their class. Once all enemies on-screen are defeated, the player has the chance to receive a reward item in a treasure chest. Sometimes, a "prize" wheel of traps is given when opening the chest; this can be eluded by timing the cursor to fall over an "OK" disc.
Unlike Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3 only allows for up to two human players, with the other one or two characters being controlled by the AI. A screen in the system menu lets the player control certain preferences on how the AI-controlled characters should act. Unlike the prequel, however, instead of setting the characters' range to the enemy and their level of aggression, the player sets directives on the character's behavior during combat, such as taking an individual target or supporting another character. The player can also determine whether or not the AI characters will make use of their power gauge and what earned abilities they may use, though magic spells must be cast manually by the human player.
Level progression is coordinated by the player, as a choice is given regarding where to invest a character statistics point at every level up. A "class" system is also present. Once a character reaches level 18, he or she is able to go to a Mana Stone and choose a class to progress to - either a class aligned to "Light" or a class aligned to "Dark" - which provides a different set of skills and different improvements to character statistics. A second class change may be performed at level 38. The second change requires the use of rare items to be performed, and once again an option between a "Light" and a "Dark" is presented, adding to a total of seven possible classes for every character, including the initial class.
[edit] Passage of time
Seiken Densetsu 3 also employs a calendar function into its gameplay. The seven-day week cycles much more quickly than an actual one — a day passes in a number of minutes — but it still affects gameplay in certain ways.
Each day of the week is represented by a different elemental spirit. On that spirit's day, magic of that element will be slightly stronger:
- Luna Day - Moon magic is stronger;
- Salamando Day - Fire magic is stronger;
- Undine Day - Water magic is stronger;
- Dryad Day - Wood magic is stronger;
- Jinn Day - Wind magic is stronger;
- Gnome Day - Earth magic is stronger;
- Mana Holy Day - All elemental magic is balanced.
A Day is also divided into day and night, represented by Wisp the light elemental and Shade the dark elemental, respectively. Reportedly, the use of the opposite elements according to day and time and the game's elementology are not weakened; for example, using water spells on a Salmando Day does not make them weaker than using them on a Gnome Day.
Certain events only happen during certain times of day, such as a nighttime-only black market selling particularly rare items. Enemies encountered in the field also change during certain time periods, and some may be sleeping if characters approach them at night. Using an inn's services allows the player to "skip" the game's clock to that day's evening, or the following morning. Mana Holy Day is also notable in the game's calendar as players can use the inns' healing and time-skipping service for free, while a nominal charge is given on other days.
[edit] Plot and characters
According to Seiken Densetsu 3's in-game lore, the Mana Goddess created the game's world by forging the powerful Sword of Mana and defeating eight God-Beasts with it, sealing them within eight Mana Stones, before turning herself into the Mana Tree and falling asleep. The game is set at a time where Mana starts to fade and peace has ended, as some people plot to unleash the God-Beasts from the stones so as to gain ultimate power, politically and magically.
At the start of the game, the player must progress through their chosen main character's story before entering the mainstream plot, which is generated from a possible sixty different variations depending on the characters chosen. Overall, the player's chosen main character is paired with another possible character into three sub-plots which vary the pivotal antagonists and the locations for important events, for example.
[edit] Characters
The characters (and their individual stories) are grouped into the main sub-plots as follows:
- Angela, a magician princess from the ice-covered Magic Kingdom of Altena. Her mother, Valda, the Queen of Reason, uses her magic to keep the Altenan citadel in a perpetual spring. However, like her country, Valda is cold and unfeeling towards her daughter, who has become lonely and selfish as a result of her upbringing. The Queen's spell weakens as Mana starts to fade. So that her spell may continue and Altena does not freeze over, she, with her assistant wizard Koren, decides to invade other nations to claim their Mana Stones. Once done, she would sacrifice her daughter to the ancient spell which would unlock the power of Mana kept in the Stones, opening the way to the infinite power in the Sword of Mana, letting the spell continue. After Angela is told this, she flees Altena.
- Duran, an orphaned mercenary swordsman of the Grasslands Kingdom of Forsena (Forcena in the fan translation) who proudly serves his king, the wise Richard. One night, Duran is on guard duty at the castle of Forsena when Koren attacks the castle. Duran is left for dead after confronting him, and after making his recovery, he vows to become the best swordsman in the world and to exact his revenge upon Koren.
- Hawkeye (Hawk in the fan translation), a member of a guild of noble thieves based in the desert Sand Fortress Navarre. Its leader, Lord Flamekhan, suddenly and uncharacteristically declares Navarre to be a Kingdom. Surprised by this, Hawkeye discusses the matter with his friends, Flamekhan's children, Jessica and Eagle. Hawkeye and Eagle decide to confront Flamekhan about it, only to find that he is in the middle of a meeting with his assistant, the witch Isabella, who turns out to be pulling Flamekhan's strings. Isabella (later revealed as "Bigieu") casts a spell on Eagle to make him attack Hawkeye, who injures Eagle gravely in his self-defense. However, Isabella finishes Eagle off with a spell and puts all the blame on Hawkeye. He is imprisoned and awaits his execution when Isabella informs him that she has given Jessica a cursed necklace; should Hawkeye tell anyone the truth, she will be choked by it. Luckily, he makes an escape.
- Riesz (Lise in the fan translation), amazon princess of the mountainous Wind Kingdom of Rolante, and captain of its Amazon army. After her mother dies while giving birth to her younger brother, Elliott, Riesz vows to take care of him. However, two mysterious ninjas from Navarre, Bill and Ben, discreetly trick Elliott into turning off Rolante's protective wind and kidnap him. With the wind gone, Navarre attacks Rolante with a cloud of sleep powder and kills its king, Joster. Devastated, Riesz makes her escape.
- Kevin, the awkwardly-speaking son of a human mother and heir to the throne of the Beast King, the ruler of the werewolf-like Beastmen. Sick of the treatment of his people by "normal" humans, the Beast King's desired revenge is made all the more possible by the appearance of the mysterious Deathjester, with his dark magic at "beck and call". He shows his abilities by making Kevin's beloved wolf-pup orphan friend, Karl, rise up and attack him while both are out in the Moonlight Forest. Kevin defends himself and his werewolf abilities are awoken; unfortunately, they come at the cost of Karl's life. After seeing that the Beast King is sending an invasion force to overthrow the humans' precious Holy City Wendel, Kevin overhears the Beast King congratulate the Deathjester on his spell. Enraged, he confronts the Beast King and is, quite literally, thrown out of the castle. He declares the Beast King not to be his father, and wishes to find his mother and some way to revive Karl.
- Charlotte (Carlie in the fan translation), the "cute little girl who lives in Wendel", is the granddaughter of the Priest of Light. Orphaned by her parents, the cleric Leroy and the elf Shayla, she is looked after by a fellow cleric, Heath. Feeling an evil influence in nearby Jad, the Priest of Light sends Heath to investigate; however, Charlotte overhears this conversation and makes an escape to find the Deathjester kidnap Heath. This is when she decides she must save him.
[edit] Main plot
With the exception of Charlotte, the characters are told (or otherwise decide) to seek the advice of the Priest of Light in the Holy City Wendel. They arrive at the city of Jad, soon after the Beastmen have invaded. Due to the Beastmen's werewolf powers, they are able to make an escape by night.
All characters, on the way to Wendel, stay overnight at Astoria, where they are woken by a bright light. Following it, it reveals itself to be a Faerie from the Mana Holyland, exhausted by her journey. Out of desperation, the Faerie chooses the main character to be her host, and tells them to get to Wendel. There, while giving his or her grievances to the Priest of Light, the Faerie interrupts and explains that the Mana Tree is dying and that the Holyland is in danger. This is grave news for the Priest, for if the Tree dies, the God-Beasts will reawaken and destroy the world.
He goes on to explain further that, because the Faerie has chosen the main character as its host, they must travel to the Holyland to draw the Sword of Mana from the foot of the Mana Tree to restore peace to the world, and have their wishes granted by the Mana Goddess if it can be drawn before the Tree dies. However, there is a catch: a lot of power is needed to open the gate to the Holyland. The Faerie does not have the strength to do it, and the ancient spell which would unlock the power in the Mana Stones to do so takes the caster's life. However, the Stones' guarding spirits (Secret of Mana's Elementals) are seen to be able, once their powers are combined.
After journeying across the world to get the Spirits, thwarting the invasion attempts of Navarre and Altena, discovering the powers of the Fire and Water Mana Stones released (by agents of Navarre and Altena, respectively), and learning the disappearance of the Mana Stone of Darkness along the way, the Main Character tries to open the gate to the Mana Holyland with the Spirits' assistance. The first attempt fails, but the second succeeds; the Faerie realises that it was opened thanks to the release of power from the Mana Stones.
The characters travel into the Holyland and the Main Character claims the Mana Sword; however, it is soon discovered that the Main Character's adversary (Koren and the Darkshine Knight for Angela and Duran; Jagan and Bigieu for Riesz/Lise and Hawkeye; or the Deathjester and Heath for Kevin and Carlie/Charlotte) has captured the Faerie and will only release her in exchange for the Sword of Mana. The unfortunate trade is made, and once the enemy receives the Sword, then the Mana Stones shatter and the God-Beasts are released.
The characters must then defeat the God-Beasts before they can gather and destroy the world, and then defeat the true form of their adversary: the Dragon Emperor for Duran and Angela, the Dark Prince for Hawkeye and Riesz/Lise, or the Priest of Darkness for Kevin and Charlotte.
[edit] Music
The score for Seiken Densetsu 3 was composed by Hiroki Kikuta, who had previously composed the music for Secret of Mana. Featuring a surround sound mode, it has become one of the more popular import Super Famicom CD soundtracks over the years, due partly to the game's intense cult following, as well as to the popularity of the composer.
[edit] Controversy and Secret of Evermore
There are perceived strong feelings among video game fans as to whether or not Secret of Evermore was released in lieu of an English language version of Seiken Densetsu 3. Ill feelings towards the lack of an official translation probably stem from titular and mechanical similarities.
One suggested reason against Secret of Evermore's favouring over Seiken Densetsu 3 is due to the establishment of a new development team at Squaresoft's office in Redmond, Washington. It is believed that the decision had absolutely no effect on any such translations and did not tie up any of the people involved in translation; it was specifically hired to create it and they would not have been assembled otherwise. This may have been accompanied by a decision not to continue translating titles, including the sequel to Secret of Mana; a decision which, nevertheless, has left many bitter Seiken Densetsu fans.
Another suggestion is that Squaresoft had nothing to do with the decision not to publish Seiken Densetsu 3 in North America. The translation was already underway when Square Co, Ltd. cut the project to focus on the development of Super Mario RPG, which had been co-developed by Nintendo and Square.[1]
Seiken Densetsu 3 had a particularly rough time being debugged. When one bug was fixed, two more would pop up; critical hits do not work properly in the release version. Seiken Densetsu 3 may not have been released for fear of a recall.[citation needed]
It is the general hope among fans in the community that Square Enix, as the company is now called, will finally translate Seiken Densetsu 3 in a port for the Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS. There have also been hopes of it making an appearance on Wii's Virtual Console.
[edit] Fan translation
In 2000, a fan translation project led by hacker Neill Corlett was successfully completed and made available on the internet as an unofficial patch. Due to the increasing popularity of video game ROMs and the quick progress of emulators at the time, the translated version of Seiken Densetsu 3 was made available to many players from around the world. Its translation is considered a milestone in fan translation history, as Seiken Densetsu 3 makes use of a complex compression algorithm and had proven to be a significant challenge for all who had attempted to translate it before Corlett's team.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Seiken Densetsu 3 at StrategyWiki (previously hosted by Wikibooks)
- Seiken Densetsu 3 at MobyGames
[edit] Fan sites
- Zophar.net - Seiken Densetsu 3
- the Seikens - A site dedicated to the Seiken Densetsu series
- SquareHaven Reader Review
